• 12 AndyKarcherThe months leading up to the summer break are normally a time when coaches at North Carolina High School Athletic Association member schools are allowed to have off-season conditioning workouts with their teams if they coach a sport that’s not in season during winter or spring.

    But that hasn’t been the case for E.E. Smith football coach Andy Karcher, who took over the Golden Bull program in late February. Barely three weeks after being hired and joining the faculty at Smith, Karcher found himself cut off from his team as the COVID-19 pandemic forced a shutdown of high school sports in North Carolina.

    Now Karcher, along with other coaches in Cumberland County, is anxiously awaiting the arrival of July 6, when they will be permitted to begin conditioning workouts with their teams under stringent safety guidelines suggested by the National Federation of State High School Associations and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

    Karcher, who came to Smith after serving as an assistant coach under Bill Sochovka at Pine Forest, got a few weeks to see some of his football players in weightlifting class at Smith, but has since been limited to only virtual contact with them.

    “We’re putting in a new offense with new terminology,’’ Karcher said. “We’re trying to do as much as we can with the mental game.’’

    One of the real challenges of only being able to meet virtually, Karcher said, is getting his athletes used to accountability, showing up on time, or showing up at all.
    “For me it’s been extremely stressful trying to move forward,’’ he said.

    He said he’s done the best he can talking to his players about the importance of maintaining their conditioning, taking part in regular workouts at their homes.
    “I think when we come together, we’ll be able to hit the ground running,’’ Karcher said.

    But there are still questions, he added, noting that between answering questions from his players and his new coaching staff, they are all finding themselves in totally uncharted waters.

    “It’s really challenging me to find creative ways to get things done,’’ he said. The challenge has been complicated by the fact that whatever ideas Karcher comes up with, he has to make sure they take into account the need for things like social distancing and the other restrictions still in place because of the pandemic.

    He praised members of his new coaching staff for adapting to the challenge as well. “They have taken it upon themselves to attend virtual coaching seminars,’’ he said. “They are trying to learn more about what we’re trying to do.’’

    Karcher has also reached out to coaching friends like Sochovka and Ben Penny at Triton High School for suggestions on what to do. “It’s about talking and sharing,’’ Karcher said.

    One of the biggest things he can’t control, and won’t be able to deal with until the first official day of fall practice when it comes, is learning how his team will deal with the physical aspect of football.

    “Football is a contact sport,’’ he said. “As soon as we can get back to some normalcy, the kids’ spirits and our spirits as coaches will lift.

    “The biggest thing now is trying to come up with a plan that is going to make sure the kids are mentally ready.’’

    The most important thing Karcher wants to teach is teamwork, finding out how much his players know and trust each other so they can get through the challenge together.
    “That’s what I love about football,” Karcher said. “It’s a sport that translates to everyday life after high school.’’

    He hopes his players will adjust to the restrictions of COVID-19 workouts quickly, but most important of all, that they stick to them. “Follow the procedure as you’re supposed to follow it,’’ he said. “Make sure everybody is staying safe.

    “This might be the new norm for awhile. We have to be flexible and do what we can do. We want to make sure everybody is doing what they are supposed to do so we can arrive at the season and it (the restrictions) won’t be prolonged any longer than it needs to be.’’

  • 11 missionfieldministriesTwenty-one years ago, Pastor Michael Mathis felt a calling to branch out on his own and establish a ministry that was both aimed at worship and serving his fellow man.
    With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for a ministry like the one Mathis operates has become more important, and he’s trying to let people in need from Hope Mills and beyond know what he has available for them.

    Mathis is the founder of Mission Field Ministries, which has its physical location at 3429 Black and Decker Rd. on the outskirts of Hope Mills.

    He had previously served at Williams Chapel from 1988-99 when he felt a calling to establish his own church.

    He started his ministry with regular worship services at the Comfort Inn on Skibo Road in 2000, meeting there for about six years before setting up his own place of worship.
    Outreach has always been a part of what Mathis has done as a minister. He’s held regular programs at Haymount Rehabilitation Center on Bragg Boulevard and the prison in Scotland County, until the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions forced him to limit his interaction at both those facilities.

    He’s also done outreach to the homeless in the area, making visits to them beneath bridges to provide assistance.

    Over the past two years, Mathis has expanded another aspect of his ministry that provides food to those in need. Originally, he was serving about five families on a regular basis. A partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank has increased the reach of the food ministry.

    Currently, he’s serving about 25 families regularly, and he’s looking to expand more as the pandemic continues.

    “About four months ago, we saw the need to do this monthly,’’ he said of the food distribution. As a result, Mathis has designated the third Saturday of every month as the day he holds food giveaways at his Black and Decker Road location.

    After getting the food from Second Harvest or other sources, Mathis has a team that puts it in boxes. The food is provided in an unprepared state and includes both perishable and non-perishable items.

    The goal with each food box is to provide the basics for a good meal for the family that is receiving it. Each third Saturday during the hours of noon to 2 p.m., any family in need is invited to drive up to the church, open their trunk and the box of food is placed inside.

    No eating of food on the church grounds is permitted.

    Mathis said there is no paperwork for people to fill out, no interview process. It is given to anyone who is in need and wants to stop by.

    So far, Mathis said they’ve never run out of food during one of these giveaways, but Mathis said it is first come, first served so people are encouraged to arrive as soon as possible on the giveaway day.

    “I’m sure the numbers are fixing to increase as more people embrace what we do,’’ he said. For that reason, he welcomes donations from anyone who would like to contribute food to the ministry. “I’m proud of the kind of food items we are issuing,’’ he said. “I want people to know about this.’’

    If interested, contact Mathis directly at 910-988-0795.

  • 15 01 billThere’s an old cartoon that shows a couple of vultures sitting on a branch, scanning the horizon for carrion to eat and finding nothing.

    One vulture turns to the other and says, “To heck with patience, I’m going to kill something.’’

    That sentiment isn’t too far off from the frustration high school coaches and athletes around North Carolina and the Cape Fear region are feeling as they wait for the COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted so they can return to practice.

    The North Carolina High School Athletic Association finally opened the door to the return to off-season workouts recently, using guidelines established both by the National Federation of State High School Associations and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

    15 02 vernon copyBut many of the state’s larger school systems, including Cumberland County, decided to hold off and delay the start of practice until Monday, July 6.

    A conversation I had recently with Bill Sochovka, the dean of Cumberland County’s head football coaches, had me agreeing with the county’s plan to wait.

    Sochovka had the same opinion, for a simple but solid reason. He wanted the county to take its time and see what happens at other schools that open up, examine what practices are in place, what works, what doesn’t and how to safely open the doors for the athletes and coaches in the safest manner possible.

    Vernon Aldridge, the student activities director for the Cumberland County Schools, is also in the corner for caution, but for some different reasons. Aldridge wants to take time to make sure each of the county schools will have supplies on hand that they wouldn’t normally stock, things like hand sanitizer and other materials to make sure everyone stays as germ-free as possible.

    With recent spikes in new cases since some COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, it’s clear everyone needs to take this illness seriously and continue to do everything possible to flatten the curve.

    Nobody wants to see a return to practice and games more than I do. But I also don’t want to see an early return lacking proper precautions causing further spread of COVID-19.
    Instead of copying the vultures, let’s adopt the philosophy of one of my favorite Clint Eastwood characters, Gunny Highway from the movie "Heartbreak Ridge." As Gunny Highway said, let’s improvise, adapt and overcome, and make practice and play as safe as it can possibly be.

  •  10 4th of july decorationsThere will be no Fourth of July parade and no public fireworks display in Hope Mills this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The town’s Board of Commissioners recently voted to delay the fireworks until Ole Mill Days in the fall, concerned about large crowds that might gather to watch as reports of spikes in the spread of the disease
    continue.

    Meghan Freeman of the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation staff began exploring alternative ways to celebrate the holiday and learned of a tradition in another town involving decorating homes and businesses. Freeman thought it was a cute way to observe the holiday while still keeping safe through social distancing.

    Townsfolk are urged to show off their patriotism in any manner they choose. It can include displays of red, white and blue, or they can put together a display that honors first responders or essential workers.

    “The purpose of decorating is to unleash their creativity and bring a smile to their neighbors,’’ Freeman said. If they don’t have a porch or lawn, Freeman said homeowners, apartment dwellers and businesses in Hope Mills can decorate anything about their location that can be seen from the street or the sidewalk.

    People who have piers on Hope Mills Lake are also welcome to decorate those, but Freeman said she doesn’t plan to include them in the decorating contest that the town will be conducting.

    There will be three categories in the decorating contest. They are most patriotic, most outstanding decoration and spirit of freedom. Prizes will be awarded in each category, but Freeman said a final decision on the nature of the prizes won’t be announced until June 30.

    Registration closed prior to the publication of this article. Contestants need to have their decorations in place by June 30 and leave them on display through July 5, which is when the winners will be announced.

    A committee of elected town officials will drive around to look at the various decorations and make the decision on the winner.

    Anyone who registered for the competition will have their home marked on an interactive map on the townofhopemills.com website, so people can have a virtual map to find the decorated homes.

    It will indicate both the address and whether or not the decorations include lights that can be seen at night. The first 50 who sign up will also get
    yard signs.

    “We could have easily just thrown up our hands,’’ Freeman said. “I think we are providing an outlet for some sort of patriotism. It brings the community together and it’s a time to have fun.’’

    Deputy Chief Bradley Dean of the Hope Mills Police Department reminded everyone planning their own fireworks that anything that shoots into the air or explodes is illegal without a pyrotechnic license.

    Dean added the police would rather educate than enforce, but if someone is injured or property damage results from illegal fireworks, they have no choice. “We want people to be safe,’’ he said.
     
  • 14 bookFrom his high school days playing football for legendary coach Herman Boone to taking the disaster that was the Westover girls’ basketball team and turning it into a state champion, Gene Arrington enjoyed one of the most amazing athletic careers anyone could dream of.

    Now, after listening to the urging of friends and family, he’s written a book about his experiences.

    “Rise of the Wolverines: The Making of a Titan and Beyond’’ tells Arrington’s story from his days under Boone at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, to his years turning the Westover girls basketball team into the best in the state. 

    Arrington’s sister, Ethel Delores Arrington, actually did the writing, as Coach Arrington sat down with her and dictated the story of his life.
    “My sister had written a book before and she got right in there with me,’’ Arrington said. 

    When Arrington took over the Westover girls’ program, then Wolverine principal John Smith said everyone warned him it was a dead-end job and had the record to prove it.
    At the time, the Wolverine girls were mired in an 87-game losing streak.

    “Westover had been kind of labeled as a nonproductive type of school,’’ Arrington said. “I wanted them to know Westover could do anything any other school could do and win, and they did.’’

    Arrington’s formula for success wasn’t anything complicated. “Confidence,’’ he said. “Those girls were confident they could beat anybody.’’

    He said his guidance as a coach came largely from the legendary Boone, whose story was featured in the 2000 film “Remember the Titans,’’ starring Denzel Washington, which shared the story of Boone’s 1971 T.C. Williams team and the challenges he faced coaching at the height of public school integration.

    “He was my mentor,’’ Arrington said. “He was my buddy. Most of the things I did were a mirror of him.’’

    Boone, who died of lung cancer last December, wrote the foreword for Arrington’s book.

    Arrington snapped the Westover girls’ losing skid in his first season there with a win over perennial Cumberland County girls’ basketball power Pine Forest. 

    In his 15 seasons at Westover, Arrington only had three teams with losing records. From 2004-10, his teams won 20 or more games every season, winning or sharing the conference basketball title six times. Health reasons led him to retire before the 2013 season.

    The Wolverines had their best season in 2008, when they went 30-2 and defeated West Charlotte 58-53 at N.C. State’s Reynolds Coliseum for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A girls’ basketball title. Along the way, they knocked off a 30-0 Raleigh Wakefield team in the semifinal round.

    In the title game against West Charlotte, Arrington recalled taking a timeout with about five minutes to play and his team trailing by eight points.

    Arrington said he usually did the talking during timeouts, but he recalled a moment reminiscent of one of the final scenes in the famed high school basketball movie “Hoosiers.”

    Linda Aughburns, one of the stars of the state title team, looked at Arrington in that huddle and said to her coach, “We got this,’’ he recalled. 
     
    In January of 2015, Westover paid tribute to Arrington’s outstanding career by naming the gym at the school in his honor.

    Arrington said his hope for people who read the book is they will get a simple message from it. “I hope they’ll realize perseverance, building confidence, faith in each other and believing are the keys to success,’’ he said. 

    The book is not available in stores. For information on purchasing it, go to www.coachgene.net. The cost is $17 plus $5 for shipping and handling. To 
    place orders for multiple copies, email etheldelores@gmail.com.
     
  • 13 hopemillslakeThere was a time when the position of lake attendant at Hope Mills Lake was seasonal, but with the popularity of the lake since its return, the need for someone to be on duty more frequently has increased.

    That’s why the town is seeking to add at least two part-time lake attendants as soon as possible to try and keep things in order at the popular recreational area.

    Lamarco Morrison, who heads the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department, said he’s currently having to assign full-time staffers who have other jobs to handle the lake attendant’s role.

    “We definitely have to have someone there on the weekends to make sure they are adhering to the rules,’’ Morrison said. 

    Those rules have gotten more complicated because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, with lake attendants having to step in and enforce social distancing restrictions.

    The basic responsibilities of the lake attendant are fairly routine Morrison said. They monitor the lake and its park to make sure town ordinances are being observed, like no one fishing in the designated swimming area, making sure trash is picked up and making sure the restrooms at the lake are clean.

    The lake attendant is not required to do any grounds care like mowing or weeding. They do need to check on things like making sure dogs are on leashes and that no one parks a vehicle at the boat ramp except to put a boat in the water and then leave.

    Other rules that need to be enforced are no smoking and no weapons.

    The main COVID-19 rule that is a problem with lake visitors is limiting all groups to a maximum of 25. That is also the limit imposed on the number of people that can be in the swimming area at one time.

    While the wearing of masks is encouraged in the park, Morrison said it is not a rule.

    There are no limits on how many cars can be parked in the lake parking lot, but Morrison said the lake attendant does enforce the 25-person rule when people are outside of their vehicles. If they decide to buy food at the nearby Big T’s food stand, they cannot congregate to eat it there in large groups and must either leave or eat in their cars. 

    Park staff is no longer putting up a barricade at the parking lot at day’s end. Typical summer hours for the park are from dawn to dusk, with the park usually shutting down each day around 10 p.m. There is an attendant on duty from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. They work in two shifts of no more than six to six-and-a-half hours per day. State and federal laws limit how much the part-time attendants can work both weekly and annually without receiving benefits.

    The attendants are not authorized to assess penalties for violating park rules. Their instructions are to tell someone one time if they are in violation of park rules. If the person ignores the warning and continues the violation, the attendants are not to confront the person violating the rules, but instead contact local law enforcement to handle the problem.

    Unfortunately, Morrison said that has happened on numerous occasions.

    To apply for the lake attendant position, go to Town Hall on Rockfish Road during normal business hours.
    13 hopemillslake
    You can also follow this link to the application online: www.townofhopemills.com/jobs.aspx.
     
  • 12 jasonnortonJason Norton was remembered by his peers as someone who was easy to talk with, who wanted to win, but above all did everything for the benefit of the athletes at his school.

    Norton, 47, who served as athletic director at Pine Forest since 2015, after an outstanding career as both an athlete and coach in his native Richmond County, died earlier this month after a lengthy battle with cancer.

    He is survived by his wife, Lauren and sons Alex, Kevin and Jase.

    Norton was an all-American placekicker at Catawba College, while playing for two state championship football teams at Richmond Senior and coaching a third.
    He joined the staff at Pine Forest as athletic director in 2015, continuing to work there until the disease forced him to step down after the 2019 school year.

    “He was very genuine,’’ said Pine Forest principal David Culbreth. “When he came to Cumberland County, he was excited to have the opportunity to be an administrator and an athletic director. It made everything easier with the enthusiasm and energy he brought.’’

    “I don’t think you could have met a nicer, kinder person than Jason,’’ said Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for the Cumberland County Schools. “His ability to build relationships and be a good listener is what drew people to him.’’

    Chad Barbour was the athletic director at South View when he first crossed paths with Norton and they became close friends. Barbour is now principal at Cumberland Polytechnic High School.

    “He wanted the whole program to be successful and he wanted to get the best people in the positions he had,’’ Barbour said. “He had high expectations for the way students were supposed to conduct themselves.’’

    One of Norton’s closest friends was David May, who coached with him at Hamlet Junior High School and was on the coaching staff at Pine Forest when Norton became athletic director.

    “He’s worn so many hats in his life, coaching, teaching and being a father and a husband,’’ May said. “I can’t tell you how many people he’s taken to football camps all over the country with his boys that wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go.

    “I know he’d be looking down right now amazed at all the love and support he’s receiving, how highly people thought of him. He wasn’t a vain type of guy who looked for praise.’’

    During his battle with cancer, Norton received three major awards, including the Braveheart Award from the N.C. Athletic Directors Association, the Tony Simeon Courage Award from the N.C. High School Athletic Association and most recently the Stuart Scott Courage Award from HighSchoolOT.com.

  • 12 chuckhodges copyThe town of Hope Mills is looking for a new fire marshal and hopes to have one in place by the end of July.

    “Pretty much every municipality has its own fire marshal or they have to contract with the county,’’ said Hope Mills fire chief Chuck Hodges, adding the town has had its own fire marshal since the early 1990s.

    Currently, a part-time assistant fire marshal is handling most of those duties, which include inspecting local businesses and buildings for their adherence to fire codes.

    But the assistant is only qualified to do what are called level one and two inspections. Hodges said they need someone full-time who has complete training and certification to do higher level inspections, known as level three, for larger businesses like Lowe’s and Walmart.

    There are people on the current staff, Hodges said, including himself and the deputy chief, who are certified to do the higher level inspections. “With as much construction and building as there is going on in Hope Mills, we don’t have the time to do it,’’ Hodges said.

    That’s why it’s important that the town get a full-time fire marshal on board.

    In addition to doing business inspections, Hodges said the new fire marshal will, in many ways, become the most familiar public face of the fire department in the community.

    The fire marshal is charged with educating the public on the topic of fire safety.

    “If there is a civic group or fire prevention class, they will be the ones who coordinate that,’’ Hodges said of the fire marshal.

    He said the fire marshal plays a major role during fire prevention month, which is typically held during October, in conjunction with the anniversary of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire.

    “They do public relations functions where it comes to fire and life safety,’’ Hodges said. “Public speaking skills are a plus.’’

    When it comes to relating with business owners about fire safety issues, Hodges said the ultimate goal is to make all businesses in the town safe for both patrons and employees.


    In a roundabout way, it’s also designed to make it safer for the firefighters should they ever have to respond to a situation at a local business.

    “If they are complying with code, it makes it safer for us to respond,’’ he said.

    In addition to public relations skills, the fire marshal will also have to have command capability. “If I’m gone or the deputy chief is gone, the fire marshal is the next in charge,’’ Hodges said.

    Hodges indicated the new fire marshal will likely come from outside the current staff as no one qualified and currently on board has expressed a serious interest in the position.

    “It’s an important job, for everybody,’’ Hodges said. “It reduces the risk and adds to the quality of life for the people who live in the town.

    “It’s rare they’re going to go into a business in town that’s not safe.’’

    To apply for the fire marshal job, go to www.townofhopemills.com/jobs.aspx.

  • 13 CumberlandCountySchoolsNEWlogoAthletes and coaches from the Cumberland County Schools will be allowed to begin off-season workouts effective Monday, July 6.

    “We look forward to getting our student-athletes back on campus safely,’’ said county student activities director Vernon Aldridge in a press release last week. “The July 6 date is subject to change if state and local directives deem it necessary.’’

    The decision was made following the announcement by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association that it was lifting the statewide hold on summer workout sessions and allowing schools to resume on June 15. However, the NCHSAA said it would be the right of each school system to announce if it would open June 15th date or wait until later.

    Aldridge said workouts in the county will be held under guidelines released by the NCHSAA, as well as additional guidance from the Department of Health and
    Human Services.

    In the weeks prior to July 6, Aldridge said county schools will make sure they have the supplies and equipment required to insure safe practices, along with instruction for athletic staff on following the prescribed procedures.

    By returning July 6, Cumberland County will miss the NCHSAA dead period normally held the week of July 4. A second dead period in July, the week of the annual East-West All-Star games, has been waived as the games and North Carolina Coaches Association Clinic this year have been canceled.

    Athletes and parents must complete registration forms online using the "Final Forms" link that can be found on each school’s website in order for athletes to participate in summer workouts.

    Any student with an athletic physical performed on or after March 1, 2019, will be considered eligible for 2020-21. Students who had a physical earlier than that date will be required to get a new one before attending workouts.

    Assuming there are no other changes to the calendar, the July 6 date will give Cumberland County athletes four weeks of summer workouts before the official start of fall practice, which is still scheduled for Aug. 1.

  • 11 kahlenbergFew things are more important in the world we currently live in than being able to articulate individual wants and needs. It’s in times like these that the job of someone like Deana Kahlenberg is so important.

    Kahlenberg, who is a speech language pathologist at Gallberry Farm Elementary School in Cumberland County, was recently honored by her peers as the Cumberland County Schools speech language pathologist of the year.

    Kahlenberg said she was “blown away” to be recognized after being in the profession for only six years.

    She was inspired to pursue her career by an elementary school teacher who created a love of working with children in her. Kahlenberg said there is also a history of stuttering in her family that sparked a personal interest in the profession.

    While some speech pathologists work at multiple schools, Kahlenberg does all of her work with students at Gallberry Farm. Her focus is on students in preschool through fifth grade who have communication disorders. These can range from having difficulty making certain sounds to problems understanding or using language.

    A graduate of Radford, Kahlenberg was an elementary classroom teacher for seven years before she and her husband Mark, who is also a speech pathologist in Cumberland County, went back to get their masters degrees in communication disorders.

    Although this year changed things because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kahlenberg normally works with 50 to 60 students per year in both individual and group sessions, depending on the needs of each child.

    Kahlenberg is part of a team approach that includes teachers, teacher assistants, parents and entire families in working with students who need communication help.
    “The goal of what we do is to give everybody a voice,’’ she said of the students she works with. “I think it’s more critical than ever,’’ she said. “Making sure everyone has that voice and fair opportunity to get an education is our goal.’’

    Because a lot of Kahlenberg’s work involves one-on-one interaction with students, the pandemic complicated things, especially when school was closed.

    “We moved to teletherapy,’’ she said. “We rely heavily on caregivers and family members to help go through the therapy process. There is a lot of caregiver training and counseling involved.’’

    Dawn Collins, the principal at Gallberry Farm, said Kahlenberg did everything in her power to make sure no students fell through the cracks because of the lack of face-to-face teaching this year once school closed.

    “She used all the resources possible,’’ Collins said. “She would meet with students in small groups virtually and one-on-one. She considered it a personal goal to contact the students with the best resources she had.’’

    Kahlenberg said her primary hope for any recognition she receives from being honored is to increase interest in the speech pathology profession and hopefully draw others to pursue it as a career.

    “We are always needing more speech therapists,’’ she said. “I hope it will bring light to the profession and draw younger people to enter it.’’

  • 12 01 MatthewPembertonJust as Cumberland County was hoping to celebrate a pos-sible high point in mid-March with two state basketball champions, the high school athletic season across the state of North Carolina came to a crashing half because of restrictions imposed to pre-vent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

    Not only was the basketball season prevented from ending on the court, spring sports athletes saw their seasons end after just a week, and they were eventually canceled.

    12 02 KylieAldridgeBut while the year may have ended abruptly for many county athletes, there were some who were able to com-plete their seasons. Here’s
    a quick recap of the athletic year by season.

    Fall
    Football — South View and Terry Sanford finished with 7-1 conference records in the Patriot Athletic Conference with the Tigers winning the
    head-to-head matchup on the field 23-17 in a game that went double overtime.

    12 03 MiyaGilesJonesDorian Clark led the county in rushing with 2,346 yards. The top passer was Dashawn McCullough of E.E. Smith with 2,336 yards.

    Volleyball — Gray’s Creek cruised to the Patriot Athletic Conference title with a 25-1 record, led by Kylie Aldridge and Kelsie Rouse with 77 and 70 aces respectively.

    Boys soccer — Gray’s Creek edged Terry Sanford for the Patriot Athletic Conference title, finishing one game ahead of the Bulldogs in the league stan-12 04 DallasWilsondings. Eric Chavez was the leading scorer for the Bears with 17 goals and 14 assists.

    Girls tennis — Cape Fear ended a 17-year losing streak to perennial county tennis power Terry Sanford, beating the Bulldogs 6-3. Terry Sanford wound up as the No. 1 seed in the state playoffs while Cape Fear earned a wildcard berth. Cape Fear reached the third round of the state 3-A playoffs, ended 14-2 after losing to unbeaten New Hanover.

    The Colts were led by Brooke Bieniek and Paige Cameron.

    Cross country — Octavious Smith of E.E. Smith was the top male runner in the county, winning the Patriot Athletic Conference meet with a time of 12 05 dmarcodunn16:09.10. Cape Fear, led by Jonathan Piland and Julius Ferguson, was the team winner for the boys.

    For the girls, Terry Sanford’s Rainger Pratt won with a time of 20:21.90. The Bulldogs also took the team prize.

    Girls golf — Toni Blackwell again led Cape Fear to the Patriot Athletic Conference title. She went on to win the 3-A East Regional tournament and placed third in the NCHSAA tournament. For the regular season, Blackwell averaged 77.9 per round. 

     

    12 06 toniblackwellWinter

    Basketball — Westover’s boys and E.E. Smith’s girls came within days of playing for state 3-A bas-ketball titles, only to have the restrictions put into place because of COVID-19 see their games first postponed and eventually canceled. The NCHSAA Board of Directors eventually decided to declare all of the teams that had advanced to this year’s state basketball finals cochampions.

    The Westover boys were led by D’Marco Dunn, who averaged 20.8 points per game and has recei-ved numerous college scholarship offers.

    Miya Giles-Jones was Smith’s leading scorer with 13.4 points per game.

    Wrestling — South View edged Cape Fear for the Patriot Athletic Conference regular season honors, but the Colts brought home more state hardware. Dallas Wilson won his third consecutive state individual title for Cape Fear while teammate Nick Minacapelli won his first title after a third-place finish a year ago. Wilson was also named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the state 3-A tournament.

    Bowling — It was a banner year for local bow-ling as the Gray’s Creek boys and Terry Sanford girls captured state championships.

    Junior Zoe Cannady helped pace Terry Sanford while on the boys’ side Terry Sanford’s Rolf Wallin won the boys’ state individual title.

    The Gray’s Creek boys were led by regular sea-son MVP C.J. Woodle and Gio Garcia.

    Swimming — Cape Fear’s boys and Terry Sanford’s girls were the top swim teams in the county. Among the top swimmers were Terry Sanford’s Allison Curl and Pine Forest’s Brandon Chhoeung.

    Spring

    Baseball — Gray’s Creek was off to a 5-0 start when the season ended. Ben Jones was batting .667.

    Softball — Cape Fear was 6-0 and South View 3-0. The top three hitters were Kylie Aldridge of Gray’s Creek at .727, Morgan Nunnery of Cape Fear at .722 and Jaden Pone of Gray’s Creek at .714.

    Girls soccer — Terry Sanford was off to a 4-0 start led by eight goals from Maiya Parrous and seven from Corrinne Shovlain.

    Track, golf, tennis and lacrosse seasons were practi-cally wiped out by the COVID-19 restrictions.

    Major Awards
    Here is a list of all Cumberland County Schools athletes that received major individual awards from their conferences during 2019-20: Patriot Athletic Conference

    Football 

    Athlete of the Year —
    Matthew Pemberton, South View
    Offensive Player of the Year — Dorian Clark, Terry Sanford
    Defensive Player of the Year — Jackson Deaver, Terry Sanford

    Volleyball

    MVP — Kylie Aldridge, Gray’s Creek

    Boys Soccer

    Offensive Player of the Year — Carlos Villarreal, Pine Forest

    Defensive Player of the Year — Davis Molnar, Terry Sanford

    Goal Keeper of the Year — Davin Schmidt, South View

    Girls Tennis — Kelcie Farmer, Pine Forest Boys Cross Country — Octavious Smith, E.E. Smith
    Girls Cross Country — Rainger Pratt, Terry Sanford

    Girls Golf — Toni Blackwell, Cape Fear
    Boys Basketball — D’Marco Dunn, Westover Girls Basketball — Faith Francis, Westover Wrestling — Dallas Wilson, Cape Fear
    Boys Bowling — C.J. Woodle, Gray’s Creek Girls Bowling — Donna Kerechanin, South View Girls Swimming— Allison Curl, Terry Sanford Boys Swimming — Aiden Stockham and Brandon Chheoung, Pine Forest

    Cheerleading — Avery Schenk, Terry Sanford Sandhills Athletic Conference

    Swimming — Anna Miller, Jack Britt

    From top to bottom: Matthew Pemberton, Kylie Aldridge, Miya Giles-Jones, Dallas Wilson, D'Marco Dunn, Toni Blackwell

    Photo credit for Giles-Jones: Matthew Plyler/MaxPreps

     

     

     

  • 12ThrillSeekingI just returned from a motorcycle adventure ride that was so challenging I actually feel shorter. While most motorcyclists were heading to Rolling Thunder, a few crazy guys were traveling across Virginia and West Virginia on what I was told would be “a pretty easy off-road ride with mostly graveled forest roads.” I was thinking Jeep trails, which for the most part it was. It’s the parts that are not Jeep trails that make "adventure riding" adventure riding. Little did I know I would be experiencing narrow trails almost like jungle canopy, red-clay slippery mud, 400-foot drop-offs and many water crossings.

    At moments, I asked myself, “What am I doing this for? I’m tired; I hurt. Should I sell my dual-sport bike, get me a nice traveling bike and stick to the roads?” Getting stuck in what I will call mud quicksand took us two hours to get out of and required us to build a makeshift bridge in the middle of nowhere.

    My wife watched my exploits on Facebook and said to me, “There is no way that looks fun at all.” Every night, I agreed with her. Strangely, the day after I got back home, my body was in full-on travel mode. I wanted to get back on that bike and ride. Then I found myself wondering what my next trip would be. Crazy, right?

    Most of my life has been in and around military, firemen and policemen. All of these jobs are high-risk jobs. Their friends and family worry every day if they will get back home. They, in turn, go to work every day and dream of some sane job doing something safe — but they choose to get back on it.

    Thrill-seeking and risk-taking varies. For some, going to a scary movie is enough. For many, it is jumping on a motorcycle and going for a ride. For others, it is parachuting or tickling a bear’s belly. So, where does this motivation come from?

    The amygdala is the answer. It's a small, almond-shaped set of neurons in the brain's medial temporal lobe, which is kind of the center of the brain. Here, our mind processes a convergence of inputs of chemicals the body produces. These chemicals are generated based on what our senses tell our mind, and the body produces respondents. If danger is perceived — real or not — it triggers our instinct to respond to the situation. Part of our instinct is stimulated by our body’s ability to produce adrenaline, endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Together, they produce substances that stimulate positive and even euphoric feelings. Our body gets high from accomplishing or surviving something.

    Adrenaline is the chemical that gets us ready for action when we perceive danger. It is that moment that often defines success or failure.

    Endorphins keep up our endurance. It is the runner’s drive and ultimate will to keep going when their body tells them to quit or walk.

    Serotonin feeds brain cells related to mood, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation and some social behavior. Serotonin aids a wide variety of tasks in the body and is often called the “happy chemical” because it works for our wellbeing and happiness.

    Dopamine comes up when we are attempting to accomplish a challenge. It’s that decision-making process that says “Hey, let's go jump in the ocean, feed sharks and take pictures.” Together, these chemicals are highly addictive and connive to drive us to seek out that thrill or scary challenge.

    Thrill-seekers often operate in unpredictable situations. Thrill-seekers are usually not good with being deliberate, focused, concentrated or patient. They overcome these things by being prepared, training for situations, doing mental rehearsals or having an excellent medical plan.

    To keep us in check, the brain's frontal lobe acts as an internal control panel that gives us cognitive skills like problem-solving, language, judgment, sexual behavior and emotional expressions. It gives us our personality and ability to communicate. It is also the part of the brain that tells us, “Danger. Stop. This is not safe.”

    I deduce that the most significant challenge for the thrill-seeker is between their amygdala and frontal lobe. They have to calculate the amount of risk, gain and loss they're willing to give for their next adventure.

    If there is a topic you would like to discuss, email motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

  • 10 02 diner Chef Glenn Garner had planned for an April opening of his new location of The Diner by Chef Glenn and Company on Camden Road.

    Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down, mainly because of the restrictions in place that made the idea of rolling the restaurant out earlier impractical, since it would not be open to sit-down customers. But Garner promoted interest in the new business by parking his food truck out front while work continued on the new location, serving customers to-go meals from the truck.

    Now that the state of North Carolina is gradually reopening and restrictions have been loosened on restaurants, Garner held his official opening of the new location last week. Of course, there will still be limits on how much he can do, the main one being occupancy is limited to half capacity, which in his case will be no more than a maximum of 113 customers inside at one time.

    “It’s for a good reason and I understand that,’’ Garner said of the restrictions. "But I don’t think a lot of places are going to open until Phase 3 starts off.’’

    Phase 3 is the next stage of reopening under the limits set down by Gov. Roy Cooper that will allow businesses like restaurants to return to more normal operations.

    Although they aren’t required, Garner will promote the wearing of masks in his new business. He will also be required to sanitize the tables after each group of customers leave. To comply with social distancing, no customers will be seated at adjacent tables or booths, leaving unoccupied spaces as a buffer to allow proper spacing between everyone.

    Garner admitted he’s concerned if he’ll be able to even reach 50% occupancy with any regularity. He has visited other restaurants in anticipation of opening his and said many of them are not half full. “I think they are shell-shocked,’’ he said of potential customers.

    Garner has set his hours for Tuesday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday he’ll be open 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., closing on Sundays and Mondays. The diner offers a brunch on Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 


    His aim with the new restaurant is to give Hope Mills diners the most varied and upscale menu available anywhere in town, and he thinks it will rival or exceed offerings they can get from specialty restaurants along Fayetteville’s McPherson Church Road, the town’s unofficial restaurant row.

    Just a sampling of what Garner will be serving includes seafood, steak, prime rib, chicken and oysters.

    The decor and theme of The Diner is 50s and 60s. Both the inside and outside of the building are decorated with signs and displays highlighting that era.

    In addition to the main seating area, Glenn will offer a private dining room for any group of 10 or more people that can seat up to 100.

    It will be available for parties or any kind of group meeting. Anyone interested in using it needs to make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance.

    As for Garner’s old location in downtown Hope Mills, it will close temporarily while he’s getting the new business open, with plans to reopen the downtown business sometime over the next quarter. The location on Main Street, formerly known as Becky's Cafe, will be renamed Just Breakfast by Chef Glenn and Company. It will open Monday, June 22 from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. The number is 910-929-2520. It will be open Monday through Saturday. 


    For further information on either location, Garner can be contacted at 910-705-2664.

  • 11 01 GraysCreek1For the third year in a row and the fourth time since 2009, Cumberland County has brought home the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Exemplary School Award, a measure of the quality of what the NCHSAA calls the total program at the winning school.

    The win by Gray’s Creek adds them to a list that includes the last two winners, Terry Sanford and Cape Fear, along with Jack Britt, which captured the award in 2009.

    A common thread at all of the schools is something that was started years ago by former Cumberland County Schools student activities director Fred McDaniel and continues today with one of his successors, Vernon Aldridge. That’s a push for all county schools to get their athletic directors and coaches certified by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

    “I think it helps with the quality of coaching that our young people are going to receive,’’ Aldridge said. “I think the taking of National Federation courses is creating a better coach, which hopefully will create a better experience for our student athletes in Cumberland County.’’

    Aldridge said the award does more than measure what a school does on the athletic field. It considers multiple elements, including academic performance.

    “It’s exciting to have three schools in three years win this award,’’ Aldridge said. “What I hope it shows is we are providing a quality product, athletically as well as academically, for the students in Cumberland County.’’

    Gray’s Creek athletic director Troy Lindsey, who like Aldridge is currently a member of the NCHSAA Board of Directors, feels the award for his school is the byproduct of having an outstanding staff, including both head and assistant coaches.
    “Everyone of my head and assistant coaches gets it,’’ Lindsey said. “They get the whole purpose of what interscholastic athletics is about. It’s an extension of the classroom.’’

    Lindsey feels Cumberland County has been a consistent winner of the Exemplary School Award because of outstanding leadership over the years at the county level, coupled with the fact the entire school system has embraced the importance of having certified coaches and athletic directors.

    “I’ve been an athletic director for 15 years, and for 15 years it’s been the same message,’’ Lindsey said. “You’ve got to do it right and you’ve got to get the certification to stay up to date on things.
    “I think we have embraced that as a system before other people have.’’

  • 05BabeRuthThe recent arrival of the Woodpeckers and the Segra Stadium represent a new page in the long history surrounding baseball. Most of us are familiar with the recent history of local baseball to include the Generals and the Crocks, and some will even remember the Highlanders. This article will test your knowledge of the earlier Fayetteville history concerning one of America’s favorite sports.

    Q: When and under what circumstances did baseball as we know it arrive in North Carolina?

    A: It was during the Civil War. A group of Union prisoners in 1863 engaged in games of baseball at the prisoner-of-war camp located in Salisbury.

    Q: When was baseball first played in Fayetteville, and what was the name of the first team?

    A: Baseball was first played in Fayetteville in 1867. The first team was named the Lafayette Club, in honor of Fayetteville’s namesake, Gen. Lafayette. He was a young French nobleman who aided the colonies during the American Revolution.

    Q: Where was baseball first played in Fayetteville?

    A: The first game was played on an empty lot off Rowan Street but quickly shifted to the Military Green, which served as a militia parade field. The Military Green was located where the Transportation & Local History Museum is now located at 325 Franklin St., just a few blocks from the new Segra Stadium.

    Q: When did African American baseball teams begin to play in Fayetteville?

    A: An African American club was formed soon after the Lafayette Club. The local newspaper reported in July 1867 that the Fayetteville African American Baseball Club would be engaged in competition against a team in Charleston South Carolina. The name of one of the early Fayetteville African American teams was the Teasers.

    Q: How much did it cost to watch a baseball game in Fayetteville during the late 1800s?

    A: The admission was between 5 and 10 cents, and to encourage ladies to attend, they were often admitted free.

    Q: How did our local citizens support Fayetteville teams playing out of town?

    A: Bit by the baseball fever bug, many local citizens would board steamboats or trains and travel to other towns to root for the Fayetteville teams. Fayetteville and Cumberland County were consumed with the spirt and enthusiasm of baseball fever.

    Q: By the early 20th century, Fayetteville had the reputation of having one of the best baseball fields in the South. Where was it located?

    A: It was located at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds, where the Department of Transportation is now located, at Gillespie Street and Southern Avenue. The fairgrounds featured a covered grandstand and an oval track with the baseball diamond laid out in the middle of the track.

    Q: When did Fort Bragg first get involved with local baseball?

    A: Camp Bragg was established in 1918, and within one year, the assigned soldiers formed teams and engaged in competitive games with Fayetteville teams and surrounding cities. They were part of the Red Circle Baseball League organized by the War Camp Community Service.

    Q: What is Fayetteville’s earliest connection with professional baseball?

    A: It dates back to 1909 with the incarnation of the Fayetteville Highlanders, which was a Class D Eastern Carolina League franchise in 1909- 1910. The Highlanders won the 1910 ECL title with the help of future sports legend Jim Thorpe.

    Q: What is Fayetteville’s connection with the famous “Babe” Ruth?

    A: On March 7, 1914, while playing an intra-squad exhibition game at the Cape Fear Fairgrounds, Babe Ruth hit his first home run in professional baseball. Ruth hit the ball a distance of 135 yards. It was Ruth’s fifth day as a professional, his first game, and his second time at bat. It was also here that he acquired the nickname “Babe.”

    Q: What is the connection between Crown Ford automotive dealership near the intersection of Skibo Road and Bragg Boulevard and baseball?

    A: Crown Ford occupies the land that was developed shortly after World War II as the Cumberland County Memorial Stadium, later renamed Pittman Stadium. From 1946 to 1956, the stadium was home to Fayetteville Cubs, A’s and Highlanders, which were minor league baseball teams. After the 1956 season, the Highlanders decided to disband the team, and shortly after that, Pittman Stadium closed.

    Fayetteville is rich in baseball history. If you wish to explore this fascinating topic further, visit the “Fayetteville Baseball Fever” exhibit at the Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum located at 325 Franklin St. The exhibit features a wealth of local history, trivia, photographs and artifacts. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. Tours and guest speakers can be arranged by calling 910-433-1457, 910-433-1458 or 910-433-1944.

  • 10 quetuckerBarring any last-minute changes caused by the situation with COVID-19, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has set a tentative date of June 15 for hopefully allowing its member schools to resume some kind of workouts in preparation for what it hopes will be a fall sports season.

    But the look of those workouts and the look of the fall sports season are pictures that will both be dramatically altered and possibly out of focus based on the various plans that have been put forward for how teams can proceed.
    On a video conference call with reporters statewide last month, NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker announced the official extension of the current summer dead period to June 15, hoping that by then, the Phase Two plan of reopening the state of North Carolina would allow enough flexibility for teams to conduct some kind of practices.

    “We will be very deliberate in our task, which is one reason we have not rushed,’’ Tucker said.

    The main reason for taking it slow, Tucker said, was to carefully develop plans to make workouts safe as possible and allow coaches and athletic directors time to develop their own local plans of how to secure things like hand sanitizer and set up hand-washing stations.

    “It will not be possible to prevent every student-athlete from contracting COVID-19,’’ Tucker said. “It’s our goal to do everything in our power to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, our coaches and the communities represented by our schools.’’

    For some sports, like football and wrestling, summer workouts will likely not allow any physical contact, making them more sessions devoted to conditioning than actual practice sessions.

    Tucker said the current NCHSAA plan is not to hold any team back from practice once June 15 arrives, but to allow all of them some form of workouts within the guidelines set down by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The National Federation of State High School Associations has also issued a lengthy set of guidelines, but Tucker said the DHHS guidelines would take precedence.

    The big question yet to be answered is will there be a fall sports season, especially football, which generates much of the revenue that is the life blood for the entire athletic program at many schools.

    The other question yet to be answered is how many fans, if any, would be allowed to attend football games or other sporting events. That is a question Tucker is not ready to answer.

    “To not have any fans in the stands would be rough,’’ she said. “We are not at the point yet where we are pulling up the tent on football this fall. We are hopeful we can have some fans.’’

    Once the fall arrives, Tucker said the NCHSAA will look at any option possible to putting teams on the field, especially football. That could mean everything from a later than normal start to cutting the season short.

    NCHSAA bylaws do not prohibit moving a sport to another season, but Tucker said that’s something that the NCHSAA would prefer not to do. “Moving sports season is a last resort,’’ she said. “It’s too early to talk about that. It’s very clear whatever we do will not be outside the parameters of the guidelines from the governor and DHHS.’’

    For the moment, Tucker said the most important thing is that all agencies involved in deciding when and how high school sports will resume be consistent with what is put in place.

    “It is important we are all singing from the same song sheet,’’ she said.

  • 09 radio broadcastAt this moment two of the deadliest words that can be uttered or typed are "I heard..."

    Eighty-two years ago, Orson Welles did a radio broadcast, a dramatization of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds," that had thousands convinced Martians had landed in New Jersey and the world was ending.

    People took up arms and needlessly threatened each other and some almost committed suicide rather than be incinerated by a Martian ray gun.

    And this was many years before social media, which has turned anyone with a smartphone and working fingers into a person with their own internet megaphone.

    If you hear something or see something suspicious, check it out with the authorities.

    If you must share with friends, do it by private message before stirring a wider panic. Resist the urge to go back in time to 1938 and tell folks the Martians have landed. Be cautious. Be vigilant. But most importantly, be responsible.

  • 08 sandsThe stereotypical image of a librarian is someone who has a stern visage, repeatedly asks people to stay quiet while studying and chastising library patrons for failing to return books on time.

    Pamela Sands is anything but the image of the stereotype, both in how she does her job and in the title itself, which has morphed from simple librarian to media coordinator. Whatever the title, Sands is obviously good at what she does.

    For the second time in six years, Sands, who works at New Century International Middle School near Hope Mills, has been named by the Cumberland County Schools as its media coordinator of the year. She now competes for statewide recognition, an honor she previously won in 2014-15.

    A native of Pennsylvania, Sands relocated to Cumberland County in 1998 to take a teaching job here. She taught at the high school and elementary school level in the county before becoming the media coordinator at New Century when it opened.

    She said the job of media coordinator had always been her dream, even though landing it required her to return to school to get a masters degree in library science.

    While some still refer to Sands’ job as librarian or in some cases media specialist, she said the position has changed a great deal from the stereotypical image of what a librarian does.

    “It is a more diverse role, really the best of both worlds,’’ she said. In her job, she not only gets to teach children but also interacts with the staff members at her school, helping them in their teaching jobs.
    She feels her top responsibility is to instill and inspire her students with a love of reading. But the advance of technology has expanded her role.

    “It is also on our shoulders to teach them to be good digital citizens as we’ve moved into the world of being online,’’ she said. “There are a lot of things we teach the students about evaluating information, how to use the information you
    find online.’’

    Her work with her fellow teachers involves collaborating and sharing resources with them. She is involved in helping her cohorts with professional development, something
    she enjoys.

    When it comes to the task of encouraging students to read, Sands said she strives to be creative. “We do things out of the box,’’ she said.

    She does what she calls book tastings, where she gets students to sample different books in hopes of finding something that inspires them. She also has her students do what she calls book snaps, where they create a snapshot of the book by interacting with the text and putting their personal feelings on what they are reading.

    Every year, Sands tries to bring in an author, usually from North Carolina, to meet with her students and discuss the book or books they’ve written. “That sparks a personal connection with the kids,’’ she said. “I always see the kids reignited with their love for books, especially with a book written by a person they’ve gotten to meet.

    “I try to keep current with what the kids are interested and involved in,’’ she said. “I’m also a big believer in sharing with staff. As I find cool tools they could use in the classroom or see things that go along with their curriculum I share it with them.’’

    Unfortunately, with the growth of the internet, there are some in the business of cutting costs who argue brick-and-mortar libraries filled with books and magazines are things of the past and that we should turn to strictly digital sources of information as a way of saving money.

    That kind of thinking saddens Sands, who argues that the printed word is still a critical piece of educating today’s students.

    “Children aren’t reading online as much as we think they are,’’ she said. As proof, she notes the circulation of digital ebooks is far outstripped by how often students check out printed works.

    “Kids still prefer the printed book,’’ she said. “Making sure we provide these resources is essential.

    “The act of reading allows us to have shared experiences. The characters in the books we read, the information we find in books and magazines, helps us find a connection to the world.’’

    Sands said that’s especially important now when many people are cut off from the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “For our own emotional health, these connections are vital,’’ she said. “I can’t imagine a world without libraries. Who’s going to teach them other than the librarian?’’

  • 12 madisonpompeyWestover High School’s Madison Pompey has been named the Region 4 winner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Willie Bradshaw Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

    The scholarship, which is worth $750, is presented to winners from each of the state’s eight geographic regions, with two statewide winners getting an additional scholarship of $1,000.

    The winners are chosen from outstanding minority nominees for the award, which is named for Bradshaw, a Durham native who was a star athlete at Hillside High School and a longtime coach and athletic administrator. He is a member of both the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and National High School Halls of Fame.

    Pompey competed in both cross country and track and field during all four years she was a student at Westover. She was a team captain her junior and senior years and earned second team all-conference, lettering in both sports.

    She also received the Distance Award and the Coach’s Award.
    She is active in her church as a member of the youth group and a participant with the church’s liturgical dance team.

    Pompey volunteers both at her church and with local civic organizations. She plans to pursue a degree in forensic science.

  • This time of year, high school football coaches are usually getting ready for a long summer of conditioning workouts with their teams in preparation for the start of official practice in North Carolina on August 1.

    11 01 BillSochovkaBut the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering uncertainty over what kind of, if any, football season we’ll have this fall has the Cumberland County Schools senior high school football coaches taking a far more cautious look at what a return to the sport could mean.

    None are more circumspect in their feelings about this fall than veteran Pine Forest coach Bill Sochovka. Like all of his fellow coaches, his main concern is the health and safety of his players and coaches. He’d like to wait and see what goes on in states that are opening up practice faster than North Carolina.

    “A later date would give us a better understanding,’’ he said, adding he’d prefer to have preseason practice no earlier than July 1.

    “People forget that high school sports, particularly football, is a natural petri dish for germs,’’ Sochovka said. “Anytime a kid gets a sniffle or a stomach bug, you’re going to have six or seven kids on the team wind up getting it.’’

    11 02 jakethomasSochovka said the sport of football is already under the microscope for how it handles injuries because of the recent concern for the treatment of players who suffer concussions. “We’ve got to think about kids and safety first,’’ he said. “We’ve got to be smart about it.’’

    Another concern is just what kind of football we’ll be playing when the sport first resumes. Jake Thomas, coach at Cape Fear, noted that the preliminary practice guidelines set down by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations turn practice into more of a case of strength and conditioning than actual game practice.

    “Screening every athlete and coach every time you meet with them seems not financially feasible,’’ Thomas said. “Schools already have limited budgets, and now football games without fans and a band
    will financially destroy high school athletics and many schools.’’

    Thomas thinks coaches may need to look for pre-determined risk factors like a respiratory condition and possibly not allow at-risk athletes to come out for the team.

    “At some point, we have to go back to living life and stop hiding in fear,’’ he said.

    Terry Sanford coach Bruce McClelland said his staff has already worked out a rotation of players to limit numbers in the school’s weight room, along with plans to sanitize all areas used by players and team staff.

    “There are so many different professional opinions I have listened to — it’s become confusing,’’ he said. “I am honestly hoping we get some good news in the near future from the medical field that will help make this an easier decision.’’

    Seventy-First coach Duran McLaurin would love to be practicing, but he’s cognizant of what that could entail. “I’m very concerned with keeping my players safe more than any reward I can think of right now,’’ he said.

    Regardless of what happens, the advice given by new E.E. Smith head coach Andy Karcher is likely the wisest. “The biggest takeaway from this is to be patient, keep everything and everyone as clean as possible and don’t take any unnecessary risks,’’ he said.

  • 10 01 gareydoveThere’s one major advantage to being involved in the recreation business at the time of something like the current pandemic.

    At least that’s the opinion of Maxey Dove, assistant director of the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department.

    “It’s one of the bigger fields for leaning on your neighbor,’’ said Dove, who has been doing a lot of that lately. He’s reached out to fellow recreation personnel from programs around the area that Hope Mills competes against, feeling them out for ideas and suggestions on what they are doing during this situation.

    “There’s a lot of networking, a lot of communication in parks and recreation that’s beneficial to everybody,’’ Dove said. The problem is there’s also one consistent thing he’s been hearing when talking to his counterparts.
    “It’s certainly unprecedented times and unprecedented circumstances,’’ Dove said. “Everybody is kind of learning together.’’

    10 02 browerparksignHope Mills has already been faced with one difficult decision, the cancellation of its entire spring sports program that normally would have stretched well into the summer months.

    Sports wiped off the spring calendar include indoor soccer, baseball, softball and wrestling.

    Dove and his staff are in the process of refunding registration fees that had already been paid and said it will take roughly three to four weeks to get checks written and returned to everyone who signed up.

    The Dixie Youth organization, with which Hope Mills is affiliated, also canceled its annual World Series, but Dove said that was done with good intentions.

    In a normal year, teams compete first in the regular season then select an all-star team from their local league to advance into state competition in hopes of reaching the Dixie Youth World Series.

    By eliminating the World Series, the Dixie Youth officials hoped to encourage local leagues to play as long a regular season as they could, if they were playing, and not cram a short season together just so they could put an all-star team on the field for the World Series and only allow a handful of players the chance for extended competition.

    “It wasn’t just about the select 12,’’ Dove said of the all-star teams.
    While Hope Mills is shut down for the spring, Dove said other states are further ahead in opening up their recreation programs for play and some are already on the field for baseball.

    However, in talking with officials from other states where baseball is taking place, he said they are observing strict safety precautions that are making the game a lot different from what we normally see.

    For example, players aren’t allowed to sit in the dugouts when they’re not on the field. Yellow ribbons are placed along the fence six feet apart to indicate proper social distancing. Each team has its own baseballs and they are bleached every inning or half inning.

    Dove said he and his staff at Hope Mills had also discussed some possible precautions they may take if baseball resumes in the fall league at Hope Mills this year.

    The fall league is a noncompetitive league for players ages 7-12 designed as a developmental program that doesn’t focus on wins and losses but on getting the players ready for the following spring season.

    Dove said some of the ideas discussed are having teams leave the field completely after practice before allowing another team on the field, and possibly having separate entrance and exit gates to the field.

    They also discussed counting spectators, and possibly limiting each player to having only a single parent able to come and watch the game. Providing hand sanitizer and disinfecting the dugouts was also considered.

    Dove said other states have been trying different things to keep the games as safe as possible. Among them are not allowing players to steal, no high fives between players and coaches and putting the home plate umpire behind the pitcher’s mound to call balls and strikes.

    “At a certain point, it’s still a contact sport,’’ Dove said. “They’re doing everything they can to create distance.’’

    The next sports season on the calendar is fall, and Hope Mills is trying to take a positive attitude toward being able to compete then and plans to launch fall sports registration in the near future.

    The good news is the recreation department has been working toward doing registration online and that will be in place for the fall season, so people won’t have to physically come to the recreation center to sign their children up for competition.

    In addition to getting ready for the fall season, the recreation department is making needed repairs and improvements to the Gary Dove Memorial Building at Brower Park. The multipurpose structure was named last April in memory of Maxey Dove’s father. Gary Dove was a long-time coach and leader in the Hope Mills youth sports program.

    A new roof and gutters will be placed on the building, along with repairs to the building’s sheet rock. In addition, some of the upstairs space where the Hope Mills Youth Association used to meet will be converted to office space for Dove.

    The two-story structure already has a concession stand, restrooms for men and women and a multipurpose activity room used for cheerleading and wrestling.

  • army-ground-forces-band.jpg

    The Army Ground Forces Band kicked off its Summer Concert Series beginning May 29 at Festival Park. The series of five concerts will run from May through August. All shows are free and open to the public.

    “We are the musical ambassadors of U.S. Army Forces Command, the largest [command] in the Army,” said Capt. Dae Kim, who serves as the commander and conductor of the Army Ground Forces Band, headquartered at Fort Bragg.

    “We like to get out in the community,” Kim said. “Not only to tell the Army story but to put a face on the soldiers of Army Forces Command.”

    The 54 soldiers assigned to the Army Ground Forces Band are a deployable unit as part of FORSCOM Headquarters, and must maintain their soldier skills such as physical fitness, weapons qualification and proficiency in other common troop tasks. 

    They are also talented musicians, Kim explained. 

    “Most play an instrument. Many have advanced degrees with many having experience in some of the finest music schools and conservatories across the country,” he said.

    He is an accomplished clarinetist. Before joining the Army, Kim graduated Officer Candidate School as a Distinguished Military Graduate. All soldiers in the unit “went through a rigorous audition process” before being selected for the Army Ground Forces Band, which is considered one of the top three in the Army.

    For some performances, the Concert Band showcases the talent of most of the unit. To maximize their talent and provide as many shows as possible (on average 225 performances a year), the entire unit can be broken down into seven smaller ensembles.

    The Summer Concert Series performances feature the Concert Band, which maintains a large and varied repertoire of traditional and contemporary pieces. Other ensembles include the Ceremonial Band, which performs in parades and ceremonies; the Loose Cannons, a rock/pop band with some R&B, Hip Hop and Country; the Dixieland Band; and multiple Jazz combos. 

    The unit also has Woodwind and Brass Quintets which perform and specialize in crafting clinics and classes for high school and college music students, “bringing years of experience and musical knowledge to young musicians while showcasing Army professionalism” according to the unit’s website.

    Summer Concert Series

    • 240th Army Birthday, June 12, 7 p.m. at Festival Park

    “Celebration of the Army’s history, we tell the Army story through music,” Kim said. “We want everyone to come out and help us celebrate their Army.” 

    This is the concert not to miss, he said. The celebration will include cake.

    • Dancing Under the Stars, June 26, 5 p.m. Hay Street 

    This is the only concert in the series not held at Festival Park. A dance floor will be constructed in the middle of the street in front of the Arts Council, Kim said. The concert will include “something for everyone” with a variety of tunes ranging from ballroom to new classics. 

    • Kid’s Night, August 14, 6 p.m. at Festival Park

    “There will be a family friendly atmosphere,” Kim said, with a picnic area and interactive events targeted to ages 4 to 8. Children will be able to hear professional musicians talk about music and instruments and answer questions. Children will also be able to march along behind the drum major.

    • End of Summer Blast, Aug. 28, 8:30 p.m. at Festival Park

    This second annual end of summer blast will be in conjunction with the Arts Alliance/4th Friday/Fayetteville After 5. Kim said concert-goers can expect patriotic tunes as well as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the “1812 Overture” with a salute battery (live cannons) in the finale.

    For more information visit armygroundforcesband.com or check their Facebook page for the latest information about concerts and full schedules.

  • Have you ever heard the phrase “as rich as Croesus”? 06-23-10-online-poker.jpg

    Those of a certain age, or possessing a classical education, will surely remember the phrase as both a description of great wealth and a reference to a famous Lydian king in ancient Asia Minor.

    Lydia had become fabulously wealthy as the ancient world’s cross between Hong Kong, Wall Street and Dubai. It was a focus for international trade. It was a place of great financial innovation. It was, in fact, the place where coined money was invented.

    Not coincidentally, Lydia also appears to be the place where dice were invented. If you think you can have money sloshing around without someone wanting to gamble with it, you have been living a very sheltered life. Come join us out here in Reality Land, won’t you?

    Yes, I’m talking to you folks in North Carolina’s governing class — to state legislators, county commissioners, mayors and sheriffs. All of you who have supported past attempts to ban video poker, and now want to pass new legislation to ban the “Internet sweepstakes” parlors that have been springing up across North Carolina.

    I’d heard about the phenomenon, of course, but it really came home to me a couple of weeks ago when I was frequenting my favorite seafood restaurant down in Calabash, Captain John’s. Right there across the parking lot was a former seafood hut that had been turned into an “Internet sweepstakes café.” Then I began noticing similar establishments all around Brunswick and Columbus counties, then all the way back to my home in southern Wake County.

    Not being inclined to risk my money so frivolously, I didn’t go into any of these places. Don’t need to. I’m reasonably certain that they look and feel just like the old video-poker rooms I’d previously visited, or like any gambling establishment on the fringe of respectability and/or the law.

    The patrons came in at least three varieties. First, there are the few people just out to try something new. Most won’t be back. Second, there are the people who fancy themselves to be “serious” gamblers and insist on the awesome potential of some secret system. They’ll be back, pathetically. Third, there are the many people who are so desperate that they’re willing to risk their last nickel hoping for a big score. They’ll be back until their money runs out.

    I’m no fan of gambling. But I’m also no fan of government officials sticking their noses into other people’s business. Many of the same politicians who gave us North Carolina’s squalid Education Lottery then went after video poker — can’t have those grubby private businesses competing with the state for gambling dollars — and now want to shut down the most popular way to evade the ban, Internet sweepstakes.

    The Greensboro News & Record’s Mark Binker reports that the House Democratic Caucus recently tried and failed to come to some kind of consensus on what to do about Internet sweepstakes. My guess is that there’s also a division among Republican legislators in both chambers.

    Whatever you think of the state’s current public policies on gambling, please don’t be deluded into thinking that government can actually forbid it. Again, gambling is literally as old as money. Last night, thousands of North Carolinians gambled their money on Web sites, in private card games, at pool halls, with bets on sporting events, by buying lottery tickets, at the Harrah’s casino on the Cherokee reservation and in Internetsweepstakes cafes.

    If North Carolina bans the latter, all the other gambling will continue. And the video-poker industry will come up with yet another way to satisfy the manifest consumer demand for casino-style gaming.

    So even if you’ll never agree with me that government ought to respect the rights of individuals to do what they want with their own money, at least consider the possibility that you might just be wasting your time and my tax dollars on a pointless exercise.

    In other words, please stop betting my money so poorly. If I want to blow it, I’ll do it myself.

  • 15Shane Wilson has been a full-time resident in Fayetteville since moving to the city in 2014. After almost a decade here, he calls the Can-Do City his home. Wilson is a professor in the English department at Fayetteville Technical Community College and is active in the local arts scene.

    “It’s nice that there’s a space here for artists where artists and artists of all varieties like visual arts, poets, all that. It’s been, I think, really nice to be able to be a part of a community like that,” Wilson said.

    Wilson has published two novels so far, “A Year Since the Rain” and “The Smoke in His Eyes.” The novels are part of Wilson’s “World of Muses.” They aren’t sequels to each other, they are stand alone novels, but they both take place in the same world.

    “The world feels pretty much like our world. It’s not set in sort of like middle earth, fantastical ideas. There are no elves and things like that. It’s mostly just regular people and regular places. But there are these magical people in the world. It’s like a reimagining of Greek muses, is how I’m explaining it. It’s called The World of Muses. These people are brought up in a school where they’re taught how to inspire people to change or grow, and all of the users have their different focuses,” Wilson said while describing his series of novels.

    His book, “The Smoke in His Eyes,” won two awards at the Spring 2022 edition of The BookFest’s Book Awards. It received second place for Contemporary Fantasy, and third place for Coming-of-Age Literary Fiction .

    He suggests people read his second novel, “The Smoke in His Eyes,” before “A Year Since the Rain,” in order to fully immerse in the world, but they can be read in any order.

    His upcoming novel, “The Woman with a Thousand Faces,” is the final post-apocalyptic chapter of this world.

    The novel follows newspaper reporter Sean Forrester, who was convinced that Troy Gideon, the CEO of Pure Elemental, had nefarious plans for the top-secret Project Skylight. He needed only to find proof. But that was before a globally cataclysmic event, and Forrester lost everyone he ever loved in an instant. He is alive, emotionally traumatized, and questioning everything he can remember.
    He ends up staying with a woman he doesn’t know. She’s a muse and is able to access Sean’s past if he wants. That’s where the bulk of the story takes place.

    “It’s a post-apocalyptic, dystopian kind of world that the novel opens up into a sort of on the other side of some globally cataclysmic event. Even though it’s post-apocalyptic and dystopian, it breaks that tradition from a lot of those kinds of stories because it’s not exploring the entire world. It really is just focused in on these two characters that are locked inside of this house to try to stay safe because they don’t really know what’s going on,” Wilson told Up & Coming Weekly.

    The inspiration for the story came from a memorable night of talking and drinking with a close friend from college.

    “I had one of those nights where you get a couple of bottles of wine, and you just like hash out your entire life story with somebody,” Wilson said.

    Despite the book sounding like it was written during or after the COVID pandemic with its theme of locking down and being stuck in a house with someone, Wilson wrote this well before mandates and masks.

    However, Wilson did say that during COVID, he started to write more short-form escapist stories.

    The book, “The Woman with a Thousand Faces,” is expected to be published on July 20.

    There are no scheduled events at this time, but Wilson expects to do local signings and readings, as well as digital conversations when the book is released. Wilson’s books are available on Amazon. For more information about Wilson and his previous works, go to https://www.shanewilsonauthor.com/

  • 14cCape Fear Studios is a nonprofit fine arts organization providing opportunities for visual artists and art patrons to work together in promoting and learning visual arts. It’s mission is to involve, educate and enrich Cumberland County and surrounding communities with the opportunity to create and freely view art.

    Cape Fear Studios provides art studios for rent, a gallery for exhibitions of work by member and visiting artists, and classroom space for private lessons, workshops or classes. There is also retail space for visitors to purchase paintings, photographs, sculptures, pottery, wood and glass art, and fine jewelry.

    Up & Coming Weekly asked two member artists to discuss the latest exhibit which displays work submitted for the Annual 2D Art Competition.14a
    Annette Szcezktek and Rose Kennedy have been members of Cape Fear Studios for over 10 years each and have seen the show grow over time.

    When asked what makes this show special Szcezktek says, “All of the artists that are part of the show have to be jurored in. Meaning they have to go through a judged selection process, competing with hundreds of other applicants from all over the country.”

    The 2D Competition displays 39 works of art from artists in eight states from California to New York. The exhibit features 2D art in many techniques and styles. The exhibit was judged by North Carolina watercolorist Russell Jewell, an internationally acclaimed watercolor artist.

    14bVisiting the 2D Competition exhibit is a chance to explore the facility. If you’ve never been to Cape Fear Studios, you’re in for a treat. The studio space is covered with art from several mediums. The work is custom-made and local.

    “We are the only place I know of locally where you can find everything in here is original art. It's unique, one of a kind,” Kennedy said.
    The Annual 2D Competition exhibit will be on display through July 25. Cape Fear Studios is located at 148 Maxwell Street. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    For more information about Cape Fear Studios or the 2D Art Competition exhibit, visit www.capefearstudios.com or call 910-433-2896.

  • As the weather gets warmer, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden is blooming with life. With more than 2,000 varieties of plants and flowers, including a camellia garden, a heritage garden and a children’s garden, there are plenty of sights and scents to enjoy.

    For the second consecutive year, the CFBG will provide sweet music to complement the serene environment. As part of the CFBG’s Spring Concert Series, The Coconut Groove Band will play a wide variety of classics under the twilight skies, June 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., rain or shine.

    The Coconut Groove Band, or CGB, as the band prefers to be called, features an eclectic mix of music, including songs by the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and several other artists. The band also plays music by Led Zeppelin, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and the Allman Brothers for those who prefer the classics.

    06-05-13-sping-concert.gifWe realize that everyone has their own musical tastes and try not to alienate anyone,” said Rick McClanahan, who is on guitar and vocals. “We figure everybody in the audience is going to hear something during the show that they really enjoy.”

    The Coconut Groove Band has been playing together since 1996, at which time the band covered a number of Jimmy Buffet songs. Over the years the band broadened its repertoire. McClanahan said the name Coconut Groove Band doesn’t represent the wide variety of music they play, but the name stuck. The four members, McClanahan, Eric Willhelm (drums), Leslie Pierce (bass) and David Harper (keyboard) offer the audience much more than tropical rock.

    “We all four sing — which is one of our greatest strengths. We’re very proud of our harmony arrangements,” McClanahan added. “We are able to perform songs that most other bands would never attempt.”

    The Coconut Groove Band is the fourth band in the spring concert series. The CFBG added a fifth band to the series this year. The last concert will be held June 28 featuring Fantasy, a rhythm and blues band.

    Kensley Edge, director of development and marketing for the CFBG, said, “The gardens are a wonderful attraction in the Cape Fear region. The concerts are an addition to the beautiful scenery and other activities the gardens offer,”Edge said.

    “It’s an activity that everybody can enjoy,” Edge added.

    Elliotts Catering of Pinehurst will have food available for purchase at the concert. Beer and wine will also be sold at the event. All proceeds benefit the garden.

    Come out and join the CFBG and get your groove on with the Coconut Groove Band June 14. The garden is located at 536 N. Eastern Blvd. in Fayetteville.

    The price of the concert is included in the cost of general admission. Garden members get in free. It is $8 for general admission, $7 with military identifi cation. The price of admission for children ages 6-12 is $2.50. Admission is free for children fi ve and under.

    The CFBG is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. A garden café is also open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

    For more information, visit the website at www.capefearbg.org.

  • 12aVisitors to the exhibit titled The Ocean World of Ivy Rittenhouse, at Gallery 208, will view works of art created by an individual whose history, temperament and career are rooted in the sciences. Logic might suggest that science and the arts are opposites, yet they are aligned in many ways — both careers attempt to comprehend and communicate something about the world around us.

    Opening June 8, the exhibit was created by a chemist whose mind is filled with complex data and knowledge about the “identification of the substances of which matter is composed; the investigation of their properties, and the ways in which they interact, combine, and change to form new substances.” As an artist, Rittenhouse effortlessly communicates the essence and possibilities of our biosystem in ways we do not normally see. Through the mediums of watercolor and alcohol inks on paper, we are to experience the subjects which inspire the artist.

    After earning a degree in chemistry from Eastern New Mexico University, for 30+ years Rittenhouse has been the laboratory operations manager in the Department of Chemistry at Fayetteville State University. Having knowledge and interest in the oceans, one of Rittenhouse’s most recent assignments was maintaining “The REEF” at Fayetteville State University. (The REEF is one of the few places in Central North Carolina for visitors to see coral reefs and reef organisms.)

    Ask her anything about a healthy ocean ecosystem, and we will hear Rittenhouse’s explanations about coral life and the abundance of sea creatures dependent upon its structure. Through her gifts as an artist, we are able to observe the aquatic world in a new way. Best described by the words of Amanda Thompson (in her article titled “Making a Place: Art a Multi-Modal, Multi-Disciplinary Approach”), Rittenhouse’s images are “wordless explorations of place that allow for the intersection of imagination … alternative ways of encountering, experiencing and responding to the complexities” of nature.

    Rittenhouse is the quintessential example of “there is no set path for someone to become an artist.” For Rittenhouse it was the result of an active outdoor life of scuba diving, riding horses and being an “outdoors person” that came to an unexpected, dramatic and painful halt. The arts became a type of therapy, a recovery.

    Rittenhouse shared the story of how she became an artist and the incidents that changed her life. “During 2011 and 2015 I was given an antibiotic, in the fluoroquinolone family, after surgery. The first adverse drug reaction (ADR) was misdiagnosed. It was the second ADR that destroyed my joints and tendons resulting in a right hip replacement, tendon repair and years of physical therapy.”12b

    “Just for something to do during my recovery, I started using colored pencils to fill in the pictures of horses in adult coloring books. Suffering from pain, I was living in a dark place in my mind, so I used bright colors to offset the darkness. I later framed the pictures and gave some to my doctors and friends and was told that I was particularly good with colors and should put away the coloring books and start painting for myself. So I did. I began with watercolors, then moved on to alcohol inks, and I’m currently working with acrylics. The bright and stunning colors are comprised of elements, and the paint allows me to interpret the images in my head into art, both chemistry and artwork hand in hand.”

    Rittenhouse is modest. When I saw her colorful framed works hanging in her office at Fayetteville State, I immediately knew I wanted to share her creative works and her story with the public. Her first one-person exhibit demonstrates her natural skills, talent and aesthetic relationship to oceans. It is also a story about perseverance.

    A natural colorist, Rittenhouse brings her sensitivity and observation of colors to her creative work. Perhaps her earliest appreciation of color and its influence was growing up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, famously known as the Land of Enchantment. While her father, a physicist, worked at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (later changed to Los Alamos National Laboratory), Rittenhouse stated she spent her “free time horseback riding through the canyons, admiring the beautiful azure blue skies, the rusty color of the clay mesas, the picturesque and polarizing landscape. The turquoise and silver jewelry in the region is prevalent — the turquoise stones varying from sky blue to a paler sky blue, greenish blue, or pale green, depending on the quantities of iron and copper within each stone.”

    The experiences of color while growing up in New Mexico, her love of oceans, and her interest in scuba diving have all influenced her fascination and appreciation for color. Whether it is the vibrant colors you would see in the aquariums at “The REEF,” or while scuba diving, Rittenhouse has experienced the spectacles of color and uses those memories to evoke an essence of beauty and harmony in aquatic environments.

    In Rittenhouse’s paintings, we see intense colors first but also sense the perpetual movement of water — a harmonious water environment and its life forms are present. In her “Ocean Blue Series,” blues and earth colors remind us of abstracted shorelines or what might be just under the surface of crashing waves. Sea dragons and goldfish swim with ease in reflected and refracted light-sourced environments.

    Rittenhouse has chosen to paint something she is passionate about. It is that passion that continues to inspire and stimulate her creativity. Through the mediums of watercolor and alcohol inks, she is able to express her emotions for the subjects she chooses to paint. Even though Rittenhouse’s work is a creative and interpretative approach to color and form, a glimpse into biodiversity appears
    in the way the artist uses colors, shapes and sea life in their watery environment.

    Rittenhouse invites us to look at what is overlooked. We are moved to feel what she has experienced — a wonderous, vigorous and harmonious ecosystem filled with an array of bright colors and constant movement. The rhythm of tides can be experienced through the artists’ use of patterns of color and passages of light. Even in her small works, we become immersed and float just beneath the surface of a watery and shifting place.

    It was not by accident The Ocean World of Ivy Rittenhouse opens on June 8. Rittenhouse is a naturalist and an activist who is highly aware of how the coral reefs are being damaged by ocean acidification, so it was appropriate for her first one-person exhibition to open on this day — World Oceans Day.

    World Oceans Day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008 to raise awareness about the role of the United Nations and international law in the sustainable use of the oceans and their living and non-living resources.

    World Oceans Day was established to remind everyone of the importance and major roles the oceans have on planet Earth and sustainability.

    Gallery 208 celebrates Ivy Rittenhouse as an artist who not only appreciates and understands our biosphere but is able to successfully share and express her experiences of water and water life with others through the discipline of art making. Her body of work is a celebration of our aquatic ecosystem, its stunning beauty, and also its mysteries.

    The public is welcome to meet the artist during the opening of The Ocean World of Ivy Rittenhouse between 5:30 and 7 p.m. on June 8. The exhibit will remain in Gallery 208 until Aug. 15.

    Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan Street in Fayetteville, and is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    For information call 910-484-6200.

  • 14b Local artists will showcase their talents at an upcoming exhibition hosted by Ellington-White Contemporary. The exhibition opens on June 17.

    The artists have been taking part in the A.C.E. Program, which is designed to teach, encourage and cultivate artists in Fayetteville.

    A.C.E. stands for Arts, Cultural and Entrepreneurial Skills for Artists Workshop. The program is intended to serve as a springboard for visual artists who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. The idea for the local program began with gallery operator Dwight Smith.

    Being an artist can be a confusing road to follow at times. With the new age of social media and the internet at everyone’s disposal, many artists have the same kinds of questions and problems like, “where can I submit my work? How can I make my art into a career?”

    While getting asked these questions, Smith figured it was time to apply for grants from the Arts Council to collaborate and help local artists.

    Up & Coming Weekly got a chance to speak with Smith to learn more about the A.C.E. Program and how it helps the artists who participate.

    “The idea was to have a program where we train and provide information in a series of sessions that would give artists all the information that they would need to know in developing their career as artists,” Smith said. “We also open up exhibition opportunities for those artists and show them what’s available here in Fayetteville for them to be able to start, jumpstart their
    career,” he added.

    The A.C.E. Program started in November of 2022. It was spread out over multiple months to allow intense workshops on one day out of the month. In that one day a month, community artists come to the Arts Council and present the program to participants, and other interested community members. The following Saturday, they presented the program in a more intense training session while discussing homework assignments and answering one-on-one questions.

    The program consisted of the following topics: career planning, time management, portfolio building, marketing, promoting yourself, pricing your work, record keeping and legal considerations, funding and grant writing, and business planning.

    The program was a version of a three week program from an organization in Minnesota called Springboard for the Arts. They had a program called Work of Art Business Skills for Artists. Smith and his colleague Beverly Henderson were able to tailor the course to be 10 weeks, opening it up more to the public and allowing people to either come to every session or pick the ones most needed for them.

    “We had curriculum packets we would pass out to everyone in the sessions. We also would have a PowerPoint that introduces the program and who we are. Also introducing this program as a safe space for artists was critically important for us,” says Smith.

    The program participants who will be showcasing their work at the exhibit are the core group of artists that attended every session and went through the portfolio review process to see how they’ve applied all of the teachings.

    According to Smith, several artists are involved in other programs around downtown now because they’ve gotten that kind of encouragement from this program to give them that extra push. He said this program is extremely important to the foundation of artists and a precursor to what it takes to be a successful artist.

    The public is invited to the free exhibition. Make sure to go see the great progress made by local artists who are a part of this program. The exhibit opens on June 17 at Ellington White Contemporary located at 113 Gillespie Street in downtown Fayetteville.

  • Pages from WVJULY2017 Eflip

  • 06-04-14-shakespear.gifThe classic works of William Shakespeare have entertained audiences for centuries and are regarded by many as timeless masterpieces. Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, and many others have been adapted into almost every spoken language on the planet and performed countless times around the world.

    This summer, The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, The Museum of the Cape Fear and Fayetteville State University sponsor the third season of a local group that performs works of William Shakespeare in our area, Sweet Tea Shakespeare.

    Sweet Tea Shakespeare was founded in 2012 at Fayetteville State University by Jeremy Fiebig, who is an Assistant Professor of Theatre. He says he founded the group because he wanted to, “dig back into work with Shakespeare... I wanted to get Fayetteville interested in Shakespeare, too.”

    To perform, Fiebig has assembled a cast of actors that he describes as, “a mix of local professionals, some of my students, students from Methodist University, recent alumni from FSU and Methodist, Campbell University and students at FTCC … We have actors who have worked with us before, who have worked at Gilbert Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre and the university theatres in the area. People will recognize them from other work in the community. That is one of the things that we pride ourselves on, these people on stage are known.”

    The group is set to perform two shows; one series in June and another in July. Love’s Labour’s Lost runs June 18-22, and is directed by Jeremy Fiebig. The Taming of the Shrew, the second show of the season, runs July 16-20, and is directed by Greg Fiebig, who is a Professor of Communication and Theatre at Indiana-Wesleyan University, and the father of Jeremy Fiebig.

    Both shows begin at 7 p.m., and are performed outdoors on the grounds of the Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear on Arsenal Avenue. Fieberg has chosen to perform outdoors because, “doing any type of theatre is about making magic and there are a lot of ways to go about getting that magic; the play itself, the scenery, costumes, lighting, the effects, actors, music. For Sweet Tea, much of that magic comes from the beautiful environment of Southeast North Carolina. We are about beautiful spaces and beautiful words; we selected the Poe House because it is a beautiful environment. It adds to the magic of the play, the magic we bring as actors, musicians and artists.

    “Sweet tea is something everybody has in common around here, it is everywhere, and it is something everyone can enjoy. Shakespeare can be, and is, all of those things, too. We want to be the best party in town. A lot of Sweet Tea Shakespeare is built around the idea of community and an event. When you come to Sweet Tea Shakespeare, you are getting a great production of a play but you are also going to get the opportunity to hang out with other people. We want Shakespeare to be at the center of that party. But that party doesn’t happen unless the community is there.”

    Find out more about Sweet Tea Shakespeare at www.sweetteashakespeare.com.

  • Continued attention to National Safety Awareness Month in June al-lows us to focus again on senior safety.

    Nearly 90 percent of seniors say they want to stay in their home. Doing so gives them a wonderful sense of continued independence.

    But having mom or dad live alone can be a source of worry for their adult children. The, ”What if?” sce-narios can often overwhelm the mind. “What if she falls down?” “What if he forgets something on the stove?” “What if she doesn’t tell me it’s get-ting harder for her to get around?”

    If you feel like this, you’re not alone. In 2007, the AARP surveyed Boomer women and found that two-thirds are concerned about their par-ents’ ability to live independently.

    Vast amounts of information are available at your fingertips withthe internet.

    Available on www.caregiverstress.com is the following:

    Answering the Call features a senior emergency kit, which includes work-sheets and checklists which were developed by Humana Points of Caregiving. It is designed to help family caregivers gather details about a senio06-22-11-senior-corner.jpgr’s doctors, pharmacy and insurance company, medications and dosages, as well as aller-gies. Power of attorney and other important information.

    This toolkit will provide you with all the important information you need in a centrally located file so you are ready for a crisis, day or night. The toolkit materials are available for download on www.caregiverstress.com.

    Other topics available at the same location are:

    • Senior Depression

    • Senior Scams

    • Senior Driving an Individual Issue

    • Look and See Signs of Aging

    • Threat of Natural Disasters Calls for Preparedness Plan to Protect

    Seniors

    • When it’s Time to go to the Doctor … Here’s What to Ask

    • Senior Holiday Checklist• Senior Safety Checklist

    • 10 Signs a Senior May Be in Trouble

    Photo: Nearly 90 percent of seniors say they want to stay in their home. Doing so gives them a wonderful sense of continued indepen-dence.

  • Ignite the Referral Cycle

    The best way to grow your business is through referrals. We’ve all heard this but few of us take the time to analyze what motivates one customer to refer another and how we can cause that to happen more often.

    Regardless of what you sell or to whom you sell it, your happiest customers sometimes refer other customers. The referred customers cost nothing (or next to nothing) to get, have high initial feelings of loyalty toward the business and are in turn more likely to refer others. This is called the Referral Cycle. The cycle is difficult to get started but once initiated, no advertising campaign can come close to it in efficiency or longevity.

    Starting a referral cycle begins with happy customers. Does your business give good service and/or a quality product for a fair price? I did not say low price because your price could be higher than a competitor’s yet be a better value if the quality is higher or the service is better. Is every customer greeted with a smile and made to feel welcome and appreciated? Are problems solved quickly and with the same smile? Do you follow up after the sale to ensure that the customer is fully satisfied? Do you reward customers with gifts that show appreciation for their business and support the referral process? In short, are you satisfying your customers or are you impressing them? It is the impressed customer who is most likely to become a referral machine.

    06-26-13-business.gifWhen I need a reminder of how an impressed customer looks, I remember my days as a Domino’s Pizza Manager. The franchise I worked for had an aggressive policy for handling customers who were unhappy with their pizza. We would immediately send a driver with a replacement pizza and a full refund of the original order in cash — plus a gift certificate for another identical pizza to be ordered later. So the customer now has three pizzas (the bad one, a good one and a certificate for the next one) and all of their money still in their pocket. I happened to personally deliver one of these replacement pizzas and I’ll never forget the look on the woman’s face when I explained the deal — total shock, which quickly turned to outright giddiness. We wanted to guarantee that this formerly unhappy customer was turned into not just a happy customer but a referral machine. Our thinking (and our sales growth supported it) was that there is no more highly-motivated spokesperson for your product than one who has been taken from sorely disappointed to deeply impressed in less than thirty minutes. Thankfully, these occasions were relatively rare so the cost was negligible, but the impact was powerful.

    Once you have impressed a customer, they need as many opportunities as possible to bring up your company’s name and talk about the great service they received. An effective catalyst for conversation is a small handy gift on the customer’s refrigerator or desk. Not only does the gift say, “Thank you” to the customer but whenever your industry’s product or service is mentioned anywhere in sight of the gift, then the recipient can easily point to it and say, “Call these guys, they’re great!”

    A study by Georgia Southern University shows that recipients of promotional products had a significantly more positive image of a company than those who did not.

    Ignite your own referral cyle. Give great service. Offer a quality product at a fair price. Treat mistakes as an opportunity! Give your happy customers every excuse and opportunity to refer their friends and associates. And watch your sales grow.

    Photo: Providing excellent customer service can lead to referrals, which leads to more business.

  • 22Sweet Tea Shakespeare will be closing its summer season with the thrilling play "Pericles." The story tells how a young prince finds his way in the ancient Mediterranean. Pericles faces off against an evil, adulterous king, fights off the best of the best to win the love of his life and wrecks every ship he sets foot on.

    "It is like a high seas adventure story, episodic through the whole thing. So instead of one long adventure, it's five little vignettes," Guest Director Marshall Garrett told Up & Coming Weekly.

    Garrett is not new to Sweet Tea Shakespeare. He previously directed "The Devil's Charter" for the troupe in 2020. Garrett mirrors the mindset of Sweet Tea when it comes to performing Shakespeare.

    "We spend a good deal of time at the beginning of the process, making sure that everybody is on the same page," Garrett said. "How to approach Shakespeare as a performance text and how that's different than, say, a classroom, making sure, we all know the words, and we all know not just like the exciting Shakespearean ambiguities, but also what the play means to us right now. And we've just finished that phase with 'Pericles.'"

    The production has moved past the script's subtext and is currently being staged.

    "This next phase is actually creating the theatrical events, using a script. Also, all of the actors are singers and musicians, and they put on the kind of concert that envelops the production," Garret said.

    While this may be the last production for the season, new faces are joining the performance.

    "We do have some old favorites coming into the show, but we also have a lot of fresh blood," Garrett said. "So the vibe will be a bit of a variation on the theme as far as the general Sweet Tea experience."
    The show will run for two weeks at 325 Arch St. in downtown Fayetteville starting on July 13 through July 24. Performances will be held Thursday through Sunday. Each show will feature a live music preshow starting at 6:45 p.m. The play will begin at 7:30 p.m.

    Parking is available in the garage across the street, and patrons should expect sloped and uneven terrain in the yard.

    As with every Sweet Tea Shakespeare event, food and signature drinks will be available for purchase.

    Following its two-week run, "Pericles" will perform alongside two other productions from this year's season from Sweet Tea Shakespeare.

    "Much Ado About Nothing," "Party at Jay's," and "Pericles" will run in two weekends, where audiences can, in the span of just a few days, see all performances.

    "Much Ado About Nothing" will run on July 28, July 31 and Aug. 5. "Party at Jay's" will run on July 29 and Aug. 6. "Pericles" will run on July 30, Aug. 4, and Aug. 7.

    Ticket prices range from $10 to $22. A live stream ticket can also be purchased for $10 and will be available only for Saturday night performances. Tickets can be bought at www.sweetteashakespeare.com/tickets/.

  • 13On Friday, June 17, the Public Works Commission will host its 17th Annual Public Works Art Exhibition. The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.

    The self-proclaimed "biggest local art show" will be on display at The Arts Council of Fayetteville and will be an evening filled with much to see.
    To celebrate 100 years of service, PWC teamed up with The Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County and became an official sponsor of their annual art show. This event, previously titled Public Exposure, was a part of the community before PWC's involvement in 2005. With a name change to Public Works, the event has become one of PWC's most valued endeavors.

    The Public Arts Exhibition is the Arts Council's largest attended show each year, with as many as 200 pieces of art on display. According to PWC Communications and Community Relations Officer Carolyn Justice-Hinson, for PWC, each year continues to get bigger and better.

    While some might question the pairing of a utility service and local art, Justice-Hinson feels it makes perfect sense.

    "This event is a great celebration of art in our community because it's open to everyone — just like us," she explained. "We take the opportunity to be there on opening night, and we'll have information available on conservation, and we exhibit a few of our trucks and equipment. For us, it's a good tool for community outreach and education about some of our services.

    Like so many other major events around the city, this summer is the first Public Works Art Exhibition since 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event, held downtown during the Juneteenth weekend, will feature art and artists of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels.

    Justice-Hinson is excited to see new art and artists back up on the wall and is excited for them to share their work with the public.

    "I love opening night," shared Justice-Hinson. "It's open to so many people, there are a lot of first-time artists, and that's my favorite part of it — to see the artist and their friends and families, standing by their work and sharing their inspirations. It's really gratifying."

    The art on display is for sale at the artist's discretion and can at times cause a bit of a frenzy. Justice-Hinson recalls the entrepreneurial spirit of one young artist and his desire to sell his picture of a giraffe, drawn in crayon, for $35 to donate to his Boy Scout Troop. A bidding war ensued, and the little artist walked away with a hefty donation. In short, the PWC Art Exhibition is a place where anything can happen.

    This year, the People's Choice Award for favorite art pieces will be online on the Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County website. Voting will stay open until July 23.
    Justice-Hinson feels the show is for everyone, even those not normally inclined to think much about it.

    "We have fabulous artists in this community who submit year after year, and you never know what to expect, but you always know it's going to be great. Even if you aren't really into art, people can find something with which to identify in this show. There will always be something that speaks to the times."

    The PWC Art Exhibition opens Friday, June 17, and will run until Sunday, Aug. 20.

    The Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County is located at 301 Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/403683081667234 or www.wearethearts.com/exhibits.

  • 25Would you be interested in a new privately published memoir by a Bozeman, Montana lawyer, titled “Tilting at Montana’s Windmills for 50 Years”?
    No?

    But what if he were my law school classmate? Still, no?
    But what if I told you my classmate-author had been the lawyer for Charles Kuralt's long-time extramarital lover in her effort, after Kuralt's death, to secure a valuable tract of land in Montana that Kuralt had promised her before he died?

    Does that get you interested?
    Kuralt was beloved by people all over the country, but especially in his native North Carolina, for his human-interest stories on CBS TV’s “On-the-Road” and “Sunday Morning” programs. His warm, authoritative voice with perfectly pitched rhythms was irresistibly convincing.

    Kuralt was married for many years to his second wife, Petie, and they lived together in New York City. Only a few people knew about his dual life and his long-term friendship and financial support for Patricia Shannon.

    My Yale Law School classmate, Jim Goetz, is a hero in Montana for his work saving creeks and rivers. In his memoir, Goetz writes that Kuralt, “who fished in Montana, particularly in September, purchased land located on the Big Hole River.”
    Kuralt and Shannon had planned for him to convey this property to her in the fall of 1997 when Kuralt would be in Montana to fish. Earlier, however, Kuralt became very ill, suffering from lupus.

    To reassure Shannon about his intention to convey the parcel of Montana land on which she was living Kuralt wrote the following:

    "June 18, 1997 Dear Pat - Something is terribly wrong with me and they can't figure out what. After cat-scans and a variety of cardiograms, they agree it's not lung cancer or heart trouble or blood clot. So they're putting me in the hospital today to concentrate on infectious diseases. I am getting worse, barely able to get out of bed, but still have high hopes for recovery... if only I can get a diagnosis! Curiouser and curiouser! I'll keep you informed. I'll have the lawyer visit the hospital to be sure you inherit the rest of the place in MT [Montana] cx. if it comes to that. I send love to you … Hope things are better there! Love, C.”

    Kuralt died in a New York hospital on July 4, 1997, at age 62.

    Goetz agreed to represent Shannon. Although it was clear from the handwritten letter that Kuralt intended to give the land to Shannon, Goetz writes that the sole issue is whether the language or the letter “is sufficient to establish Kuralt’s intent to devise that property to Shannon.” Goetz writes that most of the estate lawyers he talked to thought that the language was “well short” of what is required to constitute a valid will.

    The judge in the first hearing agreed, ruling against Goetz and Shannon. But after four appeals to the Montana Supreme Court, “the first in 1999, the fourth in 2003,” they won. Shannon was awarded the property.
    Goetz acknowledges, “Although we won, most estate lawyers I’ve talked to think the result was wrong. Nevertheless, the case is discussed routinely in many courses in law schools around the country, probably because of Charles Kuralt’s celebrity status.”

    Goetz does not have a high opinion of Kuralt. He writes, “My impression, by the way, is that Kuralt, although a very warm public personality, had a dark, depressive streak. Rumor was around Dillon [Montana] that he and Shannon were heavy drinkers.”

    Goetz is a good friend and is entitled to his opinion, but if he ever comes to visit, after I thank him for his fascinating book about lawyering for good causes in Montana, I will remind him that for me and most others in this state, Kuralt will always be one of North Carolina’s great heroes.

  •     On Monday, June 9, Dr. William C. Harrison, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, was named the eighth recipient of the Jay Robinson Leadership Award given by the Public School Forum of North Carolina. The award honors the extraordinary leadership and service of Dr. Jay Robinson, former school superintendent, vice president of the University System and Chair of the State Board of Education.
        {mosimage}Dr. Harrison has served as a public school educator in North Carolina for more than 30 years. State Board of Education Chair Howard Lee said of Dr. Harrison in his endorsement letter, "Dr. Harrison’s dedication to education has extended beyond the school setting and into professional organizations, universities and public service. His service to each of these settings has been in the best interest of the rights of all children to a quality education. He has had a very public opportunity to demonstrate his courage while serving as superintendent of Hoke County Schools by supporting the filing of the now famous Leandro case (originally known as the Hoke County Lawsuit). Knowing the implications of such a suit regardless of the outcome, he never backed down from the position that all children need a level playing field to have an equal chance at success." Dr. Randy Bridges, nominator, worked under Bill Harrison in two school systems and said of him, "Dr. Harrison is dedicated to all students and is a man of integrity and commitment."
        Former Representative Gene Arnold, chair of the Jay Robinson Leadership Award Committee, commented that Dr. Harrison, like Jay Robinson, was deeply committed to helping all children achieve higher levels of performance. He said of Dr. Harrison, "Bill has persevered as Jay would have done to see that all children have equal opportunities and that resources, both instructional and financial, are provided to assist them as they strive to do their best. Having served as a mentor to Bill, Jay would have been very proud of him."
        Outgoing Chair of the Forum Board, Senator Katie Dorsett added, "Dr. Harrison has remained singly focused on very ambitious instructional goals for all students in every district that he has been in. He has also been a role model and mentor to numerous other educators on their leadership journeys."
        In addition to Dr. Harrison, the other finalists for this year’s award were William R. McNeal Jr., and William A. Shore. McNeal is currently executive director of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators. Prior to this position, McNeal was Wake County Schools Superintendent and the Regional, State, and National Superintendent of the Year. Under his leadership, Wake County became known as a school system of exceptionally high standards. William A. Shore, director of U.S. Community Partnerships for GlaxoSmithKline, was for many years the manager of administrative services with the company. The award was created to honor Dr. Jay Robinson, a distinguished educator, University of North Carolina vice-president, and former chairman of the State Board of Education, best remembered as the architect of the state’s ABCs accountability plan. Previous award winners include Laura Bilbro-Berry, 2000 N.C. Teacher of the Year, a N.C. Teaching Fellow and currently coordinator of the Northeast Consortium for the Wachovia Partnership East at East Carolina University; Dr. Tom McNeel, former superintendent of Caldwell County Schools, now retired; Dr. Jim Causby, former superintendent of Johnston County Schools, executive director of the NCASA and currently executive director of the N.C .School Superintendents’ Association; Dr. Bob Bridges, former superintendent of Wake County Schools and former chair of the Closing the Achievement Gap Commission, now retired; Judge Howard E. Manning, Jr., Wake County Superior Court Judge presiding over the Leandro case; Dr. Ann Denlinger, former superintendent of Durham Public Schools, now president of the Wake Education Partnership; and Phillip J. Kirk Jr., former president of NCCBI and now vice-president for External Relations for Catawba College.

  • uac062911001.jpg On Monday, July 4, North Carolinians from all walks of life will make their way to the intersection of Bragg Boulevard and Hay Street. There, they will celebrate the completion of Phase One of the North Carolina Veterans Park, a project that has been two and half years in design and construction and more than three decades in the making.

    The park, a project of the City of Fayetteville, was first suggested by the N.C. General Assembly almost three decades ago. There was a competition between a number of areas at that time, but Cumberland County won the bid to build the park. That was before Hurricane Fran and Hurricane Floyd wreaked havoc on our state. Staring down the face of two natural disasters, the legislature pulled back funding and the park was put on hold.

    Fast foward to 2008-2009, and the project began to gain some traction. At that time, former N.C. Senator Tony Rand was considering how much longer he was going to remain in the N.C. Senate. Rand, a proponent of the park and its placement within the confines of Cumberland County, brought the issues back up and was successful in getting an appropriation for the park. But, rather than the money going to the county, it went to the City of Fayetteville, which has taken the ball and run with it. Like Rand, city leaders saw the creation of the park adjacent to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum a win/win for the city’s historic downtown and the veterans who will make their way here for a visit.

    According to Craig Hampton, who works on special projects for the city, the placement downtown is “dynamic.” Hampton noted that as the park grows, it will eventually connect to the ASOM, Festival Park and Freedom Memorial park via walkways and bridges.

    The initial phase of construction will open during a special ceremony on Monday, July 4, that will feature participation by national, state and local veterans organizations, representatives from all five branches of the military and politcos, including N.C. Gov. Beverly Perdue; Joe Riojas, assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Mayor Tony Chavonne, City of Fayetteville. A special guest at the event will be Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, who is currently in Iraq. Helmick will take part in the event via VTC. In keeping with the patriotic theme of the event, the 82nd Airborne Division Ceremonial Band and the All American Chorus will perform in the new N.C. Veterans Park Amphitheatre.

    Following the dedication of the park at 10 a.m., the public will be invited into the park. Organizers are going a long way to make sure the day is one to remember and will provide free hotdogs, ice cream, lemonade and cake to those in attendance. And while the food is an added bonus, the majority of those in attendance will come to marvel at the park and the way it has transformed, yet again, the city center.

    Phase 1 of the park consists of 4.5 acres on the southside of Cross Creek. It showcases 10 water features, a visitor’s center, amphitheatre and boardwalk.06-29-11-ncvp-logo.jpg

    According to Hampton, “It has lots of architectural elements in it. The elements convey what the story line says: Respect, honor and pride that the people have in their veterans.”

    Hampton said the park is intended to be an “urban oasis,” that allows visitors to reflect, relax, enjoy and bond with their fellow veterans. It is a place where they can share their stories and their experiences, and it invites them to take pride in their service, and allows the community to honor them for it.

    One of the unique elements of the park is the vast use of public art.

    “Public art — in this case — has a broad defi nition,” explained Hampton. “Almost all of the things in the park have been designed to be appealing and have meaning — in short, the whole thing is public art.”

    Of particular note is the Oath of Service Wall, where the casted hands of veterans from all 100 counties will be on display. This project, under the oversight of the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County, and in particular, Fayetteville artist Soni Martin, truly defi nes what the park is all about.

    On the wall, there are the hands of 100 N.C. veterans, who range in age from 20 to over 100. Each hand is raised, much as it would have been when the veteran took his oath of service. There are 99 right hands on the wall, and one left hand. As Martin, explained, “The one man didn’t have a right hand, or a leg for that matter, he lost it in defense of our nation.”

    For more on the park, visit the website at www.ncveteranspark.org and look in next week’s edition for more on the art, artists and opening.

  • 14BoatequipmentIt’s been a little less than 10 years since the Gary Sinise Foundation lent a helping hand to the Cotton Volunteer Fire Department. The charitable organization was founded by Sinise, the actor known for roles in "Forrest Gump," "The Green Mile" and "Apollo 13." Now, the foundation has once again come to the aid of the Hope Mills fire station to help upgrade its equipment and ability to perform a wider variety of rescue operations.

    Cotton Deputy Chief Hank Harris said the Sinise Foundation helped Cotton obtain a new inflatable boat for water rescue operations, along with an assortment of other rescue equipment.

    Cotton’s first encounter with the Sinise Foundation took place about seven years ago following a tragic triple fatality fire. Harris said the foundation learned about the fire and reached out to the Cotton Fire Department to see if they could donate some equipment to help out.

    “They were more than generous,’’ Harris said.

    The latest help from the foundation is the result of Cotton Fire Department's growing need for a better ability to handle water rescues.

    Harris said this need has grown because of an increase in localized flooding from heavy rain. Another factor has been the threat of widespread flooding in the area spawned by hurricanes.

    The new rescue boat is a small model that can be quickly inflated and used in areas that are hard to access. Larger boats that need to be carried on a trailer, Harris said, don't work for tight spaces. He cited farm ponds as an example.

    Among the additional equipment obtained thanks to the Sinise Foundation was a rope gun, which can be used over long distances like a flooded river or creek. The rope gun allows firemen to set up lines to help bring people to safety.

    The remainder of the new equipment includes personal protective equipment for the firefighters who have to get in the water. Items like dry suits, thermal suit liners, helmets, gloves, boots and personal flotation devices are all part of that gear.

    Harris said Cotton Fire Department got a list of prices for the assorted gear from their vendor. The Sinise Foundation paid the vendor directly, and the equipment was then shipped to the fire department.

    Most of the firefighters are already trained in the use of the new equipment, Harris said. The few that aren’t will get in-house training and certification training at a later time when it’s available.

    Harris said there aren’t a lot of resources of this nature in county firefighting stations. “We’re trying to up our game a little bit where our resources and equipment need to be,’’ he said. He added that Cotton would have eventually been able to purchase the equipment with its own money, but there would have been a considerable wait.

    “It would have been a little bit here, a little bit there,’’ he said. Harris praised the work of Sinise and his foundation. “The foundation itself means a lot to first responders,’’ Harris said.

    In addition to first responders, Harris said Sinise strongly supports military groups and builds houses for veterans. “He’s an amazing guy,’’ Harris said.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    • Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday, June 27, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    • CANCELED: Festival Committee Monday, July 1, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Front Conference Room

    CANCELED: Board of Commissioners Monday, July 1, 7 p.m.

    • Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, July 10, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, July 15, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

    • Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, July 16, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, July 22, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Activities

    • Independence Day Parade and Celebration Thursday, July 4. Parade starts at 10 a.m. near Rockfish Elementary School. Celebration runs from 4-10 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park.

    • Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, July 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 13Venturing Crew 32Venturing Crew 32, representing the Boy Scouts of America Venturing program, made a clean sweep of the major awards handed out at the state level recently. The crew represents Hope Mills American Legion Post 32 and won for Venturing Unit of the Year; Venturing Advisor of the Year, Michele Harling; and High Adventure Boy Scout of the Year, Duncan Harling.

    Michele Harling, the Advisor of the Year winner, is the adult leader of Venturing Crew 32. The Venturing program evolved from what used to be known as the Explorer level of scouting.

    “When they started to go into niche careers, they took the kids that like to do outdoor activities and turned it into venturing,’’ Michele said. That happened in 1998.

    Venturing Crew 32 has been around for about 10 years and has always been a coed group with a focus and a purpose. For this group, the emphasis has been on scuba diving, hunting, climbing and supporting veterans because of its relationship with American Legion Post 32.

    A major reason for Venturing Crew 32’s win this year was its involvement in community service projects. One was the Governor’s Day of Service. From April 1 through June 30 last year, the crew took part in 1,400 community service hours.

    The group members dealt with problems related to last year’s hurricanes and also cleaned up Cross Creek Pistol and Rifle Club, which is the crew’s venue for shooting sports. The crew also put in time helping disabled veterans with hurricane cleanup of their yards.

    The High Adventure scouting award went to Michele’s son, Duncan. He earned a pair of scholarships to visit a High Adventure base.

    Michele explained that the goal of venturing is to get involved in activities that are considered high adventure. There are alumni from Crew 32 who are divemasters, rescue divers and open water divers.

    Duncan called his reception of the award humbling. “I figured I was not alone in doing all these really cool things (and) going out and helping other people,’’ he said. “I thought that was just what a scout did. The fact I got an award for it was a complete blindside.’’

    The Advisor of the Year award for Michele was the latest in a string of honors she’s won. Others include the district award of merit along with leader badges and a trainer’s key.

    “I get to advise them as the kids put together adventures,’’ Michele said. “My crew has put together some fabulous adventures.’’

    She said the most important part of the process for her is the success her scouts have enjoyed beyond their time with the crew. “I have several that have gone to college, several that have gone into trades, several that have gone into the armed forces,’’ Michele said.

    This summer, she has about a half-dozen crew members working at day camp at the John D. Fuller Recreation Center on Bunce Road.

    “We like being helpful,’’ she said. “We’re living up to the scout law. I’m probably proudest of the fact they keep doing it with them in front, me behind.

    “They determine what we do. They set the schedule. They put things together. It’s been great.’’

    Photo:  L to R: Venturing Crew 32 President Connor Coplen, Natsuko George, Evan Novak, Duncan Harling, Charlie Thoele, Michele Harling, unknown American legion boy scout committee member (hat in background), American Legion outgoing Commander Evan Thompson, Bryant Cunningham

  • 14MidnightBasketballThe Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department recently held the first installment of its new Friday Night Lights basketball program for the younger generation in town. By all accounts, it was a tremendous hit. 

    Stephen Kessinger has been working with the recreation department for about 10 months and, along with new recreation department head Lamorco Morrison, was one of the people behind the idea of the Friday night basketball program. The current plan is to hold the sessions each Friday, starting with the initial one held on June 7 and continuing until July 12.

    The target group is boys and girls ages 14-20. Kessinger said registration for the first session started about a month ago. The plan was to cut it off at 30 participants, but they decided to let signups continue past that number and ended up with 44 young people for the first one.

    After opening remarks from recreation department staff, the participants were divided into three-player teams. The court was split in half, and two full-court games with a total of 12 players on the floor were held at one time.

    Each game consisted of four four-minute quarters with a two-minute halftime. No score was kept. About halfway through the evening, a 10-minute intermission took place.

    While the event was planned to be coed, Kessinger said the vast majority of participants in the first one were boys, mostly middle schoolers. Most of the girls in attendance were there as spectators or came with family and friends, he said.

    While the games were being played inside the recreation center, two food trucks were set up in the parking lot outside.

    Signup for the next session of Friday Night Lights Out started anew at the first session. Kessinger said 25 of the original participants already signed up for round two, which was held June 14.

    Kessinger said it was decided not to allow people just to sign up one time and permanently leave their name on the list, in case they didn’t show up and kept someone new from taking part in the event. “We decided to let them sign up each week,’’ he said.

    The initial plan was to involve representatives from the Hope Mills Police Department in the event, either just to be present to interact with the participants or to actually play in some of the games. Kessinger said that didn’t happen at the first one but they will continue to work to involve the police.

    One thing they definitely plan to add for future versions of the event is a music element, most likely a live DJ playing songs and sound effects and adding commentary.

    Another potential change for younger people who were there as spectators would be to add some events for them outdoors, like cornhole boards, in addition to the food trucks, to give them some additional activities of their own.

    Kessinger stressed the entire event was free to everyone who took part, and it will remain free for the future no matter what additional things are added to it. The best thing about the first one, he said, was the conduct of the participants.

    “We didn’t have a single issue,” Kessinger said. “We didn’t have the first dispute.’’ In addition to two staff members who were working the games, Kessinger said he and Morrison were on hand getting feedback from participants and spectators.

    He estimated all in attendance got to play in at least eight games each during the three hours.

    “Everyone out there had an opportunity to play everyone out there,’’ he said.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Appearance Commission Tuesday, June 25, Parks and Recreation Center

    Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday, June 27, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    CANCELED: Festival Committee Monday, July 1, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Front Conference Room

    CANCELED: Board of Commissioners Monday, July 1, 7 p.m.

    Historic Preservation Commission July 10, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

    Board of Commissioners Monday, July 15, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

    Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, July 16, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Activities

    Independence Day Parade and Celebration Thursday, July 4. Parade starts at 10 a.m. near Rockfish Elementary School. Celebration runs from 4-10 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park.

    Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, July 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

    Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 13ReeceNunny Reece has been open during her two-year battle with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She has shared regular posts on Facebook about her journey and her crusade to increase treatment options for people like her who are suffering with the advanced stage of the disease.

    A new treatment she is undergoing has pushed her to another challenge in her battle: the loss of her hair. But like everything else she’s endured with battling cancer, Reece decided to take control of the issue.

    Instead of waiting for her hair to fall out in clumps, she attacked it head-on. She invited some family and friends to join her, drove herself to a Hope Mills barber shop, and had everyone watch as Victor Fontanez shaved her head bald.

    It was an emotional decision for Reece, who has for years seen her purple-colored locks as a statement of who she is. She said getting her hair done is something that makes her feel pretty.

    She asked Fontanez to shave her head because he had been a longtime friend of Reece’s sons when they attended school together in the South View district. “He was really, really great making me go through this transition,’’ Reece said.

    Nine members of her family came out for the event, including her three sons. She was surprised by one cousin who drove all the way from Greensboro to take part.

    Moving forward, Reece is leaning toward remaining bald and not wearing a wig or any other covering for her head. Her first plan was to wear a purple wig made by friends because she feared that her 9-year-old son might be scared seeing his mother with no hair.

    Reece said she was afraid he might think the treatment she was getting wasn’t working and that was why she went bald. “I had to explain with this new medication it’s going to bring mommy’s hair out but it’s going to help mommy live,’’ she said.

    If she does wear a wig, it will be to special events, like next February, when she plans to renew her wedding vows with her husband.

    “We’re hoping by then my hair will grow back,’’ she said. “If it doesn’t, I will wear one for the wedding.’’

    Reece said the message she’s trying to send to women like herself is it’s OK to go through the emotional side of things, to cry and to be upset. “It’s our truth,’’ she said. “It’s something we have to deal with, something we have to go through.’’

    She’s also sending a message to families of women who are dealing with breast cancer. “I hope other family members understand and try to be supportive,’’ she said.

    “I just want to enjoy in the blessing that I’m still here with my family and my friends, that I still have life.’’

    Picture:  Nunny Reece at First Impressions barber shop with her sons: Tylan (top left), Ryan (lower left) and Tavon (upper right).

  • 15BrettHamAnyone longing for the days when the fireworks on the Fourth of July were launched from the bridge on the dam at Hope Mills Lake is going to have to keep on longing.

    Changes to the local fire code over the years make it unlikely that the fireworks display will be moving back to the lake from its current home at the Hope Mills Municipal Park athletic fields on Rockfish Road.

    Brett Ham is the fire marshal for the Hope Mills area. He handles fire safety inspections as well as fire investigations and fire safety education.

    Ham, who’s been in the fire safety business for 22 years, said the protocol on handling fireworks has gotten stricter in recent years, resulting in tighter regulations.

    “Technically what has happened is (that) the higher a (fireworks) shell flies in the air, the farther you have to extend the safety distance for spectators,’’ Ham said.

    Because of that, the size of the shells used has to be adjusted to decrease the amount of a safety distance required. For example, at Municipal Park, the largest shell they can use to stay within safety limits is a three-inch shell.

    It would seem the lake would be a perfect location to launch fireworks with all of that water for them to land in and extinguish them. But landing’s not the problem. It’s providing a safe place for the people handling the fireworks to launch them.

    Ham said there are multiple issues that make the lake a difficult place for launching fireworks because of the code restrictions.

    One of the biggest is that if they are launched from the bridge, the people doing the launching don’t have enough options for where they can escape if something goes wrong.

    “They don’t want to jump off the bridge, and that’s what they’d have to do,’’ Ham said.  

    Shooting fireworks from the bridge would also block access for emergency vehicles answering fire, public safety and medical calls, he said.

    “You can’t have a vehicle near that stuff,’’ Ham said. “That cuts us off from the other side of the lake.’’

    Another common-sense problem at the lake is a lack of parking. People would have to walk too far to get close enough to see the fireworks.

    For people planning to stage their own fireworks displays in their backyards or on private property, Ham offered some advice.

    Don’t cross the border into South Carolina and come back with a carload of aerial fireworks. They are illegal. “Private citizens are not supposed to be launching those in North Carolina,’’ he said. “Nothing that flies.’’

    Ham said the fireworks you see sold in temporary locations around Cumberland County are legal as long as they don’t fly. “My best safety tip is to follow the laws,’’ he said.

    Even if you are following the laws, there are still some precautions to keep everyone out of danger in the backyard.

    It’s a good idea to have a bucket or other large container of water around to throw on even smaller fireworks that might misfire or otherwise get out of hand.

    Ham urges parents to supervise children with fireworks closely, even simple things like sparklers and firecrackers.

    “Most of the injuries are with children,’’ he said. “Parents lose track of them. You can get a thirddegree burn from a sparkler.’’

    Adults also need to be careful and keep fireworks away from things like propane gas cylinders or cans of gasoline for lawnmowers. Stay away from piles of brush and other things that are highly combustible.

    “They have to be aware of their surroundings,’’ Ham said. “If you or your children catch something on fire, you’re responsible for it.’’

    Photo: Brett Ham

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, June 12, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

    Board of Commissioners Monday, June 17, Luther Meeting Room, Town Hall

    Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday, June 27, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    Festival Committee Monday, July 1, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Front Conference Room

    CANCELED: Board of Commissioners Monday, July 1, 7 p.m.

    Historic Preservation Commission July 10, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building 

    Activities

    • Independence Day Parade and Celebration Thursday, July 4. Parade starts at 10 a.m. near Rockfish Elementary School. Celebration runs from 4-10 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park.

    • Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, July 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

    Hope Mills AreaKiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

    Promote yourself:Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 14DogJune has barely arrived, and Hope Mills and Fayetteville have already experienced temperatures over 100 degrees. That has veterinarians like Dr. Kent Dean of Southern Oaks Animal Hospital in Hope Mills concerned about heat dangers for outdoor pets.

    “Over the summer we’ll see from five to 10 heat strokes,’’ Dean said. Normally, those occur in older and heavier dogs, but as hot as it’s been already, Dean thinks all pet owners need to take precautions to make sure their animals are safe from the heat.

    Most of the preparations involve common sense, like making sure the dogs have access to shade and fresh water to drink when outside. When the thermometer reaches 100 degrees or more, Dean said it’s best to bring the animals inside to make sure they stay cool.

    Another precaution to keep them from getting injured is to be careful where and at what time of day the dogs get out for a walk. “We see people walking dogs on asphalt,’’ Dean said. “It will burn the pads on their feet. If it were me, I’d walk my dog early in the morning or late in the evening instead of at midday.’’

    One of the biggest mistakes a dog owner can make is leaving their dog inside a closed car when making a quick stop while out shopping or running errands. Dean said that’s a terrible idea, even when it appears to be a reasonable outdoor temperature as low as 80 degrees. “Even when it’s 80 degrees, it can get pretty hot in a car,’’ Dean said. “A lot of people can get in trouble for that.’’

    North Carolina law prohibits confining a dog, cat or other small animal in a motor vehicle where its health could be endangered by temperature or lack of food.

    If a dog is exposed to excessive heat for too long a period of time, Dean said it’s critical to get the animal’s temperature down as quickly as possible. If the animal can’t be immediately transported to an emergency clinic, one possible aid would be to put the animal in a child’s wading pool filled with cool water.

    Dean said symptoms of heat illness in dogs include passing out, vomiting and diarrhea. Too much exposure to excessive heat can cause neurological problems that the dogs won’t be able to recover from.

    If possible, the best remedy is to transport the dog to an emergency animal clinic so it can have intravenous fluids administered to both lower the temperature and rehydrate them.

    Dean also suggested some dogs with medical issues need to be checked out before hot weather arrives. “If they have any kind of heart issues or respiratory issues, they need to be extra careful,’’

    Dean said. “They get to where they are breathing too hard or can’t breathe. They start panting and the temperature starts to rise.’’ Dean said when he conducts annual vaccinations he gives dogs a full physical to check for those problems. He suggests that all dogs more than 7 years old should have blood chemistry work done to see if there are any underlying problems with their kidney, liver or heart that the owner needs to be aware of.

    For those with additional questions about heat safety for dogs, or any other concerns, Dean’s office can be reached by calling 910-424-3011 or visiting www.southernoaksanimalhospital.com. The Facebook page is Southern Oaks Animal Hospital.

  • 18FireworkTime is running out to apply to be either a parade participant or a vendor in this year’s morning Hope Mills Fourth of July Parade and evening Independence Day celebration.

    The separate forms for both parade participants and vendors are available on the town website, www.townofhopemills.com, by clicking on the links to Departments, Parks and Recreation and then Special Events. Both applications are due at the parks and recreation offices off Rockfish Road by June 14. The parade and the evening celebration are both on Thursday, July 4.

    Meghan Freeman, who is coordinating the parade and the celebration, said both entry forms and the packets that come with them include specific rules about do’s and don’ts for both parade entries and vendors.

    Any questions about what works and what doesn’t can be directed to her via her email at mhawkins@townofhopemills.com.

    There will be one major change to the traditional parade route. For years, it has started at Hope Mills Middle School on Cameron Road, wound its way down Main Street, then finished up on Rockfish Road near Town Hall and Municipal Park.

    For multiple reasons, this year’s parade route will be reversed. Parade entries will assemble near Rockfish Elementary School on Rockfish Road, then the parade will head in reverse back down Rockfish Road, under the railroad trestle and through downtown Hope Mills, ending at Hope Mills Middle School.

    Freeman said a major reason for changing the route involved the schedule of Fourth of July events. The parade begins at 10 a.m., and when it ends there is a long delay until 4 p.m., when the celebration begins at Municipal Park.

    With the new route, the area around the park will be cleared as soon as the parade has passed. There won’t be a crowd milling around waiting for the 4 p.m. activities to begin, and vendors will have plenty of time to get set up once the parade is over.

    Spectators won’t notice another major benefit from the change, but high school bands and other walking units in the parade definitely will. Now that the parade is headed in the opposite direction, people on foot won’t have to walk up two imposing hills. The first hill comes up from the railroad trestle and the second is the gradual incline from Main Street up Rockfish Road to the Town Hall and Municipal Park area.

    Freeman said although the bands didn’t complain, they weren’t terribly excited about the old route for that reason.

    Freeman said the Fourth of July parade usually draws about 65-70 entries and 30-40 vendors at the park. The annual Christmas parade is usually a bigger draw, she said, with up to 90 entries. It’s not that one is more popular than the other, she said, noting that the season of the year has a lot to do with it.

    “Christmas is usually bigger because it’s on Saturday and school is still in,’’ Freeman said. “There are more people here.’’

    A long list of rules is included in the form for the parade, but Freeman hit on a few of the bigger  ones.

    Businesses and organizations taking part in the parade can’t throw candy to the crowd from the floats. There is too much danger of people being injured scrambling for it. Any group that wants to give something out during the parade must actually hand it directly to spectators.

    No profanity or alcoholic beverages are allowed on floats.

    All parade entries who are mounted on horses have to provide for their own cleanup.

    All motorcycle riders in the parade must wear a helmet.

    The hours for the Independence Day celebration will be 4-10 p.m. and will include the traditional fireworks show.

    Several other activities, aside from the planned vendors, will be held at the celebration at Municipal Park. They include pony rides, a petting zoo, a 28-foot rock-climbing wall, a foam pit and a mechanical shark ride. Freeman said in the past the petting zoo has included a lemur, alpaca, kangaroo, llama and a miniature horse.

    She described the foam pit as being similar to soap suds. The mechanical shark is similar to a mechanical bull.

    Musical groups scheduled to perform at the celebration include Open Road and the Guy Unger Band.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

    • Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, June 12, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, June 17, Luther Meeting Room, Town Hall

    • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    • Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday, June 27, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

    • Festival Committee Monday, July 1, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Front Conference Room

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, July 1, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

    Activities

    • Independence Day Parade and Celebration Thursday, July 4. Parade starts at 10 a.m. near Rockfish Elementary School. Celebration runs from 4-10 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park.

    • Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, July 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

  • 17BubbleDomeNo one is more disappointed than Vernon Aldridge that the town of Hope Mills recently dropped its pursuit of building an indoor swimming facility at the old town golf course property. Aldridge was a member of the town’s recently-disbanded aquatics committee that was exploring a possible cooperation between the town, Hope Mills YMCA and other entities to bring an indoor pool to the community.

    As student activities director for Cumberland County Schools, Aldridge knows there’s a definite need for a public indoor swimming facility in Cumberland County to help continue the growth of high school swimming at the county’s senior high schools.

    “Swimming is probably the largest growing sport in Cumberland County right now,’’ he said. In just the past two years, he estimates the number of swimming participants in the county school system has doubled.

    He said there are currently about 250 high school swimmers in the county, representing every senior high school that has athletic teams. While some schools have small teams of just a few swimmers, he said there are multiple teams at the high school level with 20 or more swimmers. The sport has risen from minimal participation when it first started a little over a decade ago in the county, Aldridge said.

    The growth of the sport is more impressive when the burdens local swimmers have to endure to both practice and compete are factored in. Fayetteville State University has the only local indoor swimming facility that swimmers and their coaches can access for practice and competition. It is typically only available for practice sessions from 5:30-7:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.

    The Christmas break has been a major problem for swimmers and coaches for years as the Fayetteville State pool completely shuts down for a three- to four-week period, meaning the athletes can’t practice at all there.

    One thing that has helped the local swimming program recently is the addition of so-called bubble domes, or coverings, at outdoor recreation department pools at Westover High School and College Lakes Recreation Center. Aldridge said a third outdoor bubble-domed pool is in the works at Lake Rim.

    An indoor swimming facility would not only benefit Cumberland County swimmers but would likely attract swimmers from neighboring counties, Aldridge said. Robeson County Schools swim at the pool at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, while schools in the Sandhills Athletic Conference that includes Seventy-First and Jack Britt hold their meets at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg.

    Aldridge appreciates the cost of an indoor pool, which is why he was glad the Hope Mills YMCA wanted to partner with the town to pursue an indoor pool there.

    While Aldridge could not make any promises the county schools would be willing to get involved financially in the project, he said they more than likely would be a regular customer if an indoor pool is constructed locally.

    “We have a growing need for aquatic space,’’ Aldridge said. “We have a number of kids who are just swimmers, but we have a huge number of our teams with kids who are athletes in other sports. I think it’s a great way for those kids to stay in shape.’’

    He said the Johnston County Schools have partnered with Smithfield Parks and Recreation and are opening a pool on land owned by Smithfield-Selma High School. He’s also heard Harnett County is working on an indoor pool at the former Wayside Furniture building.

    “Whether (local) parks and recreation or Hope Mills or anyone is interested in opening that type of center (in Cumberland County), we’d definitely be interested in listening to what they have to offer,’’ Aldridge said.

  • The City of Fayetteville has made a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) manual available that focuses on developers and the administrative process. The manual is available on the city’s website at www.cityoffayetteville.org by clicking on “New UDO Zoning” under “Most Visited Areas.”

    The UDO regulations, which replace Chapters 25-Subdivisions and 30-Zoning in the City Code, govern the use and development of land in Fayetteville. After July 1, both new regulations and a zoning map are expected to be in effect.

    The manual is not required but was developed to help make the UDO more user-friendly. The document facilitates the application of the UDO and related application processes.

    Everyone should check the new zoning district defi nitions for their property and surrounding properties. The proposed zoning map, answers to most questions, and how to get more information is available in the public libraries, at City Hall (433 Hay St.), and at www.cityoffayetteville.org by clicking on “New UDO Zoning” under “Most Visited Areas” at the left of the page. You may call 433-1FAY (1329) if you do not have web access.

    There is one UDO public hearing left and it focuses on the 390 properties remaining to be translated to the new zoning district that is the closest match. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 27 at 7 p.m. during a City Council Meeting, being held at City Hall Council Chamber, 433 Hay St.

  • uac060513001.gif Fayetteville is full of venues for outside events, and Campbellton Landing is just one of many great choices for an outdoor concert. On Saturday,June 22, head to The First Annual Safe Havens River Fest. The day will be filled with music, fun, food and more.

    Beginning at 2 p.m., four local bands are set to entertain the crowds, all for a great cause, and best of all — it is free. A staple at local festivals, Fahrenheit opens the festivities. The band has performed at many popular venues around town including the Dogwood Festival and business openings as well as local watering holes. If Tom Petty and the Eagles are on your playlist, don’t miss Fahrenheit.

    Next up, ‘80s Unplugged pays homage to Rubik’s Cube, Swatch Watches and Members Only jackets with hits straight from the decade of big hair and skinny ties. While the band hails from Southern Pines, it is not unusual to find it performing in Fayetteville at places like Carolina Ale House and Luigi’s Italian Restaurant. Seal the Deal follows and Radio Boxx ends the show with funk, jazz and R&B.

    In addition to a day of great entertainment, River Fest includes a motorcycle show.

    “The Wingmen of Fayetteville Motorcycle Club are doing a bike show for us,” said Bobbi Hair, the event coordinator who serves as a case manager for family court.

    There is a $25 entry fee to enter the bike show. Trophies will be awarded for first and second place for American stock, sportster stock, big twin, custom sportster, custom big twin, bagger and Metric sport bike ,bagger, chopper, rat and best of show. Registration starts at 2 p.m., on the day of the event. Call 910-484-2936 or email www.9339mc.com for more information about the bike show.

    Stick around for the 50/50 raffle at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 per entry or $20 for five tickets. Participants must be present to win.

    There will be vendors on hand as well. So far, there are more than 20 vendors that will be there selling everything from jewelry and make-up to food and other homemade items.

    What is a day of festivities without great food? “We will have food vendors serving fare that is similar to what is served at other big festivals in town throughout the year,” said Hair. “Huske Hardware will be there selling BBQ sandwiches and other things and we will have a big selection of festival food including funnel cakes and things like that.”

    Proceeds for the event benefit Safe Havens. Safe Havens has grown from an organization that served eight families when it opened in 2004, to a service that serves about 130 families in Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Cumberland and Hoke counties on a regular basis. The court-run program has survived on grants until recently when an operating grant was not renewed. This put the organization at risk, along with the families that benefit from the organization’s services. Safe Havens acts as an intermediary for families that are torn apart. The agency facilitates visitation and works to resolve custody issues.

    “The reason for Safe Havens is when a judge hears a custody case, if they see that domestic violence is a problem or is alleged, or if there is substance abuse or the mom or dad has not been in the child’s life for several years, rather than let the absent parent visit unsupervised, they let the parent visit at Safe Havens,” explained Hair.06-05-13-riverfest.gif

    The parents do not have to interact. The facility provides visitation rooms with various themes, including a Hawaiian theme and solar system theme. The rooms are soothing, and Safe Havens provides toys and games. Social workers come into the center, and depending on the situation, they monitor the visits. When the child is brought in to the visiting parent, the social workers are trained to watch the body language of the child during the conversations and make notes.

    The notes are then submitted to the judge to review so the court can gauge how the visits are going and act in the best interest of the family.

    In addition to social workers, Safe Havens visits are supported by security services so that parents, social workers and kids are all safe during the visits and drop-offs/pick-ups.

    “It is just a wonderful agency,” said Hair. “It breaks my heart that it is possibly going to end.”

    Hair noted that there are several other grants that the organization has applied for, but so far the staff has not heard back from any of the benefactors. As things stand now, Safe Havens will close its doors on June 30, leaving about 130 families without service in Cumberland and surrounding counties.

    River Fest is a great way to raise funds and have a fun time, while making a difference in the community.

    While admittance is free, organizers anticipate the crowd will want to buy food and make purchases from the local vendors.

    “We are looking forward to everyone coming out and having a good time,” said Hair. “I am especially looking forward to getting exposure for Safe Havens. A lot of people don’t know what Safe Havens is and how well it serves the community. While this event may not raise the funding we need to stay open indefi nitely, we do hope to raise enough to keep the doors open while we pursue other funding avenues.”

    To volunteer at River Fest, or to learn more about Safe Havens, call 910.475.3225. The gates open at 2 p.m.

    Photo: Campbellton Landing, a popular venue for music events, is set to host the first annual Safe Havens River Fest on Saturday June 22. 

  • 06-19-13-littlemermaiud.gifSince 1837, the story of a young mermaid giving up her tail and life in the sea to be a human and find the love of a human prince has entertained millions. This classic fairy tale written by Hans Christian Anderson has seen many adaptations from musical theatre to animated film. The most famous version of this tale however is the 1989 Disney version called The Little Mermaid.

    This animated film version of the fairy tale was also adapted for the stage, and was performed on Broadway in 2008. This year the magic of The Little Mermaid, that has captured the imagination of audiences of all ages for years, will be coming to the Fayetteville community through the eyes of children.

    The Cape Fear Regional Theatre encourages an appreciation for theatre in all ages. All year long they provide the community with a creative outlet. During their regular season they create captivating performances for all to enjoy, and also offer creative outlets for performers in the community. In the summer the CFRT brings children into the theatre through their summer camps.

    This year the talented staff of the CFRT is pulling out the stops offering three summer camps for various ages. Children from ages 6 to 8 will be working with CFRT to create Disney’s The Jungle Book for Kids. There will not be public performances of this show, but it shows that a passion for theatre can begin at any age. Children ages 9 to 14 will bring to life Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. There are two camps for this production, one is being held in June and one in July. Both of these camps will have public performances. Older kids, ages 13 to 18 will work to create Side Ways Stories From Way Side School. This is a stage adaptation of a very popular book series written by Louis Sachar. The structure of this book is unique as each of the 30 chapters is a separate story that complements the others.

    For the June Little Mermaid camp performances are scheduled on June 28 and 29. The July campers will have their performances on July 19 and 20. The performances are at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, which is located at 1209 Hay St.

    Tickets can be purchased through the CFRT Box Office, online, by phone or in person. To purchase tickets online, visit the website www.cft.org/tickets.php. The phone number for the box office is 323-4233. The box office is closed on Mondays. Tuesdays through Saturdays hours are from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. On Sundays it is only open from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, visit the Cape Fear Regional Theatre website cfrt.org.

  • 06-26-13-nc-symphony.gifSit back in your chair and relax as you listen to the beautiful patriotic sounds of the North Carolina Symphony during the Independence Day concert on Monday, July 1 at 8 p.m.

    The symphony presented eight free outdoor concerts in communities across North Carolina. The first part of the series began May 31 and ran through June 13 with programs featuring famous and best-loved music from the movies.

    Now they are taking on the Independence Day concerts; all of these summer performances are part of the Concerts in Your Community series, too. “This is a great program of red, white and blue performances,” said Joe Newberry, director of communications for the symphony.

    Arlie Honeycutt, Miss North Carolina of 2012, of Garner, will open the program by singing the National Anthem and narrating a piece called “Liberty for All.” Favorite pieces by John Sousa are on tap and all songs were selected to honor the United States on its birthday. Newberry explains what will make this concert a huge hit.

    “North Carolina, especially Fayetteville, has a big military presence. It’s a good way to honor and serve those who protect our freedom on our nation’s birthday. And the music just brings people together,” Newberry said.

    Other projects they have worked on include the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring vocalist and guitarist Warren Haynes. Haynes is a former member of the Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule and The Dead. The night celebrated Haynes’s talent and the music of the symphony. It was a tribute to Garcia’s original music and celebrated his impact.

    The symphony is also big on volunteering. “Local volunteers love helping out the North Carolina Symphony. We really couldn’t do it without them —they are fantastic.” Newberry said.

    The symphony needs volunteer help with:

    CONCERTS
    • Volunteering at Will Call
    • Welcoming arriving patrons at Meymandi Concert Hall and other performance venues
    • Assist with “Support Your Symphony” or season ticket sales tables
    • Assist with pre-concert lectures

    OFFICE ASSISTANCE
    Work with staff to help with...
    • Mailings
    • Filing and organization
    • Photocopying

     

    AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
    • Serving as a neighborhood, civic or social group liaison
    • Representing the Symphony at community festivals, fairs and fundraisers

     

    EDUCATION PROGRAMS
    • Registering participants at the Teacher Workshop
    • Guiding students at the Youth Concerto Competition
    • Helping children at the Instrument Zoo prior to each Young People’s Concert

    The music has had a great impact on everyone who listens. Newberry has lived in North Carolina for quite some time and his kids have grown up listening to the symphony. “I love the fact that it lives up to its name — all concerts are in the state; and in Fayetteville, it’s a great community to have families come and have a good time. There is nothing greater than hearing a full orchestra. Everyone is massively talented, and that’s what I love.”

    Find out more about the N.C. Symphony at www.ncsymphony.org.

    Photo:  As part of the Concerts in Your Community series, the N.C. Symphony will perform in Festival Park on July 1. William Henry Curry, above, conducts a concert.

  • 17 Green Book Web Inside 1140x450 2The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, has created a new traveling exhibit about sites important to, and personal memories about, American travel during the “Jim Crow” era of legal segregation. The Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina traveling exhibit will be at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex though July 9.

    “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” published between 1936 and 1966, was both a guide and a tool of resistance designed to confront the realities of racial discrimination in the United States and beyond. The book listed over 300 North Carolina businesses — from restaurants and hotels, to tourist homes, nightclubs and beauty salons — in the three decades that is was published.

    The exhibit highlights a complex statewide network of business owners and Green Book sites that allowed African American communities to thrive, and that created “oasis spaces” for a variety of African American travelers.

    Eight vibrant panels form the traveling exhibit, showcasing images of business owners, travelers and historic and present-day images of North Carolina Green Book sites.

    The words of African American travelers and descendants of Green Book site owners are featured prominently in the exhibit. Each of these stories are from oral histories collected by the AAHC in 2018 and 2019.

    This exhibit was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and there is no fee to see this exhibit. Two versions will tour the state’s African American cultural centers, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, history museums, historic sites and libraries. For more tour dates and locations, visit https://aahc.nc.gov/green-book-project. For additional information about the exhibit, call 919-814-6516.

    The Museum of the Cape Fear is located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues in Fayetteville, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. The museum operates under the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

  • We often read reviews of movies, books, music that is from someone else’s point of view. Well this week in The Buzz, we’re going to read what Christian artists have to say about their a few of their new songs … in their own words.

    Chris August shares — “Center Of It” “

    My song ‘Center Of It’ speaks about how God is there from the beginning to the end. I know at times it’s easy to feel alone at your weakest moments, but it’s good to remember that Christ is always there. No matter the situation, good or bad, he never leaves us alone. Romans 5:8 says that in the midst of our sin, Chris died for us. This shows us that God wants us to come as we are. Whether you are rising or falling he wants to be there with you in the CENTER OF IT.”

    Citizen Way’s Ben Calhoun — “Should’ve Been Me”

    “’Should’ve Been Me’ is one of those songs that was already written before I wrote it. I was leading worship at a summer camp and the leader asked the students to sum up what they learned that week. One of the students said ‘Well, basically I learned that..., it should’ve been me.’ A melody and lyrics hit me like a freight train and I sang this song for everyone 20 minutes later. It’s a reminder of what the Lord has done, and what he is doing in all of us whether we recognize it or not. It still humbles me and continues to change my heart.”

    Kari Jobe — “Steady My Heart” 06-06-12-the-buzz.jpg

    “Psalm 55:22 says ‘Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be moved.’ The little season there, writing ‘Steady My Heart’ was one of those moments of life where I had a lot of questions and was asking God why some of the things have to be hard in our lives. I had found out some news that was pretty shaking for me. I was finding myself praying a lot, ‘God, hold my heart because this is so hard. I don’t know how to really make it through this.’ And he’s so faithful to do that. So whatever you’re walking through, whatever this season looks like for you — I pray that you would just know that he’s near to you. That he will sustain you and give you strength. And that he’ll steady your heart.” Some thoughts on a few new Christian songs from the artists who wrote them.

    Photo: Kari Jobe.

  • 19 Picture1Cape Fear Studios is hosting Evoke, an exhibit featuring member artist Angela Stout. The exhibit features her striking art creations in oil and will be shown June 23 through July 25. Stout is a contemporary painter, printmaker, photographer and sculptor.

    Also a veteran, Stout teaches art classes to the public. She is a graduate of Fayetteville State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Arts. Stout exhibits frequently in group exhibitions and competitions locally, nationally and internationally. Her artwork deals with evoking a feeling and the social condition.

    Cape Fear Studios is also excited about having its first open reception in a year on Fourth Friday, June 25 from 5–7 p.m. The event if free.

    Cape Fear Studios is a non-profit artist co -op, offering original pottery, woodwork, glass, jewelry, metalwork, paintings and photography. The Studio’s workshops and retail section will also be open to visitors.

    Cape Fear Studios is located at 148 Maxwell St. The Studio will be open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Questions can be directed to: artgallery@capefearstudios.com, or 910-433-2986.

  • 06-27-12-luminaries.jpgIn a town of people, most of whom have military connections, it is only fitting that the local service organizations take action to honor them. On July 1, the Fayetteville Pilot Club, a global international organization of executives, businesses and professional leaders working together to improve the quality of life in local communities and throughout the world, will salute the men and women who serve in the armed forces by lining Ray Avenue with Liberty Luminaries following a performance of patriotic music by the North Carolina Symphony and a finale of fireworks.

    Nettie McQueen, a member of the Pilot Club, explains the inspiration for the event as the club has been doing it for the past few years.

    “For a long time we were looking for different ways to honor the military, to celebrate all they’ve done for us,” said McQueen. “It sort of evolved from one project to another. We just borrowed ideas from other pilot clubs around the state. Many of them do luminaries for different things and we just decided it would be a good way to do our project for them, and it kind of grew.”

    As with any event, the fi rst attempt did not go smoothly. McQueen recalls the first Liberty Luminaries the Pilot Club held in honor of Memorial Day.

    “It was small at first, and our first one was down by the Airborne Museum. We barely got them lit and we had a huge thunderstorm,” she recalled.

    In a stroke of serendipity, the misfortune of the Memorial Day weather that continually befell the program lead to a partnership that improved the event. “One (Liberty Luminaries) we had to postpone. We started out on Memorial Day and again the weather was a real problem so we ended up closer to July, and then we found out the symphony does a patriotic concert down at Festival Park, and they do fireworks afterwards and it just seemed like a perfect combination. A good way to end the evening with a silent tribute after all the music and fireworks,” said McQueen.

    As a whole, the luminaries stretch out across the park in a beautiful and often touching display of light, but each individual luminary also contains the symbolism of the celebration. McQueen explains, “…the light inside the luminaries refl ects the gratitude we feel towards the military for giving us the freedoms that we have. We wouldn’t have a birthday if we didn’t have people who fought for it. The red, white and blue ribbons at the top of the luminaries represent their service to our country.”

    The Pilot Club also allows people to honor specifi c individuals by purchasing a luminary in their name for $5, which is the most touching part of the event McQueen says. “It will be a wonderful silent tribute that will end a lovely evening.”

    Forms to purchase luminaries are available at www. pilotclubfayetteville.org. The event will be held on July 1, on Ray Avenue from 8:30 to 10 p.m., following a performance by The North Carolina Symphony and a fi reworks display.

    Photo: On July 1, Liberty Luminaries will line Ray Avenue.

  • 05 11 The District Summer Market Logo light in dark out 1The Cool Spring Downtown District has launched the District Summer Market at Festival Park. This combined farmers and makers market is scheduled to operate from 4-8 p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 26 (except July1). Market wares, food, beverages, free entertainment and other activities will be available. Vendors are selling a variety of wares and products at the market each week including locally grown produce, meat and seafood as well as locally made artwork and artisan goods. Food and beverage trucks are selling meals and drinks. Canned beer from Bright Light Brewing Company and Lake Gaston Brewing Company will be available at the Cool Spring Downtown District tent.

  • Urinetown 4 03Gilbert Theater’s newest musical “Urinetown” is set to open June 4 and run through June 13, bringing some clean toilet humor to the public. Written by Greg Kotis, the musical originally premiered on Broadway in 2001, and it satirizes various social constructs.

    “One big-wig has taken over everything in the story and is monitoring the water use and making huge amounts of money doing so,” said director Robyne Parrish. “People literally have to pay to pee under the threat that they will be sent away to this place called Urinetown, if they disobey.”

    The storyline is set in a dystopia where a water shortage leads to governmental ban of private toilets and how one man, Bobby Strong, stands up against the unjust system.

    “The question is, ‘what is Urinetown?’ Is it a jail, is it an island somewhere, is it a work camp, what is it and you find that out as the story progresses,” Parrish said.

    The lead of the story rallies the town people to speak up and make change in the town, actor Quentin King said.

    “The main character meets and falls in love with the villain’s daughter, Hope, so there is a little bit of the star-crossed lover’s element,” actor Jacquelyn Kessler said.

    The musical puts a satirical spin on the legal system, and questions capitalism, corporations, corporate mismanagement and bureaucracy.

    “It has all the things you want to see in the musical, it’s got love, heartbreak, death and fantastic characters, so any big Broadway musical lover is going to love this show,” Parrish said. “Huge built-in numbers and great dance numbers, sweet ballads, it just has a little bit of everything for everyone.”

    Urinetown also mocks Broadway musical shows like “The Threepenny Opera” and “Les Misérables.”

    “It’s going to talk about social constructs so it will be a lot of poor versus rich for a lot of the scenes so hopefully the clothes will reflect that. One group will be dressed posh and the other very raggedy Ann,” Kessler said.

    Artistic Director of the Gilbert Lawrence Carlisle encourages potential audiences to not shy away from the production because of the title.

    “People should not be turned down by it being called “Urinetown,’ it’s good family fun and there’s something for everyone,” Carlisle said. “The opening night is sold out already.”

    For more information about the show and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.gilberttheater.com/index.php

  • 05 Circus Noir by Robert ArbogastIn an effort to continue the discussion on social justice, Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery is exhibiting Art & Social Justice, a national juried exhibition until June 26. For gallery owners Dwight Smith and Calvin Mims, like many of the exhibits, it is a way “for people to see the world from a different perspective.”

    Over 155 works of art were sent to be juried into the gallery or the online exhibit based on the prospectus: “We are living in a tumultuous time; the pandemic has illuminated many of the inequities in our country. How do we move towards equity? Why do we seem to be moving away from fairness? Make an impact with your visually representation of feelings and thoughts on social injustice today … we hope the exhibition will continue the discussion of our path to social justice.”

    Although the dominant theme in the exhibition is Black Lives Matter, artists have submitted an unexpected range of themes, styles and mediums based on the principle of social justice: every individual in a society has the same rights and opportunities to be treated fairly and equitably by the society they live in.

    An unexpected subject by Korean artist, Sueim Koo, from Ridgefield, New Jersey, is a good example of why visitors should come to the gallery or visit the exhibit online and take the time to read the artists’ statement. In her work titled “Marriage Life (I was Covering my Eyes, Ears and Mouth),” Koo mixes abstraction and realism, predominantly green and pastel colors, abstracted faces are covered by realistic hands and arms on a background of patterns.

    Without knowing what the artist intended, “Marriage Life” immediately leads us to understand there is a hidden social justice theme taking place. Koo’s artist’s statement is specific: “I am covering my eyes, ears and mouth with my hands in reference to the principle ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.’” It is also in direct reference to a Korean proverb about marriage. According to this proverb, a new bride should be blind for three years so she will not criticize anything she sees, dumb for three years so she won’t speak out and say something she may regret later, and deaf for three years so she won’t be upset by being scolded.”

    Koo’s work is built on a basic social justice premise: the value of oneself in a culture (and to herself) is not greater or lesser than others. The artist speaks to this by stating, “the proverb of the bride can also be used to describe my life as an immigrant … I would sometimes avoid situations in which I would be seen as a foreigner … there were many times I had to pretend not to see or not to hear in order to overcome feelings of humiliation. We must avoid these hurts caused by unfair beliefs about people with different skin colors, different language, different cultures and different gender.”

    In sharp contrast to “Marriage Life,” the digitally enhanced gouache titled “Circus Noir” by Robert Arbogast, from St. Augustine, Florida, stands out in the exhibit. Smaller than many of the works surrounding the print, the artist has said much with a minimal graphic design. Shapes and text in black, red, white and minimal green will speak to viewers from across the gallery to look closer — the artist mixes signals to create intent. Arbogast’s statement clears up the confusion: “’Circus Noir’ was inspired by circus posters. In that context, the image could be interpreted as a ‘trick shot,’ shooting a lit cigarette from a man’s mouth. The image can also be viewed as execution, the black man smoking a last cigarette before being shot. The ambiguity is intentional. But the hand holding the gun is white, an intentional reference to the epidemic of Black men being murdered by policemen.”

    The above are only two of the thirty-six works hanging in the gallery. The styles range from realism to abstraction, textiles, mixed media to paintings. Just as diverse are the social justice themes artists addressed in their work. Black Live Matter is a prevalent theme, but other themes include, but are not limited to, #MeToo, sexual orientation and gender identity, immigration and poverty.

    Curator- juror, Rose-Ann San Martino, must have had a difficult time selecting the award winners from such a varied range of work; but her experience as a professional artist, art advocate and being involved with Ellington-White Corporation since 2008 is a strong background of experience. San Martino studied drawing and painting at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally in group and solo exhibitions and can be found in private collections throughout the United States.

    San Martino worked from a valid system of assessment: “The work had to be well crafted, adhere to the theme of the exhibit, and the intent of the work needed to be immediately recognizable. Many excellent works were submitted, but the subject did not follow the theme of social justice.”

    She continued, “How does one select between a textile wall hanging, a print, photograph or a painting for an award? It’s never a hierarchical decision based on a medium, the image needed to be instantly recognizable and reflect what the artists included in the artists’ statement. Being recognizable can fall into the cerebral or sublime. For example, the first-place winning entry, a black and white photograph by Richard Perry, from Chapel Hill is an example of the cerebral — a hand pressing against a chain link fence is an image which immediately symbolizes not just one theme, but many themes of social justice.”

    As the curator and juror of Art & Social Justice, “I was not surprised but pleased that artists addressed so many different themes, and their approaches to the themes ranged from extremely serious to humorous and even quirky. For visitors to the gallery, or the online exhibit, should take the time to read the artist’s statement. We all bring our own meaning to a work but reading the artist’s statement may give someone a new way to look at a theme or an artist’s approach to a theme.”

    Other awards by San Martino include Jeremy Wangler, “7,” photography (2nd), and Sueim Koo, “Marriage Life (I was Covering my Eyes, Ears and Mouth),” mixed media (3rd). Honorable Mentions were given to a textile wall hanging titled “Gaslighter” by Mel Dugosh and “Circus Noir” by Robert Arbogast.

    You will have to visit the gallery (or go online) and see firsthand how artists have created works which intersect with political activism and social justice causes. The only artist from Fayetteville in the exhibit is Andrew Johnson.

    The exhibit is a means for raising awareness about social issues and affecting positive change. For information and to view the online exhibit, visit www.ellington-white.com/art-social-justice-exhibition. The gallery is located at113 Gillespie St. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday. For more information email ewp-arts@hotmail.com or call 910-483-1388.

  • 16 readingCumberland County Public Library presents “Tails and Tales” from June 1 to Aug. 15 at the Cumberland County Public Library. “Tails and Tales” is one of many 2021 Summer Reading Programs for children, teens and adults. It is designed for someone to read books, watch programs and win prizes. Participants keep track of their reading and earn virtual badges for the chance to win prizes like headphones, gift cards and color-changing mugs. Grand prizes include an annual family membership to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, a $100 gift card and a Kindle. Individuals can tack their progress by using a reading record which can be picked up at any library branch or downloaded and printed. Find your nearest branch and more information about the Summer Reading Program at https://cumberland.lib.nc.libguides.com/srp

    “Tails and Tales” is the perfect way to keep children and teens engaged in learning while school is out. Prizes start at just five hours of reading. The program helps improve reading skills, promotes creative thinking, imagination and storytelling. Teens can participate in fun activities like games, challenges and missions.

    Adults can take advantage of BookMatch, a new service that helps adults find their next great read. Customers can fill out a short questionnaire on the library’s website to identify books matched to reader interests and librarians create a customized list of book titles.

    Keep up with Summer Reading by following the library’s social media pages at facebook.com/CumberlandCountyPublicLibrary or YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/UCkKV_zbl08357r3rtgc0yxA. All library branches re-opened to the public in May. Library hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the library’s website at cumberland.lib.nc.us for more information and links to social media. Curbside service is available at all Library branches.

  • 18TSWork has finally started on demolishing the home football grandstand at Terry Sanford High School. The structure beneath the bleachers had reached a point where it could no longer be repaired. For the 2019-20 school year, the Bulldog football, soccer and lacrosse teams will play home games at Reid Ross Classical High School's John Daskal Stadium. Plans are to return to the rebuilt Terry Sanford stadium in the fall of 2020.

  • Grab your favorite lawn chair and get ready, Fayetteville. Big Rick & The Bombers will hit the stage for Fayetteville After 5 on June 20. The theme this month is Funk and the line up is sure to deliver a rockin’ good time.

    Based out of Raleigh, Big Rick & The Bombers have been together more than 16 years. They began as a blues band, but needed to start making money, so they began playing Top 40 hits. The group was nominated as best wedding band by The Knot magazine from 2008 — 2013. They have played at weddings all over the country including Boston, Key West and San Francisco.

    The band’s musical style can be described as everything from Top 40 to beach to R&B, rock, jazz and everything in between. Concert goers can expect a well-executed performance with some twists and turns.

    The group’s name comes from the World War II airplane, the B52 bomber. “We are just dropping musical bombs all over the place,” said band member Rick Nunez.

    After Fayetteville After 5, look for Big Rick & The Bombers at some of their favorite Raleigh spots, including 42nd Street Oyster Bar, Tony’s Oyster Bar, The Big Easy and Yancy’s.

    Nunez said, “I want to thank everyone out there for the continued support throughout the years. We love you guys.”

    For more information on Big Rick & The Bombers, or to purchase one of their cds, please visit06-11-14-fay-after-5.gifwww.bigricksoul.com.

    The June 20 show also features the band, Liquid Pleasure. Liquid Pleasure plays a mix of beach, rap, rock, standards and Top 40. For more information, visit www.liquidpleasureband.com.

    Gates open at 5 p.m. Acts begin performing at either 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. with the sounds of the summer carrying until around 10:30 p.m. No outside food or beverages are allowed within the park. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival.

    This event is presented in partnership with R.A. Jefferies — local distribut0r of Budweiser products.

    Don’t forget to register for your chance to win Jason Aldean tickets for the Sept. 6 show at the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh. To qualify, you must attend three of the five Fayetteville After 5 events and get your card qualified. Cards can be picked up at the WKML table during the Fayetteville After 5events. You must be 21 or older to enter.

    Don’t miss the remaining Fayetteville After 5 shows this summer. The July 18 show features Captain & the Keels, Yacht Rock — 70s and 80s Hits and Heart Brigade, Heart tribute band, while the Aug. 15 show features On the Boarder, an Eagles tribute band and Tuesday’s Gone, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band.

    For more information about Fayetteville After 5, please visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com.

    Photo: Fayetteville After Five is a family-friendly event that offers a fun-filled evening for people of all ages.

  • 06-12-13-pryer-awards.gifWhether you are a supporter of community theater, a blossoming thesbian or just a lover of silent auctions, food and fun, the Gilbert theater’s First Annual Pryer Awards will provide a wonderful evening of entertainment. The fundraiser will take place June 24 from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Gilbert Theater on Bow Street in Fayetteville. The event will begin with appetizers and drinks with a cabaret show starting at 7 p.m. The show will feature well-known local performers and will be followed by the announcement of awards for Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Supporting Performers, Best Play or Musical, Best Costume, Scenic and Lighting Design and a special volunteer award.

    The awards were voted on throughout the season by theater patrons and will be presented by local directors and friends of the Gilbert, Jeremy Feibig, Marcella Casals, and Gail Morfesis to name a few. Silent auction prizes will be announced at 8:30 p.m. by Robyne Parrish, acting artistic director of the Gilbert. Some highlights of the silent auction include art and book packages, jewelry, electronics and date night packages including dinners at Pierro’s and Circa, as well as theater tickets to Cape Fear Regional Theatre and Temple theater in Sanford.

    The awards were created to honor the founding artistic director Lynn Pryer, who hosted the Gilbert Theater in the basement of his home on Brandt Lanes starting in 1994. At its inception, the Gilbert shows were open and free to the public and took place in his small black-box theater. During shows of William Shakespeare’s works the productions spilled out into his lovely and theatrically lit back garden. It provided an acting outlet for many talented local artists and students.

    Later the theater was moved to the Arts Council building on Hay Street in Downtown Fayetteville before settling into its current home on the corner of Green and Bow Streets located near the Market House. The Gilbert Theater is named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. It is now located on the second floor of the Fascinate-U Children’s Museum at 116 Green street in historic downtown Fayetteville.

    Many well-known local actors are included in the nominations. James Dean, who has fascinated local theater audiences through his portrayal of characters at the Gilbert as well as Cape Fear Regional Theater, was nominated for not only best actor but also best supporting actor for his work as Henry The Fantastics character. Other best acting nominations include: Best Actress: Joyce Lipe, Amanda Lerner, Tracey Hinton, Carrie Carroll, Best Supporting Actress: Lindsay Myers, Carrie Carroll, Jordan Ballentine, Ruth Crews, Best Actor: James Dean, Patrick Riviere, Best Supporting Actor: James Dean, Philip Gilfus.

    While speaking to Lynn Pryer, he stated that he is deeply honored by the inception of these annual awards and hopes the community will continue to focus on excellence in the theater arts. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the local theater arts scene. Find out more at www.gilberttheater.com.

    Photo: Gilbert Theater’s First Annual Pryer Awards scheduled for June 24 are named for Lynn Pryer, the founder of Gilbert Theater.  

  • 17Caleb KringsEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    Cape Fear High School continued the most successful era of football in school history last season with a 7-5 record. It included a trip to the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-AA football playoffs.

    But for that tradition to continue, head coach Jake Thomas is going to have to fill some significant gaps caused by graduation.

    “Obviously we lost some really good linebackers,’’ Thomas said. “We also lost some good running backs. That’s the main focus of the guys we’ve got to replace from last season.’’

    The good news for Thomas is he’s got a few skilled players back this year, among them quarterback Ki’mani Britton and running back Cayden McKeithan.

    Britton completed 70 of 138 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns.

    McKeithan rushed 89 times for 289 yards and scored five touchdowns.

    Thomas said Britton has progressed well from his freshman season last year and showed positive signs during the spring.

    The Colts’ leading receiver from 2018 is back, Taiquan Gamble. He had 33 catches for 281 yards and two touchdowns.

    One of the most experienced Cape Fear returnees is offensive lineman Caleb Krings.

    Krings said the Colts have a new team and a new beginning as they head into summer and fall workouts. “In the offensive line we’ve got half of us coming back,’’ he said.

    On the defensive side of the football, Thomas will be counting heavily on cornerbacks Micah Nelson and Lamon Lock to anchor the pass defense, along with versatile athlete Nick Minacapelli.

    There is one returner in the linebacking corps, Donta Autry. Thomas said he has put in a lot of hard work in the offseason.

    Most of the spring, Cape Fear has focused on getting its base defensive package installed so the team can immediately react to any offensive formation or motion it sees in a game.

    Offensively, the team stressed learning three or four base plays with the ability to run a counter play and a pass play off each one.

    Photo: Caleb Krings

  • uac062514001.gif The Fourth of July is one of the happiest holidays of the year. From watermelon and BBQ in the bright summer day to the incredible fireworks at night, the entire day is a joyous celebration. It is a chance to reflect on the nation’s history and revel in the freedoms our country offers. The day becomes all the more interesting with the many events happening in the area.

    There is nothing like starting the day with a brisk run through the city. Starting this year, there is a race for those who enjoy a run. In fact, there are two different runs to choose from. Firstly, beginning at 7 a.m. on July 4, is the Firecracker 4 Miler. Online registration closes on July 1, and will be an additional $5 at packet pick up, which is on July 3. Friendly dogs are welcome at this race, and there will be water dishes along the route. All dogs must be on leashes and owners must pick up waste. Runners are also advised to bring their own water bottles. To encourage the reduction of plastic water bottle waste there will be coolers and not individual water bottles at water stations. The race begins at the North Carolina Veterans Park at 300 Bragg. Blvd. The course winds through lovely downtown Fayetteville. This run is sponsored by the Fayetteville Runners Club as a fundraiser to help promote running in the community. It is the inaugural race. To register or for more information visit http://www.active.com/fayetteville-nc/running/races/firecracker-4-miler-2014.

    The second run is also an inaugural run and takes place on July 3. It is the Freedom Run. This event takes place at 7 p.m. and begins at the Medical Arts Center at 101 Robeson St. This 5 k also weaves though historic downtown. This is the first event of its kind in the area. It is a fundraiser for Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County. This group provides a valuable service to the community by providing free confidential services for any one who has been affected by sexual violence. The free services provided include a 24-houre rape hotline, counseling, support groups, courtroom advocacy and emergency room responders. Running this race not only benefits the runners bodies, it benefits the entire community. To register is $30, but children ten and under are $10. Registration closes at 6 p.m. on race day and online registration closes June 30. To register online or for more information visit the following site: http://www.active.com/fayetteville-nc/running/distance-running-races/rcvcc-freedom-5k-run-2014 or http://www.cincodemayo10k.org/Freedom_Run.php.

    The music associated with American Independence day is unique to the occasion. The patriotism, spirit, and excitement infused into the songs are palpable and it translates into a powerful performance. On July 1, the North Carolina Symphony performs, free to the public, in celebration of Independence Day. Their performance features old-fashioned patriotic classics. The concert opens with the National Anthem and Miss North Carolina 2012 Arlie Honeycutt will narrate “Liberty for All.” The concert is held at Festival Park at 225 Ray Ave and begins at 8 p.m. For more information visit http://www.ncsymphony.org/events/index.cfm?view=details&viewref=calendar&detailid=1130&eid=2019&sdate=7/1/2014.

    Modern music can also capture the spirit and excitement of Independence Day in enjoyable and relatable ways. This year the famous and greatly anticipated Fort Bragg July 4th Celebration features Josh Turner and .38 Special. Josh Turner is a double-platinum selling country singer. His style is heavily influenced by Bluegrass and he is known for his engaging and warm entertaining style. He is set to perform from 6:30 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. The other musical guest, .38 Special, is an American rock band originally formed in Florida. Their musical style has been described as arena-style rock with roots in southern rock. Their scheduled performance time is 5-6 p.m. This combination of performers is sure to provide a little something for everyone. 

    Music is not the only great thing happening at the Fort Bragg July 4th Celebration, however. Starting at 3 p.m. Kiddieland, which features such fun as bouncy houses and food vendors, opens. From 6-6:30 p.m. The Black Daggers Parachute Demonstration Team will enthrall the crowds with feats of bravery and agility in the skies. From 7:45 p.m. until 7:58 p.m. the Garrison Commander will give his remarks followed by the National Anthem and Flag Ceremony. Both of these powerful symbols lie at the very heart of American history and culture. To provide an extra dash of rousing classic patriotism, the 82nd division All American Band will also perform from 8:42 p.m. until 9:42 p.m. One of the favorites that they will play is the 1812 Overture. The final event of he evening is the most spectacular, the fireworks. From 9:42 p.m. until 10 p.m. the skies above Fort Bragg will be ablaze color. This event is open to the public, but it is advised that participants arrive early. There is a designated tent area with spaces for rent. It is $15 for spaces or $35 for an MWR tent and space. Rentals must be made in advance and can be done at www.fortbraggmwr.com. No pets, glass bottles, cans or grills are allowed at the event. The Main Post Parade Field, where the event is held, is located across from Womack Hospital on Reilly Rd. For more information visit the following website http://www.fortbraggmwr.com/july4th/.06-25-14-josh-turner.gif

    For the Town of Hope Mills, the annual 4th of July Celebration begins at 10 a.m. Bright colors, smiling marchers and the upbeat festive calls of marching bands will flood the streets for the traditional 4th of July Parade. From noon until 9 p.m., there will be all manner of celebration in the streets. Parade bands perform all day long, providing a festive atmosphere. There will also be food vendors, arts and crafts. children’s activities, and inflatables. Starting at 9:15 he fireworks display will begin. For more information call 423-4314 or visit http://www.hopemillschamber.org/index.php/component/k2/item/14-town-of-hope-mills-4th-of-july-parade.

    Main Street in Spring Lake will also be a center of celebration for Independence Day. Beginning at noon, Main Street will have activities for the entire family. All day long there will be live entertainment and bands performing a variety of music. There will be something for everyone to enjoy. To help stay cool in the summer heat there will be water activities and in celebration of American industrial prowess, don’t miss the car show. Lining the street will be food and craft vendors as well. For the younger crowd, there is also a Kid Zone full of activities intended for children. 9 p.m. brings the end of the celebration, but like any great festival it ends with a bang. The final event of the day is the fireworks display. For more information visit http://events.fayobserver.com/spring_lake_nc/events/show/370719801-4th-of-july-festival-on-main-street or call 497-8821.

    Photo:  Country music star, Josh Turner is set to perform at Fort Bragg’s 4th of July celebration.

  •  Bumbledoo: Downtown’s One-Stop Baby Supply Shop

    Downtown Fayetteville is filled with dynamic establishments run by passionate risk-takers who are devoted to the community. Our View from the Market House showcases the businesses and entrepreneurs that make downtown shine.

    06-26-13-bumbledoo.gifRaising a baby is a joy. Between all the crying and the diaper changing, seeing your own flesh and blood grow exponentially larger as times goes by really pays off. Bumbledoo, the downtown area’s organic baby store, offers a wide variety of baby products to ease the troubles of child raising by offering a wide range of services to mothers all across Fayetteville.

    Malia Kalua Allen, owner of Bumbledoo, began pursuing her passion while raising her own children in Durham. Her hobby of making products for her children turned into a business when she realized the interest she was receiving from other young moms. Allen wanted to offer products that were organic, earth-friendly and affordable. After great success at her booth at the Dogwood Festival, Allen saw an opportunity to own a store when she noticed the vacant spot while driving through Downtown Fayetteville; thus, Bumbledoo was born.

    Starting her own shop was no easy feat. “I barely had enough money to fill the shelves with cloth diapers,” Allen said. After a difficult start, Bumbledoo soon became a respectable name within the downtown community. The store is known for its excellent customer service and dedicated employees who want nothing more than to relieve the stress on new mothers. Her hard work and dedication earned her a spot in the Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under 40for her outstanding work in making Bumbledoo possible

    .In addition to selling premium products, Bumbledoo also offers special classes for mothers. “We do free classes for cloth diapers and weaning,” Allen said. “We also host a breastfeeding cafe every third Thursday each month at Marquis Market.” Allen also stressed the importance of keeping up-to-date with mothering practices as they evolve generation after generation. “Other baby stores are old-world,” she said. “They’re not in touch with new-age moms.” Green products are becoming more popular with parents as advances in science show the harmful effects some traditional products may have on a child’s health.

    One of the many specialties of Bumbledoo is its cloth diaper service. Much different than their expensive, one-time-use counterparts, cloth diapers are reusable and contain no harmful chemicals. Additionally, disposable diapers make-up a staggering amount of landfill waste, approximately 4 percent. Using disposable diapers not only litters landfills, but also litters our bills with hidden trash disposal costs too. Allen also stressed how inexpensive cloth diapers are compared to disposable ones. “Providing diapers for one child alone costs thousands of dollars,” she said. “Cloth diapers cover multiple children for only $500.”Allen is proud of her shop and believes it offers something special that big stores cannot. “My store is specialized in selling green products while being knowledgeable of them — unlike big stores,” Allen said.

    Bumbledoo will soon relocate to its new store location at 417 Hay Street to accommodate its expanding business. The new store will have much more room and allow Allen to better service her customers with a more thorough selection of products.

    “I don’t want to leave downtown, I believe in downtown,” Allen said. Bumbledoo is one of many great shopping locations in Downtown Fayetteville that boasts a unique and tailored store with a ton of personality and charm. While browsing what Bumbledoo has to offer, don’t forget to check out many of the other wonderful small businesses that call Downtown Fayetteville home.

    Photo: Malia Kalua Allen, owner of Bumbledoo.

  • 16Russell HewettEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    The winning tradition established under Duran McLaurin continued at his alma mater, Seventy- First, last fall. The Falcons made the deepest run in the state football playoffs of any of the Cumberland County Schools, reaching the 4-A Eastern Regional finals before falling to Sandhills Athletic Conference rival Scotland. They finished the season with an 11-4 record.

    To make a similar run this season, McLaurin will have to improve the Falcons’ depth and fill a big loss at quarterback caused by the graduation of multi-talented Kyler Davis.

    McLaurin will coach Davis one last time next month. The two are scheduled to take part in the annual North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game in Grimsley High School’s Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro.

    “Losing Kyler is going to be a big area of concern for us,’’ McLaurin said. “We’re going to have to replace Kyler’s production at several positions.’’ McLaurin indicated the Falcons will need to get more offensive production from their running backs and receiver corps to offset Davis’ exit.

    One player McLaurin is counting on is receiver Jermaine Johnson, who had 29 catches and two touchdowns last fall. There will also be some younger prospects joining the varsity from the Falcons’ last two successful junior varsity teams.

    “Seventy-First has a winning tradition,’’ McLaurin said. “That’s what we do over here, and we’re going to try to continue that.’’

    One key to that this season will be the play of two-way lineman Russell Hewett, who will again see action on the offensive and defensive fronts.

    “We are depending on his veteran experience and leadership on both sides of the ball,’’ McLaurin said of Hewett. “He’s very important where it counts, in the trenches on the offensive and defensive lines. He’s one of our toughest players. We’re expecting a whole lot from him.’’

    Hewett said the focus of Seventy-First’s spring workouts was to get better than the day before. “We just keep working so we can be successful this season and make it to the championship,’’ he said.

    Whoever winds up playing quarterback for Seventy-First this year, Hewett said the pressure is on the offensive line to protect him. “We need to block for our quarterback,’’ he said. “Our key is just to block for them, and they’ll take us to the championships.’’

    Photo: Russell Hewett

  • 15Kayla PlessKayla Pless has been named the new varsity girls basketball coach at Pine Forest High School. The announcement was made last week by Trojan athletic director Jason Norton.

    Pless replaces David May, who will be stepping down as the girls basketball coach but will continue to work at the school, his alma mater. His new position will be as assistant boys basketball coach and girls golf coach.

    May will represent Pine Forest as girls basketball coach one last time at next month’s North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star basketball game at the Greensboro Coliseum.

    Cumberland County players who will be on the East team include Pine Forest’s Kendal Moore, E.E. Smith’s Alex Scruggs and Terry Sanford’s Kate Perko.

    Pless is a 2012 graduate of Topsail High School in Hampstead, North Carolina. She played college basketball at Methodist University, graduating in 2016 with a bachelor of science in sports management.

    She coached youth basketball in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for two years and was a junior varsity coach at Terry Sanford High School last season. She also coached a 16-and-under Amateur Athletic Union team from Durham.

    Pless is currently working on a master's of education at Methodist with a concentration in coaching and athletic administration.

    Photo: Kayla Pless

  • Screen Shot 2019 06 17 at 100855 PMThe Hope Mills Boosters American Legion baseball team solved a nagging problem while also paying tribute to a beloved supporter who recently died.

    Getting to road baseball games each summer was a challenge for the boosters as coaches and team members had to find their own transportation to and from games. 

    That problem was solved thanks to the support of the Massey Hill Lions Club and one of its members, Fred McFayden. With their help, the Boosters bought an old Cumberland County school bus and converted it into an activity bus.

    They used it for the first time last month. 

    “The bus was bought for safety reasons at the conclusion of last season,’’ said Mark Kahlenberg, coach of the Boosters team. “The Massey Hill Lions Club has been a great support system for our program. Fred was the biggest reason the bus was purchased, and he’s always been there for us.’’ 

    Tragically, McFayden died unexpectedly this April, at the age of 64, before the 2019 American Legion baseball season began.

    “The club thought it would be fitting to name (the bus) in honor of Fred as an enduring testament to his love for Legion baseball and his dedication to keep it alive in Hope Mills,’’ Kahlenberg said.

  • 19JoshTownsendEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    Brian Randolph was an assistant coach under former Jack Britt football head coach Richard Bailey during the period when Buccaneer football enjoyed consistent success. Randolph has been working hard to return the Buccaneer program to that same level of winning. Last year’s 5-7 record, which included a trip to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A state playoffs, was a step in that direction.

    Randolph hopes to keep the march to championship contention going in the season ahead.

    “I want to set a standard of excellence that’s been here since the school was open,’’ Randolph said. “Nobody is going to be perfect, but we can all reach for that higher level in whatever we’re doing, whether it’s football or academics. That’s what restoring order is all about this year.’’

    Britt rebounded from a 0-3 start last season to go 4-3 in the Sandhills Conference, including a win against 4-A Eastern finalist Seventy-First.

    “We were within one game of finishing second in the conference,’’ Randolph said. “The mantra last year was don’t quit, regardless of what happens. They did not quit.’’

    But the Buccaneers did suffer substantial graduation losses on both sides of the football, especially defensively, where the entire linebacker corps was wiped out.

    The good news on offense is almost the entire line will return, but Randolph will have to replace veteran quarterback Brennan Shortridge.

    “I think there are pieces in place to be successful,’’ Randolph said. “But as you know, the conference we play in is difficult.’’

    The Buccaneers open with a brutal non-conference slate that includes South View, Pine Forest and Terry Sanford. Pine Forest was the Patriot Athletic Conference regular season title. That trio combined for 31 wins in 2018, and all reached the third round of the state playoffs.

    Pass defense will be critical for the Buccaneers as Randolph hopes his team can play a lot of man-to-man coverage. “That frees us up to do more things up front, especially with the loss of linebackers and defensive line,’’ he said. He said Britt needs to find ways to put pressure on the ball and create what he calls havoc plays.

    A player who figures to be central in making that happen is cornerback Josh Townsend, who will be a senior this fall.

    Townsend said last season the Buccaneers weren’t entirely in the same flow. The focus so far for 2019 is to get everyone doing their job and knowing what that job is on the field.

    “Younger guys have got to step up,’’ Townsend said. “Older people have to lead them there, teach them to do it the right way.’’

    Townsend expects some familiar teams to be in the hunt for this year’s Sandhills Athletic Conference championship.

    “Seventy-First always gives us a good run,’’ he said. “Richmond Senior was really good last year. They had a great team.’’

    Randolph is working to get Jack Britt included in the discussion when the subject is conference championship.

    “People in this building understand there’s a standard of excellence you have to attain to,’’ he said. “We’re following that same mantra on the football field.’’

    Photo: Josh Townsend

  • 15ChadBarbourPinecrest High School won the Wells Fargo Cup for the Sandhills 4-A Athletic Conference, according to a press release from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

    The cup is awarded to the conference school with the best overall athletic program as determined by points awarded for order of finish in each official conference sport.

    Pinecrest capped its championship this year with a strong showing in the spring, taking conference titles in boys and girls track and baseball.

    Jack Britt placed second in the chase for the cup. The Buccaneers won boys tennis and placed second in softball this spring.

    Richmond Senior placed third with a title in softball and second place in baseball.

    Here are the point totals for each school: Pinecrest 138.5, Jack Britt 118.5, Richmond Senior 103.5, Lumberton 73, Scotland 73, Hoke County 64.5, Purnell Swett 48.5, Seventy-First 43.

    • Some people were a little surprised to see the name of Pine Forest’s Isaiah Bennett during the closing rounds of the recent Major League Baseball draft. A pitcher for the Trojans, Bennett has seen little action for more than a year as he’s been recuperating from Tommy John surgery.

    Bennett had already committed to play baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when the San Diego Padres took him in the 36th round of the draft.

    The East Village Times said Bennett is the thirdranked player overall in the state of North Carolina despite his injury problems. They called him an athletic right-handed pitcher with a high upside. They said his fastball is between 89 and 91 mph, sometimes hitting 92 or 93.

    Multiple sources indicate Bennett will likely decide to decline the draft opportunity with the Padres and enroll at North Carolina to play for the Tar Heels.

    • Two players from Terry Sanford were named to the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association 3-A All-State team earlier this month: Davidjohn Herz and Justin Ebert.

    Herz decided to forgo playing with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, signing a professional contract with the Chicago Cubs last week. He is awaiting assignment to a Cubs rookie league team, most likely in Arizona. Ebert is committed to play baseball at High Point University in the fall.

    • At the most recent meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Education, South View High School’s Isaiah Fultz was recognized for his accomplishments in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A track and field meet.

    Fultz became the first wheelchair-bound athlete from Cumberland County to both compete and win in the state 4-A track meet. He took the championship in the wheelchair 100-meter competition with a time of 21.91 at the state meet at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro.

    South View athletic director Chad Barbour said as far as he’s been able to determine, Fultz is the first wheelchair athlete from Cumberland County to compete in track and field at the state level.

    Photo: Isaiah Fultz, left, is the first wheelchair-bound athlete from Cumberland County to both compete and win in the state 4-A track meet. To his right is South View athletic director Chad Barbour

  • 19DavidMayKendalMooreThis summer’s East All-Star girls basketball team will have a strong Cumberland County flavor. The head coach and three players on the team hail from Fayetteville.

    Pine Forest’s David May will serve as head coach for the East team in the annual East- West All-Star game. It will be played Monday, July 15, at the Greensboro Coliseum.

    The girls will play at 6:30 p.m., followed by the boys at 8:30 p.m.

    Joining May as members of his East girls team will be Alex Scruggs of E.E. Smith, Kendal Moore of Pine Forest and Kate Perko of Terry Sanford.

    Scruggs was the Player of the Year in the Patriot Athletic Conference while Moore made first team all-conference. Scruggs is going to Wake Forest, and Moore is headed for North Carolina State.

    Perko was a second team All-Patriot Athletic Conference selection. She will be playing for Meredith College.

    The East All-Star boys basketball roster was announced earlier, and there is one Cumberland County player on the squad. Brion McLaurin of Seventy-First, Player of the Year in the Sandhills Athletic Conference, will perform for the East squad.

    L to R: David May and Kendal Moore

  • 18MatthewPembertonEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    Rodney Brewington was a player on the 1991 South View High School football team that won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A state championship. Last year, his Tigers got a taste of that kind of success as they finished in a tie for second place in the Patriot Athletic Conference, one game back of regular-season champion Pine Forest.

    But Brewington has a big rebuild to do on offense, and it involves replacing his son, four-year Tiger quarterback Donovan Brewington.

    “The biggest thing we are looking for now is guys who have to step up and lead,’’ Brewington said.

    They’ll also need to replace his son’s favorite target, Emery Simmons, one of the best deep threats in Cumberland County, who’s now playing for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

    One player who will be counted on heavily is running back Matthew Pemberton, the secondleading rusher in Cumberland County Schools last season with 1,667 yards and 23 touchdowns, the latter the most in the county. “Matthew Pemberton is going to carry a heavy load,’’ Brewington said.

    On the defensive side of the ball, Brewington thinks the Tigers have players who can fill the positions, they just need to step up and show what they can do to make big plays.

    Offensively, Brewington thinks this will be the year of the running back in Cumberland County. Nearly every school will have a talented runner in the backfield who can take the ball the distance whenever it is handed to them, he said.

    South View’s best, Pemberton, is hoping to get a lot of college looks while doing all he can to help his teammates be winners.

    “We have the players this year to do the same or better than we did last year,’’ Pemberton said. “We just have to be disciplined and listen to coach.’’

    Pemberton said he expects to be called on to do more things to fill some of the void left by the departed seniors. “I have to do more to help the younger kids understand what they need to do in game situations,’’ he said.

    Photo: Matthew  Pemberton

  • 17KendallEvansEditor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

    A big senior class entering a football season is a plus, but when that year is over, it can be a major liability. Gray’s Creek football coach David Lovette is dealing with that harsh reality as his Bears lost 20 players who played a variety of key roles last season.

    The good news is there were a lot of youth in the offensive line. Most of them return this year, along with the quarterback, who just happens to be Lovette’s son Ben. Ben threw for 729 yards in the Bears’ runoriented Wing-T offense.

    Another key player returning is promising running back Jerry Garcia, who saw a lot of playing time last season and rolled up 529 yards and five touchdowns.

    “It’s not like the cupboard is bare,’’ Lovette said of the graduation losses. “We’ll miss those guys, but a lot of them (the returners) have seen playing time.’’

    Garcia has been timed electronically at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. “He’s one of those kids that if the weight room is open, he’s there,’’ Lovette said. “He’s a hard worker.’’

    The Bears used much of the spring to put in a few changes to their system. “We’re doing the same things, just doing them differently,’’ Lovette said. Some changes are being made in the defense, and Lovette is still searching for a punter to complete the special teams.

    One of the top defensive players back for the Bears is defensive end Kendall Evans. At 6-foot- 3 and 240 pounds, he’s being recruited by such schools as Wake Forest, North Carolina A&T, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State.

    “I just want to work on my technique, my speed and my strength,’’ Evans said of the summer and fall workouts.

    He feels the Bears need to focus on working together better as a team. “I think we did a lot better last year than we did previous years,’’ he said. “We didn’t have anyone selfish on our team. We were selling out for each other.’’

    Last season the Bears were 7-5 and lost to Northern Durham in the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A state playoffs.

    Photo: Kendall Evans

  • 16DJHerzSince his earliest days playing any sport, Terry Sanford baseball standout D.J. Herz has always played at the highest level. Now that he’s been drafted by the Chicago Cubs to play Major League Baseball, his father, John Herz said, that’s likely to continue. 

    While a final decision hasn’t been reached, the senior Herz, who is also representing his son in negotiations with the Cubs, said both are leaning toward signing a contract and starting D.J.’s professional career in the minor leagues as soon as possible.

    D.J. was the 252nd player chosen in the draft, going to the Cubs in the eighth round.

    “He’s really ready to get started,’’ the elder Herz said of his son. “That’s just D.J.’s makeup. He’s always played up, always played with the best. He’s ready to continue that trend.’’

    D.J. was a three-sport athlete during the majority of his high school career at Terry Sanford, starting at quarterback in football, playing guard in basketball, and pitching and playing in the field for the baseball team.

    This past season, the young Herz was voted Player of the Year in the Patriot Athletic Conference. He led Terry Sanford to the regular-season title, a 24-3 record and the third round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs. For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs were eliminated by the eventual state champion, New Hanover.

    On the mound, Herz was 8-1 with a 0.51 earned run average and a Cumberland County Schools best of 106 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. At the plate, he batted .419 and drove in 26 runs. He had a county-best 13 doubles and tied for the lead in home runs with four. He also shared the lead in triples with three.

    Herz’s father said the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pursued his son hard and was still hopeful of getting him to play for the Tar Heels this fall.

    But the senior Herz indicated the preference is to focus on professional baseball and forego a college career.

    Once D.J. makes a final decision to sign, he will likely be assigned to one of Chicago’s rookie league teams, which are located in Arizona.

  • Here is the Sandhills Athletic Conference softball team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

    Pitcher of the year: Morgan Britt, Lumberton and Greyson Way, Richmond Senior

    Player of the year: Carlie Myrtle, Jack Britt

    Coach of the year: Wendy Wallace, Richmond Senior

    First team:

    • Richmond Senior — Savannah Lampley, Taylor Parrish, Aliyah Swiney, Payton Chappell, Kayla Hawkins

    • Jack Britt — Jessica McRae, Alyssa Brown, Catie McGrath

    • Lumberton — Madison Canada, Ashley Prevatte, Kasey West

    • Purnell Swett — JaiLeana Deese, Chandra Locklear, Katlyn Jones, Trinity Locklear

    • Scotland — Olivia Hyatt, Taylor Whitley

    • Hoke County — Ina Womack, Kiya Locklear

    • Pinecrest — Katelyn Chisholm, Hannah Spinali

    • Seventy-First — Lacey Henry

    Photo: Carlie Myrtle

  • 24AlexReynaHere is the Sandhills Athletic Conference baseball team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

    Player of the year: Bryce Calcutt, Pinecrest

    Pitcher of the year: Hunter Parris, Richmond Senior

    Coach of the year: Jeff Hewitt, Pinecrest

    First team:

    • Pinecrest — Elliot Embler, Nick Phantom, Jacob Zimmerman, Davis Wilson, Pres Ostert

    • Jack Britt — Chase Jernigan, Alex Reyna, Kevin Sentell

    • Purnell Swett — Zachary Carter, Jalyn McIntyre, Jeremiah Locklear

    • Lumberton — Parks Ledwell

    • Richmond Senior — Cameron Carraway, Jake Ransom, Tyler Bass, Brett Young, Garet Weigman

    • Scotland — Stewart Evans, Matt Sellers, Michael Johnson, Nic Callahan

    • Hoke County — Liam Miller

    Photo: Alex Reyna

    • Seventy-First — Jamiese Alston

  • 22AllyssaRancourAfter being in operation for less than two years, the Gary Weller Foundation has enjoyed rapid growth that allowed it to triple the amount of money it awarded in its annual scholarships. After presenting two $500 scholarships a year ago, the foundation awarded a pair of $1,500 scholarships to students at Pine Forest High School this year.

    The winners were Allyssa Rancour of the girls soccer team and Tanner Hendricks of the boys soccer team. The award is presented to student-athletes at Pine Forest who had to overcome adversity, befitting of a scholarship presented in honor of Weller, the former Pine Forest football coach. Weller sustained multiple serious injuries some years ago when he was run over by a driver in a stolen vehicle.

    Cumberland County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe is a Pine Forest graduate and one of the organizers of the Gary Weller Foundation. He said the foundation was able to dramatically increase the amount of the scholarship awarded this year because of a highly successful Trojan Challenge obstacle course competition that was held last fall. “We’re hoping to increase it next year, hopefully with a second annual Trojan Challenge,’’ Keefe said.

    23TannerHendrickKeefe said much of the credit for the success of the foundation has to go to Weller, his story and the positive attitude that has carried him through adversity. “Gary has made a lot of friends in this community and has always been an advocate for young people,’’ Keefe said. “He continued on after his coaching days, supporting the community and the young. It’s more Gary than me or anybody else on the committee.’’

    In addition to another Trojan Challenge, Keefe said the committee is looking at other ways to raise money for future scholarships.

    They’ve floated an idea of holding a coaching clinic for local high school, middle school and recreation league coaches, possibly using veteran coaches from the area as clinicians or speakers.

    “We’d have a symposium and questions and answers,’’ Keefe said. “If we did that, we might be doing it during the summer, another way to keep the Gary Weller Foundation in the public eye as we go throughout the year.’’

    There are several ways to contact the Weller Foundation about making a contribution or learning more about the organization. Email info@trojanchallenge.org, visit the website at www.trojanchallenge.org, or visit the Facebook page, The Gary Weller Foundation.

    Photo: Allysa Rancour and Tanner Hendricks

  • 21ColeHumphreyThe Cole Humphrey Memorial Foundation recently made its annual donation to the football and baseball programs at the Cape Fear spring athletic banquet. The foundation is named for former Cape Fear multi-sport athlete Cole Humphrey, who died in an automobile accident. Accepting for the football team is assistant coach Chris Hall, far left, and for the baseball team head coach Wendell Smith, far right. Also present, from left, are Larry Ellis, Jana Humphrey, McRae Humphrey, Cape Fear athletic director Matt McLean and Ann Ellis.

    This year’s donation is $2,000, which brings the total donated since 2014 to $12,000.

  • 20DeeHardyE.E. Smith High School’s Dee Major Hardy has received a number of significant honors in her long coaching career, but few will top the one she got at the school’s recent spring reunion. During the weekend ceremonies, the school announced that the basketball court in E.E. Smith’s D.S. Kelly Gymnasium had been named in Hardy’s honor, as the Dee Major Hardy Court.

    Hardy was a high school basketball star at Smith before enrolling at what was then Pembroke State and is now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. During her years there, she was second team National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All- American in basketball in 1985 and two-time All-District player in volleyball in 1982 and 1983.

    She finished her college basketball career with 1,555 points.

    She joined the faculty at E.E. Smith after graduating Pembroke and has coached volleyball and basketball at the school. She’s led her teams to multiple conference titles in both volleyball and basketball.

    In 2011, she was inducted into the Fayetteville Sports Club Hall of Fame.

    She was the District 4 basketball Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019. She won the 2011 North Carolina High School Athletic Association Doris Howard Female Coach of the Year Award and was a 2016 winner of the NCHSAA Homer Thompson Memorial Eight Who Make A Difference Award from Region 4.

    Hardy joins Cape Fear’s Howard and Douglas Byrd’s Robin Long as the only Cumberland County female coaches to have a gym, court or field named for them. The softball field at Cape Fear High School bears Howard’s name while the softball field at Byrd is named for Long.

    This past season was one of Hardy’s most successful as basketball coach at E.E. Smith. Her team compiled a 30-2 record, winning the Patriot Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles along with the Gene Arrington bracket of the annual Holiday Classic basketball tournament.

    The Smith girls advanced to the NCHSAA 3-A Eastern Regional title game before falling 62-59 to Eastern Guilford.

    Photo: Dee Major Hardy

  • The Gilbert Theater presents the Second Annual Pryer Awards on June 23, from 6-9 p.m. This annual celebration of theater and thespians was begun to commemorate the work of Gilbert founder, Lynn Pryer.06-18-14-lynne-pryer.gif

    Fayetteville audiences might recall the article published in Our State Magazine announcing Pryer’s retirement as artistic director of the Gilbert in 2012. The article chronicled Pryer’s theatrical experience, which began in the garage of his childhood home in Fortuna, Calif., in the early 1940s, where he used a burlap curtain and charged the neighborhood children 10 cents to see a show.

    Pryer moved to Fayetteville after retiring from his job as a children’s librarian and founded The Gilbert in 1994 in the basement of his home. In 2001, zoning complications prompted the theater to relocate — first to the Arts Council building on Hay Street, then to its current location on the corner of Green and Bow streets. Pryer reigned as artistic director at The Gilbert for 18 seasons and 100 plays, thus the creation of the annual Pryer Awards to celebrate his work.

    “The Pryer Awards were a great success last year. Some wonderful local artists were honored: James Dean, Joyce Lipe and Matt Lamb among them. This year we welcome the talents of the Rent cast to entertain us as well as local favorites, Dr. Gail Morfesis, Laurel Flom, Tyler Pow and Sara Beth Short (local Gilbert actors who worked in shows this season and last). The silent auction will boast beautiful art and pottery pieces, jewelry, electronics and more,” said Robyne Parrish, current artistic director. “There will be food, door prizes and drink. Everyone in the community who supports the Gilbert Theater and the arts should attend this fundraiser. It is a tribute to our actors, designers and volunteers who work tirelessly to make the arts community in Fayetteville what it is — fantastic!”

    The awards are set at the end of each season like the Tony or Oscar awards and the nominees are determined by audience votes, which are gathered at the conclusion of each performance. The shows, casts and crews in the running for this season are from the performances of the musical Rent, A Christmas Carol, Pan, Sherlock Holmes, The Sleeping Detective and A Company of Wayward Saints. It will be an evening packed with entertainment, food, beverages and fun.

    Since its creation, The Gilbert has provided an artistic home for many area thespians, directors and writers. Fayetteville playwright, Stephen Miles, described The Gilbert’s artistic mission by saying, “I think the big draw is the diversity of presentation. There is no place [in Fayetteville] that anyone can go, outside of the Gilbert, to see some of these new, innovative plays. The theater covers about everything.”

    The theater’s mission promotes fresh, local talent, whether it is a playwright, director or actor. Several of this season’s shows were debuts of works by local playwrights including Pan, written by Jeremy Fiebig and Sherlock Holmes, The Sleeping Detective from the pen of James Dean. The multitalented Dean won the best actor award last year and is on this year’s roster of nominees.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to support local art and artists. Tickets are $40 dollars and are available while they last through the Gilbert website (www.gilberttheater.com) or by calling the box office at (910) 678-7186.

    Photo: The Pryer Awards, named in honor of Lynn Pryer (center), founding director of The Gilbert Theater, honors local thespians.

  • 06-25-14-farmers-market.gifCumberland County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe took exception to last week’s publisher’s notes penned by Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman. The topic was whether or not the Franklin Street parking deck is the right place to set up the farmers market. Bowman thinks not. Keefe begs to differ.

    To truly understand the argument, it helps to know what makes the members of the Fayetteville Farmers Market Association, and the entity itself, unique – what sets it apart from the City Market and the private enterprises in the area that sell produce. The Fayetteville Farmers Market Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping local farmers bring fresh healthy produce to the community. Members of the organization sign an agreement that mandates that they grow at least 80 percent of what they sell through the association. The organization partners with the N.C. Cooperative Extension to bring resources and training to the members and to advocate on behalf of the farmers. This makes things like the Good Agricultural Practices Certification more accessible and affordable for the farmers, allowing them to sell to schools, hospitals and other systems. The Fayetteville FMA works with public health agencies to assure that fresh healthy produce is available to everyone, including low-income groups that use nutrition cards to buy food. Members of the FMA are local residents with a stake in the community.

    By following the mandates and guidelines of the organization, Keefe noted there are several sources of funds that could come available once the market is up and running. “There are community transformation grants and monies through the N.C. Department of Agriculture that we don’t have access to because we don’t have a workable plan right now. There are Golden Leaf funds from tobacco settlements that are used to promote healthy communities that we want to apply for. There are monies earmarked for public health, which include farmers markets, but you have to have a plan and be able to measure success. This kind of financial support would benefit the community and farmers.” And yet, the FMA still struggles to find a home.

    “If you’ve ever been to a thriving farmers market, you know there is a vibe there. It becomes a social event,” said Keefe. “There is a sense of community at well-run farmers markets and an atmosphere that promotes healthy living and healthy lifestyles. I believe putting the farmers market in the parking deck will work. It will provide cover for the farmers and customers. It will add foot traffic to the downtown area and enhance the culture of downtown and in addition to bringing fresh, healthy food to the community.”

    Keefe added that he hopes for a day when local restaurants will shop for ingredients at the farmers market and that hosting it in the parking deck would make it that much more convenient for them.

    Some arguments against using the parking deck include the fact that the facility has no water, no bathrooms and no room to grow. Keefe notes that several previous locations did not have water or bathrooms and still had plenty of customers. Besides, the parking deck was designed for retail on the ground floor and has hookups for these facilities that could be used at a later date. And yes, Keefe said. There is room to grow. “We are not asking for a monopoly on selling produce or to make the farmers market a competitor with other local markets. We want to coexist side by side so that we can all prosper and work together to benefit the community.”

    While the powers that be struggle to work out the details — or not — the Fayetteville Farmers Market Association is moving forward. If it’s not going to be the Franklin Street parking deck, the organization is committed to setting up in other locations around town. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks…

  • 09 bookoflongingsDid Jesus find a wife in North Carolina?

    The answer is yes.

    But the story is fictional, and the North Carolina connection is complicated.

    Sue Monk Kidd is the best-selling author of “The Secret Life of Bees” and other popular books. Her latest, “The Book of Longings,” came out on
    April 21. It tells the story of Ana and her marriage to a young carpenter and stonemason from Nazareth.

    The North Carolina connection?

    A short article in the May 17 issue of The New York Times headlined “Did Jesus Ever Tie the Knot? A New Novel Considers the Question” reported that Kidd, despite her deep connections to Georgia, wrote the new book in Chapel Hill, where she now lives.

    Although the book is set in the Middle East of 2,000 years ago, the coming together of Jesus and Ana was framed in North Carolina.

    The story begins in the year 16 A.D. Ana is the teen-aged daughter of the head scribe of Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, and, subject to the Roman overlords, the ruler of Galilee. Ana and her mother, father, aunt and servants live near Antipas’s palace in Sepphoris, a thriving town. Ana’s cousin and adopted brother, Judas, has left home to join with zealots fighting against the Roman occupation. Nearby Sepphoris is the poor village of Nazareth, where Jesus lives in a less-than-modest hovel with his widowed mother, Mary, and his siblings.

    Unlike most other women of the times, Ana is well educated and writes stories of women heroes of the Bible. Although she cherishes her unmarried status, her parents arrange for her betrothal to an elderly wealthy man. When he dies before the wedding, they push her to become Antipas’s concubine.

    Meanwhile, she has encountered Jesus, who walks each day from Nazareth to Sepphoris to work on a massive construction project for Antipas. The spark is immediate. She appreciates his deep connection to God, or as Jesus calls him when he prays, Abba or father. He appreciates her education and aspirations to write and promote the place of women.

      Their marriage transforms her privileged life into hand-to-mouth poverty in the crowded house in Nazareth, where Ana does not get the warmest of
    welcomes.

    Kidd describes the smells and the constant chores of cooking, milking, feeding, sewing, petty jealousies and resentments that fill the lives of the struggling poor. Jesus is often gone for long periods to work on projects in other parts of Galilee, sometimes even going as far as the Sea of Galilee to work with fishermen.

    Jesus’s search for God leads him to the preaching of John the Baptist. He becomes a follower, and then when John is arrested by Antipas, Jesus becomes a leader, leaving Ana alone with his family in Nazareth.

    Ana herself offends Antipas and becomes another of his targets. For safety, Ana’s aunt takes her to Egypt, where she encounters another set of conflicts and challenges in a totally different environment in the great library city of Alexandria.

    Ana is finally called to return from Egypt. She arrives in Bethany near Jerusalem just in time for a Passover dinner with Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Jesus, but Jesus is not there. The next day in Jerusalem, Ana watches as Jesus is carrying the cross towards the execution site. He collapses. Ana rushes to comfort him and say goodbye.

    Then Kidd reconstructs the crucifixion experience in a way more horrible and poignant than any of the four gospels. She also offers a surprising explanation of why Judas betrayed Jesus.

    That Ana’s story continues after Jesus’s death emphasizes Kidd’s and Ana’s belief that the exclusion and minimization of the role of women in the days of Jesus and today has been a tragic mistake.

    Whether Kidd’s readers are true believers or skeptical inquirers, “The Book of Longings” will be an enriching and challenging read.

  • 08 cfrtlogoThe 2019-2020 play season at Cape Fear Regional Theatre experienced an unplanned intermission due to the coronavirus. When the governor presented social distancing guidelines in midMarch, CFRT cancelled the rest of its 2019-2020 season, which opened with a bang with “Mamma Mia!” and closed prematurely with “Murder for Two.”  Nevertheless, the staff of the theater has worked tirelessly to provide the arts to locals in a social-distancing-friendly way.

    The journey started with the theater hosting a free offering for a couple months that was open to the public. Staff at the theater and artists who worked with the theater in the past would emphasize something different every day, from song-writing to dance to writing monologues. On average there were 10-20 attendees per class. That’s when the staff at the theater saw how virtual meetings were taking off.

    When schools closed, the staff launched Virtual Edutainment. “We thought, What can we do to keep the theater going and (to keep) the kids engaged who we would normally have doing studio classes or coming to the theater?” said Marc de la Concha, the director of education at the CFRT.

    The staff had all hands on deck to brainstorm, and landed on offering online, week-long classes that had a different focus each day. 

    “It would kind of take care of what students were doing in school in terms of art and music and physical education,” said de la Concha. Some weeks were generic and some weeks had themes like Harry Potter, Lego and Dr. Seuss, to name a few. The program ran for nine weeks.

    People outside Cumberland County and even outside of the state tuned into the lessons.

    The launch was a success. Offering classes for two K-2nd grade sessions a day and two 3rd-5th grade sessions per day, the teachers had about 15 kids in each class on average, and they were able to give individual attention to the children.

    Around the same time as the Virtual Edutainment launch, the Spring Break Bootcamp was supposed to take place. To help all the students who signed up for it to reap its benefits, they moved the boot camp online, where it had 50-60 participants.

    CFRT is no novice when it comes to community outreach. Over the past few years, the theater has also reached out to the military community through its Passport series.
    “(The series) is basically a playwriting workshop that takes place over eight weeks, and it’s for military children. They were offering it on post at the Throckmorton Library for two years, and it’s grown so much that this past year we worked with the library in Hope Mills and Rick’s Place and had our program out at those locations as well,” de la Concha explained.

    The program is free, and as time has gone on, it has gained momentum. In the first year, the program filled up in a day. In the second year, the program sold out in a couple hours. “This past year, it’s been minutes,” said de la Concha. “We’ll tell the parents, ‘It’ll open up on this day at this time,’ and within minutes, it’s full.”

    For the first time this year, CFRT attempted to offer a program called Act Fast for the military and military-adjacent adults with funding provided by The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. The production was going to be called “Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind,” a collection of 30 short plays, all performed in 60 minutes. With performance dates initially scheduled for mid-July, the performances had to be canceled due to the extension of Phase 2 social distancing, as well as the amount of participants who were PCSing.

    Even so, Mary Kate Burke, artistic director at the theater, sees the attempt as a success because it brought part of the military community together. Because of the newfound friendships that were built during rehearsals, the participants were grateful for the experience, and many of them had a virtual Easter dinner together. The theater hopes to have Act Fast again next year.

    “(The military) is always on the move, and it’s important for them to feel like there’s a place where they can gather together with people who are going through the same things that they are … The plays they write are really extraordinary, and it comes from a different place,” said de la Concha.

    “It’s been an opportunity for them to get involved, whether they’re new to the area, they’ve been here a while, or they’re homeschooled or they go to one of the Cumberland County schools, it’s a great opportunity to get together with peers that are like them.”

    Summer camps have always been popular at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and this year is no different. As summer goes on, the theater will host programs for several ages. So far, CFRT has hosted one of its camps for the production “Kids Rock The World” for ages 6-9. There are two more camps for the production coming up in July and August that are almost completely sold out. For ages 10-14, a camp with a production of “Frozen” is being offered. One of them has already happened. A sold out camp is happening in July, and an  in-person camp  is being offered from July 27-Aug. 8 with some availability. From July 27-Aug. 15, CFRT is offering a camp with a production of “Puffs” for ages 15-19.

    Kids do wear masks in the productions while the theater also emphasizes sanitization to ensure the safety of the children. The theater also has been careful to follow the CDC’s social distancing guidelines.

    One of the benefits of the CDC’s guidelines is that the children who participate in the camps are separated into three different groups. For example, one of the “Frozen” camps was split into three different groups, each of which did their own production. “We’ll have three Elsas, three Annas, three Olafs in each company. That’s great because … we’ve seen kids that have come here for years who feel like, ‘Yes, this is my summer,’” said de la Concha.

    In a tumultuous time, the arts’ provision of creativity and joy is a much-needed constant. “I think everybody needs the arts, especially at a time like now,” said de la Concha. “We’re working very hard to make sure we can continue to make that happen.

    Visit www.cfrt.org to find out more about what Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

  • 09 terryhinrechsYou will know someone or will have seen someone that is being exhibited at Gallery 208 in the new exhibit titled “Where the Winds Never Stops: The Hildreth Project.” How is that possible when you have probably never been to Hildreth, Nebraska? The photographer, Shane Booth, in a series of photographs, has captured the essence of part of an iconic Americana. I could go on and on about his extensive professional resume. Still, to understand how a photograph moves from a good photograph to a great photograph, I would like to share insight into his 16-year personal back story.

    The portrait photographs in “Where the Winds Never Stops: The Hildreth Project” are of rural white America (it’s Nebraska!), but you can be of any ethnicity and see someone you think you may have met or have seen before … that is the genius of this body of work and has been the artist’s oeuvre for the past 20 years – to capture the essence of something beyond an individual’s identity, instead, the spirit of the many in a single portrait.
    In comparison, Cindy Sherman, a historically significant contemporary photographer, has created thousands of photographs of herself, dressed in disguise, to portray an iconic American female “type” that most people, in America, would recognize — a movie star, a homemaker, a sun-burned beachgoer. Booth has done the opposite of Sherman. He has photographed a real individual who evokes the essence of a familiar type.
    A powerful incentive to see the exhibit, visitors to Gallery 208 will immediately experience a sense of peacefulness and quietude as you scan the exhibit. Yet, upon closer inspection, some of the out-of-focus elements in the photograph are eerily disconcerting. The experience of calm is not by accident. It is the result of his professional history but also little-known facts about his past.

    In 2002, while a graduate student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Booth found the 1867 camera at an antique store during a visit home to Nebraska. In 2004, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with an MFA in photography. He began commuting, for a short time, from Savannah, Georgia, to teach “one” art survey class at Fayetteville Community College. Booth eventually moved to Fayetteville, worked several jobs in restaurants and a frame shop to survive. In 2005, he was hired to teach as an adjunct art instructor at Fayetteville State University. He became a full-time art faculty at FSU in 2007.

    In 2013, Booth received a North Carolina Arts Council grant to have the 1867 large format camera restored. He has been using it ever since to create bodies of work. Although the camera equipment Booth uses changed, the idea of portraiture and the essence of what it means to portray an individual is not new.

    The photographs in “Where the Winds Never Stops: The Hildreth Project” are the direct result of Booth’s knowledge of the art and craft of photography, his experience as an artist and an 1867-barrel lens camera he has restored. But the heart of Booth’s work as a mature artist lingers as a result of his 2004 MFA thesis exhibit. That year, Booth’s MFA thesis dissertation and exhibit focused on social photography; the title of his exhibition was “Pigeonhole.”

    For Booth, coming from Nebraska to Savannah, Georgia, he is the first to admit he was a very naïve young man. “Savannah was not like Nebraska. I always felt oddly different. I was naïve about the racism I experienced for the first time, the stereotyping of people — even crime. For the thesis exhibit “Pigeonhole,” I did a series for portraits — combining my love of vintage things with the idea of how people are stereotyped.”

    Unknowingly and indirectly, the heart of Booth’s work in this exhibition, and for most of his work since the 2004 MFA thesis, has always been about the essence of what it means to portray an individual. Even when Booth returns home each summer to photograph the Nebraska landscape, his landscapes are about the idea of portraiture and identity — what it means to grow up in rural Nebraska.
    When you visit “Where the Winds Never Stops: The Hildreth Project,” you are seeing the work of an artist whose goal is to photograph every person living in Hildreth. When asked why, Booth said, “For five generations my family has called Hildreth, Nebraska, home. I return to the town every summer looking for familiar faces that make up my memories and the heart of this small farming community. As memories fade, people pass on, and younger generations want to live a more updated life, I feel it is important to document the members who remain in this small village. For me, they represent the identity of a group of people that are slowly being lost, a group that is defined by their strong generational connection to (their) environment.”

    The exhibit will be up for three months, and the opening reception, to meet the artist and hear the artist talk about his work, was moved until August. Before August, when you visit Gallery 208, here is insight into how Booth can create the essence of the exhibition you will experience and how he interfaces with the subjects to take their portraits. “I wanted to document the spirit of Hildreth through portraiture,” said Booth. “I place the subject in their environment, which usually consists of their barn or home. … I do not direct the subject or pose them in a particular way. I simply allow them to sit in front of the camera and form a relationship with the lens. Sometimes that relationship is an easy one, and at other times it can be a bit anxious looking. Each image has a 10-second development time due to the 1867-barrel lens I use on my 8x10 studio camera. Because of this long exposure, movement and blurring of the subject or background become part of the photograph. In a land where the wind never stops blowing, it is part of their story.”

    Booth’s backstory has been shared, but it’s also important to highlight a few of his many achievements. Some of his most recent exhibitions include: “Open Call,” Southeast Center for Photography, Columbia, South Carolina, in 2017; “Bridges: Sharing our Past to Enrich the Future,” Hildegard Center for the Arts, Lincoln, Nebraska, 2017; “Collective Experiences,” Chiang Mai University Art Museum, Chiang Mail Thailand, 2017; “The Abandoned Landscape,” Southeast Center for Photography, Greenville, South Carolina., 2016; and “Looking Glass: Exploring Self Portraiture,” Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City, Indiana, 2015.

    Presentations include but are not limited to: “Catherland Project 1,” Willa Cather Foundation, Red Cloud, Nebraska, 2016; Musikhjalpen Oskarshamn, “HIV,” Sweden, Oskarshamn Sweden, 2014 Society of Photographic Education South East, “Vulnerabilities Groom,” Society of Photographic Education, Greenville, North Carolina, 2014.

    Some of the grants he received include the following: “Portraiture with 1867 Camera,” sponsored by Minden Opera House, 2108; “Shane Booth and the Personal Photography of a Life with HIV,” sponsored by Department of State, Federal, $7,000.00, 2018; “Artist in Residence,” sponsored by Willa Cather Foundation, 2016; and “Regional Artists Grant,” Sponsored by United Arts Council (North Carolina Arts Council), 2013.
    There will be plenty of social distancing for visitors to “Where the Winds Never Stops: The Hildreth Project at Gallery 208 until August 2020. There will be an opening reception in August. Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan St. The gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. For information call 910- 484-6200.

     

  •     Could you forgive a person who murdered your family? Could you live with them in the same neighborhood? This is the question faced by the survivors of the brutal 1994 Rwandan genocide. 
        The Church of Apostles in Hope Mills will host the film As We Forgive on Wednesday, June 11 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Cameo Art House Theatre in downtown Fayetteville. The 54-minute documentary is a 2008 finalist in the Student Academy Awards and is narrated by Mia Farrow. The film’s mission is to expose people across America to the untold story of Africa with the intention of inspiring a wider discussion of the need for reconciliation in our personal lives, institutions and government.  
        {mosimage}The movie revolves around the journey of two women whose families were murdered in the 1994 genocide. The prison systems in Rwanda were overcrowded and there were so many cases that the government chose to release more than 50,000 prisoners back into the community. The women were forced to live in the village with the people who were responsible for killing their families.       
        “The documentary tracks their stories of forgiveness and reconciliation,” said Leigh Ross, director of mission development at The Church of The Apostles. “One woman’s killer really tries to show his remorse by helping build her a home.”
    Ross added that the film captures how the people are trying to live after the genocide.
        The filmmaker, Laura Waters Hinson, was engaged in a conversation with Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana and he described a project that seemed unreal.
        “Wilson’s interest was peaked as she imagined a film that could capture the profound message communicated by genocide survivors and perpetrators who are reconciling and living together as neighbors,” said Ross. “Wilson returned to Rwanda with a small crew of student filmmakers and friends to witness the claim that reconciliation was happening.”
        Ross added that Hinson interviewed women and families in the community. 
        Rwanda is a very poor country located in east-central Africa. In 1994, more than 1 million people were killed during a 100-day rampage. Throughout the genocide, Tutsi women were often mutilated, raped and tortured before they were murdered. The genocide created a generation of orphans. 
        The film is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome. Fair trade Rwandan coffee will be sold during the event as a means to stimulate the Rwandan economy.  
        “We invite everyone to come and view the documentary,” said Ross. 
        For information, call 425-2561.

    Contact Shanessa Fenner at editor@upandcomingweekly.com
  •     {mosimage}In preparation for the thousands of troops making their way to Fort Bragg due to BRAC reassignment, Fayetteville/Cumberland County is demonstrating its commitment to the military by creating an army of volunteer civilians known as the Army’s Army. The Army’s Army is the world’s only volunteer organization of citizens and businesses who’ve pledged their moral, physical and spiritual support to those in the military. Specifically, they’ll do everything they can to make soldiers and their families feel welcome, appreciated and safe in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
    {mosimage}As part of a Memorial Day celebration launching the initiative, Brig. Gen. Arthur Bartell thanked the citizens who volunteered for the Army’s Army. "They stay here because you open your hearts to the soldiers and family members of Fort Bragg and also Pope Air Force Base," said Bartell. "We call that, in the Army, selfless service."
        As members of the Army’s Army, volunteers will act as ambassadors to military families around the globe. Members can participate in various activities, such as answering e-mails and phone calls from soldiers and their families interested in finding out more about the community. Participating businesses, such as restaurants, may offer special discounts or have a table reserved at all times for the military. Bumper stickers on cars and posters in local community windows will serve as a constant reminder that the citizens of Fayetteville/Cumberland County support, appreciate and welcome soldiers.
        For more information about the Army’s Army, visit the Web site at www.armysarmy.com.

    Breastfeeding Coalition seeks info
        The Breastfeeding Coalition of Cumberland County is requesting nominations for “breastfeeding friendly” places of business, restaurants, public facilities or faith-based organizations. This could be a workplace that provides time and a place for a breastfeeding employee to pump and store expressed milk, it could be a business with a written breastfeeding policy, a restaurant or store that is accommodating to breastfeeding moms, or any business, faith-based or public facility that has welcomed a mother and her nursing baby.
    Nomination forms may be requested by calling (910) 484-8570 or via email to  HYPERLINK mailto:BfCoalitionofCC@gmail.com BfCoalitionofCC@gmail.com. Deadline for submissions is July 15, 2008.
        Presentation of certificates of recognition to selected establishments will be during World Breastfeeding Week, the first week in August.

    Cape Fear Valley Call for Art
        Calling all artists! Cape Fear Valley Health System will host a juried art exhibit to acquire original works of art by talented local and regional artists.
        The art exhibit will be during Fourth Friday on July 25 at the Arts Council headquarters in downtown Fayetteville. Up to 15-20 of the winning entries will be purchased by Cape Fear Valley Health System and displayed inside the new Valley Pavilion at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
        The competition is open to all artists 18 years and older from North and South Carolina. A maximum of four, two-dimensional original works are allowed per entrant and must be submitted electronically by Wednesday, June 18. Initial judging of all entries will be done through JPEG submissions submitted on CD, DVD or USB jump drive. There is a $20 entry fee ($15 for Arts Council members) for two entries and $5 for each additional entry.
    Works chosen for the juried exhibition will be accepted Monday, July 14, through Thursday, July 17, and on Saturday, July 19, at the Arts Council headquarters. The Fourth Friday juried exhibition and reception is Friday, July 25, from 7-9 p.m.
        To download an entry form visit the Web site HYPERLINK “http://www.theartscouncil.com/” www.theartscouncil.com. Then get your creative juices flowing.

  • 09Alice Osborn2There’s a longstanding opportunity to engage with this community’s arts and culture scene: Fayetteville’s monthly 4th Friday, sponsored by Cool Spring Downtown District. This month’s event, as usual, takes place in idyllic downtown Fayetteville. Set for June 28 from 6-10 p.m., its theme is “Love Local.”

    “Love local” is an easy mandate to follow, as downtown is bursting with both longtime and new galleries, bookstores, bistros and shops to explore.

    Cape Fear Studios and Gallery, located at 148- 1 Maxwell St., will hold an opening reception for its 2019 Nellie Allen Smith National Pottery Competition. The reception will last from 6-8 p.m., and the show will be up through July 23. CFS has hosted this competition for more than 20 years. The initial goal was to give local clay artists an opportunity to compete with their peers. The show has now grown to provide a nationally competitive stage, with entries coming in from across the U.S. To learn more, visit www. capefearstudios.com/monthly-exhibits or call 910-433-2986.

    The Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum will hold a special 4th Friday celebration highlighting its current exhibit, “Baseball in Fayetteville.” This fun and educational exhibit focuses on the nearly 150 years of baseball history in this community — including the fact that Babe Ruth hit his first professional baseball home run here. It was also here that he picked up the nickname “Babe.”

    The Market House, at the roundabout of Person, Hay, Green and Gillespie Streets, will open a new temporary exhibit, “Centennial of Pope Army Airfield,” from 6-9 p.m. The Market House’s permanent exhibit, “A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville,” will also be open.

    There’s also live music to enjoy. Alice Osborn, a Piedmont-area performer whose music and lyrics are rooted in folk Americana and the New South, will perform at Bright Light Brewing Company, 444 W Russell St. From 7-10 p.m., Osborn will play tunes that are upbeat and informed by her identity as both an accomplished poet and an American history buff. She is the president of the North Carolina Songwriters Coop and lives in Raleigh with her family. She also plays Celtic fiddle and bluegrass banjo. Visit www.aliceosborn.com to learn more about her, and call Bright Light at 910-339-0464 to learn more about her show in Fayetteville.

    These are just a few of the many events and activities happening downtown June 28. For more information about 4th Friday, visit www.theartscouncil.com or call Cool Spring Downtown District at 910-223-1089.

    Photo: Alice Osborn

  • 11CrawdadsNorth Carolina likes to be No. 1 — at everything.

    We declare ourselves to be “First in Flight.” But it took a couple of Ohio boys to make that happen.

    We declare ourselves to be “First in Freedom” based on the May 20, 1775, Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, a controversial claim that many historians dispute.

    We also love it when books written by North Carolinians or set in our state become No. 1 best-sellers on The New York Times list.

    So this year we are bragging about “Where the Crawdads Sing,” a book set in the fictional eastern North Carolina town of Barkley Cove, and the surrounding marshes, coves and ocean waters.

    This book by Delia Owens has been on the Times’ list, usually at No. 1, for 35 weeks.

    But there is a problem. We will get to that in a moment, after we consider a few things about the book that explain why it has already sold more than 2 million copies.

    “Crawdads” is literary fiction with strong writing and lovely descriptions of nature’s plants and creatures. A compelling murder mystery with an unexpected ending gives readers a superior entertainment experience.

    Owens is a fan of “A Sand County Almanac,” a book of nature-themed essays by Aldo Leopold. She wanted to write a book with a similar nature focus, but one that also has a strong storyline.

    “Crawdads” is the result. Its success demonstrates that the combination of good writing, a solid story and interesting information about serious topics can be a commercial success.

    The book’s central character, Catherine Clark or “Kya,” lives by herself in a shack in the marshes, miles away from town. People in Barkley Cove think she is weird, keep their distance, and call her “the Marsh Girl.” She spent only one day in school and cannot read or write. However, because she is smart and diligent, she learns about the nature of the marshes.

    She meets Tate Walker, a young man from Barkley Cove. He senses her strengths and shares her love of plants and animals. He teaches her to read and write, and falls in love with her.

    When Tate leaves Kya behind to study science at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, she is devastated. But she rebounds to the seductive charms of Chase Andrews, a town football hero and big shot. Their secret affair is interrupted by Chase’s marriage to another woman, and Kya is again distraught.

    Overcoming these disappointments, Kya leverages her reading, writing and self-taught artistic talents to record the nature world that surrounds her. When Tate, now a scientist, returns to her life, he persuades her to submit her work for publication. That book is a great success, and she writes and illustrates several more.

    All this is background for the story that begins on the first pages of the book. Chase is found dead at the bottom of an old fire tower. Kya is a suspect and is ultimately charged, arrested, put in prison and tried for Chase’s murder.

    The author’s deftness in setting up this situation, and resolving it smoothly, has helped make it a best-seller. “Crawdads” gained the attention of beloved actress Reese Witherspoon. Fox 2000 has acquired film rights and plans for Witherspoon to be the producer.

    We can hope that the movie will be shot in North Carolina. But here, the book’s problem jumps up. The geography described in the book, with palmettos and deep marshes adjoining ocean coves, seems to fit South Carolina or Georgia coastal landscapes better than North Carolina’s coastlands.

    Nevertheless, whatever the moviemakers decide, North Carolinians can bask in the reflected glory of a No. 1 best-seller that claims our state for its setting.

  • 06-29-11-fort-bragg-4th.jpgIf, after reaching this point in the newspaper, you still aren’t sure what to do on the 4th of July, we have a couple of more suggestions for you.

    You may want to drop into Fort Bragg and take in the festivities that ranked #16 on Parade Magazine’s America’s Bucket List.

    The entry on #16 reads: Seek out the best 4th of July fireworks within 50 miles of your home. One of the biggest shows is in New York City, where up to six barges detonate simultaneous displays, but every state has spectacular options, like Disneyland Resort’s patriotic explosions in Anaheim, Calif., or the celebration at Fort Bragg in N.C., which includes a thrilling parachuting exhibition.

    The event was also named one of the Top 20 events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. It seems that the rest of America has fi nally clued in on what those of us who live in the region have known all along — if you want to celebrate your freedom, there’s no better place to do so than with the men and women who protect it every day. The Fort Bragg 4th of July Celebration has always been a show stopper and this year, it looks to be even better than before.

    The annual celebration is held at the Main Post Parade Field, right in the heart of Fort Bragg. Events kick off at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 4, and run throughout the evening, concluding with one of the area’s most inspiring fi reworks displays.

    Throughout the afternoon, attendees can watch breathtaking parachute freefall demonstrations; observe the grandeur of the popular flag ceremony; the shock and awe of the fireworks; and take part in what has to be one of America’s largest picnics as thousands of people unfold their blankets, break out their picnic baskets or take advantage of the wide variety of food and beverages that will be available from vendors throughout the evening.

    While the Fort Bragg event is known for its patriotic flavor, it’s also known for its musical guests. Each year Fort Bragg welcomes some of the nation’s most popular performers to the stage to delight the community.

    In recent years, there has been a decidedly country flavor to the event, and that remains true this year, as the post welcomes Charlie Daniels and Little Big Town to the stage.

    Daniels, a native of Wilmington, N.C., is best known for his fiddle playing and his hit songs “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and “In America.”

    In recent years, he has made headlines for his support of the military and his views on politics. In 2003, Daniels published an Open Letter to the Hollywood Bunch in defense of President George W. Bush’s Iraq policy. His 2003 book Ain’t No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag contains this letter as well as many other personal statements.

    Daniels will be joined at the celebration by Little Big Town, a band that is known for its love of music and love of harmony. The band has sold more than 1.5 million records and garnered three Grammy nominations, including The Road to Here’s nomination for album of the year.

    Come early and take in all the events and then keep your eyes on the skies for the fireworks show that is sure to please everyone in your family!If you’ve never been to Bragg’s 4th of July activities, the sheer size of the event and the number of people who come may seem overwhelming; however, the post has this event down to a science and if you follow a few simple rules, everything will run smoothly. A complete listing of access points, parking areas and prohibited areas is listed on the Fort Bragg MWR website. While the entire community is welcome, please keep in mind that persons entering the post must have ID and your vehicles are subject to search. No pets or glass bottles are permitted on the parade field, and shelters and umbrellas are allowed only in designated areas.

    For more information, visit www. fortbraggmwr.com/sportsrec/specialevents/4thsoe.pdf.

  • 10LumbeesIn 2013, Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s founding director, Bo Thorp, produced a play called “The Dames You Thought You Knew.” It featured Thorp and four other prominent local women. Darlene Ransom saw the play with Laverne Oxendine and another friend, and it sparked an idea. “During intermission,” Ransom said, “I poked Laverne and said, ‘I would like to do this with Lumbee women.’”

    “Well, then I am sure you will do it,” Oxendine replied. Six years later and a year in the making, “lumBEES: Women of the Dark Water” runs June 21, 22, 28 and 29 at CFRT.

    “lumBEES: Women of the Dark Water” shines a light on the life stories of women from the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina. Attendees will meet Roberta Bullard Brown, Dolores Jones, Jinnie Lowery, Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery, Della Maynor and Darlene Holmes Ransom — six extraordinary Lumbee women who tell their stories of growing up as American Indians in southeastern North Carolina.

    “There is tremendous pride in each of these women — in being a Lumbee,” said Thorp. “And when they first started as young people, it was not easy being a Lumbee.”

    This production is about more than simply six women telling their stories, although that’s also exactly what it is about. And it’s about why stories and lives matter and how they can change people, families, systems and cultures.

    “I think it is important for people within the state to see us and to hear our stories because there are so many misconceptions about who we are as a people,” said Jinnie. “We have never been confused about it, but other people sometimes are. Everyone in this play came through the Jim Crow South. We are the product of the segregated system. We get to tell that story. We arethe products of all-Indian schools. It  is important to understand what our ancestors went through and how that shapes the lives we get to live today.”

    Jo Ann added, “If you want to raise awareness, this production will do that. … By knowing these things, it helps overcome prejudicial fears.”

    As they share their stories and their lives, the Women of the Dark Water may just change yours, too. “This is a story that has long-needed to be told,” said Thorp. “They talk about their families and who and where they came from and what they love, and some of what they hated as they were growing up; they loved swimming in the Lumbee River, and they hated farming.”

    Just as it is a big part of the Lumbee culture, music is integral to this production and features talented local Lumbee musicians The Carters, Lorna McNeill Ricotta, Alexis Jones, and John Oxendine. “The music makes it a lot of fun,” said Thorp. “When you hear it put together, it shows perfectly how they are wonderful people who grew up in this place and how they are important to this place.”

    All proceeds from the play will be divided between CFRT and the new children’s area in the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at UNC Pembroke. 

    Tickets are available at the CFRT box office at 1209 Hay St., online at cfrt.org, or by phone at 910-323-4233. Ticket prices are: Friday, June 21, $15, preview; Saturday, June 22, $30, gathering with the BEES; Friday, June 28, $20; and Saturday, June 29, $20. The June 22 ticket includes a pre-show meal provided by Fullers Old Fashioned BBQ and beverages from Healy Wholesale.

  • 01UAC061219Three artists, with backgrounds in three different art concentrations, found themselves together in a small-enrollment printmaking class. The new exhibition at Gallery 208, “The Art of Possibility: Three Artists Explore Printmaking,” is the result of a year of comradery and exploration, each artist discovering an opportunity to refigure meaning in their work through printmaking materials and techniques. The public is invited to attend the opening reception Tuesday, June 18, from 5:30- 7 p.m. at Gallery 208.

    Visitors to the exhibition will see traditional and unexpected ways each artist approaches the printmaking medium. For example, the background for two of Angela Stouts’ monoprints have been goldleafed or silver-leafed by the artist on large sheets of printmaking paper. Jade Robin incorporates a piece of stained mulberry paper, the result of the last big hurricane, in a chine-collé process, combined with the process of using a box cutter to scratch across a pronto plate before printing. Both artists contrast with the seemingly effortless minimal prints by Maria Anglero. Her pristine patterns, referencing nature, float across an off-white paper surface.

    Knowing the backstory of each artist will help to unfold the whole story: How the works of three emerging artists from different medium preferences — a printmaker, a painter and a ceramicist — resulted in a printmaking exhibition at Gallery 208.

    Robin, an undergraduate student in printmaking at Fayetteville State University, knew she wanted to become proficient in printmaking during her first class in that subject. Since that introductory class, Robin has systematically investigated the technical rigors of each category under the printmaking umbrella — relief, intaglio, serigraphy and lithography. While practicing the many techniques in each category simultaneously, Robin had to come to terms with meaning in her work. For Robin, she was enrolled in one of the printmaking courses in her degree track when the backstory begins.

    Stout, a highly talented painter, is in the process of completing her last several semesters as an undergraduate student in art education with a painting concentration. She needed to complete a required printmaking course, was ready to take a short break from painting and found herself in the same printmaking class with Robin.

    Then we add Anglero to the mix. Anglero, who is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in ceramics, had room in her schedule to add an elective. She decided to take an advanced printmaking class. All three end up together in Robin’s printmaking world: Practice new assigned techniques, become proficient in those assigned techniques, and experiment with unconventional techniques. And while you’re at it, bring personal meaning to a body of work.

    Anglero had already completed an introductory printmaking class at Fayetteville Technical Community College, so early in the year, she felt comfortable practicing several advanced relief printing techniques. Robin’s printmaking experience was helpful to the group, and for Stout, it was all new.

    Everyone brought advanced experiences from a different degree concentration. Each had already created a body of work in their concentration. All three were enamored with the printmaking processes.

    The successes that resulted in an exhibition were also the result of each artist’s confidence in themselves and their shared philosophy about image- or object-making. There is no one way, no one culture, no right or wrong meaning. There is simply the power of material and compositional unity to express personal meaning.

    For all three artists, printmaking has informed their art across disciplines. It is not required for visitors to Gallery 208, but understanding the value and influence of printmaking on the artists’ work has the potential to enrich an appreciation of the individual works in the exhibit.

    Of the ways the processes in printmaking influence meaning in her work, Robin said, “From the very beginning, I liked that there are so many steps in printmaking — sketching, making the matrixes, color selections, proofing, then printing the edition or doing a series of monoprints.

    “With each step, you have a different direction you can go. For me, each option has the potential to create new meaning. I love the open-ended possibilities of processes; even a mistake can take your image in a new direction.

    “As an artist, I am presently preoccupied with the idea of identity. As I develop ideas about identity, process can influence new meaning for me, so (having) variations in the process is important to me. Variations in process inspire variations of feeling as well as distinctions in meaning and content.”

    In comparison, ceramicist Anglero noted how she likes the physicality of the printmaking medium. “In ceramics, I use tools, and I include my hands as tools, to shape form. So I immediately responded to the act of using gouges to carve a block for a relief print.

    “My love of nature, trees in particular, is reflected in my ceramic vessels. Bringing the idea of nature’s surfaces to printmaking opened up new ways of seeing the potential of patterns across disciplines. Although I began to use the silk-screening process with ceramic slips on three-dimensional forms, my greatest lesson was not separating the two mediums as completely distinct — both processes inform the other.

    “For me, printmaking is a way to explore ideas about surface and meaning in new ways that always has the potential of continuing to influence my love of ceramics.”

    As a painter, Stout immediately discovered the potential of printmaking to explore new meaning in her work. Stout stated, “As soon as I let go of the idea of a preconceived end-result and allowed myself to see the potential of new techniques and experimentation to inform content, I was liberated and comfortable to think about painting in a new way. Using paper, exploring new techniques, experimenting with new color combinations — I was working in an environment of trying multiple ideas and multiple techniques in ways that I would have not approached on canvas.

    “Like painting, printmaking has become a neverending search on ways for me to express my core intent of expressing unity in opposition.”

    “The Art of Possibility: Three Artists Explore Printmaking” is the result of three very different artists experiencing the difficulties and successes of printmaking processes. The value of informal dialogue with each other, sharing approaches to creative problem-solving, and ultimately understanding how all artists wrestle with personal meaning and content also underlie this show.

    The public is invited to see the exhibit and meet the artists during the opening reception June 18 from 5:30-7 p.m. The exhibit will stay hanging in Gallery 208 until mid-August 2019. Gallery 208 is located at Up & Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan St. There is plenty of parking behind the building. For more information, call 910-484-6200.

  • 06-22-11-boomer-article.jpgEven for those of us who have grown up Googling, Yahooing and Binging our way to solutions for life’s many questions and challenges, it can sometimes be tough finding the answers we are looking for. For the generations who have come before us, and haven’t necessarily embraced the technologies of today, an Internet search can be nonproductive and frustrating.

    On Thursday, June 30, at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, the Boomer and Caregiver Expo is seeking to answer your questions, whether you are a 20-something, a 50-something or a 100-and-something.

    The organizers see this event as the fi rst of its kind in our community, and although there is a wealth of information aimed at Baby Boomers, event spokesperson Dineen Morton sees this as a must attend event for people of all ages. When people hear the words “Boomer” and “caregiver” they think this is something for older adults, and while there is plenty for older adults at the Boomer & Caregiver Expo, there is plenty for young people too, according to Morton.

    “We have a lot of Boomers in our community. At the same time, we have a lot of young people who work with Boomers and we really felt it was necessary — especially with the economy the way it is — for us to know how to work together so that our community can still thrive,” said Morton. “Because Boomers and the new generations think so differently, we just felt this would be a good way to incorporate everyone together but at the same time to acknowledge the Boomers and to educate them and those who work with them, live with them and love them.”

    The event will include more than 40 vendors ranging from entertainment and technology to home-based businesses and medical resources. Not only will there be informational displays, but Morton has lined up several speakers, too.

    “We have a presentation on the generations — the 20-somethings, the 30-somethings, the 40-somethings and the 50-somethings and how we all think and why we tick the way we tick,” said Morton. “The speaker will talk about the different generations and how we can work together so that we can better understand each other. We also have some folks who will talk about financial literacy and help us to be better stewards of our money.”

    In addition to the presentations in the main area, there will be smaller, more intimate break-out sessions every 15 minutes throughout the day, covering a wide range of topics.

    The goal is to not only educate, but to empower and encourage attendees as well to connect them to resources that are available in the community — and it is free and open to the public. There will be free food and hourly door prizes, too.

    “For young people, it can be encouraging to know that somebody who has walked in their shoes can help them to grow and be successful. We all need mentors, and as a young person this is a place that I would want to be if I were wanting to grow or to learn about where my future could be,” said Morton. “It will be helpful for them to see and hear about where they could be headed and maybe establish the relationship of a lifetime … find that mentor.”

    Call Dineen Morton at 486-5001 to find out more about the event.

  • 6While defending our country, veterans faced countless dangers, from permanent hearing loss to traumatic brain injuries.
    Still, a more obscure risk serving in the military entails is toxic exposure, which is responsible for crippling diseases among veterans. As a consequence of negligence, the vast majority of military bases nationwide are now contaminated with toxic substances.

    The city of Fayetteville is home to over 25,600 veterans, some of whom have been stationed at polluted military bases during active duty.

    Established in 1918, the installation is the largest in the country by population, with 43,414 active-duty military personnel training and living there. Today, the military base is known as Fort Liberty, as it had originally been named after a Confederate.

    Unfortunately, the environment of the military base is contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” Out of this group of over 9,000 toxic chemicals, PFOA and PFOS are the most harmful, as they have a strong association with cancer.

    According to the new safe exposure limits proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the concentration of PFOA and PFOS in the environment of Fort Liberty is very high. Specifically, the PFOA level exceeds the maximum limit by 6,400 times, while the PFOS level eclipses the proposed limits by 1,135 times.

    These chemicals are emerging contaminants, being able to persist in the environment for over a thousand years. They are challenging to remove from groundwater and soil, even with the most innovative technologies.

    A military base with a significantly worse legacy of toxic contamination is Camp Lejeune, located in Jacksonville. For 34 years during the last century, two of the eight water distribution plants at the facility were heavily contaminated with solvents, including trichloroethylene and vinyl chloride.

    As many as one million people lived there while the drinking water was unsafe to consume. PFAS were also lurking in Camp Lejeune’s water in a concentration exceeding the current safe exposure limit by over 2,500 times.

    In the past, veterans affected by toxic exposure on military bases had a difficult time obtaining the VA benefits they were entitled to. Today, by virtue of the Honoring Our PACT Act, they have easier access to the healthcare and compensation they deserve.

    This bill was signed into law on Aug. 10, 2022. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, the PACT Act is one of the largest health care and benefit expansions in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.

    The Honoring Our PACT Act extends the VA healthcare eligibility criteria for veterans injured by toxic exposure; adds over 20 new presumptive conditions; and requires the VA to offer a toxic exposure screening to each veteran enrolled in the system.

    Under this new law, Fayetteville veterans struggling with diseases caused by toxic exposure on military bases can file for VA disability compensation and receive free healthcare with considerably more ease than in the past.

    The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is also part of the Honoring Our PACT Act, under which everyone who spent time at the military base when the drinking water was contaminated can obtain compensation from the U.S. government.

    To learn more about the Honoring Our PACT Act visit https://www.va.gov/

    Editor’s note: Jonathan Sharp is Chief Financial Officer at Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. The law firm offers assistance to veterans and family members injured by toxic exposure on military installations.

  • 5North Carolinians are by now accustomed to seeing our state score well on national rankings of economic performance, cost of living, quality of life and other measures. But a new study from the foundation arm of the National Taxpayers Union ranks North Carolina a dismal 42nd.

    No, there was no overnight tax increase while you were sleeping. The study in question examines how state tax codes treat traveling professionals and remote workers. Ours treats them poorly.
    Unless you make speeches, play professional sports, or consult for a living, you may not be aware that state governments routinely tax non-residents for even small amounts of income earned within their jurisdictions.

    If you live in Raleigh but conduct a week-long seminar in Charleston for some of your South Carolina clients, you are obligated to pay South Carolina taxes on your seminar income.

    Ditto if you live in Norfolk but do a short job in Elizabeth City. You’re supposed to pay North Carolina taxes on what you’re paid for that job.
    The concern here isn’t so much about double taxation — the U.S. Supreme Court held years ago that multiple states aren’t supposed to tax the same stream of income — as it is about administrative complexity and simple fairness.

    If you only perform work in a state for a short time, you impose few burdens on that state’s infrastructure and other public services. And unless you command a very high wage, the amount of tax collected from you is too small to justify the paperwork burden on you and your employer.

    Naturally, if you regularly commute across state lines for work, say from Rock Hill to your job in Charlotte, these arguments don’t really apply. It is reasonable to require you to pay taxes to North Carolina, and for your employer to withhold those taxes on your behalf.

    But it turns out that most states, including our own, do little to distinguish between these very different cases.

    Maine is one exemption. Unless you work at least 12 days there, earning at least $3,000, you aren’t required to pay income taxes in Maine. Our neighboring state of Georgia is another. It uses a wage threshold of $5,000 or 5% of your total income, whichever is lower.

    Another way to reduce the administrative burden on employers and employees is for states to negotiate tax-reciprocity agreements in which each agrees to tax only the incomes of residents.

    North Carolina offers no such relief. That’s why we rank so poorly on the National Taxpayer Union’s Remote Obligations and Mobility (ROAM) Index.

    All other things being equal, we make it unnecessarily cumbersome for companies to do business here if they hire out-of-state workers for short periods.
    The tax treatment of cross-border income was always a thorny issue. The post-COVID explosion in telecommuting has dramatically increased its salience, however. Millions more Americans now work from home much or all the time, sometimes deriving income from multiple employers or jurisdictions.

    “States cannot keep their heads in the sand and pretend that the economy is not changing,” says Andrew Wilford, who developed the ROAM Index. “Rules that once affected small subsets of mobile workers are increasingly becoming relevant to broader swaths of workers across many industries.”

    Wilford recommends that North Carolina establish a fixed threshold for filing and withholding — 30 days is his “gold standard” — and that we negotiate reciprocal agreements with neighboring states.
    These steps would elevate us to the top tier of states on the index. That’s where North Carolina belongs.

    Editor's note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

  • 61973 is officially middle aged. Today we will take a walk down Memory Lane to 1973 which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year.

    If you are of a demographic which can remember that far back, kindly do not drive at night. If you are too young to remember 1973, why are you reading this column? Hop on board Mr. Peabody’s Way Back Machine. It’s time to poke around in the dust bin of history into which 1973 has been deposited.

    January: The year started with a bang in January with George Steinbrenner and some buddies buying the New York Yankees for $10 million. A million dollars went a lot farther in 1973.

    The Watergate burglary trial started starring Judge “Maximum John” Sirica presiding. (For you youngsters who are still reading, Watergate was a quaint scandal involving a third-rate burglary that brought down President Nixon).

    Elvis’ concert from Hawaii was broadcast on TV. Monty Python’s Flying Circus had its last broadcast on BBC.

    OJ Simpson was the MVP of the NFL Pro Bowl. Mr. Simpson went on to beat two murder raps but got sent to prison for stealing his own sports memorabilia.

    Roe v. Wade was handed down by the Supreme Court. It turned out that did not finalize abortion rights.

    Nixon announced Peace with Honor had been achieved in the Vietnam war.

    February: Hagar the Horrible appeared for the first time in the funnies to the delight of fans of viking humor everywhere.

    The price of gold jumped $10 per ounce overnight to $95. Pretend you had bought $1000 worth of gold then. Sweet vision, ain’t it?

    The Triple Crown winner Secretariat sold for $5.7 million or the price of 60,000 ounces of gold. Fun Fact — as of the writing of this column an ounce of gold sells for $1971 which means 60,000 ounces translates into $118, 261,000. That would buy a lot of hay.

    March: Far Out! Pink Floyd released their album “Dark Side of the Moon” to the eternal enjoyment of aging hippies worldwide. Sales of pizza and patchouli oil shot through the roof.

    John McCain, who had been otherwise engaged for the last five years at the Hanoi Hilton, was freed by North Vietnam.

    White House Counsel John Dean tells Richard Nixon that Watergate is “a cancer growing on the Presidency.”

    “The Godfather” wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.

    April: John Lennon and Yoko Ono form a new country named Nutopia.

    The first mobile phone call is made in America by Martin Cooper, the head of the Motorola communications division.
    FBI Director L. Patrick Gray, caught up in Watergate, resigns after “twisting slowly, slowly in the wind.” Nixon’s Berlin Wall henchmen Bob Haldeman and John Erlichman resign.

    May: Not much happened of interest.

    June: “The Rocky Horror Show” opens as a play in London.

    Marvin Gaye releases “Let’s Get It On” which wins R&B Song of the Year. Marvin’s dad later forfeits any claim to Father of the Year.

    July: John Paul Getty III, grandson of one of the richest men in the world is kidnapped. Kidnappers send his ear to Granddad to push their ransom demand.

    August: The movie “American Graffiti” premieres spiking nostalgia for the early 1960s.

    Willie Mays hits his 660th and last home run.

    September: Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in the incredibly hyped tennis Battle of the Sexes.

    October: Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns in disgrace pleading no contest to tax fraud. Gerald Ford is nominated to replace him.

    Dolly Parton releases “Jolene.”

    The Watergate Saturday Night Massacre fires Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy AG William Rucklelhaus for refusing to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. This does not work out as well as Nixon hoped.

    November: President Nixon announces: “I am not a crook.” Turns out he was.

    December: Scary movie “The Exorcist” is released on the nation, prompting a run on demon possession cures.

    OPEC raises the price of a barrel of oil from $5.12 to $11.65

    There you have it. Our old friend 1973 was full of life, bumps and bruises. If you can remember these things, be sure to take your meds before you go to bed this afternoon. If this seems to be ancient history, go back to doom scrolling Tik Tok.

    Editor's note: To read about some things that happened 100 years ago, stay on board Mr. Peabody’s Way Back Machine and travel on over to page 9.

  • 5All of us, individuals and families, go through difficult and stressful times. They can be sudden and traumatic and requiring an immediate response, like a car accident or a house fire. Others are long-term troubles that can plague us for months or years, like a chronic illness or ongoing economic distress.

    Communities and states suffer as well. North Carolina has centuries-long experience with the immediate aftermaths of hurricanes and flooding, and, millions of Tar Heels feel the ongoing impact of lost manufacturing jobs as we transition into a service-based economy.

    There is more to come as urban North Carolina booms and rural North Carolina struggles.
    Cumberland County has a population of almost 336,000 people with nearly two-thirds of them living in Fayetteville, making Cumberland a largely urban county. It is surrounded, however, by mostly rural counties that lack much of the basic infrastructure found in urban areas. The result is that people living in those counties do without or come to Fayetteville for critical services such as health care. This pattern is true across the state.

    The North Carolina General Assembly is doing little to help.

    It took the legislature 12 years — yes, 12 years — to expand Medicaid coverage even though the federal government covers about 90% of the cost. In the meantime, our state became #3 in the nation in rural hospital closures, losing 11 over the last two decades and with seven more in danger of closing.

    This means that people living in rural counties must come to urban areas, like Fayetteville, for health care, and many of them simply go without. This is one reason that Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health are partnering to establish a medical school with the goal of providing more doctors to our state’s rural communities. (Full disclosure: I am a Trustee of Methodist University.)

    Many rural North Carolinians do not have internet access, which means that parents drive their children to libraries and hot spots so they can do their homework and small businesses have little chance of competing successfully with those who do have access.

    The General Assembly has protected large internet providers from competition municipal broadband, giving them little incentive to provide service to rural communities with small populations. Can anyone realistically expect rural areas to prosper when technology is leaving them behind?

    And, then there is public education, which is largely funded by the General Assembly with tax dollars, with some federal money and county tax dollars added. The legislature has both slowed the growth of state public education expenditures and siphoned off state education dollars off to private, sometimes religious, schools under the banner of “school choice.”

    Wealthier urban counties can afford higher levels of public school funding, but rural counties simply cannot, meaning that teachers make less and often leave, students have fewer educational opportunities and resources, and, often and sadly, more compromised futures.

    To be fair, North Carolina is not unique. The imbalance of the “rich get richer and the poor get poorer” is occurring in urban and rural areas throughout the United States with varying degrees of severity and shows every sign of continuing.

    That said, while the North Carolina General Assembly cannot unilaterally reverse much of this increasing inequity, it can address some of it and it should have.
    It is deeply shameful that our legislators, those representing rural areas most affected and damaged, and those representing thriving urban areas with a wealth of resources, have chosen not to respond.

  • 4Was there ever really any doubt? This is the question being asked now that President Biden has signed into law an agreement to raise the debt ceiling, brokered among leading Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill. According to politicians in Washington, no, there was never a doubt that they would eventually agree to raise the government’s borrowing authority, or, in the worst case, that the president would invoke the 14th Amendment to take unilateral action. This is the answer overwhelmingly proffered by every stripe of insider — liberals and conservatives, lobbyists and reporters, lawyers and economists.

    Why? Could it be true that insiders understand that our leaders possess an acumen for strategic financial decisions that, though unappreciated on a day-to-day basis by simplistic rubes like us, can be trusted to always deliver the right answers in the end? Of course not. If that were the case, politicians wouldn’t still be planning to vastly increase the already unprecedented ratio of government debt to national income over the next decade. Nor would they still be ignoring the dual threat of uncontrolled entitlement costs and an accelerating debt burden.

    I, Government

    The truth is that our politicians have not been making financial decisions in any strategic sense for at least 35 years, since Gramm–Rudman–Hollings legislation imposed spending constraints on the federal budget in 1987. During the ensuing decades, our leaders have opted out of taking responsibility for exerting strategic authority over government budgeting. In exchange, they have benefited from an elastic view of a federal government that doles out rewards to its subjects of greatest fealty. Through this neglect-and-rewards mechanism, the government has evolved into a perpetual-motion machine. The legislators, executives, judges and bureaucrats who built the machine have lost control over their progeny. The power of the machine, like a robot guided by rogue artificial intelligence, has eclipsed that of its creators.

    Having shed the constraints of human reason, the machine now is accelerating its expansion. The machine leverages a modern form of authoritarianism that arises in a democracy when politicians convince us that we should have more important fears than a compromise of our liberty or a loss of control of our government. Enter the wars: the War on Drugs, the War on Crime, the War on Poverty, the War on Terror and, of course, war. The wars know no partisanship, no philosophical father, no nurturing mother, because the wars are the progeny of the machine itself. These perpetual wars are the second generation of automation that is free of human reason.

    A bad relationship

    The government machine feeds off its citizens in a lopsided co-dependent relationship. That relationship was empowered by the 16th Amendment, which authorized a direct personal income tax, and was activated by New Deal legislation. This combination of entitlement programs on the one hand and direct taxation on the other, fundamentally changed the relationship between citizens and government in America. Today that relationship looks more like indentured servitude than a citizen-controlled government of delimited powers.

    What is there to stop the machine? The government has been able to raise funds effectively while keeping tax rates low enough to remain politically tolerable by taxing the largest base possible, the national income. Ambitious politicians who dream of trimming entitlements are quickly marginalized by the machine in contrast to those politicians who support the machine and reap the benefits of government largess.

    A Gold New Deal

    We require a new relationship between citizens and the government, a “Gold” (for liberty) New Deal, in which states are empowered to stand as our representative bulwark against the federal government. States exerting the authority to chart their own political destiny and to stand up to federal encroachment may be the only mechanism by which limits may be imposed on the size and scope of the federal government.

    Given the current situation in which the 10th Amendment has been retired de facto, a resurgence of state authority would have to take the form of a constitutional amendment ensuring the capability of states to opt-out of federal supremacy. This capability would mean states could assert their right to nullification in the form of settling in-state court conflicts that arise between state law and anything on the federal books. States would have the ability, through their own legislatures, to shed the effects of new federal legislation, regulation, court decisions, or executive orders, except for what is explicitly assigned to the federal government by the Constitution.

    Particularly significant, the citizens of each state opting into such a new constitutional relationship would no longer be required to remain subject to federal taxation. Instead, each state effectively could ask to be billed by the federal government for its share of the defense budget. Each state could be free to raise revenue as it sees fit, effectively ending the role of the IRS in each state. Ending the IRS and decentralizing the federal government’s taxing mechanism is the most effective way to starve the machine’s appetite for our resources.

    Other changes are needed to advance liberty within each state, of course, whether a state were to opt into such a Gold New Deal or not. These changes include ending public education, protecting bodily autonomy, ending bailouts, privatizing the way we hold police accountable, and reducing regulation of all types. But to be clear, the only path forward to these objectives is for states themselves to replace their subservience to the federal government with a more balanced relationship.

    Editor’s note: Mike ter Maat is a former police officer and university economics professor running for President of the United States with the Libertarian Party.

  • 18About 800,000 knee replacement surgeries are done in the U.S. each year with about one in every 12 people over the age of 25 that have replacements and approximately 5% of women over the age of 50.

    However, the average age for replacement surgery is 65. From 2019 to 2020 there were 10 states with the highest number of replacements, including Washington as the highest and North Carolina at six on the list. Our other Carolina state, South Carolina, was three on the list.

    The most common reason for surgery is osteoarthritis which is a breakdown of joint cartilage that can cause damage to the joints resulting in limitations in movement and pain. Medical conditions which include gout, infections and arthritis can also be contributing factors.

    There are other causes of knee pain that do not include osteoarthritis. The most common problems attributed to knee pain are repetitive use, strained ligaments, cartilage tears and tendonitis.

    Other injuries can include fractures to the patella, dislocation, and meniscus tear. Weight can be a contributing factor because excess weight puts more strain on the joints and the cartilage that protects the knees.

    Additional weight increases the stress in joints in daily activities and use. Additional body fat can increase the chemicals in your blood that can inflame the joints.

    There can be other factors that contribute to knee pain which can be your hips, glutes, calve and incorrect shoes. When we walk or run our weight is transferred from side to side as we alternate our feet and if the hips are tight, it does not allow proper rotation of the feet which puts stress on the knees.

    Extended periods of sitting eventually lead to decreased movement of the hips in flexibility and muscle control. The knees also move from side to side and if one of the major glute muscles — the gluteus maximus — is weak or not moving correctly the result can be stress on the knees.

    Tight calf muscles can cause tendon strain initiating pain in the knee. Improper footwear can also cause knee pain. Old shoes that have worn down soles and treads that are thinning can contribute to knee pain.

    Wearing shoes that do not support your weight can be a contributing factor to knee pain. Wearing the wrong type of shoes can put stress on your knees and hips.

    You might think that exercise can make your pain worse but activities that include stretching and low-impact activities such as swimming, rowing, weight lifting and walking do not put as much stress on the joints.

    If you really like doing deep squats and lunges, lessening your range of motion will help with the intensity and stress on the joints, and putting a pad under your knees when doing floor exercises will help as a cushion.

    Pain is an indicator that something is not right, and nobody knows your body like you do. It is important to make that appointment with a physician to see what the cause is. An early visit may result in your doing strengthening exercise, wearing different shoes and stretching.

    It is possible that knee replacement can be avoided, genetics and weight loss notwithstanding. Exercise programs that can stretch and strengthen the muscles and soft tissues can be beneficial.

    No one looks forward to having a knee replacement, but avoiding a visit to your physician is not the best alternative. Being proactive when you begin noticing pain and discomfort can be beneficial.

    Live, love life and good knee health.

  • 15aAre you stuck in a dead-end job earning dead-end wages? If so, we have great news.

    Fayetteville Technical Community College now offers a Certificate in Business Intelligence. In this program, you will earn a Google Data Analytics Certificate and a Business Markets Certificate. You will also be qualified to sit for the Statistical Analysis System Examination. The average salary for a SAS certified worker is $92,000 per year.

    What is business intelligence?

    Training in business intelligence combines some of the best features of business and information technology to equip students with the ability to analyze data and join the rapidly growing field of data analytics.
    As a business intelligence specialist, you will learn how to use software including Excel, SAS and Tableau to analyze data sets, providing the valuable information that will keep your organization one step ahead of the competition.

    Are you in a hurry to change your life?

    The business intelligence certificate consists of four classes: BAS120 - Intro to Analytics, BAS150 - Intro to Analytical Programming, BAS121 - Data Visualization, BAS220 - Applied Analytical Programming. Classes can be completed in only two semesters.

    Do you want to join a career with tremendous growth potential?

    If so, the business intelligence certification could be the first step along your path that can lead to more advanced degrees including associate’s, bachelor’s, and even graduate degrees.
    According to the United States Department of Labor, data science jobs are expected to grow by 36% in the next 10 years, making it one of the nation’s fastest-growing fields.

    Do you want a career that provides you with a flexible lifestyle?

    A recent study by the University of Virginia found that data scientists are among the professionals most often given the option to work from home.

    Are you unable to attend classes in person?

    Students can complete the business intelligence certificate fully online. Students who take online classes are free to complete their class work entirely from home. They also have the option to visit campus and use college computer labs, libraries and gyms.

    Are you afraid that you will be overwhelmed by the course content?

    If so, there is no need to fear. FTCC’s award-winning faculty are here to help students online and on campus.

    Are you worried that you don’t have enough money to pay for college?

    If so, we have great news. FTCC is one of the most affordable colleges in the region. We also offer many scholarships, and many students earn college degrees at no cost to them.

    Are you ready to learn more?

    If so, please contact us today. We are eager to help you start the next chapter in your life.
    For more Information, please contact Hana Seidi, IT/Computer Programming & Development/Database Instructor at FTCC at 910-486-7349.

  • 5$95,000 — That’s more than the average household income for an entire family in North Carolina. It’s also your share of our nation’s astonishing $31 trillion debt.

    When I think about my seven-year-old son being saddled with a $95,000 bill before he even enters the 2nd grade, I can’t help but be worried about his future and all our children and grandchildren.

    While our national debt is nothing new, out-of-control spending from Washington the last two years has accelerated this crisis to a five-alarm fire.

    In fact, since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he and House Democrats have increased the nation’s 10-year spending trajectory by $10 trillion. This includes their $2 trillion “American Rescue Plan” that ignited the highest inflation in consumer prices in 40 years. It contained $400 billion for policies that paid Americans to stay home rather than go to work, $783 million in stimulus checks to federal prisoners, $2 million for a ski slope, $140 million for a luxury hotel, and $1.2 million to buy trash cans.

    Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” followed up with $80 billion to the IRS to target your family with audits, and over $400 billion for Green New Deal initiatives. President Biden’s Executive Orders have also cost over $1.5 trillion, including Democrats’ student loan giveaway to the wealthy.

    The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight — especially in a divided government.

    This spending problem is the greatest threat to America and one of the reasons I ran for Congress in the first place. That’s why last week, I voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This debt limit bill was not perfect, but it is the largest spending cut that Congress has ever voted for in American history.

    According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Fiscal Responsibility Act will reduce the deficit by $2.1 trillion. It will cut spending year-over-year, limit top line federal spending to 1% annual growth for the next 6 years, and end uncontrollable executive spending by enforcing “Pay-Go” rules which should save taxpayers trillions.

    It will jump start our economy with work requirements for able-bodied childless adults and will help with the number one problem every business I talk to has — a need for workers. I have been fighting for work requirements for 19 years because we have a moral obligation to stop trapping people in the cycle of poverty. While Democrats prefer dependency, Republicans are focused on self sufficiency and improving your family’s quality of life.

    Cutting red tape and slashing funding for new IRS agents will also help build new infrastructure and unleash the economy.

    This bill will save taxpayers $5 billion per month by restarting student loan debt payments. It rejects all of President Biden’s $5 trillion in proposed new tax increases and claws back $29 billion of unspent COVID funds. All of this is done while fully funding critical defense programs and preserving both Social Security and Medicare.

    For the first time, non-defense spending will be significantly lowered while defense spending will receive a $28 billion boost from the previous year to ensure our military is ready to respond to any threat.

    There was not a single Democratic priority included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Speaker Kevin McCarthy forced President Biden and House Democrats to negotiate in order to avoid defaulting on our debt. This is a historic win for the American people and because of our efforts, the pattern of Washington reckless spending has come to a screeching halt.

    President Ronald Reagan once said, “We can leave our children with an unrepayable massive debt and a shattered economy, or we can leave them liberty in a land where every individual has the opportunity to be whatever God intended us to be.”

    The Fiscal Responsibility Act is a step in the right direction. With every man, woman and child owing $95,000 to the government, I believe we can and must do more to build on this success.

    The largest spending cut in history is an important step to restoring fiscal sanity in our nation’s capital and leaving the next generation better than the last — just as Reagan had hoped.

  • 4bFor more than a decade, Gallery 208 has provided space to showcase local and regional artists.4a

    Last week we opened the exhibit The Ocean World of Ivy Rittenhouse, a local artist who accentuates and defines the breadth of our cultural community.

    These quarterly events are fun, free and allow us to get up close and personal with our readers. It's our way of celebrating the arts while monitoring the heartbeat of the community.

    The majority of the exhibits are partially funded by the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Arts Council in support of the artists’ exploration into expanding their medium. Bob Pinson, the newly appointed CEO of the Arts Council, was present at the Gallery exhibit opening. His message was clear: we all need to work harder to tell Fayetteville's story about the richness of our cultural community.

    Pinson is right! We need to do a better job telling our story and creating education and awareness about our local arts community. Bob Pinson is the right man, at the right time to lead and direct our cultural community and to tell our story!

    Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan St. and open Monday — Thursday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 8We recently had house guests. By one estimate, perhaps 20,000 of them. It was in April, when Alfred, Lord Tennyson said: “In Spring , a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.”

    Spring is also the time when a swarm of bees’ fancy lightly turns to thoughts of a new hive. I was conducting a fact finding mission at the Barnes & Noble when I received an excited call from my wife. She reported our kitchen was filling with bees. It was time for me to come home and reason with them. Understanding the chain of command, realizing this was not a suggestion but rather a direct order, home I went.

    Upon arrival, it was clear she had correctly analyzed the situation. We had bees. They had not been there when I left, but now the joint was buzzing. They were entering the kitchen around a window. The bees were not happy to be inside. They clung to the kitchen window desiring to get back outside just as much as they had wanted to get inside.

    Either the bees or we had to go. As the Big Lebowski once said: “This aggression will not stand, man.” Breaking out the fly swatter, the swatting began. I felt like the Brave Little Tailor in Grimm’s fairy tale who killed seven files with one blow. It was a massacre. We all know bees are necessary and our friends, so I felt guilty about swatting the interior bees. However, unwilling to live in a hive, swat I must. Once the bees had met their cruel but necessary fate, it was time to seal the window.

    The greatest invention of all time is Duct Tape. Admittedly, there is debate that the greatest invention of all time is the Spork, an eating utensil which combines the spearing ability of a fork with the soup scooping ability of a spoon. This debate will wait for another column. A dark horse candidate for greatest invention of all time is the motor vehicle cup holder. But I digress. The Spork would not have helped with keeping more bees out of the kitchen. Duct Tape was just the ticket. I bravely taped up every space in the window as an occasional bee still slipped into the kitchen. After some mop up swatter action, the perimeter was sealed. Further bee immigration was stopped for the moment.

    The kitchen border sealed against further undocumented bees seeking asylum, it was time to go outside to see what was doing. There was lots going on outside. Our swarm of bees was looking for a fixer upper for their new hive. A crack above a window casement was well suited for their new home. They were flying in and out, speaking in excited bee talk about their stunning new home. They were all abuzz about their chic new digs. The bees decided the gap in the wall to be move-in-ready with an open floor plan, featuring crisp hardwood flooring, complimented by captivating recessed lighting from the bee entryway leading to an upscale custom bedroom fit for a Queen Bee. They were ready to sign the contract and close the deal immediately.

    Granting the bees adverse possession in the walls of the house was problematic. We had Seller’s Remorse about sharing the house with a swarm of bees. Fortunately, Fayetteville is blessed with the Cumberland County Bee Keepers Association which will cheerfully and safely remove swarms of bees. One call to the Bee Keepers resulted in visits from two bee keepers who could remove the bees. One suggested we might have 20,000 bees in the wall of our house. Yikes.

    As the bees had just landed, they could be removed with a special bee vacuum once we had part of the roof removed so they could get to the bees. Bees do not carry insurance. The cost of removing and replacing the soffit would be our responsibility.

    Knowledge of our bee tenants quickly spread like warm honey on a hot waffle to friends and neighbors. Having your house turned into a bee hive is a source of great amusement to anyone who does not live in a bee hive. We were pleased to bring bee related joy into the lives of our non-bee hosting friends. We went to sleep that night snuggled in our bed while visions of 20,000 bees in the ceiling danced in our heads.

    The next morning I went outside to check on the bees. Not all bees are created equal. Some are busy bees. Some are not. We had lazy bees. There was no activity until about noon when the bees came home for lunch.

    On Day Three there was no activity all day. The bees had flown the coup. While I was happy the bees had left on their own volition, I was mildly insulted that they had inspected our house and rejected it. To be turned down by a swarm of bees was an experience I had not expected to sting like it did.

    The bees weighed us the balance and found us lacking. As Frank Sinatra once sang: “Doo Bee, Doo Bee, Doo.” Now buzz off.

  • 06-13-12-ralphie-may.jpgFans of Ralphie May are in for a treat. On June 17, the funny man is scheduled to perform at Sports U.S.A. The audience can let off some steam and watch him do what he loves best. “My favorite thing in the world is making people laugh,” said May. “To get on stage and tell a joke and then see the audience laughing and smiling is awesome.”

    A strong supporter of the military, May performs for the troops whenever he gets a chance. “It is a big thing for me to perform for the troops,” said May. “I benefit from having freedom of speech and it is an honor to entertain the people who give that gift to me.”

    The entertainer is great at cracking jokes, but he is serious about his dedication to military members and their families. May’s father was a sniper in Korea and his grandfather died in France in WWI.

    “When soldiers volunteer to serve they volunteer their famlies too, and these people didn’t sign up,” said May. “But they have to endure an empty chair at the table on Thanksgiving, an empty place in the bed for months at a time and the sad faces of their kids when mom or dad misses a birthday or school award ceremony.”

    Like other families who face separation, May does his best to squeeze in family time when he can. “Its tough when I am away from my family, my favorite thing in the world is just getting back to see them — or bringing them to see me. It’s hard being away from them.”

    Born in Chattanooga, Tenn., and raised in Clarksville, Ark., May is about as far away from the “you might be a redneck,” humor that people associate with the south as you can get. In fact, he started his professional career at the age of 17, opening for Sam Kinison. Encouraged by Kinison, May packed up and moved to Houston, Texas. May’s next stop was Los Angeles, Calif., where he scored a spot in Last Comic Standing as the show premiered. He finished in second place, and then moved on to shows like The Wayne Brady Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

    May’s current tour is titled Too Big to Ignore. He pulls no punches as he highlights society’s hypocrisies. May covers a lot of ground in Too Big to Ignore … The children’s show Dora the Explorer, Chaz Bono and bongs are a few of the things May finds to poke fun at.

    Tickets are available at Sports U.S.A. and Leisure Travel Services. The show is for those 18 and older. Tickets cost $25 if purchased in advance and $35 at the door.

    Photo: Ralphie May is set to perform at Sports U.S.A on June 17.

  • 6Change is hard, and some change is harder than others.

    History is not static. It is reinterpreted over time as we learn more about past events and as we come to understand them differently.

    Both of these truisms come into play as we adjust to the newly renamed Fort Liberty, née Camp Bragg, the “center of the universe” to thousands of current and former military personnel, their families, and the rest of us who have lived and worked in a community heavily dependent on and invested in the world’s largest military installation.

    We are not alone in our period of adjustment.

    The U.S. Naming Commission, a body created by Congress and tasked with renaming bases from Virginia to Texas that were named a century or more ago for Confederate military heroes, not U.S. military heroes. They were named during a period when the South was still reeling from the trauma of the Civil War, when racial segregation was in full force, and when Southerners held strong sway in the halls of the U.S. Congress.

    This year Fort Benning becomes Fort Moore. Gordon becomes Eisenhower. Lee becomes Gregg-Adams. AP Hill becomes Walker. Hood becomes Cavazos. Pickett becomes Barfoot. Polk becomes Johnson, and Rucker becomes Novosel.

    The Confederates for whom the bases were originally named have their defenders, but the cause they championed — maintaining an economic system that allowed some human beings to own and exploit other human beings — was fundamentally unjust and immoral.

    Fort Liberty is named for a founding concept of our nation, but other newly renamed bases honor Americans from many backgrounds who served the United States with courage and distinction.

    Dwight David Eisenhower led the Allied forces to victory in World War II and went on to serve two terms as President.

    General Hal Moore and his wife, Julia, served a combined 32 years with time overseas in Japan, Norway, Vietnam, and Korea. Her work led to casualty notification teams and survivor support systems in place to this day.

    General Arthur Gregg served all over the world, promoting equality and personally desegregating the Fort Lee Officers Club. Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams oversaw millions of pieces of mail sent to soldiers in Europe so effectively during WW II that it took three people to replace her.
    Dr. Mary Walker was a skilled surgeon, a strong advocate for women’s rights, and an abolitionist. She was captured and imprisoned by the Confederates after she stayed behind enemy lines to provide medical care to U.S. troops.

    General Richard Cavazos was the first Hispanic American to wear four stars and is known for his commitment to his troops, personally evacuating wounded men in Vietnam.

    Technical Sergeant Van Barfoot served for 34 years in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. He is remembered for his bravery and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

    Sergeant William Henry Johnson was known as the United States’ first hero of World War I for fighting off about two dozen German soldiers around trenches in France’s Argonne Forest. When he ran out of grenades, he fired bullets. When he ran out of bullets, he used his rifle as a club. He eventually abandoned the rifle and unsheathed his bolo knife.

    Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel served in WW II and in Vietnam, where he flew more than 2,500 rescue evacuation missions, rescuing 5,500 wounded men. He received the Medal of Honor for saving 29 soldiers from certain death on a single day.

    No one can argue that those being honored by the renaming of military bases were not exceptional and loyal Americans committed to the United States and our values of liberty and equality.

    Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us more than once that “the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

    Change can take a long time, a century or more, but it does happen.

  • uac062712001.jpg The North Carolina Symphony will present classic American favorites to celebrate Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of Fayetteville on July 1 at Festival Park.

    The celebration begins at 8 p.m., with a special posting of the colors by the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry. Mayor Anthony G. Chavonne and elected offi cials will read a 250th anniversary proclamation.

    “The Fayetteville 250th celebration is an opportunity for our citizens to celebrate and commemorate our 250 years as a city, which is an exciting occasion for the community,” Mayor Tony Chavonne said. “Starting July 1 with the N.C. Symphony event, the community can participate in events that not only celebrate and commemorate the city’s sestercentennial, but educate residents about Fayetteville’s history. The sale of commemorative edition Fayetteville 250th coins offers citizens the ability to purchase a keepsake to forever remember this special time in Fayetteville’s history.”

    The purpose of the 250th anniversary celebration is to celebrate, educate and commemorate. Fayetteville is planning a series of events between July 1 and November 3 that will allow citizens to come together and celebrate, to take advantage of the various historical tours designed to educate the citizens on Fayetteville’s rich history and occasions for the community to come together and commemorate this milestone. There will be events to spark the wide range of interest of the community such as architectural tours. The Independence Day concert is one of many events to come.

    “The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is proud to partner with the City of Fayetteville and Reed-Lallier Chevrolet to present this community’s Independence Day celebration. The North Carolina Symphony will perform patriotic music in Festival Park followed by glorious fi reworks. It promises to be an exciting evening for the whole family!” said Mary Kinney, marketing director, Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.

    The Indepedence Day concert will present a good, old-fashioned salute to the red, white and blue with patriotic favorites and high-spirited classics honoring the U.S.A. on its birthday. Eager concertgoers will have the best seats for some of the state’s biggest Fourth of July firework displays. This concert is part of the Concerts in Your Community, a gift to the people of North Carolina to launch the Symphony’s 80th year of service to the state. With 80 years of experience, the N.C. Symphony knows how to put on a show.

    Music Director Grant Llewellyn is known throughout the world as a musician of great talent, versatility and passion. Llewellyn has brought “transcendent performances” with his “graceful and expressive direction.”

    This free concert celebration will include patriotic and tried and true American favorites. The line up includes: “The Star-Spangled Banner”, “Semper Fidelis March”, “South Pacifi c: Symphonic Scenario”, “American Eagle Waltz”, “Superman March”, “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan, “Servicemen on Parade”, “Olympic Fanfare”, “The Dam Busters March”, “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby”, “American Fantasie” and “Sing Along, America!”

    The performance of these songs are sure to spark a note within the hearts of Fayetteville’s community and instill a stronger pride to be American. Enjoy the light-hearted beats and powerful songs that were the anthems this great country was built on. Not only can the community take pride in being American this Independence Day, citizens can also take pride in living in Fayetteville. Fayetteville is a unique place with a rich history all it’s own.06-27-12-coin.jpg

    In 1775, a group of 55 local patriots met in Cross Creek, present day Fayetteville, to sign what has commonly become known as the Liberty Resolves, a document, which pledged their lives and fortunes in the furtherance of American Independence.

    Fayetteville was the birth place of many history-making decisions. During the convention of 1789 held in Fayetteville, leaders ratified the U.S. Constitution, chartered the first public university and ceded her western lands to form the state of Tennessee.

    The history of Fayetteville is a complex one. Cumberland County was formed in 1754 from Bladen County and the first courthouse was established in present day Linden. In 1756, John Newberry built a gristmill near present day Green Street and Maiden Lane. The mill became a genesis for the village of Cross Creek, which developed in the area of present day downtown Fayetteville. Although Cross Creek was never officially chartered, in 1762 the colonial general assembly charters land on the west side of the Cape Fear River and named the 100 acres Campbellton. By virtue of this official charter in 1762, Fayetteville is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2012. The town of Fayetteville received its name later. In 1778, Cross Creek and Campbellton combined as Upper and Lower Campbellton. Finally, in 1783 Upper and Lower Campbellton were joined to create Fayetteville.

    To celebrate this momentous occasion, numbered, limited-edition 250th anniversary coins will be sold. One side bears the city seal in the center surrounded by the words “Fayetteville 1762-2012 Sestercentennial” The reverse side features ripples, symbolic of the Cape Fear River and a long leaf pine, both pivotal resources in the development of Fayetteville.

    Each coin is numbered 1- 250 and is displayed in a special wood presentation box with the 250th anniversary logo on the lid. The coin comes with a certifi cate of authenticity signed by the mayor. Reservations to purchase the coins can be made beginning July 1 at the N.C. Symphony concert. The coins sell for $75. The money raised from the coins will go to fund a lasting tribute to the 250th anniversary.
    After July 1, the 250th anniversary coins can be purchased at the Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum located at 325 Franklin St. in downtown Fayetteville. Citizens are asked to call before coming to the museum to purchase a coin. The museum staff can be reached by calling 433-1457, 433-1458 or 433-1944.

    Be a part of this historical celebration by attending the Independence Day concert brought to you by the N.C. Symphony and be on the look out for events to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Fayetteville.

    Photo: Reservations for this 250th Anniversay commemorative coin can be made July 1, during the Symphony concert.

  • 4Good things last! For 26 years, the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper has proudly showcased the people, businesses and organizations that have invested their time, talent and resources into the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community.

    Since 1997 we have been privileged to publish the Best of Fayetteville Readers Survey. For those new to this process, we ask our readers to identify and ultimately determine who in the Fayetteville community is perceived as the Best of the Best.

    The BOF reflects the unique aspects and amenities the Fayetteville community offers. Each year we record our readers' comments and sentiments. This process allows us to publish who, what and why our readers value these businesses. Your vote is essential! Ultimately, our readers decide the people, companies and organizations that make Fayetteville and Cumberland County unique, enjoyable and livable.

    During June, Up & Coming Weekly readers can cast their ballots for the deserving Best of the Best. We make it easy and convenient to vote. Readers can fill out a ballot in the newspaper and mail it to our official Best of Fayetteville auditor and CPA firm, Utley & Knowles. Or they can vote online at the Up & Coming Weekly website, www.upandcomingweekly.com.

    The non-scientific BOF Readers Survey incorporates time-tested and enforceable voting rules and guidelines. This maintains the integrity of the voting process and has made being the Best of Fayetteville valuable to the community.

    Rules like: only one ballot per reader, one ballot per mailed-in envelope, and a minimum of 15 vote entries are needed to validate the ballot. These guidelines lend themselves to elevating the honor, integrity and prestige of winning the Best of Fayetteville designation.

    By eliminating the nomination process, enforcing the policies, and monitoring and auditing the ballots, we have rendered our survey incredibly accurate and extremely valuable to residents, businesses and organizations who have earned the honor of being voted the Best of the Best.

    This year is particularly significant since most organizations and businesses have been working their way back to normalcy after surviving the stifling effects of the COVID pandemic, labor shortages, high gas prices, supply chain shortages and rampant inflation. So, under these circumstances, operating a successful business and providing exceptional customer service are achievements that deserve recognition. So, your input and vote is very important.

    The BOF winners will be recognized on Sept. 26 at the Crown Coliseum Complex. The Best of the Best will congregate to celebrate their achievements and contributions to our community. This will begin their 24/7, 365-day exposure in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community with a year-long marketing and promotion campaign and a presence on our official Best of Fayetteville section at www.upandcomingweekly.com.

    Last and certainly, not least, our BOF sponsors reflect the high standards required to maintain the integrity of this 26-year-old tradition. Proudly, the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and Utley & Knowles CPAs have been BOF supporters and participants from the beginning. Since then we have associated ourselves with businesses that, through their reputations and historic deeds and actions, have proven to be great role models for what it means to be the Best of the Best. These are the Beasley Media Group, Crown Coliseum, Steve Milburn’s UPS Stores, and Transworld Business Advisors.

    Now, it's up to you. VOTE: Best of Fayetteville! And thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 06-06-12-ftcc.jpgIn these difficult economic times, it is reassuring to know that Fayetteville Technical Community College is still providing a quality and affordable education to the public. For more than 50 years, FTCC has helped develop the skills and build upon the talents of our student population. With more than 150 degrees, diplomas and certificate programs, FTCC offers the opportunity for you to realize your goals with the completion of one of our certificate, diploma or degree programs and serves as a launch-pad to your dreams through our college-transfer degrees.

    For many potential students, money to pay for college can be a problem, but this does not have to interfere with your aspirations. Tuition at FTCC is extremely affordable; in fact, FTCC and the North Carolina Community College System have some of the most affordable college tuitions in the nation. For those who may need assistance, our Financial Aid Office is ready and able to help students apply for federal, state and local funding. Additionally, FTCC has a number of internal and program specific scholarships for qualified students. For our veteran and military-dependant populations, our Veterans Administration Office is ready to assist you in receiving your military-education benefits and help aid your transition to college life.

    We live within a fast-paced culture with an ever increasing global presence. Fayetteville Technical Community College understands these challenges and has sought solutions. For students who desire a traditional approach to their studies, FTCC has a beautiful campus with the infrastructure present to meet the demands of any student. Students desiring a non-traditional path can take advantage of our night, weekend, web-assisted hybrid courses or our fully online Internet-based courses offered through Blackboard. Additionally, students can attend classes offered at our Spring Lake Campus or our Horticulture Educational Center, located in downtown Fayetteville. Military students and dependents can take advantage of our course offerings at a convenient location on Fort Bragg, the Bragg Soldier Development Center. FTCC is recognized as a military-friendly college.

    For students who aspire to obtain a four-year university degree, allow FTCC to provide the solid foundation for these plans with one of our college transferable, two-year associate degrees. We offer the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Fine Arts, all of which are accredited and covered by the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for smooth transition to a University of North Carolina System school. Take the core classes you need in an environment where the focus is on teaching and the class size is deliberately kept small to foster interaction and learning. As our graduates can attest, in our local community, nation and now internationally, FTCC provides education for life.

    Photo: Faytteville Technical Community College offers more than 150 degrees, diplomas and certificate programs.

  • 06-13-12-dr,-pickney.jpgWhether you have attended Fayetteville State University, have a child enrolled in one of the surrounding schools or has needed a helping hand by an organization in Fayetteville, Dr. Teresa Pickney has affected your life. Pickney has worked more than 16 years in the nonprofi t sector in Fayetteville. The long list of organizations she is involved with include organizations like Fayetteville Urban Ministries, Fayetteville-N.C. Business Chamber, N.C. Center for Nonprofi ts, Fayetteville Young Professionals and Boy and Girls Club of America, as well as national organizations.

    Pickney moved to Fayetteville more than 16 years ago with her husband, who is in the military. Recently, he retired from the military. However, for Pickney and her family, Fayetteville is home and they aren’t planning to go anywhere.

    Pickney is the Director of the Office of College Access Programs at Fayetteville State University as well as President and Executive Consultant of T. Pinckney & Associates.

    She has raised more than $7.8 million in-kind contributions for education and the needs of the community. Pickney has always been involved in the community no matter where she lived, however her passion for education came while she was in college studying criminal justice.

    “While studying criminal justice and researching statistics I realized education is the key out of poverty. What I learned from the criminal justice system is to make an impact you must start with kids,” Pickney explained.

    She has had the opportunity to encourage low income and first generation college students since 1994. “My greatest joy is seeing my students and them telling me they have graduated college and are productive citizens,” Pickney said.

    Pickney still remembers the first person she helped get into college. Years later she still has the letter that student sent thanking her. Now, Pickney has helped a thousand kids get into college with the same excitment.

    “I think it’s important to empower students with the knowledge to make the decision to go to college. It’s about opportunity.” Pickney said.

    Being a supervisor and consultant to many programs, Pickney is involved in giving many students the opportunity to go to college. It’s heart-warming for her to be able to reach out and help so my people.

    “My reach is very broad, seeing my impact is much bigger then I think it is,” Pickney said.

    However, Pickney not only aids in the development of educational outreach, she supports many nonprofit organizations though strategic planning and evaluation at little or no cost to the organization.

    “To continue to do the great work these organizations do in the community, strategic planning ensures success by allowing the organization to function effectively,” Pickney said.

    One of the ways Pickney has chosen to give back to the community is by founding the 2nd Annual Back-to-School Teen Explosion Conference for students ages 13-18. The event will be held on July 27, at Westover Recreation Center and provides critical skills for teens about education, career options and individual empowerment.

    “It’s an exciting day to motivate students,” Pickney said. “I think it’s important we empower students and give them the knowledge and the opportunity to go and be successful in college.”

    Pinkney often tells her two children, “knowledge is power, if you know something that can never be taken away.”

    For more information about the conference or to register visit www.teenexplosionconference.com or check out the event on Facebook.

  • Quick Action Needed06-20-12-senior-corner.jpg

    You thought this could never happen: You or a senior loved one has been the victim of a scam.

    You need to get help now, before another dollar trickles away and your credit score takes a big hit.

    Here are some key steps, according to legal experts:

    • Contact the police. File a report with the police department in the area where the crime was committed.

    • Get a copy of the police report. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the police report, be sure to get the report number.

    • Close your accounts. If you notice any accounts under your name that have been tampered with or opened without your con-sent, close them immediately. Call each bank or company and then follow up in writing. If there are fraudulent charges or debts on your account or if a new account has been opened, you should immedi-ately file a fraud report with your bank’s fraud department. If you close an existing bank account and open a new one, be sure to cre-ate new PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) and passwords.

    • Eliminate fraudulent new accounts. If a new account has been opened without your knowledge and consent, ask that company if it has a fraud department. If it does, file a fraud report with that department. If not, ask if the company will accept an ID Theft Affidavit from the Federal Trade Commission. You can print out an www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf [ID Theft Affidavit]. The FTC also provides www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/02/idtheft.shtm [more information on fraud].

    • File a federal complaint. The Federal Trade Commission is the federal consum-er protection agency. The FTC, in conjunction with the FBI, maintains an Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. The FTC aids identity theft investigations by collecting complaints from victims and sharing the information with law-enforcement agen-cies, credit bureaus, companies where the fraud took place and other government agencies. File at www.consumer.gov/idtheft [FTC complaint] or call 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338).

    • Initiate a fraud alert. Place a fraud alert on your credit file as well as review your credit report. This will prevent a thief from opening any more accounts in your name. You should contact the three major credit bureaus. Credit bureau contact information: Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; Transunion, 800-680-7289

    • Follow-up. After you have a fraud alert included in your credit history, you are entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Request a copy and review your re-port for accounts you did not open, debts on your account that you did not know about, inquiries from companies you don’t know and inaccurate information.

    The important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. It’s unfortunate, but scamming has become commonplace, and there’s no reason to be embarrassed. Acting quickly may prevent someone from going through the same thing. Law enforcement officials are experienced in handling cases such as yours, and they are sympathetic to your plight.

    For seniors, family members and care givers can help, too, by serving as a second set of eyes and ears in a senior’s home. These individuals can be on the lookout for suspicious activity and assist seniors by sorting through junk mail, throwing out unwanted credit card offers and reminding older adults about other material that needs to be shredded before discarding.

    For more information, visit: www.ago.ne.gov/resources/dyn/files/392571za5a5011a/_fn/AGO_IDTheftBroch_122910.pdf.

    Photo: Scammers are equal opportunity crooks. Protect yourself.

  • 06-27-12-pallazzo-1.jpgMore often than not Bragg Boulevard gets a bad rap despite the fact that several businesses, cultural establishments and eateries are consistently recognized and voted “Best of” in our annual Best of Fayetteville Readership Survey. However, that image is changing as Bragg Blvd. slowly, but surely, is being revamped and revitalized with many new businesses and dwellings popping up. Residents and business owners are pleased with the progress and changes.

    One of the newest developments on the boulevard is the luxury apartment complex, The Villagio which opened in 2011. At nearly 90% occupancy, it’s been such a success that local owner/developer Rajan Shamdasani is continuing his Bragg Blvd. revitalization efforts with an aggressive new venture, The Pallazzo. The Pallazzo will be a luxury commercial condominium style office complex.

    Shamdasani has called Fayetteville home since he relocated here more than 44 years ago after being impressed with the area and the local hospitality he received here during his business trips. “Fayetteville is a phenomenal place” states Rajan, “and we have been so fortunate that this gracious community has embraced all of our endeavors.” Many people feel the same way including Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce President, Doug Peters, who said it’s refreshing to see such a strong commitment to local economic development as Rajan’s and to actually share in the excitement of watching his dream become a reality. Like many others in the community Peters feels that the Shamdasani family is a major force in encouraging and driving investment into our region. “Rajan Shamdasani represents not only a variety of businesses in the community but also a family with great vision, values and commitment. Shamdasani’s passion for the Fayetteville community is clear and evidenced by his actions as an entrepreneurial pioneer developing, and redeveloping, the Bragg Boulevard corridor.” says Peters.

    It will be impressive. The 32,523 sf Pallazzo complex will be high-end office condos offering local businesses luxury office accommodations with amenities commonly found in larger metropolitan cities. Amenities like WIFI throughout, a luxurious and spacious lobby, several large meeting rooms and an enchanting roof top garden complete with a walking trail. It’s commercial office space but, like residential condos, the tenants can own their own customized space and build equity in their investment.

    To create The Pallazzo, Shamdasani gathered input from local businesses and community leaders about how to best meet the needs of the tenants. His vision, along with the painstaking evaluation of ideas from four architectural firms, resulted in its unique style and will speak volumes to showcase our businesses, community and future economic development partners.

    Everyone is excited about the project. “This is going to be the only office building in Fayetteville with a roof garden complete with a walking trail and a covered area,” said Project Manager Dee Taylor. “You can have picnic tables and can eat out or even have meetings up there. We are looking to revitalize the area as well as go green and this is the common sense way to do it. It will be good for people who work there, good for the environment and it just makes sense. It will be something you just don’t see in Fayetteville, yet.” Taylor added that even though there are detailed conceptual drawings, initial tenants/owners who purchase early will have a greater opportunity to provide design input to customize their space. “This a great opportunity and investment for anyone who needs office space - doctors, lawyers, contractors, you name it,” said Taylor. “As we know what tenants are looking for we can accommodate their needs to make this a space perfectly suited to their needs.”

    Rajan Shamdasani is planning a special reception on June 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Villagio to share his vision with local businesses and community leaders and provide them the opportunity to view the plans of the complex. It is this type of vision and investment that keeps our community growing.

    Photo: Rajan Shamdasani's vision of the Palazzo.

  • 06-12-13-fay-after-5.gifLet down your hair, put on your cowboy hats and boots for this month’s Fayetteville after 5. Country sensation artist James Otto will hit the stage at Festival Park on Friday, June 21 for a night of dancing and great country music — a perfect event for the south.

    Otto’s big success happened in 2007 when he signed with Warner Brother Records in Nashville, Tenn. With the making of their first album, Sunset Man, Otto was on the way. His fi rst single off of the album, “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” reached number one on the Hot Country Songs list and the number one country single in 2008.

    He was involved in co-writing Jamey Johnson’s hit single “In Color” with Lee Thomas Miller. “In Color” was nominated for a Grammy for “Best Country Song” at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Johnson also was awarded for the 2008 Academy of Country Music award for “Song of the Year”. “

    I approached writing a lot of these songs with what I really wanted for my live show,” said Otto.

    Otto’s most recent work came out in 2010; favorite singles from this album, Shake What God Gave Ya, were “Groovy Little Summer Song” and “Soldiers and Jesus.” He also went on tour that year with Toby Keith and Trace Adkins, two other phenomenal country artists.

    That arena-ready thinking bred barn burners like the opening track, “Are Ya With Me,” which emphasizes his Southern rock side, and the divine mandate of the title song, “Shake What God Gave Ya,” which Otto says “has turned out to be the best live song we have — better than any of the hits — because it gets people off their asses and out of their seats.”

    “Soldiers & Jesus” is no rote patriotic anthem. As the grandson of a Korean War veteran, the son of a drill sergeant who was in the military for 23 years, and as a Navy vet himself, Otto feels an intensely personal connection with the song’s message … which, he stresses, is not a political one.

    “Being a guy who considers himself a Christian, I think this song addresses a subject that needs to be addressed. One of the lines is, ‘There’s a left side, a right side, and then there’s the truth.’ Regardless of the politics that can often divide our nation … This song basically just wants to lay it out as Christians see it — that there’s only two people that ever gave their lives for you, and it’s soldiers and Jesus.”

    His songs are great summer tunes to jam to and he pours his personal experiences and memories into his lyrics, making them all the more unique.

    “As much as there’s all these different fractures of country music these days — you have pop country, rock country, traditional country, alt-country and all these things in between — I don’t know why country-soul couldn’t exist right alongside it all,” said Otto.

    Come experience a great festivity during this month’s Fayetteville After 5. Fayetteville After 5, sponsored by the Dogwood Festival, is a fun, family-friendly event that allows the community to get together and celebrate the end of the week through music and dance.

    The gates open around 5 p.m. and please remember: no outside food and beverages are allowed.

    For more information on James Otto, visit www.jamesotto.net. And to find out what else is going on in Fayetteville this summer, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/index.php.

    Photo:  Country music artist James Otto is set to perform at Fayetteville After 5.

  • Already tired of seeing your kids lounge on the couch all day? A great summer solution is heading your way and06-19-13-gilbert.gif it takes place on a stage. This July, Gilbert Theater is hosting its fi rst ever summer camp for ages 8 to 16. It’s called Broadway at the Crown. The camp starts on July 8. It is a two-week program of classes, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    Robyne Parrish, camp director, artistic director and co-director of education for Gilbert Theater explained that one half of the day is heavy training in-class training including choreography, acting, improvisation and dance. The latter half of the day is involved with play rehearsal. The kids will be performing the play Fame Jr. for an audience at the Crown Theater. Parrish and Jeremy Fiebig, managing director for the Gilbert Theater and assistant theater professor at Fayetteville State University, are both excited about the opportunity to perform on the Crown’s stage.

    “It’s been great having the partnership with the Crown Coliseum and them making the space for us. This is what sets us apart from any other camp. They get to perform on a Broadway-sized stage,” Fiebig said.

    Parrish added, “The kids get to be on this huge stage that has professional lighting and sound equipment. This stage has held national concerts and even Elvis Presley performed on that stage, it really is kind of cool.”

    The teachers and artists who are working at the camp are another boon for the students. Cameron Wade is the director for Fame Jr. and the choreographer, as well. Her experience includes teaching children from ages 8 to 15 in acting, dance and voice instruction. Wade has also taught at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for more than five years.

    Guest star Jonathan Hadley is also involved in directing the play. Hadley was recently on tour with the Jersey Boys and has had a great deal of Broadway experience including White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. The kids can expect Hadley to come for a day or two and give them feedback on the rehearsals.

    “It is intensive training, but we wanted to give the kids exposure to professionals in their fields and an opportunity to work in the business consistently. Especially if these younger kids want to make it a profession. Here we can offer a way of education,” Parrish said.

    Fame Jr. is set during the last years of the High School for the Performing Arts in New York City, during the years 1980-1984. Audiences will watch a group of students balance four years of intense academic and artistic work “… with candor, humor and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today” (mtishows.com).

    “I am definitely excited about the show. I have never seen this version done before. It’s going to be challenging for them, but we defi nitely have the talent put up for a very good show. It will be very fun,” Parrish stated.

    Fiebig mentions that putting on this camp has been their goal all along.

    “This is our first big project to start and I think it will be successful. It is also the ground work for future years” he said.

    He also describes the unique qualities of theater camps.

    “There are a lot of different people and you get the experience of actually working on a show that makes it unifying and fun. In theater camps, you tend to form a family,” he said.

    Performances are Friday, July 19, at 7 p.m. and Saturday July 20, at 2 p.m. at the Crown. It is open to the public and tickets are priced at $10. General camp applications are to be turned in by June 17 but an extension date is available. Kids can now also apply for limited scholarships.

    For more information visit www.gilberttheater.com or check out their Facebook page. You can also call the theatre for more information at 910-678-7186.

  • 06-26-13-alice-in-wonderland.gifFounded in 1994, the Gilbert Theater started as a small community-based theatre. Since its inception the Gilbert Theater has grown, but it has never waned in dedication to the community. One of the core values of the theater is educating the community’s actors through experience in theater, regardless of age. One way that the Gilbert Theater is doing this is by providing the community’s children with performance opportunities through the Glee Program. Bryan Adams, director for this year’s Glee Program explains it by saying, “This is a side project of the Gilbert Theater. Kids audition, then we teach them to sing, dance, act and work together. We meet once a month and put on a play at the end of the year.”

    The play that the Glee Program will be performing this year is Alice in Wonderland. Some may feel that a cast entirely of children may not produce a high quality show. Children are not often considered for live theater performances, but this program has shown that they are incredibly underestimated for what they can contribute. “Kids surprise me. These kids are talented and their imagination is the greatest thing a director can ask for. When I work with them I get to become a kid. You can’t find an adult actor that can bring imagination like a kid. When we age, it becomes embarrassing to be imaginative, or it fades. I get to go back to that.” Adams said.

    Alice in Wonderland is a classic story written by Lewis Carroll. In this story, a young girl has adventures with strange creatures in Wonderland. This is a story full of imagination and childish glee, and fittingly it will be presented by a cast composed entirely of children. This will serve the community two fold. Firstly, this provides the children with a unique experience in theater that is intended to inspire a lifelong love for the art. The program also offers a unique production that will capture the creativity of the youth.

    Adams expresses these sentiments, “As the director I have designed this show to be about the kids. This is a different style of directing for me. Usually I tend to tell the actors exactly what I want, but with the kids I want to capture their imagination. I just tweak it, make it fi ner. It’s more like we collaborate and that’s great. Its about seeing the kids build this world and their imaginations. Parents will be happy with what they see and I hope to inspire the kids to go further into theatre and make it a living like I have.”

    There will be two performances of Alice in Wonderland. The first will feature the “red cast” on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. The second will feature the “blue cast” on June 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the event are $12. Tickets can be purchased via email at Boxoffi ce@Gilberttheatre.com, by phone at 678-7186 or directly online at www.gilbertheatre.com/box-offi ce. Reservations can be made by phone or email. The Gilbert Theater is located at 116 Green St. For more information, visit the website www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186.

    Photo: Alice in Wonderland opens at Gilbert Theater on June 29.

  • 06-12-13-methodist.gifMethodist University’s School of Graduate Studies offers four degrees for students taking their MU Journey to the next level or working professionals who are looking to advance their careers. All of the programs combine a professional emphasis with scholarship and critical analysis, and instill in graduates the importance of lifelong learning to support professional development.

    On June 17, classes will begin for the second co-hort of the Master of Education Program, while the inaugural class will start its second and final year. Designed for current K-12 teachers who want to be leaders in the classroom and beyond, the program is a mix of face-to-face instruction and online classes. Upon graduation, the students will be eligible to apply for a North Carolina professional licensure in Reading or Special Education, depending on their degree concentrations. The deadline to apply for the next cohort is May 15, 2014.

    This fall, the Professional Master of Business Administration Program will begin classes with a focus on organizational management and leadership. The MBA’s second emphasis, health care administration, starts in the spring. The MBA Program will hold sev-eral open houses this year, on Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 7 and Nov. 4, all at 6 p.m. in Yarborough Auditorium in Clark Hall. The MBA Program is targeted at working professionals and blends online coursework with two weekend class sessions per term, and students can complete the program in 18 months. Applications for the MBA Program are due May 19 or Oct. 19, depending on the chosen focus.

    Students in the Master of Justice Administration Program can enroll in either the fall or the spring with the same curriculum, with application deadlines of June 15 and Oct. 15. The MJA Program is targeted toward professionals working in the criminal justice system at the local, county or state level in North Carolina in middle management positions who want to develop their skills and careers further. A hybrid-course design mixes online learning with classes held at the North Carolina Justice Academy in Salemburg, N.C., for one Friday-Sunday weekend each month for four months each term. Students take 12 courses to com-plete the program, with the ability to take one or two classes each term.

    Methodist University’s first graduate-level program was the Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies. The PA Program is one of the more popular graduate programs on campus. This competitive, full-time program starts once a year, in the fall, with an application deadline of 16 months in advance, on March 1.

    For more information on Methodist University’s School of Graduate Studies, visit methodist.edu/gradstudies, email Dr. George Hendricks at ghendricks@methodist.edu, or call 1.800.488.7110.

    Summer Camps

    This summer, there are also many summer camps going on at Methodist University. Information on summer camps is available at methodist.edu, under the Events section on the website.

    Photo: Methodist University offers four graduate studies programs. Scan the QR code to find out more. 

  • uac061913001.gif Think of a four-letter word that is a type of dance, a lot of fun, bonds people together and originated in the south. Stumped? The answer is the shag.

    What started out around the ‘30s and ‘40s became a sensation especially in the east coast region of the U.S. It got its start in the era of the jitterbug and the Lindy Hop Swing and was paired by classic beach music. People got together at Myrtle Beach during summer vacations and witnessed the dance and they brought it back to the in-land cities like Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.

    On July 12-13 the Fayetteville Area Shag Association celebrates the spirit of beach music at the Fluff Daddy Memorial Shag Contest at Mavericks Saloon, 2602 Raeford Road. It is the club’s first contest in about seven years and all proceeds will go to the Jim “Catfi sh” Hunter Chapter of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation. A friend to many in FASA, Mike “Fluff Daddy” Blanton, died of ALS and the club is looking to honor his memory and to earn money for other families dealing with the disease.

    The contest has four divisions. There is a newcomer section for people who have never danced or competed before but are interested in doing so. The other three are amateur, novice (intermediate) and pro (advanced). The contestants will be judged on five categories: smoothness, togetherness, repertoire, degree of difficulty and execution; the categories are judged from numbers one through 10 by five judges.

    The Fayetteville Area Shag Association has actively been involved with shagging since 1984. The group started out small; people would meet at other’s garages and driveways, throw some music together and dance away. They even met in front of the old Winn Dixie in town. The club is now at Mavericks Saloon on Raeford Road and approximately 200 people are involved. Music, laughter and a relaxed feeling is what encompasses visitors as they walk inside. There are always beginning and intermediate shag classes going on, which are taught by Cathy and A.C. Williams. The phenomenal two are three-time national and three-time grand national dance champions and two-time team champions.

    Whether it’s the instructors or the dancers, on the dance floor, everyone helps out everyone else.

    “People watch, but they don’t critique. We learn from each other and become better dancers by dancing,” Dennis Johnson, club president, said.

    The open atmosphere goes hand-in-hand with the dancing. There have been instances where a person doesn’t have a partner and he or she goes up to a stranger to ask to dance and it turns into something more. Cathy Williams affi rms that seven marriages and two engagements resulted from being partners on the FASA dance fl oor. One of those couples just so happens to be Johnson and his wife Susan. They dated for two years and have been married for five.

    FASA also participates in community events like Fayetteville after 5, and has given shag lessons at the Cumberland County Library and local nursing homes. Shag dancing doesn’t stop here in North Carolina. In the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs, there are about 98 clubs that vary from New York to Virginia to Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida to South Carolina and as far west as Tennessee. There are even workshops in Las Vegas and Georgia. One popular event is hosted by the Society of Stranders (SOS) and happens three times a year. Shaggers come from all over to North Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a 10-day period to reunite and hit the usual spots on Main Street such as Pirate’s Cove, Fat Heralds and Duck’s.

    “It happens three times a year, so this event is like an SOS reunion. We all like the same thing — to dance,” Dwayne Baggett said. He describes it as “park and party,” where one parks his car and doesn’t move it until it is time to go home. With SOS, people also get to see other dances — swing boppers, the lindy hop and more. All to the same east coast swing music.

    Like many things, shag dancing takes practice.

    “The key thing is to count 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6,” Baggett explained. Beginner classes involve learning the male and female turn, the female stomp, the start position and towards the end of the class, how to pivot. Intermediate classes take on moves like the sugar foot, belly roll, the booty walk. Cathy and A.C. Williams teach the genders their moves separately and then they come together as one.

    “Sure there is anxiety and frustration, but you have to keep practicing and getting that muscle memory,” Johnson said.

    Mavericks Saloon is a place that gathers all kinds of different people. Lawyers, plumbers, judges, teachers, veterinarians, bankers, dentists and people with military backgrounds all are united by their passion to shag. It’s the people and the community that make the experience great.06-19-13-cover-story.gif

    “There is satisfaction knowing we are perpetuating the dance. That and simple focus is the music,” Johnson said.

    Baggett added, “I make the means and help guarantee the income to the club in preparation for them to have a good time. It is an enjoyment to dance with other people. There are no problems or jealousy with one another — it’s all about having fun on the dance floor.”

    Just like technology, over the years the shag has been changing and evolving from one generation to the next. There is now a Junior Shag Association for dancers under age 21. The age categories are 4 through 12 years and 13 through 21. The junior SOS is being held in Myrtle Beach at the end of July. “There are young and athletic kids who can do unusual splits and drop on their knees and pop up. For me, I can go down, but I won’t get up,” Baggett joked.

    No matter how much shag has changed from its original form years ago, FASA just wants it to continue. “The goal is to continue membership and continue the dance and music,” Johnson said. The group hopes to offer new beach bands and possibly country and pop songs that still have the 4/4 count.

    Come out to Mavericks Saloon with family or come alone! You don’t even have to dance to have a good time. “Many people come and never dance. They come for the fellowship and the music and just watch,” Baggett said. So if you want to try something new or meet new people, this is where you want to be.

    For more information on FASA visit fasadance.com and for information on taking lessons at Mavericks Saloon call 910-980-1767. Lessons run for four Mondays each month and are $40 per person.

    Photo: The Fayetteville Area Shag Association par-ticipates in community events and promotes shag dancing. Above, FASA members dance on Hay Street for a local festival to raise money for the Cameo Art House Theatre.

  • uac062613001.gif Even though sequestration put the brakes on Fort Bragg’s 4th of July fireworks display, there will be plenty to celebrate downtown in Festival Park on our nation’s birthday. Thanks to a local hero, there will be fireworks and fun galore.

    A chance to still have a spectacular 4th of July event was made available when Destination America and USA WEEKEND Magazine teamed up and put together a contest called Red, White and You. The contest started in March and each participant had to write in 150 words or less why their hometown deserved the ultimate fi re-works bash. Two grand prize winners would be selected to win the ultimate fi rework show and each awarded $1,000 to be used towards one of the following local organizations: Parks and Recreation Department, YMCA/YWCA or Habitat for Humanity.

    Jeff Wells, a Fort Bragg soldier, submitted the following award-winning essay: “Due to governmental budget cuts, there will be no post fireworks for Fort Bragg. Our post is home to more Army tradition than any other installation, has produced the most Medal of Honor recipients and is seen as the center of the Army Universe. To not have a fireworks display on our nation’s day of independence for those who have fought to secure our freedom is not only a morale-degrading scenario but also a shame to those who have sacrificed so much. As an Army leader, I believe a fireworks event celebrating all that soldiers fi ght for would not just boost morale but also let them know that, despite our diffi cult fiscal times, they are not forgotten and still have the support of those they fi ght to protect.”

    The entry was chosen as one of the winners, along with the community of Union Beach, N.J. The City of Fayetteville has been planning the event. “Being able to offer citizens an alternative show and participating with Destination America and all they are doing for Fayetteville is exciting. And it’s great to know they support the soldiers and help them and all citizens of Fayetteville and Cumberland County,” Erica Brady, Parks and Recreation special events coordinator for the City of Fayetteville, said.

    Charlotte Bigford, publicist from Discovery Communications had this to say about the entry. “After launching the Red, White and You contest in March, we received more06-26-13-cover-story.gif than 3,500 entries from Americans nationwide sharing moving stories of why their towns deserve an all-American celebration this 4th of July. One of the nominations came from Jeff Wells, who emphasized Fayetteville’s status as ‘a major military community forced to cancel its annual Fort Bragg fireworks display due to budget cuts.’ We felt Fayetteville, a community that zealously supports its military partners at Fort Bragg, proved to be very worthy of an Independence Day celebration treating them to family activities, food, entertainment and displays of patriotism.”

    Many fun activities are planned and a variety of musical talent is scheduled. Three local artists from the Huske Hardware House Singer/Songwriter Showcase, the 82nd Airborne Chorus and The Mavericks, a country band, are performing. The National Anthem will also be sung and there will be the posting of colors. A free kids’ activity area designed exclusively for children will be in Linear Park. There is all sorts of entertainment for them including infl atable obstacle courses, bouncy houses, face painting and temporary tattoos. Everyone can enjoy the food vendors, beverages and unique glow items for sale provided by Destination America.

    “We hope to offer a family atmosphere and mirror the same service the Fort Bragg event had,” Brady said.

    This is a great opportunity for the Fayetteville region to take advantage of.

    “It is very important for our community. It’s the fi rst time and we should show support,” Brady added.

    Other local partners include Reed-Lallier Chevrolet, Huske Hardware House and the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. The festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. at Festival Park. The FIrework show starts around 9:15 p.m.

  •  

    hot sun

    Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect date changes.

    Due to the continued threat of excessive heat into next week, Cumberland County, in partnership with the City of Fayetteville, will extend the availability of several facilities as cooling stations through July 18 for residents who do not have access to air conditioning and need a place to get out of the heat.

    The National Weather Service in Raleigh is forecasting high temperatures and heat indices above 100 degrees today through next Wednesday. Cooling stations will be available in the following locations during normal business hours today through Wednesday. Additional days may be added depending on the forecast for next week.

     

    The Cumberland County Department of Social Services, located at 1225 Ramsey Street, will open the auxiliary lobby as a cooling station. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. All public lobbies will be available to citizens. Masks or face coverings are encouraged for those with preexisting conditions. 

    The first-floor lobby of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, located at 1235 Ramsey Street, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Masks or face coverings are required in some areas and for those immediately following a COVID-19 infection or had close contact with someone who has had the infection. Citizens with preexisting conditions are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering. 

    All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations will be open as cooling stations. Libraries are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane, Fayetteville, along with Cliffdale, North Regional, and Hope Mills branches are also open Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. To find your local library, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.

    The lobbies of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Centers are open to the public year-round, during normal operating hours and can be used by residents as respite from the heat. Recreation center locations, hours, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/. 

    The lobby of the Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST), located at 505 Franklin Street, is also open to the public during normal operating hours. Operating hours for FAST are posted at fayettevillenc.gov/city-services/transit/about-fast/operating-hours-schedules. .

    Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working outdoors. Cumberland County Emergency Services reminds residents to take precautions during the hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous work, check on relatives and neighbors, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.

    Stay informed by visiting the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov or County social media pages at facebook.com/CumberlandNC, facebook.com/CumberlandCountyNC911 and twitter.com/CumberlandNC.

    Photo by Pixabay

  • 19aMany adults nearing retirement age count down the days until they can bid adieu to the daily tasks of commuting and working so they can enjoy much more time for recreation, travel or whatever they aspire to do.
    As enticing as unending free time may seem, some retirees find it is not ideal to be entirely free from the responsibility of working.

    As current seniors can attest, inflation can drive up the costs of living. Seniors who were once able to afford a certain retirement lifestyle may no longer enjoy that hard-earned luxury.

    Others may miss the daily opportunities to socialize that working provides, or the way problem-solving on the job stimulates the brain.

    But even retirees who miss working may not be ready to return to the workforce full-time. That can make part-time employment an ideal fit for mature workers.
    Here’s a look at some part-time positions that could be a good fit for older adults reentering the workforce.

    Retail sales associate

    Working in retail opens seniors up to a wide array of responsibilities and scenarios. Jobs may include greeting customers, making sales, putting out inventory, and helping customers select merchandise.
    Being personable and having good customer service skills are necessary traits to have when working in retail. Many stores offer part-time employees flexible hours so schedules can be customized.

    Consultant

    Retirees who loved their job but wanted to spend less time doing it can return as consultants. According to The Balance: Money, individuals often find they earn more per hour working as consultants than they did as full-time staff members. Consulting is a way to share expertise and experience without making a full-time
    commitment.

    Customer service representative

    A customer service representative is tasked with helping customers solve problems and ensuring customer satisfaction.
    He or she may work at a traditional office or store location, or answer calls and resolve issues from home.

    School positions

    Retirees may want to consider jobs working in schools or in related capacities. Driving a school bus is an option if people are willing to undergo the proper training and licensing to operate this type of vehicle.
    Seniors also may consider working as lunchroom aides or lunch service providers, crossing guards, substitute teachers, and paraprofessionals in the classroom.
    School employees will only work a few hours during the day. They’ll also enjoy many holidays off as well as summer vacations.

    Receptionist

    Receptionists greet patients or customers in office settings. According to AARP, they are the welcoming faces of organizations. Answering phones and light clerical work also may be required of receptionists.
    Those who want to work off-peak hours can think about working nights and weekends in hospitals or skilled nursing facilities.
    Seniors have many different options if they decide they want to return to the workforce in a part-time capacity.

  • 18Most people know that routine exercise does a body good. While it may not require a degree from medical school to know that exercise can be a great way to lose weight and reduce risk for various illnesses, there’s even more beneficial side effects of regular exercise that might surprise even the most ardent fitness enthusiasts.

    Exercise produces positive psychological benefits. WebMD notes that there are several psychological benefits of routine exercise. Those benefits occur because exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which are hormones that interact with receptors in the brain that reduce a person’s perception of pain. Some additional psychological benefits of exercise include stress reduction and prevention of anxiety and depression.

    Exercise can improve your social life. WebMD also notes that routine exercise can improve self-esteem, which can make it easier for people to connect with others. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Sports

    Economics concluded that participation in sports activities can induce prosocial behaviors.

    Though participation in sports is often promoted as a great way for kids to make new friends, the social aspect of exercise and sports participation is no less beneficial for adults.

    Regular exercise can benefit your career. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Labor Research linked regular exercise with an annual wage increase between six and 10%. Researchers found that moderate exercise yields a positive earnings effect, but individuals who exercised frequently had even higher wage increases.

    Exercise can benefit long-term cognitive health. Though the reasons remain unclear, there seems to be a link between regular physical activity and long-term cognitive health. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that regular exercise can positively influence cognitive ability, reduce the rate of cognitive aging and lower the risk for certain dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease.

    Many people feel a significant sense of accomplishment by the end of a vigorous workout. Such feelings could grow even more profound when individuals recognize the many lesser known benefits of breaking a sweat.

  • 16Studies have shown that men have historically been less likely to report mental health issues than women.

    Lower rates of self-reporting among men may be attributable to a number of factors, including the stigma that’s still attached to the issue of mental health. Mental health issues can affect all aspects of a person’s life, and if left untreated, these issues can have grave consequences.

    Men are not immune to those consequences. In fact, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates age-adjusted suicide rates are substantially higher among men than women. Among men, that rate is 14 per 100,000, which is more than twice as high as the rate among women (6.1 per 100,000).

    There’s no formula to identify which men will develop a mental health issue or which condition they might experience. But it’s worth noting some of the more common mental health issues, and equally important that all men recognize these issues can affect any man at any time.

    Anxiety: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that anxiety disorders affect roughly 20% of the adult population in the United States each year.

    Anxiety is an umbrella term that alludes to a number of issues that each produce their own symptoms and side effects, but the DHHS notes that anxiety disorders are marked by feelings of fear and uncertainty that interfere with everyday activities. These feelings persist for six months or more and can increase a person’s risk for heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse and depression.

    Depression: The World Health Organization reports that roughly 5% of the global adult population suffers from depression.

    Depression is more than the feelings of sadness that everyone experiences from time to time. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that depression produces persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or an “empty” mood. Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism are some additional characteristics of depression.

    It’s important to recognize that these symptoms must be persistent. Symptoms that persist for at least two weeks and interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study,and eat may indicate major depression, while less severe symptoms that last for at least two years suggest the presence of persistent depressive disorder.

    Substance Use Disorder: The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics has identified substance use disorder as a public health emergency. Statistics support that assertion, as data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicates more than 20 million Americans ages 12 and over are affected by a substance use disorder.

    Though anyone, including children, can develop substance use disorder, a 2016 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicated that men have higher rates of use or dependence on illicit drugs and alcohol than women.

    The National Institutes of Health notes that substance use disorder affects a person’s brain and behavior, which makes them incapable of controlling their use of substances, including medication and alcohol.

    Men are no less vulnerable to mental health issues than women. The NIMH urges individuals in crisis or people who suspect someone is in crisis to call 911 or to call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
    More information about mental health can be found at nimh.nih.gov.

  • 11Few summertime holidays elicit as much excitement as the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day. Each year, family, friends and revelers anticipate the arrival of the holiday so they can host barbecues, enjoy the sun, listen to their favorite summertime tunes, and commemorate the freedoms afforded by the monumental events that led to the holiday’s establishment.

    Independence Day became a federal holiday in 1941, but July 4th has stood as the birth of American independence for much longer. July 4th marks a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. The colonies were forced to pay taxes to England’s King George III despite having no representation in the British Parliament. “Taxation without representation” became a battle cry and was one of several grievances the colonists had with Great Britain.

    Conflict between the colonies had been going on for at least a year before the colonies convened in Philadelphia in June of 1776, says Military.com.
    On July 1, 1776, delegates from the original 13 colonies, making up the Second Continental Congress, met to vote on Richard Henry Lee’s motion for independence.

    After some deliberation, on July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted 12 to 1 in favor of independence from England. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.

    The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer of the declaration writing committee charged with putting the colonies’ sentiments into words.

    Richard Henry Lee of Virginia was one of the first people to present a resolution for American independence, and his commentary was the impetus for the formal Declaration of Independence. A total of 86 changes were made to Jefferson’s original draft until the final version was adopted. The signing of the document helped to solidify independence, and eventually lead to the formation of the United States of America.

    A total of 56 delegates signed the document. Although John Hancock’s signature is the largest, it did not hold more weight than the other signatures. Rather, rumor has it, Hancock signed it so large so that the “fat, old King could read it without his spectacles.” However, the National Archives says it was also customary that, since Hancock was the president of the Continental Congress, he be the first person to sign the document centered below the text.

    The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence on July 6, 1776. The first public readings of the Declaration were held in Philadelphia’s Independence Square on July 8, 1776.

    Getting to know the Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence is the formal document that served as the signatory colonies’ statement that they were now “free and independent States.” It also indicates the founding principles of the United States of America and is a vital document in American history.

    In recognition of the original 13 colonies, here are 13 details regarding the Declaration of Independence.

    • 1. The drafted document was officially adopted on July 4, 1776, two days after freedom from Britain was approved. However, most delegates signed the document on August 2, 1776, while others signed on a later date. John Dickinson and Robert R. Livingston never signed the Declaration of Independence.
    • 2. While Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, it was carefully reviewed and modified by other members of the Continental Congress, notably John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.
    • 3. John Dunlap was the official printer of Congress at the time. He worked all night and into the morning of July 5 to produce the large, single-sided sheet, known as a broadside. About 200 copies of Dunlap’s broadside were made.
    • 4. The University of Virginia owns two copies of a rare early printing of the Declaration. It is on display in the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. It is believed the copy once belonged to George Washington.
    • 5. The original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence has been lost.
    • 6. Benjamin Franklin, George Read, Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, George Clymer, and James Wilson signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
    • 7. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were hidden at Fort Knox during World War II, two weeks after Pearl Harbor was attacked.
    • 8. Despite what the movie “National Treasure” will have one believe, the message on the back of the document is visible and reads “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.”
    • 9. Richard Stockton, a lawyer from New Jersey, was a signer of the Declaration who later recanted his support of the American revolution. He subsequently swore his allegiance to King George III after being captured by the British.
    • 10. In 1989, an original Dunlap Broadside was found hidden behind a picture a Philadelphia man bought at a flea market for $4. It later sold for $8.1 million. Ultimately, 26 copies of the original prints have been found.
    • 11. The United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4th, even though independence was accepted on July 2nd. The one-year anniversary of Independence Day and the celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence slipped the minds of Congress in 1777. When they remembered it was July 3rd, they planned a last-minute celebration on July 4th, and each year thereafter.
    • 12. Early on, not everyone in America was supportive of the Declaration of Independence. Partisan politics led to discord. Federalist John Adams was feuding with Republicans and Thomas Jefferson. The anniversary date of the signing was not widely celebrated until the Federalists were no longer involved in politics.
    • 13. John Trumbull’s painting “Declaration of Independence,” which was made into a lithograph replica by Ralph Trembly, hangs in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. It is a fictional depiction of the five-man drafting committee presenting their draft to Congress, and not the signing. The painting shows 42 of the 56 signees, since Trumbull couldn’t get likenesses of all involved. The men featured in the painting were never all in the room at the same time during the Declaration’s debate and signing.

    The Declaration of Independence is a key document in American history, and its words and spirit are celebrated each Independence Day.

  • 10bMany people are eager for Independence Day celebrations. Festivities often begin in the afternoon with barbecues and pool parties, and continue late at night after fireworks shows that light up the night sky. Still, not everyone enjoys the extra noise and busy nature of July 4th parties, including furry members of the family.

    Animal control services often report an increase in lost animals between July 4th and July 6th. That’s because the excitement of the holiday puts pets out of their comfort zones.
    Pet owners should take heed of the many ways to keep their pets safe during the festivities.

    Update identification. Be sure prior to any July 4th events that pets are wearing collars with current identification information. If an address or phone number has changed since the last time you updated microchip records, be sure to check the account is current.

    Be careful with alcoholic drinks. Party hosts typically serve beer, wine and cocktails. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets, says the ASPCA. Animals can become very intoxicated, severely depressed or go into comas if they drink alcohol. Keep spirited drinks well out of reach.

    Check with the vet. Many pets are prone to anxiety from loud noises, such as thunderstorms and fireworks, and lots of commotion — something that occurs in spades come July 4th. Some veterinarians recommend a small course of anti-anxiety medication or a sedative to help pets cope with the stimuli.

    Create a quiet space. Allow pets to ride out the day in their comfortable, quiet and cozy retreats. If necessary, create a space in an interior room. Cover the pet crate with a blanket and offer favorite toys or bedding to create a soothing environment.

    Place notes on doors and gates. While it’s best to keep pets in a locked room away from the fray, some pets like to socialize with guests and are not bothered by noises. However, alert guests with notes posted on doors and fence gates to check to make sure pets are not trying to escape behind them. All doors should be closed firmly when entering or exiting.

    Pick up debris. Firework debris can rain down on properties even if you were not shooting off the fireworks. Curious pets may pick it up or eat it, which runs the risk of an upset stomach or even an intestinal blockage. Check your yard before letting pets out to play.

    Keep an eye on the grill. Pets can be opportunists, and those burgers and chicken drumsticks smell delicious to pets. Pets that get too close to the grill can become injured. And if pets eat leftovers, they may end up with digestive distress or even be poisoned by foods that are toxic to cats and dogs.

    Pets need to be protected during summertime parties like Independence Day celebrations.

  • 10aOscar Solis, Jr. is a retired U.S. Marine who doesn’t like celebrating the Fourth of July.

    “I’m very honored by the intent, but it’s the celebration behind it — the fireworks, the large crowds — that’s a bit much for me,” the Afghanistan and Iraq War veteran explained.

    Solis is not alone. Every year the nation celebrates its independence with fireworks. What some don’t realize is that these colorful celebrations of American freedom can seriously impact the veterans who defended it.

    “As beautiful as they are, the sounds, smells and shock waves of fireworks can be triggering for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD,” said Annie Tang, staff psychologist at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Illinois.

    “These can bring up emotional and physiological reactions, and bring up trauma memories from the past, which can bring up intense anxiety and fear.”

    Tang explained that the brain is very good at pairing things, especially threat. Combat veterans and those who worked in combat zones can pair threat with whatever was in that environment, including things they saw, heard or smelled.

    These pairings can continue after returning to civilian life. So, when fireworks or other loud noises occur, a veteran’s brain can feel in danger.

    “That’s absolutely me,” said Solis. “It’s like an animalistic brain. It’s a lot of negative things you associate with that makes you hesitant to do everything.”

    Although time and treatment have helped with coping, Solis still prefers to stick to his regular schedule during the holiday.

    “I really struggled for a long time. I took a bad turn initially when I first got out. Over the past few years or so, it’s gotten better. Now I can manage,” he explained. “But I stay in; my routine is everything. I stick to my routine.”

    According to Tang, avoiding the holiday is a common way of coping with the stress Independence Day can bring but may not benefit someone long-term.

    “In our society and military culture, veterans are taught to avoid,” Tang explained. “How many times has a veteran heard ‘suck it up?’ In an immediate threat, [avoidance] can help, but in civilian life, it can really affect many veterans.”

    Tang has treated veterans at Hines VA since 2013 and recommends five things to help veterans cope with triggers.

    • 1. Avoid avoidance. Avoidance can be a short-term fix, but it tends to worsen the problem over time. It’s helpful to confront safe triggers you’ve wanted to avoid gradually. Some Veterans may need help from a mental health professional.
    • 2. Remind yourself where you are and what is happening around you. Repeating simple reminders, like ‘this is not a combat zone,’ and ‘these are only fireworks’ can help reset the brain during a PTSD trigger.
    • 3. Change the body’s temperature. Safely lowering body temperatures can quickly remind someone where they are and help quell PTSD triggers. Veterans can take a cold shower, or use an ice pack, ice cubes, frozen vegetable packs or splash cold water.
    • 4. Schedule meaningful activities you enjoy. Planning self-care can boost your mood, which can offset the overall impact of stress triggers.
    • 5. Prioritize your mental health and seek treatment. VA offers support and care through evidence-based treatments for PTSD, stress and anxiety. VA also offers the PTSD Coach Mobile App that provides information and coping skills to help manage anxiety or distress. To schedule an appointment with Hines VA Trauma Services, call 708-202-4668.

    “It’s not always easy, but I cannot emphasize enough that help is out there, and it can help people regain their lives,” said Tang.

    This year will be the 11th Independence Day since Solis returned from his last combat deployment in Afghanistan. Like most Independence Days since returning, he plans to spend it away from celebrations and large gatherings.

    “The fear, the pain — it hurts, but you have to accept it and work through it,” said Solis “It’s the only way I can keep growing.”

    Editor’s note: Matthew Moeller is a Public Affairs Officer at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Illinois This article is a reprint from www.va.gov/

  • 9The Defense Department is prioritizing ethical considerations and collaboration in its approach to developing and fielding military applications of artificial intelligence, a top Pentagon technology official said June 15.
    Michael C. Horowitz, the director of the emerging capabilities policy office in the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy, underscored the U.S. commitment to leading the international conversation surrounding artificial intelligence during a panel discussion in Washington on setting rules and expectations for emerging technologies in national security.

    Underpinning this commitment, Horowitz said, is a comprehensive set of policy decisions within DOD that governs the development and fielding of autonomous weapon systems, ethical artificial intelligence strategy, and the development of responsible artificial intelligence strategy and pathways.

    He said U.S. leadership, in codifying these principles, is now driving responsible artificial intelligence policy formulation among international partners.

    “If you look at NATO’s ethical AI principles, for example, they’re very similar to the Defense Department’s ethical AI principles and that’s not an accident,” Horowitz said. “It reflects in many ways the sort of common values and perspective on how we’re thinking about... when we would want to use AI and how.”

    He said U.S. also led on the international stage by issuing its Political Declaration of Responsible Military use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy in February.

    “That’s a set of strong norms that lay out principles of what responsible use looks like that we’re now working to bring other countries on board to endorse since we think that bringing the international community together on this issue, that there is a lot of possibility for cooperation and we want to encourage the rest of the world to take these issues as seriously as the department has,” Horowitz said. “And in looking at our allies and partners, we’re really encouraged by that.”

    That commitment to the responsible development of artificial intelligence, and its transparency concerning the development of policy surrounding emerging technologies, is also how the U.S. has distinguished itself from its global competitors, he said.

    He said all DOD policy surrounding artificial intelligence and emerging technology is publicly available.

    “That’s in contrast to some of the competitors of the United States who are a lot less transparent in what their policies are concerning the development and use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, including autonomous weapons systems,” Horowitz said. “And we think that there’s a real distinction there.”

    At the same time, the U.S. has remained committed to being at the leading edge of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, Horowitz said.

    He said the rapid advance of the technology has opened up a wide array of use cases for artificial intelligence beyond defense. The U.S. continues to be “an engine of innovation when it comes to AI.”

    “The Defense Department does lots and lots of different experimentation with emerging technologies,” Horowitz said. “And we both want to do them in a safe and responsible way, but also want to do them in a way that can push forward the cutting edge and ensure the department has access to the emerging technologies that it needs to stay ahead.”

  • 8bChild Nutrition Service’s Summer Meals Program is providing free meals to children 18 years and younger at elementary schools and recreational centers throughout the county through July 27.

    The program is free for children and no sign-up is needed. The meals are served on a first come first served basis and must be eaten on-site.

    Families are encouraged to stop by designated locations Monday through Thursday.

    Participating elementary schools serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Serving times vary at recreation centers around the county.

    For a detailed list of locations and times, visit https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/Page/8195

  • 8aTwenty-four teachers from across North Carolina have been selected as finalists for the 2023 North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year Award.
    The NCCAT recognizes their dedication, innovation and ability to inspire students to achieve.

    Cumberland County Schools announced that Ashley Long McCullen, the agriculture teacher at Gray's Creek High School, is one of the finalists for the NCCAT honor.

    From this impressive group of finalists, one educator will be chosen as the NCCAT 2023 NC CTE Teacher of the Year.

    The finalists will gather at the NCCAT campus in Cullowhee for a week of professional development in October. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Oct. 19 at the Bardo Center on the Western Carolina University campus.

    “Each day in schools, Career and Technical Education teachers inspire and guide students to important future careers and roles in society,” NCCAT Executive Director M. Brock Womble said.

    “Taking time to honor excellent Career and Technical Education educators across our state through the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching 2023 NC CTE Teacher of the Year program is important, as we are continually striving to elevate the teaching profession and emphasize the significance of the work educators do every day. Congratulations to these finalists and the school districts they represent. We look forward to having them with us for a week of professional development and a special night to honor the teaching profession.”

  • 18Farming has never been a vocation for individuals looking for easy work. Farmers typically work long hours, braving the elements regardless of how unpleasant the weather may be.

    All that hard work ensures individuals who live in rural, urban and suburban communities have constant, readily available access to healthy foods.

    Such devotion merits support, and thankfully there are many things consumers can do to show their appreciation for local farmers.

    Buy fresh foods at your local farmers market. Farmers markets are many foodies’ favorite places, but they aren’t exclusive to individuals with a passion for food.
    Everyone needs to eat, so why not eat foods grown locally, which are generally more fresh and appetizing than imported fruits and vegetables sold at chain grocery stores?
    Even individuals who don’t typically eat fresh fruit and vegetables can find something delectable at a local farmers market, where anything from homemade tomato sauces to locally raised fresh beef and pork might be on sale.

    Order directly from local farms. Some farmers have embraced the e-commerce revolution and begun selling the foods they grow to consumers via their own websites. Research local farms and determine if it’s possible to buy directly from them.

    Farms may offer delivery or pick-up, and consumers can enjoy fresh foods even more knowing that they helped farmers earn higher profits by buying directly from them.

    Check labels before buying in local grocery stores. Packaging labels will indicate where fruits and vegetables came from. When possible, choose items produced by local farmers. This may include fruits, vegetables, meat, pork, or even desserts like pies.

    Locally produced foods often taste more fresh than items sent from distant farms, and consumers will feel better knowing they helped to support local farmers.

    Spread the word. Get the word out after a satisfying experience with local farms and farmers.

    Whether it's buying food from farms or taking advantage of family days that let kids enjoy a day on the farm, sharing positive experiences via social media or word-of-mouth can be a great way to inspire your neighbors to support local farmers as well.

    Consumers can do much to support hardworking local farmers. In addition to feeling good about supporting their rural neighbors, consumers also might feel good when they sit down and enjoy a meal featuring locally grown, fresh foods.

  • 9cThe month of June has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some from June 1923 that helped to shape the world.

    •The Polo Grounds in New York City hosts a boxing match between Frenchman Eugène Criqui and Johnny Kilbane on June 2. Among those in attendance to see Criqui knock out Kilbane in the sixth round is New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth, who arrived after a game at Yankee Stadium earlier in the day.

    •On June 4, 16 men begin what becomes a 2,000-mile voyage in a single lifeboat after they are forced to abandon the British cargo ship Trevessa as it begins to sink in the Indian Ocean.

    •The Soviet Army defeats what is left of the White Army near Okhotsk on June 6, ending what proves to be the last major battle of the Russian Civil War.

    •On June 8, a bill is passed in the British House of Commons granting women the right to divorce their husbands on the grounds of infidelity without having to prove cruelty or desertion.

    •Bulgarian Prime Minister Aleksandar Stamboliyski is toppled June 9 in a bloodless coup orchestrated by a private organization of reserve officers.
    Stamboliyski survived the coup long enough to flee to his home village of Slavovitsa, but he is ultimately killed on June 14 by members of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, a group that had attempted to assassinate him four months earlier.

    •Legendary actor Lon Chaney gets the girl in “The Shock,” an American silent film released on June 10. Though Chaney often played characters who did not get the girl, “The Shock” ends with Chaney’s character, gangster Wilse Dilling, beginning a new life with Gertrude, whose freedom is assured thanks to a timely earthquake.

    •On June 12, magician Horace Goldin is granted a patent for the popular illusion of sawing a woman in half. Goldin would go on to perform for U.S. Presidents Harding and Wilson and King Edward VII of Britain.

    •Lou Gehrig makes his debut for the New York Yankees on June 15. Gehrig replaces first baseman Wally Pipp in the ninth inning, though this was not the most notable time Gehrig replaced Pipp. That would occur nearly two years later on June 2, 1925, when Gehrig started at first base and took over for the slumping Pipp.
    Though the moment Gehrig replaced Pipp in the starting lineup is often remembered as the start of Gehrig’s consecutive games streak that would ultimately last nearly 14 years, the streak actually began a day earlier when the man eventually nicknamed “The Iron Horse” pinch hit for Pee-Wee Wanninger in the eighth inning.

    •Scores of people cross the border from Northern Ireland into the neighboring Irish Free State on June 17 as a ban on Sunday alcohol sales goes into effect in the former locale.

    •The popular newspaper comic strip “Moon Mullins” debuts on June 19. Created by cartoonist Frank Willard, the strip ran until June 2, 1991. It depicts the lives of diverse characters who reside in a boarding house.

    •United States President Warren G. Harding departs Washington, D.C., on June 20 to begin a cross-country speaking tour. President Harding would never return to the nation’s capital, dying unexpectedly of a heart attack on August 2 in San Francisco.
    Though Harding’s term in office was fraught with scandal, including Teapot Dome, Harding embraced technology and was sensitive to the plights of minorities and women.

    •Turkey holds the first general elections in the nation’s history on June 28, following the 1919 — 1923 War of Independence.

  • 9aSeptember 11, 2001. I remember that day and exactly what I was doing at the time. I was doing my principal internship at a local elementary school when I received the tragic news. Parents started coming to the school to check out their children and there was a collective fear and panic in the air.

    “Tuesday’s Children gets its name from the events that occurred on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, and we were founded to support the families and children who have lost someone in that tragedy,” said Abigail Diedrich, long-term youth mentoring coordinator. “We are over two decades old at this point and we have created lots of different programs to support families in the wake of tragedy, mass violence or military conflicts.”

    Tuesday’s Children Long-Term Mentoring Program is seeking dedicated adult role models to provide support to children.

    “While we always support the families who were affected by September 11, we have started to include families who are considered Gold Star or other military-related loss so we have a lot of families who have military-related loss and the children are assigned a one-on-one mentor who is an adult volunteer for at least one year,” said Diedrich.

    “The criteria to become an adult mentor entails the individual being over the age of 21 and they have to pass the thorough background screening and interview in order to make sure the individual wants to participate in the program for the right reasons.”9b

    She added, “It is really important that the adult is mentally sound and is going to be a positive support in the life of a child who has already experienced some trauma and loss.”

    “We match based off of similar interests and we do both in-person and virtual options,” said Diedrich. “In person has to be the preference so we try to find people in the area that is close to where the families are.”

    Diedrich added that some of the things the mentors do with the mentees include attending soccer games, going to the zoo or park, arts and crafts activities, or just hanging out having a meal together and having great conversations.

    For the virtual option, the mentor and mentee can chat using FaceTime, play Battleship on the screen, follow a recipe on YouTube or discuss a book.

    For more information and to sign up call 516-562-9000 or visit http://www.tuesdayschildren.org/

  • 8The City of Fayetteville was named a 2023 All-America City by the National Civic League at the All-America City Award Event in Denver on June 11. This marks the fourth time the City is an All-America City Award winner, earning the honor in 1985, 2001, 2011 in addition to 2023.

    The AAC Award is a prestigious honor bestowed upon 10 communities around the United States annually. This year’s award recognizes Fayetteville as a community working to improve the health and well-being of young people, particularly focusing on civic engagement.

    “Being designated an All-America City is evidence Fayetteville continues to be a great collaborative, solution orientated and forward moving community,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin. “We are being recognized as one of the premier local communities across the country who engage our youth as we continue to make Fayetteville a desirable place to live, work and recreate, not only today but well into the future.”

    Along with the AAC Award, Olive Cody won the John Par Youth Leadership Award. Cody impressed the award panel with her humility and passion after being nominated by a Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council colleague.

    The John Par Youth Leadership Award is dedicated to a former NCL president, which recognizes extraordinary civic engagement and leadership on the part of a young person in their community.
    Fayetteville was one of 19 finalists to compete for the award by presenting projects related to this year’s theme, “Creating Thriving Community through Youth Engagement.”

    City staff and community members displayed the compelling story of recent work to improve civic education and participation to a jury of nationally recognized civic leaders, ultimately earning America’s Can Do City the title of All-America City.

    The city’s application highlighted civic engagement and collaboration, a community-wide effort for inclusiveness and creative leveraging of resources to complete projects that have dramatic impact in the community.

    Specifically highlighted during the presentation was the commitment to engaging youth through the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council. The FCYC community outreach efforts in the presentation detailed the council’s passion for and desire to serve their community in a meaningful way, which is a part of the council’s mission.

    The city continued to build on youth focused initiatives as key criteria for this year’s award included building the civic capacity of young people, promoting youth participation in voting and policy making and providing leadership opportunities for youth through the efforts of the Fayetteville Next Commission. Additionally, the presentation included Market House Repurposing efforts and Education, Mentorship and Empowerment Programs.

    Woven throughout the presentation was how invaluable collaboration is to city leadership and the community. One example is partnering with Cape Fear Regional Theatre to work on the script which incorporates Fort Liberty senior leaders and multiple city boards and commissions.

    The cities also earning 2023 AAC Awards include two other North Carolina communities, Charlotte and Davie County, as well as Gonzales, California; Hampton, Virginia; Mesa, Arizona; Decatur, Georgia; Mount Plesant, South Carolina; and Dallas and San Antonio, Texas.

    “We are happy to designate Fayetteville as an All-America City. Through their application and presentation, they showed that they are among the best in America at engaging youth and other residents to address important challenges,” said Doug Linkhart, President, National Civic League.

    For more information on the award, log onto http://www.allamericacityaward.com/.

  • 17bA home is the single biggest purchase most people will ever make. That has perhaps become even more true in recent years, when the cost of homes has increased dramatically.

    The sticker price of a home may come as a shock to first-time buyers, but few homeowners purchase their homes in cash. Mortgages are a vital component of home ownership for the vast majority of buyers.

    Mortgages are loans obtained through the conveyance of property as security. When homeowners pay off their mortgages, the title of the property officially transfers to them from their lenders.
    Though most homeowners utilize mortgages to buy their homes, that does not mean the process is the same for everyone.

    A host of factors affect mortgage terms, and there’s much prospective homeowners can do to secure the best agreement possible.

    Recognize why a low interest rate is important. Mortgage interest rates have drawn considerable attention in recent years, as rising inflation has led to rates that have reached their highest point in more than a decade.

    Even a seemingly small difference in interest rates can save or cost homeowners thousands of dollars, if not tens of thousands, over the course of a loan.

    For example, the financial experts at Bankrate.com note that the difference between a 5.5% interest rate and a 6% interest rate on a $200,000 mortgage is roughly $64 per month.
    That might not seem like a lot, but over the course of a 30 year mortgage the borrower who gets the 6% loan will pay in excess of $23,000 more in interest than the borrower who secures the 5.5% loan.

    Recognition of the benefits of securing the lowest interest rate possible can motivate prospective buyers to do everything in their power to get a low rate.

    Work on your credit score. So how can borrowers get the best possible rate? One way to go about it is to improve credit scores.

    Average mortgage interest rates vary significantly by credit score, with higher scores earning borrowers significantly lower rates.

    According to data from FICO, as of mid-February 2023, borrowers with a FICO score of 760+ earned an average interest rate of 6.06%, while those with scores between 620-639 secured an average rate of 7.65%.

    By bolstering their credit scores before applying for a mortgage, prospective homeowners can improve their standing in the eyes of mortgage lenders, which can potentially save them tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

    Identify how much you want to spend. Prospective home buyers may be approved to borrow much more money than they think they will qualify for. That’s because lenders do not consider factors like utilities, insurance, day care, or other expenses everyone has.

    That means it’s up to borrowers to determine how much those expenses will be, and how much they should be spending on a home.

    Though it might be tempting to borrow up to the amount lenders approve you for, in general it’s best to stay below that amount so you can capably meet all of your additional obligations.

    Mortgages enable millions of people to buy homes each year. Some simple steps before applying for a mortgage can help prospective homeowners secure the best terms.

  • 17aSelling your business is a big decision. Equally important is finding the right business advisor to help navigate the process. Results from the latest Market Report show that choosing a broker form a firm like Transworld can help you meet your business goals.

    Let’s dive into Transworld’s small business transaction activity for 2022 and learn more about what sets Transworld’s business advisors apart.

    Another historic year

    It’s been two years of historic performance levels for Transworld. Not only was 2021 record-setting with 31% more deals closed versus 2020, but 2022 surpassed it by 62%. The total deal value of businesses increased, too, by more than 25%. The 2022 monthly breakdown of sold deals topped every month in 2021, with 10 of the 12 months showing double-digit increases.

    In all, a host of key metrics were up, from the average deal value (27% YOY increase) to the number of sales listings (up 24% YOY), from the median deal value (43% above 2021) to the average listing price (a 23% increase YOY).

    Who’s selling? And for how much?

    The impact of the pandemic’s early lock down phase was significant, and the recovery from 2020 continues. One insight the market report revealed was that the primary driver of business sales is baby boomers.

    This demographic is preparing for their next stage in life and looking to either shed responsibilities or fund their next entrepreneurial endeavor.

    Another factor fueling the impressive 2022 performance is the number of buyers paying record prices for well-performing businesses. Companies that did well and thrived during the turbulence of the pandemic are especially appealing. Buyer motivation was evident in the decrease in days on the market by 6%, with 2022 also showing an increase in cash deals. Also of note was an increase in owner financing through banks, even with the rise in interest rates back to normal levels from the extraordinary lows experienced in previous years.

    The report found the top five most active business segments were restaurants, construction, beauty/personal care, automotive and medical-related businesses, both by closed transactions and deal volume.

    Interested in selling?

    If all this information leads you to think the time might be right for you to sell your business, what are the most pertinent questions you should ask a business advisor?

    First, you can ask how to prepare your business for sale properly. Business advisors can help you get all your business’s legal or financial records in order and recommend any additional experts, such as accountants or lawyers, you may need.

    Next, ask your business broker how they will find the right buyer for your business. They will help you package and market your business throughout the world to find the best buyer.

    An experienced advisor will help you handle these details and more, all while working to keep the sale confidential and doing all they can to get the best price.

    Consider how inflation and interest rates will affect your options. Even with the recent interest rate increase by the Fed, the rates are returning to a normal level, and the market continues to remain strong. What’s more, regardless of the interest rates, people are still selling and buying at historic numbers.

    If you think selling is on the horizon for your business, consider working with a business advisor. They can help guide you through the process from start to finish.

    Editor's note: Ashley Kelsey is a Business Broker at Transworld Business Advisors of Eastern North Carolina. She can be reached at 910-302-6447 or email akelsey@tworld.com.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

    • Veterans Affairs Commission Thursday, June 28, 7 p.m.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • Lake Celebration June 30-July 3 at Hope Mills Lake. Cardboard boat race, Street Dance, Heroes on the Water, Church at the Lake, Art and Jazz at the Lake, Beach Dance. Visit www.townofhopemills.com/364/2018-Lake-Celebration for details.

    • July 4th Celebration Wednesday, July 4, various locations in the town. Parade, kids activities and fireworks. Call 910-426-4107 for more information. Town hall will be closed this day.

    • Wine-Tasting, Cheese and Appetizers Saturday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Held at the Boarding House Tea Room, 3903 Ellison St., at the corner of W. Patterson Street across from Hope Mills YMCA. Open to the public once there is a 10-person commitment. Mix and mingle in cozy and quaint surroundings. Tasty hors d’oeuvres and vintage treasures available. Call Carla at 910-527-7455 to make reservations.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 13a The Cool Spring Downtown District is bringing funk, soul and fellowship to Fayetteville with their second annual Juneteenth Jubilee June 17 and 18.

    This year the Jubilee is leaning into a 1970s theme for the event. If you’re familiar with the 70s, it was an explosion of culture for Black America in the arts, music and fashion. It was truly an era that still inspires and influences our culture today. With Juneteenth being a celebration of freedom, and the 70s feeling free artistically and socially, it was a perfect blend to bring this theme into this years Jubilee.

    The celebration spans two days in downtown Fayetteville and it’s jam packed with food, music and history for everyone to enjoy. Saturday is quite the show with Headliner Rose Royce taking the stage, along with Fayetteville native The Fatback Band. Sunday will feature local church choirs performing, leading up to Grammy Award and Soul Train Music Award-winning recording artist Tye Tribbett.

    Juneteenth is also known as “Emancipation Day.” It’s a celebration of the true independence and end of slavery in 1865. A lot of people think Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was the end of slavery in 1863, but the news of the final Confederate loss in Virginia that freed slaves, didn’t reach certain places in the south right away.

    According to the American Battlefield Trust, news that the war had ended and they were free finally reached Galveston when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in the Gulf Coast city on June 19, 1865, more than two months after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia.

    Granger delivered General Order No. 3, which said: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”

    The celebration for Juneteenth gained support for decades with African Americans working to make it an official holiday, recognized by the entire country. Just last year, President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth in as an official holiday, granting a true celebration for freedom in the United States – a celebration that includes everyone.13b

    For residents in Fayetteville, the Juneteenth Jubilee has grown tremendously since last year. Adding almost 15 new vendors, an outdoor skating rink, costume contests, a cigar bar and card game area. Up & Coming Weekly had a chance to sit down and talk with two people who are vital in the Juneteenth Jubilee - Ashanti Bennett, Director of Special Operations and Lauren Falls, Director of Marketing and Events.
    We spoke with them about the roles they play, the growth they wish to see, and how excited they are to bring this event to locals and visitors.

    “Our task is trying to make downtown Fayetteville a place where you can love where you live and build the arts and entertainment districts,” Bennett said.

    A Fayetteville native, Bennett moved away from Fayetteville as a child. When she returned as an adult, she put all of her skills to work and help improve the city the best way she knows how. “I remember a time when I wasn't allowed to come downtown. My grandmother was not having that. I bring her down now and she's like, this is really nice. It's good to see that. It feels, you know, safe. It feels creative. It feels innovative.”

    With the success of this year’s Jubilee, Bennett wants to take things even further next year, and give Juneteenth a block party kind of feel, like our 4th Fridays. She hopes to be able to give even more room to vendors, performers and activities for the community to enjoy.

    This year there will be a trolly ride around the downtown area to share information about Black history in Fayetteville. Many realize that local Black history has been slightly overlooked. The facts discussed on the trolly ride are put together by a history professor at Fayetteville State University, recognized as an Historically Black College. The trolly runs most of the day Saturday and is sure to be one of the most informative and fun parts of the weekend. The trolley is free, but donations are accepted.

    Other activities include the Juneteenth Celebration 5K, a Groovy Costume Contest and vendors.

    13cLauren Falls, the Marketing Director for Cool Spring Downtown District, shared her excitement about the opportunity to work on the Juneteenth event.

    “As a graphic designer in a nonprofit, sometimes it's really fun when you get the opportunity to kind of create new things and when your staff say, ‘go be free’ and they have that confidence in you that you know, they see, you see their vision … If you haven’t seen this year’s Juneteenth Jubilee promos and flyers, you’re truly missing out.”

    The flyer is full of beautiful brown tones, afro-centric artwork, and an incredibly groovy font.

    “In the background of the Juneteenth flyer, we see the skating rink and all the different colors and shades. It's a subtle hint that this event is for everybody. We're highlighting that every person can be a part of it,” Falls said.

    Organizers encourage everyone to bring families and friends out this year. For those wishing to volunteer, there are opportunities available by calling 910-223-2890.

    The Juneteenth Jubilee kicks off at 3 p.m. on June 17. Entry into Festival Park is free, but those wishing to have seats close to the stage can purchase VIP tickets.

    For VIP tickets and schedule information, visit https://visitdowntownfayetteville.com/juneteenth-jubilee-downtown-fayetteville-2023/

  • 14TradeKyle Jackson’s 1910 Apothecary has barely been open a year at its location on Trade Street. Just days past his first anniversary there, he’s changing locations, but not too far, moving to the other end of Trade Street where he’ll share space with the existing Get Twisted Yoga studio.

    Jackson said it’s not a matter of being disappointed with his old location, where he sold a variety of items he made himself, including soap, candles and products associated with natural healing.

    “I loved the old location and the history of the building,’’ Jackson said. “But I needed a little more room. It became a little difficult because I didn’t have much storage. I was having to move a bunch of things around and it was like musical chairs just to get something made.’’

    Jackson has unofficially already started conducting business in his new location at Get Twisted Yoga, but his official opening won’t take place until the latter part of June.

    “We still have to get the new flooring put in, but that’s not really a necessity,’’ he said. “It’s just cosmetic.’’

    He said most of his customers have made the transition to the new location and are already coming to see him there, as he alerted them the move was in progress.

    As the move progresses, he hopes to expand the services he’s currently offering them and dovetail some of his natural healing approaches to the yoga instruction that goes on at Get Twisted Yoga. He also works there part-time as an instructor, which was part of the reason for his decision to move his business.

    His goal is to offer more products and services related to natural healing. He stressed that he’s not allowed to advertise what he does as cures, just alternatives in some cases to traditional
    medicine.

    One thing he has an interest in is called reiki. Reiki is a natural healing technique based on the idea the therapist can channel energy into a patient by means of touch.

    Jackson said the only thing he can guarantee people who undergo reiki is they will be relaxed. “There are different levels of certification,’’ Jackson said. “My ultimate goal is to have a natural healing clinic paired with the yoga studio.’’

    He said he’ll continue to offer the variety of products he makes himself that can be seen on his Facebook page or his website, www.1910apothecary.com.

    “I’ve worked so hard on those recipes I don’t want to deviate from them,’’ he said.

    He’s currently working on a shampoo that a number of his customers are testing for him. “We’ll see what happens and if everyone comes to agreement,’’ he said. “I’m not making any claims it will treat anything because you can’t do that. I can steer people in different directions depending on what they have an issue with.’’

    Jackson said his business hours at his new location will be the same as his old location. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except for Wednesday when he’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The business is closed on Sunday.

    For further information, visit the Facebook page or the website, or call 910-835-6833.

  • 12b The NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction will hold its annual Hari Jones Memorial Lecture and its commemoration of Juneteenth, a federal holiday observing the emancipation of the enslaved during the Civil War.

    Dr. Darin J. Waters, deputy secretary for the state’s Office of Archives and History and a well-known North Carolina historian, will give the Hari Jones Memorial Lecture at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 19 at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1217 Murchison Road.

    Dr. Waters currently oversees the operations of the divisions of State History and Maritime Museums, State Historic Sites and Properties, Archives and Records, Historical Resources (including the State Historic Preservation Office, Office of Historical Research, and the Office of State Archaeology), and commissions (including Roanoke Island Festival Park and Tryon Palace), and Education and Outreach.

    He is also the secretary of the North Carolina Historical Commission and the State Historic Preservation Officer.

    An Asheville native, Waters was most recently an Associate Professor of History at UNC Asheville, and the Executive Director of UNCA’s Office of Community Engagement. He previously held other teaching, research, and community engagement positions at UNCA, UNC-Chapel Hill, and N.C. State University.12a

    Waters received a B.S. in Political Science and Government from Liberty University, a master’s in History from North Carolina State University, and a Ph.D. in History from UNC-Chapel Hill. He has served on numerous nonprofit and state boards, including the North Carolina Historical Commission and African American Heritage Commission.

    Within his role with the state’s history museums, Waters, along with other historians, is working on the content of the NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction, which is being built in Fayetteville’s Arsenal Park; and will replace the current Museum of the Cape Fear.

    Unlike other history museums, the facility in Fayetteville will be a “teaching” museum and not a “collecting” museum. It will use existing scholarship from universities, coupled with first-hand accounts of North

    Carolina families, to examine, for the first time, what an entire state faced as the result of the Civil War. It will communicate that knowledge both in person and online so that schoolchildren — and all of us — may learn from it.

    Juneteenth and the Hari Jones Memorial Lecture Series

    Jones was a prominent African American historian whose area of expertise centered on the contribution of Blacks during the Civil War. He was first heard by organizers of the Center as they visited museums in

    Washington, D.C. Jones became a close advisor to the Center and spoke several times in Fayetteville before
    his death.

    To honor his memory — and his commitment to raising awareness of the African American community’s contributions during the Civil War, Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras — the center decided to sponsor the Hari Jones Memorial Lecture Series.

    NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction

    A group of local Fayetteville residents originally got the project off the ground by getting a $1 million planning grant from the N.C. General Assembly in 2007. With the funding, over the next few years, the board hired Germann & Associates, the Winslow Group and the Planning Edge, all of which have experience in museum startups, to assess existing resources, pursue community wide feedback and discussions and come up with a strategic and programming plan.

    The Center project has been divided into three phases. Phase 1 includes:

    • The Arsenal House, which was renovated primarily for K-12 students. It includes a classroom, a distance learning studio and a technical support room, all part of the Digital Education Outreach Center.
      The Outreach Center is an online educational resource to teach the history of the period before, during and after the Civil War to public school students across North Carolina.
    • The Culbreth House, which was renovated for higher education purposes. It will become the Center for the Study of the Civil War and Reconstruction in North Carolina. A catering kitchen and upstairs offices were added, as was a library, which will house an extensive collection of Civil War and Reconstruction books. It will be used as the offices for the Center’s Foundation.
    • The Davis House will be used to help interpret the site of the U.S. Arsenal (later a Confederate Arsenal), where it is situated.

    Phase 2 consists of a new outdoor education pavilion and the construction of a boardwalk that will run parallel to the remains of the Arsenal. Construction of Phase 2 is scheduled to begin soon.

    Phase 3, the groundbreaking of which was held last summer, is a 55,000-57,000 square-foot main building that will replace the existing Museum of the Cape Fear, which was built on the site where the U.S. Arsenal once stood in Fayetteville.

    The Center, once complete, will be owned and operated by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The building is currently being designed, with construction to begin soon. The latest estimates are that the building will be completed in the first quarter of 2027 — with the online portion of history instruction for teachers and students to be rolled out before then.

    The history of all of North Carolina with an evenhanded approach

    The Center is taking an evenhanded approach to North Carolinians’ Civil War experiences, precisely because no one agreed on it then — and no one agrees on it today.

    As author Philip Gerard has pointed out, the documented history of the Civil War in the state showed that North Carolina’s white population was almost evenly split between Confederates and Unionists. More than 300,000 people — fully a third of North Carolina’s population — had no say on it at all, because they were enslaved.

    Those involved in the planning of the center plan to use the existing Fayetteville Arsenal, destroyed during the closing days of the Civil War by Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, as a jumping-off point to focus on the experience of an entire state.

    The Center will gather both documented and oral histories of people, places and events that are either passed down or found through scholarly research, to tell the stories of what North Carolina families’ lives were like before, during and after the Civil War. Stories are still being sought from women, children, the elderly, farmers and businessmen, American Indians, African Americans, immigrants and persons of all faiths.

    The Center will also gather peer-reviewed research from history professors within the University of North Carolina system, which will be used to write a Civil War history curriculum in partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction, for use by schoolchildren. In North Carolina, the Civil War is taught in public schools to fourth and eighth grade students and included in U.S. history courses in the eleventh grade.

    Students and teachers from Manteo to Murphy will be able to access course materials online. Research shows that once completed, the Center will contribute 200 new jobs and $18 million in economic benefit to Fayetteville every year.

    For more information, please visit http://nccivilwarcenter.org/. On the website, visitors may make donations or leave your own story of how your family fared in North Carolina during the time before, during and after the Civil War.

  • 13Tea Room1The Boarding House Treasures and Tea Room is preparing for a major transition in the way it does business, so owner Carla Welsh decided a big event would be a nice way to introduce the change to the Hope Mills community.

    After the month of June, the business will no longer be open regular hours for dining as Welsh will transition to solely using the Boarding House for reservation-only events that aren’t open to the general public.

    To celebrate the change, Welsh is planning a wine-tasting on Saturday, July 28, that will celebrate various arts as well as showcase the items in the Boarding House available for sale.

    Welsh had initially planned for a book signing featuring Leslie Miklosy, but that plan didn’t work out, so she’s hoping Miklosy will be able to come and read some of his works, including his newest, “The Wiggle Room.’’

    “He does things like whimsical, insightful reflections and essays,’’ she said. “It’s very entertaining and makes you think as well.’’

    Another business owner from nearby Trade Street will be on hand, Cherri Stout, who operates The Studio on Trade Street.

    She will bring photographs for viewing and sale.

    Another artist, Kimber Dryden, will be there with some of her works. She specializes in portraits, oil paintings and cloud paintings.

    Also on hand will be Kai Pickett, who creates unique sculptures in brass jewelry.

    There will also be a 10 percent discount on all of the items already for sale at the Boarding House.

    Welsh said much of what’s available in the Boarding House could best be described as collectibles and unique gifts. They have everything from a jar of marbles to a $600 painting, she said.

    “There are over 300 pieces of artwork all over the house,’’ she said. “There are two rooms upstairs, two rooms downstairs, a breezeway and a hallway.’’

    She said there are many small items as well as ceramics.

    As for the wine-tasting, Welsh plans to offer 16 wines. “It’s not a large selection and not an expensive one,’’ she said. “It’s going to be what we’re serving now. I may embellish it slightly.’’

    Choices include house wine Canyon Road, along with Barefoot, Turning Leaf, Alice White and Apothic Red.

    Welsh will offer three tastings for $5. Each tasting comes with celery sticks and crackers as palate cleansers. Once patrons decide which wine to buy, the wines will be available by the glass, the threeglass carafe or the bottle while they last.

    Appetizers will also be for sale, including puff pastry and wraparound munchies.

    As of June 19, Welsh said she already has 15 people who’ve made reservations. The house can only accommodate 25 people inside at a time, but there are outside areas on the deck and patio if too many people show up at one time. People can request an arrival time, and Welsh said it would be greatly appreciated if they arrive when expected.

    Anyone interested in making reservations can go to the Boarding House Facebook page or the website, www.boardinghousetreasures.com.

    Since the event is being held on the weekend, Welsh said plenty of parking should be available on the streets near the Boarding House.

    For reservations or other information, call 910-491-7777. Welsh can also be reached at 910-527-7455.

  • 06-25-14-gilbert-theater.gifThe Gilbert Theater kicks off its 21st season on September 19 with Nunsense! The Musical. With book, music and lyrics written by Dan Groggin and directed by Robyne Parrish. Nunsense, created in 1985, is a musical comedy expanded from a line of greeting cards to a cabaret that ran for 38 weeks, becoming the second-longest-running Off-Broadway show in history. Some of the main characters include, Mother Superior Mary Regina, a former circus performer who can not resist the spotlight; her second-in-command Sister Mary Hubert; Sister Robert Anne, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn; Sister Mary Leo, who is determined to be the world’s first ballerina nun; and childlike Sister Mary Amnesia, who lost her memory when a crucifix hit her on the head. The entertainment includes solos, dance routines, and audience participation.

    Following the funny nuns is the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, adapted by Christopher Schario, beginning November 28 and running through December 14, 2014. This production tells the story of bitter old man, Ebenezer Scrooge and his change of character after visits from Jacob Marley, his old business partner, and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. It never feels like Christmas unless you see A Christmas Carol at least once or twice during the holiday season.

    After the New Year, Gilbert Theater features the production, A Streetcar named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Adam Kline. The show dates are January 30 through February 15, 2015. A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play, for which Williams received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The setting is downtown New Orleans where Blanche DuBois, a Southern Belle who believes in Southern customs and decorum, inserts herself into her sister’s marital issues, but the situation turns around into what she is hiding in her own life. The character of Blanche is based on Williams’ sister, Rose Williams, who struggled with mental health issues.

    Stephen Miles, poet, writer and playwright living in Fayetteville and currently the artist in resident at Gilbert Theater, will introduce his new play, Backstage, on March 27 and concluding on April 12, 2015. According to Miles’ bio on the Gilbert Theater website, his work has been in more than 150 magazines and has received several awards for poetry, fiction and drama. As well as the Sanskrit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature, two North Carolina Artist Fellowships (poetry and drama), The Thompson Theatre Playwrights Award, The International Playwrights Festival Prize, The Crucible Award for Poetry and others.

    In conclusion of their 2014-2015 season, Gilbert Theater introduces, The Book Club Play, by Karen Zacarias, beginning May 29 and ending June 14, 2015. Based on this play, it is recognized that relationships will come and go but the book club will always be there. It could even turn into your entire life. Ana, the conniving queen of the book club doesn’t want to permit newbies to join. The book club is a safe haven, and it makes you ask yourself why reading and talking about books is so important and shows the strength of human interaction.

    Gilbert’s Summer Program, NEXT STAGE, features the Glee show and an evening of one acts, starting the summer of 2015. Some of the local directors to the program include, Robyne Parrish, Adam Kline, Stephen Miles, Jerry Fiebig , to name a few.

    Gilbert Theater’s self-proclaimed mission is to produce creative, innovative plays and events to stir its audiences and the students of its conservatory to explore and contemplate the human condition through the talents of local and guest artists. For more information or to buy tickets you may email Gilbert Theater at boxoffice@gilberttheater.com, or call (910)-678-7189, or order tickets online.

  • 9The start of summer marks a dangerous time of year for young drivers. Nationwide, more than 30% of deaths involving teen drivers occur during what’s called the “100 Deadliest Days” – a period that runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

    “Summer is historically a dangerous time for teen drivers,” said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas. “Now that school is out, teens will spend more time on the road, often driving with friends at odd hours of the day and night. Because of their inexperience, teens are more susceptible to dangerous driving behaviors – like speeding, driving distracted, and not wearing a safety belt. AAA urges parents to model safe driving behavior and reinforce safe driving habits with their teen drivers to help keep them safe this summer.”

    Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens ages 16 to 19. For every mile driven, new teen drivers (ages 16 to 17) are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.

    Teen Driver Statistics

    Nationwide, an average of 2,108 teens are involved in deadly crashes, every year, with 660 (31%) of those happening during the 100 Deadliest Days. These crashes result in an average of 2,341 deaths per year, with 732 of those during the summer months.

    In North Carolina, 83 teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes each year. On average, 24 (29%) happen during the 100 Deadliest Days. These crashes result in an average of 92 deaths per year, with 27 (29%) of those fatalities happening during the summer months.

    Common Risk Factors for Teen Drivers

    Understanding the risks and knowing the facts will help prepare both parents and teens for the road ahead:

    • Distracted driving. Distraction plays a role in nearly six out of 10 teen crashes. Electronics like cell phones and in-vehicle infotainment systems are considered the second-biggest distraction to teen drivers. The biggest distractions are teen passengers.
    • Driving with teen passengers. Research shows that the risk of a fatal crash increases in direct relation to the number of teenagers in a car (NHTSA). Having other passengers in the car can contribute to peer pressure and the impulse to engage in dangerous habits like speeding and aggressive driving.
    • Speeding. Speeding is a factor in nearly 30% of fatal crashes involving teen drivers
    • Not wearing a safety belt. Teens who buckle up significantly reduce their risk of dying or being seriously injured in a crash.

    AAA’s Advice for Parents

    “The single most important thing parents can do to help their teens become safe drivers is to be involved in their ‘learning to drive’ process,” said Rachel Wilson, Director of Driver Education Programs for AAA.

    “Spend time coaching your teen while they’re behind the wheel and have a serious discussion about safety. While parents can be a great teacher, it also helps to seek out professional training courses, like those provided by AAA.”

    • Lead by example. Minimize risky behavior when you drive. Don’t drive aggressively, avoid distractions, and always wear your seatbelt. Your driving skills and judgement behind the wheel shape your child’s view of safe driving habits, even before they’re old enough to drive. Make safe driving a priority in your own life.
    • Conduct at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving. Let your teen drive in a variety of conditions including inclement weather, busy interstates, and at night. This will help them become a more confident driver in imperfect situations.
    • Teach defensive driving skills. Help your teen anticipate potential risks by constantly scanning the road for hazards. Then share advice for how to safely avoid them.
    • Establish a parent-teen driving agreement which sets family rules like when the teen can drive, where they can go and with whom. Clearly outline the consequences for breaking the rules and rewards for driving safe.

    Online Driving Course

    AAA’s How to Drive Online provides a solid foundation of the knowledge and skills necessary to reduce a teen’s risk behind the wheel. This supplemental program is an online, 25-hour course that features: convenient, self-paced delivery; research-based curriculum; videos, simulations, and interactive exercises to enhance content retention; and optional virtual parent session to help educate parents on the learning to drive process.

    Behind the Wheel Driving Courses

    The AAA Approved Driving School Network helps identify the best driver training resources in your local community. These schools have passed AAA’s stringent standards and offer quality curriculum as well as the best value for students.

    To learn more about the training, email DriverTraining2@acg.aaa.com or call 888-222-7108.

  • 15HM lake 3As a youngster, Dr. Kent Dean remembers the hours he spent enjoying various forms of recreation on Hope Mills Lake. Now that the lake has finally returned, he understands there’s a strong desire for local people to swim and enjoy the opportunities for fun the lake offers.

    At the same time, as a veterinarian who’s practiced in Hope Mills for 31 years, he knows the town is wise to prohibit swimming in the lake until something can be done to lower the amount of fecal material that tests of the lake water have shown to be present.

    Dean said there are a lot of intestinal, and in some cases respiratory, infections that can be transmitted by goose droppings.

    His research found that a typical goose eats as much as four pounds of grass per day and can leave upward of a pound and a half to three pounds of droppings behind in that same period.

    That means a flock of 20 or 30 geese in one location like the lake could produce a maximum close to 100 pounds of droppings per day.

    That’s part of the reason the lake has tested for high levels of fecal waste.

    “If it’s in the water, you can get it,’’ Dean said of the various illnesses that can be transmitted by goose droppings. Infections can come from a number of sources, he said, including E. coli and a Protozoa parasite called giardia.

    Dean said giardia live in the intestinal tract of dogs and birds. “We can ingest it and it can cause bad diarrhea,’’ he said.

    While people in good health are less likely to be infected by something in goose droppings, Dean said there’s always a chance. The odds increase if someone has a compromised immune system.

    While people could become infected if the organisms enter an open wound on a person’s body, Dean said the most likely way is by swallowing the bacteria or breathing it in.

    One disease the geese can transmit is called psittacosis, which appears in humans as a flu-like ailment that includes pneumonia.

    Children, whose immune systems aren’t fully developed, are at risk, along with people who suffer from certain types of diseases or are undergoing chemotherapy.

    “Anybody that’s got an infection where their immune system isn’t functioning well, they’re more susceptible for sure,’’ Dean said.

    Dean said he drove by the lake recently and saw geese nearby. He is concerned about what options the town has to remove them.

    “You can’t shoot or poison them,’’ Dean said. “They are protected.’’

    Dean said there’s no practical way to sanitize the lake like a giant swimming pool.

    One feasible option could be to hire an outside company to chase the geese away.

    “Golf courses have a big problem (with geese),’’ Dean said. “There are people you can hire to bring in border collies and pester them enough to leave.’’

    Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner said the town hasn’t reached a decision on what to do about the ongoing problem with geese and other water fowl polluting the lake. A few people have continued to go swimming despite the warnings about the danger. She said town officials could increase police presence at the lake to discourage swimmers. They already have signs posted asking people not to feed the geese so they hopefully won’t congregate there.

    Warner hopes people will cooperate because town officials want to do everything possible to avoid imposing any real penalties for people who go into the water.

    “It’s kind of sad,’’ Dean said. “It would be nice if it wasn’t like that, where animals and people could use it together.’’

  • 8 The Center for Economic Empowerment & Development received a $75,000 grant from Truist Foundation to be used to assist in providing a level playing field for women and the under served business owners in our community who disproportionately face barriers.

    The grant will help CEED continue its work in providing comprehensive training and counseling in small business to help clients start, sustain and grow their own businesses, especially those who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

    CEED’s mission has always been to promote the growth, productiveness and well-being of entrepreneurs through counseling, education, information and advocacy programs. They are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs find their own strength to sucCEED.

    In 2022, CEED served 1,905 clients of which approximately 87% were women, 83% were minority and 65% had a military affiliation.
    CEED was started by a group of women and then led by Sylvia Ray who wanted to ensure that women had an equitable chance to economically support themselves and their families. Its programs are designed to support that vision and mission.

    “We are so excited to have the Truist Foundation as an equity partner! With their investment, CEED will be kicking off entrepreneurial cohorts starting this fall, which will help us to continue to lay the foundation and increase small business owner competency through training,” says Suzy Hrabovsky, Executive Director of CEED. “We are looking to expand our financial literacy course offerings throughout the counties we serve, which will increase self-sustaining infrastructures through education. By increasing knowledge and technical assistance, we can increase the sustainability of businesses and their success using loan capital.”

    “Education goes hand-in-hand with a business owners’ vision of success and the drive to start and grow a business,” said Chris Isley, Truist Regional President of Eastern North Carolina. “We are excited to be part of this program that helps under served business owners overcome systemic barriers and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways. This work is at the heart of Truist’s purpose of inspiring and building better lives and communities.”

    The Center for Economic Empowerment & Development is a micro-lender with a Women’s Business Center Program providing in-house 1:1 counseling, technical assistance, networking/mentorship opportunities, and access to Capital. CEED develops community-led solutions to create an ecosystem where our business owners can be successful. CEED is an advocate for their success throughout the life cycle of their business from developing the idea, creating a sustainable plan, and providing the resources and capital for their success.

    The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • First Annual 4th of July Pageant Friday-Saturday, June 22-23. For more information, call 910-426-4107.

    • Wine-Tasting, Cheese and Appetizers Saturday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Held at the Boarding House Tea Room, 3903 Ellison St., at the corner of W. Patterson Street across from Hope Mills YMCA. Open to the public once there is a 10-person commitment. Mix and mingle in cozy and quaint surroundings. Tasty hors d’oeuvres and vintage treasures available. Call Carla at 910-527-7455 to make reservations.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 6 The city of Fayetteville has been inducted onto the North Carolina Civil Rights Trail after city staff and religious, educational and local non-profit organizations partnered to highlight the 1963 protests against segregation.

    The city will host a ceremony to unveil the Civil Rights marker on June 16 at 11 a.m. at 116 Green St., where City Hall was located in 1963. The marker will be installed outside of the southwest corner of the Fascinate-U museum.

    “I am elated we are able to have Fayetteville placed onto this significant and innovative trail highlighting historic advancement throughout our state,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin. “This accomplishment is a true testament of collaboration between our community, our city, and the great state of North Carolina showing what we can achieve when we work together.”

    The marker commemorates the leadership of protest organizers and the courage of each participant.

    During the summer of 1963, residents organized various activities protesting racial segregation in Fayetteville. Often, demonstrations like picketing and marching culminated in the downtown area, where they also conducted sit-ins at businesses along Hay Street.

    The community’s actions resulted in the necessary political pressure to influence elected leadership to enact policy directing businesses to desegregate Fayetteville, one year prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act being adopted by the federal government.

    The city’s Special Projects Manager Brook Redding worked closely with a group of community stakeholders to complete the application. The N.C. Civil Rights Trail program accepted the city’s application in October 2022 after six months of development.

    The N.C. African American Heritage Commission leads the N.C. Civil Rights Trail with funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, and with support from Visit North Carolina and the North Carolina Office of Archives & History.

    The commission works with communities across the state to designate up to 50 sites where trail markers are being placed, including 10 in Hometown Strong communities.

    An interactive web portal highlights these places and others to guide people to history and experiences from the past.
    To learn more about the project or to apply for a marker, please visit https://aahc.nc.gov/programs/nc-civil-rights-trail/nc-civil-rights-virtual-trail

    N.C. African American Commission

    Created in 2008, the African American Heritage Commission is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The Commission works to preserve, protect and promote the state’s African American history, art and culture.

    Its endeavors include the identification of heritage sites, compiling resources for educators, extending the work of national programs such as the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Underground Railroad, and independent initiatives including the NC Civil Rights Trail.

    North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina.

    NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina. Efforts seek to stimulate learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

  • 14Doug WattsFamily, friends and many former players came to South View High School on a warm Saturday afternoon earlier this month to pay tribute to former Hope Mills Boosters baseball coach Doug Watts.

    Watts, himself a graduate of American Legion baseball at Whiteville in the late 1940s, gave 51 straight summers helping coach the sport he loved before finally retiring just before the start of this season.

    Mark Kahlenberg, current coach of the Hope Mills team, organized the ceremony at the South View High School baseball field where the Boosters play their home games, presenting Watts with a framed Hope Mills orange jersey to remember his years of service.

    Chip Watts, Watts’ son, threw the ceremonial first pitch to his father, who served as catcher.

    Asked why his dad gave 51 years to American Legion baseball, Chip said the answer was simple.

    “He felt he got to college (East Carolina) because of American Legion baseball,’’ Chip said. “He wanted to give that opportunity to other people.

    “He makes everybody feel important, whether you’re in the starting lineup or sitting on the bench. When you feel like you’re important, it tends to bring out the best in you.’’

    Jay Johnson, who went to high school at Cape Fear, was the shortstop on one of Watts’ best Legion teams, the 1984 squad that won the Eastern American Legion title and advanced to the state championship series before falling to perennial power Salisbury.

    “To me, it went way further and deeper than baseball,’’ Johnson said. “He was more like family with me. He was almost like another father.

    “Even after baseball, I’ve maintained a relationship with him. I love him as much today as when I first set foot on the field with him.’’

    Watts said he was thankful for all the people who have stuck with him over the years as he strove to keep American Legion baseball alive in Cumberland County. There were once a number of
    American Legion teams in Cumberland and surrounding counties. For the last several years, Hope Mills and Whiteville have fielded the only Legion teams in the Cape Fear region.

    “I think travel ball has taken some of the popularity away from American Legion baseball,’’ Watts said. He recalled when he played the game in 1948 in Whiteville, there wasn’t even television for people to watch at night.

    He said he stuck with it because he enjoyed watching young people battle to win every night, and for the chance to redeem themselves by being a hero in a game after making a costly mistake the night before.

    “When people come and tell you it’s the best years of their life, it was mine too,’’ he said.

     

    PHOTO: Doug Watts

  • 13The world’s oceans are facing significant challenges. According to the United Nations Regional Information Center, each year the oceans absorb 23% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and capture 90% of the excess heat created by these emissions. These developments are overwhelming the oceans, which are vital to the global ecosystem.

    Anyone can join in the effort to protect the world’s oceans. That includes people who live in coastal communities and those who live in landlocked locales hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from the coast. Oceana, an international advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans, touts the power of collective efforts to save the oceans.

    Though the task may seem overwhelming, that does not mean oceans are beyond saving. In fact, Oceana notes that various lifestyle choices individuals can make every day can help to protect the oceans and restore their futures.

    Help reduce demand for plastics. Oceana estimates that 17.6 billion pounds of plastic leaks into the ocean every year. To put that in perspective, one researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara estimated that, if the flow of plastic into the oceans does not stop, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.

    Of course, much of the demand for plastic is driven by consumers, who can protect the oceans by purchasing plastic-free alternatives and emphasizing the need for more such alternatives to be made available. Avoid using plastic cutlery, plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and other convenient yet harmful plastics.

    Reduce your carbon footprint. Oceana notes that carbon dioxide is making oceans more acidic, which contributes to a loss of coral that serves as an essential source of food and shelter for marine life.
    According to the Reef-World Foundation, loss of coral threatens the existence of many marine species, producing a domino effect that ultimately decreases marine biodiversity by a significant amount. That’s problematic for marine life, but also humans, as estimates from the United Nations indicate as many as one billion people across the globe depend on coral reefs for their food and livelihoods.

    The threat posed to coral reefs is substantial, but the efforts to reduce your carbon footprint aren’t. Riding a bike to run errands on a warm day instead of driving a car; turning off the lights when leaving a room; and dressing warm on cold days to reduce reliance on home heating systems are some easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

    Eat sustainable seafood. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that sustainable seafood is managed under a system of enforced environmentally responsible practices. These systems help to prevent overfishing and conserve essential fish habitats. Knowing which seafood is sustainable and which isn’t can be hard, so individuals can visit Seafoodwatch.org to quickly identify and locate sustainable seafood options where they live and travel.

    Leave nothing behind. Make sure you leave nothing behind when visiting the beach or even a park. Doing so increases the chances that trash will end up in the oceans, which are already overwhelmed by plastics.
    The threat posed to the world’s oceans is significant. But that threat can be overcome by a collective effort to embrace lifestyle choices that take the health of the world’s oceans into consideration.

  • 15Robins on Main 2Is Robin Burnum’s popular restaurant Robin’s on Main moving to a new location?

    The owner herself said the answer is very likely yes, but the questions of when it will move and where are long from being answered.

    Burnum was planning to do some much-needed improvement on the restaurant when building owner John Beasley informed her was entertaining offers to sell the property.

    No deal to sell it has been finalized, Burnum said, but when it is, she said Beasley informed her he’d give her 90 days’ notice before she would need to relocate.

    But Burnum said she was already giving thought to finding a new home for the business currently located on Main Street roughly across from the restored Hope Mills Lake.

    “The building is too small for me anyway,’’ she said. Burnum wants to stay in the general neighborhood where she’s currently located, and one of the first places she looked is literally around the corner from where she is – the former Hamilton-Porter Funeral Home building, now named Hamilton-Porter Enterprise, on Trade Street.

    The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners recently voted to modify the zoning restrictions on the Trade Street property, so Burnum could move her restaurant there. But there are other problems to consider.

    “It’s going to cost me a lot of money to get it to become a restaurant,’’ she said. “I’ve gotten prices for air conditioning and plumbing in the $40,000 range. The biggest cost is to turn it into a restaurant.’’

    Burnum is confident her loyal base of customers would follow her to the Trade Street location, but she’s concerned about being able to draw new business, since the new property isn’t on a busy street like she is now.

    She’s also giving some thought to a couple of locations on Main Street, where she’d have to construct a new building. One is across from the shopping center that will be anchored by the new
    Surge Trampoline Park. The other is just down the street from there near where a seafood market was located.

    Once she does move, Burnum wants to increase both seating space and cooking space in the new location.

    Her goal is to have a restaurant that will seat up to 80 people. Now cooking on a 26-inch grill, she plans on adding two 42-inch grills at her new home.

    “Here on Saturday and Sunday, we have an hour wait,’’ she said. “It’s crazy. It’s good, but it’s crazy.’’

    Burnum hopes a new location would allow her to increase the special events she holds for the Hope Mills community, like her efforts to recognize law enforcement and first responders.

    “Once a month I would feed the homeless,’’ she said. “I would do more for the community with the fire and police departments.’’

    In the end, Burnum said all of her efforts are geared toward helping her adopted hometown of Hope Mills.

    “I like the people,’’ the Rhode Island native said. “I’m away from my family, and the customers here, my loyal customers, are like my family. I’ve become attached to them.’’

  • uac061114001.gif For more than 60 years, the Fayetteville Kiwanis have put talented local students in the spotlight during the Fayetteville Kiwanis Talent Night Showcase. The show, which is open to students pre-school through 12th grade, is on Friday, June 13 at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

    “The Talent Night Showcase is a very unique event in our community,” said Bill Bowman, one of the organizers of the event. “This is the 63rd Annual Kiwanis Talent Showcase. It has a lot of history and longevity in this community.”

    Bowman said that longevity comes from what is at the heart of the showcase: showcasing the talent of Cumberland County’s greatest natural resource: its people.

    “It has had such a long, successful history because it not only showcases local youth and gives them a chance to perform; it also accentuates the talent that we have in the community,” continued Bowman.

    Bowman said that by nurturing that talent at a young age, the Kiwanis have helped many Cumberland youth along on their journey as performers.

    “Many of the children who compete in the Kiwanis Talent Showcase have gone on to professional careers in music and in the arts,” explained Bowman. “We have had winners who have played at Carnegie Hall, joined the Boston Pops and performed on Broadway. Some of these students have competed for years and years, and through their lives, we have had a significant impact on the community.”

    Of course, the real key to success is the talent that can be found in Cumberland County students. Each year, the Kiwanis hold an audition that draws a large number of talented performers. This year, more than 150 students tried out for the 27 open spots in the showcase. The students put their best foot forward, singing, playing musical instruments and dancing to get a shot at the showcase.

    Bowman noted that it was not easy paring the large pool down to almost a quarter of its original side. “I’m thankful I wasn’t the one who had to make those decisions,” said Bowman, while praising the judging committee, which is headed up again this year by Bob Cogswell, a Kiwanis Club member and local attorney.

    “Bob has headed up the judging committee for more than 30 years,” said Bowman. “And, he brings a diverse group of judges to the table.”

    06-11-14kiwanis-talent-night-706.gifAccording to Bowman the judges are from the performance programs at area universities, music and dance academies, as well as local leaders.

    “The judges have to be able to recognize talent and then rate it,” said Bowman. “Their success over the years is what has helped make this competition so successful. All of those folks who judge are very qualified in their fields.”

    The judges look at not only the difficulty of the performance, but also the stage presence of the performance. “When you get to this level of competition, you have to have someone who is well rounded in all aspects of performance,” said Bowman.

    While there are prizes, for many the biggest prize is the opportunity to perform on the Cape Fear Regional Theatre stage. “We can’t thankTom Quaintance enough for allowing us to carry us on this tradition at the theatre,” said Bowman. “Tom is a huge advocate of the performing arts and is committed to building and showcasing local talent in our community.” 06-11-14-kiwanis-talent-night-720.gif

    Prizes are awarded in several age categories, with monetary awards to performers who place in the first three spots. Other students may be offered scholarships to music and dance camps if they are top scorers in specific categories. Admission to the showcase is $7, all of which goes back into the community for programs that support children.

    Bowman said that the event could not have occurred without the support of the Cumberland County Schools, lead by Frank Till. “Superintendent Till and his staff have done a great job at getting the word out and getting some very diverse acts to try out,” said Bowman.

    “When you come, you are going to see a little bit of everything from hip hop to very sophisticated piano pieces to violinists, bands and dancers,” said Bowman. “We’ve got a little bit of everything, which adds up to create a really great show.” T

    he show begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are available a the door.

  • Earlier this year, Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health announced they are partnering to establish a medical school to train the next generation of healthcare professionals. The new medical school, to be located on the campus of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, will combine the expertise and resources of both institutions to provide students with both education and clinical and hands-on experiences. Dr.

    Hershey Bell has been named as the founding Dean of the College of Medicine.

    Bell recently served as vice president for Medical Education Program Development at Cape Fear Valley Health. Before then, Bell was a professor and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean for Developing Initiatives at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania.

    Bell is not new to the area. He is a graduate of Duke’s National Family Medicine Faculty Development Fellowship program.
    Although he has decades of experience in the health and education fields, this new prospect of becoming dean of a brand new college of medicine is very exciting for Bell.

    “I consider this to be a capstone for my career, my ability to work with the leadership at Methodist and Cape Fear Valley and to really bring a legacy project to Fayetteville,” Bell said

    “Methodist University is both pleased and proud to appoint Dr. Hershey Bell as the founding dean of the MU College of Medicine,” said Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden in a press release.

    “Dr. Bell brings to the position a wealth of knowledge, experience, energy, and passion for improving the quality of care through a more integrated approach to medical education and treatment. I am confident that Dr. Bell is absolutely the right person at the right time for the important job of founding the medical school, and I look forward to having him on our leadership team.”

    Bell tells Up & Coming Weekly that medical schools are economic engines for the community as they drive not just the quality of health care but also industry development and real estate service.

    According to a July 2021 report from Walden Economic Consulting, at the peak of the medical school’s operational capacity, there will be 837 permanent jobs, $72 million in annual spending and $9.6 million in tax revenues.

    There are two goals for the school. The first goal is to improve high-quality medical care and increase health equity in the region by educating and retaining a diverse population of expertly trained medical doctors attentive to the needs of rural and under served populations.

    The second goal is for Methodist University to become a national leader in inter-professional, team-based medical education.

    There is currently a shortage of medical professionals in America. According to workforce projections from the Association of American Medical Colleges, by 2034, there will be a shortage of 17,800 to 48,000 primary care physicians. That number increases for non-primary care and specialty physicians.

    “North Carolina is a very interesting state. We have about the right number of physicians per 100,000 population overall,” Bell said. “The trouble is they’re concentrated primarily in urban areas and surrounding medical schools. If you look at southeastern North Carolina, we are in a doctor desert. We have a lower number of physicians per capita than you would expect in the state. And as a result, our health outcomes suffer because the number one determinant of health outcomes is access to health care.”

    “A great example to look at, by the way, is Greenville, North Carolina. When ECU opened, that region of the state had the same problems we have in southeastern North Carolina. But as a result of ECU and their medical school, they now are at average or above in terms of supply of physicians, and their health outcomes have improved. So we’re going to see the same thing happen in our region.”

    Methodist University plans to begin classes in July 2026, pending approval by the Liaison Commission on Medical Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. If everything goes to plan, that beginning class will graduate in the spring of 2030.

    “We will be accepting 80 students in our first class, and we’ll be ramping up towards a maximum enrollment of 120,” Bell said. “By the year 2032, we will have full classes of 120 students per year.”

    Overall, Bell hopes everyone in Fayetteville and Cumberland County can see this new medical school as the community’s medical school.

    “I expect to reach out to business leaders, educational leaders, faith leaders, and start to talk about how the community can become a part of what we’re creating,” he said. “This is their school. And on top of that, our curriculum is called the Caring for Everyone Everywhere Curriculum. It’s our idea that the medical school has an obligation to its community to ensure that everyone receives the best care. We’re going to be developing programs within the community for pipeline programs for middle and high school students, for those in this community seeking health care advice and for the leadership in the community. We’ll be developing programs around this theme of caring for everyone everywhere.”

    To learn more about the College of Medicine, go to www.methodist.edu/academics/medicine/.

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

    • Historic Preservation Commissioners Wednesday, June 13, 5 p.m.

    • Board of Commissioners Monday, June 18, 7 p.m. There will be a public hearing on four-year staggered terms for the elected.

    • Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, June 19, 6 p.m.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • Senior programs – 55 plus: Jewelry Techniques, Tuesday, June 19, 9-11 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the small activity room of the Hope Mills Parks and Rec center. Each participant will learn to make two pairs of dangle earrings; all supplies and beads will be provided. $5. Sign up at front reception desk. Only 10 seats available per workshop.

    • First Annual 4th of July Pageant Friday-Saturday, June 22-23. For more information, call 910-426-4107.

    Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 06-18-14-graphic_summer_camps.gifChildren looking for interesting activities this summer can register for several different themed summer camps at Methodist University. As well as a wide range of athletic summer camps, the university offers camps based on the STEM fields (Science Technology Education and Mathematics), the environment, music and forensic science.

    STEM Camp

    This camp runs June 16-20, and is a half-day camp designed for middle school students. Activities will include projects and experiments involving mathematics, robotics, chemistry, health sciences, computer science, virtual reality, forensic science, creative writing and biology, all led by MU faculty. For more information on STEM Camp, contact Kara Dawson at 910.630.7246.

    Environmental Camp

    Nature loving students in grades 6-8 who want to know more about trees, water, soil, wildlife and geocaching can register for the Environmental Camp, which will run July 7-11. This half-day camp will be led by faculty staff and students in the Environmental and Occupational Management department. Students will also get to take a nature hike on the Cape Fear Trail. For more information on Environmental Camp, contact Taylor Blackley at 910.630.7558.

    SummerJam! Music Camp

    Musicians ages 11 to 18 can experience the fun of a residential or day camp all about music from July 7-12. The camp includes classes, concerts and other events focusing on individual instruments or vocals, as well as group ensembles and arrangements. The week will culminate with a special concert for family and friends. For more information, call Linda Volman at 910.630.7100.

    Forensic Science Camp

    CSI at MU is the camp for budding crime scene investigators and forensic scientists. There will be a camp for middle school students July 7-11 and a camp for high school students July 14-18. Students are exposed to crime scene processing principles in age-appropriate, hands-on exercises before having the opportunity to investigate a mock crime scene at the end of the week. For more information, contact Serena Hare at 910.630.7298.

    Athletic Camps

    Students interested camps focused on baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, golf, soccer or softball have plenty to choose from at MU this summer. Many of the sports offer multiple sessions, and choices of day camps or residential camps. For information, visit methodist.edu/summer or call 910.630.7000.

  • 14LakecelebrationThe plans are in place for five days of celebrating the restoration of Hope Mills Lake. Now, Mayor Jackie Warner said, the town is working hard to find sponsors to help pay for the party.

    Warner said town officials have calculated it’s going to take about $5,000 to cover all of the events the lake celebration will include.

    There are six events planned, starting with a Friday night street dance on Trade Street on June 29. The cardboard boat race will be Saturday, June 30. Two events are set for Sunday, July 1. Heroes on the Water will feature canoeing and kayaking in the afternoon, followed by Church on the Lake in the evening. Art and Jazz on the Lake is scheduled Monday, July 2, and Beach Night is Tuesday, July 3.

    Initially, Warner said, town officials sought to get one major sponsor for each event at a cost of about $1,000 apiece.

    The problem, Warner said, is there have been a lot of charity-related events going on locally that have increased requests on local businesses to make contributions. So, Warner said, they’ve scaled back and are trying to ask for smaller donations, including reaching out to individuals in the community to donate anything they can to help with the lake celebration.

    Some of the celebration events will bring in money to help defray costs. There is a $25 registration fee to take part in the cardboard boat race.

    Money is also coming in from the entrants in the Fourth of July beauty pageant, which will be held prior to the lake celebration.

    One thing the town won’t be doing as part of this lake celebration is an official program. The last time the lake was restored, a program with ads was sold, but Warner said the response to the program wasn’t great and it didn’t sell well.

    That plus the fact this year’s lake celebration will stretch over five days led town officials to scrap the plan for the program.

    While money is needed to pay for the lake celebration, the big Fourth of July celebration isn’t a problem.

    “The Fourth of July is in the town budget,’’ Warner said. “It’s covered, the big expense for the parade and the fireworks. We don’t have to pay for that.’’

    Areas where the town does need to raise money include the rental fee for sound equipment that will be needed at some of the music-related events. They are buying art supplies that will be used by children at the art event in the park. There will also be a cost to pay for some of the music acts that will be performing at some of the events, along with a disc jockey at the beach music event.

    Warner has posted a letter about the need for sponsorship on her mayor’s Facebook page. The same letter has been sent to businesses in Hope Mills.

    If anyone wants to make a private donation, they can send it or drop it off to the Town of Hope Mills, denoting on the check that it’s for the lake celebration. Warner said as sponsorship money arrives for specific events, it will be denoted on the town’s website, www.townofhopemills.com.

    For questions about donations, contact Warner at jwarner@townofhopemills.com, Sandi Hardee at smhardee78@gmail.com or Patricia Jenkins at pjenkins@townofhopemills.com.

    Anyone planning on making a donation needs to make it as soon as possible, Warner said. “We’ve got to get things in and done the weekend before June 30,’’ she said. That’s less than two weeks away.

  • A love for music can start at a very early age. Babies begin to dance from the time they learn to stand.06-25-14-fay-symphony.gif Music is universal and a necessity in the human experience. The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) knows this. As an organization they strive not only to entertain with their artistic excellence, but also to educate the community. Another focus of the orchestra is on the youth of the community, and thanks to a support from the Youth Music institute from the Community Grant program of the Cumberland County Foundation they can expand their work in several ways.

    Many musicians start young and having a great teacher early can inspire a life long passion. For years the FSO has worked with high school students in the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area. “We send a string quartet into the high school orchestra program and then follow up with visits by a violinist and a cellist. The students learn about performing in small ensembles and also learn performance techniques,” says Christine Kastner the President and CEO of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Previously it was mostly limited to musicians from the FSO mentoring budding musicians at certain high schools. Now this program will be expanded to all public high schools in Cumberland County. Students all over the county will now have the opportunity to be inspired and guided by passionate and creative musicians who are widely recognized for their excellence.

    As part of the expansion there will also be increased educational opportunities for young musicians that are not affiliated with schools. Rather than spending the summer in front of the T.V. or computer young musicians can learn and grow with skilled masters of their instrument. FSO is offering summer camps in strings and brass instruments that are open to all students in the region. “Our camps are taught by professional musicians with advanced degrees in music performance so they will focus on techniques which will improve the students performance levels. Also we focus on small student teacher ratios so the students receive very individualized instruction. Our string camp has no more than 4 students (a quartet) per instructor,” says Kastner. Additionally these programs are the first Summer Camps in this region to provide such advanced musical education.

    During the year there will also be a strings mentoring program and youth orchestra. Music should be part of every day life, and while high school band and orchestra are invaluable they alone may not provide enough musical stimulation for young blossoming musicians. Additionally, according to Kastner there are also studies t support that a “deep arts involvement” fosters rain development and increases the chanced of students graduating high school and attending college.

    All of these expansions are under the umbrella of the newly created Youth Music Institute. This arm of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will be housed at Fayetteville Academy and will be lead by a newly hired Music Director. Beth Keeny, a Board Member and Chair of CCF’s Community Impact Committee expresses her excitement and support for the expansion by saying,” The Cumberland Community Foundation is proud to support the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s endeavors to start a youth orchestra. When the arts thrive, communities thrive, and the opportunity for young musicians to play alongside, and receive mentorship from, professional musicians allows the entire arts community to grow.”

    Photo: Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra conductor Fouad Fahkouri.

  • 15Strike2“Strike at the Wind!” – a play beloved by generations – returns to Givens Performing Arts Center for two shows as part of the 50th anniversary of Lumbee Homecoming.

    The iconic drama, which tells the local story of the Lowrie War in 1865, will be performed Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1.

    “Strike at the Wind!” returned in 2017 after a 10-year hiatus, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the Lumbee Tribe.

    The play ran from 1976 to 1996 and was staged at the Adolph Dial Amphitheater at the Lumbee Tribal Cultural Center. It returned in 1999 and again in 2007.

    Jonathan Drahos, who is directing the play, said 95 percent of the 2017 cast is back, including Matthew Jacobs and Wynona Oxendine, who play the lead roles of Henry Berry Lowrie and his wife, Rhoda Strong.

    “Everyone is excited to be back again this year,” said Drahos, director of UNCP Theatre. “The fact that most of the cast is back is a real positive step in the right direction. They were inspired last year by the spirit of the play and the audience response.”

    The play chronicles the life of Lowrie, who led a band of men in a seven-year battle against those he believed killed his father and brother.

    “The play celebrates the heroic effort of a culture of people,” Drahos said. “This story is one example of the enduring spirit of the Lumbee people and how much their culture has changed history.

    “Henry Berry was someone who was able to move the conversation forward toward equality and justice, and that, to me, is the most important aspect of the play. His gang had Native Americans, whites and blacks – people of all races – fighting together for one cause. We need important causes like that in order to progress.”

    This year, the play will feature live musical performances by local artists, including Charly Lowry, Mark McKinney & Company, Lakota John, Alexis Jones and Kirk Blue. They will be performing the play’s original songs composed by the late Willie French Lowery.

    “Live music, I think, is going to be a major shift from what the audience saw last year,” Drahos said. “It adds a new element. It’s going to be exciting.”

    Wynona Oxendine, a graduate of UNCP’s theatre program, teaches drama at Seventy-First High School.

    “This play tells such a legendary story,” she said. “This year, the audience is in for another high energy, epic production. We are all super excited!”

    The June 30 show begins at 8 p.m. and the July 1 at 5 p.m. Tickets prices for the evening shows are $15. Call 910-521-6361 or visit www.uncp.edu/gpactickets to purchase tickets.

  • 16HM boat raceBrent Spivey has had a passion for building and racing cardboard boats for about 15 years. He’s hoping other people and businesses in and around Hope Mills will develop the same enthusiasm when the town holds its first cardboard boat race and demolition derby Saturday, June 30.

    Final registration begins at 11 a.m. the day of the race, although pre-registration is encouraged to get a race T-shirt in your preferred size. Judging begins at noon, and the racing follows shortly afterward.

    The competition is part of the town’s lake celebration that coincides with the run-up to the town’s annual celebration of the Fourth of July.

    Spivey said he’s raced cardboard boats all over the state of North Carolina and even went all the way to Arkansas to compete in the 2015 world championship. He won the world championship that year with a boat called North Carolina Spirit.

    He approached Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner with the idea of having a cardboard boat race as part of the lake celebration activities. “She was ecstatic,’’ he said.

    Spivey said he built his first cardboard boat, a replica of a Viking ship, from cardboard boxes he scavenged from the dump and furniture stores.

    “I laid out the ribs and did everything,’’ Spivey said. “I really overdid it. It was very heavy.’’ Spivey said the basic design of a cardboard boat is to make it with the fewest seams possible, those
    points where separate pieces of cardboard come together.

    “The more cardboard you have and the bigger the pieces, the better,’’ Spivey said. As for ideas for boat designs, Spivey has borrowed from movies and history. He once did boats modeled after the Civil War ironclads Monitor and Virginia. He also did the famous shark-fishing boat Orca from the hit film “Jaws.”

    Other decisions go into the design, like figuring out how many people will occupy the boat. That’s one thing that surprises most people, Spivey said, because when they hear it’s a cardboard boat they assume it’s a miniature, not one large enough for human passengers.

    “I did one that had six people in it,’’ he said. “It was 25-feet long. It was a big ambition. It did sink.’’

    One of the biggest challenges Spivey faces is staying within the bounds of reality when designing a boat. Getting cardboard the right size is a challenge. For the biggest pieces, he said refrigerator boxes are an excellent option. When people register to enter the boat race, Spivey said the town of Hope Mills has some pretty good-sized sheets of cardboard available to entrants. “They can get one, two or three sheets with their registration fee, then they can buy more,’’ he said.

    Another factor to consider in boat-building is the distance of the race and exactly what kind of competition you’re in. For the Hope Mills event, those who are looking to build the fastest boat should know the plan is for this to be what Spivey calls a fairly short course.

    For shorter races, he suggests a boat 6 to 8 feet long. The Hope Mills course will be in the vicinity of the public swimming area at Hope Mills Lake. It will run parallel to the shore – about 50 to 75 yards. Competitors will have to make one turn and then come back.

    But speed isn’t going to be the only factor in fielding a winning boat, Spivey said.

    There will be a Pride of the Fleet Award for bestlooking boat, a Team Spirit Award for the boat with best spirit, which will be judged on theme and costumes, and a Titanic Award for the most spectacular sinking.

    At the end of the competition, any boats that competed in at least one heat and survived will be eligible to compete in the demolition derby, with the surviving boat taking the Iron Clad Award.

    There’s also a People’s Choice Award for the boat with the most donations. Donations and entry fees will go to support various lake improvement projects.

    A complete list of rules on competition categories and materials permitted in boat construction is available at www.townofhopemills.com. For further information, call 910-734-9994.

    “This is a family-oriented thing,’’ Spivey said. “It’s fun. You should come with a real fun attitude.’’

  • 09GreenTeaWhether due to personal passion or well-meaning parents, most adults can remember participating in a summer camp skit or school play at some point in his or her childhood. As a tree, as a star, as part of the warbling chorus, performing as a young person is usually an indelible experience. Sweet Tea Shakespeare, a local theater company known for its whimsy, creativity and live music, recently introduced a new opportunity for performers ages 12-17: Green Tea.

    “Green Tea is not merely a class or camp activity, but over time will be closely integrated in the company as a way of fostering new talent,” said Jeremy Fiebig, STS artistic director and president.

    Green Tea, which kicked off this March, is headed by Jennifer Pommerenke, STS general manager. She’s the previous assistant program director for Camp Kahdalea in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, and she’s worked for Carnival Cruise Lines’ youth department. She said Green Tea is a program in which young people learn to create their own acting process and then perform in a show to put what they’ve learned into practice.

    “Since the company and ensemble’s structure is such a vital component to Sweet Tea Shakespeare, we wanted to create a mini version of that (with Green Tea),” she said.

    STS’ structure is similar to a medieval craft guild. It’s composed of committed members who contribute in a variety of ways, giving each other feedback and learning from each other’s strengths and mistakes.

    Pommerenke said building friendships is an important part of Green Tea, too. At the start of each monthly two-hour session, she said, everyone warms up with improvisation games.

    “At this pivotal point in their lives, this helps them learn how to listen to each other,” she said. “They’re games with no lines, no direction, no text. They really have to listen to one another to build a story that makes sense.” Next, they read chunks of Shakespearean text with the goal of processing and understanding the words together. The session ends with an acting lesson.

    “I take what the kids want to learn and where they are at in the process and build it off of that,” Pommerenke said. “I am catering it (to) who they are and what they enjoy. I can see... what gives them life, joy and delight and say that’s what I want to do next class.”

    Various STS company members and visiting artists also come in and teach classes.

    Green Tea’s first production will be a shortened adaptation of “Twelfth Night,” Shakespeare’s romantic comedy about twins separated in a shipwreck. Pommerenke said the show will open some
    time after Christmas.

    “We are hoping a couple Masters can come in and take some small parts,” Pommerenke said, referring to high-level STS company members who often play leading roles in STS productions. “That lets Green Tea know they are part of the company.”

    She said “Twelfth Night” will also feature a version of STS’ pre-show, a chance for actors to sing or dance in the half hour leading up to the start of the play.

    Registration for Green Tea is rolling, and interested students can drop in for a free trial class prior to joining. Green Tea meets one Sunday per month at the Capitol Encore Academy, 126 Hay St. Ages 12-14 meet 1-3 p.m. Ages 15-17 meet 3:30-5:30 p.m. Students sign up for one year at a time.

    For more information, email Pommerenke at gm@sweetteashakespeare.com or visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com/green-tea. To learn more about Sweet Tea Shakespeare and its 2018-19 season, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com.

     

    PHOTO CREDIT: Megan Dohm, Thistle and Sun Photography

  • Meetings

    For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

    • Historic Preservation Commissioners Wednesday, June 13, 5 p.m.

    Activities

    • Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon at and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

    • Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    • Food truck Rodeo Thursday, June 7, 5-8 p.m. Held in the big parking lot at Town Hall.

    • First Annual 4th of July Pageant Friday-Saturday, June 22-23. For more information, call 910-426-4107.

    • Senior programs – 55 plus: Jewelry Techniques, Tuesday, June 19, 9-11 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the small activity room of the Hope Mills Parks and Rec center. Each participant will learn to make two pairs of dangle earrings; all supplies and beads will be provided. $5. Sign up at front reception desk. Only 10 seats available per workshop.

    Promote yourself: To include your business’s event, email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

  • 12joseph robinsonCan the experience of worldrenowned musician and North Carolina native Joseph Robinson contribute to North Carolina’s ongoing dialogue about the purpose and value of higher education?

    You be the judge.

    Robinson’s recent memoir, “Long Winded: An Oboist’s Incredible Journey to the New York Philharmonic,” asks: How did a small-town boy who never attended conservatory persuade one of the world’s greatest conductors, Zubin Mehta, to give him a chance at one of the world’s most coveted positions in one of the world’s greatest orchestras?

    Robinson grew up in Lenoir, finished Davidson College, spent a year in Germany on a Fulbright fellowship and did graduate study at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton. Without the  focused, intensive conservatory training that is a usual prerequisite to a high-level performing career, his effort to build a life around his passion for the oboe was a struggle. He moved through a series of journeyman teaching and performing positions at the Atlanta Symphony, the North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of Maryland before he broke through to the top

    Growing up in a small North Carolina town might not be the best background for an aspiring classical musician. But the mountain furniture community of Lenoir had the best high school band in the state. When Robinson was drafted to fill an empty oboe slot, his course was set.

    He loved the oboe so much that his Davidson classmates called him “Oboe Joe.” But Davidson’s musical program lacked the professional music training that Robinson craved. He almost  transferred to Oberlin where there were more opportunities. Instead, he stayed at Davidson and majored in English, economics and the liberal arts, focusing on writing and expression

    His success at Davidson led to a Fulbright grant and the opportunity to meet Marcel Tabuteau, whom Robinson says was the greatest player and oboe pedagogue of the 20th century. When Tabuteau learned that Robinson was an English major and a good writer who could help write his book on oboe theory, he agreed to give him oboe instruction. Those five weeks with Tabuteau, Robinson says, “more than compensated for the conservatory training I did not receive.”

    Years later, Robinson still had not achieved his aspiration to land a first oboe chair in a major orchestra when Harold Gomberg, the acclaimed lead oboe of the New York Philharmonic, retired.

    Audaciously, Robinson applied, and when finally granted an audition, he prepared endlessly. He was ready for the hour and 20 minutes of paces the audition committee demanded. Afterwards, he was confident that he had done very well.

    But Philharmonic’s personnel manager, James Chambers, after saying how well the audition went, reported that music director Mehta judged Robinson’s tone “too strong” for the Philharmonic. He was not to be one of the two players who were finalists.

    That should have been the end of it, but Robinson writes, “I knew that winning a once-in-a-lifetime position like principal oboe of the New York Philharmonic was like winning the lottery.”

    At 3 a.m., he wrote Chambers explaining why his tone might have seemed too strong and, “You will not make a mistake by choosing Eric or Joe, but you might by excluding me if tone is really the issue.”

    When Chambers read the letter to Mehta, they agreed that it could not have been “more persuasive or fortuitous.”

    Chambers reported that Mehta said, “If you believe in yourself that much, he will hear you again.”

    Robinson’s final audition was successful. “His winning lottery ticket,” he writes, “had Davidson College written all over it.”

    How does Robinson’s experiences contribute to our higher education debate? Simply put, while training for jobs and careers is critical, liberal arts are the keys to special lifetime opportunities like Robinson’s “winning lottery ticket.”

     

    PHOTO: Joseph Robinson

  • 15Lake1What was going to be a celebration of jazz at Hope Mills Lake has expanded to include a celebration of the arts as the town hosts its first Art and Jazz at the Lake event next month on Monday, July 2. It will be from 6-9 p.m.

    A day earlier, the town will observe music of a different kind with Church at the Lake, beginning at 6 p.m.

    Dr. Bob Kretzu, pastor at Hope Mills United Methodist Church, is helping coordinate both events because of his obvious connections with faith groups and his avid hobby as a painter.

    Kretzu said the initial plan was to just have a jazz festival, but organizers felt adding art might be a good fit. “They invited me to provide leadership for that because of my art background,’’ he said. “It will be a great night with cool jazz and artists painting at the lake shore. There will be activities for kids, water coloring and partnering.

    “We are partnering with Kid Creative Studios to make sure there is plenty of stuff for kids.’’

    A jazz group with ties to Fayetteville Technical Community College, the All-American Jazz Quintet, will anchor the jazz performances. “They have a pretty wide repertoire,’’ Kretzu said of the band.

    In addition to the jazz performance, the grassy area at the lake will be occupied by various North Carolina artists, with arts and crafts booths set up.

    “People will have a chance to try their hand at arts and crafts and buy arts and crafts,’’ Kretzu said.

    Tables will be set up for children to enjoy painting or drawing.

    Representatives from the Hope Mills senior citizens recreation group will also be on hand, Kretzu said. “One of the things they’ll emphasize is weaving mats out of plastic grocery bags,’’ Kretzu said. “They’ll be there demonstrating how to do that and giving people a chance to do that.’’

    There will also be a balloon artist on the premises, Kretzu said. And, there will be plenty of food available.

    Big T’s will be open adjacent to the lake with its usual fare, and at the other end of the lake, at least three food trucks will be operating. Kretzu doesn’t know exactly which three trucks will be on the scene, but he said the plan is to make sure that they are trucks that don’t offer the same fare as Big T’s so people will have a variety to choose from. In addition, the road over the dam and spillway will be closed to vehicle traffic so people will be able to walk around more freely.

    All those planning to attend and enjoy the jazz performance, which will be based at the gazebo at the Big T’s end of the lake, are advised to bring their own portable chairs or blankets to sit on and enjoy the music.

    “My understanding is they will be performing during that whole time,’’ Kretzu said. “They will take breaks.’’

    Parking will be available at various businesses across the street from the lake. There will be other designated parking, and there will be lights in the grassy area of the lake park so there won’t be any dark areas.

    As for Church at the Lake on July 1, the performance will begin at 6 p.m. A gospel band from Hope Mills United Methodist Church, Common Ground, will be the featured group. Other scheduled
    music will be provided by Highland Baptist Church and Grace Place on Main Street in Hope Mills.

    Kretzu said there would be no formal liturgy, no sermon and no offering collected. The emphasis will be on audience singalong and group musical performances. The performers will all be at the gazebo, and spectators are again urged to bring their own chairs or blankets for seating.

    Kretzu said he hopes both events will become annual activities in Hope Mills.

    For further information on either Art and Jazz at the Lake or Church at the Lake, contact Kretzu at 919-638-5827 or bkretzu@hotmail.com.

  • 11CaribbeanThe Caribbean American Connection of Fayetteville, will host its 8th Annual Heritage Caribbean Festival Sunday, June 24, from 12-9 p.m. in Festival Park.

    “This is our festival where we give back to the community so they can learn about our culture,” said Sheron Baker, coordinator of the event.

    The festival will feature authentic foods, arts and crafts, local performers, African dancers, Salsa singers, games for the children, face painting, Reggae singers, clothing, vendors and more.

    “We have a lot of fun stuff we will be doing with the kids, and we will teach them about our culture,” said Baker.

    In 2006, President George W. Bush issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean American Heritage Month. “The month is designed to let the community know what the culture is about and all about the Caribbean,” said Baker. “We share our culture, food, dance and the customs we did before we got here.”

    Baker added that the event continues to grow bigger each year, which is why it is being held in Festival Park.

    The Caribbean’s rich culture has historically been influenced by that of African, European, Amerindian and Asian traditions. “We have a lot of different tastes and types of food that we eat, and we wear certain ethnic clothing,” said Baker. “We listen to Reggae, Salsa and steel band music, and we love to dance.”

    The nonprofit organization also volunteers to help a local school. “We adopted a local school, and every Thanksgiving we provide to the school,” said Baker. “We also help with back-to-school drives, help flood victims, assist the Salvation Army with feeding the homeless, support the International Folk Festival and take part in Fayetteville State University’s International Culture Day.”

    Baker also noted that “We have fundraisers to raise money in order to make this event successful. We have local restaurants who sponsor us to help make this event great. We look forward to the community coming out to support our event.”

    Admission is free. For more information, call 910-261-6910

  • 13DiscoveringHere is a present for you from a column several years ago – a few quotes about North Carolina.

    “North Carolina is, I believe, the poorest state in the Union: the part of it though which we traveled should seem to indicate as much... The few detached houses on the road were mean and beggarly in their appearance, and the people whom we saw when the coach stopped had a squalid, and at the same time fierce air, which at once bore witness to the unfortunate influences of their existence.” From the journal of Frances Anne Kemble, traveling through the state in 1838. As bad as things sometimes seem today, we’ve come a long way in the last 180 years.

    “A short time of conflict & the day is ours – ours for Freedom, for Right, for Self Government! They can never overcome, never conquer us, for we fight for our Birthright – Freedom!” An entry dated April 24, 1861, from the diary of Catherine Ann Devereaux Edmondston of Halifax County. Are we always so confident of quick victory at the beginning of a “just war?”

    “Between the lines (the South Carolina and Virginia borders)...was left an area which for years on end rejoiced in the generalization that it was a vale of humility between two mountains of conceit. The generalization is useful, as most generalizations are. A modicum of truth lies in it, a persisting modicum, borne out in the report of a modern North Carolinian that among his State’s neighbors there were only two classes of people, those who never had worn shoes and those who made you feel that you never had....(I)n a North Carolina (that is) recently more proud than humble, (there is) a continuing conviction that one man is as good as another and that if you don’t believe it he’ll show you he’s a damn sight better....” Jonathan Daniels, writing in the 1930s.

    “Daniel Boone... grew to manhood in the Yadkin River Valley near Statesville. He spent nearly half of his life here, and in fact did not settle west of the mountains until he was 41.” Joe Knox, in the Greensboro Daily News in 1976.

    “This, Mr. Chairman, is perhaps the Negro’s temporary farewell to the American Congress; but let me say, Phoenix-like, he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words are in behalf of an outraged, heartbroken, bruised, and bleeding, but God-fearing people, faithful, industrious, loyal people – rising people, full of potential force.” George White, North Carolina’s last black Congressman, in 1901, giving his farewell speech to Congress, after being defeated in a re-election bid.

    “I am, by nature, very conservative, but I am firm in my convictions.. I want to blaze a trail for other women. I know that years from now there will be many other women in politics, but you have to start a thing.” Lillian Exum Clement of Asheville, in 1920 or 1921, after becoming the first woman to be elected to the North Carolina General Assembly.

    “I shall continue to stand against wastefulness and extravagance in any activity. But there is a point, even in economy, beyond which self-respecting government cannot go. For to do so means not merely an abdication of its function but social bankruptcy.” Governor J. C. B. Ehringhaus, in 1933, justifying a new tax to support education. What would he advise in today?

    Want more? I stole all these quotes from a book that the UNC Press published 25 years ago. “Discovering North Carolina: A Tar Heel Reader” was edited by Jack Claiborne and William Price.
    Charles Kuralt said about it, “The most interesting book about North Carolina I’ve ever read.”

    If you’ve read the column this far, you’ll want to read this book too.

  • 08TheTempest‘The Tempest’

    Over the years, Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s outdoor performances have become a summer staple in Fayetteville. This summer is no different as the company is in the middle of a two-week repertory run of two classic Shakespearean works: “The Tempest” and “Pericles.” June 6 saw the proverbial curtain rise on “The Tempest,” the story of Prospero – the rightful Duke of Milan who has learned magical powers from years of intense study – and his daughter, Miranda, who have been stranded on a mysterious island for 12 years. The island is also home to Ariel, a spirit enslaved by Prospero, and Caliban, a native inhabitant of the island who has also been enslaved by Prospero. As Duke of Milan, Prospero was overthrown by his brother Antonio.

    Antonio, along with King Alonso of Naples and a slew of other characters, are shipwrecked on the island due to a storm created by Prospero. Once Prospero has all of his enemies together, he sets about separating them from one another in order to exact his revenge and regain his position as Duke of Milan.

    STS often uses a technique called cross-gender casting, which means that men are often used in the roles of women and vice versa. “The Tempest” sees this practice employed to great effect as most of the main male characters are played by incredibly talented women – including the lead role of Prospero, which is helmed here by the impressive Duana Burby.

    Additionally, Tohry Petty’s portrayal of Ariel, the magical spirit, is infectious. She brings a physical and dramatic energy with her any time she steps onstage. The issue here, of course, is that the cast is much too large to mention everyone, especially when there are so many standout performances.

    With “The Tempest,” STS’ creativity and ambition are on full display. From the opening moments, the audience is transported into the world of magic that the piece presents. The opening scene’s shipwreck is imaginative and spellbinding. The production’s color palette and costume design are both striking and complimentary to the action unfolding. “The Tempest,” like all STS
    shows, is presented in an arena format with the audience able to choose their own seats anywhere on three sides around the performance space, which makes potential second viewings a completely new experience.

    “The Tempest” continues in rotation with Shakespeare’s “Pericles” until June 21 on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, 801 Arsenal Ave. Remaining show dates for “The Tempest” are June 14, 16, 18, and 20. Remaining dates for “Pericles” are June 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21. Shows begin each evening at 7:30 p.m. with a musical preshow at 6:45 p.m. General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Senior citizen and military tickets are $13 in advance and $18 at the door. Admission for students and children ages 6-12 costs $8 in advance and $13 at the door. Children under five are admitted for free.

    For more information or to order tickets, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com. STS can also be reached via phone at 910-420-4383.

    09Pericles2‘Pericles’

    “Pericles” was written by William Shakespeare and possibly one other collaborator in the early 1600s. It tells a fastpaced story of the Prince of Tyre’s adventures throughout ancient Greece, hitting many emotional notes along the way. Fear, passion, loyalty, loss, love – it’s all there, along with a healthy dose of comedy. STS’ quirky approach to theater shines in its production of this story, which runs through June 21.

    A hallmark of STS is its musicality. The term speaks to the live music woven throughout its shows, but “musical” is also a good descriptor for the way STS uses basic elements to invite the audience’s imagination out to play. “Pericles” showcases smart decisions by Director Jeremy Fiebig that maximize this invitation. Water and its doings – storms, waves, near-drownings – are a big part of Pericles’ story. In one scene, Pericles’ ship wrecks, and he is cast into the sea. We watch actor Richard Adlam’s form rise and fall and gasp and reach as company members swirl swaths of blue fabrics around him. One member holds a long, thin pole with dangling paper-cut fish above Adlam’s head. Another cast member paces around the grounds with a giant, round instrument that sounds like it’s filled with rice or beads.

    STS’ form lets you see exactly how the magic of scenes is created, but this doesn’t detract from the effect. If anything, audience members are invited to suspend disbelief like they really mean it – to lean into their role as a necessary component to creating the wonder of the production. Compared to more traditional theater, it’s both a more demanding and yet more childlike charge that yields great reward.

    The other elements of the show strike a nice balance between guiding the audience and leaving some things to simple, felt emotion. As in every STS show, a program provided at the beginning includes a brief, bullet-point synopsis of what happens in the play. These bullet points are a smart move, as Shakespeare can get pretty convoluted. For this show, each cast member also wears variations of a grey T-shirt with their character’s name written on it in clear, elegant type. In a story with names like Thaisa, Helicanus, Dionyza and Thaliard woven among Shakespeare’s intricate dialogue, these shirts are funny in their frankness and effective in their utility.

    The makeup is equally simple yet effective, the most notable being large silver tears that make permanent residence on Pericles’ cheeks. When he’s happy, they sparkle with joy; when he’s sad, they accentuate the grief in his eyes. In between, they give him an intense, otherwordly look. It works.

    This production also does an excellent job showcasing the beauty of Shakespeare’s wordsmithing. There’s a reason he’s considered one of the greatest writers of the English language, and it’s a delight to hear his lines in the fantastical, silly and heartfelt world STS creates.

    Adlam, last seen as Mr. Rochester in STS’ production of “Jane Eyre,” plays a solid Pericles and delivers his lines with clarity, fluidity and passion. Sarah Chapman stands out as Pericles’ daughter Marina, the weight and grace she brings to her character anchoring every scene she’s in. Tohry Petty is enjoyable to watch as Helicanus, Pericles’ most loyal subject and friend. Petty has a noticeably confident and mature stage presence and can be both earnest and hilarious. Jessica Osnoe is doe-eyed, gentle and regal as Pericles’ wife, Thaisa. Duana Burby keeps the story moving with affable expertise as Gower, the narrator of the tale.

    The rest of the cast operates like a wellmade batch of playdough, at times splitting off into individual roles, other times morphing into whatever form is needed to serve the story and the main characters’ adventures and emotions. They carry chests, march with fire, twirl poles with ribbons and change T-shirts and roles, and whatever they’re doing, it’s fun to watch. Traycie Kuhn-Zapata and Austin Hendricks are two who particularly shine.

    For a show that’s so boisterous, “Pericles” still manages to hit the deep tones of grief that come with the hero’s adventures. Pericles, dealing with the loss of a loved one, cries out to the sky: “O you gods! Why do you make us love your goodly gifts, and snatch them straight away?” I unexpectedly teared up. Any show that can sneak-attack me with tears after making me chuckle out loud a few minutes prior is a winner in my book.

     

    PHOTOS: TOP: ‘The Tempest’ - Duana Burby leads as Prospero, who’s learned magical powers from years of study. Photo courtesy Joseph Bloomer for Meraki Creative Agency. BOTTOM: ‘Pericles’ - Richard Adlam, center, as Pericles. Photo courtesy Thistle and Sun Photography.

  • 14concertGilbert1When Dr. Gerald Ellison approached Dr. Menno Pennink about ways he could help support the Gilbert Theater in downtown Fayetteville, Pennink was quick to suggest a classical concert fundraiser in his private music room on Person Street. With that, the seed that would become the Gilbert Theater’s Matinée and Fundraiser was planted. The afternoon of Sunday, June 10, the music room will open to a small number of ticket-holders for an intimate night of classical music.

    Pennink, a now-retired neurosurgeon, has been involved with many important ventures in Fayetteville since moving to the city in 1974. He was responsible for bringing the first computed tomography scan machine to the Fayetteville area in 1975. Pennink said, “Surgery was my profession, but I have been heavily involved in the revitalization of the downtown area.”

    Pennink has long been a believer in downtown Fayetteville as well as the arts and culture in the area. He is an accomplished concert violinist and began playing in the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra when he first moved to the area. He later bought and renovated the space on Person Street that would become his personal, private music room – The Capitol Room. Inside The Capitol Room, the floors shine beneath the overhead lights, and the space is graced by the presence of a Steinway & Sons concert grand piano.

    “The music room is sort of a hidden treasure,” Pennink said. “People don’t know about it. It’s not advertised.”

    The collaboration between Pennink, with his background in the arts and his long-term investments in downtown Fayetteville, and the Gilbert Theater makes sense. The program for the evening
    includes performances by Pennink as well as other classically trained musicians from the surrounding areas, including the renowned violinist Olesya Dashkevych of Winston-Salem. Musical selections to be featured include arrangements of classical chamber-music pieces by Beethoven, Schubert, Medtner and Massenet.

    All proceeds from the performance benefit the Gilbert Theater, which is preparing to enter its 25th season of providing the Fayetteville area with quality theater.

    The 2018-19 season opens in September with “Godspell.” The silver anniversary season will also include productions of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Doubt,” “The Laramie Project” and a stage adaptation of the classic C.S. Lewis novel “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”

    The money raised from tickets to the matinée event will help the theater produce these shows and fund its many educational initiatives, including camps and classes for school-aged children. The Gilbert runs after-school classes for ages 8-15, a summer acting camp for ages 6-17, and glee/acting classes for ages 6-16. For those ages 16 and up, the Gilbert offers the Gilbert Actor Theatre Ensemble, G.A.T.E.

    The Gilbert Theater’s Matinée and Fundraiser will take place on June 10 at 3:30 p.m. at The Capitol Room, 134 Person St., in downtown Fayetteville. Admission is $30, and 50 tickets are available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gilberttheater.com. For more information, contact the Gilbert Theater at 910-678-7186.

  • 13Cat GilbertSave the drama for ya momma, they say. But what if the drama is with your mom, your dad, your siblings, your partner – everybody? Well, then, you get a Tennessee Williams play. The last show of the Gilbert Theater’s 2017-18 season is Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Emotions and temperatures ran high on the small stage of the Gilbert, along with a warning to the audience
    about a broken air conditioning system. Fortunately, the heat works in the play’s favor. You feel like a devil sweating your sins out in a packed Sunday church. And there’s plenty of sin to go around.

    One summer day in the South, a rich, dysfunctional family gathers to celebrate a birthday but disintegrates under the weight of their hate. Their lies. Money. Sex. You name it, they fight about it. Who is sleeping with whom? Who is getting the inheritance?  What is not being said? Questions swirl until you are stifled and exhausted.

    The play opens with a voyeuristic view of our main characters, husband and wife Brick (James Hartley) and Maggie (Nicki Hart). Shadow silhouettes behind white screens entrance us as they
    shower and ready themselves for Big Daddy’s birthday. Given the size and limitations of a theater like the Gilbert, it’s always so special and invitational when brilliant flairs of set design like this are executed.

    In this opening scene, Brick and Maggie are already arguing. Maggie wants sex. Brick wants silence – and his whisky. But this is merely the façade of their marital problems.

    Brick is interrogated incessantly about his drinking problem. Big Mama (Rhonda Brocki) fusses. Maggie alternates between seducing and blackmailing him out of drinking. Meanwhile, Big Daddy insists Brick stops “passing the buck.” You gotta love the tenacity of family sometimes, right?

    James Dean (of modern times) as Big Daddy is transfixing. Trained at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles, Dean’s acting chops are light years above the mark. The green stage lighting
    on him as he contemplates old memories and confronts impending death gives eerie homage to scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.”

    Overall, though, the production succeeds best at capturing how appearances are never what they seem to be.

    Brick and Maggie are a couple so clearly divided, there might as well be a 20-foot concrete wall, complete with batteries, trenches and moat between them. The instinct is to empathize for a spark plug like Maggie, settling for a husband who merely tolerates her presence. One gets the same feeling for Big Mama, who is berated by the misogynistic and cruel Big Daddy.

    But there’s sympathy to be had for Brick, too. He struggles with the confusion and homophobia that surrounds his friendship with the late Skipper.

    A claustrophobic time bomb of a tale, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” articulates how difficult it is to communicate, even with family, about our most deeply personal fears and issues. The play could be
    summed up entirely when Maggie says, “Lean on me,” and Brick replies, “I don’t want to lean on you. I want my crutch.”

    We can try to talk it out, but sometimes people aren’t ready to dissect and understand and fit each missing piece with another corresponding piece. They’d rather be a cat on a hot tin roof: do what is easy and avoid the conversation altogether.

    Some of the other standout performances of the night are from side characters like Mae (Staci Graybill) and the Reverend (Larry Carlisle). They manage to serve their characters while also alleviating enormous tension with understated hilarity.

    The Gilbert is closing out a season fraught with the caged hearts of those aching to be free. “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” is tense punctuation mark to that end. Shows will run until June 10. For tickets and information, visit www.gilberttheater.com.

  • 01coverUAC0060618001The plotlines of William Shakespeare’s most famous works, like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet,” are almost universally known. Less common, though, is knowledge of how Shakespeare’s theaters actually operated and how his plays were performed in relation to their time. Sweet Tea Shakespeare, currently housed in the 1897 Poe House on Arsenal Avenue in downtown Fayetteville, puts on shows born from an organization that reflects Shakespeare’s ideologies and methods.

    That doesn’t mean STS is not contemporary – in fact, quite the opposite. Jeremy Fiebig, STS artistic director and president, founded the company in 2012 after moving to Fayetteville to teach theater at Fayetteville State University. He brought with him experience as an assistant director, stage manager and understudy at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia, three years’ experience teaching theater at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, and a love for the spirit of Shakespeare. That spirit, he said, is rooted in accessibility.

    He explained that, “One hundred years before Shakespeare became Shakespeare,” the printing press created a fast-growing separation between those who could read and those who could not. “Shakespeare was writing pieces of literature that were read out loud,” Fiebig said. “He was playing with the language in the same way they were doing in print, but it was accessible to a whole group of people who maybe hadn’t been educated in the same way he had. That was the kindling that caused him to catch fire.”

    STS performs more than just plays written by Shakespeare, but Fiebig said that, no matter the source material, “We try to be accessible to all audiences, regardless of background. That makes us do what we do in a certain style that’s... like a combination of musical theater and children’s theater.” At the same time, he said, those who know the original texts will still find STS shows true to the essence of the language.

    Associate artistic directors Jessica Osnoe and Marie Lowe added that STS aims to inspire wonder and delight, not just in the stories but in demonstrating creative solutions for how to tell those stories with basic materials like Shakespeare would have used – fabric, light, wood, live music.

    “Jeremy has one of the best visual senses of anyone I’ve ever worked with,” Lowe said. “So many things in Shakespearean plays... are difficult to produce: ships, castles, harpies, magic, storms. Jeremy finds truly delightful ways of invoking these things without actually building a castle or crafting a ship.

    “That visual wonder … That’s one thing I think every audience comes away from our shows (talking about).”

    This wonder is homegrown by committed company members performing a variety of roles, both administrative and performative, rather than a cast that rotates with every show. “We organize ourselves in the way medieval and renaissance companies would have,” Fiebig said. “That structure is responsible for turning us into what we are today.”

    Osnoe explained that eight STS “masters” operate in a structure like a craftsman’s guild, each overseeing an “area of responsibility and apprenticeship with and for other company members known as ‘fellows’ and ‘wrights.’ The company comprises nearly 40 members, all with varying backgrounds, training and theatrical experience.”

    This structure, she explained, allows different members to take turns hosting different responsibilities, contributing his or her strengths and in turn receiving feedback and guidance for growth that will benefit not just them but the entire company. Entrylevel company members – the “wrights” and “fellows” – have the opportunity to move up as they continue to dedicate their time and talents to the larger body.

    Fiebig added that actors who do not wish to commit to company membership are still welcome to audition and that STS shows usually feature a mixture of company members and one-time performers.

    STS also includes a youth company, Green Tea, which offers young adults ages 12-17 monthly classes and the chance to perform.

    The next opportunities to see STS at work are “Pericles” and “The Tempest,” which are running in repertoire every other night June 5-21, except for June 18. These shows will conclude the company’s 2017-18 season.

    Fiebig is directing both shows, with the help of codirector Jessica Schiermeister for “Pericles.” “Pericles” follows the adventures of the Prince of Tyre, a character Fiebig described as “a great, regular old hero, like Jesus or, you know, D’Artagnan. A guy to whom things happen. Like Harry Potter.”

    Pericles, who will be played by Richard Adlam, charges around various locations in ancient Greece, experiencing shipwrecks, pirates, a murder plot, incest and romance – not necessarily in that order. With a 35-person cast playing a total of over 60 roles, it’s the largest number of people STS has ever involved in a production.

    “The Tempest” tells the story of, in Fiebig’s words, “this guy who in part feels like he screwed up his life with his approach to the world. He’s a loner. He feels like the last 12-15 years of his life, he’s been suffering the consequences.”

    The guy, Prospero, is a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan. The consequences are that he’s been stranded on a desert island with his daughter, Miranda, for over a decade. The story that unfolds introduces us to, in addition to Prospero and Miranda, a captive spirit, a bitter monster, a scheming brother, a lovesick prince and a wise counselor, among others. “(The story) is ultimately about forgiveness,” Fiebig said. Prospero will be played by Ana Burby.

    STS 2018-19 season

    The new season kicks off in August and winds down next June. It will feature:

    • “The Comedy of Errors,” a story about a set of twins separated and the sweet, confusing, satisfying chaos and reunions that follow.

    • “OthelLIT,” a uniquely light-dark and boozy spoof on “Othello,” the tragic tale of love, deception and revenge.

    • “Behold,” a folk Christmas cantata that joyfully blends the new and the traditional.

    • “Sweeney Todd,” to be performed at Fayetteville Pie Company in the Westwood Shopping Center. The story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is deliciously adapted with rich, saucy danger, despair and … a cat.

    • “Maid Marian,” a new adaptation of “Robin Hood” by Osnoe. Get to know a new voice in the narrative. “I think it will mostly be bittersweet,” Osnoe said.

    • “Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” in repertory. The first features one of Shakespeare’s most infamous villains and is a twisted tale of manipulation as a malcontent rises to power. Fiebig said it will feature electric guitars for a bluesy, rock feel. “The Merry Wives” is, in Fiebig’s words, “a great comedy while we’re still in the honeymoon phase of Megan and Harry,” referring to the recent royal wedding. “It has to do with who’s married to whom and who would like to be married whom.”

    Fiebig reflected on his future goals for STS, saying, “We want to grow our relationship with Fayetteville and its businesses, organizations, families and individuals. I think for a city to work, actors and directors and designers are as critical as police and firemen and EMS workers. It’s so important to us that we aren’t just making art, but making art for here and making artists who will make a life here.”

    For showtimes, tickets and more information, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com.

  • Imagine coming to a baseball game, where most of the admission is merely $6, and leaving with a brand-new car. It sounds crazy, unrea05-19-10-swampdogs-ball.gifl and most of all impossible, right? Don’t tell that to Fayetteville SwampDogs fan Robert Cox, who on Wednesday, June 9 left The Swamp with a $15,000 Nissan Versa from Stewart Nissan.

    In the seventh inning of the SwampDogs matchup with Columbia, SwampDogs infielder Nick Natoli stole home to win Cox the brandnew car.

    06-23-10-swampdogs.jpgAfter silence and amazement while Natoli was dashing towards home in the seventh inning, cheers and jubilation erupted from the large crowd on hand for history at The Swamp.

    “It was awesome hearing the crowd go crazy when I crossed the plate,” Natoli said. “I could tell right then that I was a part of something special.”

    “It sent chills down my spine as I watched Nick run down the third base line,” SwampDogs Co-Owner Lew Handelsman said. “I started screaming we’re going to give away a car, we’re going to give away a car!!”

    The car giveaway was a part of the SwampDogs promotion called “Steal of a Lifetime.” In this promotion every fan in attendance could enter their name in a box, free of charge, prior to and during each SwampDogs home game. If a SwampDogs player stole home, then the SwampDogs drew a name from a box. The name drawn won a $15,000 Nissan from Stewart Nissan. On that Wednesday night, Cox was the fortunate winner.

    “One of the things I kept on thinking about is that one of our fans didn’t have to pay a single penny to win a car,” Handelsman said.

    Natoli was the second SwampDog player in the last three years to steal home and win a fan a vehicle.

    The SwampDogs handed the keys to Cox in a special ceremony during a doubleheader on Saturday, June 12 at The Swamp. The SwampDogs even allowed him to drive the car around the stadium, with Natoli in the passenger seat of course.

    Cox has been going to SwampDogs games since the team originated. As a way of saying thanks for winning him a brand-new car, Cox says that he will take Natoli out to dinner — most likely in his new car

  •     A pair of sharks swam just feet from my face, suspended amid a turquoise sea that rippled gently with waving seaweed.
        A few moments later, I traveled the pathways and alleys of a small Portuguese town, balancing precariously on a rock wall, looking down into a boiling, raging river.
    And then I was off to Darfur, Sudan, checking out the interior of an ostentatious $1 million apartment, peeking into the bathroom and examining the contents of the medicine cabinet.
    Calm down Trekkies, I had not somehow tapped into the technology of the Star Trek franchise, with Scotty beaming me from place to place as effortlessly as you would change a TV channel: I had discovered the latest technology at Fayetteville Technical Community College — its new 3D imaging system that will be utilized starting this month at FTCC’s Advanced Visualization and Interactive Design Center.
        {mosimage}The center, located in the  Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center, is a $4 million project funded by Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, the BRAC Regional Task Force, Microsoft, Dell and the state community college system. The system brings 3D technology to the masses, allowing all 3D images created by the computer to be loaded into an online Learning Resources Depository, where any student in North Carolina — K-12, community college, or the state university system — can retrieve the objects for study on computers equipped with inexpensive digital viewers similar to Adobe Acrobat.
    Before taking the virtual tour of the ocean floor and the quaint Mediterranean village, which took place in a subterranean section of the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center called “The Cave,” Bob Ervin, FTCC vice president for learning technologies, took a group of faculty members to a screening room — the nerve system of the new technology — where he provided special 3D glasses that allowed the viewing of virtual objects created by the system.
        Leave behind your preconceptions of those cheesy paper glasses your grandmother and a theater full of movie goers wore while munching buttered popcorn and watching the 3D version of The House of Wax in the ‘50s, or the spectacles that come in cereal boxes allowing you to view Tony the Tiger or Toucan Sam in three dimensions — these glasses were sleek and high-tech: imagine the love child of Microsoft and Oakley.
        As a roomful of rapt instructors and administrators looked on through their cyber specs, Ervin’s assistant produced a beautiful blue Suzuki motorcycle that leaped off the projector screen and into our laps. The motorcycle hologram was constructed by California-based Eon Reality — the software company helping bring this technology to FTCC — to be used as a holographic display at a convention in Las Vegas. A prototype of the motorcycle had been taken apart by Eon Reality, allowing the company to scan each part and recreate an exact virtual duplication.
        “With this type of technology available, why would we give a student in a classroom a 2D picture of a heart and say learn the parts of the heart?” said Ervin. “Now, we have the capability to render that heart, put it on a screen, take a pair of glasses and turn that heart, take it apart and look at the ventricles; I can engage that student and help him see things he’s never seen before.”
        Ervin says the same technology will be used at FTCC to give dental assistant students a virtual human head, complete with muscles, nerves, blood vessels, bones and teeth to work from while learning their craft.
        “That same model, I’m also giving to our funeral service restoration folks, because they teach a class on restoring bodies,” said Ervin, “That way, when a relative gives them a photograph and says this is the way I want the departed to look, they can go in and learn facial reconstruction. It can also be used in anatomy and physiology and biology.”
        And it can also be used for military and industrial applications.
        After the floating motorcycle zoomed back into cyberspace, Ervin showed a suspended 3D model of an M-16 made from a training manuscript and a photograph. Just like any GI in training, the person manipulating the computer controls could strip the whole rifle down to its separate parts and rebuild it on-screen — minus the screaming drill instructor.
        The military applications for this technology are as numerous as the number of lives that could be saved on the battlefield with the system, said Bill Griffin, dean of business programs at FTCC
        “Just imagine, rather than sending soldiers into a hostile town they know nothing about, with this system you can recreate that town and they will know every inch of it before they go into battle,” said Griffin as he met with FTCC faculty and representatives from Fayetteville State University to discuss the technology and how it could be shared between the schools. “Another area we want to focus on is the Wounded Warriors program; this would give disabled soldiers the training they would need to move on in their careers.”
        Other possible applications Griffin said students at FTCC and FSU could glean from the 3D program include video gaming, Geographic Information Systems, engineering, architecture and forensic science.
    “You could use this to recreate a crime scene for forensics students to study,” said Griffin.
        The grouping of faculty and administrators were particularly intrigued by the computer gaming possibilities, which could serve as the “hook” needed to make this technology attractive to a generation raised on PlayStation and Nintendo.
        Ervin also pointed out the manufacturing and fabricating possibilities, referencing the need for outdated aeronautical parts.
        “We’re working with Golden Leaf on the aging airline industry in North Carolina,” said Ervin. “In the eastern part of our state they have a lot of aging aircraft and the parts are no longer available, so how do we build parts? We advocate taking a 3D scan of that part and turning it into a CAD drawing that I can hand off to a machining company that can reproduce that part.”
        Ervin said FTCC students, who will learn over a period of 16 weeks how to create the 3D images and other virtual applications, could use the knowledge gained from the technology to land jobs paying in excess of $200,000. At the end of that 16-week period, students may also transfer to Wake Community College to work on a degree in creating computer games.
        Or they can simply slink down to The Cave and swim with the sharks.


    Contact Tim Wilkins at tim@upandcomingweekly.com

  • As a principal of a Cumberland County School, I am aware of the importance of educating and providing opportunities for our youth. It is important that we mold, nurture and treat every child as though he or she were our own.    Tuesday, June 24, is the Jimmy Raye Foundation Day. The foundation, in its sixth year, was started with the help of Coach Raye’s late friend, Ronald “Chase” Chalmers, who also worked to help the community. Coach Raye grew up on Murchison Road and attended E. E. Smith High School. He was the second African-American to get drafted and play quarterback in Division One at Michigan State and is currently the running back coach for the New York Jets.
    The foundation was started to benefit the youth of Fayetteville.
    {mosimage}“We started it as a means to give back to the community,” said Coach Raye.
    The mission is to provide progressive educational opportunities to identified at-risk adolescents that will enhance their ability to successfully function in society and positively impact the social and physical environment in which they live. The funds are used to provide scholarships for local students and registration fees.
    “We don’t want any kids to be denied an opportunity to participate because of registration funding,” said Coach Raye. 
    This year’s event will be similar to previous events, kicking off with a luncheon at Smith Recreation Center at noon. The lunch will include a free football clinic. The purpose of the luncheon is to raise money for community youths while enjoying lunch with NFL pros. The culminating activity is the free Kids’ Football Clinic that will be held on the E. E. Smith High School football field at 3 p.m., where several current and retired NFL players and coaches will facilitate the clinic.   
     “The event has grown through the help of the Tyler Nelson Chiropractor team and other sponsors,” said Coach Raye. “Hopefully, we will be able to raise enough money to pay the full registration fee for every youngster in the community.”   
    Seating packages for the event include premier seating with sponsorship recognition for $1,500, midfield seating is $800, backfield seating is $400 and bleacher seating costs $200. Individual tickets are also available for purchase. Speakers from previous luncheons have included such past and former NFL greats as Erick Dickerson, Curtis Martin, Joe Horn and Chad Pennington.
    This year’s speaker is Jamie Dukes. Dukes played 10 seasons in the NFL as a guard and center for the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals. He is an analyst on “NFL Total Access” and hosts a 30-minute opinion-based talk show entitled “Put Up Your Dukes.” 
     “Our goal is to sell the event and have as many kids as we can at the free football clinic,” said Jeff Harris, JMH marketing agent. “It’s all about one free day for the kids.”
    All kids must be registered. Forms will be at the football clinic. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets call 482-8865.


  •     Water, water everywhere, and not a palatable drop to drink... or any way to get to the source if you could.
        The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved its $276 million budget Monday, June 9, but issued warnings that there are a number of issues not addressed in this budget that are rolling down on the county like a runaway train — particularly the issues of providing enough clean water and providing transportation for county residents, including the influx of military families that will flood the area when the Base Realignment and Closure gets going full tilt.
        “We’re going to have to do some serious soul searching during next year about what, if anything, we’re going to do about transportation in this county,” said Commissioner Billy King. “Our partners in the city are talking but no effort is being made and we’re just going to have to decide if we want some type of authority or do we not want to get into the business at all. But it seems to me we have to answer that question up or down. We are growing; BRAC is coming, there is intense discussion about transportation and so I think in years to come, perhaps the next budget, there will be a hard discussion about transportation.”
        {mosimage}The commissioners are waiting on a state-sponsored study on transportation before they throw themselves headfirst into the fray.
        Despite the dire warnings of trouble on the horizon the commissioners unanimously approved the budget — a budget that includes a 2-cent property tax reduction, with the rate dropping from 88 cents to 86 cents per valuation. The reduction will save property owners of a $200,000 home about $20.
        The commissioners also moved $142,000 into a fuel account to prepare for ever-rising gas costs.
        The commissioners also put some heat on the county’s Fire Chief’s Association, which wants to raise the fee for fire district members. However, that was not voted on by the commissioners who said that state law requires the members of a fire district to approach the commissioners with a petition asking for a 5-cent increase in the fire districts.
        “The onus is on them (Fire Chief’s Association) to get the petition for a special election,” said Chairman Breeden Blackwell, “an election we (the county) would have to pay for. We’d have to pay for that election.”
    In the end, all the commissioners agreed it was the best possible compromise for a budget they could come up with, though King suggested numerous issues that need to be discussed months before next year’s budget process so the commissioners will be ready to make some hard decisions.
        “We’re going to have to decide if we want good water for all our citizens,” said King, “which I see as a right. The Parks and Recreations needs attention, and I don’t think the county can continue to receive money from the hospital in the long term.
        “And if we’re going to have a transportation system, we need to go ahead and say so,” said King. “If we’re not, we need to go ahead and say that.”
        Blackwell suggested the commissioners start getting together in January to discuss the issues facing the county.
    “I hope the citizens understand that it’s going to be at a snail’s pace,” said Blackwell. “We’re going to have to take baby steps.”


  • uac06151101.jpg One is uptight East Coast, the other laid back West Coast, but between the two of them, they manage to make some beautiful music.

    We are talking, of course, about Michael Bolton and Kenny G, two prolific and multi-platinum artists who will make a stop in Fayetteville on Saturday, June 18.

    The two performers, both known for their smooth sounds, and at one time long locks, will perform some of their greatest hits, and introduce the audience to some of their new music during the show.Bolton, who is a prolifi c songwriter, is promoting the release of his upcoming album — Gems: The Duet Collection, which features Bolton in collaboration with some of today’s top artists including Rascal Flatts, Seal, Chris Botti and Eva Cassidy.

    Bolton is known for his soulful voice and poignant lyrics, his timeless style, charm, good looks, and, more recently, dancing for those who saw him on the hit television show Dancing With the Stars. During his musical career, he has garnered two Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance, six American Music Awards and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As a songwriter, he has earned more than 24 BMI and ASCAP Awards, including Songwriter of the Year, nine Million-Air awards, and the Hitmakers Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His music has been recorded by more than 100 artists, ranging from Conway Twitty to Kanye West. Some artists who have recorded Number 1 singles by Bolton include Laura Branigan, Kiss, Barbar06-15-11-michael-bolton.jpga Streisand and Cher.

    But he is probably best known for his own recordings of hits such as “That’s What’s Love Is AllAbout,” “How Am I Supposed to Live With You,” which earned him his first Grammy, “How Can We Be Lovers,” “Soul Provider,” “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “Time, Love and Tenderness.”

    Kenny G, born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, is a Grammy-winning, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. He is the biggest selling instrumental musician of the modern era, having sold more than 75 million albums.

    Kenny’s introduction to jazz music came from The Ed Sullivan Show. After hearing a performance on theshow, he picked up the sax at the age of 10 and has been playing ever since. His first job as a musician was as a sideman for Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra while he was still in high school.

    Following graduation from high school, he attended the University of Washington in Seattle, wher06-15-11-kennyg.jpge he studied accounting and graduated Magna Cum Laude, but his heart was set on performing.

    He signed with Arista records in 1982, and has been recording and touring since then. His biggest album to date is Breathless, which is the number one best selling instrumental album ever, with more than 15 million copies sold.

    An interesting tidbit is Kenny’s record in the Guinness Book of World Records. He earned his spot for playing the longest note ever recorded on a saxophone. Using circular breathing, he held an E-flat for 45 minutes and 47 seconds.

    So grab someone you love and head down to the Crown for an evening of smooth vocals and even smoother notes. The show begins at 8 p.m.

    Tickets for the concert range in price from $35 to $85, and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.atthecrown.com. Visit the website for more information.

  • Local soldiers are the focus of the newest exhibit gallery at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. A Legacy of Army Service: Tar Heels 1940 to Present, is a temporary exhibit that opened in mid-June.

    The exhibit complements the opening of the North Carolina State Veterans Park over 4th of July weekend. The park, located across the ASOM parking lot, commemorates a veteran’s journey before, during and after service. The exhibit does the same.

    Many North Carolinians, nicknamed Tar Heels, share a rich legacy of service that embodies the army values. This exhibit honors these men and women. It particularly highlights soldiers with airborne and special operations connections. Also recognized are North Carolina Army National Guard and Army Reserve units including the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) headquartered in Clinton and the 824th Quartermasters based out of Fort Bragg.

    The most striking part of the exhibit sits quietly near the back wall, and it doesn’t look like much at fi rst, just a two-sided, dark, wooden rack strung with 10 rows of silver-colored metal. It’s not behind a rope or a glass case. Unlike other exhibits, it’s meant to be touched, which is when it jingles and chimes and reveals not solid rows of metal but tightly-packed, thin, metal “dog tags.”

    Like most people, Cpl. William Watson, who is stationed at Fort Bragg, ran his hand down a line of tags when he saw the display.

    Hung alphabetically and by confl ict, the first one is stamped with a name, “Abernathy Jacob L” and the fi ght, “World War II.” He’s the fi rst of nearly 10,000 of the dog tags, each representing a North Carolina soldier killed in confl ict between World War II and May 2011.

    “It definitely brings a lot of perspective,” Watson said. “It’s a part of history that’s right there in your hands. It makes it seem very human. Every soldier wears dog tags, so it’s a part of them. It feels somewhat connected.”But not just those North Carolinians who sacrifi ced all are highlighted in this unique exhibit. There are also uniforms, weapons, a military Jeep and interesting tidbits relating to the service of Tar Heel soldiers.

    One display estimates that there were, in September 2010, about 765,900 military veterans currently living in North Carolina.

    “I think it’s (the exhibit is) long overdue,” said former Army Ranger and current China Grove resident Keith Childers, who was visiting the museum with his family for Father’s Day.

    “With Fort Bragg being right here in North Carolina and a lot of other installations … This is something for my children, to bring them and show them what I can, of some of what I’ve done.”

    Posters throughout the exhibit single out 22 past and present state heroes who played a wide range of roles in the Army. Sure, most people will recognize Tarboro native Gen. Henry Hugh Shelton’s picture, but through the exhibit they can also learn about people like Fayetteville resident First Sgt. Tanya Michele Krieger, who served from 1979 to 1999, and whose display hangs right there next to the general’s.

    Autryville resident Lawrence Gambino said the dog tag exhibit was the stand out item for him, as a Vietnam veteran who was drafted in the ‘70s.

    “I’ve never seen anything like it before,” he said.06-29-11-asom-exhibit.jpg

    His son, Lawrence Gambino Jr., called the dog tag exhibit “almost a memorial.”

    “But it’s more realistic,” Gambino Jr. said. “To see things a soldier would carry with him day-in and day-out through his Army career, it’s more symbolic to see something like that.”

    The ASOM is located in downtown Fayetteville and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, and closed Mondays.

    Photo: A display of 10,000 dog tags signifying North Carolinians who have lost their lives since World War II serves as a moving memorial at the exhibit at the ASOM.

  • 06-15-11-take-a-walk.jpgThere is no shortage of generosity in this town when it comes to supporting the many nonprofi ts that serve the area. Individuals and businesses alike step up to offer cash, donate auction items and volunteer man-hours on a regular basis. To their credit, the nonprofits are creative, energetic and enthusiastic in their endeavors, making sure that each event is enjoyable and entertaining — a unique experience for their supporters. Better Health is certainly no exception.On Thursday, June 23, join Better Health at Campbellton Landing for an Outdoor Adventure Auction. “The concept was developed by one of our board members at the time, Bill McFayden,” said Better Health Executive Director Judy Klinck. “He is an avid outdoorsman and this is something that had not been done in the area before by a small nonprofi t. It sort of caught on, and we wanted it to be something that the whole family could enjoy.”Now in its third year, this bi-annual event offers some impressive auction items as well as a fun-filled evening featuring music, food and children’s activities.Although a lot of the auction items are in the hunting and fi shing and outdoor category, as the theme suggests, Klinck promises something for everyone. Some of the auction items and events are here in Cumberland County, but others are not, like the deer hunt in Darlington, S.C.“We have a turkey hunt in St. George, S.C., we have two fishing trips — one is at Baldhead Island and one is in Morehead City for the giant red drum, which happens to be the North Carolina state fish,” said Klinck. “We also have such things as teeth whitening and items from local gift shops. Then we have a trip to a Blowing Rock mountain cabin that has been donated. I happen to have stayed at this cabin before and it is very nice. That would be a lovely thing for someone to bid on. We hope to have a beach house as well.”The bluegrass band The Foggy Creek Boys are going to perform. They are a volunteer group that sings bluegrass and gospel and they perform exclusively for churches and charity events like this. “They perform at no charge, and this is the only kind of work they do,” said Klinck. “They are very professional and they have been performing for more than eight years so they have a nice repertoire. It is really very good of them to give this gift to the community.”The event runs from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. No need to purchase tickets in advance. Adults are $10 at the door and children of all ages are free. There will be food and beverages available, a 50/50 raffl e and a clown to entertain the younger attendees. Tickets for the raffl e can be purchased in advance and you don’t have to be present to win. All proceeds benefit Better Health. Visit the website at www.betterhealthcc.org or call them at 483-7534 to find out more.

    Photo: A turkey hunt in St. George, S.C., is only one of the many items up for auction by Better Health at the Outdoor Adventure Auction on June 23 at Campbellton Landing.

  • uac062211001.jpg With the chant of USA, USA, USA ringing in their ears, the 60 plus Fayetteville delegates to the All-America City Awards waited expectantly Friday night during the National Civic League’s All America City Awards banquet. They didn’t have long to wait.

    Fayetteville, the Cinderella story of the annual convention, was the second city given the designation as an All America City, but it was first in the hearts of the people gathered in Kansas City, Kan.

    “We were the second city to be announced as an All America City and the room just went crazy,” said Mayor Tony Chavonne, who accepted the award on behalf of the city and its citizens. “The spirit that was there was just amazing, and it had been all week. When we walked in to make our presentation, we got a standing ovation. We showed the world what it means to have a military community. That night at the awards, the soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Chorus started the chant of ‘USA, USA’ and the entire room was chanting right along with them.”

    Chavonne said that while the conference was meant to be a celebration of the nation’s best and brightestcities, it really became a tribute to our nation’s military. “When I accepted the award, I thanked everyone for their strong support for us, our soldiers and all the military,” he said. “It became a lot bigger than about the individual cities and really became about our love of our nation and our support for our military. Everyone was on the same page on that love and support, and that’s the story we went there to tell,” he said. 

    Fayetteville’s bid for the All-America City designation began last December when a group of volunteers began holding meetings throughout the community to determine what stories and community developments needed to be highlighted in the competition. When the report, written by Sarah VanderClute, was complete, three issues made it to the top: Fayetteville’s new image as a city of History, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling, economic development and06-22-11-lrg_allamerica_city.jpgliteracy as achieved through Reading Rocks. The initial application was filed in late February, in March, the city received notice that it was one of 26 cities named as finalist in the competition.

    That’s when the hard work began. With the help of Moonlight Communications and the artistic direction of Bo Thorp, the Fayetteville delegation composed of civic leaders, community volunteers, educators, business leaders and the 82nd Airborne Chorus, began to work on their presentation to the judges at the conference.

    Chavonne explained that each city has 10 minutes to tell their story to the judges and another 10 minutes to answer questions posed by the judges. In the weeks leading up to the competition, Thorp drilled the delegation and created a work of art that told the city’s story. The presentation included snippets from the organizers of Fayetteville Cares who talked about what an honor it is to “Watch over those who watch over us.” Children from the community and educators talked about strides in literacy achieved by community participation in the annual Reading Rocks Walk-a-Thon. Civic leaders talked about strides in economic development and the creation of “community” between the military posts and the city. Backed up by the Chorus, the presentation was as All-American as apple pie, and according to Chavonne, clearly established the city as “America’s Hometown.”

    Throughout the week, the delegation had the opportunity to interact with other delegates and found that telling Fayetteville’s story was easy, but the delegates also had the opportunity to learn from each other.

    06-22-11-groupshot.jpgFayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine was excited to talk with the Fort Worth, Texas, chief of police.

    “One of the key points he made was the way the city was dealing with their homeless issue,” said Bergamine. “The police department did a cost analysis of what dealing with the homeless population cost the city, and then they reached out to private businesses, the clergy and civic organizations to tackle the issue. I had a conversation with the chief about the success of their program and will follow-up with him now that I am back home to see how we can integrate this approach.”

    For Jenny Beaver, a life-long resident of Fayetteville and community volunteer, participation in the conference was an affirmation of what she has always believed about her hometown.

    “When we got up to give our presentation, we just blew them out of the water,” said Beaver. “When we walked in with the chorus, we got a standing ovation and the judges teared up. They could not have been more respectful or appreciative of our military. As each of the 10 cities were named All-America Cities, the love of the military that we have here in Fayetteville became the theme of the evening. It made me proud to be an American and proud to be a Fayettevillian. I can’t recall ever being prouder — it was just a moment.” 06-22-11-aa_city_0475.jpg

    George Breece, who lead the contingent to a win in 2001, was excited to be on hand for the city’s third win. “A lot of people have been working very hard over the past few months and this designation shows that Fayetteville is truly America’s hometown,” said Breece. “We have the largest military base in America and our commitment to these men and women as a community means a great deal.”

    On Friday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m., city leaders are inviting the whole community down to Festival Park to celebrate this honor. A presentation during a patriotic performance by the North Carolina Symphony, as well as apple pie, ice cream and fireworks seems to be a fitting way to celebrate History, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling for one of the nation’s newest All-America Cities.

  • As Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. begins his official role as the new superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, I’m hopeful he’ll review a policy left over from his predecessor and consider changing it.

    Dr. Frank Till first got the CC Board of Education to establish a rule that said no students in the county could participate in extracurricular activities if they did not maintain at least a C-average.

    As a college graduate who earned both summa cum laude as well as honors while attending UNC Wilmington, I fully support the push for requiring better grades. School is about learning, and athletes need to know that just being stars on the playing field isn’t enough. They’ll be in the game of life a lot longer than they’ll be playing their favorite sport, and the better educated you are, the better your chance for later success.

    But I think the CC policy as it stands now is too restrictive and gives our young people and their coaches an unlevel playing field for battle.

    When you remove the chance to play completely, for many of these young people you’re taking away one of the main incentives to be in school and stay engaged. There’s a greater risk of them giving up and dropping out completely.

    Our coaches and their teammates are being hurt because some of these youngsters are good athletes who aren’t being allowed to compete, robbing their teams the benefit of their talents.

    This especially shows in a sport like football, where numbers are crucial to success. Our county football has shown a sharp decline in recent years, with only Cape Fear advancing to a state championship game in recent memory. There was a time we had a team in the finals almost every season.

    I’m not suggesting we don’t hold athletes accountable. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has a standard they must meet, and while somewhat low, it does hold them to a certain level of performance.

    All I’m asking be changed is removing them from the team. We can still require those who are not maintaining a C-average to attend tutoring sessions led by faculty members willing to volunteer.

    I think it’s worth a try and would be a great way to kick off the 2018-19 school year on a positive note.

    • We welcome two new head coaches in varsity sports at CC Schools. Travis Lemanski, former coach at North Brunswick and St. Pauls, is the new boys basketball coach at South View, replacing Wendell Wise.

    At Gray’s Creek, Nicholas Lewis replaces Anissa Little as girls basketball coach. Lewis comes from Pine Forest Middle School.

    • Congratulations to Andrew McCarthy, soccer coach at Fayetteville Academy, who has been named the school’s assistant athletic director.

    • A reminder that the annual CC Football Jamboree will be Aug. 8-9. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, call Vernon Aldridge at 910-678-2300.

    Here is the schedule for this year’s jamboree:

    Aug. 8 at Pine Forest: 6 p.m. - Farmville Central vs. Westover, Rolesville vs. Overhills. 7 p.m. - Union Pines vs. E.E. Smith, Triton vs. Terry Sanford. 8 p.m. - Scotland vs. Cape Fear, Lumberton vs. Pine Forest

    Aug. 9 at Jack Britt: 6 p.m. - St. Pauls vs. Douglas Byrd, West Bladen vs. Gray’s Creek. 7 p.m. - East Montgomery vs. Hoke County, Eastern Wayne vs. South View. 8 p.m. - Lee County vs. Seventy-First, Apex Friendship vs. Jack Britt.

  • 16Mike Paroli Douglas Byrd coachThe road back to the football success of Douglas Byrd in the late 1990s has been a rocky one for third-year head coach Mike Paroli.

    Paroli, the son of legendary Eagle head coach Bob Paroli, is still looking for his first win as head coach after being hired in 2016. The Eagles have posted back-to-back 0-11 seasons in the Patriot Athletic Conference.

    Paroli would like to turn the corner this season, but challenges to improvement still remain following the recent conclusion of spring workouts.

    “We haven’t gotten as much accomplished in the spring as we would have,’’ Paroli said. “The weight room has been more of a focus. We’re trying to get as strong as we possibly could and worry more about the helmets and shoulder pads things for June.’’

    There will be some new faces in the Eagle program this fall, but Paroli declined to elaborate on just who those faces are. “We have some kids who haven’t played here before that we are trying to bring along slowly and find out if they are going to stay with us,” he said.

    The biggest problem for the Eagles headed into the official start of practice in August will be rebuilding a secondary from scratch. Another challenge will be trying to continue a philosophy started last year that Paroli admits didn’t work very well, trying to avoid playing any players on offense and defense.

    He said they particularly want to keep from doing it early in the season. “That’s going to be a difficult task for us right now,’’ he said.

    One thing that has been a plus for the Eagles is a new Cumberland County policy that allows eighth graders to be on the high school campus once Easter break is over. “We are hoping that translates into having a junior varsity team,” Paroli said.

    Paroli said he’d like to avoid using any of those incoming freshmen in the secondary, but he added that may have to happen because the situation there is desperate.

    17Nikai Butler Douglas Byrd football playerOne player the Eagles will definitely be using a lot is Nikai Butler, a 6-foot-2-inch, 245-pound senior who has been in the Byrd program since he was a freshman. Paroli said colleges are already talking to Butler, who plays linebacker, defensive line, offensive guard, tight end and just about any other position the Eagles need him.

    “He’s had a tremendous offseason,’’ Paroli said. “He’s a straight-A kid, top ten of his class and a wonderful young man. We’ll look at him to play in all those different spots plus be the positive school and team leader he is.’’

    Like his coach, Butler realizes there’s no easy solution to turning the Byrd program around. “We just have to continue to work, no matter the circumstances,’’ he said.

    Asked if he thinks the Eagles can return to the glory years they enjoyed when Bob Paroli was head coach, Butler quickly replied yes. “I’ve got faith,’’ he said. “We just have to have dedication and people wanting to play.’’

     

     

    PHOTOS: (T-B) Mike Paroli & Nikai Butler

  • 19Rodney BrewingtonIn the 2017 football season, South View’s team continued its gradual return to the glory days of the program in the early part of the 21st century.

    The Tigers of Rodney Brewington were 9-4, tied with Overhills for the best finish among 4-A schools in the combination 3-A/4-A Patriot Athletic Conference, and went on the road to get a firstround state playoff victory over Jamestown Ragsdale.

    With four-year starter Donovan Brewington back at quarterback, along with a stable of solid skill players, the future looks bright for the Tigers.

    Still, there are some holes that need to be filled.

    Coach Brewington spent the spring practice sessions looking for what he called diamonds in the rough and players who can perform well at multiple positions.

    His biggest worry this spring was to begin the difficult task of replacing the entire offensive line.

    “Getting those young kids ready has been the biggest thing,’’ he said after graduation took all five down linemen as well as the tight end.

    If he is able to cobble together a solid group of blockers, they’ll have plenty of talent to be blocking for, starting with Donovan Brewington at quarterback. The coach’s son is the leading passer returning in the county, throwing for 1,906 yards last year and 21 touchdown passes. He was only intercepted three times and, along with departed Terry Sanford quarterback Christian Jayne, was the only county passer to complete 60 percent of his attempts, 63.1 20Donovan Brewingtonpercent.

    “He’s the general on the field,’’ Coach Brewington said of his son. “It’s rare you have a four-year starter. It has been an interesting ride to watch him develop.’’

    Matthew Pemberton will likely lead the running back corps for the Tigers, while Emery Simmons returns as one of the top receivers in the Cape Fear region, having already given an oral commitment to Indiana. Last year he was the third-leading receiver in the county in total yardage with 55 catches for 997 yards and 12 touchdowns.

    “Everybody’s got their eye on them,’’ said Donovan Brewington of his top target. “He opens it up for everybody else.”

    As he enters his fourth season as the Tiger quarterback, Donovan feels his knowledge of the game has improved and he’s able to make better decisions in certain situations, maturing both as a quarterback and an athlete.

    He plans to get more work in over the summer on his footwork and throwing mechanics.

    “I’m looking forward to producing better numbers than we did last year,’’ he said.

    His experience is going to be crucial because of inexperience elsewhere.

    “This is the youngest team I’ve coached in a long, long time,’’ Coach Brewington said. “We’ll be starting nine or 10 sophomores.’’

     

    PHOTOS: (T-B) Rodney Brewington & Donovan Brewington

  • 17David LovetteLast season, the Bears saw nine players go down with season-ending injuries and had several others who missed parts of the season because of injuries.

    But, as head coach David Lovette likes to say, excuses are for losers, and this year during spring practice he began the work of trying to get back to what he described as “being Gray’s Creek.’’

    On offense, he said that means finding what he called the team’s north, returning to the kind of explosive running game the Bears’ wing-t offense has been famous for under Lovette.

    Defensively, he said the Bears want to do a better job of recognizing things and reading their keys.

    Last year’s rash of injuries saw the Bears go 1-10 overall and 1-7 in Patriot Athletic Conference play, beating only winless Douglas Byrd.

    The Bears enter the 2018 season optimistic with depth at running back.

    Andre Allen, who rushed for 693 yards and nine touchdowns last year, is back. “He’s a very good athlete,’’ Lovette said.

    Also returning is Trey Beckett, who was a 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore but dipped to 793 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

    Beckett, like his coach, offered no excuses for how the Bears finished last year.

    “You’ve got to push through with what you’ve got, regardless of who’s playing out there,’’ he said.

    18Trey BeckettAlso like Lovette, he wants the offense to be explosive again. “I remember seeing Gray’s Creek running up and down the field on everybody,’’ he said. “I want to get back to being great.’’

    As for his role on this year’s team, Beckett said he wants to be a leader and set a good example for the younger players. “I’m telling them not to take anything for granted,’’ he said. “I want to dominate the field, both sides of the ball.’’

    Also back for the Bears along with Allen and Beckett is Cedrick McDowell, who had 665 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 2017.

    The versatile Trevor Thomas, one of the players Gray’s Creek lost for the season last year, is being counted on to play multiple roles. “He’s going to play some receiver, quarterback and running back,’’ Lovette said. “We’re going to try to use him different ways.’’

    The Bears lost one of their top defensive players with the graduation of Aaron Harrison, who will attend Charleston Southern.

    A trio of players is expected to help lead the defense, among them Dominique McMillan, Isaiah Mills and Kendall Evans.

    While Lovette is appreciative of the chance to practice in the spring, he wishes the North Carolina High School Athletic Association would follow the lead of bordering states like Tennessee and Georgia and allow a few days of full contact practice during the spring.

    But, he said, “Any sort of practice is about getting better. That’s our big thing. Hopefully we can achieve that.’’

     

    PHOTOS: (T-B) David Lovette & Trey Beckett

  • 21Javen Washington 71stA lot of folks were worried how Seventy-First was going to fare when it stepped into the rugged Sandhills Athletic Conference last season and had to take on traditional powers like Richmond Senior and Scotland.

    Falcon coach Duran McLaurin wasn’t among the doubters. “We were picked to finish fourth or fifth in that conference, and we finished second,’’McLaurin said. Actually, the Falcons tied for second with Richmond Senior, which beat them 25-19, ending the season 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the league.

    McLaurin said there was no disgrace finishing behind a Scotland team that won the Eastern 4-A championship. At this year’s spring workout sessions, McLaurin worked toward doing as well or better than last year.

    “We want to build depth, take a look at some of the sophomores that are going to be coming up from the junior varsity team and see if they can plug in some spots,’’ he said.

    The big concern on offense is replacing 1,000-yard rushers Fabian Jones and Juan Maddox. The good news is quarterback Kyler Davis is back. “He’s special,’’ McLaurin said. “He’s going to be a good one.’’

    Davis is the second-leading returning passer in the county with 1,778 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He was only intercepted three times.

    Offensive line returns some key players like Benjamin Willis and Tristan Hill.

    McLaurin is counting on linebacker Javen Washington to be the defensive leader.

    “We’ve got a lot of athleticism on both sides of the ball,’’ Washington said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that can play.’’

    Washington said the linebacker corps is seniorheavy, with himself, Jaliyah McNeil and Devante Wedlock returning. He said that trio will be key to Seventy-First’s success this season.

    McLaurin expects the Falcons will contend for the conference title again this year. “Football is football,’’ he said. “You’ve got to be able to run the football and be able to stop the run. Those are
    things I feel we do.

    “As long as we stay stout against the run and not give up big plays in the secondary, do what we’ve been doing the last four or five years, which has been effective, I think we’ll be right there.’’

     

    PHOTO: Linebacker, Javen Washington

  • 19Ashton Fields Jack BrittAll great teams have stars, but they’re not always the reason a championship is won. Such is the case with this year’s Jack Britt state 4-A softball champion.

    All the pieces of a puzzle have to fit to make the picture complete, and a couple of big ones that found their way into Jack Britt’s title portrait were Ashton Fields and Taryn O’Connor.

    When regular shortstop Jessica McRae broke her nose in the Eastern Regional series with South Central and had to undergo surgery, it knocked her out of the state finals with South Caldwell. Enter freshman Fields, who had to be plugged into the lineup at first base when regular first baseman Rayven Shepard moved to shortstop to replace McRae.

    Fields played flawless defense at first the entire weekend, and fielded a throw from third baseman Savannah Roddey to get the last out of the final game.

    “We knew she would be nervous when we started, but you would have never known,’’ said Britt coach Sebrina Wilson of Fields. “She stepped in and did everything.’’

    Fields had almost no experience at first base with Britt, but she played the position extensively in travel softball. “I wanted to make sure I didn’t let the team down,’’ she said.

    Early in the first game, she gunned down a runner headed for third and said that gave her a boost of confidence.

    20Taryn OConnor Jack BrittWhile the decision to move Fields to first was forced by injury, inserting Taryn O’Connor into the batting order the day of the final game of the title series was the result of Wilson’s intuition.

    Wilson had a feeling O’Connor was due at the plate and wanted to put her in the lineup. “Joe (assistant coach Myrtle) said she had a really great day in the cage,’’ Wilson said. “She got aggressive and fouled off some pitches.’’

    She wound up going 2-for-4 in the title game with a double and two RBIs.

    O’Connor couldn’t explain what happened with her hitting. “God must have fallen in place for me,’’ she said. “They just told me to hit how I was doing in batting practice.’’

    Wilson said there were other players who stepped up at key times for Jack Britt during the championship run. She mentioned Abigail Johnson, who got a big sacrifice fly in the playoff win over Fuquay-Varina and performed well as a courtesy runner in the title series with South Caldwell.

    Kiara Ramos sparked a key rally for the Buccaneers in their playoff win over Wilmington Hoggard.

    “The journey this year has been an adventure,’’ Wilson said. “Everybody we asked to do a job; they did it.’’

     

    PHOTOS: (Top to Bottom) - Ashton Fields and Taryn O’Connor

  • 16Jack Britt coaches with trophyFor a team that had won the first North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A fast-pitch softball championship in Cumberland County history, Jack Britt coach Sebrina Wilson said her players were surprisingly quiet on the ride home from NC State’s Dail Softball Stadium a little over a week ago.

    That changed when assistant coach Joe Myrtle pulled the white Cumberland County Schools activity bus off Interstate 95 at the Hope Mills off-ramp and saw a Hope Mills Police Department cruiser waiting to give them an escort back to the Jack Britt campus.

    The team rolled down the windows of the bus and began hanging out, cheering and taking photos. It would continue several minutes later when they arrived at the Rockfish Road school and were greeted in the bus parking lot by a jubilant throng of the Britt faithful.

    “That’s when it set in,’’ Wilson said of the historymaking title. “It’s a special moment.’’

    Britt won the title series 2-1, beating South Caldwell 3-2 and 6-3 while losing the middle game 3-0.

    It was the end to what was a truly rollercoaster ride of a season for the Buccaneers. Although Britt wound up as state champion, it didn’t win the Sandhills Athletic Conference title, finishing second to a Richmond Senior team that beat them three times. Britt was also swept in two straight games in the Western 4-A Regional final by its state finals opponent, South Caldwell. At one stretch in March, Britt lost three in a row and four of five to league opponents.

    The Buccaneers finished the season 25-6, with five of their six losses coming to conference opponents. But it was that tough league race that steeled Britt for the postseason. When the final
    MaxPreps state 4-A softball rankings came out last week, Britt and three of its conference foes, Richmond Senior, Purnell Swett and Lumberton, were among the 20 highest ranked 4-A softball teams in the state.

    Even after winning the first game of the state finals against South Caldwell, Britt was no-hit in the second game and facing elimination in a deciding game later in the day.

    But the Buccaneers got a huge break when rain fell after Saturday’s first game and forced a postponement until Sunday.

    17Carlie Myrtle Jack BrittCarlie Myrtle, the freshman who had pitched all but one inning for Britt up to that point, said the delay was huge.

    “I was really tired after the second game,’’ Myrtle said. “It was really nice to get another day of rest before going out there and playing.’’

    Mackenzie George, who saw limited action pitching during the regular season, stepped in to start the final game on Sunday and made it to the second inning before Myrtle finished the final 5.1 innings, shutting out South Caldwell the rest of the way on two hits, one walk and one strikeout.

    “They had already seen me twice,’’ Myrtle said. “I knew I had to either step it up or show them something different.’’

    Myrtle started by throwing all inside pitches, which she said South Caldwell was thankfully often taking for strikes. “My changeup wasn’t working very well, but it complemented my fastball pretty nicely and that was what held them at bay,’’ she said.

    Myrtle praised her defense, especially third baseman Savannah Roddey. “Savannah made five amazing plays,’’ she said. “Big shout out to Savannah because she saved my butt.’’

    George took Most Valuable Player honors in the state championship series for the Buccaneers, particularly for her efforts at the plate in the final game, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and getting a single to start the game after Britt was no-hit the day before.

    “She had an awesome tournament,’’ Wilson said of George. “She put the ball in play, and she gave me something to make them think we have another pitcher. It gave them somebody else to look at.’’

    18Mackenzie George Jack BrittWhile George appreciated the MVP award, she said it wasn’t hers alone. “It was a team effort,’’ she said. “Anybody could have gotten it.’’

    Myrtle heads a group of talented freshmen that will return for Britt next season and make them an immediate contender for the 2019 state title. But no one is thinking about that just now. There is too much to celebrate.

    “I cried so much,’’ Myrtle said. “I love this team. I love that I won it with this team. Every single girl I’ve bonded with on this team.

    “I loved them to death and I’m so glad I was able to do this with them.’’

     

    PHOTOS: (Top to Bottom) - Jack Britt softball coach Sebrina Wilson and assistant coach Joe Myrtle display the state championship trophy; Carlie Myrtle; Mackenzie George

  • 19Pernell ShoularsCraig Raye has barely been on the ground with his Westover football team a year, since he was a late hire prior to the 2017 season.

    That’s why an emphasis on this year’s spring practice for the Wolverines was getting to know everyone and taking time to evaluate newcomers to the roster.

    The good news coming out of spring is that it looks like Westover is going to have some depth to work with this season.

    “A lot of our first liners weren’t here,’’ Raye said, referring to football players who were taking part in other spring sports for the Wolverines and missed the spring conditioning program. “We had the opportunity to work with some of the younger guys and give them some more individual attention.’’

    The Wolverines were 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Patriot Athletic Conference last year, advancing to the state 3-A playoffs and losing 76-12 to Southern Nash in the first round.

    “I think my biggest liability was not knowing some of the kids, and we had to play them out of position,’’ Raye said. “We wanted to re-teach anything that wasn’t taught the right way and get my philosophy in. I think that’s what we’ve accomplished.’’

    Looking ahead to the fall, Raye thinks the Wolverines will be strong in the running game, led by the return of running back Dmarion Ford. Ford missed spring drills because of his involvement with the Westover track team. He led Westover in rushing last season with 633 yards.

    He was an excellent kick returner, and Raye plans to make full use of that skill this season.

    “We’re going to give the ball to him every opportunity we have,’’ Raye said. “Several colleges have been here to recruit him this year.’’

    Other veterans returning in the backfield for Westover are Da’niel King and Keyshown McLean.

    Anchoring the offensive and defensive lines will be senior Pernell Shoulars, who stands 6-feet-5 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds.

    “We expect him to lead the pack,’’ Raye said.

    Shoulars said the team has already gotten a lot closer as the result of the spring workouts.

    “Coach Raye came in with a take charge attitude,’’ Shoulars said. “He needed things done his way. Over the course of last season, we learned to accept his way, and that’s helped us in the long run.’’

    Shoulars agrees with Raye that Westover should be able to run the football. “We’ve got some big boys in the middle and guards that are quick on their feet,’’ he said. “Last year we were great in the passing game, and I don’t think that’s going to die down any.’’

    Westover will open the season with 4-A rival Seventy-First this fall, and Shoulars has set the bar high for himself. “I want to get at least seven tackles and three sacks,’’ he said.

    Shoulars knows the Wolverines will face a major challenge in the Patriot Athletic Conference, but he’s looking forward to it. “It got tougher for us, but that only makes us the bigger underdog when we beat everybody,’’ he said. “If we can get discipline, I don’t see a team beating us.’’

     

    PHOTO: Pernell Shoulars

  • 18Damian PucyzlowskiMark Kahlenberg, head coach of the Hope Mills Boosters entry in American Legion baseball play this summer, is glad for the deep run made by Terry Sanford in this year’s state 3-A playoffs. But he admits it’s made his job of putting a competitive Legion team together challenging.

    After holding a preliminary workout a couple of weeks ago, Kahlenberg has settled on drawing from Cape Fear, South View, Purnell Swett, Terry Sanford and North Duplin for this year’s squad.

    “We can only take 5,000 total enrollments,’’ he said. “We had an open tryout.”

    Terry Sanford made it to the 3-A Regional finals before losing in three games to Wilmington New Hanover.

    As of last Wednesday, Kahlenberg was waiting to hear from several of the Terry Sanford players on their plans to join the Boosters this summer.

    At the writing of this story, the only Terry Sanford player committed was former Bulldog Damian Puczylowski, who will be a member of the first baseball team at Fayetteville Technical Community College next spring.

    “If we get a good turnout from them, I feel we’ll have a great chance,’’ Kahlenberg said. “If we can get nine or 10 of the guys we have listed to pitch, I feel good about being in that state final eight in the middle of July.’’

    Even without the Terry Sanford players, the Boosters are off to a good start. They were 2-0 entering their first home game of the season last Wednesday against Wallace, which was rained out after being moved from their usual home field at South View to Methodist University.

    Kahlenberg figures competition will come from the usual suspects, traditional powers Whiteville and Wilmington Post 10, along with a Wallace team that returns with a solid core from last season.

    A couple of Hope Mills returnees looking for a good year are Puczylowski and South View’s Riley Caudle.

    Puczylowski is looking forward to a reunion with his Terry Sanford teammates. “If they all get out here, we’ll dominate,’’ he said.

    Caudle said Legion baseball is a great environment. “You get to meet new people and you play so many games,’’ he said.

    A major change for Legion ball will be a switch to seven-inning games this summer. Kahlenberg thinks the change will allow teams to lean more heavily on their top two or three pitchers.

    “A lot happens when you get into the bullpens,’’ he said. “We will have to place more emphasis on scoring runs early and trying to get into other teams’ bullpens earlier.’’

    The team has planned a special ceremony to honor longtime Hope Mills coach Doug Watts, who retired and recently moved to the coast after 51 years in American Legion baseball.

    The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on June 9, a Saturday, when Hope Mills plays Jacksonville.

    Schedule 
    All home games at South View High School. Games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
     
    May 23 - at Wilmington Laney, 26 - at Morehead City (Big Rock, DH, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.); 28 - Apex; 30 - Wallace.
     
    June 1 - at Jacksonville (White Oak); 2 - Florence, S.C., 6 p.m.; 5 - Garner; 8 - at Wallace; 9 - Jacksonville (Doug Watts Day) 2 p.m.; 11 - at Wilmington Ashley; 17 - Wilmington Ashley, 6 p.m.; 20 - at Whiteville; 22-24 - at Palmetto Invitational, Florence, S.C. 22 - Leesburg, Va., 5 p.m.; 23 - Florence, S.C., 11 a.m.; Tallahassee, Fla., 1:30 p.m.; 24 - TBA; 28 - at Wilmington Post 10; 29 - Wilmington Post 10.
     
    July 2 - Wilmington Laney; 6 - First round Area II playoffs

     

    PHOTO: Damian Puczylowski

  • 06FourthFri

    Fayetteville is an art-friendly town, so much so that one Friday every month the entire Downtown community celebrates the arts, bringing festivities, fun and creativity to the community. 

    This 4th Friday, June 23, the Arts Council continues its exhibit “Public Works,” which showcases the work of local artists. 

    One of the greatest things about this exhibit is that it’s not juried. That means that anyone who enjoys making art is welcome to submit his or her art for the show. 

    There are more than 200 colorful creations gracing the Arts Council’s walls, all of them from local artists. 

    This truly embraces the spirit of the belief that art is for everyone. The exhibit hangs through July 6. Call (910) 323-1776 to learn more. The People’s Choice winners are:

    • 1st Place: Robson Spinelli – “Venezia Grand Canale”

    • 2nd Place: Michelle Bir – “Timshel”

    • 3rd Place: Sunyoung Kim – “My Dream”

    • Honorable Mention: Griffin Carrick – “Delightfully Redundant”

    • Honorable Mention: Nancy Whaley Chandler – “Bear Family”

    • Honorable Mention: Marlene Wellard – “The Wonderland of Childhood”

    Ellington-White Gallery hosts the opening of a new exhibit by local artist and educator Soni Martin this 4th Friday. The exhibit, called “Resemblance,” features an entirely new body of work. This show has been a year in the making. The opening reception lasts from 5 to 9 p.m. and features an artist talk. Find out more at www.elington-white.com

    Cape Fear Studios opens a new exhibit featuring “Jeremy Sampson Plein Air Paintings” along with pottery from visiting artist Ben Owen in the main showroom. As an artist co-op, Cape Fear Studios showcases the work of its members year-round. On any given day, visitors will find artists that work in their studios. Member artists also sell their work at Cape Fear Studios. From pottery to paintings to jewelry, there’s always something interesting to see here.

    Headquarters Library presents Rhonda Emileo from 2-U-Keys from 7 to 9 p.m. Their ukulele music brings the sounds of the beach to the sandhills. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum’s 4th Friday special for families has free admission from 7 to 9 p.m. Children are invited to make crafts as part of the celebration. This month, the craft is spring flowers. Find out more about Fascinate-U at www.fascinate-u.com.

    At the Fayetteville Transportation Museum, don’t miss the “St. John’s Episcopal Church - The First 100 years” exhibit. Learn about the architecture symbolism in stained glass windows in the church. The Museum Annex includes vintage cars, a replica 1920’s gas station and Fayetteville’s 1880 Silsby steam pump engine. The museum is open from 6 to 10 p.m. for 4th Friday.

  • 01COVEROn June 23, The Ellington-White Community Development Corporation opens a new exhibit featuring one of Fayetteville’s most established artists. The “Resemblance: New Works by Soni Martin” exhibit opens with an artist talk and reception from 5-9 p.m. 

    With a comprehensive body of work to her name, Martin could have brought in a sampling of her works that she’s created over the years, but she didn’t. “Instead of a retrospective, where I would fill the gallery with past works, I set a personal goal of creating new work for the exhibit,” said Martin. “From setting that goal, many unexpected challenges occurred.” 

    In creating an entirely new body of work for the show, Martin wanted to do something fresh and different. Something that would stretch her as an artist. Something that would engage viewers. She’s known for her sculpture and encaustics, but after a year of experimenting and self-discovery, this show promises something different. 

    Martin said she decided to undertake a new body of work for several reasons. “For me, my approach to two-dimensional works had become predictable since I had been predominately working in the encaustic medium for the last eight years. It has been become somewhat like a formula that I knew well. I wanted to investigate new materials and methods to express ideas I was becoming preoccupied with,” Martin said. 

    She added that “There was a disconnect between sculpture and two-dimensional imaging-making that I have wanted to resolve for a long time. For me as an artist, there is always a new kind of synthesis that is taking place in my response to culture and materials that I would like to investigate and express.”

    Once she started the process, Martin found the journey to be as unpredictable and delightful as the outcome, but challenging as well. “Little did I know when I started how convoluted the process would become during this past year and what I would come to understand about myself as an artist, ways of working, and obstacles to the creative process. Little did I know how each of my reasons were complicated, each in their own way,” she said.

    Her biggest challenge was that she was going in too many directions at once. In the beginning of this process, Martin spent time researching new materials she thought would be perfect for the direction she wanted to go with her work. 

    Then she set about getting to know these new materials, only to find out much was not even applicable. “I had the problem of going in too many directions — I simply had too many ideas I wanted to try and most of those were a disaster. So, there came a time when I realized I had to put limitations on myself and make concrete decisions about the direction of the work,” said Martin. “I knew I wanted to continue to mix abstraction with representationalism. Color is important to me, so I made the decision to focus on practicing a more luminous color palette instead of strong contrast and pure hue. This in itself involved research and practice making color swatches. I have always preferred to integrate the still life and the landscape into my work, but I also wanted to focus on how I could explore nature in a way that it be similar to a metaphoric still life.”

    Yet another influence on Martin’s work is her fascination with the idea of obscurity as content. “This one focus had the most impact on the new work in ways that feel I was able to bridge sculpture and two-dimensional works for this exhibit,” she said. “In the final analysis, the exhibit will open and what I will have come to understand is that it’s really the beginning. For an artist, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

    The exhibit runs through Aug. 5 at the Ellington-White Gallery, 113 Gillespie Street. Find out more at www.ellington-white.com.

  • 11NCWritersOn July 4, Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA) will announce the winners of its Southern Book Prizes.

    North Carolina nominees include Lee Smith for “Dimestore,” John Hart for “Redemption Road,” Kristy Woodson Harvey for “Lies and Other Acts of Love,” Robert Morgan for “Chasing the North Star” and Vivian Howard for “Deep Run Roots.” 

    North Carolina Bookwatch featured these books recently. During June, UNC-TV will re-air those programs.

    Lee Smith’s memoir “Dimestore,” coming after her 13 novels and numerous short stories, gives her many fans a chance to know her as well as her good friends do. She shares her childhood years in a small Appalachian coalmining town and her times working, writing and raising a family here in North Carolina. It gives clues about how her life influenced her writing.

    She explains, “This is an enviable life, to live in the terrain of one’s heart. Most writers don’t — can’t — do this. Most of us are always searching, through our work and in our lives: for meaning, for love, for home. Writing is about these things. And as writers, we cannot choose our truest material. But sometimes we are lucky enough to find it.”

    John Hart’s “Redemption Road” is his fifth book after four best-selling, prize-winning thrillers that gained praise for their clever story lines. Fellow author David Baldacci said the book’s “prologue is heart-wrenching and the chapters thereafter pull you in like matter to a black hole.” Reviewers praise his beautiful writing. Some compare his lyrical descriptions to poetry.

    The book introduces more than 30 characters. None is more important or complicated than Detective Elizabeth Black, herself an accused murderer. She is determined to find justice for Adrian Wall, a wrongly, she thinks, convicted murderer. The connections among the characters help drive a plot scheme that will satisfy readers even as it horrifies them.

    Hart grew up in Salisbury and so did Kristy Woodson Harvey. Less than a year after the publication of “Dear Carolina,” Harvey’s successful debut, her second book, “Lies and Other Acts of Love,” drew favorable attention. It is a heart-rending account of four generations of an Eastern North Carolina family in transition. The two leading characters who tell the story are Lynn “Lovey” White, a grandmother whose husband is fading away after 60 years of marriage, and her granddaughter, Annabelle, who has changing ideas about who and what she wants in a husband. 

    Harvey’s book will entertain, challenge and surprise its readers. With her third novel, “Slightly South of Simple,” already on bookstore shelves, Harvey proves she is a prolific force in southern literature.

    Robert Morgan’s latest novel “Chasing the North Star,” recently out in paperback, is set in pre-Civil War times. It follows a crafty teenaged runaway slave on a northward journey towards freedom. From the Carolina mountains all the way to Ithaca, New York, he finds danger, adventure and comedy. Early on he meets a young enslaved woman who decides to follow him. Sometimes together, sometimes separated, they make their sometimes different ways towards freedom.

    Vivian Howard has become nationally known as host of public television’s popular program, “A Chef’s Life.” She said her book “Deep Run Roots” is “the story of my life so far, told through the ingredients that fill the plates and pantries of my home: Deep Run, North Carolina.” She organized her book in a new way — not by collections of similar dishes like main dishes and desserts, but by raw ingredients. She gives chapters to sweet potatoes, corn, eggs, watermelon and many others that are seasonally available in Deep Run, near Kinston, site of Howard’s Chef & the Farmer restaurant.

    Other North Carolina finalists include Ron Rash for “The Risen,” Ross Howell Jr. for “Forsaken,” Sharyn McCrumb for “Prayers the Devil Answers” and Ann B. Ross for “Miss Julia Inherits a Mess.”

    A complete list of finalists for the Southern Book Award can be found at at www.sibaweb.com.

  • 01COVERAs the 2016/2017 season comes to an end, Gilbert Theater celebrates the best of this year at the 5th annual 2017 Pryer Awards on Friday, June 9 from 6-9 p.m. at the new Taste of West Africa building. Named for the Gilbert Theater Founder, Lynne Pryer, the awards are a way to celebrate the season and get feedback from the audience.

    “The Pryer Awards is a way for us to honor the work that has taken place onstage in the previous season,” said Matthew Overturf, artistic director of the Gilbert Theater. “Audiences have the opportunity for each show to vote for their favorite actors, actresses, director, costume design and so forth.” 

    Overturf added that throughout the entire season the audience is asked to pick up a ballot in the lobby to vote for their favorites. The votes are tallied and the nominees are announced. Then, on the evening of June 9, the winners of each category are announced.     

    “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Overturf. “We will have door prizes, heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks.” The event will feature good food, an open bar and a silent auction. There will be special entertainment from the students in the Gilbert’s educational Glee Program and the cast of “The Secret Garden.”

    “The Secret Garden,” a musical, was a huge success. The show is about a young girl whose parents die of cholera in India. She is sent to live with her maternal uncle, Archibald Craven, who she has never met. 

    While there, she befriends a lot of the help in the house and discovers a garden that was the garden of her uncle’s late wife. The girl helps bring the garden back to life, and the spirits of her ancestors come in and out to help her.

    “The show ends with this wonderful reconciliation and the family comes back together after this period of grief,” said Overturf.  

    The Pryer Award silent auction will feature items such as a men’s grooming package, a package from the Cape Fear Botanical Garden that includes a Pavilion rental, a Martini package that includes a bottle of vodka, a women’s beauty salon day package and more.       

    “Come out and join us for a fun night of entertainment, food, drinks and honoring the work that has taken place on our stage,” said Overturf.      

    Tickets cost $40. The Taste of West Africa is located at 107 Person Street. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (910) 678-7186 or visit www.gilberttheater.com. 

    A New Season at Gilbert Theater                                                                    

    Theater has the ability and the potential to change the world. For its upcoming season, Gilbert Theater introduces a lineup that will captivate and entertain the audience as well as provoke them to think.   

    “We are very excited about our upcoming 2017-2018 season,” said Overturf. “This is my first full season as artistic director, and I just started on February 1.” Overturf added that he is excited about being able to choose this season and he is a firm believer that a season should reflect the theater and the time. 

    The first show of the season is “Evil Dead: The Musical.” It will run Sept. 22- Oct. 8. 

    “It is a very campy adult show and it is based on the film by Sam Raimi,” said Overturf. “It is a bloody, gory and raunchy kind of horror.” 

    The next show of the season is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “This one is a very popular show based on the film of the same name,” said Overturf. “It is a wonderful show for the holiday season and people tend to come out in droves to see it.” Overturf added that he thinks that the show is becoming a Fayetteville staple. The show will run from Nov. 24 - Dec. 4 and Dec. 15-17. There is a student matinee on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 at 10 a.m.  

    “Venus in Fur” is next on the list. It will run Feb. 2 –17. “(The show) explores the dynamic between the actor and director and the dynamic between a dominant and submissive,” said Overturf. “It is a very sexual and erotic show that deals with how we look at people in relationships and how the power dynamics can shift.” Overturf added that this show is really great for couples.    

    “Antigone” runs April 6–April 22. “This is a Greek classic by Sophocles that is about a woman who has to make a very difficult decision to follow her faith and what is right, or to follow the law, and how that dynamic affects her and her family overall,” said Overturf. “This show is very poignant for our time with the things that have been going on in the world.”               

    The final show of the season is “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which begins June 1 and runs through June 10. “It is about a family coming back together for the patriarch’s birthday,” said Overturf. “There is some greed and one of the children, Brick, is struggling with what he wants his life to look like.” 

    Overturf added that Brick’s wife, Maggie, wants to have a child and they are supposed to be the heirs to the family fortune but because they don’t have children it is a bit in question. Brick’s brother is trying to hone in on the family fortune. Greed, secrets and family strife rise up in this classic Southern play.                         

    For more information and ticket information, call (910) 678-7186. 

  • 19bGolf courses are serene settings that allow people to enjoy the great outdoors while simultaneously engaging in the thrill of competition. Those factors undoubtedly motivate people to hit the links and play a round of golf, which remains a wildly popular sport.

    In fact, a recent report from the National Golf Foundation found that roughly 119 million people followed golf on television or online, read about the game, or listened to a golf-related podcast in 2022.

    Golf can certainly be a fun sport to follow, but it’s just as fun to play. Golf is a challenging sport, and it can be especially difficult for newcomers. Patience is paramount when learning to play golf, and the following are some additional strategies beginners can keep in mind as they learn to golf.

    Work with a pro. Golf pros at local courses or even private coaches typically have extensive experience teaching the game. That experience is invaluable.

    Beginners can learn the basics from a seasoned pro, who can instruct students on fundamentals such as stance, grip and swing so they enjoy their first round that much more.

    Purchase a good set of clubs. The right clubs can make the game that much easier. Adults who are not sure if they want to fully commit to playing can get by with secondhand clubs, while parents can do the same as they try to teach their children the game. Once a commitment has been made, a new set of custom fitted clubs can be a worthy investment that lets golfers take their game to the next level.

    Using clubs that are too small or too large can affect performance, as can other factors like grip size. Custom fitted clubs can be expensive, so beginners may want to wait until they catch the golfing bug before they make such an investment on the sport.

    Golf with a friend. The buddy system makes numerous recreational activities more fun, and golf is no exception. Beginners can ask a friend who already plays to tag along, but it also can be fun to learn the sport alongside another novice.

    Friends with experience may be willing to offer some tips to becoming a better player. Two beginners can share a few laughs as they navigate their way through rounds that might end up well over par.

    Choose the right courses. Certain courses are more challenging than others. Par-3 courses can be perfect for beginners because they include only par 3 holes, which feature shorter distances from tee to cup and tend to be flatter and easier for novices. Par-3 courses also tend to be just nine holes, which can be ideal for beginners.

    When playing a traditional course, beginners can look for one with a reputation for being less challenging so they are not discouraged by their final scores.

    Millions of people enjoy playing the game of golf. As beginners introduce themselves to the game, they can keep various strategies in mind to ensure their day on the links is fun and fruitful.

  • 13Greg Adair, event coordinator for the Gates Four Summer Concert Series, has one rule for booking talent. He won’t take a look at press kits. He needs to see what he is really going to experience.

    “I go find them on Youtube from someone’s iPhone. If they are good there, that’s when I will start booking them.”

    This is exactly how Adair found Stephen Freeman. Freeman is all over Youtube. Freeman is a touring Elvis tribute artist and musician and has been for more than 20 years. “He favors him. He has the moves of him. He sings like him,” Adair said.

    Freeman will be the upcoming headliner of the Gates Four Summer Concert Series show on July 7 called “Cash and The King.”

    His dark locks fall across his forehead as he struts onto the stage. In each video, you can see the different open-chested, bell-bottomed suits with all the embellishments. The King is back, even if only for a night.

    Freeman’s performance is as much focused on showmanship as it is his vocal talents. His long pointed chops angle across his face as he takes the center stage in a white, embellished suit with a large gold adorned belt.

    There’s little introduction from Freeman. Instead, he jumps straight into the vocals of “Burning Love.” His legs start shaking with the beat as he moves his hands about, displaying large golden rings typical of the King at this era.

    “He is absolutely phenomenal,” said Bill Bowman, the event organizer and publisher of Up & Coming Weekly.

    Opening for Freeman at Gates Four will be Mark Gagnon who performs as Johnny Cash. According to Freeman, Gagnon too, sounds and looks a lot like his idol, Johnny Cash. Bowman says these kind of shows with “high” level talent brings a different level of entertainment to the Hope Mills community.

    “This is going to be a Las Vegas type show — we have a full band, backup singers and lights... The format itself lends itself to a unique theatrical experience,” Bowman said.

    As for Freeman, his start did not include touring as Elvis and proudly displaying his chest in open studded suits in Las Vegas style shows. In fact, he began a career as a police officer in 1993 and did a small event at a friend’s wedding in 1998. By 2002, Freeman left the force and was focusing full time on Elvis.

    Elvis was always his favorite musician. He says he spent his years growing up watching his performances and the changes in Elvis that happened from the 1950s to 1970s.
    Freeman has been swinging with the King so long, he doesn’t have to do as much practicing anymore to keep the moves down. As far as nerves, they’ve left the building, too.

    “I love performing with my band and look forward to working to make the fans happy and doing our small part to keep his memory and legacy alive for future generations,” Freeman said.

    He plans to do just that. Gagnon and Freeman have performed together many times and say the duo goes really well together.

    “We like to keep the show light and fun with humor and commitment to paying tribute to these legends to the best of our ability,” Freeman said. “Forget your troubles and pains for a couple of hours and just simply enjoy the fellowship of others who enjoy the incredible music.”

    The doors for the show will open at 5:30 p.m. on July 7 with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Gates Four Country Club Ballroom. This event will be ticketed with tickets priced from $75-95 including food and wine tasting for the event.

    There is a discount available for seniors and military both active duty and retired.

    Tickets may go fast as Bowman says they expect to sell out.

    For more information about the show visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.comor call Bowman at 910-391-3859.

    “It’s a really great time for the music business post COVID,” said Adair, “And that is going to be a really great show.”

  • 12cStart off Independence Week with a bang and a parade in Hope Mills. The city is hosting a day-long event on Saturday, July 1, filled with music and activities that will keep the whole family happy and occupied.

    This will be the 41st Annual Town of Hope Mills Independence Day Celebration.

    Festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with a parade. The parade route will begin at Hope Mills Middle School and will conclude at Rockfish Elementary. The parade will have floats, cars and local businesses and organizations.

    Directly following the parade, Independence Celebration in the Park will begin at Hope Mills Municipal Park. There will be fun for people of all ages and special musical performances.

    This year, entertainment includes two live musical guests, Krispee Biscuits and Paige King Johnson. Krispee Biscuits is an eclectic electronic duo fresh out of Wilmington, who are equipped with a classically trained violinist and a Future Funk-bred DJ maestro.

    “Paige King Johnson is a four-time Carolina Country Music Award winner from Angier. She has shared the stage with many great artists over the years, such as Kane Brown, Joe Nichols, Kylie Morgan, Jimmie Allen, Diamond Rio, Scotty McCreery, Neal McCoy and more,” said Meghan Freeman, Assistant Director Programs and Events for Hope Mills Parks and Recreation.

    “The 2023 Independence Day Celebration is much like that of last year’s celebration. Patrons can look forward to an evening filled with food from over 15 food trucks, three local breweries, one local winery, and stilt walkers from Imagine Circus,” Freeman told Up & Coming Weekly.

    The Celebration will conclude at 9 p.m. with the annual fireworks display provided by Pyro Shows East Coast.

    For those who want to celebrate a little earlier, Hope Mills Parks and Recreation is hosting an Independence Luncheon for those ages 55 and older. The luncheon is on Thursday, June 29 at 11 a.m.

    The luncheon will be a fully catered meal with music and dancing. Come and celebrate independence with food, fellowship and fun. There will be door prizes and maybe an extra surprise or two. Tickets are $15 and must be bought beforehand at https://secure.rec1.com/NC/hope-mills-nc/catalog.

    For more information about the Independence Day Luncheon or the Independence Celebration on July 1, go to www.townofhopemills.com.

  • 12bThere are plenty of things to do in and around Fayetteville on the 4th of July. The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra presents the annual Independence Concert & Fireworks at Festival Park. Special guests include the Fayetteville Symphonic Band and the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Band. This patriotic event is free.

    Gates open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:15p.m. There will be food and drink vendors and a children’s play area. Personal tents, pets, bicycles and scooters are prohibited.

    For those looking for a relaxing spot as the sun starts going down, head on over to the Cool Spring Downtown District’s block party taking place on Maxwell Street.

    The July 4th FAYcation celebration runs from 7 to 10 p.m. and will have a little something for everyone. There will be local DJs, a beer garden, BBQ from local vendors, yard games, water fun and much more.

    The FAYcation block party will feature DJ Kool.

    The event is free to attend, but guests can register at www.eventbrite.com/e/july-4th-faycation-tickets-638893817607

    This Cool Spring Downtown District block party comes on the heels of their successful Juneteenth Jubilee, which saw an estimated 28,000 visitors during the weekend.

    Director of Special Projects Ashanti Bennett says these events benefit the city by attracting visitors and new business.

    “It’s the economic growth that’s making downtown stronger,” Bennett said. “We’re working hard to get rid of vacancies so that... there’s something to do all the time in downtown, which is something we’re pretty proud of. These days... You gotta plan your nights out in advance because there is a lot going on all of the time.”

  • 19aLooking for a fun local activity for your young athlete this summer?

    The professional Fayetteville Fury Soccer team is partnering with Hope Mills Parks and Recreation to host Summer Youth Soccer Camps. The camps are for girls and boys ages 5 to 11 and take place June 26 to 30 and July 24 to 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

    The Summer Youth Soccer Camps will be held at Gary Dove Memorial Building at Brower Park, located at 5763 Rockfish Road in Hope Mills. Registration is required for camp participation.

    The Youth Soccer Camps will provide a holistic learning experience complete with skill building, structured training and fun activities based on a curriculum by Fayetteville Fury. The Professional Head Coach and General Manager, Al Florez, of the Fury’s soccer team will be coaching each session.

    Each camper will receive a personalized assessment and valuable training from professional players and the head coach. The overall goal of the camp curriculum is to improve each player’s soccer proficiency in the key areas of dribbling, passing, shooting, defending and goal keeping.19b

    The camp hosts request each player bring soccer cleats, shin guards, a refillable water bottle, and a light snack. For drop-off and pick-up, enter the Rockfish Elementary parking lot. The building is to the far left of the parking lot next to the ball fields.

    The camp costs $100 per participant, and parents can register players today at https://www.townofhopemills.com/1579/Youth-Soccer-Camp-by-Fayetteville-Fury. There are limited spots with each camp hosting only 40 participants.

    For more information, call 910- 426-4109 or visit the Town of Hope Mills website. Hope Mills Parks and Recreation is a city department providing public places and activities for health and well-being to people of all ages in Hope Mills and Cumberland County.

    The Fayetteville Fury is a professional indoor soccer team dedicated to the personal development of the players and to the growth of soccer among the youth.

  • Memorial Day and the Fourth of July evoke images of family cookouts, flag waving and bands playing “God Bless America.” In Fayetteville, we have the privilege of having that All-American feeling all year long. And the soldiers in the Army Ground Forces Band provide the patriotic soundtrack for our city.

    The next chance to see the concert band is Saturday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at Seabrook Auditorium at Fayette06-06-12-band\'s-jazz-guardians.jpgville State University.

    The show celebrates the Army’s 237th birthday. Maj. Treg Ancelet, band commander and conductor, said, “It’s not just a concert. It’s a big production.”

    “We’re bringing in The Victory Belles, an all-female group that sings at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. The Victory Belles will do Andrews Sisters medleys and songs from that era — the patriotic stuff. The band will play songs from the era like Glenn Miller, Harry James, Benny Goodman. It will truly be Americana.”

    Also present will be the Jazz Combo and the Dixie Band, which are two of the smaller ensemble bands. There is also the Brass Brigade, Brass Ensemble, Brass Quintet, Jazz Guardians, the rock band, The Loose Cannons, and the Quintessential Winds ensemble.

    Ancelet is enthusiastic about the variety the band brings to the community. “In the ‘40s you could play Glenn Miller and everyone was happy — soldiers were happy, parents were happy. We don’t have that anymore. You have to do pop, hip-hop, country, Latino. There is so much music.”

    “We go from Sousa to Pitbull.”

    With so many musical options, the band can cover more ground. At any event or any given part of the day, you may see one of the ensemble bands playing. Not only do they play locally at 4th Friday and lunchtime concerts at the FORSCOM headquarters, they are traveling soldiers, too. They’ve played at the USS North Carolina in Wilmington and for a national audience at NASCAR events.

    Comprised of 60 musicians, the band is one of only three large bands in the U.S. Army that are attached to a four-star General. They came to Fort Bragg as part of the BRAC move from Atlanta last June. The Army Ground Forces Band joins the 82nd Airborne Division Band in providing entertainment for our troops and community.

    The Army Ground Forces Band musicians are some of the best in the Army. Auditions are required and you must be invited to play. Afterward, the musicians rotate through the three large bands during their career. These musicians are still soldiers though.

    “A lot of people don’t realize what we do. We’re all soldier musicians. We all went to basic training. We all qualify on our weapon. A couple weeks ago we rucked 12 miles with 35 pounds on our backs. We go to the range. We do all of the Army stuff,” said Ancelet.

    The mission for Ancelet is clear. “Besides being a fi ghting force, we’re here for America. We want to make Americans feel proud — whether it’s welcoming troops home from Afghanistan or playing at the VA hospital, we just try to make people feel proud about being an American.”

    “When you come to a concert we want you to have that feeling of pride in America, know the Army story and remind people of what the country has gone through. When you walk out of our concert, we want you to have that patriotic feel — the goose bumps and the pride. That’s what we aim for every time.”

    The 237th Army Birthday and Musical Salute to America is general admission and free to the public. For more information, visit www.forscom.army.mil/band/ or call 910.570.7223.

    Photo: Staff Sgt. Frank Briscoe, Army Ground Forces band trumpeter.

  • 16Olsen Orthodontics will host their inaugural Summer Fest at their facility to help raise funds for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina on June 30.

    “This will be our very first Summer Fest! We wanted to kick off the summer with some fun for our patients, family, friends, or really anyone interested in taking a shot at dunking one of our doctors in the dunk tank,” said Samantha Wells, organizer of Summer Fest.

    The Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that has served 34 counties in North Carolina since 1980. It is an affiliate member of Feeding America. They have partnered with shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries and other organizations.

    The reason the orthodontics office is hosting the event and donating to the food bank is because they believe in kindness.

    “It’s one of our core values that you will find in our waiting area in our office. We try to spread kindness whenever and wherever we can, so we decided a food bank would be a great place to send the funds we raise — now that school is no longer in session,” Wells said.

    She added that without school, families may be in need for breakfast and lunch. She said their thought was to help increase the supplies for the summer.
    Summer Fest has no cost to get in, but she said for those interested, donations for the food bank will be welcomed.

    The food bank’s website said that every $10 donated provides 50 meals. The Food Bank accepts food and non-food essentials such as cleaning items, hygiene items or paper products.

    “Donations alone won’t be the only source of raising money; as we will have Sunset Slush and a food truck on site that will potentially be donating a portion of their proceeds,” she said. “We also have raffles with some fantastic prizes you can win — such as a gift certificate for a massage from Renaissance Day Spa and free Invisalign treatment with us!”

    She said raffle tickets will range from $5-$25 depending on the prize. They are available for purchase on the day of the event.
    Summer Fest will take place at 4116 Raeford Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 30.

    For more information on the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, visit https://foodbankcenc.org/

    Cumberland County Schools announced that kids age 18 and under can enjoy lunch at no cost through the Summer Meals 2023 program. The program runs through July 27 and no sign-up is needed.Families are encouraged to stop by designated locations Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    The meals must be eaten on-site. A detailed list of serving locations and times can be found at https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/Page/8195

  • Entering their 12th season, the Fayetteville SwampDogs have cemented themselves into the cultural identity of the greater Fayetteville area. Consistently at the top of the Coastal Plain League both on and off the field, the Dogs have set a new standard in collegiate summer baseball. This season, the bar is set even higher, with Fayetteville coming off its second CPL Organization of the Year award in the last six campaigns. The All American Summer of Fun began on May 30th, and will continue into August. 06-13-12-swampdogs-circle.jpg

    All home games offer a unique dosage of fun and excitement, with various promotions and events scheduled for each of the team’s 31 contests at “The Swamp.” Perhaps one stretch of home games, however, trumps all others with its unrelenting commitment to fun.

    The All American Weekend of Fun kicks off on Thursday, June 14th, the start of a four-game home stand at “The Swamp.” The weekend kicks off with 80’s Night, presented by Healy Wholesale. Fans have a chance to relive a decade of great music and good times while sporting their favorite 80’s garb to “The Swamp.” The first 500 fans 21 and older receive a retro trucker hat courtesy of Healy Wholesale and Coors. It’s also Home-Based Business Night, where fans can meet friends and neighbors while finding ways to make life easier and fancier.

    Friday, June 15th is Military Appreciation Night. The SwampDogs appreciate the military every day, but this night will be extra special. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative gift courtesy of Rick Hendrick Toyota.

    The city of Fayetteville will sponsor the game on Saturday, June 16th, with the first 500 fans receiving a gift to compliment the spectacular fireworks extravaganza that follows the game.

    Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 17th, with that night’s game serving as a perfect conclusion to both the day and the All American Weekend of Fun. Bring the whole family to spend a game with Dad at “The Swamp.” Don’t forget to bring Dad’s best friend, too, as it is Dog Day at the ballpark. Fans can bring their dogs to take in the game action.

    It is the only span over the course of the season that includes more than two consecutive calendar days with home games.

    Other noteworthy contests worth circling on any calendar include the June 25th affair with Team USA, presented by Family Foods and Taco Bell, as well as the July 3rd game that features the greatest fireworks extravaganza of the summer, courtesy of Hendrick Chrysler Jeep and Disaster One.

    As is the case with all games at “The Swamp,” tickets are selling quickly for the greatest home stand of 2012. To purchase tickets, visit or call the business office at (910)-426-5900, and for all information regarding the team, visit www.goswampdogs.com.

  • 15PrideFest is an all-day family-friendly event that will feature music, vendors, drag shows and other entertainment. The festival is being hosted by Fayetteville PRIDE, a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization.

    Fayetteville PRIDE holds monthly support meetings for the community, a book club, a Youth Empowerment Group, and works with local charities. Their mission is to instill pride, celebrate unity, and embrace diversity and inclusiveness in the LGBTQ+ community and allies. It provides a support network and educational advocacy group dedicated to increasing awareness and acceptance.

    Earlier this month, the Human Rights Campaign issued its first-ever national state of emergency for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The announcement came after “an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023,” according to the Human Rights Campaign.

    Fayetteville scored a 41 on the HRC’s 2022 Municipal Equality Index. The index is an evaluation of the city’s laws and policies, and an examination of how inclusive city services are of LGBTQ+ people.
    According to the HRC, some high-scoring cities may not feel truly welcoming for all LGBTQ+ people, and some low-scoring cities may feel more welcoming than their policies might reflect.

    "We want our community to know that even in an environment of increased anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, Fayetteville PRIDE is working hard to instill pride, celebrate unity, and embrace diversity and inclusiveness in our LGBTQ+ community. We are dedicated to increasing awareness and acceptance and providing a safe space for the community to come together, be themselves and feel loved,” Katrinna Marsden, president of Fayetteville PRIDE, told Up & Coming Weekly.

    PrideFest is their biggest fundraising and community event for Fayetteville PRIDE. Last year’s festival brought over 6,000 festival attendees, 100 vendors and 100 volunteers, according to Fayetteville PRIDE.

    This year’s PrideFest will feature three hour-long drag performances, including a special hour of empowerment performances. However, the Raeford Flowers’ PrideFest Stage will also be used for contests, giveaways and music for dancing.

    Approximately 100 different vendors will also be at the event, representing nonprofits, community organizations, businesses and hand-made crafters. There will also be 10 food trucks on site.

    The community art project this year are take-home keychains that you can make yourself. There will be other crafts available that visitors can make to show your PRIDE year-round. There will also be a giant magnetic poetry wall to express yourself.

    Additions to this year’s PrideFest include a teen’s area and an expanded kid’s area. The teen’s area will be sponsored by Xscape Factor. The kid’s area will have games, water features, entertainment and crafts sponsored by Array Magazine.

    The festival is free to attend. It is suggested you bring your own water bottles, sunblock and folding chairs. Pets, backpacks, coolers and weapons will not be allowed in Festival Park.
    The event will start at 12 p.m. and end at Festival Park at 6 p.m. If you still want to continue to celebrate Pride into the night, there will be a free movie showing of “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” at the Cameo Art House Theatre at 8 p.m. Best costume or drag is encouraged. The movie is rated R.

    For more information, or to volunteer or donate, visit www.fayettevillepride.org/

  • Prometheus (Rated R) 5 Stars06-27-12-movie-prometheus-logo.jpg

    I don’t deny that Prometheus(124 minutes) was entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it and for the most part I liked the actors. However, as much as director Ridley Scott might deny that the film is a direct prequel to the Aliens franchise, there are several callbacks to the 1979 original that muddle the distinction. While the film was originally conceived as a prequel, when the writers started fiddling with the script and rearranging details there was a concerted effort to move away from the narrative arc of the first two films. For example, the use of the “space jockey” discovered by Ripley and crew in the first part of the original film.

    This sort of prequel references the space-jockey image, but reinvents the scene. You will give yourself a headache trying to figure out how the space jockey in this film becomes the space jockey found in the original, so it may be best to just think of this as Ridley Scott’s Evil Dead II. He reimagined his ideas, reinvented his creature, rebooted the franchise and left plenty of room for a sequel. So, Prometheus is modeled on the same universe and uses some of the same locations and imagery, but is a stand-alone film that does not lead directly into Alien.

    The film opens on a humanoid, and, in a pretty cool scene, his disintegration leads into the opening credits. The next scene offers a beautiful perspective on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and a helpful time stamp marks the year as 2089. Archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) have discovered a bad plot device — the latest in series of ancient star maps shared amongst several cultures that have no history of interaction. They pack up their copies of Chariots of the Gods and hop aboard the spaceship Prometheus to hunt for the planet shown in the star maps.

    The Weyland Corporation is funding the expedition, and has thoughtfully supplied an android to look after the crew while they are in cryosleep. David, the android butler (Michael Fassbender), appears to have an unhealthy obsession with Lawrence of Arabia and his speech patterns resemble Hal’s from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Also, he has an irritating habit of speaking in quotes, muttering under his breath and acting independently. Nevertheless, he wakes the passengers without incident and all the expendable crew members don their red shirts and head into the briefing room. Corporate rep Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron, making some questionable acting choices) explains that the archaeologists and miscellaneous cast will explore the surface of the planet but will not engage with any creatures they find.

    A group heads to the surface and finds a constructed dome of some kind that actually has an atmosphere breathable by humans. That’s all Charlie needs to know before immediately ignoring the risk of biological contamination or unknown atmospheric poisons and popping off his helmet. A smart crew would either quarantine him or lock him in the brig for criminal stupidity, but this one just follows his lead, popping off their helmets and wandering around the unexplored edifice of uncertain purpose.

    David triggers some sort of black-box hologram that leads the explorers to a body and a room filled with jars. Of course, the group is immediately called back to the ship where shady people begin doing shady things. If you can’t trust the Weyland Corporation, who can you trust?

    People start disappearing, and the secrets of the dome are slowly revealed. Overall, the film ends with more questions than answers, and is certainly interesting enough to earn a second look.

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

  • Tips for Safety Month

    June is National Safety Month and we want you to be on the look-out for danger. Seniors may be viewed as vulnerable to phone solici-tations, mailings or door-to-door solicitors. That is why we want you to know the top five senior scams and how they work, according to The National Association of Triads, Inc. and Home Instead Senior Care:06-06-12-senior-corner.jpg

    Prizes and Sweepstakes Scams

    Elderly individuals are told they’ve won a sweepstakes and all they need to do is send a check to cover the taxes. Or they’ll receive a fake check for $5,000 and be encouraged to deposit the money and send back $2,000 to cover the taxes. By the time it’s determined that these checks — which often come from overseas banks — are worthless, the elderly person has already lost his or her money. Magazine-sale scams, where seniors order magazine subscriptions that never show up, also are prevalent.

    Home-Improvement Frauds

    Criminals knock on an elderly person’s door offering to fix the driveway, then paint it black and charge the senior $3,000, or the elderly are asked to pay up front to have the roof fixed, never to see their alleged repairman again.

    One 81-year-old woman, who was caring for her husband with Alzheimer’s disease, paid a criminal $800,000 and drained her savings to have repairs done on her home.

    “Phishing” Schemes

    Seniors receive a call from someone claiming to represent a bank or other reputable financial institution. They’re warned that their financial information or credit card has been compromised and are asked to verify their bank account number or call an 800 number where they’re asked for their personal financial information.

    Internet Fraud

    An elderly person, unfamiliar with how to use the Internet, can unwittingly give their credit card numbers to scammers.

    Identity Theft

    The elderly who provide their birth dates and Social Security numbers potentially open up their entire financial histories to thieves.

    If a family member is not able to be in the senior’s home regularly, a professional care giver can be the eyes and ears for the family. She can alert them to unusual visitors, mail or phone calls. Safety comes in many capacities and protecting some-one from being scammed is extremely valuable.

    Photo: Scam artists often consider seniors vulnerable and there-fore an easy target.

  • 14Mark the calendar, grab your tickets, and get gussied up in boots, bling and blue jeans because you are cordially invited to the Special Forces Charitable Trust Second annual Denim & Diamonds gala. This premiere charity event will take place on June 23 from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Carolina Barn. The rustic, yet elegant and beautiful venue is located at 7765 McCormick Bridge Road in Spring Lake.

    Up & Coming Weekly caught up with Sierra Cortez, the event manager, to discuss the motivation and mission behind the Denim & Diamonds gala.

    Mrs. Cortez said, “The mission of SCFT is to enrich the strong family bonds and support all programs that enrich the well-being of the Green Beret community. SCFT is all about supporting the family and events like Denim & Diamonds help raise the necessary funds to financially and professionally enhance the command's family resiliency initiatives.”

    During our conversation she referred to the Green Berets as the “quiet professionals.”

    We asked Mrs. Cortez to elaborate, “Being a spouse of a Green Beret I know first-hand the sacrifice my husband makes to protect America’s interests. So, when he’s not on a mission in some obscure location, he prioritizes family and plays an integral part in the community.”

    Cortez directed me to a quote on the SCFT website that says, “The strongest people make time to help others, even when they are struggling themselves.”

    According to the SCFT website, there are currently seven Special Forces Groups, two of which are National Guard Special Forces, which are headquartered in seven states: Washington, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Colorado, Utah and Alabama. The National Guard Special Forces Groups also have subordinate units in 17 states. Special Forces units are also located in Okinawa, Japan, and Stuttgart, Germany.

    As we talked in jest about rhinestone studded jeans that would make even Elvis envious, I asked what can we expect at the Denim & Diamonds gala? This high-energy, jeans-preferred affair will bring together philanthropists, patriots, and purpose-driven partiers, for an evening of fun which funds an amazing mission. From line dancing to boot-scoot boogying with Green Berets, this gala will have the whole town talking.

    Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/denim-diamonds-tickets-630899446227. Besides having the time of your life, the perks for purchasing a ticket includes enjoying casual and delicious bites from Two Brothers Catering. Then enter into the enchanting “Bar-Garden” featuring sips from such establishments as the Southern Pines Brewing Company, Weldon Mills Distillery, Charlie Mikes Pub, Hatchet Brewing Company, Bell Tree Tavern, Adams Beverages of North Carolina, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and more.14a

    Entertainment for the evening will include live music and dancing with Trey Friddle and his band, silent auction Items, the famous Bling-Ring Raffle and much more. For more information on Trey Fiddle, visit https://treyfriddle.com

    Sponsorship opportunities are available at https://revenue-usa.keela.co/denim-and-diamonds-2023 What better way to bolster local roots than to sponsor an evening amongst neighbors and fellow patriots. Sponsorship levels range from $2,500 to $10,000.

    Feelin’ Fancy? Diamond VIP tables are available for guests who want to grab your best denim-dressed buds and dance the night away.

    Upcoming SFCT Events In North Carolina

    The 4th annual SFCT Celebrity | Green Beret Tactical Challenge will be held on Dec.13 to 14 on Fort Liberty’s Range 37. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for teams from the U.S. Army Special Forces and the national celebrity communities to unite and compete in precision marksman skills, tactical movement and physical endurance.

    SFCT’s Inaugural Golf Tournament Carolina Trace information will be posted on https://www.specialforcescharitabletrust.org/events#calendar-2ce3dff7-de22-42c5-84dd-4f48e7daf700-event-c86e4970-a2d6-4998-ade1-44193537f277

    The SFCT office in Southern Pines is located at 677 S Bennett Street. They serve the greater Fort Liberty area with a heavy presence in Moore County. Any sponsorship or donations made to the Special Forces Charitable Trust goes toward supporting families, raising awareness and uplifting the Green Beret community.

    For more information, visit https://specialforcescharitabletrust.kindful.com

  • Although vision is one of our greatest senses, a loss of vision can open up a heightened awareness in all the other senses. Many notable musicians such as Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are visually impaired. These individuals, along with many others, have reached beyond their sight to embrace the world around them.

    On Friday, June 22, the Vision Resource Center of Fayetteville will host its 1st Annual Out of Sightdining event. The event will take place from 7-11 p.m. at the Highland Country Club and is sure to be an eye educational experience for all the guests. 06-13-12-outofsightdining.jpg

    Attendees will get to be a part of “blindfold” dining where they will have the chance to experience what it is like to be visually impaired. Following dining will be dancing to the sounds of the Essential Elements Smooth Jazz Band. The night will also feature special music by 13-year-old Michael Macias, who has been blind since he was four months old. Come and let your ears embrace the sounds as he graces the keys of the piano, playing various pieces — to include his original composition “Listening Walk.” A silent auction will also be held.

    Through the Out of Sight dining event, the Vision Resource Center desires to raise awareness about the visually impaired as well as raise funds to continue to support the Visually Impaired (VI) community. The center’s purpose is to make people aware of the VI community and the services available to them.

    Currently in Cumberland County there are approximately 631 individuals who are registered as VI. “There are so many more out there,” states Terri Thomas, executive Director of the Vision Resource Center (VRC). The VRC wants to reach them. Those listed as visually impaired, have greatly reduced or low vision, or are legally blind or blind. Many of them are unaware of the resources available.

    The dining event serves as one of the main fundraisers for the center, and is one way the community can assist the VRC in its efforts. “We can learn so much from them,” states Thomas. This dining experience will allow you to take a moment and step into the world they way the visually impaired experience it everyday.

    The VRC offers many services. Currently the staff are working with the Cumberland County School System to reach the student population. Through their combined efforts parents can find out about financial resources available and receive information on how to better advocate for their children.

    The children benefit in numerous ways as well, one of them being that “they are able to connect and socialize with other visually impaired children,” says Thomas, giving them a sense of belonging with someone who understands them at their level. The center also has a youth program that reaches out to all kids in the Cumberland County area. Program activities include monthly activities, summer camp and transitions programs to prepare students for work or college. However, the center serves the needs of the blind and visually impaired of all ages. Other programs and services provided by the center include van transportation, healthy living programs, Braille, computer classes and more.

    For services or to purchase tickets for the event contact Terri Thomas at the Vision Resource Center at 910-483-2719 or Cory Worrell, Marketing Director/Refractive Coordinator and Cape Fear Eye Associates, PA at 910-672-5017.

    Photo: Michael Macias performing with Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Maestro Fouad Fakhouri.

  • 12aAre you ready for an incredible new theatre season? We certainly are! Cape Fear Regional Theatre is thrilled to announce their lineup for 2023-2024. This new season will be an exciting one, as CFRT has selected an array of shows that are sure to delight theatre lovers from all walks of life.

    CFRT has a long-standing reputation for delivering quality theater productions and the upcoming season is no exception. The plays selected are sure to be filled with laughter, heartwarming moments and unforgettable performances.

    “This was a fun and also a very complicated season to plan,” said Ella Wrenn, CFRT Managing Director. “We want this season to be gangbusters. We want everyone to find something that they’re excited about or better yet for everyone to be excited about everything.”

    Wrenn goes on to say “Because we are on the cusp of the Capital Campaign, this is the year that we really wanted to celebrate what the building has offered to Fayetteville for the last 62 years and also be looking forward into what the next chapter of CFRT is and what live theatre in Fayetteville might look like.”

    The Capital Campaign is the theater’s plan for major renovations and expansion of the current space. Phase 1, which has been completed, was to renovate the auditorium. Phase 2 will be a much larger under-taking and will force CFRT to put on productions off-site since they do not plan on putting a hold on anything during the construction period.

    Wrenn feels that operating through a pandemic has helped them put a “guidebook” together of how to put on productions successfully off-site.

    “We internally understand what that looks like, what it feels like and how much work it requires. And perhaps even better our audience understands what that looks like and what that feels like. And they know they are still going to have a fantastic time and a fantastic experience.”

    The hope is that Phase 2 will be completed by Fall 2025. Theme nights and special events pre-show are also in the works for the new season. Up & Coming Weekly pressed Ashley Owen, the Marketing Director of CFRT, for the inside scoop and she did say this about “Addams Family: A New Musical”—“I will say I already know, I don’t know what it is going to look like, but we will be doing Wednesday’s Wednesdays. I don’t know what that means yet. But I know that’s going to happen.”12b

    More will be planned for each show as the time for them to open gets closer, usually four to six weeks before opening night. More collaborations with local businesses are also in the works (like Sip Room & District House of Taps were featured in the lobby before “Jelly’s Last Jam”).

    “We love a wine tasting. We love a costume party. We love a popcorn bar … We couldn’t do any of that without our community partners.”

    The 2023-2034 Season

    “The Play That Goes Wrong” (Sept. 7 to 24) Your funny bone will be tickled with this hilarious whodunit from the creators of some of Broadway’s funniest shows! Witness the chaos unfold on the opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s production of ‘The Murder at Haversham Manor.’ It’s a 1920s whodunit where everything goes wrong, from unconscious leading ladies to corpses that can’t seem to play dead. This side-splitting production will have you laughing until you cry!

    Despite the unfortunate circumstances, the actors keep going, and their attempts to reach the final bow have amused audiences worldwide. Drawing inspiration from Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes, it’s no surprise that this Olivier Award-winning production will keep you in stitches.

    “Addams Family: A New Musical” (Oct. 19 to Nov. 5) The Addams Family is a hilarious treat that celebrates the peculiarities present in every household. The story follows the tale of Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness who has grown up and found love in a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. However, her parents have never met him, and she begs her father Gomez Addams to keep it a secret from her mother Morticia.

    12cWhat ensues is a night of revelry and chaos as the family hosts a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents, and things will never be the same again. Audiences will be entertained and delighted by this original story that explores the dynamics of family with a twist.

    Inside Scoop: CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke will be directing this one with Tyce Diorio from “So You Think You Can Dance” doing the choreography. And look forward to CFRT’s very own Marc de la Concha as Gomez!

    “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (Dec. 2 to 17) A staple in the CFRT season, this production is a community favorite. Adapted from a popular Young Adult novel, this play has a fantastic cast of characters, both young and old.

    Classic Christmas tunes, heart-warming storytelling and plenty of hilarious moments will make this play your new holiday favorite (if it isn’t already).

    “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Jan. 25 to Feb. 18, 2024) Embark on a magical journey as you witness the timeless allure of the classic fairy tale brought to life by the brilliant minds of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Their signature originality, charm and elegance will leave you spellbound.

    This version of the show was last seen on Broadway in 2013 and is the perfect blend of fairy-tale romance, captivating stage transformations, and iconic elements such as the pumpkin and glass slippers.
    This Tony-nominated Broadway rendition is perfect for viewers of all ages, so gather the family and prepare to be captivated. You're in for an enchanting treat with this spectacular production, so get ready to have a ball!

    “King Liz” (March 21 to April 07, 2024) Meet Liz Rico, a sports agent who’s dominating the industry with her elite client roster and impressive wealth. But as a woman in a man’s world, she’s had to work twice as hard to maintain her position at the top. Her ultimate goal is to take over the agency she’s helped build.

    This is where Freddie Luna comes in, a high school basketball superstar with a troubled past. Liz knows that she has what it takes to guide this talented but volatile young star to success, and in doing so, elevate her own career to new heights. But the question is, what sacrifices will she have to make along the way?

    “Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy” (May 2 to 26, 2024) When Deloris Van Cartier, the queen of disco, witnesses a murder, she is placed in protective custody in an unlikely hideout — a convent!

    Pretending to be a nun, she quickly realizes that the strict rules and the uptight Mother Superior are not her cup of tea. However, with her exceptional disco moves and singing skills, she transforms the choir and breathes new life into the church and the community.

    Unfortunately, her newfound popularity exposes her true identity, leading the gang to pursue her. But, Deloris has a secret weapon — her newly formed sisterhood and their unbreakable bond.

    Season ticket Flex Passes are on sale now and offer up to a 30% discount. For more information visit the CFRT website at: https://www.cfrt.org/

    Three Entertaining Shows at CFRT’s Theatre Summer Camp
    Before CRFT kicks off the new season in September they have a busy summer ahead with their education department. Three different summer camps with three different age groups, shows and scheduled performances.

    Mary Kate Burke (Artistic Director), Marc de la Concha (Education Director) and Jennifer Sell (Education Associate) are all involved with choosing the summer camp shows for the kids.

    “The Adventure of Our Lives, So Far!” (Ages 6-9) is a brand new musical, created exclusively for the CFRT Summer Camp.

    Each year CFRT commissions writers to produce a play that allows each child to have an “acting part.” The younger campers get to experience what it is like to be a part of our production, “Theater 101,” as they learn the fundamentals of being on stage, learning to speak in front of an audience along with acting, singing and dancing.

    The musical is about a team of youthful archeologists who stumble upon a rare and mystical object, which transports them through time. As they journey through the ages, they discover that they may have taken on more than they can handle. However, with some assistance from newfound companions, they embark on a mission to find their way back home.

    “Aladdin Jr.” (Ages 10-14) is picked for this age group for the fact that it can accommodate 45 to 50 kids that attend the camp and has enough name recognition that kids of this age are excited to engage and participate.

    “Aladdin Jr.” is about Aladdin and his three pals — Babkak, Omar and Kassim. They are struggling to make ends meet until Aladdin stumbles upon a magic lamp with a Genie inside who could grant three wishes. Determined to impress Princess Jasmine, Aladdin sets out on a journey that challenges his principles and courage. This fresh retelling of the classic tale features enhanced characters, original songs and more excitement.

    “Sister Act” (Ages 15-19) summer camp is where a more professional environment is established and campers get a sense of what would be expected from them in a professional theater setting. They rehearse their show for three to four weeks from 6 to 10 p.m. both as actors on stage and as the production’s crew.

    Get ready to groove with Deloris Van Cartier, the disco diva who finds herself in a convent after witnessing a murder. As she takes on the challenge of adapting to the strict lifestyle and the uptight Mother Superior, Deloris uses her incredible singing talent and unique disco moves to breathe new life into the church and its community.

    All of these great shows are open to the public. To learn more about attending the shows please visit: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36634

  • 06-20-12-smile_white.jpgThere are a lot of things that get taken for granted in life, and for many people healthy teeth is one of them. But talk to any of the 37,000 patients who have participated in the North Carolina Missions of Mercy program since it started in 2003, and you will likely hear stories about good teeth gone bad and the sweet relief delivered by the selfless volunteers who man these mobile clinics. When the priority for the day is getting food and securing a place to sleep that night or when there just isn’t an extra $20 to buy groceries much less pay for a visit to the dentist, a toothache may have to wait. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of people in this situation.

    On Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30, NCMOM, hosted by The Care Clinic, Better Health, and Operation Inasmuch is offering a free adult dental clinic at the Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center. This event has been a long-time coming. Hours of volunteer work have been spent recruiting volunteers to work at the event, coordinating food for the workers and snacks and transportation for the patients — but there is still much to be done.

    While the clinic provides space and equipment, local organizations have offered grants to pay for the expenses that NCMOM is unable to donate. Thanks to the North Carolina Dental Society, Florence Rogers Charitable Trust, Cumberland Community Foundation, Advised/Charitable Funds of Sammy and Carol Short, Lynette S. Green and Michael R. Green, Ray and Daphne Manning, Eleanor B. Manning and Marcia Gallina, patients are able to receive dental care at no charge during this event.

    It all started with a story on the news last year showing people standing in line waiting for a chance to see a dental professional.

    “We know we have a need here, too,” said Care Clinic Executive Director Cathy Ory. “(At the Care Clinic) we provide extractions to low-income uninsured people so we see the need,” said Ory. “Better Health provides emergency funding when they can. They get calls on this, too. Operation Inasmuch deals with the homeless and they see tremendous need for dental care. We started working on it and were able to persuade them to consider Fayetteville. It worked. We have a phenomenal community and many churches and organizations that are assisting.”

    Judy Klinck is the Executive Director at Better Health. She is also a dental hygienist and has volunteered with NCMOM in the past. “I have seen this in action and it is remarkable what can be done in a mobile temporary clinic. This clinic meets a critical need in Cumberland County for people who do not have access to dental care. If you need care, don’t be dissuaded by the inconvenience of waiting in line — it will be worth it.”

    At Operation Inasmuch, a smile is more than just a smile. “There is not enough dental care for the homeless in this town. They don’t have the income to go get dental care,” said Sue Byrd, executive director of Operation Inasmuch. “If you have a cavity and no money and no dental insurance, all you can do is get that tooth pulled. At this event they can get cavities filled and keep their tooth. This can be life changing to have a tooth repaired and not pulled. Having a healthy smile can sometimes mean the difference between getting a job and living on the street. If you have a mangled smile many businesses won’t hire you because they don’t want someone with a nasty mouth representing their business.”

    People don’t always consider that a healthy mouth is part of overall good health.

    “When C. Everett Koop was the Surgeon General he said that a person who is not in good oral health is not in good health,” said Klinck. “It has been researched and validated that poor dental health is related to heart diseases. It is critical that we have good dental care and health care for all our citizens, and this is a step in that direction.”

    “We are still in need of volunteers to during the event and to help set up and tear down. To work the two days of the event you must be 18 or older,” said Klinck.

    The clinic is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Patients are accepted on a first come, first served basis, no appointments accepted or required.

    To volunteer, or for more information visit www.ncdental.org.

    Photo: N.C. Missions of Mercy brings a free dental clinic to the Crown on June 29 and 30.

  • 19aFencers from Fayetteville recently competed in a USA Fencing sanctioned event in Wilmington. All-American Fencing Academy fencers Bruce McRae and Isaac Canady ended up facing each other in the Division 3 semifinals where McRae defeated Canady to take 3rd place while Canady took 5th place, a bout away from earning his national rating. Isabelle Guevarra took 11th place in the same event.

    In the Open event, All-American Fencing Academy Head Coach Gerhard Guevarra also faced coaches from other clubs and placed 1st. Andrew Iford took 3rd place. Isabelle Guevarra also competed in the Open placing 8th while teammate Canady placed 15th.

    Canady has been fencing for a little over a year at the All-American Fencing Academy. Since starting he’s become captain of the men’s foil team, become a varsity team member of the Fayetteville Homeschool Fencing Team, and has competed in over 20 events.

    Iford is a multi-weapon fencer who has national ratings in two weapons. He is also a 1st Lt. in the Army at Fort Liberty. Iford previously fenced for the Wallingford-Swarthmore Panthers Fencing Club in Philadelphia.

    Isabelle Guevarra, a rising high school Junior, has been fencing since she was 7 years old and has a national rating. Currently ranked 3rd in her high school, she plans on attending UNC Chapel Hill and trying out for the UNC Varsity Fencing Team. Isabelle’s parents are both graduates and were varsity letter fencers from UNC Chapel Hill. Her father, Gerhard, is the head coach at All-American Fencing Academy.19b

    The Academy welcomes new members of all ages. They host a walk-in class during Fourth Fridays for only $20, with equipment provided.

    The Academy also hosts the Beginner Olympic Fencing Summer Camp. No experience is required and the camp provides all the equipment.

    Fencers will learn footwork, blade work and bouting. The fencing camp will be led by Academy head coach, Gerhard Guevarra. His notable experience includes UNC Varsity Fencing 1996-1999; NC Division Champion 2008, 2011, 2013; 2006 Vancouver World Cup participant; and two time USA Fencing North American Cup medalist.

    The Beginner Fencing Summer Camp will be held in downtown Fayetteville from June 16-18 from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. Registration is open to ages 7-12 and teens (school age). Participant registration fees start at $120 and limited openings are available.

    More information about the summer camp can be found on the All-American Fencing Academy’s website www.allamericanfencing.com or by calling 910-644-0137.

    The All-American Fencing Academy is located at 207 B Donaldson Street. It instructs and trains recreational and competitive fencers starting at age 7, teens, adults, and veterans ages 40+. Its fencers compete regionally and nationally. Their coaches include former World Cup and NCAA fencers.

    For more information about the All-American Fencing Academy and its classes, please call or e-mail info@allamericanfencing.com or visit www.allamericanfencing.com.

  • 16Colds might not be as common in summer as they are in winter, but anyone who has ever had a cold when the weather outside is warm and inviting knows just how unpleasant a runny nose, sore throat and lack of energy can be when everyone else seems to be outside soaking up the sun.

    Indeed, there’s no substitute for feeling fit and healthy in summer.

    A healthy summer is one when individuals avoid illness and make the most of a time of year when no one wants to battle colds or other issues that affect their well-being. The following are a handful of strategies that can help people enjoy a healthy summer.

    Protect your skin from the sun. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends individuals apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher before going outside. Sunscreen should then be reapplied as necessary and especially after swimming or excessive sweating.

    The American Cancer Society notes that sunburn that blisters can increase risk for skin cancer, but sunburns affect short-term health as well. Studies have shown that sunburn adversely affects immune system response, which could make people more vulnerable to viruses like COVID-19 or the common cold.

    Limit alcohol consumption. Social schedules tend to fill up in summer, as seemingly everyone wants to host a backyard barbecue. The party vibe synonymous with summer leads to increased opportunities to drink alcohol, but excessive amounts of alcohol and summer sun are a bad combination.

    According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, hot summer days increase fluid loss through perspiration, while alcohol contributes to fluid loss through an increased need to urinate. Significant fluid loss can lead to dehydration and heat stroke.

    Eat the right foods. Summer is not typically as hectic a time of year as other seasons, particularly for parents accustomed to driving kids from one activity to another during the school year. But come summer, weekends filled with social engagements and a greater desire to be active outdoors can prove exhausting.

    The CDC notes that a diet filled with colorful fruits and vegetables supports muscles, strengthens bones and boosts immunity. That can make it easier to handle a physically active summer regimen and ensure that the immune system is in better position to fight off anything that may want to get in the way of summer fun.

    Get adequate sleep. What’s better than a midday summertime nap? The answer to that is better sleep overnight.

    Adults should aspire to get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night, which can fortify their immune system and ensure they don’t miss out on any summertime fun. According to the Mayo Clinic, sleep deprivation can lead to decreased production of proteins known as cytokines, which are vital to fighting infection and inflammation.

    A healthy summer makes for a more enjoyable summer. By embracing various immune-boosting strategies, individuals can make this summer even more fun.

  • 14 June 21 marks the longest day of the year, and locals can enjoy the extra daylight at Carvers Creek State Park for an evening of running and yoga. The Summer Solstice Run and Yoga event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Long Valley Farm Access entrance to Carvers Creek.

    The event is being held by Somatic Reset, Qualified Wellness and Running Wild Collective — three locally owned businesses dedicated to the wellness of the Fayetteville community.

    “This was the brain child of Somatic Reset and Qualified Wellness. They wanted to incorporate a running portion to a yoga event, taking a kind of holistic wellness lens to the whole event and to try to get the outdoor community together,” said Jhovanna Therrien of Running Wild Collective, one of the co-organizers of the event.

    Erin Basket from Qualified Wellness and Samantha Ewashko from Somatic Reset round out the team behind the event at Carvers Creek.

    “Solstice is a big deal on the west coast and with the yoga community,” said Therrien. “Sam [from Somatic Reset] just moved from California and she wanted to get the yoga community and the running community together. We talked about it and decided on Carvers Creek because it allows for a trail run and a partnership with a Fayetteville State park.”

    Participants will begin the evening at 5:45 p.m. with a 1.08 out-and-back walk or run through part of the park’s trails. Once completed, they will join three yoga instructors from the community in 108 sun salutations.
    The number 108 is considered auspicious in yoga practices. The number refers to spiritual completion. Rounds of sun salutations are done in nine rounds with 12 postures, equaling 108. The number 108 can be found all throughout the world. The distance between the earth and the sun is 108 times the diameter of the sun. Stonehenge was built 108 feet in diameter.

    “It’s not common to do all 108, it depends on your experience with yoga,” said Therrien.

    “It is more of a meditative practice, it is a yoga practice.”

    After the sun salutations, participants can kick back and chat with each other and the many vendors at the event. California Taco, Smoothie Queen and Tropical Sno Fayetteville will be on hand. Fleet Feet, Triangle Rock Club and Team RWB will also have booths.

    “We are all looking forward to connecting more with the wellness community that is so present in Fayetteville,” said Therrien.

    “I think it will be a good opportunity to have everyone in one location. I’m just really looking forward to connecting with and bringing people together in one space.”

    The solstice run and yoga event will wrap up around 8:30 p.m.

    Tickets for the event cost $20 per person or $50 for a family. Send any questions to qualifiedwellness@gmail.com.

    Carvers Creek State Park is located at 2505 Long Valley Road in Spring Lake.

  • 19aIn March of 1825, Marquis de Lafayette visited Fayetteville as part of his United States tour as “The Nation’s Guest.” On that day, Lafayette’s secretary, Auguste Lavasseur, wrote that while the weather was “excessively bad,” the reception was impactful.

    Now, almost two hundred years later, we will celebrate Lafayette’s visit and his birthday. In honor of the upcoming Bicentennial Celebration and the Lafayette’s Grand Birthday Ball & Soirée on Sept. 9, Rebecca Russell from Beespoke Vintage will be offering three lectures and workshops titled Preparing for Lafayette.

    This series will teach men and women about the historical background on clothing worn by people in the 1820s, followed by a sewing workshop where Russell will help participants create their own outfits to prepare for the Bicentennial event.

    The first workshop is aptly named “Foundations.” During this workshop, participants will learn about the silhouette of the 1820s and how it had changed dramatically from the earlier “Colonial” period. Participants will explore a brief overview of the details and differences between the clothing of the working classes and nobility. The bulk of this workshop will then turn to and focus on the foundation garments for men and women.

    “I think the biggest thing is just understanding how important foundation garments are for clothing of this era. Because if you’re not wearing the right garments underneath, the other garments are not going to look right,” Russell said.

    “If you’re trying to wear modern undergarments with period clothing from back then, you’ll notice. So I really like to stress that you have to start with the foundations. So you have to start with the skin out to really get the right look, and you’ll notice it yourself when you’re wearing the clothing. It will definitely feel different, it’ll wear different, you’ll behave differently. And so that’s really important and why they're foundational in that sense, too.”

    The June 10 lecture will begin at 9 a.m. and will be an hour long. The next two hours will be dedicated to cutting patterns and fabrics. There will be an hour break for lunch. The workshop will resume at 1 p.m. with the sewing and construction of the clothes.

    Participants must bring their own patterns, fabric, machines and notions.

    “Don’t show up at the workshop thinking that the pattern in fabric is going to already be there waiting for you. Because everybody’s a different size and people have different types of fabric they want to buy,” Russell19 said.

    There are four ticket options. To attend the lecture, the workshop and have a catered lunch, that would be a $65 ticket. To attend the lecture and the workshop, but to bring your own lunch, that would be a $50 ticket. To attend just the lecture, which will take place in the morning, is $15. To attend the virtual lecture and workshop would be $20. There are discounts available for military, first responders, educators and single parents.

    To buy tickets, get the supply list, and to learn more about the event, go to https://www.beespokevintage.com/preparing-for-lafayette

    There will be two other lectures and workshops scheduled before the birthday party in September. The session on July 8 will focus on Day Wear, while the session on Aug. 12 will focus on Evening Wear.

  • 18Briana Allan talks a lot with her hands. In her line of work, her hands are always moving but then again, so are her feet.

    The real challenge, Allan says, is to get her mind there. She does this through listening to rhythm and blues and hip-hop artists like J. Cole to clear her head before the swings start. Anything with a good beat, she says.

    “It’s more a mental game than physical,” Allan says. “Physically you can get there but can you handle being punched in the face over and over?”

    She laughs. Allan is one of the few female boxers at her gym and the only one in her old gym in Lillington. In a sport that has been often filled with men, and sometimes having no sparring partners but male boxers, Allan has a good spirit about her. She laughs a lot as she moves her hands around, two hair ties adorning her wrist. She looks down at her wrists and laughs a little. It takes two, she says, to get her long curly hair into a braid and into her headgear.

    For Allan, it’s all about breaking down the time into smaller increments.

    “I will look at the clock and say, ‘I only have 30 more seconds.’”

    Allan trains on three minute rounds with 30 second breaks. Allan, 17, graduated high school early and has stuck around the area just to continue to work on her sport before heading off to Campbell University in the fall.

    In just a week, Allan and more than 300 other boxers, male and female, ages 8 to 70, will compete in the annual Carolina Gloves South Boxing tournament. The tournament will host boxers from all over the United States and a few from Canada and Puerto Rico.

    “We’ll have some of the most elite boxers from all over … some will be competing for the U.S. Olympic team,” Mark Hornsby, the event's co-director, says.

    Those two boxers with the Olympic trials in their futures are female students of Coach Patrick Finklin. Finklin will have boxers of all ages in the tournament including an 8-year-old who is currently number one in the country for his age and weight class.
    Coach Patrick is also a coach to many active duty military members who will also be competing in the upcoming tournament.

    “I like coaching active duty military. They are more disciplined and focused. They are here until they get stationed somewhere else,” he says. “They are not only focused, but loyal.”

    Coach Hornsby and Coach Patrick are the two directors for the upcoming tournament and the Vice President and President of North Carolina USA Boxing, respectively.18a

    “We’ve done a lot of work,” Hornsby says, “That’s what brings in the boxers and keeps them coming back.”

    Allan is a testament to that statement with morning training sessions that range about two hours and lately, she’s added an afternoon session with her second boxing coach, Coach Font, to work on the skills she started in the morning.

    “It takes a team to box,” she says.

    Allan adjusts again in her seat and a smile is not very far from her face as she speaks about boxing and her coaches. Allan now travels from Lillington to Fayetteville to Coach Font’s gym to get some sparring time with other female boxers. For the beginning of her boxing time, she had mostly male companions to fight.

    “You know, it has its advantages and disadvantages. Sparing with males has made me a lot tougher,” she says. “But being around women, it’s a different kind of empowerment. We all know what it’s like to [be] a woman in sports.”

    Allan is excited about the upcoming tournament. She’ll keep up the regimen of training until a week out from the tournament when she and other boxers will protect their arms from becoming too fatigued and dial down the running as to be careful not to roll an ankle.

    Allan’s grandmother, on the other hand, has other worries.

    “She says, ‘I don’t want you to mess up your pretty face or break your teeth,’” Allan says laughing.

    The tournament will be held June 17 and 18. Saturday’s round will start around 12 p.m. with the first session lasting until 4 p.m. and the second session beginning around 6 p.m. and will last until about 10 p.m. that night.

    Sunday will be the championship rounds that begin at 12 p.m. and last until 6 or 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the event for $25, kids ages 7 and under are free.

    “It’s going to be a good experience. That first year we did it was a gas shortage,” Coach Patrick says. “It didn’t stop people from doing it. When they showed up it was hard to find gas to get back home.”

    The Carolina Gloves South Boxing Tournament is presented by the Harnett County Police Activity League. The tournament will be held at the Freedom Courts Sportsplex, part of the Freedom Christian Academy campus, located at 3126 Gillespie Street in Fayetteville.

  • 17It’s that time of year again. The sun is high, the days are long, and Cumberland County Library has just rolled out its new Summer Reading Program. Kids and adults across the county have until Aug. 15 to participate in this year’s summer reading theme: All Together Now.

    “We use the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s theme each year,” explained Faith Phillips, Director of Cumberland County Public Library. “They are a nonprofit, charitable organization that supports literacy, education, and science through summer reading events in public libraries across the United States.”

    This year’s program participants can visit any Cumberland County Library branch to pick up a reading log or download READsquared! for paperless tracking. This year’s program, which began June 1, boasts some great prizes and expanded reading categories. Participants across all ages are reading to win cool tech, free books, toys, and gift cards for businesses around Fayetteville. Also, due to a grant from the state library, this year’s summer reading program will offer some fun enrichment activities and events.

    The summer reading program serves three different age categories: children (birth-5th grade), teens (6th-12th) and adults (19+). This year, children and teens have three prize tiers: 5 hours, 10 hours and 20 hours.

    To complete this reading challenge, adults must read four books before the Aug. 15 deadline. However, all age groups can choose to read more for a chance to enter into prize drawings.
    Post-COVID, participation in the library’s extracurricular offerings, including the summer reading program, has been rising — a trend Phillips hopes continues.

    “Participation was back up close to pre-COVID numbers [last year],” Phillips said. “We hope to continue getting the word out about Summer Reading and our programs to more people in the community.”
    To fit in with this summer’s theme, the library has several fun activities planned for readers of all ages scheduled for the month of June. Digging in the Dirt, Mission 2 Space, and Bathtub Pirates are just a few of the programs planned. Check the library’s website and calendar for dates, times and full descriptions of each activity.

    The summer’s hottest books, like “Spare” by Prince Harry, “My Hero Academia” by Kohei Horikoshi, and “Never Never” by Colleen Hoover, are in top circulation at the library and can also be downloaded to an e-reader or heard as an audio book via Overdrive and the Libby App. For those who prefer their books more digital than analog, this is especially good news since any and all methods of reading count toward trackable hours.

    Whether as a solo activity or completed with the whole family, the Summer Reading Program is an excellent opportunity to foster a love of reading from an early age.

    The benefits of reading are endless, but they’re especially useful during the summer months when most children are away from school. On average, students can lose up to 34% of the previous year’s learning gains over summer break. Summer reading helps the mind stay active by sparking the imagination, creating discourse and activating critical thinking skills.

    To learn more about programs and events, visit the library website at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.

  • 15aDuring times when it can feel difficult to find hope, artist Joshua Carnes said it is important to manufacture it. He hopes to generate hope for the youth of Robeson County during the first ever St. Pauls Arts Demo Day, hosted by the Robeson Art Guild.

    The St. Pauls Arts Demo Day, to be held on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bob Everett Park, will provide 100 free canvases, paints and brushes to participants under the age of 18 so they may express their feelings through art.

    “We just want to see them create,” Carnes said. “At the same time, we’re trying to encourage the arts among our youth that if no one will listen, the canvas or page will, and that it’s possible to take a negative emotion and turn it into a positive notion and even make a living doing so.”

    The event will also feature music and art vendors who will discuss their creative process with those present and answer questions about the business aspects of their artistic careers.
    Carnes, a professional artist who now mostly sculpts, said he wanted to conduct the event after hearing of recent arrests of juveniles for gun related crimes.

    “I got a lot of love to share and I want to give it back,” Carnes said. “And there are a lot of kids out there that need help.”

    Carnes said he got the idea for the special event after having a similar experience in his youth while going through a difficult time. An artist came to his school and handed out free canvases to students. This was the day he painted his first picture, he said.

    “Because of strangers — the kindness of strangers— I found my way to the creative process,” Carnes said.

    Carnes said his inspiration for the event also came from a memory of his son who was saddened after watching a scary and heartbreaking news story.

    The two then decided to make their own hope for the world by growing their hair long for the charity Locks of Love, an organization which makes hair prosthetics for children with illness-related hair loss. The father-son pair have since donated their hair nine or 10 times now, Carnes said.

    “The idea that you have to manufacture hope — you have to make hope where there is none, that’s where this [Arts Demo Day] came from,” Carnes said.15b

    Beyond creating an atmosphere of hope, Carnes said he hopes the young artists at the event are able to take away a sense of pride.

    “Shame is a negative thing,” Carnes said. “And a lot of us lack confidence. And if we can take and find something to be proud of, I think our lives would be better. And I want these children to know that they should be proud.”

    The St. Pauls Arts Demo Day will be structured as a paint and picnic event, with participants encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the park area as they paint. Carnes hopes this encourages connection and communication between community members.

    “What happens when we come together: we bring walls down,” Carnes said. “It doesn’t matter the political affiliate you are. Art moves everyone. It’s going to open up doors.”

    The arts serve an important function for creators to have the ability to express themselves and share their feelings with viewers, even when words fail, Carnes said.

    “If you have problems speaking, then you can do it with a brush, you can do it with a lump of clay,” Carnes said. “And communication is where it’s at. That’s what we need. We need to relate to each other.”

    Though this is the inaugural Arts Demo Day, Carnes said he hopes it’s not the last of its kind, adding the Robeson Art Guild has expressed interest in continuing the event.

    Those attending the event are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for a canned food drive. The First Baptist Church of Hope Mills will be present conducting a coat drive.

    The organization Ready, Set, Go, a nonprofit promoting accessible child care which offers programs and resources for children and parents, will also attend the event. Carnes expressed gratitude to Sarah Hayes, Paul Terry and the Robeson Art Guild for their help with the event.

  • 14On June 16, KISS ARMY and Mirimage will be performing at Rock’n On The River for those who enjoy live music, relaxing and having a good time. The Deep Creek Grill, near the Campbellton Landing on the Cape Fear River, will host the event.

    Mirimage is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., and KISS ARMY at 8 p.m., said Greg Adair, organizer of the Rock’n On The River concert series. KISS ARMY, who call themselves the“coolest band in the world,” hail from Kentucky but play once or twice a week in communities across the nation. KISS ARMY, who are decked out in the recognizable KISS face paint and attire, offer a striking glimpse into KISS’s 1970s line-up.

    “When we go out there, we try to make people think it’s KISS. That’s the whole point of being a tribute band,” said Jim Seda, who has performed as the “Demon” for more than 30 years.

    According to band lore, each member of KISS has a persona. Additionally, each persona contributes to what makes KISS unique.

    Since the original four-piece phenom KISS split up in 1980, lead singer Paul Stanley (“Starchild”) and bassist Gene Simmons (“Demon”) have been reformed. In 1980, Eric Carr (“Fox”) replaced Peter Criss (“Catman”) as the band’s drummer, and Vinnie Vincent (“Egyptian Warrior”) replaced Ace Frehley (“Spaceman”) in 1982.

    KISS made the decision to “unmask” themselves in 1983, putting an end to what was regarded as the “real” KISS in favor of a more modern 1980s appearance, sound and vibe. Yet, starting in the late 1990s, KISS reconvened as the original band for a string of international farewell concerts.14a

    The demand for KISS increased when the original members of KISS got back together for the first farewell concert, and Seda’s band was asked to play shows when KISS was unable to, he said. However, “it works both ways” since even when KISS isn’t performing, fans still want to see them.

    Mirimage is an up and coming Southern rock/country band. The band, led by Bobby Gilstrap, consists of five members who are all equally excited each time they hit the stage. They are sure to become a local favorite.

    The stage will be set up directly behind Deep Creek Grill, literally rocking next to the Cape Fear River. Rock’n On The River is presented by Healy Wholesale with partners Bob 96.5 FM radio and Up & Coming Weekly. The concert is free and open to the public, but there is a $10 parking fee. Outside coolers and containers are not permitted. Only service animals are permitted.

    Food can be purchased from Deep Creek Grill on site and Healy will be serving alcoholic beverages. Food and beer will be available for purchase starting at 5 p.m. Rock’n On The River takes place at 1122 Person Street. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049990406810.

  • 06-19-13-4th-friday.gif4th Fridayis a tradition in Downtown Fayetteville. A celebration of the arts, 4th Fridayis a collaborative effort of the downtown area to showcase local bookstores, galleries, shops and more. Notable events are sponsored by the Arts Council, Cape Fear Studios, Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, Headquarters Library, Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum and City Center Gallery & Books. This month’s 4th Friday theme, which is sponsored by the Downtown Alliance, features a scavenger hunt.

    The Arts Council’s Healing Artsexhibit opens this month and is celebrated with a reception. “Healing Arts is actually a continuation of last year’s Healing Arts exhibit,” said Calvin Mimms, director of development at The Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “It is an exploration of art that is collected or created by local physicians. What we are doing is making the connection with art and art therapy by highlighting physicians who use art as a creative outlet for personal reasons and how it affects the mind, body, and spirit.”

    The exhibit was well-received last year and Mimms is excited about expanding on the theme this year. “People are going to be surprised to find physicians in this area that collect the works of area artists. There are a lot of physicians here that have purchased art from local studios. I think that the community will be surprised at the quality of work that local artists produce.”

    Admirers of art will be captivated by the display of talent from artists throughout the country. Cape Fear Studios is showcasing the fifth annual National 2D Exhibit Competition. Also, there will be paintings by other artists both locally and nationwide. The exhibit opens at 6 p.m. and will run until 9 p.m.

    4th Friday will also have age-appropriate activities for kids. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum will host crafts for children to make patriotic wind-streamers, perfect to decorate 4th of July picnics and more. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to let a child’s red, white and blue streamer fly. This event opens at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

    Bookworms are not excluded from the festivities either. Headquarters Library will have an author’s showcase for readers to meet authors from the Sandhills area and buy autographed copies of their books. The showcase will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.

    Local award-winning exotic belly dancers of Shadows of the Fire will perform in front of the Capitol Building starting at 7 p.m. Also performing are Transfusion Fire Arts and local martial-arts school Musha Dojo with its own gifted students.

    Festival Park will come alive as Operation Ceasefi re returns for the community’s summer enjoyment. At 7:30 p.m., the park will transform into an outdoor movie theater, with the showing of a family-favorite movie.

    Local downtown businesses will open throughout the evening offering special discounts and samplings of their work. So Chic Bébé will discount all red, white and blue items by 25 percent in honor of our military heroes. Active and retired military personnel will receive a 15 percent discount off all purchases on Friday, too.

    Downtown Fayetteville has 37 places to shop, 28 places to dine and 26 places to play. There is something for everyone to participate in on 4th Friday. Not only is it a celebration of the arts, it’s a celebration of our Fayetteville community. Pack an evening picnic, bring snacks and be prepared for a relaxing afternoon of adventure this June 28th at 4th Friday.

  • 06-25-14-tropic-orchestra.gifCape Fear Botanical Garden presents the band, Tropic Orchestra, performing Latin tunes on Friday, June 27 from 6 pm – 8:30 pm. Gates open at 6 pm and live entertainment begins at 7 pm.

    “This is our third year of offering our spring concert series in the garden,” said Meg Suraci, director of marketing at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. “We love to have the concerts outside and we have had a terrific response from the community.” Suraci added that this is the fourth and final concert of the series. In the fall there will be a concert series featuring the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

    Tropic Orchestra is no stranger to the area, having played in cities throughout North Carolina. Come ready to dance to the salsa beat as lead performer Ricardo Diquez and the band serenade the crowd with spicy Latin music. The band includes a host of veteran musicians from the United States, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Venezuela.

    The Cape Fear Botanical Garden has enjoyed a growth spurt in the past few years and has significantly expanded the types of events that it hosts. In addition to concerts, the garden has played host to Shakespeare in the Garden, offered several adult- and child-friendly classes and workshops and opened the grounds for events like Heritage Day and plant sales. This is in addition to hosting corporate and private events.

    “We opened the Wyatt Visitor’s Center in April 2011,” said Suraci. “By opening this brand new building, it gave us the opportunity to expand our programming and that includes the cultural programming in bringing music to the garden.” Suraci added that they learned through the APGA, American Public Garden Association, that while people enjoy the gardening environment, not everyone is interested in becoming a gardener. By offering cultural events it attracts people who would not come otherwise.

    Started in 1989, Cape Fear Botanical Garden rests between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek. It is just two miles from downtown Fayetteville and includes a river trail with water views. Tours are available, or just relax on the patio overlooking the Cypress Pond. There is also a gift shop with nature related items and artwork from local artists.

    Ticket cost is $10 for members with membership card, $15 for non-members, $5 for kids over ten years old, and children under ten have free admission. Chair rentals are $2.

    “We are hoping that everyone will come out and enjoy the music and have a festive evening,” said Suraci. “This is a fantastic family friendly event where kids can come and run and play on the lawn.” Suraci added that everyone can bring their lawn chair or blanket.

    In case of inclement weather the concert will be moved indoors. No outside food, beverages, coolers, or pets will be permitted. Food, wine, beverages, and beer will be available for purchase. Pierro’s Italian Restaurant will provide food for purchase. For more information call 486-0221.

  • Big-time comedian Michael Blackson, also known as the African King of Comedy, will perform June 15, at the Crown Center to raise funds for the Ngorli Organization, a charity that aims to further the education of children in underdeveloped communities in Africa.

    Taken from its official website, Ngorli “takes the stance that some of the key components needed to reach children and initiate a passion for learning are: education, motivation, exposure and interest-based learning. It is important to enable children to see themselves beyond their current conditions and circumstances. Placing literature in their hands makes a connection to their daily lives, while at the same time expanding their thoughts and ideas regarding their own potential.”

    In Ghana, more than half of the schools are privately owned and only 40 percent are owned by the government. In this system, children whose parents cannot afford private school are left with poor scores and fewer opportunities. That’s where the Ngorli Organization provides assistance by helping the less fortunate communities through the funding of libraries and other educational infrastructure. The organization “believes that together we can advance the course of humanity by promoting and creating a constructive environment and well-resourced educational facilities for children in underprivileged societies.”06-05-13-michael-blackson.gif

    Ngorli, meaning future or hope in the Ewe language, serves as the philosophy of the organization. Like its name implies, the organization has created an array of programs to help children overcome obstacles like poverty and illiteracy through scholarships, counseling, competitions and medical screenings both locally and abroad.Originally from Ghana, Blackson is known for his humorous portrayal of American culture, which shines a spotlight on the often times ironic nature of everyday American life as seen by an outsider. Blackson launched his career as a stand-up comedian in different locations around Philadelphia, Penn. His big break was his role in the comedy film Next Friday (2000) where he gained a large following, which led to the release of his top-selling sketch comedy CD, Modasucka. Blackson has appeared in several other film and television programs since, leaving audiences in tears of laughter.

    When it comes to entertainment, there are few better ways to conclude your day than to see top-notch comedians perform while simultaneously contributing to a child’s education and future. One thing’s for sure; if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind performance, comedy genius Blackson will not disappoint.

    Also performing that night are Shaun Jones, R&B artist Eliz Camacho and more. Buy your tickets at TicketMaster.com to ensure the best seats for optimum giggles! The show begins on June 15, at 9 p.m.

    Photo: Comedian Michael Blackson will perform at the Crown on June 15 to raise funds for the Ngorli Organization.

  • The Hidden Gem of Downtown Fayetteville06-12-13-moonstone-hidden gem.gif

    Downtown Fayetteville is filled with dynamic establishments run by passionate risk-takers who are devoted to the community. Our View from the Market House showcases the businesses and entrepreneurs that make downtown shine.

    Downtown Fayetteville is buzzing with activity. No matter the need, downtown offers a wide array of services filled with small business owners eager to make an impression. Nestled among the many shops of Hay Street is a unique family-owned business, Moonstone Jewelry. Moonstone Jewelry is an out-of-this-world jewelry store experience. Inside, the walls are lined with an assortment of eye-catching earrings, necklaces and rings — many of which created by designer/owner Samantha Angarita. Upon entering, customers are greeted by the bubbly Angarita in her haute couture, high fashion showroom. Moonstone Jewelry strives to be different by creating a personalized shopping experience where customers can request their own unique, exclusive piece to be designed at an affordable price.

    “I love it. I love what I do,” Angarita said. “This is my dream-come-true job.” Just last year, she was designated one of the Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under Forty as a future up and coming leader in the Fayetteville community. In addition to owning and operating a business, Angarita is busy raising a family with her husband Joel who’s in the military. “My biggest supporter is my husband,” she said. “My son also helps on the weekends, he loves helping his mom, he’s become a familiar face for customers.”

    Originally from Venezuela, Angarita moved to the Fayetteville area eight years ago. She learned English and began taking courses at FTCC. In Venezuela she owned a consulting business before moving to the States. No stranger to entrepreneurship, she was eager to jump at the opportunity to run another business, this time in jewelry. “Everyone on my dad’s side is an artist,” Angarita explained. “I wanted to find a way to express myself artistically, which I found in Moonstone.” Aside from her work with Moonstone, she also hosts the local television show Conexion Latina where she informs local Latinos about up and coming events in and around Fayetteville.

    The beauty of Moonstone is the customer service. “I like to spend time with my customers and form a relationship with my clients,” Angarita said. “I know their names and stay in touch with them.” Forming a bond with customers allows Angarita to have insight that allows her to craft the right piece of jewelry.

    By working with Angarita to craft pieces, customers no longer have to worry about plain, generic trinkets. The personal involvement with the crafting and design process practically guarantees satisfaction. “We are different and I love when people come to see something unique and they can afford it.” She said. “We can work with their budget.” Much of the jewelry lining the walls was not designed by Angarita but was selected by the owner herself. “I go hunting for jewelry. I can tell where each piece is coming from,” she said. “People like to know the story behind it.” Point to anything in her store and there’s a tale to tell.

    Angarita stressed that downtown is the to-be place in Fayetteville. “We have everything in downtown,” she said. It’s her hope that by working cooperatively with other shops, they can begin to bring more business to everyone downtown.

    Moonstone Jewelry is located at 306 Hay St and is open from 10:30am to 5:30 pm. If you’re looking for exclusive, unique and custom designed jewelry with great customer service, don’t exclude Moonstone from your shopping adventure. Also, while visiting Historic Downtown Fayetteville, experience the other fine quality shops, art venues and restaurants that define the “downtown” experience. There are dozens of equally wonderful experiences waiting to be found in historic Downtown Fayetteville.

    Photo: Joy Powell, owner of Shops at 123 Hay Street.

  • 06-19-13-ftcc.gifWhat a great opportunity for Fayetteville, Cumberland County and surrounding areas. Thanks to the Golden Leaf Foundation, Fayetteville Technical Community College provides a preparation course for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airframe and Powerplant License examinations.

    Through the Department of Continuing Education, this 128-hour, 11-week program is designed to prepare students for three written exams, oral and practical tests through hands-on training and some basic welding technology. Books are included, and the equipment puts your skills to work!

    The purpose of this program is to provide training for active-duty and retired military personnel seeking employment/promotion in A & P operations. The general public is also welcome to enroll. There are four requirements to obtain a mechanics license: experience, achievement in written exams and achievement in oral and practical tests.

    The Airframe and Powerplant Prep course is for applicants who meet FAR 65.71-65.77. According to these regulations, a student must have experience before being approved by the FAA to sit for the exams. The required experience for the powerplant mechanics rating is a minimum of 18 months working with tools on any type of aircraft engine. The required experience for the airframe mechanic rating is a minimum of 18 months working with tools on any type of airframe. For students who desire both ratings, the combination total of experience is only 30 months.

    The course is given at FTCC’s Spring Lake Campus, which provides 34 modern classrooms including 12 laboratories, a conference room, a North Carolina Information Highway classroom and a 102-seat lecture hall. The program has been a success for Fort Bragg and surrounding areas. With continued interest, FTCCwill provide the training for aviation mechanics as long as needed.

    Are you ready to further your career? Come talk to us at FTCC today! For more information about the Airframe and Powerplant Preparation classes, please call 910.678.0027.

    FTCC offers more than 189 programs of study leading to the award of associate degree, certificate or diploma. Many programs of study are offered 100 percent online. In addition to curriculum studies, FTCC’s Continuing Education Department offers a broad range of programs to enhance skills, gain new skills and help individuals transition into the workplace quickly. Learn more at faytechcc.edu or visit our campuses at 2201 Hull Road in Fayetteville, 171 Lake Tree Blvd. in Spring Lake, or the Fort Bragg Center located in the Bragg Training and Education Center.

    Photo: FTCC’s airframe and powerplant preparation program  provides training for active-duty and retired military personnel seeking employment/promo-tion in Airframe and Powerplant operations.

  • 06-23-10-natures-elements.jpgArt is defined as the production or expression of what is beautiful, and on 4th Friday art abounds.

    On Friday June 25, from 6-10 p.m., in downtown Fayetteville the once silent beauty of art will be no more, it shall speak move and live through its artists in the 4th Friday theme Arts Alive!

    There will be music, demonstrations and tons of art developing before your eyes. Artist will be in the streets, specifi cally on Maxwell Street, demonstrating their art.

    “The idea is to come see the art, but to see it actually being preformed or demonstrated. So, you can see the process not just the fi nished project,” explained Chris Kastner, the executive director of Cape Fear Studios.

    Cape Fear Studious is located in historic downtown Fayetteville. It is a nonprofi t organization whose mission is to, “involve, educate and enrich Cumberland County and surrounding communities with the opportunity to create and freely view art,” and this month Cape Fear Studious is diving into the theme, and is featuring two local artists; Rose Kennedy, who paints works with pastels, and Nancy Edge, who is is a potter . Their chosen theme is Nature’s Elements.

    Rose Kennedy is a lifelong resident of southeastern North Carolina, and has worked as a commercial artist, producing numerous images for licensed products, such as greeting cards, needlework, giftwrap, wallpaper and book illustration.

    “I enjoy exploring the brilliance of light and the nuances of shadows with this medium (soft and oil pastel). My subject matter is strongly infl uenced by my rural North Carolina roots, my travels, and an interest in nature and gardening,” she wrote on her Web site explaining her art, and drastic switch from watercolor and ink to pastels.

    Kastner noted, “You really get a sense of movement from her work,” about the water falls featured in Rose Kennedy’s work.

    Nancy Edge is an art teacher in the Cumberland County Schools System. She has recently been experimenting with racu pottery and firing techniques.

    Just as in living nature, their work is unique and different. Kennedy is painting primarily landscapes, and Edge’s pottery contrasts by being 3-d. To add even more to the liveliness of the art both artist will be there to speak for their work, and the artists will provide demonstrations of their craft, and answer any questions about their work.

    The work in the exhibit is 75 percent new, and never before seen in Cumberland County, and though there are two different mediums, they fl ow together seamlessly under the theme of Natures Elements.

    The opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. at Cape Fear Studios on Maxwell Street between Russell and Franklin Streets.

  • Local metalsmith and artist Erica Stankwytch Bailey likes to create pieces that explore small things within their larger context, so it’s not surprising that she found so much inspira-tion for her latest exhibition. Everything is small against the backdrop of the Grand Canyon, which is where the artist spent three weeks in January and February 2010, hiking, collecting inspiration, and eventually creating on-site many of the pieces in Seeing and the Relevance of Small Things, which is on dis-play until June 22 at Cape Fear Studios.

    The exhibit is a collection of jewelry, photographs and art pieces that reflect different aspects of the canyon. The hues of the desert, angles of cliff walls, outlines of cacti, and petro-glyphs are represented, as well as the artist’s personal experi-ences while trekking through the park, like the series called “Climb.”

    “The first piece I made in that series is called “Vertical Climb,” so it was about moving up,” Bailey said. “So there’s the simple climb, these things just like small steps forward. Also, for me, so much of this adventure, this journey, was a challenge. Leaving my family, I have small children, you know, doing all of the hiking and things alone, a lot of these were firsts for me, so I thought a lot about the challenge we accept with that journey.”

    Bailey’s journey began when she was selected for the Grand Canyon National Park’s Artist-in-Residence Program, which allowed her to stay for free, at the park.

    “They gave me a place to live, a really great apartment overlooking the canyon,” Bailey said. “It was indescribably beautiful. Probably the best view from a building in the national park. It also had a studio.”

    Traveling through airport security with metalsmithing tools proved to be a chal-lenge, so Bailey was forced to leave many of her tools behind.

    “I just hiked as much as I could,” Bailey said. “I hiked down into the canyon by myself. I took something to the effect of 1,600 photographs. … When I finished some of that major hiking, I went up into that little studio and I just knocked out what I could in metal, which was interesting, from the maker perspective, because I ended up kind of having to go back to the beginning of how I learned to make things, because I didn’t have all my stuff.”

    After she returned, she worked on the collection for about a year. Two weeks before the exhibit was ready, she returned to the canyon briefly to finish a few pieces and re-experience the place.

    Used to thinking in terms of the small and the large context, Bailey said her time at the canyon changed her own perspective.

    “I was going there to see the relevance of small things, and I was really just blown away when I got there because it is such an enormous and vast place,” she said. “It didn’t seem real, it’s just so big. My definition of small changed. … All of a sudden, I was also sort of the small thing, the thing that could be consid-ered irrelevant. Then, if you think about your impact on places, how relevant I could have been. … It was a more profound experience than I thought it would be, and I went with really high expectations.”

    Chris Kastner, executive director of Cape Fear Studios, said Bailey, who is a member artist of the gallery, won the right to have her solo show in the annual compe-tition between member artists. She said the uniqueness of the show is that it’s not just jewelry, but pieces inspired by the Grand Canyon.

    “She’s very creative and she’s very skilled as a metalsmith, so I think the thing that’s interesting about this show is to see the pictures from the Grand Canyon and how they actually inspired the pieces,” Kastner said. “And, how she views things that wouldn’t strike a lot of us. She picks up on that and then06-15-11-local-artist.jpg takes that and actually cre-ates something inspired by that.”

    Bailey, who has exhibited her works in many places before, is still thrilled to have this show. 

    “It’s really exciting,” Bailey said. “Probably having a solo show in your home town is maybe more exciting than anywhere else. Where you live is where the people who love you are, and the people you love.”

    Cape Fear Studios is located at 148 Maxwell Street, open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

    Photo: Erica Stankwytch Bailey featured with her work.

  • 23Independence Day, better known as the 4th of July, is almost here, and many of us will be flying our own American flag. It is such a powerful image that there is even a day dedicated to honoring it – Flag Day.

    Technically, Flag Day commemorates the June 14, 1777, adoption of the stars and stripes as the official flag of the United States by the Second Continental Congress. (Parenthetically, June 14 also celebrates the birthday of the United States Army, as the continental army was formally established on that day two years earlier). While not a full-fledged federal holiday, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring June 14 as Flag Day, and in 1949 an Act of Congress designated it as National Flag Day.

    Still, why all the fuss over a piece of cloth hoisted on a pole?

    Flags have long been symbols of nations or other groups and political entities. Among a flag’s many purposes is to stir patriotic feelings among a nation’s citizenry and to mark the representation of that country to other nations.

    The etymology of the word “flag” is a bit uncertain, but it likely derives from Middle English, from the Old Norse Flaka, meaning to flutter or flap about. While an apt description of what a flag does in the wind, it is not particularly edifying.

    In contrast, the Hebrew word for flag – Degel – has a more elevated meaning (pardon the pun). Degel is related to words meaning prominent, distinguished, praised or to profess. So, a flag is that which is prominently displayed to distinguish a nation (or group) so as to praise and profess loyalty to it.

    Some Biblical scholars suggest that the word Degel came from related languages, where it originally referred to a military colony “overseen” by a watch tower. As Hebrew developed, the idea of watching over was extended to the flag flying from the tower. For the ancient Hebrews, Degel came to mean a banner symbolizing God’s watching over them, which by encompassing them, designated them as a constituted group.

    While few of us know any of the five verses other than the first, it is striking that Francis Scott Key’s 1814 poem, “The Defence [sic] of Fort McHenry” – later renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner” – concludes with the words,
    Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
    Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
    Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
    “And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

    Whether or not God extends a special providence to the United States of America, over the centuries, this land has certainly been a blessing to many people fleeing persecution and struggles, but not to all.
    When we as Americans face our national flag, and lift our hands to our hearts or in salute, let us be thankful for our blessings and pray that God extends watchful care over us, our families and all our citizenry; bringing understanding, peace and abiding success to everyone within our borders.

    As Irving Berlin, a famous immigrant from my faith, once prayerfully wrote, “God Bless America.”

  • 5Trigger alert: If the bodily functions of Vladimir Putin offend you, stop reading now. Go to the cross-word puzzle.

    Today's lesson is ripped from the pages of the British newspaper The Daily Mail. This column is a tale told by an idiot (your humble author), full of sound and fury, signifying nothing — potty humor at its worst.

    We are traveling to the Island of Misfit Toys. Beware, this way lies madness. That's right, friends and neighbors, we are entering the bizarre world of safeguarding Putin's Poo.

    As you may recall, Vlad Putin has been the dictator of Russia since 2000. He came into office during Bill Clinton's second term and outlasted Bush Jr., Obama, Trump and now Biden. Over time, paranoia can occur in even the best of dictators, not to mention the worst ones.

    Many rumors are floating around about Vlad's health. Does he have cancer, Parkinson's Disease, early-stage dementia or boogie-woogie fever? The speculation is endless. Vlad denies ill health. However, his myriad enemies want to know if he is about to croak.

    Vlad's health is a closely guarded state secret. In 2001 George W. Bush said about Vlad: "I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul." Unfortunately, sensing Vlad's soul by looking dreamily into his eyes did not work out so well. Looking elsewhere on Vlad might give a better sense of his soul, or at least his health.

    Enter Putin's Poo Patrol to safeguard all the clues that may be secreted deep in Putin's Poo. If the eyes are a window to the soul, Putin lacking a soul negates retina gazing. The Daily Mail's article about Putin's bodyguard unit tasked with collecting the Presidential Poo is instructive.

    Vlad wants to keep Western eyes from nosing around to see what is happening in his lower digestive tract. Analyzing his poo is probably more effective in determining his health than Bush's romancing Putin's baby blue eyes.

    The Poo Patrol has the delicate task of collecting Putin's bodily waste when he is on foreign trips. They store it in baggies, put it in a special briefcase, and guard it until it is safely back in Mother Russia.

    The Daily Mail reported Vlad brings his own private porta-potty, or his bodyguards accompany him to the bathroom with a special pooper scooper to secure Vlad's business from foreign toilets. The story was accompanied by a video of six burly security men who accompanied Vlad in Paris to the toilet along with the mysterious briefcase full of you know what.

    All this begs the question of how does one end up being in a unit charged with securing Presidential Poo? Is it an honor to serve on Poo Patrol, or is it punishment? Do the other agents make fun of members of the Poo Patrol? Do members of the Poo Patrol train by walking dogs and picking up doggy doo? Is the Commander of the Poo Patrol known as the Poopy Head? If a member of the Poo Patrol does a really good job carrying Presidential Poo, will he be promoted to carrying the nuclear football instead of the poo briefcase?

    What do they do with the Presidential Poo once they get it back to Russia? Is it embalmed and enshrined in Moscow in Lenin's Tomb? Are Russians making Non-Fungible Tokens out of pictures of the poo to sell on the interwebs to support the war against Ukraine? Does Putin have a Presidential library where children can come and admire the Presidential Poo? Can you buy plastic replicas of the poo at the Library's gift shop? Inquiring minds want to know.

    Putin's Potty Patrol is not without historical precedent. English King Henry VIII had an individual to fill the lofty office of the Groom of the Stool. The Groom of the Stool's job was assisting the King in evacuating his bowels and taking care of any clean-up tasks that might arise as a result. The Groom would be responsible for ensuring a portable toilet was available to the King as needed, along with fresh towels and water.

    Over the years, as a result of this intimate daily contact with the King, the job of Groom of the Stool evolved into the Groom serving as a close advisor to the King.

    The Groom lived in the castles and received many perks due to his proximity to the King. The Groom was well paid for what some might consider the Ralph Norton of Royal Jobs. Over the years, the status of the Groom grew in prestige and power. Mr. Google says that King George III had nine different Grooms during his reign, one of whom, John Stuart, became Prime Minister of Great Britain.

    So, what have we learned today? Finally, something useful. Don't turn your nose up at dirty jobs. There can be upward mobility in a downward-facing job.

    You can start at the bottom and work your way up to being Prime Minister. In Putin's Poo Patrol case, doing an excellent job as a Poo Agent might keep you from being sent to Siberia or having a cup of Polonium Tea.
    Always do your best.

  • vote yes3 copy A referendum on changing Fayetteville City Council representation from nine districts to five districts is headed for the general election ballot in November.

    Two former mayors, two former mayors pro tem and two past city councilmen have been working for more than a year to reduce district representation on the elected body that governs the city.
    They needed 5,000 signatures from registered voters who live in the city to change the structure of the nine-district council to five districts, with four at-large members, and they got the signatures and more.

    “The city of Fayetteville was notified that there were enough signatures for it to be placed on the ballot,” Angie Amaro, interim director of the Cumberland County Board of Elections, said Tuesday. “The item will be placed on the agenda for the City Council's last meeting in June.”

    There’s some irony here.

    Current council members like the idea of representing their community neighborhoods. They like knowing their constituents. And it’s less expensive running for a district seat than campaigning for an at-large seat.

    No matter, it is a state statute that the Vote Yes Fayetteville initiative be placed on the November ballot as the initiative has met all petition requirements for a referendum.

    “Having served as a district representative and at-large, I can see the benefit of having at-large representation,” says Bobby Hurst, a spokesman for the initiative that includes former four-term Mayor Tony Chavonne, the publisher of CityView TODAY; former two-term Mayor Nat Robertson, former Mayors pro tem Jim Arp and Wesley Meredith, and past council members Ted Mohn and Wade Fowler.

    The current council has 10 members, eight of whom are African American, including Mayor Mitch Colvin.

    “This isn’t racial,” Hurst says. “It’s about good government.”
    Vote Yes Fayetteville is proposing a mayor, four at-large council representatives and five district representatives that initiative leaders say will give all residents more representation on the City Council.

    “Local governments across this country are moving to a mix of district and at-large representation,” Hurst says.

    “We need more than just one person, the mayor, looking at the big picture on decision-making. Fayetteville needs elected officials with long-term vision for a better Fayetteville without being obligated to just a few groups in their small district.”

    Securing the 5,007 signatures, according to Hurst, was a 12-month effort.

    “Hundreds of Fayetteville residents have been working to secure the necessary signatures to give the people the opportunity to vote for the structure of their City Council,” he says. “During that time, we received donations from over 350 individuals demonstrating broad support for this initiative.”
    Hurst says he submitted the 5,007 signatures to the Board of Elections on March 18, and the board certified the signatures 2 and a half months later.

    “Each voter that signs the petition has to be checked in our system to see if they are registered and eligible to sign” as a city resident, Amaro says. “Staff began working on the petition in early and late April, and the petition was completed and spot-checked shortly after the May (primary) election. The City of Fayetteville was notified that there were enough signatures for it to be placed on the ballot.”

    “It is up to City Council now to pass a resolution putting the question on the ballot,” says Linda Devore, a member of the elections board.
    Should city residents approve the measure in a referendum, Hurst says, new districts will have to be mapped.

    “Feedback that I received from many people were the benefits of voting for six rather than just two people to represent them,” Hurst says.

    “This provides citizens more representation resulting in more accountability and transparency in our city government. My opinion is that a council member that has worked hard for their constituents for a better Fayetteville should not have a problem with campaigning in a larger district or at-large.”

    Pros and cons

    The Vote Yes Fayetteville referendum is headed for the November ballot.
    Some are for it, including Freddie de la Cruz, who is running to unseat Mitch Colvin for the mayor’s gavel in the July 26 city election.

    “I actually was a team captain knocking doors gaining close to 80 signatures,” de la Cruz says. “To me, it is a no-brainer — six versus two representations.”
    Some are against the initiative, including the mayor.

    “I am not supportive of the current Vote Yes proposal,” Colvin says.

    “I have served as both a district representative and mayor, and I believe the district representative model provides focus on the specific issues of the district’s residents. It’s impractical to believe we obtain higher-quality education by increasing the size of the classroom. This is the same concept of the Vote Yes. Increasing the size of districts dilutes representation, in my opinion.”

    Epilogue

    But the bottom line in the Vote Yes Fayetteville referendum will be you – the registered city voter.
    It’s your choice come November.
    It’s your vote.
    With six votes — one for mayor, four for at-large council members and a district council member, too – you’ll have more elected city leaders to vote for and to hold accountable on issues in the city.

    Editor's Note: for additional information on the Vote Yes Fayetteville initiative, visit https://www.voteyesfayetteville.com/.

  • 23Over time I’ve come to recognize freedom less for the ideal we portray it to be and more for the double-edged sword it truly is. In America, we lend a lot of credence to the ideals of freedom. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. Freedom of Information. Freedom of choice. As the sword of those freedoms cut one way, there is always the dangerous second edge that slices just as cleanly as we draw it back to its scabbard.

    We are free to choose, but we are not free from the consequences of our choices. In “The Message,” a modern English translation of the Bible, there’s some good advice in the book of Proverbs. Chapter 3, verses 3-4, says, “Don’t lose your grip on love and loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.”

    We see the two edges of the sword of freedom in use more often than we might even realize, cutting first one way and then the other. Freedom of speech, for example, sounds like a great idea at the onset. As part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, this freedom grants us the right to speak our mind or beliefs without the fear of retribution on the front edge, but it grants anyone who opposes that view the same right. This concept doesn’t necessarily sit well in the modern American culture, in which opposing views are often labeled hate speech in an attempt to shut down the very freedom employed by their team. That’s why I presented the Bible Proverb as good advice. It suggested (long before our Constitution or the First Amendment, by the way) that we not lose our grip on love or loyalty. And the truth is that we can assert our beliefs and even speak our mind and do it with love, respect and even loyalty to fellow citizens of this nation and planet.

    Freedom of religion, another facet of the same amendment, bears a similarly sharp edge. In a nation arguably founded on the premise of one religion, we are granted the free exercise of that religion without interference from the government so long as it doesn’t interfere with any of the other rights and freedoms granted within the Constitution. Still cool. But what about religions other than our own? Right. Same freedom. Again, let’s go back to that Proverb, and maybe even go a line or two further where we read, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all” (Proverbs 3:5-6). So as you celebrate our nation’s independence this year, think about the freedom you’ve been given, but take a little extra time to consider those same freedoms granted to those you’re lining up against. Don’t lose your grip on loyalty or love. And don’t assume you know it all.

  • 22People walk many animals, including cats, dogs, goats, lizards, pigs and even chickens. I often see a home-based video workout and the family pet upstaging the presenter in the background or coming up to be a part of the production. Exercising with dogs is this article’s primary focus, but did you know there is goat yoga? A popular trend across the nation, goat yoga is supposed to have originated on a farm in Oregon, where it is estimated that hundreds of people are on the waitlist to participate. People that live in large cities with little contact with nature seek out retreats to spend time in a leisurely and therapeutic fashion on beautiful farms to get away and relax from daily life. A yoga instructor leads the class with an array of goats that not only add to the ambiance but they may also decide to take playful jumps and be a part of the overall goat yoga experience.

    The most accessible companions for exercise are dogs. Dogs like to get out and walk, run and play, and what better way to enjoy an activity than with your best friend. Their tails start wagging the moment you get the leash out or put on your shoes! Our connection to pets continues to grow. Let’s face it; they are always glad to see you and listen when you talk to them.

    Pets love us unconditionally and have such a positive influence on our lives, and one of the benefits can be physical fitness. People who walk their dogs spend at least 22% of their time walking and jogging with their pets compared to those who do not walk or have a dog.

    The daily demands pets require from us include all the planes of motion and movement patterns such as bending, squatting, lifting and turning. Our fur babies need about 30 to 60 minutes of exercise daily, which is the same as their human counterparts. It has been reported that people with pets heal faster from joint replacements due to pet activity. Exercise for the pet and owner depends on the pet’s age, breed and health conditions as well as your own.

    Puppies are way more energetic, and as they grow, short bursts of exercise may be more productive than an activity that requires more time. Creative ways to work out with your pet indoors include running up and down the stairs, playing indoor fetch, hiding and seeking and tug of war. Hide and seek with treats is a game that can be fun and beneficial as you squat down or ease into smaller spaces. Fetch is a game that always appeals to dogs giving you a great arm workout. Outdoor exercises include throwing a frisbee, another excellent arm and shoulder workout. Jogging with your dog is ideal, but remember that starting with long distances may not be beneficial until your fur baby is acclimated to the distance. Take your dog swimming, biking, hiking, camping at a dog park, walking or jogging. Always be cognizant of the safety of your pet with outside activities, and be aware of pet etiquette. For safety reasons, carry a water bottle and a doggy bag for cleanups. Read rules about the beach and regulations for pet parks, and keep your pet on a leash. Avoid exercising with your dog in excessive heat, and know that pavement can burn paws. Exercising with your pet is therapeutic!

    Live and love life and enjoy exercising with your pet.

  • 5bThere are many reasons why we eat what we eat. Obviously, we eat when we are hungry; we also eat when we are emotional or to socialize with our friends. Certain smells, aromas or the taste of a particular dish evoke memories of meals past. Definitely, the link between food and memory is a powerful one. Food becomes a travel machine that transports us to a moment in the past where we enjoyed ourselves in a time/space/food continuum. Food memories engage all of our senses and are easily triggered. However, some of us purposely engage in what I call “cognitive eating.”

    Cognitive eating goes beyond food memories or mere emotional eating. We all have to eat to survive (biological eating), and we also tend to eat foods we are accustomed to or with which we are familiar (cultural eating).

    People eat at different levels: to satisfy hunger, quench a craving or evoke a memory. When we eat, pleasure and reward sensations are activated. However, when we eat culturally, the food and the act of eating take on a cultural context, and the reward is different. When biological and cultural eating come together, we have cognitive eating, which has a deeper purpose and reward.

    When seeking, cooking and eating authentic food from one’s country or ethnic enclave, they engage in cognitive eating. Foreigners are not the only ones affected by this type of eating.

    Americans seek types of food they grew up eating in their native state or community. But, their culture is still ubiquitous. For people born in other countries, it is a different story.

    When I asked Luz Velasquez, born and raised in Santo Domingo but residing in the United States, if she craved and sought her native cuisine, her eyes grew in size. She prefers eating and cooking Dominican dishes for many reasons. “I seek my native food because it is part of my identity,” she said, “part of my DNA!” Of course, eating the food her grandmother and mother cooked evokes childhood memories; however, she says that

    “When I eat my native food, I am remembered about my roots and how important staying in touch with my history is for me. If you do not know where you come from, you do not know where you are going.” Velasquez also stresses the importance of teaching her son about Dominican culture, including native food. “You cannot separate culture and food; they are one,” she says.

    When asked how important is authenticity for those engaging in cognitive eating, Rebecca King said it matters.

    “It is very important,” claims King, born and raised in Germany now a resident of Fayetteville. “I am always on the lookout for authentic German food because it reminds me of home, which I miss.”

    There have been many discussions about authenticity in the culinary and food studies fields. Some maintain that authenticity is essential in helping future generations understand traditional cuisine and food habits.

    Others claim that authenticity is archaic in today’s global food scene.

    To this foreigner from Naples, Italy, and others like me who engage in cognitive eating, authenticity is that umbilical cord that connects us to our motherland.

  • 5aWe human beings love to give each other wisdom and advice, wanted or not.

    Parents are eager to offer our thoughts, and I write that as a proud sharing mama. It is especially gratifying to hear the words I know were mine come out of the mouth of one of my Precious Jewels; they believe it was an original thought. At the same time, it is annoying to realize I have done that with my mother’s words and probably still do.

    That said, I do love to read other people’s pithy — or maybe not — words of wisdom to others. Recently an email from something called The Technium landed in my inbox offering “103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known,” written by Kevin Kelly on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

    Up & Coming Weekly does not give me enough space to share them all, but I will provide you with my favorites — just in case you feel the need for wisdom from someone you don’t know.

    Here goes in no order at all.

    “About 99% of the time, the right time is right now.”

    “No one is as impressed with your possessions as you are.”

    “Don’t ever work for someone you don’t want to become.”

    “If you stop to listen to a musician or street performer for more than a minute, you owe them a dollar.”

    “Anything you said before the word ‘but’ does not count.”

    “Criticize in private. Praise in public.”

    “It is the duty of a student to get everything out of a teacher and the duty of the teacher to get everything out of a student.”

    “Immediately pay what you owe to vendors, workers, contractors. They will go out of their way to work with you first next time.”

    “The biggest lie we tell ourselves is ‘I don’t need to write this down because I will remember it.’”

    “Handy measure: the distance between your fingertips of your outstretched arms at shoulder level is your height.”

    “There is no such thing as ‘on-time.’ You are either late, or you are early. Your choice.”

    “You’ll get 10 times better results by elevating good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior, especially in children and animals.”

    “When checking references for a job applicant, employers may be reluctant or prohibited from saying anything negative, so leave or send a message that says, ‘Get back to me if you highly recommend this applicant as super great.’ If they don’t reply, take that as a negative.”

    “Denying or deflecting a compliment is rude. Accept it with thanks, even if you believe it is not deserved.”

    “To keep young kids behaving on a car road trip, have a bag of their favorite candy and throw a piece out the window each time they misbehave.”

    “You cannot get extremely smart people to work hard just for money.”

    “You will be judged on how well you treat people who can do nothing for you.”

    “Take the stairs.”

    “It’s thrilling to be extremely polite to rude strangers.”

    “For the best results with your children, spend only half the money you think you should, but double the time with them.”

    “Actual great opportunities do not have ‘Great Opportunities’ in the subject line.”

    “When introduced to someone, make eye contact and count to four. You’ll both remember each other.”

    “If you loan someone $20 and you never see them again because they are avoiding paying you back, that makes it worth $20.”

    “If your opinions on one subject can be predicted from your opinions on another, you may be in the grip of an ideology. When you truly think for yourself, your conclusions will not be predictable.”
    And, finally, this.

    “The chief prevention against getting old is to remain astonished.”

  • uac060414001.gif Legends Pub is not like other bars. It’s a home away from home, a safe place in troubled times, a support network and a watering hole for the friendliest and most generous bikers you are likely to ever meet. “On average it takes me 15 minutes to get a drink. Not because of bad service — by no means. It takes me that long to say hi and share the hugs,” said Legends Pub Owner Holly Whitley. “So if we need four hugs a day for survival and eight hugs a day for maintenance and we need 12 hugs a day for growth, the average customer at Legends should be good.”

    There is always something going on at Legends Pub and oftentimes that something is a fundraiser or other event to help a person in need or to support a nonprofit in the community. While the situations the fundraisers seek to remedy are often dire, the events are always high-spirited and filled with laughter. Whitley is the owner of the place but she credits her friends and customers for the great things that the group has accomplished over the past two decades. On June 6-8, Legends Pub is set to celebrate its 18th Annual Spring Fling. It is the biggest benefit of the year and something the community always comes out to support.

    “The care and concern for others has always been a big part of my little bar tucked off Bragg Boulevard. I knew at the first Spring Fling what kind of people would come here to share their lives helping others,” said Whitley. “This place has a purpose. We’re family. Last year alone we raised more than $54,000 for our community. Kidsville News!was our heart for Spring Fling last year. We even had a visit from Truman the Dragon. This year it is for one of our own.”

    Caroline Montague was recently diagnosed with stage-3 lung cancer. “I’ve known her for years and we were blessed to have her join our staff here at Legends a year ago,” said Whitley. “She is such a kind lady — so there was no question where we would direct the venue for 2014.”

    Three days of frolicking and fun doesn’t happen without preparation and hard work. This is where the Legends Pub family shines. They knows how to roll up their sleeves and come togeth06-04-14-gypsy-women-1.gifer to create a memorable event.

    “I could have never done any of this on my own. The support and volunteers have been amazing. Working with Trent by my side for 15 years along with Priscilla — talk about someone special. The time and effort she has put into keeping me organized is amazing.

    “Mike has cooked thousands of pounds of pork and constructed more cornhole games than I can count. Axel — I can’t even count the times he’s jumped up to help. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to know each and every one of my friends,” said Whitley.

    “And Shirley, wow, I remember the first time I met her she was hiding behind the big tree wondering what she was getting herself into. Ann, Dee, Carol and so many others are always stepping up to the plate. If I’ve heard it once from these girls, I’ve heard it 1,000 times — ‘What ya need?’ With such unencumbered passion and enthusiasm they all help so many in our community on a regular basis.”

    To say that Legends feels like family is true; in fact, for Whitley it is a family affair. Whitley’s daughter Christy has learned from watching the pros around her what it means to give. Whitley’s love for her daughter is apparent when she talks about what Christy means to her. “She has worked so hard at her own job and always stepped up at Legends to do what was needed. She is my heart, my dear daughter. She and J.D. have always supported every adventured I have endured. Sometimes rolling their eyes at me, but still I’ve always been able to know they both had my back. I love them both.”

    With this kind of dedication, it is no wonder that the Gypsy Women’s Spring Fling has been going strong for close to 20 years. The fun starts on Friday evening with pizza and a pool tournament. On Saturday, the Scott Sather Memorial Poker Run kicks things off. The first bike rolls out at noon. At the end of the ride, enjoy a pig pickin’ and an auction.06-04-14-gypsy-women-2.gif

    The auctions at Legends are always great fun.

    “Do you remember the singing fish that people would hang on the wall? They were popular several years ago,” said Axel Rehme, one of Whitley’s friends and part of the Legends Pub family. “Holly’s been auctioning that thing off for years. It always goes for $100 or more and then, Flea, that’s who usually wins it, will donate it right back for next year’s auction. The fun is in the bidding.”

    The Spring Fling continues on Sunday with a bike show, a cook out and a bike rodeo. There is a bike drawing on Sunday, too. For $50, get a ticket that entitles the winner of the drawing to a 2002 Softail Deuce. Only 250 tickets are available.

    Call 867-2364 to find out more about the Gypsy Women’s Spring Fling.

    Photos:Middle right; This year’s Spring Fling benefits Caroline Montague. Lower left; Holly Whitley (r) and her daughter Christy (l).

  • 4When I first began covering state politics and public policy in the late 1980s, North Carolina families dissatisfied with the quality of education provided by their local school district had limited options. Some could afford private schools, or to move to other communities where they hoped the assigned public schools were better. A few were brave enough to try homeschooling their children.

    For most parents with concerns about their assigned schools, however, the only recourse was to complain to administrators or try to elect different politicians to their local school boards. Neither option proved particularly effective.

    Since then, the situation has dramatically changed for the better.

    For one thing, the state legislature created three new options — chartered public schools, opportunity scholarships for private education and educational savings accounts for special-needs students — that provide a wide range of choices for many North Carolina families. During the last school year, for example, some 130,000 students were enrolled in the state’s charter schools. Another 20,000 students received opportunity scholarships to attend private schools. Some 13,000 additional students have applied for scholarships next year.

    Partially in response to these policy changes, teachers and entrepreneurs have created new educational enterprises that seek to serve families in new ways. Some are new brick-and-mortar schools and networks.

    Others offer “university model” education that blend in-person and at-home instruction. Still others provide textbooks, resources, supplemental services and other assistance to homeschool families.

    And with regard to the governance of school districts themselves, many North Carolinians are part of a national movement to push back against slapdash instruction, politicized curricula and operational decisions that fail to put the interests of students first. Initially frustrated by the lengthy COVID shutdowns imposed by state and local officials, parents grew angry when they saw firsthand what their children were being taught — or not being taught, as the case may be.

    In the past, school-board elections were relatively low-turnout affairs in which local chapters of the North Carolina Association of Educators — the state affiliate of the nation’s largest teacher union — often played outsized roles. The NCAE’s influence is ebbing, however, thanks partly to changes in the timing and structure of school-board elections and partly to NCAE’s own missteps.

    The organization is down to about 17,000 members, a tiny fraction of the total number of teachers and principals who staff North Carolina’s public schools. Even as NCAE was shrinking, it was becoming increasingly shrill and ideologically left-wing.

    As a school-choice proponent and practitioner — my own children have attended a mixture of public and private schools — I recognize that many North Carolinians continue to cherish their relationships with their local school districts. They want their district-run schools to succeed, even as they also favor expanded options for families who want something different.

    To advocate choice and competition, as I do, is not to advocate the abolition of public schools. In fact, I believe competition makes school districts better. That’s the way most other fields of human endeavor work, including preschool and higher education. As I’ve written about many times, there’s good empirical evidence for the proposition that increasing school-choice options in a community tends to improve student achievement and educational attainment within public-school districts, too.

    Progressives disagree. They seek at least to roll back and constrain our school-choice programs, if not to abolish them altogether. They’re not going to succeed, though. The constituency for these programs is too large and growing too rapidly.

    Would you believe that North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation in the share of children educated outside of district-run public schools? I didn’t either until I examined the latest numbers from EdChoice.org. Only Delaware, Louisiana, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida and Pennsylvania had higher percentages of kids enrolled in private, charter, or home schools.

    According to the most-recent estimates, about a quarter of North Carolina kids were so enrolled last year.
    That’s going to continue to rise, no matter how loudly progressives complain about it. Parents’ voices are louder, and more numerous.

  • 06-11-14-fizz-boom-read.gifHoke County Public Library and the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center began the summer reading program, Fizz! Boom! Read! on June 1. The program runs through the second week of August. This year’s theme focuses on science activities and exploration. There are multiple ways to be involved — by traveling to the nearest library or registering online for the summer reading clubs. The summer reading clubs are available to all ages. This program gives readers the opportunity to sign up, read books and win prizes. By creating a profile online, registered members can update their reading log, which helps to keep track of their reading hours. For chances to win prizes, they can also add titles of books they have read to share them with the other readers.

    The preschool and elementary program, Fizz! Boom! Read!for ages 0-12, is Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Some of the fun events include a magic show called Once Upon My Time, on June 24, as well as science festivities on Aug.12. The programs feature special guests Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog. The middle school and high school program, Spark a Reaction, which is perfect for readers ages 13-18, will be Thursdays at 3 p.m. There is also a Paranormal Investigating program on July 26. The teen summer reading club will host a Teen after Hours event at the East Regional Branch for participants ages 13-18. The adult program, Literary Elements, includes a reading list and book clubs available to anyone over 18. Register online at Cumberland County Public Library website, www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite/.

    When kids, 0-12, read 6, 12 and 18 hours they are eligible for prizes. Attendance at story programs counts toward total reading hours, too. Readers have a choice between a squirt toy and a paper yo-yo after reading six hours; for reading 12 hours, they will get to choose their own book; and at 18 hours they get their very own Cumberland County/Hoke County Public Library bag to carry all of their prizes. Teens who read five or more books and update their reading log receive various prizes, such as a wooden puzzle or a fun pocket insert, and will be entered into drawings for $25 gift cards to a local bookstore. Adults who read five books and update their reading log or attend book clubs will receive a ceramic mug. Upon entering five books into the reader’s log, they will automatically be entered into a drawing for a $150 gift card to a local book store. Winners for the gift cards will be announced on the library’s website. Winners can pick up their prizes at any library branch within Hoke County and Cumberland County. For more information about the summer reading programs, call Hoke County Public Library at (910) 875-2502 and Cumberland County Public Library at (910) 483-7727.

    Throckmorton Library, along with Fort Bragg MWR, begins its summer reading program, Paws To Read!, on June 11, with registration followed by the opening celebration the following week on June 18. The program is on Thursdays at 11 a.m. beginning June 19 and ending Aug. 14. This includes story time, family movie premieres and special events such as a stuffed animal pet show and Teddy Bear’s Picnic. It is free and open to all military ID cardholders. There are toddler, elementary, teen and adult programs available. For more information call Throckmorton Library at 910-396-BOOK.

    Photo: Read books to win prizes with local summer reading programs.

  • uac062012001.jpg To say that Tom Quaintance, the artistic director of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, is excited about the upcoming season at the CFRT is something of an understatement. Quaintance, who is going into his first full season as the artistic director, has been diligently working on putting the upcoming season together, and it’s one he believes is going to live up to the theatre’s new motto: Great stories told here.

    “The vision for the new season came from working through the theme of the season — the whole idea of telling great stories on our stage,” said Quaintance.

    To that end, he pulled together a play selection committee of people from within the community to help choose the plays for the upcoming season. The committee was comprised of members of the board, actors and other supporters of the theatre. Their mission was to take about a dozen plays chosen by Quaintance and then whittle the list down to fi ve for the upcoming season.

    “We spent a lot of time talking about how these plays worked together to tell great stories in our community,” said Quaintance. “It is very important that the community feels a real ‘buy-in’ to this season. I wanted the community to know that these plays were not chosen independently of one another, and made a great effort to show a great breadth of appeal for the many different parts of the community. These plays all have different styles, and will have a vast appeal community-wide. The group was great, in that it gave me the opportunity to bounce ideas off people and to get their opinions.”

    Quaintance is all too aware that he is the new kid on the block, and wanted to ensure that the community shared his vision for the theatre.

    “We have had a very strong reaction from the community about the upcoming season,” said Quaintance. “They have expressed a lot of excitement about the selection of plays. I was very concerned that they didn’t see me as an outsider doing the selection of the plays — I did not want the season to be about me, but rather about the community, and on building on our position as one of the cultural leaders in the community.”

    The following plays comprise the 2012-2013 CFRT season:

    Jesus Christ Superstar

    Sept. 21 - Oct. 7, 2012

    Since its Broadway debut, this spectacular musical phenomenon has thrilled millions of theatergoers worldwide mesmerizing them with its passion, captivating them with its story and entrancing them with its anthemic title song. Quaintance is very excited about this show. He has wanted to do a production of this show since he was in graduate school. He noted the timing was perfect because he wanted to do the show during an election year.

    Legally Blonde: The Musical

    Jan. 24 - Feb. 10, 2013

    06-20-12-cfrt-logo.jpgQuaintance calls this a “big, bold show” that will be appreciated purely for its entertainment value. Based on the hit movie of the same name it’s so much fun it shouldn’t be legal! Sorority star Elle Woods doesn’t take “no” for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

    The Parchman Hour

    March 8 - 24, 2013

    According to Quaintance, this show may be the most important show staged this year. The show, written by North Carolina native Mike Wiley, chronicles the first months of America’s civil rights movement when waves of young people, mostly college students, rode buses into the heart of the Deep South. Many were brutally attacked, arrested and imprisoned in Mississippi’s notorious Parchman Farm Penitentiary, where they invented an ingenious pastime to help them endure, a live variety show inspired by programs then popular on radio and television. Jokes, stories, singing and Bible readings sprang from every cell. This nightly event became known as The Parchman Hour. The play commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders’ journey from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans, La., during the heart of the Civil Rights era. The Parchman Hour embodies CRFT’s deepened focus on bringing its audiences accessible but challenging works that stimulate discussion even as they entertain. Quaintance sees this as a show that will generate conversation in Fayetteville.

    Pride and Prejudice

    April 19 - May 5, 2013

    Jane Austen’s most popular novel, in this theatrical adaptation by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan. Mrs. Bennet will stop at nothing to obtain advantageous matches for her five middle-class daughters. As always, the CFRT will continue the tradition of staging The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, with school performances Dec. 4-14 and public performances Dec. 6-16.

    The Classic Theatre Series Production will feature Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at FSU’s Seabrook Auditorium Feb. 28 - March 3, 2013. This show teams the CFRT with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, a partnership Quaintance is excited to explore.

    For more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

  • 23Some people are asking if North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper might be the Democrats’ best presidential candidate in 2024.

    Not likely, you say, Joe Biden is president. And every first-term Democratic president in modern times has run for reelection.

    There have been no serious challenges for Democratic incumbents seeking their party nomination, with one exception. In 1980 Ted Kennedy challenged Jimmy Carter. Although Biden has not announced his candidacy, it would be fair to assume that he will run and will be the Democratic nominee. Even so, people are talking about other possibilities.

    In an article titled “There Has to Be a Backup Plan” in the June 5 edition of New York magazine, Gabriel Debenedetti wrote about a gathering of the national Democratic Establishment held in North Carolina at Pinehurst in April. He called the attendees an “unsettled cross section of the Democratic Establishment.”

    Debenedetti explained, “The lobbyists, donors, staffers and elected officials were gathering for the spring policy meeting of the Democratic Governors Association, and the scheduled sessions concerned such topics as health care and diversity in governance.”

    But there was also talk about politics, including worried conversations about the midterm elections in November.
    Conversations shifted from “grim-the midterms-to grimmer.” The grim refers to the prospects for this fall’s elections. The “grimmer” for them was “the state of the party's planning for 2024, when Biden will stand for reelection on the eve of his 82nd birthday.”

    Although there was no serious question raised about Biden’s intention to be a candidate for reelection in 2024, some of those gathered in Pinehurst were “calculating contingencies: If Biden's health turned, or if his polling truly collapsed, which of the party's governors might step up and save them from electoral ruin-and the nightmare of a Trump comeback?”

    “Roy Cooper — the conference's host, who had twice won North Carolina in the same years the swing state was carried by Donald Trump — was the most frequent topic of shadow-campaign chatter,” wrote Debenedetti.

    Other governors were mentioned, too: Phil Murphy, from New Jersey; J. B. Pritzker, Illinois; Jared Polis, Colorado: Gavin Newsom, California; and Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan.
    Bernie Sanders sent word that he also might be available for another run. And there are plenty more including Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Senators Amy Klobuchar, Corey Booker, Elizabeth Warren and California Rep. Ro Khanna. Many more are in the wings.

    But Cooper has something the other possible contenders lack. He is a Southerner. And Democrats will remember that beginning with Harry Truman, and until Barack Obama, every winning Democratic presidential candidate, except John Kennedy, had a Southern connection: Harry Truman (1948), Lyndon Johnson (1964), Jimmy Carter (1976), and Bill Clinton (1992). Include Al Gore if you count his popular vote victory in 2000.

    How do you explain their success? First, they learned to respond to the challenges in their states with pragmatic rather than doctrinaire solutions that did not frighten conservatives. Second, they learned to gain the support of Black voters and open doors with opportunities for them.

    Democratic governors of southern states are a vanishing breed.

    Two other Southern governors, John Bel Edwards of Louisiana and Andrew Beshear of Kentucky join Cooper in this small group. Like Cooper, they must work with Republican dominated legislatures. Edwards, has a progressive record, but because he signed a very restrictive abortion law he probably would lose the support of many Democrats.

    Andy Beshear is up for a tough reelection battle in Kentucky in 2023, one that will almost certainly preclude his preparing for a presidential run.

    Thus, if Biden is not a candidate for reelection in 2024 and the Democrats want to try their winning Southern governor formula again, they have one choice. Roy Cooper.

  • 06-1814-beat-the-heat.gif matter your exercise or activity of choice, it’s important to make sure you’re taking the appropriate steps to stay safe in the summer heat. As the temperature and humidity rise, so do incidences of heat-related illness. If you’re someone who plans to play in the heat this summer, take caution to prevent a potentially dangerous situation.

    First, it’s helpful to understand how heat affects the body. A significant amount of the water in our bloodstream is lost through sweating. To replace this water, our body draws water from other tissues, leaving less blood for the muscles and increasing heart rate. In dry conditions, sweat evaporates quickly so only a small amount is needed to cool the body. However, in humid conditions, sweat takes longer to evaporate because there is already increased moisture in the air, so the body compensates by sweating more. If the body continues to lose fluid, you are likely to begin experiencing symptoms of heat illness. Below are the different types of heat-related illness and what to do if you begin experiencing symptoms.

    • Heat cramps - painful muscle contractions most common in legs or abdomen; stop your activity and replenish your fluids

    • Heat syncope – feeling lightheaded or fainting after exercising; laying down with legs elevated at the first warning sign may help avoid loss of consciousness

    • Heat exhaustion – elevated body temp with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, and cold and clammy skin. Move to a cool environment, remove or loosen clothing, and replenish liquids. Untreated symptoms may lead to heat stroke.

    • Heat Stroke – your body temp has exceeded 104° F, and this is a life-threatening emergency. Heat exhaustion may progress to confusion, euphoria, visual changes, and sudden loss of consciousness. This is a medical emergency, and can lead to death or permanent neurological damage.

    Paying attention to the body’s warning signs may save a life, so it’s important not to ignore what your body is trying to tell you. There are many steps to can take to ensure you stay cool in the heat to avoid injury all together. The following are just a few precautions to keep in mind:

    • Watch the temperature and avoid exercising or increased activity during the hottest and most humid hours of the day (ideally, before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.).

    • Get acclimated to the heat by gradually increasing the length and intensity of your outdoor activities and workouts over 1-2 weeks.

    • Be realistic about your fitness level, and know that if you’re unfit or new to exercises, you may have lower tolerance to the heat.

    • Stay hydrated to prevent dehydration, and don’t wait until you’re feeling thirsty to drink. If you’re planning intense exercise, consider sports drinks to replace electrolytes lost during sweating.

    • Dress appropriately, including lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and consider a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 if you’ll be in the sun.

     • Be okay with changing your plans and staying indoors. Consider workouts in the gym or even walking laps around the mall.

    Hot, humid weather doesn’t have to change your summer plans or your exercise routine. Just remember to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and cool despite the heat. And remember, your local Physical Therapist can help you identify safe, fun and appropriate exercises if you’re worried about any injuries or co-morbidities that may side-line your summer fun. Call your local Doctor of Physical Therapy today.

    Resources:

    U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps: dcp.psc.gov/ccbulletin/articles/FitforDuty

    Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048167

    California Department of Public Health: www.ehib.org/page.jsp?page_key=173#heat_prevention

  • 6Put on your walking shoes. Today we shall enjoy yet another stroll down the pot-holed-pocked Memory Lane.

    It’s time to look at our old friend, the year 1972, who just turned 50 in January 2022. A decade here, a decade there, pretty soon, it adds up to some real time. Join Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman in the Way Back Machine to see what was happening just one short half-century ago.

    At least one of my readers will be able to recall 1972 from personal experience. If the other reader can stay awake for the rest of the column, some vague memories may be stirred and some historical factoids blurbed.
    January 1972 saw the return to civilization for Japanese soldier Sargeant Shoichi Yokoi who had been hiding in the jungles of Guam since the end of World War II. Shoichi was not a quitter. He had been hiding out in a jungle cave for almost 28 years. Two local men bumped into Shoichi, who promptly attacked them, fearing for his life. Shoichi knew the war had ended in 1952, but he did not want to surrender due to his training.

    Once back in Japan, he said, “It is with much embarrassment that I return. We Japanese soldiers were told to prefer death to the disgrace of getting captured alive.” You have to admire his perseverance despite its overtones of insanity.

    Once back in 1972, he may have wished he had stayed in the jungle.

    Like the Overlook Hotel in “The Shining,” many things happened in 1972, and not all of them were good.
    The friendly skies were not so friendly in 1972. There were at least 16 airplane hijackings that year. The Vietnam War was winding down but was not over. Palestinian terrorists attacked the Munich Olympics, killing 11 Israeli athletes.

    The troubles of 1972 were part of Earth’s Manifest Destiny for craziness. Not to be outdone by 1972, the year of our Lord 2022, brags, “Hey, watch this!”
    In March, the U.S. Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment sending it on to the states for ratification, where it died a death of old age.
    June 1972 saw the birth of Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen franchise in Arabi, Louisiana. This led to a proliferation of Popeye’s restaurants across the breadth and width of the fruited plain. The invention of its new chicken sandwich ultimately led to the Popeye’s Fried Chicken Sandwich Riots in 2019, when the restaurants could not keep up with demand for that culinary delight.

    June also brought America’s most famous third-rate burglary. Nixon’s version of the Beagle Boys got caught in the Watergate, breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters to bug the joint. This caper eventually led to Nixon resigning in disgrace. However, that is a story for another time. But Happy 50th Birthday anyway to the Watergate scandal.

    July saw the World Chess Championship in Iceland between American Bobby Fischer and defending World Chess Champion Boris Spassky the Russki. It may be hard to believe, but in the summer of 1972, America caught chess fever. People cared about chess. They were excited about chess. That is a sentence I never expected to write. It was the Americans versus the evil Commies. Bobby was a chess genius and nutty as a fruitcake. Boris was the epitome of Commie chess Grandmaster — big-haired, boring and relentless. Bobby complained about everything, driving the tournament officials up the wall and unsettling Boris. Bobby came out the winner 12.5 to 8.5 games. America rejoiced, then promptly forgot about chess when a new diversion appeared in November.

    Atari produced Pong, the first commercially successful video game. Pong was extremely simple and highly addicting. The video game progeny of Pong have lived long and prospered. They now live on your smartphone.

    In October, an Uruguayan plane carrying a rugby team crashed high in the Andes mountains. The passengers were not rescued for 72 days. Twenty-nine passengers survived the crash, but by the time they were rescued, only 16 were still living. The passengers had to resort to cannibalism to survive. Two passengers climbed a 15,000-foot mountain without equipment and then hiked for 10 days until they found help. It was an amazing story of self-reliance and courage.

    On a final celestial note, on 13 December 1972, the Apollo 17 space mission touched down on the moon. Astronaut Eugene Cernan got out and took a stroll. Eugene’s lunar walkabout was the last time any human touched the moon. Fifty years have now passed, with the moon remaining a human-free zone. Time flies when you are Earthbound.

    So, what have we learned today? As usual, not very much. But if you think 2022 is the worst of all times, kindly think again — 1972 wasn’t a peach. History moves on. Remember what Led Zeppelin once sang, “Good times, bad times/ You know I’ve had my share.”

    It rains on the just and the unjust. Keep washing your hands. Keep moving. It’s the key to life.

  • 5A couple of months ago, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted to keep the system’s admissions process “test optional” through the fall of 2024.

    University leaders said that to do otherwise in the aftermath of COVID-19 would be unfair to students and harmful to UNC’s constituent campuses.

    If you squint really hard, you may detect some validity to this claim. But I recommend going into the next two years with eyes wide open.
    Political activists have been trying for decades to get rid of standardized testing as a major factor in college admissions. They will pressure UNC to make what is now a four-year suspension of the test-score requirement into a permanent abolition.

    Critics of requiring SAT or ACT scores from prospective students have long made two arguments. First, they argue that standardized tests are biased against non-white and low-income students. Second, they argue that test scores aren’t necessary to make good admissions decisions because grade-point average is the best predictor of college success.

    The first argument is incorrect. There are significant gaps in average scores between low-income test-takers and other students, and among various racial and ethnic groups. But these gaps are not by themselves evidence that the tests are biased. By high school, there are very real differences in academic preparation across these categories. For the most part, standardized tests are reporting these differences, not causing them.

    That’s what the preponderance of the empirical evidence shows. It’s also a logical conclusion to draw from the fact that students of Asian descent, for example, tend to have significantly higher average test scores than white students do. Are the SAT and ACT culturally biased in favor of Asians, including many who are first- or second-generation Americans? Of course not.

    There’s stronger support for the second argument against standardized tests, that GPAs are better at predicting performance in college.
    Research findings differ, but generally speaking the correlation between GPAs and college success is a bit stronger than the one between test scores and college success. That may well be because GPAs reflect years of study, writing and test-taking while an ACT or SAT score reflects student performance at a single (often stressful) point in time.

    Still, if the goal is accurately to predict how high school students will fare in college, there’s a better option than just relying on GPAs, which may in some cases be skewed by school location or grade inflation.
    What’s that option? Combining GPAs and test scores together, as admissions offices have been doing for decades.

    Consider the findings of a 2019 study in the American Educational Research Journal. The authors concluded that grades were a good predictor because they signified forms of self-discipline likely to boost student success in both high school and college. “Affirmation of the relevance of teacher-assigned grades, however, is not an indictment of standardized admissions tests,” they stated. “In our investigation, test scores added unique predictive power, over and above grades and demographic characteristics, for college graduation.”

    A 2021 study published in the journal Educational Assessment also found that “institutions could better predict undergraduate academic performance when using [GPA] and standardized test scores together than when using [GPA] alone.

    As American Enterprise Institute scholar Rick Hess points out, the elimination of test scores from the admissions process is unlikely to result in a laser-like focus on grades, anyway.
    What would happen instead is a rise in the importance of other factors — essays, letters of recommendations and lists of extracurricular activities — that can be difficult to compare fairly and that may even work to the advantage of well-off students with comparatively poor study habits.

    COVID-19 certainly did disrupt both schooling and test preparation for many young North Carolinians. So I can understand why university leaders proposed the original suspension of test-score requirements in 2020, and why some think the suspension should last until 2024.

    But setting the precedent was itself risky. The rigor of the UNC system merits defense.

  • 4 Fayetteville’s May 2022 City Council primary election was historic in voter turnout compared to the past 20 plus years of city council primaries. Two obvious reasons drove this turnout.

    Fayetteville’s primary was paired with Cumberland County and state-wide primary elections, and for the first time in recent memory, eight of the 10 city council seats actually had a primary election.

    Media personalities and reporters often regurgitate initial voter participation numbers over several weeks after an election without actually analyzing the complexity of the City of Fayetteville electorate.

    Being polite, most media personalities and reporters don’t know the nuances of Fayetteville’s ever-changing voter rolls. Specifically, active voters within Fayetteville corporate limits. Not their fault, as most media personalities and reporters don’t have time to interpret Fayetteville registered voter data before they report voter participation data.

    Fayetteville’s City Council electorate is unique for a couple of reasons.

    I provide a different approach within this opinion piece, identifying which Fayetteville voters actually showed up and pulled a ballot for the City of Fayetteville primary election.

    Thanks to publicly available state online voter records and our Cumberland County Board of Elections Office, I have a by-name list of everyone that voted and active voters choosing not to vote during Fayetteville’s May 2022 primary. Two things to remember.

    1. Council Districts 1, 3 and 8 include portions of Fort Bragg (Manchester voter precinct). Over the past ten years, less than 100 people on Fort Bragg have voted in Fayetteville City Council elections across the three districts. They usually show up for the presidential elections. Not Fayetteville City Council elections.

    2. “Active Voters & Inactive Voters” are contained within Cumberland County’s voter database, just like the State of North Carolina voter database. Inactive voters across Cumberland County skew actual voter participation numbers and lower the perceived voter participation rate. Very few inactive voters are ever reactivated for municipal-level elections like in Fayetteville. Several are reactivated for presidential elections.

    I removed all inactive voters and eliminated the Manchester voting precinct from the equation in my analysis. I found there were just under 101,000 “active voters” on the Fayetteville City Council 2022 primary election rolls that resided within the non-Fort Bragg portion of Fayetteville’s corporate limits.

    Hopefully, this simple chart explains active voter participation numbers across all nine Fayetteville City Council districts during the May 2022 primary.
    In the upcoming July city council general election, all 10 seats are contested, and voters will be able to vote for the mayoral position and their assigned city council district.

    Since there is no truly contested mayoral race I predict Fayetteville’s final/general election in July will have much less voter turnout compared to the May 2022 primary election.

    Just my personal prediction based on past voter turnout results. We will know in about seven weeks.

  • 27b What’s the worst thing you can imagine ever happening?

    All you know and hold dear swept away in a flood or reduced to ashes in a fire? The loss of a child or sibling?
    Channel that emotion for a moment as you read or hear the news of a catastrophic event in the life of someone in a distant city. Or the next town over. Maybe even someone you know and work with.

    We’re not even halfway through the year 2022, and we’ve already seen and heard so many painful stories of death, loss and destruction it’s become difficult to remember them all — the wave never seems to subside.
    Even locally, we’ve seen violence erupt as one man has the audacity to use a gun to kill another man in midday traffic at one of the busiest intersections in town.

    We struggle uncomfortably with how to provide aid to one nation invaded by another while the next state over is reeling from a series of tornadoes.
    Then our attention is drawn to the devasting loss of life in a shooting in a suburban school.

    We search for something to pin the blame on; Second Amendment advocates scream, “arm the teachers,” while the teachers say, “more police.” The police point to mental health, while the psychology community is helpless in admitting they can only treat those who come.

    All the while, our communities and their governments standoff over whether life begins inside or outside the womb.
    We want answers. We want something better for ourselves and those who come after us.

    One problem is that, in all the turmoil, we have lost sight of the question: “Who Am I?”
    In the first verses of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, God steps out into the vast nothingness that existed. With his big, booming God-voice, he said, “Let there be light!” and there was. Then the earth, water, land, animals of every kind, and finally, his crowning creation: man. Conferring with his ethereal partners, they chose to make man — male and female — in their image. Beings that work together to create, think, reason and love. And somewhere along the way to today, we have all but completely lost sight of that.

    We have forgotten who we are. We have forgotten whose we are. We have devised ways to destroy, manipulate, control and even to wear our hatred for others, the God who created us, as if it were a crown of our own glory.

    And as we look for answers to the evil and deconstruction of all we know to be good and right, let’s look at who we are. Or at least who we were made to be and how we were designed.
    We know the symptoms all too well. Now it’s time to open the manufacturer’s manual, see how we were designed to function, and begin restoring ourselves to our original condition. We were made for more.

  • 27aWhen we think of exercising, images of dumbbells or exercise machines may come to mind. This is not the only type of equipment used for muscle toning and fitness training. There are a variety of resistance bands and versa tubing at all levels of strength resistance to obtain benefits.

    A prime example of an athlete that uses resistance bands is Tom Brady. It is reported that he gave up weights years ago in favor of resistance bands for training. When he started struggling with injuries, he decided to forgo the traditional training methods and worked with his trainer to develop a resistance band training program. He must have the right approach to training because he continues to dominate on the football field.

    Resistance bands conform to your body’s natural movement and allow people of all ages and fitness levels to obtain a full low-impact workout. They enable the user to get a workout without overstraining muscles, irritating joints and are great for helping to keep good form.

    The major difference between bands and weights is that they allow you to work at a resistance level that is beneficial to your muscle groups and can target isolated muscles. If you attend my classes, you will often see me carrying bands, balls and gliders. I use them in various ways to help with strength, balance and flexibility.

    Let’s look at some of my favorites and what they do. Versa Tubes are a long stretch band with a handle, and they come in a range of colors related to strength. They are a versatile band in a full range of workout options, from bicep curls to squats targeting all muscle groups. You can work muscle groups in various directions, seated in a chair, standing, wrapped around a barre or during floor work.

    The intensity is up to the participant by selecting a color or increasing tension by shortening the band. They can also be used with balance exercises and multiplanar movements.
    Versa Loops are a band that looks much like a large rubber band. They come in a variety of colors, indicating their strength levels.

    The band fits comfortably around the upper and lower legs, mid-thigh or mid-calf. They are used in shorter movements and target the glutes, calves, thighs and core.

    A Bender Ball, created by Leslee Bender, is about nine inches in diameter and can support weight up to 300 pounds. The ball aids in a greater range of motion and provides an effective abdominal workout. Placing the ball behind the small of the back helps eliminate excess strain during abdominal work. The ball can be used for balance, strength training exercises, functional workouts and rehabilitation movements.

    Gliders are discs that look like a Frisbee and come in materials that can be used on carpet or hardwood. They are used in balance, strength and flexibility training. The disc’s fluid movement assists in a greater range of motion for various lunges. They are an excellent tool in making planks and burpees more challenging and used for increased cardio in high-intensity interval training classes and circuit training.

    All the items above are easily used in the home, gym or on vacation, take up minimal space, and are easy to use, with an average cost of about $15 per item. How-to videos can be found on the internet, seated or standing for many levels. Live and love life with a gym in the bag.

  • Robin Hood(140 minutes) tries way too hard to live up to the promise of an exciting new Robin Hood legend, but fails to deliver any real06-09-10-robin-hood.gif substance to back up the potential suggested by years of media buzz.

    Waaay back in 2007 there was this really cool script circulating. The new script featured a heroic sheriff of Nottingham facing off against a less than noble Robin Hood, both in love with Maid Marian. A few Hollywoodstyle tweaks later, the sheriff of Nottingham is trapped between loyalty to the throne of an unpopular ruler and an outlaw attempting to gain rights for the people of England. After yet more adjustments, a sassy young upstart named Robin adopts the identity of the dead sheriff of Nottingham for some reason and does some Robin Hood stuff.

    You know what? If Director Ridley Scott had gone with any of these three ideas, we might have a Robin Hood movie worth adding to the canon. Instead, at some point he said to himself, “Gosh, we could be innovative and challenge popular ideas OR we could take these fresh new perspectives and rewrite them until they end up as just one more standardized, sexist Robin Hood tale.” Guess which option he went with?

    Much like the far superior Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves the film opens during the last years of the Crusades. Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston) is kind of opinionated and has issues when people don’t agree with him. Unfortunately, he also has issues with people who agree with him too much, so Robin (Russell Crowe) ends up in a bit of sticky wicket when his opinion is solicited.

    Following all this radically innovative character development, we are introduced to Lady Marian (Cate Blanchett) and her father-in-law Walter (Max von Sydow). The duo are under pressure from the sheriff of Nottingham to pay more taxes, and are losing their crop to the weird, halfnaked, masked orphans of the Greenwood (Sherwood Forest, by any other name.)

    The plot thickens, as apparently jerky Prince John (Oscar Isaac) is too busy working out his Oedipal complex to realize his right hand man Godfrey (Mark Strong) doesn’t have his best interests at heart. Thrown into this mix are some French dudes and a lot of back room dealing and backstabbing.

    After a bit more plot development, lots of drinking, a few half-naked peasants, and several battle scenes, Robin, Marian, and the Merry Men are more or less in the same place, along with Friar Tuck (Mark Addy).

    At this point, some random soldiers start attacking the peasantry in the name of John, which is understandably upsetting to all the nobles. Fortunately, Robin is a fabulous archer, capable of wooing a lady and inspiring the masses in a single breath. He is oh-so-manly. Marian is really quite lucky that a big strong man is around to solve her problems and prevent her from experiencing any authentic character development.

    The film lumbers its way towards a dramatic Braveheart style battle, set on the beaches and featuring sweaty dudes in armor. At the very moment the audience believes that Marian is going to find her feminist redemption, Robin steps in and saves the day. Overall, it wasn’t a bad action movie; it just wasn’t a particularly outstanding Robin Hood movie either.

  • 7 Editor's note: This column was submitted by former City Councilman Tyrone Williams, who is currently running for the District 2 seat.

    As an entrepreneur and private money lender, I routinely receive requests from investors for the purpose of funding real estate transactions, generally secured by a note and mortgage/deed of trust. So when I received a call from previous financial consultant for the city of Fayetteville on behalf of the purchaser of the Prince Charles Hotel, who was in need of $100,000 to close on the property at 250 Hay Street, I was eager to provide my services in an effort to help my city. I funded the loan for $100,000 payable to the purchaser of the Prince Charles Hotel of 450 Hay, LLC, by way of the attorneys at closing. (Refer to Cumberland County Register of Deeds) In addition, in an effort to keep the purchaser of the Prince Charles Hotel in compliance with the city ordinance, my construction company provided mechanical services in excess of $15,000 to be repaid with money, or in-kind services never were paid.

    Years after the loan was funded and my construction company completed work on the property, it came to my attention the subject property was penalized due to modification not being done in accordance with Historic Guidelines. The city threatened the purchaser of the Prince Charles Hotel with condemnation and tax liens which put my first lien position in jeopardy. Thankfully, the purchaser of the Prince Charles Hotel eventually repaid the $100,000 loan after I later read in The Fayetteville Observer the city was going to foreclose on the property. I assumed the property would have been transferred by way of tax lien and the other $15,000 debt the purchaser of the Prince Charles Hotel owed me was therefore canceled. I didn’t realize it never went through the tax sale. All of this happened prior to my being elected to City Council.

    I ran for City Council and was elected. While in office vote came up for the construction of the Prince Charles Hotel and the Parking Deck. After reading the contract and relying on my experience as an entrepreneur, real estate investor, developer and negotiator, the contract seemed more beneficial for the private developer with little benefit for our city. I voted against it, but it still passed 9 to 1. Looking back, I realized this is where the witch hunt began. Mr. Archie McMillian got it right. I am referring to The Fayetteville Observer article, April 11, 2018, titled Opinions Mixed on Williams. The late Archie McMillian, who was the owner of Mr. Zeke’s Shoe Shine Shop, said, “I think it’s a witch hunt.”

    A few months later, I got a call from my attorney at that time, stating the owner of the Prince Charles Hotel never received the 1st lien satisfaction letter that showed the $100,000 loan was paid off. At this point, I refused to sign off on the lien because the purchaser of the Prince Charles Hotel never paid me for services rendered for the other $15,000 debt. Somehow, the title company transferred the Prince Charles Hotel property, and they were able to move forward without the satisfaction letter.

    As a council member, I sought advice on how to be transparent in this situation. At that time, I asked the Fayetteville financial manager about this action and was told that I needed to talk with the city attorney. The city financial manager later took early retirement. Now the witch hunt began with me dealing with threats, my home being damaged, and continually being harassed. The situation with the tape recording was a set-up that was altered to make it look like bribery. They forgot to cut out the part where we discussed taking that discussion back to the city attorney. At the next meeting between myself and the city attorney, I was informed that she had hired an attorney based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, to represent the city of Fayetteville.

    There was also an Up and Comingpublication, FAYETTEVILLES’S MOST NOT WANTED — Gone And Fayetteville Moves On (cover), dated May 2018. The cover story article was entitled Tyrone Williams: What happens next? By Jeff Thompson

    Just how far have we come? In November 2017, the Fayetteville citizens elected me, Tyrone Williams, because I was and I still am the most qualified for the job. I fought for transparency and accountability in government, particularly in this project. As a result, I have suffered ridicule, unfair judgment and lies from government officials who needed to cover up a bad deal. Defamation of one’s character in order to achieve the goals of getting what is desired is everyday politics, but it must stop. As a voter and taxpayer, you deserve honest and integral leadership as your representation. Vote Tyrone Williams, and you will get just that!

    We as taxpayers have taxes withdrawn from each payroll check which goes directly to the government prior to being received, and we cannot have our voices or views heard in determining what is best for the city of Fayetteville. This is ridiculous and nonsense as it places us in organized types of bondage. Ask yourself: Just how far have we as Black people come? These actions and behaviors are so unfair and must be stopped. A change is needed desperately, and it has to happen very soon. There is a mentality that people still have of working in the “Big House” during these current times. Citizens have to elect the people to the City Council and other government offices that want to work hard for the taxpayers. District 2 and the entire city of Fayetteville need a change right now!

    There is a discussion about $600k being taken from the budget of the city of Fayetteville to be invested into a high-rise apartment deck project located downtown. Full transparency of each and every city project that comes from the taxpayer’s money, grants, and funding must be revealed to the citizens of Fayetteville.

  • Brian Steverson has been in Fayetteville for about fi ve years. He’s a lifelong artist and has been sharing his talents with the community06-23-10-brian-steverson.jpg for the past two or three years. He’s become a regular at festivals, like the Dogwood Festival and International Folk Festival, and has recently joined the ranks of exhibiting artists at Arts Alive! that happens during the regular 4th Friday celebrations downtown.

    On June 25, the Fayetteville Art Guild will host an exclusive exhibit of his work. His pieces will be on display at Gallery One13, 113 Gillespie St. on Fridays and Saturdays through the month of July.

    “I am going to fIll the room the pieces — they will be mostly acrylics, some large and some small,” said Steverson “I plan to have everything there from portraits to landscapes to city scapes. I have a couple of still lifes in there, too.”

    Steverson describes his works as somewhere between realism and impressionism. His goal though is not to create controversy or make a statement with this show.

    “There is a wide variety of stuff in my paintings.” said Steverson. “Some look more real than others and some look more Monet-ish. Ultimately though, I try to make pleasing paintings. It is something nice to look at. There is no deep thought to them.”

    While there is certainly a place for thought provoking art and art that shocks and makes a statement, there is also a place for art that is just fun to look at and art that will make you smile just because it is appealing and well done.

    Steverson paints with red, yellow, blue and black and white on his palette, but that is hard to tell by looking at his work. The colors are vibrant and the shades are many. His work pace is quick and his brush strokes are sure, strangely enough, both are skills he picked up when he painted signs for a living.

    “Nowadays computers are used to make billboards and then the images are put on to vinyl and it is stretched into place, but it wasn’t like that when I was doing it,” said Steverson. “Back in the day, they would give us six foot by 20 foot boards and say ‘You’ve got till the end of the day, (or noon, or whatever they decided) to be done with it.’ That is what made me fast and that is what made me where I could mix colors.

    “I use red, yellow and blue because that is all they gave us when I was painting signs and then we had to mix the colors ourselves. We couldn’t buy 40,000 colors. That just wasn’t feasible,” he continued.

    To look at Steverson’s work now, the fact that he mixes his own colors is impressive, and the speed with which he paints is fun to watch, but it is his ability to capture such a diverse number of subjects so accurately that really makes his work worth checking out. Whether it is a picture of the Old Capitol building, the Market House or airborne soldiers leaping from a plane, Steverson’s work speaks for itself, much like the work of other local artists with a message to share.

    “There are a lot of really good artists downtown — if people would just come and take a look,” said Steverson.

    Give Gallery One13 a call to find out more about this exhibit at 223-ARTS.

  • 5 After the Texas school massacre, President Biden asked, “When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?”

    The answer, which is already unfolding by inaction, is that we are not.

    Americans decided a decade ago after the Sandy Hook killings that we value our guns more than we do our children, including very young ones and other people’s, of course. At the moment, we are full of sadness and outrage and demand that our elected leaders “do something.” They won’t.

    Poll after poll confirms that Americans support what are billed as “common sense” gun controls, but we, the people, have yet to make that absolutely clear by voting out legislators who think it is OK for 18-year-olds to buy military assault weapons on their birthdays and head for the local elementary school. We are, of course, the only nation on earth that allows this, and we have the statistics to show for it. The New York Times reports that we endured 101 mass shootings between 1998-2019. Our closest competitor is France with eight.

    In addition, the majority of gun deaths last year were suicides, not to mention individual murders by gunshot and accidental shootings. Mass shootings garner headlines, but most gun carnage is routine, if not expected.

    The white men who wrote the Second Amendment thought muskets were the latest and greatest. They never conceived of death and destruction wrought by military assault weapons.
    What is wrong with us?

    The massacre in Texas has ignited a debate. It is shocking to acknowledge we are actually having this debate. Since so many Americans react with “ho-hum” to mass shootings at elementary schools, should we show them what it really looks like? Should media use photographs of 6-year-olds who met their maker courtesy of a military-grade assault weapon that left exit wounds the size of oranges in their little bodies?

    Yes, you read that correctly.

    Talking heads and ordinary Americans alike are wondering whether showing the actual carnage would shock us into dealing with our assault weapons issue, just as Emmett Till’s mother’s 1955 decision to have an open-casket revealing his murdered body spurred on the civil rights movement in our nation.

    Meaghan Looram, editor of photography at The New York Times frames the issue this way. “We are always trying to balance the news value of an image and its service to our readers against whether or not the image is dignified for the victims or considerate toward the families or loved ones of those pictured. We don’t want to withhold images that would help people understand what has happened in scenarios like these, but we also don’t publish images sheerly as provocation.”

    Think about it.

    Donald Trump’s endorsement is certainly not the kiss of death in Republican circles, but it does not seem to be the breath of life either. Trump-endorsed candidates in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Texas did not traipse easily into their party’s nominations for high office, garnering about a third of Republican primary votes — respectable but not close to landslide territory.

    Still, there is a hard core of Trump loyalists who will do almost anything for the man, including ink their own bodies. I know this because I was recently standing in a lunch line behind a tall fellow in a sleeveless T-shirt.
    His bare flesh boasted enough tattoos to have financed college tuition. As I surveyed the back of his colorful arm, which was at my eye level, I wondered why on earth anyone would tattoo the number “45” on his bicep when it came to me. This man was paying an inky homage to Donald Trump!

    Now, that has got to be true love! Or something …

  • 4 Political conservatism, say its critics, is less a rational movement to shape the future than an irrational impulse to flee the present.

    Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. famously called it “the politics of nostalgia.”

    In reality, the temptation to romanticize the past is evident across the ideological spectrum. Politicians, activists, and intellectuals often wax nostalgic about mid-century America, for example, but for widely divergent reasons. Conservatives like the period’s low rates of crime and single parenthood. Progressives like its high rate of unionization.

    If Marty McFly floated by in his flux-capacitated DeLorean and offered us a trip to the 1950s, however, few would take him up on it. We know we’d be poorer for it. We’d be giving up too much in the trade — from our daily conveniences, more comfortable homes, and higher incomes to modern medicine and equality under the law.

    My fellow conservatives direct our gaze backward not to worship at the altar of some idealized past but instead to study and practice the lessons of history. We believe they reflect unalterable facts of human nature.

    “Modern formulations are necessary even in defense of very ancient truths,” wrote William F. Buckley, one of the founders of modern American conservatism. “Not because of any alleged anachronism in the old ideas — the Beatitudes remain the essential statements of the Western code — but because the idiom of life is always changing.”

    One historical subject it would profit everyone to know more about is the history of American conservatism itself. As it happens, two insightful authors have given us new books on the subject. Matthew Continetti’s “The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism” (Basic Books) describes the movement as a sprawling, intricately woven, but also somewhat-frayed tapestry of ideas, institutions and individuals. In M. Stanton Evans: “Conservative Wit, Apostle of Freedom” (Encounter Books), Steve Hayward offers a perfect companion piece: a loving and entertaining profile of an especially colorful thread in that tapestry, my longtime friend and mentor Stan Evans.

    Continetti, an American Enterprise Institute fellow and editor of the Washington Free Beacon, begins his narrative of American conservatism in the Coolidge era of the 1920s and skillfully integrates the political, intellectual, and social history of the ensuing decades. Among the strengths of the book are Continetti’s careful study of documents, both published pieces and correspondence, and his accounts of the founding of key conservative institutions such as National Review and Young Americans for Freedom.

    As for Hayward, a resident scholar at the University of California at Berkeley and biographer of former president Ronald Reagan, his book properly places Stan Evans at the center of many consequential events in the history of American conservatism, including the foundational moments I just mentioned. Named editor of the Indianapolis News in 1960 (at 26, he was the youngest editor of a major American newspaper at the time), Evans went on to write a syndicated column and many books, become a national TV and radio commentator, and train hundreds of budding journalists (including yours truly) as head of the Washington-based National Journalism Center.

    Local readers will particularly enjoy the books’ North Carolina connections. For example, Continetti recounts U.S. Sen. Josiah Bailey’s efforts to organize opposition to the New Deal. While Bailey never achieved his dream of rolling back the federal government’s unconstitutional usurpation of state and private responsibilities, his proposed alliance of Republicans and conservative Democrats did come to pass after the 1938 midterms, blocking some of Franklin Roosevelt’s later and more-expansive programs.

    Two other North Carolinians, scholar Richard Weaver and politician Jesse Helms, get their due in the books. And Hayward reveals the key role that Stan Evans played in Reagan’s surprising victory over Gerald Ford in

    North Carolina’s 1976 primary, which helped ensure he would be the GOP nominee for president four years later.
    In his conclusion, Continetti argues “the job of a conservative is to remember.” Quite right. And you’ll find no better memory aids than his and Hayward’s new books.

  • uac061213001.gif Michael Solovey is not your typical artist. He doesn’t spend all of his days in the studio and he doesn’t have the “bohemian” lifestyle that many expect of a professional artist.

    Instead, Solovey dons his uniform every morning, pulls on his boots and stands his post at Fort Bragg. Solovey has had deployments around the world and has seen conflict in Bosnia and Afghanistan. He has not let his job define what he does as an artist, rather, he uses it to refine it.

    On Thursday, June 20, Fayetteville residents will have the opportunity to view Solovey’s unique works as Gallery 208 hosts an opening reception for his exhibit.

    "Engineer the art like a

    BMW, design it like a

    Porsche and build it

    with the heart and soul of a

    Harley-Davidson."

    Solovey has spent a lot of time thinking about his art work and pours himself into each project he undertakes whether it is a commission by an Army unit or organization or a personal project that he creates just for himself. He explains the way he approaches his art on his website.

    “Success equals fulfi llment. And to me, fulfi llment is the combination of three very specifi c ideals that must be constantly pursued,” writes Solovey. “Probably the most rewarding concept for me is to ‘build something from nothing’ — whether that be a business, to composing a piece of artwork, to designing, engineering and then building an automobile from the ground-up. All the while, pouring every ounce of your energy, talent and heart into that specifi c initiative or ideal.

    “Continually improve and seek to be the epitome in whatever niche you pursue. Be like Porsche,” he continues.

    “Then there is the process of taking that end product(s) and sharing it. And then hopefully, others will feed from it and find inspiration that carries over into their respective pursuits. Then take it a step further — and mentor those junior to you — especially, in my case, younger artists.”

    It would be easy for some to categorize Solovey as an artist who concentrates on military art. But that is too simplistic. Solovey’s work covers a variety of topics from the automobiles that help him envision his works to simple sketches of people and locations. Throw in sculpture, architectural renderings, landscapes and fine-art commissions and you begin to see the diversity of his works.

    In creating his works, Solovey holds to some hard and fast rules:

    • Never ever sacrifice quality.

    • Take each new piece to the next level.

    • The patron is always part of the creative process.

    • No “Hollywood Art.”

    • Always give the customer more than he expects.

    • Be prolific.

    • Keep originality a priority.

    • Make their jaws drop.

    • Give back to the community.

    That work ethic has won him many supporters within the community. His signature works of art bear witness to the triumphs and losses of military units over the years.

    “You see a lot of military art floating around, which is great and wonderful,” he noted. “But 95 percent of the military art out there isn’t done by guys who were actually there or that were actually in the service. Ten to 20 years from now, I hope all of my work will be a chronological journal in pictures of the war from someone who was actually there. It will resonate well with others who served.”

    Solovey has books that belonged to his grandfather that are compilations of sketches by a World War II soldier, Bill Mauldin.

    “He was a sergeant who drew sketches of soldiers during the war. He was there in Europe on the front lines. Knowing that he was drawing what he saw gives credibility to it,” he said. “Maybe 10 years from now I will do a coffee table book with all of my prints that will tell this story.”

    Solovey is very careful to keep his two lives separate. His art is personal. He works on it for an hour or two each evening or on the weekends. Much of that time is spent fulfi lling commissions, which leaves little time for him to work on his own projects.

    “I am very blessed that folks like and appreciate my work, but it leaves very little time to work on projects that I really want to do,” he said.

    “I work in a lot of different mediums and at the opening, I’m going to have a lot of different works on exhibit: oil, water color, pencil, marble. Alot of people know about my military work, but they might not know that I do a lot of fine art work, as well.”

    Solovey learned to paint while a senior at Virginia Military Institute.

    “During my last year as a cadet, I went on an exchange with our sister school in France, where I attended art school,” he explained. “That’s where I learned to paint. We didn’t do any real sketching like I do now, instead we studied the works of the great artists in southern France in the 1800s. That’s really my roots.”

    Understanding that, people will understand that Solovey has a passion for creating city scenes and working in water color and oil.

    With his exhibit, Solovey hopes to show people a holistic view of his art. “Just because a guy is in the military, doesn’t mean that he is myopic. There are a lot of guys out there who have a lot of unique talents. I went to the Infantry Advanced Course with a guy who is an opera singer.”

    Another passion for Solovey is drawing old cars.

    “Cars today are very bland. Back in ‘50s and ‘60s there was some brilliant design work with the rounded fenders and curves. It really lends itself to a piece of art,” he said.

    His art also gives him the opportunity to give back. Over the years he has created a number of works for nonprofits, including those dealing with wounded warriors.

    “That’s one of the most rewarding parts. I have the ability to give back to the community; to help families in need,” he said.

    To learn more about Solovey’s work, join the staff of Up & Coming at the opening from 5:30-7 p.m. on June 20.

    Cover photo: Brotherhood

  • kiwanis-night-dancers.jpg

    Can you sing, dance or play an instrument? Are you in elementary, middle or high school? Then get ready to showcase your talent because the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club presents its 64th annual Talent Night Showcaseon Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Auditions are all day on Saturday, June 6, starting at 8:30 a.m., at the Honeycutt Recreation Center. 

    There are so many talented youth in Fayetteville and this is the perfect opportunity for them to get out there and shine. The showcase event has been a platform for great things to happen for some of the contestants. Some of the past winners of the Kiwanis Talent Nighthave gone on to play music in some of the most renowned orchestras in the country like the Boston Philharmonic. There have been dancers that have gone on to national dance and ballet companies and some of the winners are now performing on Broadway.   

     “We are currently out promoting the auditions for all Cumberland County students in preschool through 12th grade, and we will probably audition 200-300 children for this event,” said Bill Bowman, production chairman of the Kiwanis Talent Night Showcase. “Any act will qualify such as singers, dancers, musicians, piano players and flute players.” 

    Bowman added that when you take the best talent and put them all together it makes a real nice evening at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. It offers the children a chance to showcase their talents and it offers the community a night of quality entertainment, as well as helping make a difference for children in the community —and best of all, it is fun. 

    The categories are preschool through 2nd grade; 3rd through 5th grade; 6th through 8th grade and 9th through 12th grade. Six contestants are chosen from the audition to compete at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre on June 12. The prizes are $2,000 in cash, trophies and scholarships. There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners who will receive trophies and a cash prize. Proceeds are used to benefit 15 local Kiwanis projects for children. 

    “We will award scholarships to the top in each category,” said Bowman. “We will have one for strings, voice, piano and band.” 

    Bowman added that winning contestants will receive $150 and can use the money to attend any camp of their choice.  

    “We have been doing this event for 64 years and it is quite a show,” said Bowman. “The talent that we are going to showcase that Friday night is remarkable and it will be a fun evening.” 

    Kiwanis is an international organization with clubs in more than 80 countries. Kiwanis clubs work toward making the world better by serving children; one child and one community at a time. Kiwanis seeks to give every child a bright future. Tickets are $7. 

    Applications can be found at any Wendy’s restaurant, at the school or online. For more information or to register for the event, visit
    www.fayettevillekiwanis.org/talent or call Bill Bowman at
    391-3859.      


  •     The C word. Cancer. It is an ugly, scary word; a thief in the night coming to steal vitality and ruin lives. The statistics are heart breaking. According to the American Cancer Society, about 565,650 Americans are expected to die of cancer this year. That is more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S., exceeded only by heart disease. In the U.S., cancer accounts for one of every four deaths. How can an enemy like that be overcome?
        Well, the American Cancer Society is all over that one. Their numbers show that the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers diagnosed between 1996 and 2003 is 66 percent, up from 50 percent in 1975-1977. The improvement in survival reflects progress in diagnosing certain cancers at an earlier stage and improvements in treatment.
        Finding the funding to support the research and development is no easy task, not to mention all the programs that support and inform those in the midst of their battle with cancer. That is where Dineen Morton comes in. A cancer survivor herself, Morton exudes energy and enthusiasm. Everything from her bright yellow car to her vivacious smile smacks of life and victory — a worthy opponent for such a tough disease if there ever was one. These days, Morton is putting that energy into the American Cancer Society’s fund-raiser, Relay for Life. She has been doing it for the past six years.
        “I got involved with Relay because I was working with a hospice company, and I became a team captain through our company; but because I am a survivor is really … that’s what got my heart in it and I lost my mom to cancer,” said Morton. “Because I was excited as a captain … I was recruited to be a vice chair for relay and the next year they asked me to be the chair of the event. I have been involved in running the event for four years now.”
        This year’s theme is celebrating, remembering and fighting back.  
        “And really that is what it has been because every year that I am cancer-free is a celebration and I am fighting back because we want to eradicate cancer,” said Morton. “I don’t want anybody in my family or anybody that I know to be touched by cancer. What I focus on every day is how important it is for us to educate and how important it is for us to do everything we can to earn as much as we can. The money that we raise allows for research — it allows for programs (to fight cancer).”  
        Save the date, it starts at 6 p.m. on June 6 and goes through 2 p.m. on June 7.
        This year, Morton plans to raise $100,000.
        “We raised $78,000 last year,” she said, emphasizing that,“This money stays in our community. There is not a place you can go, not the hospital, not the cancer center, anywhere that you don’t see literature from the American Cancer Society and we pay for that through Relay for Life.” 
        There are also several programs that the hospital has adopted that utilizes American Cancer Society trained volunteers.
        “Those are American Cancer Society volunteers that provide the services to the cancer center. Such as the Look Good Feel Good program, Reach to Recovery, Road to Recovery, Man to Man, there are several of them and we could actually have every one of them implemented in Cumberland County if we could just get the volunteers to do it,” noted Morton, explaining the Look Good program provides wigs for individuals who have lost their hair from treatment. “We provide wigs, make-up, and makeovers for cancer survivors through the American Cancer Society. There are stop smoking programs, there are many things that could be implemented in the school systems, all free through the American Cancer Society. 
        Morton and the rest of the planning committee have quite a party planned. 
        “Just imagine an all-night carnival where there are vendors set up; I say vendors, but they are actually teams. Each team is selling something, whether it is food, scarves, raffles, silent auctions... We had a team that did nothing but stuff for children — face painting all of these kinds of things that are going on and the people come to the tent and they purchase,” said Morton.
        There are 58 teams, but Morton says it’s not too late to sign up. 
        While the carnival is going on the track will be busy too.
        “The reason they say Relay is that cancer never stops, so we walk all night for cancer. There is somebody on the track from your team at all times is the idea,” said Morton. “Some people camp out all night while some people may just show up when it is their time to walk. All night long there will be entertainment. I think right now we have more than 30 acts that will be performing.” 
        {mosimage}The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with the survivors lap, followed by the caregivers lap. Everyone else can join in after that.
        “At 9 p.m. we have the luminary ceremony, which is the most awesome part of the event,” said Morton.
        The luminaries are to honor cancer survivors and are also in memory of those who lost their battle. Anyone can purchase a luminary either to honor somebody who lost their life or someone who is surviving. They cost $10 each and have the person’s name on it.
        “At 9 when it gets dark, the lights go out; there is total silence and we pay tribute to those people and it is lit up and it is the most moving part of the event without question; to see all these bags lit for either survivors or someone who lost their life is just so powerful,” said Morton. 
        At 10 a.m., Saturday morning, there will be a kids’ relay, along with games and other activities.
        “We are going to have games to play and different kinds of events for them,” said Morton. “We will have clowns and other things out there and we’ve got a lot of the mascots coming, I think we’ve already secured the FireAntz mascot.”
        Contact Dineen Morton at 778-9107 to purchase a luminary. Go online and register at www.relayfay.com or just show up at Methodist University’s Monarch Field. Walk a lap, have some food, buy a T-shirt, support the cause and have great time doing it. It is free and open to the public. 

    Contact Stephanie Crider at editor@upandcomingweekly.com 

  •     Although the majority of the members of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) are retired from the military or are members of the local business community, the heart of their mission is and has always has been the soldier with boots on the ground.
        AUSA will put teeth in its mission June 17-18 during the annual Braxton Bragg Chapter’s annual Exposition and Symposium at the Fort Bragg Officers Club. The theme of the event is “Supporting America’s Heroes, Our Soliders and their Families.”
        {mosimage}The event is free to the public and is especially designed for military professionals, Department of the Army and Department of Defense civilians, first responders, law enforcement, defense contractors and those interested in doing business with the defense community.
    More than 58 defense-related displays/exhibits will be featured at the EXPO and Symposium, in addition to two panel discussions on the Global War on Terrorism Operations and Supplying the Force and Logistical Support of the Global War on Terrorism.
        An ice breaker golf tournament will be held on June 16 at Ryder Golf Course on Fort Bragg. The golf tournament will serve as a kickoff for the event. EXPO opening ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 17, and will feature a ribbon cutting by the AUSA Chapter president, Fort Bragg and local community leaders and a performance by the 82nd Airborne Division All American Chorus. The exhibits will be open daily from 9 a.m. and remain open until 4 p.m.

    June 16
    •8 a.m. — AUSA President’s Golf Tournament, Ryder Golf Course

    June 17
    •9 a.m. — Opening Ceremonies
    •9 a.m. — Exhibits Open
    •Noon — Keynote Luncheon
    •3 p.m. — Panel Discussion: Operations in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)

    June 18
    •7:30 a.m. — Soldiers’ Awards Breakfast
    •9 a.m. — Exhibits Open
    •Noon — Presidents Luncheon
    •1:30 p.m. — Panel Discussion: Logistics Support of the GWOT
    •3 p.m. —  Soldiers Reception/Raffle
    Throughout the symposium, AUSA members will be selling raffle tickets for the winner’s choice of a car, truck or motorcycle. Tickets available from AUSA for $1 per ticket. Proceeds support AUSA’s support of soldiers and their families.



  •     For the second time in as many weeks, the Fayetteville City Council discussed the formation of a new committee to vet volunteers for the city’s numerous boards and commissions. And, following a great deal of discussion, and assurances that the council would remain in ultimate control of the process, the council approved changes to the process.
        The new process was part of  a comprehensive overhaul of the system, which, in the past, left the council little time to adequately review the applicant’s qualifications and interests. The plan calls for a three prong process: Recruitment, Selection and Appointment and Training, Retention and Recognition.
        Under the Recruitment section of the plan was a call for a comprehensive marketing plan to make citizens aware of the roles boards and commissions play in local government, with an ultimate goal of creating a larger pool of volunteers. The Training, Retention and Recognition segment of the plan would ensure that volunteers understand their duties and the rules and regulations governing their actions. {mosimage}
        At contention was the formation of an Appointments Committee. The committee comprised of four members of the council, representatives from the city manager’s office, the city attorney’s office and the city clerk, would review all applications to ensure they meet the requirements for service on the boards and commissions on a bi-annual basis, and then make recommendations to the council.
        Council members noted that they had citizens questioning the process and whether it would affect their ability to continue to serve if the process was changed. Assistant City Manager Doug Hewitt explained that the process has, in fact, not changed. He explained that the committee would only ensure that the citizens who had applied for a board or commission lived in the city, did not serve on any other board or commission and if needed, met the professional requirements for service on a particular board.
        He noted that certain boards require a specific make-up. For instance, the Historic Resources Commission calls for membership to include an architect and an attorney.
        He added that in the past, people who live outside of the city or who did not hold the professional qualifications needed for service on a particular board had come up for a vote by the council. He said the Appointment Committee would ensure that that did not happen, adding, "Council still has the opportunity to look at the applications and decide the appointments," he said.
        Councilman Charles Evans questioned the need for the committee. "We’re selecting a committee for people who are volunteering their service. I’m really trying to understand why we are selecting this committee. Do we think people are not going to be truthful or are not capable of committing to what they are asking for appointment?" questioned Evans.
        Hewett noted that the committee would be in place simply to make sure any issues related to appointment were made prior to the appointments being brought to the council.
        Councilman Bates said that the new plan would inform the community of the boards and commissions and ensure that the citizens understand fully what they are getting into.
        The council passed the recommendation, with Evans the lone vote in opposition.


  •     They say life imitates art.
        But what about when work imitates art?
        For Shani Gates, owner of Curbing Creations, her heart, soul and creative juices go into her work, which is creating custom concrete curbing for homeowners and businesses. Each piece of curbing and custom drain she constructs is stamped by her own well-tanned hand, making for a totally unique design.
    {mosimage}Gates has been in business here in Fayetteville for about four years. She combines an artistic background as a painter and sculptor — she has had her work featured at the Fayetteville Museum of Art — with the sweat and aching muscles produced by 15-hour days to make functional art.
    “I look at person’s house and give them what they need,” said Gates. “I do about 90 percent of the design.”
        After her two assistants —  Jason Dalton and Jeremy Petty — lay the concrete with a curbing machine, Gates has 30-45 minutes to imprint her vision before her medium grows hard.
    However, her work doesn’t keep her from doing other artistic projects on the side. A native of Washington State who majored in art, she paints, sculpts and draws. At the most recent Fayetteville After Five, she built a detailed sand sculpture of a beach babe that drew quite a crowd. Perhaps her most visible work is the corporate logo for the local Partnership for Children which includes a group of her portraits of children. She even had some of her artwork on display at the offices of Up and Coming Weekly.
        However, her artistic ways and career in decorative concrete almost fizzled  before she made her first sculpture or dropped paint on canvas for the first time.
        “I went to college to get my accounting degree,” said Gates. “Since I paid for it myself I decided I was going to get something out of it. But I took one art class and fell in love with it.”
        She first got into creating curbing about six years ago when some folks in her native Washington wanted something other than the blah, bland gray concrete curbing everyone else had. She taught herself how to work with concrete, and after she created her first curbing she fell in love with the medium of water, gravel and sand.
        She says the concrete curbing business is getting more and more popular, so popular in fact that when she does one house in a neighborhood, she often ends up doing the entire subdivision. Now, contractors are asking Gates to put in her one-of-a-kind curbing as a perk to help sell their houses.
    Despite her love for art and all things artistic, Gates says no one artist has influenced her work, saying she loves “too many to name.” Though she does admit a soft spot for artists who dabble in the medium of charcoal, such as Yvette Dede, who has an ongoing exhibition at the Fayetteville Museum of Art, and Rembrandt.
        “Rembrandt’s paintings were great, but I love his drawings,” said Gates.
    Gates has acclimated well to Fayetteville, having been here 14 years with her husband Keith, who is a 19-year veteran of the Special Forces. Together they have produced the most beautiful of all artworks — four children.
        Fayetteville has been very good to me,” said Gates. “I never dreamed when I took that first art class that I would someday make art for a living. I count anyone extremely luck who can make a career out of doing what they love.”

    Contact Tim Wilkins at tim@upandcomingweekly.com
  •     Summer is finally here. It’s a time to throw the burgers on the grill and bask in those rich summer rays and enjoy your significant other, friends and family. But you can only barbecue so many times. There’s a better way to celebrate summer — downtown at this week’s Fourth Friday!
        For those of you who don’t know the drill, Fourth Friday is a sort of “gallery crawl” arranged by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County that takes place on, you guessed it, the fourth Friday of each month. Each Friday is centered around an unveiling of an exhibit at the Arts Council, which features refreshments and refreshing entertainment (this month proves big with the group Brothers Igniting a Groove), while other downtown shops host similar, and FREE, activities of their own.
        {mosimage}This month, the Arts Council aligned itself with nature and went green. It had a public call for art, though some might just consider it junk. Glass bottles, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, cardboard and even junk mail are just some of the items the city of Fayetteville is encouraging our community to recycle and the Arts Council wants to know what to “make of it.” So, on Friday, June 27, everyone can find out during the opening of the art show Recycle! It’s Second Nature, from 7-9 p.m. at the Arts Council, 301 Hay St.
        That’s not the only green of the picture — cash awards will be presented to the best pieces of “Recycled Art” in three different age groups. The show will feature works of art made by residents of Cumberland County, Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base.
        “This is a great way to kick off our citywide recycling program and explain the importance of helping our environment,” said Jackie Tuckey, public information officer for the city. As the Fourth Friday sponsor, the city will provide educational displays with Dottie Bottle and Recycler the Robot teaching how easy it is to make recycling a part of your everyday life.
        Recycle! It’s Second Nature will run through July 19. A list of the other participating shops is listed on www.theartscouncil.com/4th_Friday. For more information, contact the Arts Council at (910) 323-1776.


  • The Hangover Part II  (Rated R)  Three Stars06-15-11-hangover.jpg

    I wanted to see Kung Fu Panda, but the Internet Movie Database had the times wrong. Darn you Internet Movie Database! Darn you to Heck! So I’m stuck with The Hangover Part II, (102 minutes). Director Todd Phillips does pretty much the same movie as the original but sets it in Bangkok. And just like the first movie, they are already talking sequel. If they had planned this a little better, they would have gone to Tijuana for this move and saved Bangkok for the third, but since everyone concerned must know how stupid these movies are, and be really shocked they keep mak-ing money they probably figured, why wait?

    It is about two years since the boys went to Vegas for the bach-elor party. I still can’t get the three best friends song out of my head, and apparently neither can Stu (Ed Helms) or Phil (Bradley Cooper), since Alan (Zach Galifianakis) isn’t invited to Stu’s upcoming wedding in Thailand. At least not until Doug (Justin Bartha), apparently still making things up to his wife (Sasha Barrese), promises her that he will try to get Alan an invite. Which doesn’t exactly make him popular with his friends, since Alan is still nuts.

    They arrange a last-minute trip to Thailand that someone puts them all on the same flight. You would think they would have consulted Alan’s psychiatrist (there is NO WAY he is not in therapy. At the very least, he must be getting a ton of prescriptions from someone), but nope. At the airport, Alan meets Teddy (Mason Lee who can’t act and is only in the movies because his father is Ang Lee. Sorry dude. You know it’s true), Stu’s future brother-in-law. Alan, threat-ened by a newcomer as only someone in the middle of a never-ending adoles-cence can be, acts even odder.

    They make it to Stu’s soon-to-be father-in-law’s house, but he’s kind of a jerk. The boys end up around a campfire with sealed beer and marshmallows, only to wake up the next morning with a sequel to the world’s worst hangover. They have no idea where there are, how they got there, etc. They find Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong, still a caricature) and a chain-smoking monkey passed out around the room. Which, wow. It’s bad enough you think your little crapfest is perfect for the cameo of a convicted rapist, while being just too classy to fea-ture Mel Gibson. But a chain-smoking monkey? Monkeys are always a good choice, but having him smoke crosses a line! NO, I can’t exactly define the line, but I know it when I see it! I mean, I defend their right to do it, but I refuse to find it anything other than horrifying.

    Similar to their quest to find Doug in the first film, the boys head out to find Teddy with no idea what they are doing. They get called to the Thailand drunk tank, but it turns out some Buddhist monk had Teddy’s identification, so they need to get the Buddhist monk to talk them through the previous night. Unfortunately, this particular monk has taken a vow of silence, so after finding a business card in the monk’s pocket, they re-trace their steps. They end up in a tattoo parlor, and the tattoo guy sends them to a monastery where they get beaten with staves for being obnoxious morons. Finally!

    There’s mass confusion and car chases and Russian mobsters and Billy Joel songs, gunfights and a not whole lot else. Enjoy, if that’s your thing.

  • Community Celebrations Abound in the Cape Fear Region

    July 4, Independence Day, marks the day the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. From July 8, 1776 through the following month, the document was read publicly, and people celebrated whenever they heard it. In the year 1783, Independence Day was made an official holiday, and in 1941, Congress declared July 4th a federal holiday.

    06-29-11-freedom-rings.jpgJohn Adams, the first vice president and the second President of the United States wrote to his wife, “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfi res and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.”

    In keeping with Adams’ wish for our nation, there will be a plethora of celebrations on the 4th of July weekend throughout this great nation and this great state. Locally, residents can pick and choose, where, how and when they celebrate our nation’s birthday. You’ll find a lot of information in this edition about various weekend events, but below, you will find a round up of “hometown” activities that are sure to put a smile on your face and a feeling of patriotism in your heart.

    Aberdeen

    Aberdeen’s 46th Annual 4th of July celebration has something for everyone. Look for things like games, prizes, food, live music and fi reworks. Activities and games will start around 5:30 p.m. with live music by The Entertainers beginning at 6 p.m. Fireworks will start at 9:15pm. Admission to the park is free, but kids can purchase a $3 wristband and participate in extra activities, win prizes and have their faces painted. Everything is taking place at Aberdeen Lake Park. Give them a call at 944-PARK to fi nd out more.

    Carthage

    Carthage residents will kick-off their 4th of July festivities with a parade. It starts at 11a.m. at Monroe Street. After the parade, spend some time downtown during the city’s street festival, where you can eat, listen to music and celebrate with your friends. Find out more at 947-2331.

    Hope Mills

    Hope Mills has reserved an entire day to celebrate the 4th. Forget the afternoon barbeque, the fun here starts with a parade at 10 a.m., which starts at Hope Mills Middle School and ends at Rockfish Elementary School. Spend the day at Municipal Park, which opens at noon with kids games, infl atables, arts and crafts and more.

    The mayor will address the crowd at 7 p.m., and then the entertainment starts. Jill Charles and Redtrii will perform followed by Rough Draft Entertainment. The night ends with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

    Call 426-4109 for more information.

    Lillington

    Known as the Festival of the Park, Lillington’s annual 4th of July Celebration, will be held on Monday, July 4, in the Lillington Park located at 405 South 1st Street (one block off Main Street).

    The event includes rides, food vendors, entertainment by the Band of Oz and fireworks. Gates open at 3 p.m. and there is no admission charge.

    Lumberton

    Music and a Fireworks display are in store for Lumberton residents on July 2. The band Goldrush will perform. It’s all happening at Lumberton Senior High School starting at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. It starts at 7 p.m. with the fireworks starting around 9 p.m. Call 671-3869 to fi nd out more.

    Parkton

    On Monday, July 4, Parkton is hosting its 50th Annual 4th of July celebration. The fun begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Town Square and will include a parade at 11 a.m. There will be music throughout the day. Enjoy some freshly cooked barbeque while spending time with friends and family.

    Pinehurst

    For a more subdued celebration, try the 4th of July Moore County Concert Band. The band will play at 3 p.m. in the Cardinal Ballroom, Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst Resort. For more information call (910)295-9023.

    Pinehurst is starting its 4th of July celebration at 5 p.m. at the The Fair Barn, Pinehurst Harness Track, Route 5, Pinehurst. Fun and games for all ages, pony rides, Sparky and friends and more to delight the young and old. The Vision Band will perform at 6 p.m. Local vendors and caterers will provide food and beverages, or bring your own picnic and enjoy the evening. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs, the fi reworks start at 9:15 p.m. at the 1 Mile Track. Call 295-2817 for more information.

    Southport

    If you want to participate in North Carolina’s 4th of July celebration, take a short trip to Southport, where for more than 200 years, the community has celebrated the nation’s independence. The celebration began during colonial times when ships lay anchor in her harbor and shot their cannons. Now, 40,000 to 50,000 people come each year to bathe in the richness of spirit commemorating Old Glory.

    These days there will not be a lot of cannons firing, but there will be fun for the entire family. The Southport celebration kicks-off on Saturday, June 25 with the opening ceremony at 7:45 a.m. at Waterfront Park and continues through the 4th, with a wide variety of activities for the entire family.

    Some highlights of the festival are the The N.C. Freedom Run/Walk, a concert by the 2nd Marine Division Military Band, an arts festival, Beach Day at Oak Island, Shag contests, a street festival, live music and much more.

    One event that will be particularly poignant is the 9/11 Flag Stitching. The event brings a fl ag that was rescued from the World Trade Center on 9/11 to the city as part of a national tour. Residents from around the country have the opportunity to make a stitch on the fl ag in memory of those who lost their lives that day.

    There will be several fireworks in the region over the week of the celebration.

    For complete details, events and list of entertainment, visit www.nc4thofjuly.com.

    Wilmington

    In Historic Downtown Wilmington, the 4th of July celebration will begin at 5 p.m., when Water Street comes alive with food, music and fun. Entertainment can be found at Riverfront Park with live music provided by the Daniel Parish Band. Along the boardwalk, everyone has a front row street for the fi reworks display, which will begin at 9 p.m.

    The Battleship Blastis one of the largest choreographed fireworks displays in the state and this year, it will be especially meaningful because the Battleship North Carolina is celebrating its 50th year here in Wilmington. The 20-minute spectacular fi reworks display has drawn crowds of more than 50,000 people. The 50th Battleship Anniversary celebration will not disappoint and at 9:05 p.m. the Battleship fireworks spectacular will begin. You don’t want to miss this year, as the fi reworks display will take on new forms that have never been seen in Wilmington before.

    Primary viewing for the fireworks will be from downtown Wilmington. The entire Battleship complex on Eagles Island will be closed at 6 p.m. and all vehicles will be required to leave by 6:30 p.m.

  • uac060612001.jpg It can be antique bottles or early American furniture — ceramics, folk art, comic books, coins or original prints — the list is endless. The reason people collect any type of object or art object is varied, but always personal. Whether one acquires for sentiment, accumulating family heirlooms, or as an investment in the market place, we have many citizens in Fayetteville who are serious collectors of art and art objects.

    The Healing Arts, an exhibit at the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, highlights four local physicians who collect works of art. Included in the exhibit are also creative works by three physicians. Sponsored by Cape Fear Valley Health, The Healing Arts is the first of two exhibitions to connect the art of science and the creative process.

    Visitors to the Arts Council will enjoy works of high quality within a variety of styles and subjects. The collector is sharing with us their values and individual views about aesthetics, beauty and a dedication to supporting the arts. Although the collectors in this exhibit purchase works most often due to the emotional value of each piece, there is also another thread of commonality among this group of collectors — all commented how they preferred to know the artist in some way — either having simply met the artist or to interface with the artist.

    Visitors to the exhibit have an opportunity to read a statement by each collector about why they collect works. Dr. James Pilgrim states: “My wife, Juanita, and I have always loved and enjoyed art, and started collecting art in college. The late Ernie Barnes, a classmate and close friend, always shared his beautiful works of art with us. Our appreciation of his work is unlimited.”

    We spend many hours enjoying the true meanings and peacefulness of our collection. Art has always been soothing to the soul. We only purchase what we truly like, and as it is often said, beauty is in th06-06-12-coverby-dr.-gilbert.jpge eye of the beholders. Art collections are an investment, but even more important, it provides you with a sense of serenity when you are in the midst of it.”

    Visitors to The Healing Arts will readily see how the Pilgrims enjoy collecting many works by African-American artists. As well, they enjoy sharing the works and have shared parts of their collection at the previous Fayetteville Museum of Art, the Arts Council and Rosenthal Gallery on the campus of Fayetteville State University.

    Dr. Hank and Representative Diane Parfitt are sharing their many works from local artists they have collected for many years. In particular, they were friends and ardent supporters of a well known realist painter who relocated to Fayetteville — Bob Rector.

    Parfitts’ statement is located under a painting of his antique car painted in a photo-realist style by Bob Rector. His statement reflects on the relationship they shared with the artist after meeting Rector in a downtown coffee house in the early ‘90s. “Rector talked of his years in Detroit and Californiaas a commercial artist, doing car ads for General Motors and Ford. Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, many of his ads appeared in Life and Saturday Evening Post. He showed us some artwork he carried around in the trunk of his old Volvo. The images were startlingly realistic. Diane suggested we get Bob to do a painting of my 1984 Olds convertible, the first “nice” car I owned.

    After that, Bob and I formed a partnership. We got commissions for classic cars, portraits of people and their families, even pets. Bob created more than 80 original works — including images of vintage World War II airplanes and a series of historic downtown buildings — during the 10 years that we collaborated. Bob had travelled the world, but Fayetteville became his adopted home. He died in 2004 at age 73. At the time, he was working on three commissioned pieces.”

    Dr. Wayne Riggins and his partner, Mark Sullivan, are sharing an eclectic mix of works from their collection. From pin-hole camera photographs, original lithographs from publications, Chinese sumi painting and more, both collect what adds beauty to every room in their home.

    Riggins stated, “We have been collecting works of art for the past 20 years. In the very beginning individual works were purchased due to the beauty each one exuded — a combination of subject, design and craftsmanship. The qualities of beauty and originality in each work continue to enrich our spirit and support those same aesthetics in the home.

    Eventually it became important to meet the artist. Now, in our travels, we most often collect works from an artist we meet or artists we know in the community. Having a work from an artist you have personally met adds another dimension of appreciation for the work of art. “

    Dr. Jerry and Naoma Ellison have selected part of their wood turning collection and one bronze sculpture to share with visitors to the Arts Council. All delicate in nature, visitors need to make sure they do not miss this collection of exquisite works in wood and metal.

    A new collector of local artists, Dr. Robert and Christine Kastner are showing two works of art from their collection by two local artists. Like most of the collectors Christine Kastner stated: “I collect what I have a connection to - it can be a place we’ve been or an artist I know. No matter what the circumstance, each work draws a response from me in some way.06-06-12-cover2y-robert-barnard.jpg

    “Besides works from the collections of the above four local physicians, a limited number of works in the exhibit are works created by physicians. Dr. David Gilbert is exhibiting two of his bronze sculptures. Both larger than life-size, Gilbert is exhibiting a superb portrait of Donald Ross and his creative interpretation of a heart. Both works show his expertise in the lost wax sculpture technique.

    Dr. Shirish Devasthali is exhibiting a beautiful beaded image of the Elephant God. Delicate and labor intensive, the beaded relief took Devasthali over a year to complete. Devasthali’s patience and eye for details is evident in this highly creative work.

    Another highly creative work is by Hank Parfitt. When visitors see the two small framed works of sea shells, they will not have any idea each perfect form in blue were created by Mammogram X-Rays (unless they take time to read the label).

    The Healing Arts is an exhibit everyone should take the time to enjoy until June 16. For more information call the Arts Council at 910-323-1776 or go their Website at www.theartscouncil.com.

    Photos: Middle right is a sculpture by Dr. Gilbert. Bottom left is a piece by artist Robert Barnardand, owned by Dr. Hank and Representative Diane Parfitt. Both are featured in the exhibit. 

  • Whether interested in reading or writing, the library can provide a wealth of information, opportunity and support. The Internet — with its vast wealth of knowledge — cannot replace the face-to-face conversation and advice from someone who has experience. On June 22, Headquarters Library will hold a Local Authors Showcase, providing an opportunity for anyone interested in writing to learn about the tricks of self-publishing and anyone interested in reading to browse local author’s works and purchase their books.

    Due to the rise of the Internet and blogs, self-publishing has increased dramatically. Studies show that more than 200 million Americans feel that they have the potential of a book within them. The differentiation becomes those who take the time to first put their thoughts on paper, but then also publish these thoughts. Blogs are often used to flesh out ideas and gauge reader response. With this new outlet it is easier to write a book and the publishing business is flooded with people trying to share their ideas. This creates huge competition in traditional publishing. For those who are truly dedicated to getting their ideas read, self-publishing is an obvious choice, but starting with no experience can be difficult. This event provides a tremendous opportunity for upcoming writers to talk to local authors who have experience in self-publishing.

    Twenty authors will participate in this event, all of whom answered the library’s call for local authors by filling out applications in April. These authors are all local and self-published.

    “This event gives the public the opportunity to meet and learn more about the areas home-grown authors and hear first had from local authors who publish books. It is a great opportunity not only to browse the books of local authors but also learn the ins and outs of self-publishing,” Susan Parrish, the public information coordinator of the Cumberland County Public Library and Information System, explained.

    06-20-12authorshowcase.jpgThe library often gets inquiries on how to self-publish, and this event provides the public an opportunity to freely speak and discuss tips of the trade as well as basic steps that need to be taken with authors who have done just that, some of them multiple times.

    Parrish further explains how the event will be run. “Each author will have their own table, and it’s a drop-in event. It’s not a program that’s presented on stage, so you can walk up and speak to the author yourself one-on-one,” she said.

    “This allows people to talk about specific personal problems and goals they may have about writing or publishing and removes the pressure of presenting a question before an entire audience,” she continued.

    The local authors showcase will be held on June 22 in the Pate Room of Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane from 7-8:45 p.m. in conjunction with 4th Friday. For more information, call 483-7727 or visit the website at www.cumberland.lib.nc.us.

    Photo: On June 22, Headquarters library will showcase local authors.

  • Located in the Horticulture Educational Center off Eastern Boulevard and adjacent to the Cape Fear06-08-11-ftcc-article.jpgBotanical Garden, the FTCC Horticulture/Management program awards an associate degree in applied science that can be completed in fi ve semesters and also offers two programs of study leading to the award of certifi cates: Basic Landscape Maintenance and Horticultural Science. Each certifi cate program can be completed within one year. Demand is high for graduates of the programs who will be trained to work in nurseries and greenhouses, to install and manage landscapes, to maintain turfgrass, to design landscapes and gardens, to produce fruits and vegetables or to work at resorts, golf courses or public gardens.

    The course of study is broad-based, and students may enter the program in any semester. Students enjoy classes in landscape design, landscape management and landscape irrigation; plant science and soil science; greenhouse and nursery production; interiorscapes; turfgrass management; control of horticultural pests; plant identifi cation and use, and more. Preparation for professional certifi cations, such as Certifi ed Professional Plantsman, Certifi ed Irrigation Contractor and Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator, is emphasized. Hands-on instruction is a critical component in all classes.

    The Horticulture Department enjoys a productive relationship with its neighbor, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, whose gardens, plant collections, natural areas and outdoor spaces serve as a biological laboratory. In collaborative projects with CFBG, horticulture students learn many aspects of landscape management in a public garden setting.

    Since early 2010, FTCC’s Horticulture program has been actively adopting and promoting sustainability in its classes and landscape. Currently, the Horticulture department is participating in a statewide Curriculum Improvement Project known as the Code Green CIP. In November 2010, the N.C. Community College System began this two-year look at how sustainability could be incorporated into certain curricula across the state. Among the CIP’s goals are simplification and combination of similar program titles, adoption of core curricula and the incorporation of sustainability as learning objectives into courses.

    The landscape around the impressive Horticulture Educational Center continues to grow and change as instructors Brad Goodrum and Jeffrey Webb, along with lab technician Charles Brown, develop new gardens and add to the well-labeled plant collection. Students recently completed and experienced building a fence, retaining wall, and brick patio as part of their classroom instruction. In the planning stages for the landscape study are a rain garden, improved composting facilities, and a green roof as well as an interior green wall.

    The Horticulture Department at Fayetteville Tech takes the lead in student recruitment. In April, the Horticulture Department hosted more than 250 students, along with their teachers, from Cumberland and Robeson counties in high school and middle school Agriculture and FFA programs at an Open House. Students were treated to a guided tour of the Cape Fear Botanical Garden as well as tours of the HEC classrooms, labs and greenhouses. Students also took part in outdoor events including brick patio laying and operating landscape and turf equipment.

    Learn more about available programs of study in the field of horticulture as well as other programs Fayetteville Tech offers at www.faytechcc.edu.

  • Are you ready for the big screen? Smith Lake Recreation Area Outdoor Theater is set for summer and has a great line up of family-friendly movies to make the summer season that much more fun. The prices can’t be beat either. This big screen won’t cost you a thing, unless of course you are among those who love a good snack with the show, otherwise you can just come out and enjoy. The summer movie series is free and open to the public.

    In addition to camping, hiking and other outdoor activities, Smith Lake is the perfect place to enjoy some family time under the stars. Fort Bragg’s Moral Welfare and Recreation department, also known as MWR, presents Movie Night at the Beach at the Smith Lake Recreation Area. It’s a great way to make memories, and enjoy wholesome entertainment without breaking the bank. The summer movie series runs from May through September, and is an opportunity to start a family tradition.

    Look for lighthearted entertainment, a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the show. Movies featured at the Movie Night are Rango on June 16, Barnyard on July 14, The Smurfs on Aug. 18, and Kung Fu Panda 2 on Sept. 8. All movies begin at 8 p.m., excluding Kung Fu Panda 2, which starts at 7 p.m. The movies are all rated as PG, but the selections are subject to change.

    What is a movie without a yummy snack to go with it? The concessions area carries typical movie theater cuisine: nachos, hot dogs, chips, etc. Just be mindful that it is an outdoor theater so you may want to bring along a little bug repellent for those insects that want to join in on your fun. The area is however, sprayed for ants.

    Kevin Harp of MWR explained that the Smith Lake Recreation Area Movie Night at the Beach is “the only outdoor theater in the area, at least that I know of,” making this a different atmosphere from your typical movie night. It’s your modern day drive-in theater. So pass by the Red Box, pass up the theater and a put away your credit card, at least one weekend a month anyway. Pull out your blankets and lawn chairs and grab a friend. It’s movie night, it’s free and it’s fun.

    Gates open one hour before the show and concessions are available for purchase. Please be advised though that no outside food or drinks are permitted. So if you are a snacker, bring along a little cash. Otherwise, it is an economical good time for all. For more information, visit www.fortbraggmwr.com.

  • Nothing says summertime like an outdoor concert. When the Bull City Syndicate and Craig Woolard Band roll into town for Fayetteville After Five on Thursday, June 21, the first full day of summer 2012 will have officially arrived.

    As one of the perennial favorites on the Beach Music circuit, the Craig Woolard Band is a seven-member ensemble of life-long musicians. The band consists of former members of The Embers, The Catalinas and The Shakers.

    Band front man, Craig Woolard says, “When you come to hear the Craig Woolard Band at an outdoor concert, you are going to hear some beach music, you are going to hear some rock and roll, you’ll hear some party funk and some country. We play each genre as true as possible.”

    Playing events like Fayetteville After Five gives the band an opportunity to reach an audience that may not hit the nightclub scene. “We develop good, lifelong fans through the outdoor concerts.”

    And the magic of a summer concert isn’t lost on Woolard. “It hits the emotional centers. What we are doing out there is the 21st century version of the John Philip Sousa concerts. It’s just good, clean American fun.”

    Woolard was named Male Vocalist of the Year at the Carolina Beach Music Association Awards in 2011. It was his second year in a row winning the award. “I get to do for a living what I’ve always wanted to do. I never wanted to do anything else. I’m a blessed man. If you want to see a guy do what he loves, come out to see The Craig Woolard Band.”

    Carrie King, Executive Director of Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, is excited to have two headliners for Fayetteville After Five, a Dogwood Festival sponsored event.

    Known for their horn section and vocalist, Charlotte Gregory, Bull City Syndicate is a Durham band that has been playing the Mid-Atlantic region for over 15 years. Their music is a tribute to their influences Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire and Blood, Sweat & Tears, but the Bull City Syndicate makes the music all their own.06-13-12-fay after 5.jpg

    “Bull City Syndicate really has a huge following in the Raleigh/Durham area. They are a fun, energetic band and we’re pleased to add them to the line-up,” said King.

    “They do a little bit of everything. They’re universal. They are a big band and they have a great horn section. It’s a little more funk.”

    Fayetteville After Five is as much of a family event as a concert. In addition to the music, there are cornhole boards, a 50/50 raffle with prizes and giveaways and the Gamin’ Ride.

    “It’s an interactive trailer with any and every kind of video game you can think of. It is just awesome. This thing even has Smell-o-Vision that compliments the kid’s games. It’s a unique opportunity for the concert-goers.”

    Fayetteville After Five concerts are free to the public with the music starting around 5:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com/fayetteville-after-5.

    Photo: The Craig Woolard Band will perform at Fayetteville After Five on June 21. 

  • On the night of June 22 a man will die by the hand of one of your fellow diners … location — the hilltop house, motive — there are millions, all green with the face of past presidents. The name of the game is murder mystery complete with death, intrigue, suspicion and great food — without the spoiler of jail and police inquiry at the end — all of which the Hilltop House has to offer with their Murder of a Millionaire mystery dinner. 06-20-12mystery.jpg

    For $50 a person the Hilltop House will treat guests to a five-course meal held to their award-winning standards. “The meal always starts out with an appetizer, usually a soup or salad course, two entrees and a desert. The courses flow along as the meal progresses,” explained Beth Shearin-Smith, executive chef and Hilltop House owner. Rather than having diners sit and watch as actors portray the grisly death, the diners themselves are the characters who murder, suspect and are suspected, creating an experience as close to an actual mystery as most people wish to get.

    The Hilltop House has hosted several other mystery dinners in the past few years, all of which were met with great success. The experience offered to diners is different from the traditional dinner and entertainment usually found in Fayetteville. Instead of sitting quietly watching actors solve a scripted mystery, the diners become part of the mystery and build a new experience for themselves. “It’s extremely interactive. The guests come dressed as the characters we email them. They all have little scripts they can read that give them little clues as to what they need to say to a particular other person, and added information that if they want to say they can, but they can keep it to themselves at the same time,” Shearin-Smith further elaborates. This allows guests to actually affect the way the mystery is solved. This is not a solitary experience however. Even if someone comes alone, people interact and talk as the characters they’ve been assigned. “Throughout the courses they’re getting up from their seats, moving about the room and mingling with the other guests,” Shearin-Smith said.

    “One of the owners wanted to do something different,” Shearin-Smith explained regarding the inspiration for the mystery dinners. Expounding on the originality, Shearin-Smith says, “Coming to one (of the murder mystery dinners) is kind of like stepping out of the box and doing something different in a town where everybody goes out to eat and everybody goes and sees movies. It gives you something different to go out and experience.”

    The Hilltop House is located at 1240 Fort Bragg Rd. The staff can be contacted for reservations or more information at 484-6699 or emailed at info@hilltophousenc.com. The dinner will be held on June 22 at 7 p.m., and costs $50 per person.

    Photo: Murder and mayhem come to the Hilltop House — and dinner is included.

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    On Saturday, June 6, two things that just work together will create a fun, entertaining event for Fayetteville residents as the 12th Annual Blues n Brews returns to Festival Park. Blues n Brews is the annual fundraiser to support the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and, if the success of the past 11 years is a basis for predicting the success of this year’s event, it looks to be a homerun.

    The annual event, organized by a core group of 14 volunteers, takes about a year to put together. It is not easy trying to top an already successful event, but that’s what the volunteers have been able to do each year. Karen Tisdale, the chairman of this year’s event, hopes to keep that tradition alive.

    The keys to success, according to Tisdale, are great music and great beer. She, and her dedicated volunteers, have both wrapped up.

    Thirty-eight different brewing companies are represented in this year’s line up for a total of about 110 different beers. That’s a lot of pouring and tasting for event attendees. 

    “Our local distributors are huge advocates for this event and for the Cape Fear Regional Theatre,” explained Tisdale, noting that R.A. Jeffreys, Healy Wholesale and Empire Distributors have brought a lot of craft brewers to the event, as well as independent and smaller brewers who could not be present otherwise.

    R.A. Jeffreys, the oldest distributor in the state, distributes Annheuser Busch, as well as a number of craft breweries from around the nation, including Blue Point Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Company, Red Hook Brewery and Sweetwater Brewery. In North Carolina, they represent Aviator Brewing Company, Big Boss Brewing Company, Carolina Brewery, Good Vibes Brewing Company, Kind Beers, Lone Rider Brewing Company, Natty Greene’s Brewing Company and Triangle Brewing Company. 

    Healy Wholesale, a Fayetteville based company, distributes a number of beers including Yuengling, Coors and Miller products. Additionally, the wholesaler represents a number of smaller brewers, including Crazy Mountain Brewery, Foothills Brewery, Anchor Brewing and Johnny Bootlegger.

    Empire Distributors, based out of Durham, brings a number of beers to the table, including Samuel Adams Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewery and Breckenridge Brewery, as well as a number of small North Carolina breweries. 

    Tisdale said working with the three distributors, a diverse group of beers will be available, including beers from Asheville, Hope Mills, Angier and Holly Springs, as well as breweries from Mexico, Chicago and Pennsylvania.

    “We will also have a number of smaller craft beers represented,”said Tisdale. “We have a very loyal group of brewers who come to the event every year, but we have also added new vendors this year.”

    One of the newest brewers added to the list is Blind Squirrel Brewery, based out of Plum Tree, N.C. Blind Squirrel operates four separate three-barrel systems, giving them a range of diversity that is unsurpassed in the High Country. What started as a true nano-brewery has now evolved into a micro-setup that is unlike any other in the state. 

    Also new to the event is Hi-Wire Brewing, an Asheville-based brewery, which strives to be as independent and authentic as possible, while maintaining an approachability to its beers. Located in Downtown Asheville’s Brew District, Hi-Wire Brewing embraces its craft from top to bottom. Hi-Wire features four approachable year-round “Main Attraction” beers — Prime Time Pale, Hi-Pitch IPA, Bed of Nails Brown and Hi-Wire Lager, as well as a rotating selection of seasonal offerings, as well as “Side Show Seasonals.”

    Beer is only part of what makes the event so successful, the other half is the Blues, which Tisdale promises will not disappoint. This year three bands will perform, including Fayetteville’s own Chris Hurst and String Theory, which promises to perform authentic “dirty blues.” 

    Also performing is E.B. Tharrington and 42 East, a blues/Funk/Soul band from Raleigh, featuring E.B. Tharrington on guitar and vocals, Dave Albery-on bass and vocals and Dan Stahl on drums and vocals.

    The main entertainment, comes from deep in the bayous of Louisiana. Tullie Brae, according to critics and peers alike “has the praiseworthy vocal distinction and stage charisma that creates an unforgettable show.” She is a soulful blues singer, whose roots are tied to gospel music. She plays the piano, drums and guitar.  Touring with The Medicine Man Revue, Brae has played all over the south and has opened for the late great B.B. King and has shared the stage with greats like Bonnie Raitt, Chicago Rhythm and Blues kings and Big Jack Johnson. 

    With a great lineup of blues and brews Tisdale is hoping to match and beat last year’s attendance which was right at 3,000 people. 

    “Last year we had a little more than 3,000 people come through the gates. We certainly hope to have that and a little bit more,” she said. “We have a little more beer and are expanding the footprint. But we also have a cap, which isn’t that much higher than last year. We want the event to be a good experience, so we are very aware of size capacity and people coming through gates. The max we are looking at is 3,400 people.” 

    That number is, by-in-large, adults over the age of 21. While children are not forbidden from the event, Tisdale points out that there are no children’s activities or event going on.

    “It is largely a 21 plus event,” she said. “This is a crowd that wants to sample beer and listen to great music.”

    They also want to eat, and Tisdale and crew have that covered as well. Tisdale noted that the list of food vendors includes: the Honey Baked Ham Cafe, Hot Diggidy Dog, Mac’s Speed Shop, Pappa John’s, R Burger and Scoops, Sonny Incs. Southern Chicken, Shrimp and Fish Fry and YumYum Chicken on a Stick. She added that all vendors are reasonably priced.

    Tisdale touts the VIP Ticket as the biggest bang for your buck. The VIP Ticket gives attendees an hour earlier entrance, which gives VIP ticket holders more time to sample with fewer people in line. In addition, VIP ticket holders have access to the VIP tent, which has a special concert, goodie bags with coupons for free Blues n Brews items, free concession items, a T-shirt, as well as a buffet dinner provided by Carolina Ale House and an evening appetizer bar. Additionally, VIP ticket holders get to participate in private pours, vote on the Best of Show and have access to a private game area. 

    “As a VIP ticket holder, you can come to the event and basically not spend another dime,” she Tisdale. “You are covered for the whole night.”

    VIP tickets can be purchased online at www.cfrt.org or via the CFRT Box office at 323-4234, and are $75. General admission tickets are $35, with advance purchase and $40 at the gate. General Admission Tickets for non-drinkers are $15. Active duty military get a $5 discount on general admission tickets. The gates open at 4 p.m. for VIP ticket holders and 5 p.m. for all others. Those who have advance tickets will avoid the line and come through a separate gate.

    For more information about the Blues n Brews, visit the website at www.cfrt.org/blues-and-brews.


  •     The most recent exhibit at Cape Fear Studios, titled Just the Two of Us, supports the idea that many artists in the surrounding area prefer to use a high key palette of color. Halftones, sepia and raw umbers have been replaced with pure colors that explode across the surface of a painting or pastel drawing.
    Joanne Gill Worth and Margie Graves, the two artists in the exhibit, are from Southern Pines and both rely upon color to express their ideas about abstraction, the still life and the landscape. Both artists have a preference for the intensity of color over the drab, bright over dull and dark to emphasize light.
    Graves’ work is mixed media and abstract. Mood is evoked by using bright colors. The surface of the painting is sometimes modulated through texture. The range of emotions being expressed is deciphered through layers of color, movement and fluidity.
        Graves has a master’s degree in social work and is licensed in clinical social work. Her abstract style has been influenced by a certificate in expressive arts therapy from Appalachian State University.
        The layering effect in Graves’ works illustrates how she fosters her own creativity and methods in the area of expressive arts therapy. Most people are very familiar with art therapy; Graves explains how expressive arts therapy “integrates and embraces all the traditional modalities, sometimes layering several art modalities of art therapy.” Graves further stated that expressive arts therapy is the “practice of using imagery, storytelling, dance, music, drama, poetry, writing, movement, dream work and visual arts, together in an integrated way to foster human growth, development and healing.”
        After understanding Graves was an expressive arts therapist, I was able to bring a new interest to her work that I did not originally experience. The lesson here is sometimes knowing about what the artist is doing can heighten our appreciation of their work. (That said, it is not always true.) 
    Grave’s abstract fluidity is in contrast to the work of Joanne Gill Worth. Gill Worth is the exact opposite in that her still lifes and landscapes are constructed through color to be solid — built up by thick mark making techniques using only oil pastels. 
        In the drawing titled Last Tangerine, viewers can see how Worth uses traditional techniques of perspective to create space. In this still life drawing, three tangerines are placed upon a highly decorative blue and white plate. The artist used a bird’s eye view point; we are above the plate and look down upon the still life from a bird’s eye view. Bird’s eye view, a technique in foreshortening, can be the shortest route to create interest for the viewer.
        Worth has the ability to create the recession of space and volume in her work. In particular, Last Tangerine is a work that truly exemplifies the artist’s talent for skill, composition and detail. Using the complementary colors of orange and blue is another technique for maximizing the use of color — one emphasizes the other and makes the other color look even brighter than it is when isolated.
       {mosimage} Worth’s other still lifes and landscapes integrate her use of technique for contrasting high key colors as well as the contrast of light to dark. It appears  Worth is preoccupied with different types of light and the way it affects color on an object or in the landscape. In her still lifes, the light can be from a direct light source or the indirect light from a window to create a backlit light affect.  
        In After the Storm, Worth captures the bold colors of a setting sun before a storm, dark clouds separating to reveal their orange-red and yellow edges through a band blue to turquoise sky. In After Hours, Worth shows us the lighting affect of street lights on a deserted rural road; the street lights spray an area with a limited distance of yellow-white light on dense foliage and a fence-lined street. 
    Both artists are well worth the trip to the downtown Fayetteville gallery. Cape Fear Studios, located on Maxwell Street, one block behind the Fayetteville Art Center on the corner of Hay and Maxwell Street, invites you to see the works of Worth and Graves. The exhibit will remain up until June 24. For information call the studios at (910) 433-2986.

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  •     If you ever once said, “Fayetteville needs more culture,” then it’s time to boot up the old PC or Mac and let the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County know you want public art, and lots of it.
        For about a month now, the Arts Council — at its Web site, www.artscouncil.com — has posted a public online art survey to get your input about what kind of public art you want to see in the community.
        {mosimage}The Arts Council is partnering with the Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce to develop a Public Art Master Plan for Fayetteville/Cumberland County, and your feedback is needed for this ambitious project.
        “We’ve only had about 100 surveys filled out so far,” said Deborah Martin Mintz, executive director of the Arts Council. “We’d love to have about 1,000 filled out.”
        While most people confine their idea of what is public art to statues and sculpture, there really are many classifications of public art, said Martin Mintz.
        Public art can be defined as anything designed or created with the assistance of an artist and located in a public place.
        It can be:
        • Temporary or permanent, inside or outside;
        • Part of a building or freestanding;
        • Sculpture, murals, lighting effects, electronic or video art;
        • Street furniture, utility covers, paving, railings, posters, bridges and signs;
        • Be sophisticated in its ideas and fabrication or simple in its form and content.
        Most of all, public art reflects the personality of the community. 
        Included on the survey, which is completely anonymous, are “yes” and “no” questions such as, “Have you seen public art in other cities?” and, “Have you used any transit systems with art in the stations, noticed it in any airports, along highways or integrated into bridges?”
        It’s a short, two-page survey that can be finished in minutes, yet is so important to improving not only the quality of public art here in Fayetteville, as well as the culture.
        “Public art builds and reflects a town’s culture,” said Michelle Horn, assistant curator/director of the Fayetteville Museum of Arts. “And it can be anything, such as a sign or a bench or a lamp post or even a trash receptacle. Public art improves the perception of a town and the people who live there.”
        Gallery 208 is testing that theorem by hosting a trio of new sculptures at the offices of Up and Coming Weekly on the day the artist, Paul Hill, was in town to put the pieces together.
        “I love the big giraffe,” said 7-year-old Raheem McMillan, son of Roberta McMillan, both of Fayetteville.
        The 11-foot-tall giraffe, called, Natural Progression, also caught Roberta’s eye as she and her child walked to a nearby convenience store for a cold drink on the hot day.
        “It’s just beautiful,” said McMillan. “We need more stuff like this in Fayetteville.”
        Natural Progression is one of three sculptures now on display at Gallery 208, including Once Too Often and Insatiable. All three pieces are by Paul Hill of Wilmington.
        To keep more art like this coming to Fayetteville, don’t forget to go to the Arts Council Web site and fill out your free survey.

  • uac061814001.gif For more than 50 years, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre has brought quality theater to the Cumberland County/Fort Bragg community. If Tom Quaintance’s, the artistic director at the CFRT, vision for the upcoming season is realized, this season will not only continue that heritage, but will raise the bar for excellence at the CFRT.

    “Last season was really excellent,” said Quaintance, who is entering his third season at the helm of the CFRT. “I felt really good about all of the shows, and we actually did much better than planned.”

    Even as the season was ongoing, Quaintance gathered a group of individuals together to start planning for the 2014-2015 season.

    “We met together and read about 25 plays and musicals,” explained Quaintance. “Planning for a season is an incredibly complicated process. We really have to look at performing a balancing act to ensure that we reach out to the broad spectrum of our community and our theatre patrons.”

    Quaintance noted that the group read a broad range of plays and musicals, explaining that the most important factor in deciding on what plays would make this year’s season had to do with telling a good story. Once the story passed the test, the group worked to ensure that there was a fine balance between the styles of plays from contemporary to classical.

    Quaintance believes the group got this season right and has chosen a season that offers a little something for everyone.

    The season kicks-off in September with the cult-classic Monty Python’s Spamalot.

    “I have never had more fun in a theatre than when I have worked on Spamalot,” said Quaintance. “I am dying to get into rehearsals for this play. I grew up with this play. All of my friends and I grew up quoting it.”

    Quaintance is particular excited about the opportunity that Spamalot brings to showcase the talents of the local community. He noted that the show’s large cast is a perfect vehicle for local actors.

    Spamalot, which is a musical, a new musical and is a take-off from the internationally famous comedy team’s most popular motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. The show won three 2005 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk® and Outer Critics Circle® Awards for Best Musical. Book and Lyrics by Eric Idle.

    In October and November, The Bluest Eye tells the story of the tragic life of a young girl in 1940,s Ohio. Eleven year-old Pecola Breedlove wants nothing more than to be loved by her family and schoolmates. Instead, she faces constant ridicule and abuse. Blaming her dark skin she prays for blue eyes, sure that love will follow.

    Over Christmas, the theatre will once again stage the perennial Christmas favorite The Best Christmas Pageant Everand the adult-themed Santa Land Diaries.

    In January, Quaintance and company brings adventure to the stage with The Three Musketeers. This rousing story of heroism, treachery and honor is an action packed adventure for the entire family.

    In March, be prepared to get some swing in your step as Ain’t Misbehavin’ brings two spirited hours of musical entertainment to the stage. This Tony Award-winning tour through the legendary Fats Waller songbook is one of the most popular musical revues of the century.

    In April, Bo Thorpe will return to the CFRT stage for the first time in a couple of years in The Trip to Bountiful. “I have been looking for the perfect vehicle for Bo, and this is it,” said Quaintance. “She has not been on stage since On Golden Pond. I think this play will showcase her great talent.”

    For the first time in its history, the theater will offer a six-show season. Quaintance believes the added show will give people more choices and will keep the theatre fully engaged with the community throughout the year. People purchasing season tickets can choose to purchase either a five- or six-show ticket, which gives them the freedom to pick the shows they want to come to. “Some plays aren’t for everyone,” said Quaintance. “This season is very ambitious, and we believe we have something for everybody in this season.”

    Quaintance thinks people will agree once they see Avenue Q, which won the Triple Crown at the Tony’s taking Best Musical, Best Score and Best book. Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. This unapologetically adult musical Avenue Q takes Sesame Street into the real world with hilarious results as recent grad Princeton navigates post-college life.

    Along with bringing great plays to stage, Quaintance will also bring talented actors and directors to the mix.

    For more information about the season or to purchase tickets, visit www.cfrt.org.

  • 06-20-12-senior-corner.jpgYou thought this could never happen: You or a senior loved one has been the victim of a scam.

    You need to get help now, before another dollar trickles away and your credit score takes a big hit.

    Here are some key steps, according to legal experts:

    • Contact the police. File a report with the police department in area where the crime was committed.

    • Get a copy of the police report. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the police report, be sure to get the report number.

    • Close your accounts. If you notice any accounts under your name that have been tampered with or opened without your consent, close them immediately. Call each bank or company and then follow up in writing. If there are fraudulent charges or debts on your account or if a new account has been opened, you should immediately file a fraud report with your bank’s fraud department. If you close an existing bank account and open a new one, be sure to create new PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) and passwords.

    • Eliminate fraudulent new accounts. If a new account has been opened without your knowledge and consent, ask that company if it has a fraud department. If it does, file a fraud report with that department. If not, ask if the company will accept an ID Theft Affidavit from the Federal Trade Commission. You can print out an http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf [ID Theft Affidavit]. The FTC also provides http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/02/idtheft.shtm [more information on fraud].

    • File a federal complaint. The Federal Trade Commission is the federal consumer protection agency. The FTC, in conjunction with the FBI, maintains an Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. The FTC aids identity theft investigations by collecting complaints from victims and sharing the information with law enforcement agencies, credit bureaus, companies where the fraud took place, and other government agencies. File at www.consumer.gov/idtheft [FTC complaint] or call 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338).

    • Initiate a fraud alert. Place a fraud alert on your credit file as well as review your credit report. This will prevent a thief from opening any more accounts in your name. You should contact the three major credit bureaus. Credit bureau contact information: Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; Transunion, 800-680-7289

    • Follow-up. After you have a fraud alert included in your credit history, you are entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Request a copy and review your report for accounts you did not open, debts on your account that you did not know about, inquiries from companies you don’t know and inaccurate information.

    The important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. It’s unfortunate, but scamming has become commonplace, and there’s no reason to be embarrassed. Acting quickly may prevent someone from going through the same thing. Law enforcement officials are experienced in handling cases such as yours, and they are sympathetic to your plight. A

    Home Instead CAREGiverSM can help, too, by serving as a second set of eyes and ears in a senior’s home. CAREGivers can be on the lookout for suspicious activity and assist seniors by sorting through junk mail, throwing out unwanted credit card offers and reminding older adults about other material that needs to be shredded before discarding. Contact your Home Instead Senior Care® office at 910-484-7200 or visit www.homeinstead.com/647.

    For more information, visit: www.ago.ne.gov/resources/dyn/files/392571za5a5011a/_fn/AGO_IDTheftBroch_122910.pdf.

    Photo: Scammers are equal opportunity crooks. Protect yourself.

  • uac061312001.jpg Things have been busy at Cape Fear Botanical Garden the past year or so. Along with the opening of the Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex, the nationally renowned Big Bugs exhibit by artist David Rogers and the first annual Holiday Lights in the Garden, the garden has stepped up its programming, giving people even more reasons to come and enjoy what the garden has to offer.

    Spring is a beautiful time in the garden, and a concert just adds to the ambience. The inaugural Spring Concert Series in the Garden has been a big hit with catering provided by Elliott’s on Linden in Pinehurst, and a variety of music genres. “We’ve had wonderful turn out and the weather has cooperated,” said Director of Development and Marketing, Iris Goode. “We actually had people dancing at the last concert — kids and grown-ups alike. I’m sure we will be doing something similar next year.”

    On June 22, the concert series at the garden winds down, drawing the first seasonal concert series to a close. So far, the playlist included tropical and classic rock, jazz, blue grass and country music. The program ends with this final concert, a big band performance by The Casa Blanca Orchestra.

    The Casa Blanca Orchestra is composed of a piano, drums, bass, guitar, trumpets, trombones, saxophones and the vocal talent of Debbie Bennett. The band has a repertoire of more than 300 songs that include swing, Latin, jazz and blues hits spanning the 1940s to the 1990s.

    Sweet Tea Shakespeare Company presents Much Ado About Nothing June 27 through July 1. A comedy about two young soldiers returning from war and adjusting to civilian life, the women they love and the misunderstandings they endure, Much Ado About Nothing offers an opportunity to enjoy a laughter-filled evening in the garden.

    “We are looking foreward to having Shakespeare in the garden,” said Goode. “I think it will be well received and something that people will enjoy.” 

    Assistant Professor of Theatre at Fayetteville State University Jeremy Fiebig is heading up the Sweet Tea Shakespeare Company project sponsored by Fayetteville State University’s Fine Art Department and supported by Gilbert Theater, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and Methodist University.

    “I’ve been in Fayetteville for almost two years now and the first time I went to the Botanical Garden, I though ‘Oh wow, there needs to be a performance here,” said Fiebig, who is also the Sweet Tea Sha06-13-12-cfbg-concert-051112--a.jpgkespeare artistic director and project coordinator. “I am interested in all the theater organizations in Fayetteville being supportive of each other, so for this to be successful we needed to be certain we weren’t going up against each other. We are trying to do this in a window where there is not a lot of competition between the theaters, so that we are not competing with each other.”

    You don’t have to be a Shakespeare fan to appreciate Shakespeare in the Garden. The entire experience is laid back. Snacks and beverages will be available and the cozy atmosphere and the informal seating are all built in to the experience to help the audience enjoy the show.

    Fiebig thinks that the audience will enjoy seeing familiar faces, as well as a few new personalities in the local theater scene. He is enjoying the mix of personalities and experience levels and thinks the audience will too.

    Much Ado About Nothingwas an obvious choice for Fiebig when it came time to choose the opening production. “The way to we are doing this is going to appeal to everyone, whether they get or like Shakespeare or not,” said Fiebig. “Much Ado About Nothing is a funny play. It has a lot of humor that would play to a modern audience just as readily as it did audiences in Shakespeare’s day. It is a unique choice for Fayetteville audiences because the main story has to do with soldiers coming back from campaigning and struggling with the transition from military life to civilian life. It has something specific to say to the local community, that I think everyone will enjoy.”

    Fiebig is planning a second Shakespeare in the Garden in July with the production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

    Say good-bye to summer with the Fall Concert Series scheduled to take place each Thursday in September. Unlike the spring series, which offered many different types of music, the fall series explores the orchestra. At each concert, the performance will focus on an instrument family in the orchestra. It’s a great opportunity to not only enjoy a concert, but to learn something as well. The concerts are on Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27 and will explore the jazz combo, brass string and woodwind instruments.

    After Big Bugs was such a hit, the door was opened for another garden-related critter to make an appearance. Ribbit the Exhibit runs September through November and features 10 of Andy Cobb’s copper frogs.

    06-13-12-cfbg-frog.jpgA North Carolina native, Cobb sculpts five and six-foot frogs from copper. His first frog was inspired by Old Toad, from the book The Wind in the Willows. Cobb also sculpts birds, fish and other animals. His work is friendly, spirited and whimsical — a perfect match for the garden.

    This particular exhibit will benefit local students as well as the public. “We do educational events, we have school tours, and public workshops for adults and children,” said Goode. “We felt that we needed something to follow Big Bugs, and the curriculum in the schools will be on amphibians this year, so we went looking frogs. Last year the curriculm was bugs and we just fell in to that. Once we found out that the children will be studying amphibians this year we met with the schools system and did some coordinating. We will have activities that are student related, we will have an adult workshop on frogs and toads and we will have crafts at selected times when they can come in and make their own crafts. I think it is going to be fun and a good educational opportunity”

    Find out more about what the garden has to offer at www.capefearbg.org.

    Photos: Top right; A crowd gathers for a concert in the garden. Left; A painting frog by Andy Cobb.
  • 14JulieScottGraysJulie Scott

    Gray’s Creek • Golf • Senior

    A recent graduate of Gray’s Creek, Scott’s grade point average was 4.66.

     

     

     

     

    15AshlynBurton71stAshlyn Burton

    Seventy-First • Soccer • Freshman

    A first-year player for the Falcons, Burton had a grade point average of 4.0.

  • Now that we’ve wrapped up our series of spring football previews of the 10 Cumberland County senior high schools, it’s time to take a first shot at predicting how everyone will fare this season.

    Not wanting to venture into this challenge alone, I spent some time discussing who has what with Trey Edge of DK Sports, Inc., play-by-play announcer for Terry Sanford football.

    After mulling over the prospects for all 10 teams, here’s what we mutually agreed on how things might develop. One thing to note: This is a ranking of all 10 schools regardless of what league they’ll be in this fall.

    The old Mid-South 4-A and Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conferences are history. Most of the county schools will be in the Patriot Conference, a 4-A/3-A combination that will include Overhills and all the Cumberland County schools except Jack Britt and Seventy-First.

    The Buccaneers and the Falcons will be joining the members of what was the Southeastern 4-A Conference in the new Sandhills Conference.

    So here’s a quick projection on how the teams rank:

    1. Cape Fear – Quarterback Justice Galloway-Velazquez is being recruited heavily by mid-major colleges. He’s expected to be in a walking boot recovering from ankle surgery until just before the start of official fall practice on July 31. With him back and Cape Fear coming off its best football season ever, the Colts should be a solid team again.

    2. Seventy-First – Duran McLaurin has clearly established his program as a consistent winner. With the numbers he has to work with, the Falcons are always going to be in the title hunt, even in the tough new Sandhills Conference.

    3. Terry Sanford – The Bulldogs have a new coach, Bruce McClelland, who is no stranger to the school. They also return a top passing combination in Christian and Andrew Jayne. If Terry Sanford can find some defense, the Bulldogs should have another strong year.

    4. South View – The Tigers appeared to turn a corner last year but still misfired on taking the step into the first division. Rodney Brewington has some offense back, but more consistent defense is going to be crucial.

    5. Pine Forest – The Trojans have an assortment of veterans back at key positions, but replacing Julian Hill at quarterback is a concern, not to mention rebuilding the defensive secondary.

    6. Jack Britt – Is Brian Randolph the answer as the new coach for the Buccaneers? Britt has never had back-to-back losing seasons, and Randolph will try to avoid that in his first season on Rockfish Road.

    7. E.E. Smith – The Golden Bulls got off to a rocky start under first-year coach Deron Donald. They’ll need to find some answers at a number of positions, especially in the line, to contend this year.

    8. Gray’s Creek – The Bears were well off their normally consistent game last season, hurt badly by injuries to the offensive line. Finding a new quarterback to operate the confusing Bear offense is going to be crucial.

    9. Westover ­– Craig Raye, younger brother of E.E. Smith legend Jimmy Raye and a veteran college coach, was named to replace Stephen Roberson last week. He’ll face a challenge with a late start as he tries to build on the momentum of the Wolverines sharing the Cape Fear Valley 3-A title last season.

    10. Douglas Byrd – The Eagles are still climbing back into the picture. Numbers continue to be a problem as Mike Paroli tries to take Byrd back to its glory years of the 1990s.

  • 13GoldStarSummer Solheim ran cross country and track at Jack Britt High School during her years there, but some of her fondest memories on the track likely came from this year’s Color Me Buc run held at the school
    in April.

    Solheim is the daughter of Lt. Col. Kent Solheim, a special operations soldier and founder of Gold Star Teen Adventures. This year’s Color Me Buc run, which featured a one-mile fun-run and a 5K run, raised $1,000 for Gold Star.

    Summer described Gold Star as a foundation created by her father in 2011 with the objective of offering special adventures and experiences to the children of fallen special operations soldiers from any branch of the United States military.

    “We go on outdoor adventures and scuba adventures,’’ Summer said. “A lot of the mentors come from the service academies.’’

    She said the participants and mentors build relationships over time, and that the experience is often as beneficial for the mentors as it is for the young people who take part.

    “A lot of the members go on to become mentors for the new members of the camp,’’ she said. “A lot of the teams come back and help fundraise for the program itself.’’

    Summer, who just graduated from Britt and will enroll at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall, said she has been attending the Gold Star camps since she was 12.

    “I’ve done a lot of fundraisers and run half marathons,’’ she said. “I really enjoy being a part of it.’’

    Photo caption: L-R: Jack Britt Principal Scott Pope; CMB coordinator Danielle Steinhauser; Summer Solheim, 2017 Jack Britt graduate and daughter of Gold Star Teen Adventures founder Lt. Col. Kent Solheim; AssistantPrincipal Mike Picciano

  • 12GavinWilliamsCapeFear

    The lure of playing professional baseball this summer was enticing to Cape Fear pitching standout Gavin Williams.

    But after giving it some thought, Williams decided the best thing for his future was to honor his previous commitment to East Carolina University and enroll in summer school in Greenville.

    Williams reported for classes last Wednesday. He said he decided that at only 17 years old he wasn’t ready to move out completely on his own and join the Tampa Bay Rays rookie league team in Naples, Florida.

    Tampa Bay drafted Williams in the 30th round of this year’s Major League Baseball draft.

    “I just felt I wasn’t ready at the time,’’ Williams said. “Going off at 17 would be kind of hard to do by myself.’’

    Williams turns 18 in late July and he’s looking forward to spending time working out with his new teammates at East Carolina.

    He already knows quite a few of the players he’ll be joining, having played with or against many of them during summer travel ball.

    One who won’t be there is Whiteville standout MacKenzie Gore. Gore, ranked by many as the best left-handed high school pitcher in this year’s draft, was the third player taken this year, going to the San Diego Padres.

    Williams and Gore have been friends for some time, and at this writing Williams said he expected Gore to sign with San Diego and report to a team in Arizona. There have been published reports that Gore could be getting a deal from the Padres in the range of $7 million.

    Even if Gore had elected to stay with East Carolina, Williams is confident he would have gotten his share of playing time with the Pirates this fall. Now that he’s enrolled, he’s committing to the Pirates for at least three seasons before Major League Baseball can try and draft him again.

    “I’m just going in there to throw strikes when they need to put me in,’’ Williams said.

    He’ll spend the summer working with his teammates and throwing a little, and then get his first taste of college competition this fall when East Carolina takes part in fall baseball.

    Despite starting the 2017 season with a knee injury that required surgery, Williams finished his strongest year ever for Cape Fear.

    He was 6-0 with a 0.35 earned run average. He pitched 39.2 innings and had 65 strikeouts.

    Playing shortstop when he didn’t pitch, Williams batted .419, tied with teammate Jackson Parker for best in Cumberland County Schools. Williams had four doubles, two triples and drove in eight runs.

    Photo Caption: Gavin Williams

  • 13DakotaDakota Bessey

    Gray’s Creek • Tennis • Freshman

    In his first year with the Bears’ tennis team, Bessey managed a grade point average of 3.63.

     

     

     

    14AliaAlia Iyar

    Seventy-First • Soccer • Junior

    Iyar was a team captain for the Falcons with a 4.67 grade point average.

  • 12LaneMVP

    The annual Sandhills Senior Showcase high school baseball all-star game was held recently at J.P. Riddle Stadium and hosted by the Fayetteville SwampDogs.

    This year’s game featured a mix of some of the top graduating senior baseball players from Cumberland and Robeson counties. The South River EMC team beat the Lumbee River team 4-2, but the game’s biggest winner was Anthony Lane from Terry Sanford High School.

    Lane, who has already committed to play at Furman University next season, was named the winner of the annual Ranger Barrett Memorial Scholarship of $1,000 as the game’s most valuable player.

    Lane was an All-Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conference first team selection this season as he helped lead the Bulldogs to the regular-season championship. He batted .338 and drove in 16 runs.

    •  East Carolina likely lost a top prospect for next year’s baseball team when Whiteville’s MacKenzie Gore was the third player taken in the recent Major League Baseball draft.

    At press time for this week’s edition of Up & Coming Weekly, Gore had not signed a professional contract but was expected to.

    •  The Hope Mills Boosters American Legion baseball team is off to another strong start this season. Through Tuesday, June 13, the team was 6-0, after taking a week off so the high school seniors on the squad could take part in graduation exercises.

    Congratulations to Hope Mills coach Mark Kahlenberg who also took a week off from coaching and games to celebrate the birth of his second child, Reid, a boy.

    Both the baby and mother, Deana Kahlenberg, as well as older brother Camden, are doing fine.

    •  The Hope Mills Boosters got some big news about their schedule last week. They have been added to the field of one of the biggest regular-season American Legion baseball tournaments, the Palmetto Legion Invitational in Florence, S.C.

    This year’s tournament includes both of last year’s American Legion national finalists, Rowan County from North Carolina and champion Texarkana, Arkansas. Games will be scheduled Thursday through Sunday. The schedule is being updated as Hope Mills is a late replacement for Tallahassee, Florida. Follow @EarlVaughanJr on Twitter or Earl M Vaughan Jr. on Facebook for current schedule information on the tournament.

    Photo: Anthony Lane 

  • 11Donald

    Deron Donald had been head football coach at E.E. Smith barely two months last year when he started his team’s summer workout program.

    To say things are well ahead of schedule this season is an understatement.

    “We were able to get a good weight program and see the guys getting stronger,’’ the second-year coach said as he watched his team take part in this year’s spring conditioning program. 

    “Establishing a weight program, getting in the weight room and getting bigger and stronger was one of our main things,” Donald added.

    After going 3-8 last fall and failing to make the state playoffs, Donald’s concern during this preseason is to continue to build what he calls the culture he’s trying to establish within the E.E. Smith football program.

    “We want to make sure all the kids are on the same page,’’ he said. “We’re trying to get the kids to buy in. Anytime there’s a new coach you’ll have some kickback. 

    “Building a program is bigger than Xs and O’s. It’s having 120 percent commitment and having everyone buy in.’’

    Aside from the philosophical concerns, Donald’s biggest worry on the field is rebuilding his offensive and defensive lines. “You always want to make sure you have enough big guys,’’ he said. “Games are won in the trenches. You have to make sure the offensive and defensive lines are solidified.’’

    Toshiro Spivey, who will be a junior wide receiver in the fall, sounded a lot like his coach when talking about what the E.E. Smith team needs to be successful this year.

    “The biggest thing is we need to get unified,’’ he said. “Last year we were kind of divided. Everybody was kind of skeptical about having a first-year head coach.’’

    Now that the team has a year’s experience with Donald, Spivey said the focus is on educating the younger players and getting them on board as well.

    While the record was disappointing, Spivey said E.E. Smith was competitive in many games, and they also scored a 15-14 win over Cape Fear Valley 3-A regular-season co-champion Westover.

    “Once we get unified and start working together it’s going to be a scary sight over here at 1800 Seabrook Road,’’ he said.

    Photo: Deron Donald, E.E. Smith head football coach 

  • 10BulldogsBruce

    Few high school football head coaches are more invested in the program they lead than Terry Sanford’s Bruce McClelland.

    A former quarterback at his alma mater, McClelland has been on the staff for numerous years until being elevated to head coach for 2017 after the departure of Bryan Till to Richmond Senior.

    “It’s just the community aspect of it,’’ McClelland said as he led his team through spring conditioning as its head coach for the first time. “At this point in life, I try to pass on to the kids what football did for me, how it made me the man I am today.’’

    One lesson he’s already shared with his players is that the high school football scoreboard on a Friday night is like a job interview. “If you don’t win on Friday night, what will you do next week to get the job, win the game?” he said.

    For this season, McClelland hopes to do much of what Terry Sanford did under Till, which means winning conference titles and making the state playoffs. After back-to-back Cape Fear Valley 3-A titles, the Bulldogs slid to a tie for third last year and a 9-4 overall record.

    McClelland was the offensive coordinator and doesn’t plan wholesale changes in what the Bulldogs do, but he does want to put his stamp on the program, starting with spring workouts.

    “The main thing the coaching staff and I want to get to are the basics, formational things — what we are going to hang our hat on offensively and defensively,” he said.

    McClelland said the emphasis on offense will be a multiple look, a variety of formations mixed with the team’s assortment of base plays. The goal, he said, is to make the job of preparing to play Terry Sanford as tough as possible for opposing defensive coordinators.

    “Five plays in 10 formations becomes 50 plays,’’McClelland said. “It gives us an advantage on Friday night.’’

    Another advantage for the Bulldogs will be the return of twin brothers Christian Jayne at quarterback and Andrew Jayne at wide receiver.

    Andrew said things are basically the same with McClelland as they were with Till, but added that even if that wasn’t the case, it wouldn’t be a problem. “He’s the head coach,’’ Andrew said of McClelland. “What he wants to do, I’ll do.’’

    Andrew said the focus of spring was to work with younger players on the team, especially the receivers, and teach them the pass routes and timing issues.

    One thing that will be new for everyone this fall is the 3-A/4-A Patriot Conference Terry Sanford is joining that mixes Cumberland County rivals from the old Mid-South and Cape Fear Valley Conferences in with Overhills.

    “We’ve got more teams we haven’t played, but other than Coach McClelland being here, that doesn’t change anything,’’ Andrew said. “He’ll coach football how he knows to and we’ll be the same team.

    “We’ll be ready.’’

    Photo: Bulldog Coach Bruce McClelland

  • 17EvelyndAriasEvelynd Arias

    Seventy-First • Soccer • Junior

    Arias, who was captain of the Falcon soccer team last season, had a grade point average of 4.05.

    18emily vanhoozer

    Emily VanHoozer

    Gray’s Creek • Soccer • Senior

    VanHoozer recently celebrated her graduation after compiling a 4.66 grade point average.

  • 16Hope

    Barnes Smith and Reese Walker, seventh-grade classmates at Max Abbott Middle School, have known each other since kindergarten. When Smith learned his longtime friend had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewings Sarcoma, he wanted to do more than just send her get well wishes.

    “He came to me and asked if they could do something for Reese,’’ said Max Abbott principal Carla Crenshaw.

    Beyond being friends, Walker and Smith are also athletes, Walker playing volleyball and Smith baseball at Max Abbott. So, the idea of Runs for Reese was born.

    “It was a sponsorship for every run they scored,’’ Crenshaw said. “It really motivated our kids, and they ended up winning the conference championship this year. They dedicated that to her as well.’’

    The Runs for Reese campaign raised over $600 which was presented to Walker’s family to help offset the expense of her treatment.

    In addition to raising the money, Smith also wears a special green bracelet as a tribute to Walker and her fight against cancer.

    “We can’t wear them when we play,’’ Smith said. “I wanted to do something for her. I knew the medical expense for the treatment was really high. So I wanted to do something to help her and her family.

    “The treatments are intense. I just wanted her to get through it, and with us behind her, I felt like she can do it.’’

    Crenshaw thinks it’s likely if Walker is still undergoing treatment when school resumes in the fall, her eighth-grade classmates will continue to try and help her. “We’ve talked about a couple of different things,’’ Crenshaw said. “She is a big part of their class.”

    Westover High School will need to do a quick turnaround to replace head football coach Stephen Roberson. Roberson, who guided the Wolverines to a share of the Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conference title last fall, is leaving to become head coach at C.A. Johnson High School in South Carolina. 

    Roberson takes over a program that was 1-9 last season and hasn’t fielded a winning team since 2009.

    Westover will be starting summer workouts soon and needs a head coach in place as quickly as possible to maintain continuity.

    Photo: Barnes Smith

  • "Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exist by observing it. And his hope for other people is that they will also make it exist by observing it. I call it 'creative observation.' 'Creative viewing.'"
                                                                                                                                    — William Burroughs


    One of the oldest sayings in our lexicon is, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
    One might also ask, "If an artist produces a piece of art no one sees, is it really art?"
    While we here at Up and Coming Weekly can only shake our collective head at the first riddle, we’re going to tackle the second one straight up by sponsoring a trio of sculptures by Wilmington-based artist Paul Hill at our own Gallery 208, beginning June 26.
    The sculptures, which will be on display at Gallery 208 for a year, will give the public a chance to see first-rate art that might have otherwise been unknown to them, or secreted away in a private collection or art museum — works that are truly “art for the people,” says Michele Horn, assistant director/curator for the Fayetteville Museum of Art.
    "This allows access to sculpture for those who might feel intimidated by an art museum," said Horn. "This is art they can walk by and see, or even drive by in their car and see."
    While we’d rather you come into Gallery 208 to view the exhibit, a drive-by is fine, though anathema to the subject matter of one of the three pieces — "Insatiable." This particular piece, which is a medium of steel and collage, shows America’s gluttony — as the title implies — for fuel. The sculpture includes a metallic goat wearing a collage of articles about the rising cost of oil while standing atop a 50-gallon oil drum and an old oil pump. If you look inside the barrel, you’ll find a makeshift oil valve, which artist Hill says represents “the oil is coming out of the ground, but not out of the well.”
    {mosimage}"I typically don’t make a social commentary with my art," said Hill, a 61-year-old native of Texas. "But this subject seems to be so much in the news and on just about everybody’s worried mind."
    Hill, who spent most of his career as an illustrator, took up sculpture just eight years ago, helped along by friends who gave him a crash course in welding.
    "Learning the welding wasn’t that difficult," said Hill. "It’s coming up with the ideas and executing them that takes time."
    For Hill, "executing" a piece from sketch to completion usually takes about two months. Sometimes, he stretches out the completion date by adding on to a piece that looks like a finished product. Such is the case with Natural Progression, a steel sculpture that will also be on display at Gallery 208.
    Natural Progression is an elongated, nearly life-sized — at 11 feet tall — representation of a mother giraffe and her child. Hill says the piece is a direct reflection of how he sketches.
    "'Natural Progression' comes closest to what one of my initial sketches of a project looks like," said Hill. “And it’s not finished. I plan to add the father, who will be larger than the mother, to create an archway between the two sculptures.”
    Animals are a central theme in Hill’s work. If you check out his many art works at www.absolutearts.com, you’ll find a veritable menagerie of creatures great and small.
    “I find animals to be so graceful,” said Hill. “It’s a serenity I feel akin to.”
    Hill’s third piece that will be on display at Gallery 208 is also animal-related, a mixed-media sculpture of a fish entitled "Once Too Often." Crafted out of an amalgam of aluminum, stainless steel, copper and bronze, "Once Too Often" is also an amalgam of sea life.
    "Living here in Wilmington, fish are part of the landscape, what with fishing boats and deep sea charters," said Hill. "I didn’t model this after one particular type of fish — it’s an imaginary fish made up in my head."
    Hill says the theme of "Once Too Often" is that of “ruling the roost,” as the fish is rising upward off its base, with the head topped by a rooster-like crown.
    And visiting this display at Gallery 208 might just allow you to “rule the roost” among your friends when discussing the merit of public displays of art.
    The exhibition officially begins June 26 with a premiere party at Gallery 208 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

  • 15CapeFear

    Just two days after they fell to North Davidson in two straight games for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A softball championship, Cape Fear’s players and coaches Jeff McPhail and Mack Page returned to Doris Howard Field at Cape Fear to pack things up for the season.

    It was the second straight year Cape Fear lost in the finals, again failing to hit in a series-opening loss, then having to dig itself out of too deep a hole after dropping the first game.

    McPhail made no excuses and didn’t spend time discussing what might have been. Instead, he talked about the season ahead and what Cape Fear can do to remain one of the best softball teams in North Carolina. 

    One thing the Colts have no control over is how strong their conference opponents are. Next year the Colts will be in the 4-A/3-A Patriot Conference. Two teams in that new league, E.E. Smith and Terry Sanford, were winless this season. Westover, Douglas Byrd and Pine Forest combined for 13 wins.

    The only teams in the new league with winning 2017 records, aside from Cape Fear, will be South View and Gray’s Creek.

    McPhail said Cape Fear has tried to schedule tougher nonconference foes like it did this year with Marlboro Academy and Whiteville, but added they’ve not been able to work out games with some of the better teams in the state.

    “We’re going to try to sit down and look at some other schools, see if they want to come down or us go up there,’’ he said. “The last two or three years we tried, and their schedules were booked.’’

    Beyond scheduling concerns, McPhail loses four talented seniors in Haley Cashwell, Bri Bryant, Kaitlyn Knuckles and Kayla Molivas, all starters. 

    “Next year we’ll be kind of young on the varsity,’’ he said. “I feel the next two or three years we’ve got some good players coming up. And we’ve got our pitching back.’’

    Mackenzie Peters and Katie Murphy both saw action in the state playoffs and will return in the circle for the Colts.

    Among the biggest graduation losses is Cashwell, who earned All-American status during her four-year career and leaves with five N.C. High School Athletic Association fast-pitch softball state records.

    Cashwell plans to play more travel softball this summer as she prepares to enroll at Wingate.

    “I’m thankful I got to spend time with my best friends,’’ she said of her years at Cape Fear.

    Cashwell expects to play middle infield at Wingate, which was 25-25 overall and 10-10 in the South Atlantic Conference this season, losing eight of its last 10 games.

    “I’m going to better myself as much as I can, keep practicing and get better at everything,’’ she said.

    Photo: Haley Cashwell graduates this year. She earned All-American status during her four-year softball career at Cape Fear and leaves with five N.C. High School Athletic Association fast-pitch softball state records.

  •     Three artists who interpret their individual environments open at Gallery 208 and the McLeod Gallery at Up and Coming Weekly on Rowan Street, June 26. The outdoor sculptures by Wilmington artist Paul Hill are installed in front of the business; inside the gallery hosts Raleigh printmaking artist, Ashley Worley. Local artist Noreda Hess opens in the McLeod Gallery with an exhibit of photographs.
        The work of all three artists can be enjoyed by visitors to Gallery 208 during the opening reception, each artist will be introduced and talk briefly about their work. All three will briefly reflect on what inspires their work and ways they individually interpret personal themes. The gallery opening is free and open to the public.
        {mosimage}Paul Hill is exhibiting a series of life-size fabricated sculptures. Visitors to the gallery will see selections from his animal series. Made from a mixture of fabricated metals and found objects, Hill’s sculptures result in seemingly fanciful interpretations — until one reads the titles! 
        In the sculpture titled Insatiable, a goat fabricated out of metal, carefully balances on a decaying and bent barrel. Hill shared with me how Insatiable is a mixed-media sculpture that addresses the oil crisis. Knowing the artist’s intent puts a whole new spin on the meaning.
        Natural Progression is a giraffe-like animal, somewhat zany, and stands 11 feet tall. Hill said it “originated from my many sketches that I do when thinking about works to create. The giraffe is a direct representation of my sketch.” Natural Progression is a superb example of the way Hill can integrate many different types of metals and found objects into a seamless work.
        Hill says on his Web site: “As a metal sculptor who works primarily in steel, stainless steel, bronze and copper. I prefer to engage the direct-metal approach to sculpture. In this particular discipline of work, steel, found objects, etc., are added, piece-by-piece, moving the sculpture to its final form. Working this way lets me and the work become spontaneous, exciting and boundless. In my mind, there is a decisive idea of what the completed piece will represent, but I am constantly amazed and thrilled at its final outcome.”
        A full time artist and owner of Paul Hill Sculpture Studios, Hill explained most of his sculptures arrive through “private commissions and are in homes, businesses, corporations and public forums from New York to Florida.” (To see more of Hill’s sculptures, visit his Web site at www.absolutearts.com/metalforms/)
        Like Hill, Ashley Worley is another artist who has exhibited quite extensively in the region and nationally.  Worley, a printmaker from Raleigh, has shown her figurative works in a group exhibit at the Fayetteville Museum of Art. Those who have seen Worley’s work will remember this artist — the one who created exaggerated figures in an interior, interactions between women friends in a moving car — all her figures were extremely foreshortening to evoke the an unnerving state of tension.
        For the Gallery 208 exhibit, Worley has included a series of urban scenes. Large in scale, her relief prints have shifted from the more direct way of involving the figure in space to an inference, the figure is present by its absence in the stark black and white large relief print.
        In one of Worley’s relief prints, a series of utility poles are set against a lit sky background; the tops of trees balance the open space, a tower looms to the left side of the print. We are reminded of the function of the telephone lines, the pattern of the distant tower competes with utility poles — by absence, human-ness is present.
        Worley states her intent clearly in her artist’s statement: “Over time, my inspiration has shifted. Rather than interactions with other people, I have found inspiration in the interaction with my physical environment. My neighborhood, like many urban neighborhoods, is comprised of residential and industrial properties side by side. On outings, I pass beautifully manicured lawns directly next to noisy businesses. I am inspired by the diversity in my neighborhood and I begin to imagine the stories that take place all within the buildings or streets around me. So my works, which are specifically landscapes, have a subtle narrative component.”
        Like Worley, Noreda Hess’s photography focuses on finding new meaning in the overlooked. Hess, a local artist who has exhibited her photographs in local and regional galleries, is exhibiting a series of photographs of the overlooked places and exterior still lifes in her surroundings. Paint and rusted boxes become abstract compositions, decaying paint on the front of a building’s doorway becomes a reminder of time, ever present and creating its own pattern of passage. The mundane, something we would pass by without a second glance becomes an abstract painting for Hess — painted by the eye of a photographer.
        Whereas Gallery 208 is coordinated by the Fayetteville Museum of Art to predominantly bring in artists from out of the local area, the McLeod Gallery, considerable smaller, highlights only local artists. Hess is only the second photographer who has been invited to exhibit in the McLeod Gallery since Up and Coming Weekly relocated to its Rowan Street location.
    Showing the photography of Hess, the sculpture of Hill and the prints of Worley is a testimony to the variety of mediums an artist can explore to express themselves.
        Up and Coming Weekly welcomes the community to Gallery 208 and the McLeod Gallery to attend the reception, meet the artists, see their work and celebrate the arts in Up and Coming style, Thursday, June 26, between the hours of 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

  • 14Byrd bryheem

    There are still more questions than answers as Mike Paroli tries to restore the Douglas Byrd football program to the glory years it enjoyed under him and his father Bob Paroli during most of the 1990s.

    But during this year’s spring practice, the younger Paroli focused on finding a quarterback and continuing to build on a successful year in the weight room as the Eagles seek to improve on a 0-11 record last year.

    “Our strength has increased, and our attendance has been good,’’ said Mike Paroli. “We still need a situation where a good number of jayvees are coming to the varsity. That hasn’t happened the last two years.’’

    Despite not having the kind of overall numbers he’d like, Paroli aims to play two-platoon football as much as possible this season. “We had a couple of games we were up in the fourth quarter and didn’t win,’’ Paroli said. “Others were close at halftime, and things got away quickly for us in the second half.

    “We’re trying to find 22 kids so at some point we can win a game in the second half.’’

    Paroli is also looking for a quarterback. The top contenders are Kamahree Futrell and John Carroll. Carroll played wide receiver and running back last season. Futrell started on the junior varsity and was promoted during the season.

    “John took a physical pounding but never got hurt and never fumbled,’’ Paroli said. “We want to get to the point where we feel we can hand it off or give it or toss it or they can run it.’’

    Bryheem Swanson will be a senior defensive back for Byrd this season. Like his coach, he feels discipline and mental strength are keys for the Eagles to prevent games from slipping away at the end like they did last season.

    “Last year we had a lot of close games,’’ he said. “When the second half rolled around we couldn’t finish.’’

    Swanson thinks the Eagles have weeded out players who didn’t want to commit to the program fully. “Now we’ve got people willing to work hard and stay in the weight room every day,’’ he said.

    Swanson feels spring practice has gone well for the Eagles and hopes it translates into a better season this fall.

    “We didn’t put up a lot of points because teams were bigger and stronger than us,’’ he said. “We’ll put the offense to the test and try to score more points than we did last year.’’

    Photo: Bryheem Swanson will be a senior defensive back for Byrd this season.

  • 16Arana BlakeArana Blake

    Massey Hill Classical School Soccer Sophomore

    Blake attends Massey Hill but plays soccer for Seventy-First. A team captain for the Falcons, she had a grade point average of 4.25.

     

     

     

     

    17Devyn AdamsDevyn Adams

    Gray’s Creek Cross country and wrestling

    Sophomore

    Adams compiled a 4.25 grade point average while competing in two sports for the Bears.

  • 15DonationsCumberland County high school football games will return to 7:30 p.m. kickoffs beginning this fall.

    The matter was recently reviewed by the county’s senior high school principals and football coaches, and the overwhelming consensus was to drop the 7 p.m. kickoffs for a return to 7:30 p.m.

    Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for the county, said there were a number of reasons the change
    was made. 

    Parents of athletes complained it was difficult to make away games and even home games on time when they got off work at 5:30 and 6 p.m. Concession stand volunteers also found it difficult to get in place and get set up in time.

    The coaches also said they felt rushed in preparing teams for games on Friday with the earlier kickoff.

    Cole Humphrey’s Legacy

    The Cole Humphrey Endowment continues to reap financial benefits for the Cape Fear High School athletic program. The fund, established in memory of the standout Cape Fear athlete, who died in a 2013 automobile accident, recently gave $2,000 to the Colts’ athletic program.

    Larry Ellis, Humphrey’s grandfather, said the family has been reasonably pleased with the success of the fund but is hopeful that it can do even better.

    “You’d like to see it grow as fast as it can so the payout could be higher,’’ he said.

    Ellis said he expects this year’s annual Cole Humphrey run to generate another $5,000 to the endowment after all expenses are taken care of.

    The concern is to keep the fund in the eyes of the community. “Cole’s class graduated in 2014,’’ Ellis said. “The 2017 class graduating this year were freshmen when Cole was a junior.

    “Every time a year goes by, the proximity of kids and their families (to Cole’s memory) gets stretched more. We’ve got to do a good job to make sure we keep it in front of everybody.’’

    Ellis said Humphrey’s family has discussed with Cape Fear Principal Lee Spruill and athletic director Matt McLean plans for promoting the fund at a football game this year.

    “Your child may not have gone to school with Cole, but they will benefit because of the proceeds that help the athletic program,’’ he said.

    Photo: (Left to right) Jana Humphrey, McCrae Humphrey, Wendell Smith, Jake Thomas, Larry Ellis, Ann Ellis. Smith and Thomas coach baseball and softball respectively at Cape Fear. They are receiving a check from the Cole Humphrey Endowment. 

  • 14David LovetteGoing 2-9 and failing to qualify for the state football playoffs isn’t part of the Gray’s Creek tradition.

    “We’ve got a lot of room for improvement,’’ said Bears’ head coach David Lovette as his team went through this year’s spring conditioning sessions. “We didn’t have a typical Gray’s Creek season last year. We want to get back to where we were in the past.’’

    Lovette doesn’t make excuses for what went wrong, but if he did he’d certainly be able to point to one area that was beyond his and the team’s control. The first two weeks of the 2016 season the Bears lost five offensive linemen. Four of them didn’t return for the remainder of the season.

    “We couldn’t move the football,’’ he said.

    But there is reason for optimism this year. The Bears’ junior varsity team was 8-2 last season, and some solid prospects from that team will be joining varsity this year.

    “We’ve gotten stronger and have another year of maturity,’’ Lovette said. “We’re going to try and show some of those things on the football field.’’

    One big change for the Bears this year will be a new quarterback as Nathan Scott moves up from being a backup wide receiver and junior varsity quarterback to take over on varsity.

    “I want to come up as a leader,’’ Scott said. “I don’t want to be the guy everybody doesn’t want to come to. I want to be the first guy people come to.’’

    He saw action in one game as quarterback last year against Westover and doesn’t feel he acquitted himself well.

    “I’m working on losing weight,’’ said Scott, who considers himself more of a passer than a runner. “I’ve gotten stronger, but I’m getting faster to fit into this run-oriented offense.’’

    Lovette was pleased with the early turnout for the Gray’s Creek practice sessions. “Everybody is out here that’s supposed to be here,’’ he said. “We’ve got about 60 or 70 kids, and that’s pretty good for us.

    “We’re excited about it.’’

     

    Photo:David Lovette, head coach of the Bears

  • 13Trojans ElijahErasing bad memories and finding a new quarterback were the main points of concern for Pine Forest during the recent spring football conditioning period.

    Elijah Robinson, who will be a senior offensive lineman for the Trojans this fall, best put things into perspective. “We want to put all the bad seasons behind and keep moving forward,’’ he said. “We are growing as a team, and we want people to see that. We’ve got to start fresh and get right this year.’’

    The Trojans got off to a strong start in 2016 but limped home with a 7-5 record that included a first-round state 4-A playoff loss to West Johnston.

    Finding a quarterback will be a critical part of making any major improvement happen. Head coach Bill Sochovka is looking at two main candidates for the job, Lavonte Carter and D.J. Jones.

    But there’s something else he’s got to develop that may be even harder, and that’s leadership. “We lost a good core of seniors that had good leadership qualities,’’ he said. But as the Trojans assembled for their first spring practice, Sochovka was glad to see everyone he was expecting to be out was on the field and ready to start five minutes ahead of time.

    Aside from the quarterback position, the other major concern for the Trojans is the secondary, where graduation took everything, and Pine Forest will be starting from scratch.

    Elsewhere, things are looking up. “We have a good core in the offensive, and defensive lines and even our skill positions were young,’’ Sochovka said.

    There’s good news and bad news at running back, where the Trojans will be seeking some new faces. The good news is the Trojans should have some speed at the position, but the bad news is most of those players missed spring workouts because they were still involved in the state track competition.

    “We slowed our offense down last year,’’ Sochovka said. “We want to be a faster tempo.’’

    Sochovka said another focus of the Pine Forest spring would be getting the team in actual playing shape. “There’s nothing like actual football practice to get you in condition,’’ he said.

    Sochovka said he prefers the option to have the full squad out for conditioning versus working with just 21 players a day for a number of reasons. He likes players who play multiple sports, so going with the later spring practice allows more of them to be able to take part.

    “I think it gets everybody focused,’’ he said. “It puts a taste of football in their mouth, and for kids who worked hard in the weight room it shows it’s paying off.’’

    Robinson said he hopes the Trojans become more of a family this season. “The more we come together as a team, the better the season is going to come out,’’ he said.

    Photo: Elijah Robinson will be a senior offensive lineman for the Trojans this fall. 

  •     Fayetteville is a city on the move. Everywhere you look people are on the move, and in a lot of cases, they are using their feet to get where they are going. Being the home to oen of the United States Army’s premier fighting forces, it stands to reason that a lot of those people are on the run. And, as Fayetteville is also known as a city where art lives, combining running and art seems to be a match made in heaven. Or so, that’s what the Fayetteville Museum of Art thought when it started the Museum Miles 5K.{mosimage}
        On Saturday, June 21, runners will again hit the streets to celebrate art and health – all in support of the museum. Since its inception, the quarterly run/walk has drawn quite a following. Some runners come for the T-shirts, some come for the prizes, but most come for either their love or running or their love of the arts.
    “This is our fourth run, and the event has really picked up a lot of steam,” said Erica Gilbert, of the museum staff. “We’ve garnered quite a following.”
        Gilbert said runners in the event are not only from Fayetteville, but come from areas surrounding our city. She noted that quite a few of the runners come from Fayetteville. The run averages about 100 people, but she hopes that number will increase with Saturday’s run. She noted that the last run had only 60 runners, but added that it was extremely cold.
        The first run was held at the Cape Fear River Trail, but the size of the run forced the museum to move it to its current home at Honeycutt Park. The run begins at 8 a.m., and will wind through the rolling hills of Skye Drive and the Summertime neighborhood. There will be a turn around point, with a watering station at the 1.55     mile marker.
    Gilbert said the run is a way for the museum to not only raise money, but also showcase what it has to offer to those who may not have visited the museum yet. It’s a way to introduce people to the FMA. “It’s a great event that allows us to reach out to everyone in the community,” she said.
        Gilbert noted that while Fayetteville is a community of runners, not everyone who hits the pavement will be running. “People can either walk or run,” she said. “We have some very serious runners who go full speed; but we also have some people who come out and walk the route just to support the museum.”
        Funds raised from the run go directly into the museum’s operating funds and help to pay for programs and events. Participants in the run will receive T-shirts, goodie bags and prizes. Registration fee is $20.
        For more information, visit the museum Web site at  “http://www.fayettevillemuseumofart.org” www.fayettevillemuseumofart.org, or call 485-5121.


  • A chance to run or walk while supporting a great cause is coming to Fayetteville. The Run for Infantile Scoliosis is a 5K race happening June 8.

    Progressive Infantile Scoliosis happens mainly in young children, but there have been cases where it has affected older children. When the spine curves abnormally it is called scoliosis, but in little children and babies, it is called progressive because, if not treated properly, it will continue to grow abnormally and surgery is necessary.

    Rachel Jacobs, event director, has personal experience with infantile scoliosis. Her daughter was diagnosed with it when she was only 4 months old. Jacobs did not opt for surgery.

    “It doesn’t really work, or correct the spine,” she said.

    Instead she went with the treatment offered by Dr. Min Mehta, a retired orthopedic surgeon from London. The procedure is a cast. The child is sedated and put on a 3-D casting frame. This allows for elongation and traction when placing the cast around the child; it is placed above the hips and below the shoulders. The doctor can correct the rotation by gently maneuvering the spine with his hand. Children are not confi ned in the cast; they can still run, play, wear normal diapers and do regular activities. The success from this casting method is unbelievable. Jacob’s daughter was put in the cast, making her child one of the youngest children ever. She was then casted every six weeks and she went from a spinal curvature of 41 degrees to just 10. “This literally is a cure if caught early enough. My daughter has it, is still being treated and has had greater success than we could’ve imagined.”

    “This is me paying it forward-and I enjoy running.” Jacobs said. All the proceeds will go to the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program, a non-profit organization in Denver, Colo., that strives to supply resources and information for families with children of progressive infantile scoliosis.

    Heather Montoya, another mother who has been impacted by progressive infantile scoliosis, founded the organization. Her daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed at 5 months in 1998. The only answer that was given to her was the standard surgery to fuse the spine to stop progression. This, however, is life threatening because it causes no room for other vital organs to grow in the body.

    “My maternal instinct was saying no. I knew that couldn’t be the way to go. I needed to find something to help my baby,” Montoya said.

    By the time she was 2 years old, Olivia’s spine was already curved at 100 degrees, which could possibly crush her lungs or heart and end up killing her. Heather jumped through hoops and sent x-rays all over the world, but all the doctors she contacted suggested the fusion surgery. Through a few doctors in Colorado she learned of the procedure called halo gravity traction, a procedure done in France by Dr. Jean Dubousset. The child is put in a turnbuckle case under anesthesia and a horseshoe shaped metal bar is placed around the skull, like a halo. It is put into place by pins and weights are attached and slowly increased to safely straighten the spine. Olivia was able to receive this treatment. The best part? It worked. The curvature of her spine was cut in half, from 100 degrees to 42 degrees. This was only to buy valuable growth time. Olivia has had to go through more casting and a damaging surgery. This led Montoya to start the website called infantilescholiosis.com, knowing there must be more families in the same situation.

    The organization and the race are all about spreading awareness in the community and education. Live music has been planned and there are picnic benches for relaxing. “A lot of people have said they were coming. You won’t regret it if you come out. Your knowledge and exposure from this can help someone else,” Jacobs said.

    The race is to take place in Honeycutt Park on Saturday, June 8 at 8:30 a.m. There is a $20 online registration fee before June 5 and $25 the day of the race. Race T-shirts are limited to the fi rst 250 online registrants.

    To register online visit this website: www.active.com/running/fayetteville-nc/run-for-infantile-scoliosis-2013. To find out more about Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program, visit www.infantilescoliosis.org

  • The Perils of Buying Promo Items Online

    I was told for the first time around 1995 that my days as a local promotional products vendor were numbered and that the Internet was going replace me. I’ve heard this many times since, yet it hasn’t ever happened. Why? Most buyers want to know whom they’re06-12-13-local-business.gifdoing business with. They want someone to be personally accountable for their order and their budget. This is true for many products that can be bought either locally or online. Still, many businesses buy promo items online. They do this to save money, but if they took into account the potential problems and missed opportunities, the savings would not seem nearly as attractive. Many who have bought online and been burned know what I’m talking about. You’ve had orders arrive late and missed events. You’ve had items arrive looking different than expected. And when you have a misprint, you’ve jumped through hoops to get a re-print — if one can be had at all. You’ve called and gotten a different person every time and different answers, too. Suffice it to say that there are pitfalls to ordering promo items online that can only be avoided by experienced professional buyers.

    A professional local promo products vendor can be your guide to the right product from the right manufacturer at the right price.

    The Right Product. Most local vendors have access to a search engine with more than 700,000 products and search tools to narrow the selection by specific need — like material, production-time or price-range. A local vendor with some experience can advise as to which products work well for which purposes. I often have customers tell me that they want a specific item for an event, but once we discuss the options, I often find that a different item will be far more effective. An online vendor will just take your order. They give no advice and have no interest in whether the item is right for you or not. The local vendor’s reputation and hope for continued business with you ride upon the quality of his advice. Your interests are their interests.

    The Right Manufacturer.Local vendors know from experience or from our network’s rating system, which suppliers are stars and which are duds. If you need it fast, we know which company can ship in 24 hours — sometimes at no extra charge! If you need a complex multi-color print, we know which company has the right equipment to do the job. And most importantly, the risk is all ours. If your product doesn’t show up as ordered, your local vendor has to get it fixed or not get paid!

    The Right Price. As mentioned above, the current search engines available to vendors in this industry can tell us in minutes (sometimes seconds) what the lowest price for an item is and they can also tell us the best value. Sometimes the lowest price is offered by a manufacturer with known quality or service problems but just a few cents more enables you to buy from a 5-star supplier. Which is the better value? I think most people would rather pay a little more for peace of mind.

    The Right Graphics. Some local vendors have in-house art capabilities so that they can tweak your design to fit each item you order. Often, this includes a 3D mock-up of how the finished product will look. This is an invaluable service that takes product effectiveness and peace-of-mind to new levels!

    No matter which product you are considering buying online, it is worth the time to check out a reputable local vendor and see what they have to offer. You might find that the best value is right here in town.

    Photo: It’s worth the time to check out local vendors for promotional items before making a purchase.

  • 06-09-10-ducks-unlmit.gifYes, you read it right — an upcoming motorcycle ride will help kids learn to fish!

    On Sunday, June 13, riders from across the region will embark from the Crown Coliseum headed to the USS North Carolina in Wilmington. The Ducks Unlimited Bike Ride will have riders on all types of motorcycles and trikes, gathered together to support the mission of Ducks Unlimited, the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation.

    Proceeds from the ride support the work of the Ducks Unlimited chapter here in Cumberland County. Specifically, the ride will help fund the groups annual Green Wing Adventure. The annual David Varnedoe Green Wing Adventure provides an opportunity for 700 area children to go fishing and learn about conservation. The event takes place in mid-September each year at the John Pechman Fishing Center.

    “Last year we took more than 700 kids fishing and our goal is 800 this year,” said M.L. Core, Chairman of the Cumberland County chapter of Ducks Unlimited, adding that one day is devoted entirely to children from the Falcon Children’s Home.

    “The GreenWing program is for kids age 17 and younger. It teaches them not to pollute our wetlands and to appreciate the natural habitats of America’s waterfowl,” he added. Each child receives a rod and reel, T-shirt, hat, tackle box, a year’s membership to GreenWing and a year’s subscription to Puddler Magazine. According to ride chairman Bernard Vann, the Ducks Unlimited Bike Ride helps pay for all those rods and reels.

    Registration for the ride will be from 7:30 to 10 a.m. The ride will be escorted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and will depart from the Crown Coliseum at 10 a.m. Upon arrival to the USS North Carolina Battleship in Wilmington, riders will be treated to a party at Battleship Park. The full meal will include Bar-B-Q pork, home cooked by David Collier of Collier Farms, and Bar-B-Q chicken, provided by Kinlaw’s Supermarket, as well as a live band to entertain the crowd with Beach music and hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s, according Vann. There will be a break along the route on 421 about 10 miles from Clinton.

    Those who participated last year will notice that the date of the ride is much earlier than last year.

    “We moved the ride up to June, instead of August, on account of the heat. We’re trying to have it when it’s not quite so hot,” explained Vann. “Last year we had 122 riders, a real good turnout for that time of year.”

    The $45 registration fee entitles the biker to receive a T-shirt, door prize drawings and meal, as well as a chance at the Ducks Unlimited 12-gauge Shotgun drawing. Additional riders are $25 and they will also receive a shirt, meal and chance at the door prizes. The T-shirts feature original artwork designed by artist Jimmy Norris. Cars and trucks are welcome to participate in the ride as well.

    Ducks Unlimited is a nonprofit organization made up of almost all volunteers. According to Core, there are 132 chapters in N.C. and they raise several million per year.

    “It’s one of the only nonprofit organizations in the U.S. where 98 percent of the money actually goes towards preserving wetlands. Only 2 percent is used for administration costs,” said Core. “Out of 132 chapters in the state, Cumberland County was number one in sponsors and participation in 2009. And our program was in the top 100 in the nation — we actually ranked 28 in the U.S.”

    Tickets for the Ducks Unlimited Bike Ride can be purchased in advance at several area locations including: Steel Dreams, Chrome Custom Cycles, M&M Leather, Prestige Automotive Service, and Cape Fear Harley Davidson, all in Fayetteville, The Shop in Hope Mills, Holly’s Grill in Autryville, and Jamie Deese in Pembroke. For more information, contact Bernard Vann, the ride chairman, at 624-6252 or M.L. Core at 988-2444.

  • 06-23-10-summer-reading.jpgYea! School’s out for summer break! Time to hit the books –– that is, books for fun and pleasure! Head on over to your local Cumberland County Public Library (CCPL) branch or the John L. Throckmorton Library on Fort Bragg and sign the family up for one of the free summer reading programs.

    “Our summer reading club is a way to motivate kids –– all the family –– to read,” said Kellie Tomita, marketing and communications manager at the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center. “We have great special programming for all ages.”

    The CCPL summer reading program, which started June 7 and runs through July 31, offers clubs for three age groups, with gift incentives. Participants may pick up a packet of guidelines and a Reader’s Log at any library branch.

    “Make a SPLASH. READ!” is for children birth through fi fth grade, who earn free prizes for the number of hours that they read or that someone reads to them. They may attend regularly scheduled story times or sign up for special ageappropriate programs featuring puppet shows, clowns, interaction with nature’s critters and more to earn prizes.

    Teens are encouraged to “Make Waves at Your Library.” After reading fi ve books and fi lling out a reading log, teens may exchange the log for a prize and pick up a continuation log. Each completed continuation log may be brought into any library location and entered into drawings for gift certifi cates. All returned logs are then eligible for entry in the grand prize drawing for a gift certifi cate. Additionally, individual branches offer special programs for teens, such as movies, writing, gaming, anime, origami, jewelry and other crafts.

    Adults may read or listen to books or attend one of the library’s book clubs in June or July to complete their logs. As with the teen program, adults may exchange their readers’ log for a prize, and each continuation log may be entered into drawings for gift certifi cates. Supplies of prizes and space at special programs are limited.

    “We want to encourage people to read and to visit the library,” Tomita said. “The Friends of the Library do fundraisers for community programs. The summer reading program is one of these benefi ts. It’s rewarding to see the positive feedback. Last year we had husbands and wives competing and out-reading one another. We want reading to be fun and rewarding.”

    “Voyage to Book Island,” the summer reading program at Fort Bragg’s John L. Throckmorton Library, located in Building 1-3346 on Randolph Street, takes place at 11 a.m., June 23 through July 28.

    “It’s part of our literacy initiative,” said Bernadette Ross, reference librarian. “We want to emphasize reading as a lifelong skill for all ages. We’ll have stories, games, crafts –– entertainment, but educational for all. We’ll give gifts throughout the program –– grab bags, certifi cates. We offer a series of reading programs, including the summer reading program and our upcoming Picnic in the Grove on Nov. 6 to help children celebrate reading.”

    For more information on the CCPL Summer Reading Program, call the Headquarters Library at 483-7727 ext. 300 or visit www.cumberland.lib. nc.us/ccplyouth/summerreadingclubs10.htm. For additional information on “Voyage to Book Island,” call the John L. Throckmorton Library at 396- BOOK, or visit /www.fortbraggmwr.com/libraryevents.php, because summer break doesn’t have to mean a break in reading.

  • 06-04-14-swampdogs.gifThe Fayetteville SwampDogs are off to a fast start this season, and are providing plenty of excitement on the field. But of course, at J.P. Riddle Stadium the game is not the only exciting thing going on.

    This week, The Swamp was the place to be for a fun time for all members of the family.

    On Saturday, May 31, the SwampDogs had their first fireworks extravaganza of the season, as they took on the Columbia Blowfish. Every year, the SwampDogs put on the best fireworks shows in Fayetteville, and this year it is better than ever. You’re not going to want to miss these spectacular shows — everyone is sure to be talking about them.

    The fun continued on Monday, June 2, for Duke Night at The Swamp as the Dogs hosted the Catawba Valley Stars at 7:05 p.m. The first 500 fans in attendance received a free magnet schedule courtesy of Freeman & Barrett, CPAs, and fans wearing Duke attire received special discounts throughout the ballpark. That game was also a “Mug Monday.” Fans who purchased a 16 oz. souvenir mug got free entry to the Miller Lite Liberty Lounge, and could fill the mug up for just $1! While enjoying the game from the Lounge, fans enjoyed the $1 burgers and dogs with $2 wine and free popcorn, peanuts and soda.

    Then on Wednesday, June 4, the Morehead City Marlins come back to town on Home Run Math Club Night presented by Fazoli’s, Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, Dunkin’ Donuts and The Little Gym of Fayetteville.

    Make sure to make your way out to The Swamp for all this — plus a few surprises. It is sure to be fun for the entire family.

    Don’t forget to register your young ones for the SwampDogs Kid’s Camp. From June 23-26, kids ages 5-13 will have four days of hands-on instruction and fun with the SwampDogs players and coaches. Spots are limited and going fast, so make sure your child doesn’t miss out on the most fun camp of the summer.

    Be sure to follow the team on social media to keep up on everything SwampDogs. Like the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoSwampDogs, follow the team’s Twitter and Instagram accounts at @GoSwampDogs, and keep updated on highlights, player interviews, and much more at www.youtube.com/GoSwampDogs.

    Follow @FunGosDugout on Twitter for live updates from SwampDogs players from the field as the game is happening. Get a unique insight into the personalities and quirks of your favorite players.

    For tickets to all of these great games, to register your child for the kid’s camp or for more information, call the SwampDogs offices at 426-5900.

    You can also check out the team website: www.goswampdogs.com.

  • 06-11-14-tumeric.gifThe essential ingredient in curry powder, this Ayurvedic herb also treats inflammatory conditionz, such as arthritis and tendinitis.

    What is it?

    Turmeric grows in southern India, China and Indonesia and is a close relative of ginger. The herb’s fleshy, orange rhizome (its root like underground stems) has a rich history as a culinary spice, food preservative, medicinal herb and dye. The golden robes worn by Buddhist monks traditionally are dyed with turmeric.

    History and folk remedies

    Ayurvedic healers have known about turmeric’s healing properties for centuries. The spice is thought to purify the body and has long been prescribed in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat arthritis, liver disorders, menstrual problems and indigestion.

    Why it’s used

    Naturopathic physicians and herbalists prescribe turmeric for treating inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis and tendinitis. Turmeric is recommended for preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer because of its potent antioxidant properties. It’s also applied topically to wounds, bruises and muscle strains. In cooking, turmeric is an essential ingredient in curry powder.

    How it works

    In the 1970s scientists discovered that the curcuminoid compounds that give turmeric root its bright yellow color also have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Of these compounds, curcumin is thought to be the most powerful because it helps to neutralize free radicals, the cell-damaging molecules at the root of many degenerative diseases, including arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, heart disease and cancer. Turmeric also inhibits excessive blood clotting, which is a contributing factor in heart disease and degenerative inflammatory disorders.

    Scientific support

    In dozens of studies, turmeric has been shown to have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Although most of the studies have taken place in the laboratory and actual human clinical studies are few, results have been positive. In a 1992 human clinical study curcumin helped lower several risk factors that contribute to heart disease (Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 1992, vol. 36, no.4).Other laboratory and animal studies have demonstrated curcumin’s anticancer properties. One small but intriguing study of tobacco smokers showed that turmeric significantly reduced urinary mutagen levels, substances that trigger the cell mutations that lead to cancer (Mutagenesis, 1992, vol. 7, no. 2). Studies also have verified the traditional wisdom of using turmeric to ease arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, though most of these have been animal studies.

    How to take it

    Turmeric is widely available as a culinary spice. It can be taken in powder form; however, you would need to take large amounts (1 teaspoon or more three times a day) to reap medicinal benefits. Turmeric is also sold in capsules and liquid extracts. Standardized extracts generally contain between 90 percent and 95 percent curcumin; the typical dose for reducing inflammation or for other therapeutic effects is 400 mg to 600 mg three times a day. If you are taking a liquid extract, follow the directions on the label. There are also newly formulated products, such as BCM-95 turmeric, which claim even higher levels of bioavailability for enhanced effect.

    Side effects

    Turmeric is safe when used in normal amounts as a culinary spice. If you have a blood-clotting disorder, are taking blood-thinning medications or have gallbladder disease, do not take medicinal amounts of turmeric or concentrated extracts of curcumin without consulting a health care practitioner. Cancer patients should consult with a doctor informed about herbal medicines because turmeric may interfere with certain chemotherapy agents.

    Photo: Tumeric is a must-have in any homeopathic medicine cabinet.

  • 06-15-11-4th-friday.jpgWith temperatures on the rise and the opening of the local pools, it is clear that summer is upon us. There is no better way to celebrate the ending of schools than enjoying some time out-doors with friends and neighbors on 4th Friday. Come stroll the streets of downtown Fayetteville and connect with locals while you enjoy a night of fun and culture.

    The Downtown Alliance has cooked up an event this month to help us revisit our youth. This month they will be hosting a scavenger hunt! You are encouraged to make your own team of 1 to 4 people and meet at the Downtown Alliance office at 6 p.m. Teams will be given a list of items to col-lect and /or tasks to complete at downtown businesses and historic locations. You will need to bring a digital camera/camera phone per team to participate. Completed lists need to be turned in by 9 p.m. Team names will be entered in a drawing for a gift basket of items donated by local businesses. You are encouraged to come up with a team name and even “uniform” to show your team spirit!

    Last year’s photography competition was such a success that the Arts Council is calling for entries into their new juried photo competition entitled, Get the Picture II. The exhibit will be open to the public from 7-9 p.m. In ad-dition to having the opportunity to sell works through the exhibit, the council will be awarding $1,000 in prizes at 8 p.m. during the 4th Friday opening. Categories include Digital Manipulation, Color and Black & White. For spe-cific entry requirements and fees visit www.theartscouncil.com.

    The Cumberland County Headquarters Library is celebrating its 25th anniversary with not only a re-ally large cake, but also the local band, Blues Enigma. Unlike traditional bands, Blues Enigma is a varied group of blues musicians. A local coordinator gathers the available musi-cians to perform at various events around the city. Since it is not a set group of musicians, each event where they perform is unique. “We usually have a packed house,” says Kellie Tomita, marketing and communications manager for the library headquarters, “everyone has a great time with Blues Enigma.”

    The library is also calling for donations for a time capsule to be opened on its 50th anniversary in June of 2036. “Anyone can bring items that evening to be submitted,” says Tomita, “exact details for submissions can be found on the library website.” Look for the time capsule link in the bottom right corner.06-15-11-4th-friday-pic.jpg

    May marked the one year anniversary of Arts Alive, an event sponsored by the Arts Council to allow local artists the opportunity to sell and demonstrate their work. A juried event, artists who wish to participate in Arts Alive are en-couraged to contact Ashley Hunt, the Art’s Council special events coordinator at ashleyh@theartscouncil.com for information on jury and booth fees, as well as selling permits.

    As participants have come to expect, there will also be plenty of other activities to enjoy. Vintage cars will be on display at the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum, including a Plymouth from the 1950s. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum will be sharing fun outdoor summer activi-ties with the kids. And don’t forget the free trolley and train rides available, as well as the plethora of local artists, musicians and performers.

    Photo: Get the picture photography exhibit opens at the Arts Council on 4th Friday.

  • X-Men First Cass (Rated PG-13)  5 Stars06-22-11-xmen.jpg

    I still refuse to forgive Bryan Singer for the twin betrayals of leaving the first X-Men franchise to direct Superman Returns, but clearly he was going through some stuff. So, I tried to overlook his production/writing credit for X-Men: First Class(132 minutes) and not hate the film the instant the open-ing credits rolled. And appar-ently, I love everything Director Mathew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, Stardust) has done, so his work really helps make up for what Brett Ratner did with X-Men: Last Stand.

    The film opens at a Polish concentration camp. Future Hellfire Club member Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) tortures a young Erik Lensherr into reveal-ing the extent of his magnetic abilities. Meanwhile, in a New York mansion, a young Charles Xavier meets a shapeshifting young Raven Darkholme.

    Sometime later, the two (played by James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence) hang out in English pubs while Xavier tries to pick up chicks. An adult Lensherr (my new crush, Michael Fassbender) is now a Nazi hunter tracking Shaw so he can have his revenge. Shaw is in Vegas with Emma Frost (January Jones, acting well within her comfort zone of cold and scary). He has invited Colonel Hendry (Glenn Morshower from 24) in for a private chat about warmongering. Too bad the CIA is well aware of the secret meet and greet, and they send in agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) to figure out if the Hellfire Club is a bunch of commies. She doesn’t see any communism, but she does see Azazel (Jason Flemyng) disappear Colonel Hendry. This sends her looking for now-profes-sor Xavier, who is a world renowned specialist on mutation (or something … that’s not as clear as it could be, but it gets three of the primaries in the same place, so go with it).

    MacTaggart, putting up with enormously sexist attitudes from the suits, brings Xavier and Raven it to chat with the CIA. Because on the eve of the Cuban Missile Crisis (1) the CIA will drop everything so that senior officials can debrief a brand new Ph.D. on the say so of an already discredited agent. And (2) during that debriefing, his young blonde waitress friend is always welcome. And (3) when the also discredited office laughingstock (Oliver Platt) offers to take over the newly revealed superpowered and stash them in his “facility” that we are (4) then forced to wonder where he found fund-ing for, that is also, apparently, not a problem. I guess what I’m trying to say here is, don’t overthink it.

    Before the weirdly trusting mutants place themselves into the hands of the shadowy government suborganization operating with an apparently un-limited budget and a complete lack of accountability, they follow up on a lead to get Shaw. During their attempt to capture him, they meet Erik. The group, including Erik, troops back to D.C. and immediately uses a Cerebro proto-type to find some mutants to join their government funded youth gang. While the new best friends recruit a mix of mutants from the various X-comics, the Hellfire Club sets its diabolical plan in motion. After some pushy-pushy with the Hellfire Club, the (more or less) good guys start training, which doesn’t take nearly as long as it should, but does set up the nifty climax.

    Speaking as a fan from the ‘80s and ‘90s, First Class seems to get more inspiration from post-millennial, post-House of M revisions to canon, but there are plenty of tributes to the famous original history (as much as any serial comic can be said to have a famous original history). Of course, it doesn’t always blend seamlessly. Even so, much of the slightly awkward blending can be forgiven in the name of creating a good story that keeps the audience involved with fast paced action. Overall, I’m ready for the next one.

  • This Independence Day weekend, hoist “Old Glory,” put on your red, white and blue and join the North Carolina Symphony for an evening of free music and fireworks on Friday, July 1, at 8 p.m. at Festival Park, located at the corner of Ray and Rowan streets in historic down-town Fayetteville.

    Come celebrate our nation’s 235th birthday under the stars as guest con-ductor Sarah Ioannides leads the North Carolina Symphony and tenor Adam Ulrich through a program of selected favorites, ranging from classical composi-tions and arrangements of musicals to American jazz and patriotic tunes.

    “The program is a lot of fun,” said Jeannie Mellinger, director of communica-tions for the North Carolina Symphony. “It’s very familiar music, patriotic favor-ites, the toe-tapping kinds of things that people love to listen to around the 4th of July.”

    Among the tunes the audience will enjoy are “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a Duke Ellington Medley, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “The Sound of Music: A Symphonic Picture,” as well as the “Semper Fidelis March” and a salute to the Armed Forces. Additionally, Ulrich will perform a selection of pieces, including “La Donna e mobile” from Rigoletto and “American Anthem.”

    Ulrich, a native of New York and an alumnus of the UNC School of the Arts and the A. J. Fletcher Opera Institute, is making his North Carolina Symphony debut under the direction of acclaimed guest conductor Ioannides, music director of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the Spartanburg (S.C.) Philharmonic Orchestra since 2005, and recognized by the League of American Orchestras as one of the nation’s top emerging conductors.

    “Sarah Iaonnides is one of the truly up-and-coming rising stars in the conducting world,” Mellinger said.

    According to her website, Australian-born Iaonnides has been described “by the New York Times as a conductor with ‘unquestionable strength and authority,’” and “has received outstanding press for her innovative program-ming and creative artistic leadership with world premieres, vibrant multime-dia productions and stunning performances.” As a guest conductor, she has directed top orchestras, symphonies and ensembles on five continents, and she is looking forward to her engagement with the North Carolina Symphony this 4th of July weekend.

    “I’m delighted to celebrate this magnificent American holiday with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra!” said Iaonnides. “We will offer a panoramic glimpse into the country highlighting the vision and optimism of the American spirit through classic American music. I find the history of Americ06-29-11-karen-popele.jpgan music fascinating with its rich diversity and have included selections from film, Broadway, jazz, sport, military marches, spiritual and patriotic Americana. We will also feature composers whose nationalities have come to join the wonderful melting pot of America. Adam Ulrich, a versatile young tenor with whom I’m excited to work, will play an integral role in the concert performing a mix of popular songs, and we also invite the audience to sing along to the Sound of Music. I truly look forward to a festive evening!”

    And what better venue for a free concert with fireworks during our nation’s 235th birthday celebration than in a city noted for its History, Heroes and Hometown Feeling? 

    For more information, visit www.ncsymphony.org or call 919.733.2750 or toll free 877.627.6724.

    Photo: Acclaimed guest conductor Sarah Iaonnides has put together an enter-taining program for the July 1 concert. 

  •     It’s Monday morning, you roll your solid waste and recycling carts out to the curb. When you come home, you find your trash can empty, but youour recycling cart is still full. A quick call to the city reveals that your recycling pickup day does not coincide with your trash pickup. Your frustration mounts.
        Not to worry, Jerry Dietzen, the director of solid waste, has put together a new plan that will not only merge pickup days together, but will also result in savings to the city. Dietzen unveiled the plan at the city council’s work session on June 2.
        Dietzen, who joined the city two years ago, explained that when he joined the city staff he found a great number of inefficiencies within the department. The inefficiencies were a result of substantial growth in the city from the construction of new subdivisions and annexation. Dietzen said that the department added new routes without changing existing customer’s pickup days, which resulted in the inefficiencies.
        {mosimage}The current map of the city’s waste pickup route reflects those inefficiencies. “As you can see, our drivers are all over the city on each day of the week,” explained Dietzen. On any given day the current pick-up schedule has drivers going from one end of the city to the other, while bypassing neighborhoods in the middle of the city. Dietzen said the new pick-up schedule will do two things: first, the new system combines routes into geographic locations, and second it puts the solid waste and recycling pickup on the same day. The new pick-up schedule is scheduled to go into effect on July 14.         He explained that the new routes will result in a number of efficiencies for the city, including a reduced number of routes, which will result in reduced travel time, fuel savings and maintenance costs.
    Additionally, the uniformity of the routes will allow the call center to better assist customers because garbage vehicles will be in one central area. Dietzen said representatives will be able to pinpoint problems in that area and notify the crews in the area, whereas in the past a problem might have been identified after the crews had left the area and moved onto another area of the city.
        Supervisors are currently in the field testing the new routes, which were computer generated. The new schedule will affect 75 to 80 percent of the city’s residents. Pickups will be on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Council members questioned whether any plans had been put in place to deal with problems caused by Monday holidays. No changes have been made at this time.


  • 20 Danny GokeyShout for joy! With summer fully upon us the social horizon is beginning to look better than it did at the beginning of 2021. Canceled shows and concerts from last year are finding their way back to local venues, outdoor (and most indoor) attractions are up and running.

    As exciting as that is, recent conversations with a couple of recording artists suggest the (cringe!) new normal will be a little different. Danny Gokey, who many know from his top 3 slot on American Idol alongside Adam Lambert and winner Kris Allen a dozen years ago, opened up recently about life and touring after the pandemic.

    Danny is a devoted family man, and enjoys time with his wife, Leyicet, and their four children. When the shutdowns punched the music industry right in its touring gut last year, he found himself able to spend more consecutive days at home than he has since he walked off the Idol stage in 2009. And he liked it. In the last year, he's collaborated on recordings with several top artists including Koryn Hawthorne, Belonging Company and bilingual recordings with Evan Craft and Christine D'Clario.

    Known for amazing dancing during his shows, when I caught up with him in early March last year, he was out of breath from rehearsing for his Spring tour. However, before the tour could even launch, it was canceled as venues around the country closed their doors. More recently, a decidedly more composed man sat down with me for a few minutes as we talked about his abbreviated Spring 2021 tour which stopped in Dunn, North Carolina.

    When I asked Danny what he thought about touring life going forward, he didn't hesitate. “I'm not going to do as many shows,” he said. “I was doing 120 dates a year, and I'm not going to do that any more.” As a Gospel Music Association Dove Award Winner with at least three Grammy nominations, I asked Danny how he planned to make up the difference from his previous level of touring income. “I don't think it's about making it up,” he quickly answered. “It's about deciding what's most important,” and indicated connecting with fans is important, but family takes priority over that.

    The sentiment was echoed by Colton Dixon, another American Idol alumnus, who became a father to twin girls Dior and Athens during the pandemic-related shutdowns. Colton recently missed a local tour date due to a COVID outbreak among tour crew, and seemed almost relieved about it when we spoke just before Father's Day. Going forward he says, “I'll be more selective about what dates I agree to.”

    While you might not see Colton nearby this summer, you can catch a performance of his latest single, “Made To Fly” on ABC's “Good Morning America” on July 9. The song begins with a nod to his own father, who he says was a strong and positive influence in his life. And as we begin to see less of him and other favorites in concert in the near future, we can likely count on the fact that's what's happening in their homes. As fathers, mothers, husbands and wives, the artists we know and love are having more and better influence in their own homes.

    21 Colton Dixon 2020 cr Jimmy Fontaine billboard 1548 compressed Pictured Above: Danny Gokey (Photo Coutesy www.facebook.com/DannyGokeyOffical/)

    Pictured Left: Colton Dixion (Photo Coutesy www.billboard.com

  •     {mosimage}On Monday, June 9, Dr. William C. Harrison, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, was named the eighth recipient of the Jay Robinson Leadership Award given by the Public School Forum of North Carolina. The award honors the extraordinary leadership and service of Dr. Jay Robinson, former school superintendent, vice president of the University System and Chair of the State Board of Education.
        Dr. Harrison has served as a public school educator in North Carolina for more than 30 years. State Board of Education Chair Howard Lee said of Dr. Harrison in his endorsement letter, “Dr. Harrison’s dedication to education has extended beyond the school setting and into professional organizations, universities and public service. His service to each of these settings has been in the best interest of the rights of all children to a quality education. He has had a very public opportunity to demonstrate his courage while serving as superintendent of Hoke County Schools by supporting the filing of the now famous Leandro case (originally known as the Hoke County Lawsuit). Knowing the implications of such a suit regardless of the outcome, he never backed down from the position that all children need a level playing field to have an equal chance at success.” Dr. Randy Bridges, nominator, worked under Bill Harrison in two school systems and said of him, “Dr. Harrison is dedicated to all students and is a man of integrity and commitment.”
        Former Representative Gene Arnold, chair of the Jay Robinson Leadership Award Committee, commented that Dr. Harrison, like Jay Robinson, was deeply committed to helping all children achieve higher levels of performance. He said of Dr. Harrison, “Bill has persevered as Jay would have done to see that all children have equal opportunities and that resources, both instructional and financial, are provided to assist them as they strive to do their best. Having served as a mentor to Bill, Jay would have been very proud of him.”
        Outgoing Chair of the Forum Board, Senator Katie Dorsett added, “Dr. Harrison has remained singly focused on very ambitious instructional goals for all students in every district that he has been in. He has also been a role model and mentor to numerous other educators on their leadership journeys.” 
        In addition to Dr. Harrison, the other finalists for this year’s award were William R. McNeal Jr., and William A. Shore. McNeal is currently executive director of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators. Prior to this position, McNeal was Wake County Schools Superintendent and the Regional, State, and National Superintendent of the Year. Under his leadership, Wake County became known as a school system of exceptionally high standards. William A. Shore, director of U.S. Community Partnerships for GlaxoSmithKline, was for many years the manager of administrative services with the company. The award was created to honor Dr. Jay Robinson, a distinguished educator, University of North Carolina vice-president, and former chairman of the State Board of Education, best remembered as the architect of the state’s ABCs accountability plan. Previous award winners include Laura Bilbro-Berry, 2000 N.C. Teacher of the Year, a N.C. Teaching Fellow and currently coordinator of the Northeast Consortium for the Wachovia Partnership East at East Carolina University; Dr. Tom McNeel, former superintendent of Caldwell County Schools, now retired; Dr. Jim Causby, former superintendent of Johnston County Schools, executive director of the NCASA and currently executive director of the N.C .School             Superintendents’ Association; Dr. Bob Bridges, former superintendent of Wake County Schools and former chair of the Closing the Achievement Gap Commission, now retired; Judge Howard E. Manning, Jr., Wake County Superior Court Judge presiding over the Leandro case; Dr. Ann Denlinger, former superintendent of Durham Public Schools, now president of the Wake Education Partnership; and Phillip J. Kirk Jr., former president of NCCBI and now vice-president for External Relations for Catawba College.

  • 03 Richard Hudson with veteransThank you, President Biden.

    That’s not something I say often — but last week, the President was in North Carolina to discuss COIVD-19 vaccines. While we do not agree on many issues, I appreciate the President coming to our state and highlighting our role in the success of Operation Warp Speed to make vaccines available to anyone who wants them.

    I believe issues like recovering from the pandemic should always be bipartisan and focused on helping you and your family.
    Another bipartisan issue should always be caring for our troops, their families and veterans.

    I say it a lot, but being Fort Bragg’s Congressman is truly an incredible honor that I take very seriously. Our men and women in uniform, as well as their families, sacrifice for our freedoms every day. In Congress, I am working to make sure our troops have the support and resources they deserve and made real progress on several fronts in recent weeks.

    First, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a final rule to allow service members to pursue medical malpractice claims in the military. This is thanks to my Rich Stayskal Act which was signed into law in 2019. I am thrilled to see this rule issued after more than 3 years of work on behalf of soldiers like Rich.

    I first met Sgt. 1st Class Rich Stayskal, a Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient from Pinehurst, in 2018 after his stage 4 lung cancer had been misdiagnosed by the military. Unfortunately, due to an outdated law, Rich and other service members were not able to have access to medical malpractice claims like other Americans.

    While we were successful in changing the law in 2019, it took the Defense Department until this month to issue this rule. Now with $400 million of funding, claims can begin to be processed by the Department as early as next month.

    Nothing can right wrongs that were made, but this law is a huge step toward providing relief to heroes who deserve it. And I pray the deterrent effect will prevent medical malpractice in the future.

    Also last week, I introduced the Vanessa Guillén Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act. As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation that seeks to end sexual assault in the military, hold violators accountable and support survivors.

    Sexual assault is an affront to the values of our military and the nation it defends. We must accept that what we have tried in the past has not worked — as in the tragic case of Spc.Vanessa Guillén who was sexually assaulted and murdered at Fort Hood in Texas last year.

    We owe it to victims like Vanessa and their families to do everything we can to end sexual assaults in the military. Our men and women in uniform sacrifice every day to keep us safe and we have a responsibility to ensure all service members are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

    Finally, another bill I introduced to help families at Fort Bragg also made a big step forward last week. After hearing from many of you about the inconvenience and hardship of having to travel several hours to have court cases heard, I joined with Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Senators Burr and Tillis to introduce a bipartisan bill to allow all court cases stemming from Fort Bragg to be heard in the Eastern District's courthouse in nearby Fayetteville.

    Last week, the bill passed both the Senate and the House and headed to President Biden’s desk for his signature. This common sense bill is a good example of how government should work — we saw a problem, found a solution and Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass a new law.

    Pictured Above: Congresman Richard Hudson talks with veterans at Memorial Day event (Photo courtesy https://husdon.house.gov)

    While I wish we could get Republicans and Democrats together to solve problems more often, I am committed to bipartisanship and continuing to stay focused on the issues that matter to you.

    We have a lot of work to do to grow our economy, slow inflation and out-of-control spending, address rising crime, secure our border, and defend our Second Amendment and the right to life. As I work on common sense solutions, rest assured I will always show up to work for you.

  • 02 line of babiesLooking for just the facts? Here they are.

    The United States is facing an accelerating downward trend in our national birth rate, resulting in the slowest population growth since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The recent Great Recession of the 2000s made the decline even more pronounced, with the birth rate for women in their 20s falling 28% since 2007. It is rising among women in their 30s and 40s, but not enough to offset babies not being born to 20-somethings whose fertility is generally the highest. Our birth rate is below replacement level for native-born Americans.

    North Carolina is not immune to this trend. Our birth rate’s most recent peak was in 2007 when 131,000 bundles of joy arrived to North Carolina families. Post Great Recession in 2013, only 119,000 babes arrived, a 9% decline. According to Carolina Demography at UNC-CH, that is about 20 fewer births each year for every 1000 women under 30.

    Several western European nations including Spain, Italy, Greece and Luxembourg have birth rates well under 2 per woman of childbearing age, well below the replacement rate. Asian nations including China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan are also facing declining birth rates. The implications for all of them, and increasingly for us, as well are clear and stark. The United States is now an “aging economy,” with more people 65 and older than people younger than 15. Senior benefits such as Social Security and Medicare pose significant financial burdens on workers, generally younger people, who will struggle to meet senior needs. In addition, seniors consume fewer goods, which limits growth in domestic markets. And since wealth is more concentrated among older people, wealth disparity also grows.

    So, what is causing slowing birth rates?

    Every woman has her own story, of course, but there are trends, made possible by reliable contraception available for less than a century. Increasingly, women are delaying motherhood until they complete their educations and are settled in careers, often meaning well in to their 30s and sometimes 40s. This has been true for decades for upper middle class and highly educated women, and it is now the case for women throughout the nation, especially in urban areas with employment opportunities and thriving economies.

    Young women also worry about affording children, a kind of parental sticker shock. They report concerns about the high costs of housing and child care, sometimes piled atop existing student debt. They also acknowledge that children, however wanted and loved, can and do derail careers that have taken years to prepare for and build. They understand that this happens to mothers far more often than it happens to fathers.

    Other declining birth rate nations are approaching the problem with various financial incentives — one-time payments for a new baby — a so-called baby bonus, monthly stipends for children, free school lunches, generous maternal and paternal leaves, subsidized day care and tax incentives. Hungary exempts women with 4 or more children from paying incomes taxes for their lifetimes. Some of this may be helping, but no European country has reached a replacement birth rate. The only nations that have are emerging economies, many in Africa.

    The United States sports a poor record of family support, both financially and in safety net services. Our attitude has been “these are your children, so care for them yourselves.” That is true, of course, but we maintain that stance at considerable risk to all of us. Like European countries and some Asian nations, we must find ways to support young families, lest we find ourselves with too few of them to drive and maintain our economic health.

  • 01 Welcome to Spring LakeThere are rising local concerns over the lack of media coverage and traditional news reporting in our Fayetteville and Cumberland County communities.

    We have few journalists in our community dedicated to being purveyors of truth. History has proven without a doubt that any community, city, state or nation that lacks accurate and honest news media coverage cannot maintain freedom or democracy.

    News journalists and the media are true protectors of democracy. Without media watchdogs and transparency in government, we invite and nurture gross mismanagement and cultivate a culture of corruption that ultimately leads to devastating consequences for citizens.

    For a recent and unfortunate example of this, one needs to look no further than the Town of Spring Lake. Last week, Mayor Larry Dobbins and the Spring Lake Board of Aldermen received a notification warning from the Local Government Commission that the town's fiscal management was suspect. It noted that the town was in violation of the General Statutes of North Carolina and ran a risk of being taken over by the state if they cannot come into compliance.

    For over a decade, several honest and frustrated Spring Lake citizens saw this coming. They looked on helplessly as they witnessed firsthand the town's management incompetence and irresponsible behavior of its self-serving elected officials. Spring Lake residents experienced firsthand the consequences of not having a voice in government or news media oversight that could have uncovered and reported on the town's business, policies and procedures. Or lack of. Without constant oversight, monitoring and reporting of their actions and policies, local government officials will always constitute a lack of transparency to local citizens, giving government staff and elected officials free rein to use and abuse their authority. They are confident their actions will never be divulged, nor will they be held accountable. This creates a frightening "culture of corruption" and a significant threat to democracy and fundamental freedoms.

    The situation in Spring Lake did not develop overnight. It took years for town officials to get confident and comfortable knowing that the news media void could keep the general public from knowing what was going on inside the town hall. Spring Lake leadership took advantage of this situation to the town's detriment. The scary thing about it was they were all in concert with the negligence. Local media and dedicated and honest leadership at all local government levels could have prevented this.

    I love Spring Lake, and I know many good, decent and honest people who live there, have businesses there, and have tried relentlessly to make Spring Lake the proud gateway to Fort Bragg it once was. However, without a news media outlet and local government transparency and accountability, it cannot happen.

    Perhaps some of our readers are thinking, "why doesn't Up & Coming Weekly create a newspaper in Spring Lake." Well, we did. And, it had a talented editor and was successful. Perhaps too successful. The Spring Lake Beacon was delivered every two weeks in U&CW. It lasted about two years until the Town of Spring Lake decided not to support it. This caused the Chamber of Commerce (which was closely affiliated with the town and located in the Town Hall) to not support it. This lack of endorsement discouraged the local businesses from supporting it.

    At that time, we tried to make a difference by providing Spring Lake businesses and citizens with local news and views while advocating for open government and transparency. We were rebuffed. We hope the current situation in Spring Lake will be resolved quickly, amicably, and result in honest, caring, and dedicated people stepping up to rebuild Spring Lakes' reputation and take its rightful and respectable place in the leadership of Cumberland County. We also hope that this unfortunate and dire situation in Spring Lake serves as a subtle warning to Fayetteville, Hope Mills and other communities of the consequences when no local newspaper or reputable media keeps the public informed of what is going on in their government.

    It should also make all citizens skeptical of any elected county commissioner, city mayor or councilperson, town commissioner, or local government staffer who is opposed to the free press, news media, open meetings or the concept of transparency in government. The media, sometimes referred to as the "Fourth Estate," is America's watchdog of democracy at all levels of government.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 26 women walking outdoorsI often hear, I need to start exercising. That is an opportunity to talk about fitness, but the decision to begin any type of change that involves lifestyle and fitness is a personal decision.

    There are five stages of health behaviors that assess a person’s readiness to change with a new and healthier behavior, according to the Transtheoretical Model.

    Precontemplation — In this stage there is little or no interest in starting an activity and the person feels it is irrelevant to their life.

    Contemplation — The person is still inactive but is becoming interested in beginning an activity and starts to realize the importance in relation to their lifestyle and health but not ready to make that start to
    a change.

    Preparation — You are ready to become engaged in an activity. The importance of being active becomes relevant and it may begin with short walks, occasional visits to the gym but still inconsistent.

    Action — Engagement is regular physical activity becoming consistent and begins to develop into a routine. The activity is becoming an important part of your life and you find yourself beginning to set a pattern as the months roll by! Six months of continuing your schedule indicates that you are becoming confident in your regimen and results.

    Maintenance — You are excited and feel confident with your accomplishments. Mentally and physically, you see and feel a difference and beginning to advance to other goals and challenges!

    You have been consistent at keeping your goals for more than six months. You are making a continued commitment and are engaging in a lifestyle.

    It is not always easy to get to this stage and many times, the start of an activity will become faced with obstacles and the person can become discouraged before they have gotten started. As an example, Rita has decided to walk three days a week and is doing great with her plan and things come up that interrupt her walking.

    What happens is that she begins to put off something that she is enjoying until the next day or the next and a great start has stopped before it developed into something that would have been beneficial.

    A SMART goal which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Bound is an excellent format to follow for goals.

    If Rita had a SMART Goal continuing with walking may have helped her focus on a walking regimen. A SMART Goal for Rita: I will begin walking on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 a.m. for twenty minutes each day to improve my stamina for one month.

    In this scenario Rita established a time, duration and reason for her exercise which was attainable. Making the decision to be begin a fitness regimen after an illness, injury or being inactive can be rewarding and challenging.

    Be kind to yourself with expectations, approach with a slow start because some apprehension is normal. Surround yourself with friends, groups and social media groups that have similar or the same goals. Select an activity that you like and read articles on the benefits. Place your clothes out the night before as a gentle reminder.

    Reward yourself for reaching your goals and add new goals as you progress and see results of a new you!

  • 25 on barbeque REEDWhy would John Shelton Reed write another book about barbecue?

    After all, he is a co-author of the recently revised classic, “Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue” and in 2016, author of “Barbecue” in the UNC Press’s “Savor the South” Cookbook series.

    The retired Kenan professor of sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill is the author of more than 20 books. He likes to write books and articles and other commentary that connect readers to their culture.

    His new book, “On Barbecue,” is a compilation of writings about barbecue.

    Barbecue means different things to different people. Just remember how many ways the term is spelled: barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-que, and so on. Reed explains how the term probably came about.

    He writes, “the word came into English only some 500 years ago. In the first decades of the 1500s Spanish explorers in the Caribbean found the locals using frameworks of sticks to support meat cooking over fires. They did this either to slow-cook it or to cure it and preserve it (as we do with country hams and jerky today.”

    This apparatus was called something that the Spaniards heard as barbacoa, which soon became a Spanish word and then an English word that referred to the cooking device or method, not the resulting cooked meat.

    Only in the 1800s did the term begin to be used to mean the cooked meat. As late as 1894, when the Statesville Landmark wrote about barbecue being served at an event, “the paper put the noun in quotation marks, suggesting that the usage remained colloquial. Still, by then, everyone seems to have known that it meant something you could put on a plate or in a sandwich. Once that was understood, Southerners began the eternal argument about what barbecue is.”

    Reed writes, “whole hog in eastern North Carolina, mustard sauce in parts of South Carolina, mutton in Owensboro, Ky., ‘dry ribs’ in Memphis, beef brisket in Texas and so forth.”

    Reed celebrates these differences, writing that he would order Memphis ribs in Memphis, but would pass it by if it were offered in North Carolina or elsewhere.

    He mourns the development of “mass barbecue” chains that he calls “IHOB” or International House of Barbecue with menus, “where you can pile Texas brisket, Memphis ribs, and Carolina chopped pork all on one plate.”

    However, Reed has no doubt. “All understand that cooking with hardwood makes the difference between barbecue and roast meat.”

    He describes the world championship barbecue cooking contest in Memphis where barbecue is defined as “pork meat only... prepared on a wood or charcoal fire.”

    He recognizes that many so-called barbecue restaurants “serve slow roasted meat untouched by even the bottled kind of woodsmoke and call it barbecue.”

    Reed asserts this product is not barbecue and calls it instead “faux ‘que.”

    “You see the problem. We start with barbecue cooked in a pit over live coals, or with heat and smoke from a stick burning firebox, and we end up with a Boston butt in a crock pot. Somewhere along the way we've crossed the line between True ‘Cue and faux ‘que. We do not intend to draw that line, just to point out that there is a hierarchy here, and the purveyors of faux ‘que are at the bottom of it.”

    “Why do we care? Because we believe that real barbecue is rooted in three things increasingly lacking in today's world: taste, tradition, and a sense of place. Because we think the world will be a better place with more real barbecue in it.”

    You do not have to agree with Reed’s hardline stance about the necessity of cooking with wood coals to learn from and enjoy his great storytelling gifts about one of our favorite foods—true or faux.

  • 04 PITT IMG 7324What is so rare as a wedding in northern Virginia? Love is once again in bloom as the Rona mostly fades into the rearview mirror. Postponed nuptials spring forth unabated. We took our first big road trip since the Rona to attend the splendid wedding of my brother’s granddaughter.

    The festivities were held in a Mega Church with 300 of the wedding party’s closest friends. Having never been in an Mega Church we did not know what to expect. The Mega Church is doing something right as the congregation consisted mostly of Millennials and their kids. Many mainstream churches have aging congregation syndrome. They tend to have as John Prine once sang, “Hearing aids in every pew.” The bride’s relationship to me is that of great niece once removed or something like that. It puts me in a demographic that emphasizes the effects of calendar creep — e.g., older than dirt.

    The ceremony was upbeat and filled with laughter. Although the bride and groom were no longer teenagers, to quote Chuck Berry’s song “You Never Can Tell” — “You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle.” The vows were interesting. The bride promised to joyfully and/or meekly submit to the leadership of the husband. My wife, who is a lawyer, seemed a bit surprised by this section of the vows. Personally, I thought it was a great idea. Unfortunately, I have had absolutely no luck convincing her to either meekly or joyfully submit to me. Knowing my great niece is not a pushover by any means, all I can say is good luck to the groom on that part of the vows. But as Mr. Berry said, “C’est la vie, say the old folks, It goes to show you never can tell.” We wished them well.

    In my last column I whined about the lack of Cicadas in Fayetteville. I got my wish for an insect chorus in Virginia. The motel where we stayed was surrounded by trees featuring an abundance of Cicadas in lust. The love song of thousands of horny Cicadas sounded like Martian spaceships. It was beyond loud. It was colossal. Stupendous. The 17-year wait was worth it. Them bugs can belt out a love song better than J. Alfred Prufrock.

    We headed into the District of Cicadas after the wedding for a fact-finding mission to see how our nation’s capital has survived the Rona. We had reservations at The Churchill, our favorite D.C. hotel in the Dupont Circle area. Having stayed there many times I did not read the fine print on the emailed confirmation. Oops, large mistake. In the interim since our last stay, The Churchill had decided to add what they euphemistically call a “Resort Fee” of $100 a night. That is on top of the room rate. Woody Guthrie warned about Resort Fees in his song “Pretty Boy Floyd”— “I’ve seen lots of funny men/ Some will rob you with a six-gun/ And some with a fountain pen.” It was my error by not reading the fine print so it was my fault. However, to both of my Gentle Readers, study the fine print to look for the words “Resort Fee” before you confirm your reservation. You will be glad you did. Do as I say. Not as I did.

    D.C. is still pretty much in the depths of the Rona lockdown. Many stores have closed. People on the streets are wearing masks. Even the Starbucks only has take-out caffeine. Traffic is actually very tolerable as there ain’t much. We were in walking distance of Obama’s D.C. residence so we walked over to pay our respects. We got as close as the end of his street where a D.C. cop was parked. Uh oh. That did not look encouraging. I walked over to the car as non-threateningly as I could. “Any chance we can go see the house?” I asked. “Not a chance” he replied. But I had to ask anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

    We had more luck with the museums. Most of the Smithsonian museums have not reopened. The ones that are open use free timed tickets to keep crowds controlled. We spent five hours in the National Gallery of Art which gave us hope that the Rona closings are actually going to end at some point. After being booted out at closing time, we attempted to get an Uber ride back to our hotel. No luck. We had never been anywhere that Uber wasn’t available. The Rona struck again. Plan B involved going back on the Metro. My wife is not a fan of subways but the alternative was to sleep on the street so away we walked.

    As we walked, a very nice lady carrying her painting of Saint Lucy approached us. Out of the blue she asked us how long we had been married. I told her 45 years. She then told us we were “cute.” This officially marked the line where we went from the north end of middle aged to the elderly “cute.” I have certainly been called worse things than cute. In fact, this was the first time I had ever been called cute. I wasn’t even cute as a baby.

    When we reached the Metro it was rush hour. No crowds. Lots of empty seats. The Rona still lives in D.C. Get vaccinated. The life you save may be my own.

  • 03 WIlmington Lie coverThousands of people and families have cycled through our community over the years, some for a weekend, some for a few years and many with the military. Relatively few of us, however, have spent our formative years here, and even fewer of us have excelled on national and international stages like David Zucchino and Chris Hondros. Both are graduates of Terry Sanford High School, though decades apart, and both went on to become legends in their respective fields. They knew of each other but
    never met.

    David Zucchino, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, recently received his second Pulitzer Prize for “Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy.” It is an examination of the only overthrow of an elected government in United States history. Blessedly, a more recent attempt, the January 6th insurrection in Washington, failed. Zucchino lays bare this heretofore little-known and shameful moment in our state and nation’s history. His first Pulitzer award came in 1989 for his series “Being Black in South Africa,” published in the Philadelphia Enquirer. I asked the author how growing up in our community shaped him, if it did at all, and he very kindly responded.

    “I went to high school in Fayetteville after my father, a U.S. Army First Sergeant, was transferred to Fort Bragg. As a high school student, I spent several fascinating evenings trolling along Hay Street and taking in the heady mixture of strip clubs, juke joints, saloons, hookers, fistfights and drug dealers. People from all over the world were drawn to Fayetteville at the time, with the Vietnam War in full swing and the Army sending troops back and forth. For reasons that are still obscure, even to me, my exposure to that tawdry scene motivated me to travel the world and seek adventures in faraway places.”

    I would love to have asked the same question of Chris Hondros, but he was killed in Syria in 2011. He was barely 41. An accomplished photographer from his teenage years on, Hondros became a war photojournalist who covered conflicts the world over, including in Liberia, Iraq, Kosovo, Angola, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. He and a British filmmaker died in a mortar attack by Syrian government troops. His war photography graced the covers of Newsweek and The Economist, as well as the front pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. Some local residents remember Hondros as a photographer for the Fayetteville Observer in the late 1990s, but he was destined for the world theater. He remains on the world stage today in a riveting documentary, “Hondros,” currently available on Netflix, and in an exhibit of some of his photographs currently at the Gregg Museum of Art at NC State, Hondros’ alma mater. The photographs, given to the museum by Hondros’ employer, Getty Images, are both arresting and haunting as they record human behavior and its consequences. Several are familiar even if we did not know who took them. The centerpiece is Hondros’ photograph of a young Liberian government fighter leaping in jubilation as his troops prevail in battle. This well-known photo is one of two Hondros works that received Pulitzer nominations.

    Every community has sons in whom it takes pride, but few have nurtured sons whose work has meaning to people they will never know which sheds light on people, events and issues that shape us and the world around us.

    David Zucchino and Chris Hondros have both achieved that, and we are better for their work.

    02 CHondros Agromeck1992 Pictured Left: Chris Honros Self-portrait for the 1992 agromeck, NC State University.

  • 06-06-12-lake-rim-park.jpgTo celebrate the bliss that is summertime, Lake Rim Park is having an end-of-the-school year party. Families are invited to celebrate the break from book reports, homework and teachers with Family Night Out in the Park on June 8, from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. A variety of special activities are planned along with all the park offers every day.

    The event will feature games with prizes, crafts and hands-on activities. Exhibitors will provide entertainment, and a DJ will provide the music. Food vendors will be on hand selling sandwiches, hotdogs, Italian ice and other summer favorites.

    Kids will want to check out the dragon-shaped bouncy obstacle course and visit the archery station to learn how to shoot a bow.

    “The event is free and the whole family will have fun during this interactive and educational night out,” said Amber Williams, park ranger coordinator at Lake Rim Park.

    There will be nature and environmental exhibitors the share their knowledge of animals, plants and sustainability.

    The Wildlife Rescue Center, based in Sanford, will have hawks, owls and other animals that have been rescued recently. The center will share the wonder of these great animals and how they survive in the wild.

    Cumberland County Environmental Services will have activities for the kids and talk to families about recycling. Kids will be able to learn about water conservation and safety with Cumberland County’s Storm Water. Members of Sustainable Sandhills will also be on hand to answer questions about conversation and sustainability.

    The park’s Environmental Mobile Unit will entertain and educate kids about the wild life in the area. Kids can explore the unit viewing animal replicas and bones as well as a touch-and-learn area.

    “This celebration is a great way to give back to the community and raise awareness about the park,” said Williams.

    Last year, was the first time Lark Rim Park hosted this event and several hundred people came out for the end-of-the-year celebration.The activities are geared toward elementary-aged children and their families, however children of all ages are welcome.

    The regular attractions will be available as well. Lake Rim Park provides a wide variety of activities. The family can stroll along the one-mile border trail through the wetlands to Bone Creek, play a pick-up soccer game with friends or get the family together for a picnic. In addition to the walking trails and picnic areas, Lake Rim offers horseshoe pits, tennis courts sand volleyball courts, athletic fields, a Native-American themed garden and children’s playgrounds. The fields and courts are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis unless reserved. Family pets are also welcome at the park, but all animals must be on a leash.

    Lake Rim Park is located at 2214 Tar Kiln Dr. For more information, call 910-433-1018. The park’s normal hours of operation are: March-Oct. from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. and Nov.-Feb. from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

    Photo: Last year, Family Night Out drew big crowds to Lake Rim Park.

  • 01 AAL8L9IIt was a beautiful warm summer day at Arsenal Park last week when residents, state dignitaries and local officials gathered to break ground for the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center's History Village.

    The ceremony marked the beginning of the next stage of development of the statewide Civil War History Center. The ceremony was an impressive "who's who" of those who genuinely care about North Carolina's history, heritage and Fayetteville's future. These are the people who understand the importance of embracing history as it pertains to human rights and the freedoms we enjoy today as Americans, but, unfortunately, many times, we take for granted.

    The keynote speaker was Clemson University history professor Orville Vernon Burton. Burton is an award-winning author of the book "The Age of Lincoln."

    In addition, former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt was in attendance and currently serves as the honorary chairman of the history center. However, locally and for over a decade, the hard work, dedication, perseverance and leadership for bringing the NCCWHC to Fayetteville is the History Center's Foundation Chairman Mac Healy and long-time resident and Fayetteville advocate Co-Chair Mary Lynn Bryan. Together, they represent a tour de force of spirit, enthusiasm and heart for what constitutes a healthy and robust community. They understand that American history cannot be changed or altered — only studied, appreciated and understood as it pertains to humanity.

    This $80 million center will be part of the North Carolina state museum system. It is a godsend to the Fayetteville community, and we should be proud and grateful that the state has chosen our community for this honor. We, as citizens, should be Fayetteville proud that over $30 million in private funding has been secured for this Fayetteville and Cumberland County project. And, everyone should be overly excited about the economic impact this facility will have on our community in terms of consumer spending, creating new jobs and increasing tourism. These are all the things you would think our local mayor and city council would embrace.

    Well, unfortunately, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin's absence at the groundbreaking was conspicuously noticeable.

    This once-in-a-lifetime Herculean accomplishment could be the pinnacle and highlight of Colvin's mayoral career. After all, being an integral part of bringing an $80 million state-supported museum to the Fayetteville community would be a pretty impressive accomplishment when pursuing a political career. However, to make that happen, one must set self-serving politics aside, and all city residents' welfare must become a priority. And that takes cooperation, communication and flawless leadership.

    The mayor and our city and county leadership will never again have a more opportune time to showcase their leadership skills or demonstrate their love of this community than by providing this museum. Everyone would be proud of an institution that would provide valuable learning and educational experiences for future generations. They, the mayor and city officials, have the power to make it happen.

    In closing, history is history. It cannot be changed, altered or modified. Thank goodness that telling the truth has never been a bad thing. That being said, this is Fayetteville's chance to make history! Let's do it!

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 06-13-12-4thfriday.jpgJune 22 is the 4th Friday of the month. You know what that means, at least for downtown Fayetteville. That’s right, a celebration of the arts in the heart of the city. The galleries open new exhibits, which often include receptions and performances, artists share their newest creations and inspirations and the shops stay open late. Restaurants are hustling, the sidewalks are bustling, and a good time is had by all.

    The Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County presents the exhibit Reflections empowering artists with disabilities.

    RHA Health Services of North Carolina is a leading non-profit provider of services and supports for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and is the sponsor of this exhibit.

    RHA firmly believes that “Art therapy for people with disabilities has the potential to impact lives in profound ways. Art can serve as a powerful voice providing endless possibilities for self expression. As Georgia O’Keefe said, “I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I had no words for”. We hope that this partnership with the Arts Council will bring awareness of individual creativity and lifelong learning through the arts for all.”

    Cape Fear Studios announces the opening of the 2012 Fourth Annual National 2D Exhibit. Entries for the show poured in from all over the United States; 33 entries have been selected for the show. The works are rich in content, style and approach.

    The Downtown Alliance invites the public to the Second Annual Downtown Scavenger Hunt as part of the 4th Friday festivities. Teams of 1-2 people will scour downtown in search of information and photographs to complete their list of tasks. Teams may pick up their Scavenger Hunt List beginning at 6 p.m. at The Downtown Alliance Office at 222 Hay Street. All teams correctly completing their list by 9pm will be entered into a drawing for an adventure-oriented prize, sponsored by The Climbing Place and other participating downtown merchants.

    Registration for the Second Annual Downtown Scavenger Hunt in advance via the Fourth Friday Fayetteville Facebook page or on-site at Fourth Friday.

    Local authors are featured at Headquarters Library. Meet the authors, peruse their works and learn the ins and outs of self-publishing. Twenty or so Fayetteville writers will be on hand to meet the public.

    Joe Haymore a member of the Cape Fear Gem and Mineral Society visits Fascinate-U Museum this month. He’s bringing leather and beads so museum visitors can make their own bracelets. Admission is free.

    At the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, witness a bugle ceremony by an Army Ground Forces Band trumpet player at the flag staff in front of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 5:15 p.m., as a simultaneous show of solidarity with Fort Bragg.

    The Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum features artifact-filled exhibits, including a model train room, that tell the story of transportation from pre-history through the early 20th century.

    Visit the Market House and check out an educational exhibit upstairs highlighting Fayetteville’s Role in World War II. The exhibit is open from 6 to 10 p.m.

    The Fayetteville Art Guild opens Fayetteville Art Guild: Celebrating 45 Years, highlighting original 2-D and 3-D works of art in all mediums including: oils, pastels, photography, graphics jewelry, fiber art, pottery, mixed media. The exhibit runs through July 21.

    Find out more about 4th Friday at www.theartscouncil.com

  • 22 dad son grandson pics in picsWoven into the fabric of who and what we've become, we all have threads of regret muting the bold colors of success in our lives. There's not much I'd change about the path I've walked thus far, because to change any one of them would be to alter the outcome. Some of life's highest pinnacles rise from the low ground of pain and defeat. It seems somewhat apropos at this time of year to realize my single greatest regret is that I didn't have my dad to share most of the highs and lows with.

    A veteran of World War II, Billy DeBruler was a high school track athlete raised in western Kansas. His adoptive family owned a local pharmacy and had always intended that he join the family business, which was perhaps the furthest thing from his mind during high school. After invading Poland, Hitler had become the scorn of the western world, and as the Allied nations got increasingly involved, the boys in dad's small town were becoming men and volunteering to ship off and right this great wrong.

    By volunteering as a Navy harmacist Mate, my dad was able to get his parents' signatures to join before his 18th birthday, and was soon on his way to Navy Boot Camp, followed by a trip to Hawaii. Not the paradise Hawaii, the naval base Hawaii. The unfortunate twist in the story is that Pharmacist Mates were not as great a necessity in the war raging in the Pacific as were medics to accompany the Marines as they roamed the tropical jungles. So began his career as a Combat Medic.

    He carried fond memories of the friends he made, and had mementos from Hawaii around the house, but the haunting memories of the rigors and horrors of combat were a silent and driving force behind much of his adult life. The same kid who made the local paper for both his athletic and academic abilities in high school and earned medals on the local track and remote jungles, saw his first marriage collapse from what we now commonly know and treat as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    I don't remember seeing any uniformed men walk up to the door, but I remember my dad holding a letter and weeping at the table after receiving the news his first-born son had died in the jungles of Vietnam. I recall him pouring all that he missed from that relationship into my brother and I — the two children from his second marriage. I have fond memories of building lopsided projects in his little workshop in the basement, the cold and smell of the meat locker in the store where he worked as a butcher, and the trips to the lake on Independence Day because you couldn't use fireworks in town.

    Dad traveled to see us just after our first son was born. I have a single photo of the two of them together in the driveway of our southern Arizona home in 1980. He died less than a year later, succumbing to the effects of cancer brought on by the habit he picked up while he was in the Navy. He had truly been-there-and-done-that, and could have steered me through and maybe even around some of life's hardest moments.

    And there it is — the thread of regret. If your dad is still living, go to him. If you have children, open up to and listen to them. Let the shared experiences become a beautiful part of the tapestry of your life.

  • 06-20-12-freshmusicbanner.jpgTheFresh Music Festival will bring a celebration of the best in R&B and Hip-Hop to the stage, June 23 at 8 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum. Reminisce with the R&B classics from your favorite artists and enjoy the new sounds of today.

    “This year’s festival features an outstanding lineup of R&B artists,” Marshall Perry, director of marketing and sales for the Crown Colisuem said. “This is a big show and we are excited to host the event.”

    The list of performers includes: Keith Sweat, Doug E. Fresh, K-Ci & JoJo, Guy and SWV. On this national tour, the artists perform in more than 40 cities. R&B fans have raved posting praise on websites everywhere. The concert brings all the most-loved R&B songs back and these performers don’t disappoint.

    “This was the best concert that I have seen in a very long time. Everything was fantastic. The stage, lighting, sound and the music. I give it ‘two thumbs up!’ Real music lovers have got to see this show. If you love R&B, you will love this concert,” posted a fan online after seeing the show earlier this month in Connecticut.

    Fresh is the first human beatbox and remains one on the biggest names in rap music. His first single, “The Show/La Di Da Di” quickly became a Hip-Hop classic. Fresh entertains audiences with his note-perfect imitations of drum machines, effects and samples of other classics.

    Platinum R&B artist, Keith Sweat filled the Top 20 Billboard with hits such as “I Want Her” which made it to the number one spot on the R&B chart and number five on the pop charts. “I’ll Give All My Love To You” was number three on the Billboard 200 chart, and “Keep It Comin’” debuted in the top 20. Now Sweat is busy with his nationally syndicated radio show.

    K-Ci & JoJo have sold millions of records and are still considered one of the hottest singing duos in R&B. Songs such as, “You Bring Me Up,” “Last Night’s Letter” and “It’s Real” caught the attention of mainstream music fans. However, “All My Life,” which spent three weeks as the number one song on the Hot 100 list, launched K-Ci & JoJo into fame and is considered one of the greatest pop/jazz melodies of all time.

    Guy became a household name because of hits such as “Groove Me,” “I Like” “Piece of My Love,” “Let’s Chill” and “Do Me Right.” Guy also collaborated on the Boomerang sound track in 1992. Recently, Guy united and is changing it up with the New Jack sound.

    The world’s top selling female R&B group, SWV will also perform at the Fresh Music Festival. With a long list of top 10 hits such as “I’m So Into You,” “Right Here,” “Downtown,” “Weak,” “Anything” and “Your Always on My Mind,” SWV was a force to be reckoned with in the ‘90s.

    Perry said tickets sales are growing steadily and the Crown is expecting a big turnout. Ticket prices range from $50-$80 and can be purchased online. Visit www.freshmusicfestival.com to get more information on the Fresh Music Festival and order tickets. Buy tickets now and be ready to enjoy the best R&B has to offer.

    Photo: The Crown hosts The Fresh Music Festival featuring R&B performers, on June 23.

  • 02 taxesNo one — I repeat, no one, enjoys paying taxes. I can almost feel my blood pressure rise when income taxes come due. That said, we all want safe and accessible roads, high quality public education for our young people, and the same quality health care for Americans of all backgrounds and ages. The reality is that our taxes support those goals.

    The ongoing American myth has been that we all pay our fair share, like it or not, and that wealthy individuals pay more.

    ProPublica exploded that myth last week as part of its ongoing analysis of our tax system. The non-profit investigative journalism organization which exposes abuses of power and betrayals of the public trust released secretly obtained IRS documents confirming what millions of Americans have long suspected. The richest of the rich are not paying their fair share of income taxes at all, much less more than the rest of us. In fact, several of the 25 wealthiest Americans as defined by Forbes magazine managed to pay no income taxes at all! These include such household names as Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Elon Musk (Tesla), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and the grandfatherly Warren Buffet (all manner of investments), all of whom have more money than they could ever spend.

    Moral considerations aside, there are no allegations that any of these people did anything illegal by paying a miniscule percentage of their wealth in income taxes or none at all. They simply took advantage of existing federal and state laws that treat “wealth” differently than “income.” Mere mortals earning a paycheck from which taxes are deducted cannot take advantage of these laws, which generally require the services of high-dollar attorneys and accountants to navigate.

    Here is the situation. The average American has an income of roughly $70,000 and pays income taxes of about 14-percent, usually deducted by the employer. The wealthiest Americans do not earn much in salaries. Instead, they make money on their assets — dividends on stocks, for example, and their tax bills come due when they sell assets. They are also able to take offsetting losses on their investments, thereby lowering their earnings, in some cases, to zero. According to ProPublica, while Joe Blow pays 14-percent on his salaried income, the 25 richest Americans paid a true tax rate of only 3.4-percent on what they took in between 2014 and 2018.
    Is this legal? Yes. Is it fair? Most Americans do not think so.

    The wealth gap in our country, often referred to as wealth inequity, has grown significantly in recent decades. It has become not only a starkly divisive issue among Americans across the wealth spectrum but a political issue. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and other leftish political figures have raised the issue in public debate, and they are right to do so. Congress is beginning to talk about tax code reform, albeit tentatively, and President Biden is cheering on that conversation.

    In a democratic republic, fairness is the underlying concept. Our system will work only as long as we believe it is fair. We all want to believe that we will be treated fairly by our legal system. We all want to believe that we have access to quality health care and that our children will be able to get educations that will make them productive adults. We all want to believe that we have a shot at upward mobility. It is sometimes hard to believe any of that.

    Paying taxes is a necessary reality. Most of us recognize that and are willing to pay our fair share, but we want everyone else to do so as well. We do not want to feel like schmucks as asset-heavy folks zoom past us in their Teslas.

  • While sitting in one’s own backyard grilling with friends and neighbors would make for a delightful Independence Day, for those who want to go out and celebrate with the town, the local community offers incredible opportunities.

    For those looking to start the party a little early, the N.C. Symphony offers a perfect opportunity on July 1. The symphony will perform its annual patriotic concert in Festival Park as a gift to the community. The free performance will be followed by traditional fi reworks and a silent tribute to veterans with Liberty Luminaries sponsored by the Pilot Club all along Ray Ave. 06-27-12-freedom-rings.jpg

    Dunn is also offering an early celebration with their Patriotic Explosion to be held on July 1. Festivities are presented by Central Baptist and will begin at 7 p.m. with music and a dramatic performance by the CBC choir and drama team. There will be free hotdogs and fi reworks at dark.

    The town of Hope Mills; however, is celebrating all day on Independence Day. A parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Hope Mills Municipal Park. The route begins at Hope Mills Middle School and ends at the park. Immediately following the parade, it is time for the annual Party in the Park. The party includes food, games, vendors, live entertainment, cheerleading exhibitions, competitions and of course ... fireworks. Both events are free and open to the public. Find out more at www.townofhopemills.com.

    But to no one’s surprise the military provides the biggest celebration, which was recognized as the Best Independence Day bash in the whole of the Southeast by visitsouth.com in 2010, This year’s celebration is sure to please. The gates open at 3 p.m. with Kiddieland and food vendors offering snacks and entertainment. At 3:45 p.m. Tyler Hilton performs, followed by Natalie Stovall at 5 p.m. Then the acclaimed U.S. Army Special Operations Command Black Daggers parachute demonstration team is scheduled to drop in at 6 p.m., followed by a concert by Gloriana. At 7:45 p.m. the senior commander will speak, and the evening portion of the festivities begins with the National Anthem and flag ceremony. A patriotic event of this magnitude would not be complete without a performance by the 82nd Division All American Band featuring the 1812 overture with live cannon fire.

    Finally, the evening comes to an end with a spectacular fireworks display, which is scheduled to run from 9:42 to 10 p.m. providing for a long day stuffed with patriotic fun.

    For those early birds, an early morning run to honor veterans will be held by the RWB Team. The 4th of July Fun Flag Run will be held on July 4 at 8:30 a.m. at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. It is unoffi cial and there will be no sign ups. People are encouraged to just show up in patriotic garb and participate to support veterans.

  • 01 Tisha Waddell Dis 3This week Publisher Bill Bowman yields his space to Fayetteville City Councilwoman Tisha Waddell who sets the record straight and combats the rumors and innuendo that have undermined her effectiveness as a public servant. Thank you, Councilwoman Waddell, for serving our community.

    To my Fayetteville constituents:

    I am not running for re-election, and I am also NOT running for Mayor. I appreciate all the support I have received and even the naysayers, as you have each helped me grow. I am also grateful to the handful of people I shared my decision with before submitting this article that completely understands why this is my choice.

    There was a marked difference between the first two years I served as an elected official and what will be my last. I was fortunate to serve with councilmen like Ted Mohn, Bill Crisp and Jim Arp. These legislators weren't perfect, but they researched, were more consistent in policy application, and were not afraid to challenge the status quo. It was demanding but rewarding. I learned quickly and was complete in my decision-making. I earned a stable reputation as one who weighs the facts and makes decisions based on what's in the community's best interest, whether it was popular with the political bullies or not.

    I regret that those new to their positions have not benefited from serving under different conditions and hope the tide shifts for them and all of us represented by them.

    Had my first two years been anything like my last two, there wouldn't have been a second term. It is difficult to accept the amount of hypocrisy and fear in our local government and even more so that it is excused as expected. We should not expect our leaders, at any level, to be ego-driven or inconsistent in process and policy.

    Disagreements should not be allowed to become flashpoints, and unstable agitators should not be permitted to pull focus away from our legislator's actual responsibilities. The abusive mishandling by members of the Council or members in the community of our leaders should not be tolerated. Whether we like them or not, they were elected by a majority of the people who voted and belong precisely where they are.

    Initially, I only promised to do my part to communicate and make sound decisions. Focusing on sharing the tools needed to guide their elected's choices for this city and removing barriers to access between them and their representative has hopefully helped District Three understand their power.

    When looking back, I hope the things people remember are that I supported legislation that seeks to increase transparency in how the Council makes decisions. I've called for undeviating policy practices in the hopes that we could level the playing field for future council members to be able to do their job.

    I've helped the Council shift its focus from implementing fee increases to more meaningful investments into our neighborhoods through street resurfacing and stormwater investments. There have been measurable successes in some regards, and in others, the needle has barely moved.

    I respect each of my peers on Council and recognize where we have worked well and where there is room for improvement. It was my great pleasure to work in this capacity, and I will always be fond of how God chose to use me in this season.

    I have learned that it isn't one person's job to change leadership, directly or indirectly. That is the job of all the citizens in this city who are of voting age. So, as some celebrate the announcement of my departure from the Fayetteville City Council and others are saddened to lose me as one of their champions for common sense in governing, the takeaway for all should be to register to vote, VOTE, and then hold your elected accountable by staying involved. Your city is counting on YOU!

  • 03 IMG 7268 cicadaStart your day with a misquote from Pete Seeger: “Where have all the Cicadas gone? Long time passing? Long time ago?” The rest of America is crawling with lovelorn Cicadas of Brood X. As of the delivering of this column to Up & Coming Weekly for deposit into the dust bin of literary history, eastern North Carolina seems to be a Cicada-free zone. Cicadas ignoring the Sandhills is yet another unwarranted indignity visited upon Fayetteville. One can only hope that when this column appears, we will be enjoying the return of the 17-year locusts. Perhaps if we face the rising sun, bend the knee to them, and address them by their official name Pharaoh Cicada they will grace us with their presence and sing us a happy tune.

    Until the Cicadas return, let us ponder the world their parents left in 2004 and their grandparents left in 1987. Hop on board Mr. Peabody’s Way Back Machine. It’s time to see what the world looked like when the Cicada’s parents visited us by in 2004. George W. Bush was President. The first major infestation of the internet occurred in February when Mark Zuckerberg’s cyber version of “Rosemary’s Baby” was born as Facebook in his Harvard dorm room. Ever since Facebook’s birth, all has been sweetness and light as the polite and reasoned discussions on Facebook have brought Americans closer together. Facebook has his father’s eyes.

    The last episode of the TV show “Friends” aired on NBC in 2004. The fact a reunion show of “Friends” is airing on HBO Max 17 years after the series finale leads me to believe that the stars of “Friends” are not human. They are very large Cicadas wearing human shells. Expect to see Jennifer Anniston shed her exoskeleton on national TV revealing a large but very attractive insect selling beauty products.

    Ken Jennings won 74 straight Jeopardy games in 2004. His return as a possible host to replace Alex Trebek 17 years later means Ken also is a giant Cicada in human form.

    In 2004, the Russian tanker Tropical Brilliance got stuck in the Suez Canal for 3 days. Seventeen years later in 2021, the tanker Ever Given got stuck in the Suez Canal. The Ever Given is yet another giant aquatic Mother Bug Cicada teeming with pupae.

    The year 2004 saw Yasser Arafat fading out ultimately crossing the Great Divide into the land of 70 virgins. These virgins turned out to be Catholic Nuns armed with rulers. Yasser was condemned to fail to learn his multiplication tables resulting in his knuckles being rapped for eternity.

    In an attempt to jump start a fading career, Janet Jackson experienced a half time wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl between New England and the Carolina Panthers.
    From the 2004 Crime Desk, Martha Stewart was sentenced to 5 months in prison for lying to the Feds. Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France but was disqualified later for doping.

    Edvard Munch’s most famous painting “The Scream” was stolen from an Oslo Museum. It was recovered and went on to appear on coffee cups, key chains, tee shirts and pillowcases to enlighten art lovers everywhere.

    What did the grandparents of Brood X see when they were riding the “Love Boat” of insect ecstasy back in 1987? Let us count the ways. All kinds of colorful stuff was happening. President Ronald Reagan dared Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. The Dow Jones average closed above 2000 for the first time. Michael Jordan scored a Chicago Bulls record of 58 points in a single game. Mike Tyson beat James “Bonecrusher” Smith in 12 rounds for the Heavyweight Championship. The Teflon Don John Gotti was found not guilty of racketeering. Jim Bakker resigned from PTL over accusations from his secretary Jessica Hahn.

    Austrian Chancellor Kurt Waldheim forgot he was a Nazi. The U.S. Justice Department remembered and barred him from the U.S.

    Gary Hart dropped out of the race for President after sailing on the good ship Monkey Business with Donna Rice. Michael Jackson tried unsuccessfully to buy the skeleton of the Elephant Man. The movie “Fatal Attraction” is released setting off a rush for boiled bunny recipes. Out west in Midland, Texas, Baby Jessica fell into a well and was rescued in a rare feel-good moment for America. Unwilling to allow the good feeling to last, 3 days later the Dow Jones average fell into a financial well, dropping 22% in one day.

    Robert Bork’s nomination to the Supreme Court fell into a legal well never to be seen again. His replacement nominee Douglas Ginsburg admitted to smoking pot and withdrew his nomination. Third choice Anthony Kennedy got the consolation appointment to the Supreme Court.

    Sonny & Cher performed with each other for the last time singing “I Got You Babe” on Letterman proving irony was dead. In December, Manson follower Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford, escaped from prison and was captured 2 days later, proving it’s always something.

    So Brood X, if you are out there, we need you. Make your parents and Grand Daddy Pharaoh Cicada proud of you.

    Don’t leave us waiting at the Cicada Alter. All is forgiven. Please come home.

  • 02 group work from homePlenty of politicians, planners and business folks think they know what North Carolina’s post-pandemic economy will look like. But few seem entirely sure. They are noticeably hedging their predictions, which I consider to be a wise precaution. They ought to be hedging their bets, as well.

    There are unanswered questions across multiple economic sectors and time frames. For many decisionmakers, however, perhaps the single most important questions involve the fate of hybrids.

    I’m not talking about motor vehicles. I’m talking about work schedules. With so many North Carolinians having experienced months of doing their jobs from home, will they want to come back to the office full-time? If so, there won’t be meaningful changes in traffic patterns, consumer behavior, and the market for commercial and residential real estate.

    However, if a significant share asks employers to stay remote indefinitely — or, more likely, to split their workweeks between office and home — the result could be disruptive. I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way. But even net-positive innovations have transition and transaction costs.

    The early signals are noisy. Some workers are clearly desperate to get back to the office. They found being at home distracting, even without school-aged children needing frequent attention, and embrace the rigid separation of worktime and personal time that a physical commute can reinforce. Others quite enjoyed doing their jobs remotely. It saved them the time and expense of commuting, and of dressing up. They embrace the intersection of work and home for its flexibility.

    As for employers, some found remote work fairly easy to inspire, manage and evaluate. Others felt their teams, dispersed by geography and otherwise out of sync, became less productive. This sentiment appears to be widespread in occupations such as banking, finance and law. American Enterprise Institute analyst Brent Orrell calls it “a move that appears to be driven by a mix of tradition and a concern for new hires who need regular coaching on work practices and expectations.”

    Of course the smart money will be wagered on some kind of midpoint. Many workers will resume a regular schedule. But not all. One recent academic paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research projects that home-based work will account for 20% of full workdays in the United States, up from 5% before the COVID crisis. Amanda Mull, a staff writer for The Atlantic, predicts that many professionals will ask for hybrid schedules: three days a week in the office, two at home.

    Such developments would have major consequences. The NBER paper estimated that if a fifth of workdays happened at home, consumer spending in major city centers would decline by as much as 10%. Think fewer workers parking their cars in decks, eating out for lunch, or running errands on the way home. Think major employers shrinking their footprints the next time they renew their leases.

    Now consider what’s happening with urban transit across the country. Ridership across all categories fell dramatically during the crisis, but declines in rail use were especially large, in part because the very professionals most likely to be able to do their jobs from home also make up a disproportionate share of rail users.

    The only relevant case in North Carolina is Charlotte — and it’s a revealing one. Bus ridership in the Queen City is down by about 49% year-to-year. Light rail ridership is down 71%, and isn’t bouncing back as fast as bus usage is.

    I confess that I’ve been a rail-transit skeptic for a long time. I already thought the Triangle area was wise not to pursue a long-proposed rail line. That decision looks even better in retrospect.

    If more jobs move to hybrid schedules, many North Carolinians will likely move further away from central cities, to exurbs and low-density counties. They’ll consume public services, of course, but not the same ones, from the same jurisdictions. And they’ll likely vote differently than their rural neighbors do.

    Hybrids could be the wave of the future.
    Who knew?

  • 01 DW 3It’s time to shed the gloom, the doom and the masks! Fayetteville is emerging from the restraints and restrictions of COVID and coming alive again with the traditional summer sights and sounds of our diverse All America City. Truly international in scope, Cumberland County is home to people and organizations dedicated to supporting and nurturing the local traditions that define and enhance our unique community. Spring and summer are when Fayetteville comes alive with activities and events to entertain and excite the entire family. There is something for everyone.

    The Dogwood Festival is one familiar venue to bring the family outdoors to enjoy local music, food and artists. It’s finally back with a Mini Festival scheduled for June 11-12 at Festival Park. Smaller in scale this year, but just the beginning of returning our community back into the vibrant entertainment hub we’ve come to
    appreciate.

    What would summer be without music? Our local residents don’t have to answer that because there are multiple concert series already in full swing in our area. The Rock’n On The River series returns to Deep Creek on June 16 with Reflections II and Trial By Fire — two bands that are sure to have you singing along, dancing and enjoying time with friends.

    The new music venue, the Pavilion at Gates Four Golf & Country Club, hosts Beatlemania on June 26. With concerts lined up through September, there’s sure to be something to please fans of all music genres.

    The newest and most exciting outdoor family entertainment attraction developing in eastern North Carolina is right here in Fayetteville east of the river on Sapona Road — Sweet Valley Ranch.

    If you haven't heard about it by now, you will in the near future. Sweet Valley Ranch opened last year to over 17 thousand visitors who came to view and enjoy their drive-thru Christmas light display, the Festival of Lights. Beginning today, June 9, Sweet Valley Ranch is opening Dinosaur World.

    Dinosaur World is the latest attraction on the 300 acre working farm that takes visitors on an adventure through a nature trail inhabited by the prehistoric creatures. Visitors of all ages are in for a unique experience.

    It is only the beginning of what we predict will become Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s #1 family fun, educational and entertainment destination. Up & Coming Weekly will be showcasing this multi-dimensional enterprise and it's entrepreneurial owners, Fred and Anita Surgeon, and the major economic impact it will have on our community.

    Stay tuned and be careful: the Dinosaurs are coming!

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 14 N1707P32006HI was sitting at a stoplight on a calm Sunday morning near the end of May. It was 7:30 in the morning, and traffic was light because not much is open is that time of morning. As I waited for the light to turn, a couple pulled up next to me. I looked over, and they were both wearing masks. Suddenly all the craziness of the last 15-months came flooding back in. The shut downs, the lines, new terms like social distancing, essential worker, and North Carolina's own Wait, Wash and... whatever the other W was.

    Then my mind casually wandered over to the social games of follow the leader we played. I think toilet paper was first. The object was to buy and store as much toilet paper as you could. Bonus points if you could balance a stack 4-feet higher than the top of your shopping cart on the way to the checkout.

    It started to look like a late snow was predicted when bottled water came in as a close second in the game. Disinfecting wipes changed my mind. Those were not traditionally a weather-related buyout item. Nor were hand sanitizer, webcams or 2x4's.

    As America settled into her 'new normal' though, a new series of shortages began to emerge: used cars. Then houses. Followed by jobs for blue collar and food service workers and recreational vehicles for remote-working urban couples.

    I could have gone on, but the light turned green. As I drove, my gas gauge reading near-full, I was reminded of the actions of friends and neighbors during the recent and short-lived gas shortage. That's when it all came full circle. The shortages, the anger, the frustration and even desperation were all driven by the same things: greed and discontent.

    I'm reminded of a Bible passage written by the Apostle Paul from 1 Timothy 6 which begins, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

    As we were clearing store shelves of one item and then the next, following the lead of neighbors, friends and family, we made even the most nonsensical items our top purchase priority and getting our share before it was gone.

    The Bible passage continues at 1 Timothy 6:9 saying, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

    That brings me back around to today. And I wonder about our collective tomorrow. Many think the Bible is an archaic document filled with idealistic stories, but look around. There's an amazing wealth of knowledge and understanding of what drives people hundreds of generations and later. When the Bible is as close as it is on humans and their behavior, it makes it that much easier to believe when it talks about God.

    And that's the story in a nutshell — the story of God and the human race. Open it. Read it. When you see yourself, look closer and you'll see the God who has been trying to reach us since the dawn of time.

  • flag on fenceline 01We Americans just marked a special day in our nation’s official calendar.

    On Memorial Day we honor those who have sacrificed in military service to our country, particularly those who have given their lives to protect the rest of us. It is and should be a day of reflection and remembrance for those of us fortunate enough to live in our free nation.

    While we are a great nation, we are not a perfect nation, and among our imperfections is that we seem to have lost the concept of service to others in many areas of our common lives. We talk the talk about service to our country, but we do not walk the walk with respect to members of our armed services. Some of them live in actual poverty as many in our Cumberland County community know well. I cringe when I see public service announcements begging for funding for various veterans’ projects, not because the projects are not worthy but because caring for our veterans is a public responsibility to be borne by their follow Americans, not only those who choose and are able to donate.

    Public service workers, government employees and others who jobs are to serve the American public are routinely both overworked and underpaid at the same time they are denigrated as “bureaucrats” and people who feed at the public trough. Elected officials are considered impotent and incompetent, sometimes outright corrupt, and competent, capable and honest people decline to run for critical elective offices because of it. Important civil service jobs in both federal and state governments go unfilled because of low pay and low public esteem.

    It is hard to know when public service became a negative, even dangerous, calling. Ronald Reagan, an icon to many, gave voice to the sentiment when he said in an August 1986, press conference, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” It would be an amusing remark if it were not so insulting. Yes, government is cumbersome, slow and frustrating, but it tackles problems, issues and emergencies that the private sector does not. The private sector does not fund the highway system, educate the vast majority of Americans, or provide health care for people who cannot afford our outstanding but wildly expensive medical system.

    We all see where public service ranks on the career status ladder — almost the bottom rung. It has been camped out there for decades. What has also become apparent relatively recently is that public service is actually dangerous. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a medical doctor who has devoted his entire professional life to American public health has personal security. Members of Congress are escorted around the U.S. Capitol by armed National Guard troops and Capitol Police. Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot in the head 10 years ago, and Reagan’s own press secretary James Brady was disabled for the rest of his life by a bullet intended for his boss, the President.

    John Kennedy’s take on government service was the opposite of Reagan’s. In his inaugural address, Kennedy famously called for Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” We have come a long way since then but in the wrong direction.

    In an autocratic government, one person or a small group is in charge, and the people have little or no input. In a democracy, we the people are the government.

    It is time that we both respect and reward those among us who keep the wheels of government turning for all the rest of us. This includes all who serve from the highest to the lowest, and especially those who serve us in the U.S. military.

  • 04 IMG 7043 PittWatching Lynne Cheney get booted out of her House Congressional Republican leadership position for failing to worship the Former Guy got me thinking about Greek mythology. Lynne got her head chopped off because she refused to kiss the Former Guy’s nethermost region of his rather expansive anatomy. Either one of my Gentle Readers might rightly ask by what bizarre stretch of logic does the Former Guy fit into Greek mythology? No person could rationally compare the Former Guy to mythological characters. “Au contraire” as a snail-eating Frenchman might say. Recall Otter in “Animal House” who once said: “I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.” And as Bluto almost replied: “I’m just the guy to do it.” Jules in the movie “Pulp Fiction” once said in a slightly different context, “Allow me to retort.”

    So I shall retort.

    The Former Guy has been diagnosed from afar as having Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This begs three questions: 1. Who was Narcissus? 2. What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? 3. If the diagnostic shoe fits, does the Former Guy wear it?

    Let’s begin with Narcissus. Narky, as his buddies called him, was what was known back in the Grecian Formula days as a Pretty Boy. He was even prettier than the Artist Formerly Known as Prince. Narky did not care about other people’s feelings as he was too superior to associate with people or even Gods.

    One day Narky was out hunting in the deep forest when he was spotted by a lovely mountain nymph named Echo. Nymphs were beautiful young female spirits. Zeus would frequently make whoopee with nymphs except for Echo. Echo’s job was to keep Zeus’ wife Hera busy by talking to Hera while Zeus was out sporting with other nymphs. Eventually Hera found out Zeus was tom catting around. She blamed Echo for covering up for him. Hera laid a curse on Echo that caused Echo to only repeat what someone had said to her. This made Echo both a boring and irritating conversationalist.

    It was love at first sight for Echo when she got a gander at Narky. Narky called out: “Who is there?” Unfortunately, Echo could only repeat what Narky said. Her limited conversational style irritated Narky mightily. He angrily rejected the lovesick Echo leaving her in the woods to pine away for him. Echo’s love sickness caused her body to fade away into the ether. Only her voice remained which could only repeat words yelled into a canyon. That is why echoes were named for poor Echo.

    Things did not end much better for Narcissus. He left Echo to go sit by a pool of water to get a drink. When he looked into the pool he caught his first glimpse of his beautiful self. Apparently, mirrors had not yet been invented. Having never seen himself before, he fell immediately in love with his own reflection. Narky was pretty but he was not too bright. He thought there was a beautiful young man in the pool not realizing it was just his reflection. When Narky reached into the pool to touch his beloved self, the ripples made his reflection disappear. Narky was so smitten by his own image that he could not leave the pool. He sat there falling in love with himself while forgetting to eat. He withered away, dying by the pool admiring his own reflection. There may be a moral hidden somewhere in this story. See if you can find it. Psychiatrists have stolen the story for their own purposes.

    Psychiatrists have a handy book of psychiatric disorders called the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” which they use to assign patients into neat little categories of mental woes. The nutshell description of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is the patient is described as arrogant, self-centered, demanding and “often have high self-esteem and may believe they are superior or special compared to other people. However, they seem to need excessive praise and admiration, and they may react poorly to perceived criticism.”

    The Shrinks will diagnose a patient with NPD if five of the following criteria are met: “A grandiose sense of self-importance; preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty; belief that the patient is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with other special or high status individuals; a need for excessive admiration; a sense of entitlement; interpersonally exploitive behavior; a lack of empathy; envy of others or belief others are envious of him; or a demonstration of arrogant and haughty behavior.”

    Gentle Reader, I leave it to you to decide if the Former Guy meets five of these delightful character traits to warrant a sidewalk diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. One clue is that the Former Guy spent an inordinate amount of time and taxpayer dollars on his golf courses. Golf courses are known to have water hazards into which the Former Guy could have spent many hours staring lovingly at his own reflection. His cult followers mimic Echo by consistently repeating his false charges. Barry Goldwater once campaigned for President with the slogan “A Choice Not an Echo.” The Former Guy flipped Barry’s slogan to “An Echo not a Choice.” It was off with her head for Ms. Cheney who chose not to be an Echo.

    Love is a many splendored thing.

  • 03 Covid vaccine car windowPart of being human is the desire to organize our knowledge to understand it better, and Americans seem quite adept at this. Marketers have long since categorized us by our shared beliefs, and now a researcher has applied this technique to Americans who have not been vaccinated. We have known since COVID-19 vaccines became available that certain groups of people are getting vaccinated at lower rates than their fellow Americans, among them Republicans, people of color and rural residents. Harvard public health assistant professor Dr. Sema K. Sgaier is grouping us not by our demographic characteristics but by our shared beliefs.

    Before we look at the holdouts against herd immunity, there is clearly a vast category that the Times dubs Enthusiasts, of which I am a happy member. These are folks thrilled to be vaccinated. I was so relieved to stick my arm out the driver’s side window for my jab at a vaccination site that my neighbor whose arm was out the passenger window feared my giddiness would make me hyperventilate. Most Americans fall into this category now that 60% of us have had at least
    one shot.

    So, who is holding out against herd immunity in our nation? Writing in The New York Times, Sgaier posits four different categories for those who remain doggedly unvaccinated.

    Eight percent of them she calls Watchful. These are folks who are waiting to see what happens next. Did my cousin have side effects? What about the fellow around the corner? They are likely mask wearers and may eventually get vaccinated to protect themselves and others. They make up 8% of the unvaccinated nationally.

    Then we have the Cost Anxious. The federal government has made vaccinations free for virtually all of us, but these folks are concerned about the time involved to leave work or home. Making vaccinations convenient is most important to those group, which makes up about 9% of the unvaccinated.

    As always, in a free society, we have System Distrusters. They believe the system, and in this instance the health care system, treats them unfairly. They may believe the system targets people “like them” or that vaccines will secretly change their DNA. They might respond to a trusted friend or adviser to set them straight, but in the meantime, they make up about 4% of the no-vaccine-for-me crowd.

    And, finally, Sgaier labels the COVID Skeptics. These folks believe COVID-19 is no big deal, perhaps even a pandemic engineered to manipulate people around the world, particularly Americans. They cite their aunt, cousin, next-door-neighbor who had COVID and is “just fine.” They make up about 14% of the unvaccinated, and will likely not take the jab, as one Skeptic told me, until “I am damn well ready.”

    So how does North Carolina’s unvaccinated break down in Sgaier’s system?

    Most of our unvaccinated folks are indeed stubborn Skeptics, doing their own thing no matter how it puts others at risk. Then comes our Cost Anxious crowd, who do not want to miss work or something else important for a shot. The Anxious are followed by the Watchful, many of whom will ultimately get vaccinated once they feel confident about their friends and family who have done so. And, finally the System Distrusters come in at 2.5%.

    Sgaier’s research, especially when reviewed state by state, reveals a patchwork of reasons why the national vaccination rates are slowing down despite no-cost availability. Some states are all in, and some barely so. The CDC puts North Carolina at 38th in the nation for adults having at least one dose.

    Americans do have the right to choose for ourselves, but vaccine hesitancy is a real thing that is affecting all of us. No one should be forced to get vaccinated, but we should all think not only of ourselves but of the greater good. The Bible puts it this way — Love thy neighbor as thyself.

  • 06-18-14-4th-friday.gifEven in early summer the heat of the long North Carolina days can be exhausting; while the cool breezes and clear skies of the summer nights are invigorating. Even the city seems to react to the change in temperature. At noon on a summer day, downtown Fayetteville is relaxed and content but on the evening of a 4th Friday it is vibrant and pulsating with activity. The shops and galleries stay open late and offer the community a family-friendly place to experience the best the city has to offer.

    For families with children, the place to go is Fascinate-U. Located at 116 Green St., this children-focused museum is uniquely interactive. Children can roam around the miniature city and learn through their play. On June 27, for 4th Friday, the museum will remain open late and admission is free. From 7 to 9 p.m. the museum also offers a free craft for kids. Using stickers, construction paper, ribbons and a healthy dose of creativity, kids will create a patriotic paper lantern. For more information visit http://www.fascinate-u.com.

    One of the best places in town to enjoy art on any day is The Arts Council. The gallery on 301 Hay Street offers various exhibits throughout the year. Over the course of the year, it will cradle works of many different artists and styles. The upcoming exhibit scheduled to open on 4th Friday is a great example of the huge variety of art and artists. The exhibit entitled “Urban Art: Expressions of an Environment” is an exploration of the modern urban environment. Most people think of urban art as simply graffiti, but this exhibit is far more. There will be spray paint, but through that medium both local and national artists explore and comment on the truths in modern cities. The gallery is open from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. for 4th Friday celebrations. For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

    History is also on display in Downtown Fayetteville at the Hay Street roundabout. The Market House is the center of downtown, a symbol. It holds the city’s history in both a literal and figurative sense. Within the Market House, there is a permanent exhibit called The View from the Square. This exhibit tells the history of Fayetteville in a building that witnessed it. Additionally, in the upstairs of the Market House is a rotating exhibit. This month it is Lafayette and it is open on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m.

    This 4th Friday will also feature an exciting additional event. The theme is pirates. All throughout 4th Friday participants are encouraged to come out in their best pirate costumes and join the Downtown Alliance and downtown businesses for a rousing scavenger hunt and pirate-costume contest. Winners of the hunt and costume contest will both receive a treasure chest of downtown prizes. Clue sheets are available at 222 Hay St. from 6 to 9 p.m., and judging takes place at 7 p.m. For added entertainment, the Street Ratz Breakdance Crew will perform in front of 222 Hay St. and Fire/Trance Fusion Arts will perform in front of the Capitol Building. For more information, visit www.faydta.org.

    The Cumberland County Library & Public Information System will host a Local Authors Showcase featuring writers from the Sandhills this 4th Friday from 7-9 p.m. in the Pate Room. The event is sponsored by Friends of the Library. Refreshments will be served. Visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.usto find out more.

    To learn more about 4th Friday as a whole, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

  • 02 Dogwood FestivalWell, from where I sit it looks like Fayetteville is starting to come alive again after being stymied for nearly two years dealing with the COVID pandemic. We see more and more people venturing out eating, shopping and actively searching out events, activities and things to do outside the confines of their own home. Art, cultural and recreational events that were so bountiful prior to the pandemic are starting to make a comeback.

    I recently received a call from Sarahgrace Snipes, the new Executive Director of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. She was very excited and eager to tell me that the City of Fayetteville has finally given them permission to use Festival Park for this year’s Dogwood Mini Fest. This event was previously scheduled to be held in April at Westwood Shopping Center, but again COVID-19 ended up being Dogwood’s party pooper. Since arriving in Fayetteville from Wilmington, Sarahgrace has literally “hit the ground running." And, standing up the Dogwood Festival’s Mini Festival at Festival Park on such short notice will be a major accomplishment. One that will be very much appreciated by this community. The Dogwood Festival is free to the public and will feature many of their traditional events like the car & motorcycle show, art and craft displays, local vendors and entertainers, and, of course, great food and a live music concert. Everyone needs to support this event on June 11 & 12.

    Speaking of music concerts, Fayette-ville residents eager to be outside in the fresh air are turning out in huge numbers to the many musical concerts scheduled for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Gates Four Golf & Country Club launched their Summer Concert Series on May 16 with a Beach Music Bash at The Pavilion. Their musical series of five monthly concerts will present award winning musical talent and entertainment ranging from classic Carolina Beach music to the Beatles and hits from the 60s. On July 17 they will present a Retro 80’s Rock Concert & Party. The Series is produced by the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre in conjunction with Gates Four and the public is invited. All the concerts are ticketed events but with a twist: all food, beer and wine are included in the ticket price. For the list of concert times and dates go to www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com.

    Another great outdoor music concert series was launched last week when Rock’n On The River showcased two great bands on the banks of the Cape Fear River at Deep Creek Outfitters. Hundreds of rock music enthusiasts turned out to see, hear and experience Mostley Crue and Shoot to Thrill. They did not disappoint. This concert series is produced and engineered by local Fayetteville resident Greg Adair with Healy Whlse., Up & Coming Weekly, 96.5 Bob FM and The River 106.5, and the support of dozens of local businesses. Their next event is on June 18 featuring Reflections II and the Journey tribute band Trail by Fire. Follow Rock’n On The River on Facebook for details.

    Yes, Fayetteville is coming alive again. The sights and sounds of the joyful outdoors are everywhere. Seek them out, enjoy and support them. Here’s a few suggestions: Clark Park, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Veterans Memorial Park, Lake Rim Park, Cape Fear Trail, the Rose Garden at FTCC and one of my very favorites, Fayetteville’s newest and most exciting destinations, the Sweet Valley Ranch and Dinosaur World.

    So, whether you are into attending a local festival, enjoying a music concert on the river, or smelling the pretty flowers, Fayetteville and Cumberland County have a never-ending array of wonderful outdoor places for you to go, see, enjoy, relax and de-stress.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    Caption: The Dog Wood Mini Fesival is schedued for June 11-12 at Festival Park. Musical entertainment, food and vendors are planned. (Photos of previous events courtesy of Fayetteville Dog Wood Festivals) 

  • Cho S2 press image 3 1 06Positivity with a ponytail. The music, the message and the motorcycle. These are just a couple of the taglines someone recently suggested for the daily radio show I have the pleasure of hosting on WCLN.

    Ultimately, I'll probably not use either of them, but it's nice to know people take time to notice. That's something our sorely disconnected world needs a little more of: People noticing one another.

    Over the past several months my wife and I have begun watching the independent video series, “The Chosen” from director Dallas Jenkins. None of us can comment with surety on how accurately the personalities of any of the Biblical figures is depicted, but the series has gone a long way to making them all more understandable.

    “The Chosen” walks viewers through the early days of Jesus' time in ministry, offering backstories of the people we often reduce to supporting actors as we read the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament.

    The more we learn about the environment in which these people and their stories were birthed, the better we understand the counter cultural message of the Gospel.

    I think too often we conjure the image of Jesus wandering from lame to leper in a white robe with His hands held just so, speaking in language too haughty for most to comprehend.

    That's probably far removed from the truth. Jesus was born into a gritty world, and a land which was dominated and occupied by Rome — an invading nation bent on ruling
    the world.

    As Jesus’ ministry unfolds in the first four books of the New Testament, what I see is someone who noticed. He noticed pain. He noticed suffering. He identified with those who were poor and hungry, weary from the weight of the oppressive occupation, and anxiously hoping for a heroic figure to swoop in and save them all. Ultimately that's what they got, but they simply missed it.

    The Jewish people of that day had crafted a military hero from hundreds of years of stories. A hero who would defeat all the enemies of Israel, based on their current situation.

    The hero who showed up, however, was a kind, understanding man who worked with common people to help them better relate to God and the people around them.

    He taught them to love one another, and to treat even their greatest enemy with compassion.

    Jesus taught us to do what we need to do more of to move this world and any situation toward a more peaceful resolution in every way: He taught us to notice.

    When we truly notice those around us we begin to understand. We identify with their pain, we identify we their suffering, and when we notice those around us who are hungry and poor in any number of ways, we find the same hope that Jesus offered. That hope promises there is more in this world than our situation, and many ways to live a full life regardless of it.

    Pictured above: "The Chosen" is the first ever multi-season series about the life of Christ. (Photo courtesy Angel Studios)   

  •     {mosimage}Morgan Spurlock’s 30 Days (Tuesday, 10 p.m., FX) invites participants to immerse themselves in a world very different from their own. It’s a daring social experiment that delves into topical issues, sometimes with painful results.
        In this week’s episode, a conservative religious woman named Kati spends 30 days with Tom and Dennis, two gay men raising adopted sons. To understand where they’re coming from, she’s required to work for a same-sex-parents advocacy group and attend meetings of a lesbian-mothers networking group. Will the experience soften her militant opposition to gay and lesbian adoption?
        The episode offers fascinating insight into the homophobic brain. At every turn, Kati is confronted with evidence that Tom and Dennis are a model couple and caring parents for former foster kids who otherwise wouldn’t have a home. She is forced to admit as much, but she refuses to let the truth get in the way of her conclusions. “My belief is that the gay and lesbian lifestyle is not correct,” she keeps saying, with no proof other than that it’s “her belief.” When gays and lesbians gently ask her why she would deny them their humanity, she screams, cries or stomps away rather than offering a rationale. She accuses them of disrespecting her rights — in other words, her right to deprive them of their rights.
        Clearly, 30 days are not enough to open such a locked-tight mind as hers. Maybe if Spurlock produced a series called “1,000 Years….”

    My Boys
    Thursday, 9:30 p.m. (TBS)
        Other critics liked this sitcom more than I did, so I thought I’d give its new season a chance. But My Boys didn’t seem any better this time around, with its dud jokes and humor-challenged cast. The wafer-thin premise finds a Chicago singleton (Jordana Spiro) hanging out with a group of guy friends. That means we have to hang out with them too — an unappetizing prospect, given that they’re horny, boozy, grungy, lazy and stupid. And not in a good way.
        I was struck by the lack of a laugh track, until it occurred to me that there might actually be one and even it doesn’t find My Boys funny.

    Camp Rock
    Friday, 8 pm (Disney Channel). Saturday, 8 pm (ABC). Sunday, 8 p.m. (ABC Family)
        Teenybopper heartthrobs the Jonas Brothers star in a TV movie set at a summer music camp for aspiring young artists. The only way poor girl Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) can afford the camp is if she earns her keep in the kitchen. A troubled superstar happens to hear her singing and absolutely must find out who she is. She helps him rediscover his passion for music, while he helps her believe in herself.
        You’re sure to enjoy Camp Rock — that is, unless you turn from 11 to 12 just before the airdate.

    I Survived A Japanese Game Show
    Tuesday, 9 p.m. (ABC)
        In this reality series, 10 Americans travel to Japan and compete in one of their nutty game shows. They must eat food attached to someone’s head while he’s running on a fast-moving treadmill. They must collect stuffed animals while dangling from a crane operated by a blindfolded teammate. And they must smash huge goo-filled eggs with their butts while wearing a chicken suit.
        Now you know why the series isn’t titled I Survived a Japanese Game Show With My Dignity Intact.
  • uac060811001.jpg Even in the best of times it can be a struggle to keep the arts alive and to foster an appreciation for the talent and vision of artists. Budgets being what they are, the government is making some hard choices about what it can and cannot support and unfortunately, there are some artistic programs on the chopping block. That means that it is up to individuals and businesses in the community to lend their support when and where they can. As a community paper, Up & Coming Weekly is proud to do our part to support two graduating Methodist University art students as they leave the relative safety of academia and head out into the world to make their fortunes in the art world.

    On Thursday, June 16, join Up & Coming Weekly at our corporate offi ce at 208 Rowan St. as we present the works of Justin Gray and Camilo Gomez.Pam McEvoy director of university relations, met Gray and Gomez when she was coordinating their senior show at Methodist University’s William F. Bethune Center for Visual Arts.

    “I got to know them while they were having their show in our new gallery. We had their senior shows in the gallery and that was pretty cool. I think it is also unusual to have two males as our senior art majors,” said McEvoy. “One is a former football player. That was kind of unique, too. He is a prolifi c painter. Camilo, he is from Columbia. He is very, very talented. We are always pushing globalization here at Methodist University and he was one of our international students.”

    McEvoy noted that neither artist is planning to go into teaching, but both young men intend to put their degrees to good use. In fac06-08-11-family-violence.jpgt, Gomez is already out in Los Angeles looking to start his artistic career in earnest.

    A Charlotte, N.C., native, Gray’s work is mainly self-expressionist with abstract qualities.

    “I have skills in all the art fields — painting, sculpting, drawing and printmaking,” said Gray. “Painting is what come naturally to me and it is what I love to do. I love to do landscapes. Sometimes I look at pictures and it gives me an idea of what I want to do. Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso were my two most influential artists that inspire me to do my work.”

    Indeed, Grays work seems to follow the words of Van Gogh “Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.”

    The show will feature landscapes, sculptures, portraits and abstract paintings by Gray.

    “Most of my work is self expressionist in style,” said Gray. “I have two portraits that include the president. One is of Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriett Tubman. That title is “Social Fighters.” That represents the three people who fought for their lives and for black history. I also have a portrait of Obama when he was inaugurated into offi ce.”06-08-11-obama-by-justin.jpg

    Gray also thinks that people will appreciate the differences in the styles and mediums that they will fi nd at Gallery 208 through out this exhibit.

    “Our art represents our lives,” said Gray. “Especially Camilo’s life. His concentration was in printmaking. I would tell people to come expecting to see great pieces. They’ll be impressed. I am very escited about this show. It is a great opportunity for us both.”

    McEvoy would agree. “With Up & Coming Weekly so deeply involved in the arts and so supportive of the art community it is a win for you and a win for us to have our student’s art exposed in the community (at Gallery 208).”

    An opening reception will be held from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at 208 Rowan St. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Call 484-6200 for more information.

    Photos: Top left; Family Violence by Camilo Gomez. Bottom right: Obama by Justin Gray.

  • 21The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival presents Fayetteville After Five Summer Concert Series featuring Rivermist and The TCB Band Friday, July 15 at 6 p.m. at downtown’s Festival Park.

    “We are in the middle of our Fayetteville After Five Summer Concert Series that goes from June to August on the second Friday of the month,” said Sarahgrace Snipes, executive director of The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. “The purpose of the event is for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival to stay involved in the community, and many people think that we only do the Spring Festival, but we like to be in the community annually and year-round.”

    Rivermist is a local hometown band comprised of Greg Adair, manager, drummer and vocalist; Tony Harrison, bass player; Cliff Bender, guitarist; Allen Pier, songwriter, keyboards and lead vocalist; and Rick Starling, percussion, vocals and keyboards.

    “We have been really busy lately, and we have a couple of songs on the chart right now,” said Adair. “One of the songs, “Pucker Up,” is number one on one of the big charts, and we are actually up for a Cammy Award this year which is what the Carolina Beach Association calls their awards.”

    He added, “We are not even a beach band, but we are getting a lot more gigs, and there is more money around it when you have songs on the charts.”

    The band has a 100-song catalog that they play that features staple songs from a variety of bands.

    “We are excited about Fayetteville After Five, and we appreciate their faith in us by giving a local band the opportunity to perform,” said Adair. “We are going to do everything that we can to pulverize that place, and we are going to give it to them one after another for a great show.”

    The TCB Band, which stands for Throwback Collaboration Band, is a local 70s and 80s Soul R & B Band. The members are Richard Bradford, drummer; Michael Counts, bass guitar player, vocals and lead musician on stage; Vanessia Holland, female lead singer; Duce Thomas, guitarist and background singer; and A. D. Thomas, lead singer and guitarist.

    “We play a lot of old-school Motown songs and some classic rock,” said Thomas, lead singer and guitarist of the TCB Band.

    “We have been working alongside the Rivermist Band with Greg Adair, and we are grateful to them for the opportunities they have given us,” said Thomas. “We have recently signed up to become a part of the North Carolina Festival Association, and we would like to lend our services to every city in North Carolina that has festivals.”

    Future plans for the band entail working on an upcoming album slated to be released in January 2023.

    “At the Fayetteville After Five concert, listeners should expect an exciting and fun family show that involves a lot of dance music, a lot of hype, and we love to have audience participation,” said Thomas.

    “Our performance is very entertaining and full of fun.”

    The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.thedogwoodfestival.com or call 910-323-1934.

  • 19Dinosaurs are back and at it again at Sweet Valley Ranch this summer. With over 40 different animatronics, a fossil dig, a fossil museum and 350 animals at the ranch, this Fayetteville summer attraction has been attracting visitors from all over the country.

    ShaDonna “Mo” McPhaul, director of public relations, branding and marketing for Surgeon & Associates, Inc., says the interest in Dinosaur World is vast.

    “You would be surprised that most of the people who visited were not even from Fayetteville. They came from out of town to visit Dinosaur World,” McPhaul said.

    Sweet Valley Ranch launched Dinosaur World last summer, which was a major success for the ranch.
    Last year, the attraction had 25 animatronics. The dinosaur trail this year is filled with far more, with over 40 moving dinosaurs and creatures.

    “It was a huge response, and I considered making it bigger just from last year. It’s going to get bigger and bigger because what I think is happening is the world has a new infatuation with dinosaurs,” McPhaul said, citing movies like Jurassic World: Dominion and Apple TV Plus’s new show, Prehistoric Planet.

    But Dinosaur World is not just dinosaurs this year. Ice Age Animals will be appearing alongside all the prehistoric creatures: mammoths, dodo birds and even our early ancestors - the cavemen.

    “I hope people come with their families and just enjoy the peace and the serenity of being on the farm. And of course, I hope they get to experience all of the attractions,” McPhaul said.

    The Sweet Valley Ranch Gives Back Program will also continue during Dinosaur World. The program aims to help charities that help people locally.
    Six different charities will rotate weekends manning one of the concession trucks.

    They will receive a portion of the proceeds, and Sweet Valley Ranch will match up to $1,000 from Fred Surgeon and his wife.

    Participating charities include Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity, First In Families Cumberland Chapter, Let’s Talk, Cumberland County School Nutrition Association, Vision Resource Center and Health And Nutritional Development Empowered Thru Education (HAND-EE).

    By the end of the year, they hope to have given back $50,000.

    “I want people to know that they can come out in groups, field trips, birthday parties, family reunions,” McPhaul said.

    “We want groups to come out and enjoy the farm.”

    The farm itself is home to 350 animals. That includes horses, pigs, cows, rabbits, peacocks and a camel. Over 30% of the animals homed at Sweet Valley Ranch are rescues.

    Regular admission tickets will give attendees access to the Dinosaur World Trail, Ice Age, Reptile House, Fossil Museum, exotic bird aviary, fossil dig and a self-guided farm tour. Adult tickets (ages 12 and up) are $30.

    Children’s tickets are $20. Children 3 and under get in for free.
    Tickets can be bought in-person or online at www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com/tickets.
    There are add-ons people can pay for, including a guided farm tour, go-kart nature trail rides, catch and release fishing, and ATVs.
    Dinosaur World will be at Sweet Valley Ranch until August 21.

  • 17Summer has officially started, and the Fayetteville Pie Company wants to ensure everyone is making the most of it.

    Their event calendar is undoubtedly full for this month, with exciting new events involving plenty of delicious pie.

    The first big event will be an Apple Pie Baking Contest on July 16. People can bake two apple pies and bring them in to be judged by other bakers, community members and people who love food.
    The new co-owners of Fayetteville Pie Company, Kerry and Jennifer Washburn, were inspired to hold their pie contest after judging for the MacPherson House Pecan Pie contest.

    “We were judges in their contest last November, and we were just thinking of events that we wanted to start offering with our space, and I had the thought that apple pie is really popular,” Jennifer told Up & Coming Weekly. “So we reached out to Katy [Stevick] with MacPherson House and started comparing notes and figuring out how we can kind of start working together, and we may work together.”

    But the fun doesn’t stop with baking the pies.

    People can buy tickets to taste and even judge the pies too. Each $30 tasting ticket includes two three-inch savory cutie pies, a beverage of choice, and the opportunity to taste ten apple pies.

    “The judges are going to vote and reward prizes for the best traditional and the best nontraditional [pies]. And then we’re going to do our best overall, which is going to be a combination of the judges’ votes, plus all the people that buy tickets to come to the event will have a chance to vote on their favorite pie, and that’ll determine the grand prize winner,” Kerry said.

    The grand prize winner will receive a two-hour private party rental with a pie bar for 20 guests.

    To enter the baking portion of the pie contest, email pies@fayettevillepiecompany.com with your name, phone number and the name of your apple pie. Only 10 people will be allowed to enter the contest.

    Apple pies must be dropped off by 2 p.m. on July 16. Judging will start at 3 p.m. and end at 5 p.m.

    There will be a total of five judges. Those judges will include the chefs from Fayetteville Pie Company and representatives from MacPherson House, Sweet Tea Shakespeare and Coffee Roasters.

    Bakers entering the contest will receive a complimentary tasting ticket and be able to taste their competitor’s pie and even vote for their favorite.
    Those who buy a tasting ticket will arrive at 5 p.m. and will be able to taste the pies until 7 p.m. They then can vote for their favorite pie. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/3xJOWNc.
    The next big event at the pie shop will be a pop-up market that will be entirely Christmas-themed. Christmas and holiday pies will be available for sale, while the upstairs portion of the restaurant will hold several vendors.

    “Eight vendors selling anywhere from tea to glass, jewelry, all sorts of things that you might want to check out,” Jennifer said. “Celebrating the halfway mark until Christmas.”
    The vendors will be Nature’s Cup, Scentsy, Nellement, KnotEM Macrame, Maven Haven Creations, StephAllyn Designs, Crochet items and Dual Designs.

    This free event will be held on July 23, kick-off at 11 a.m. and end when the restaurant closes at 3 p.m.
    The last event closing out the month will be a Wine and Pie Pairing. The Washburns were inspired to create this event after working with Bright Light Brewing Company for a Beer and Pie pairing event this past December.

    Event-goers will get to pair three wines with two savory and one sweet cutie pie.
    After the tasting, participants can receive a glass of their favorite wine from the pairing. Outside the tasting and pairing, a photography gallery from Michael Hine and live music by saxophone player Dominic Hunter have been organized to entertain.

    This event will take place on July 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 at https://bit.ly/3bbnhxd. If the event does well, Jennifer Washburn says they may continue the pairing events.

    “We may do different drinks like Beer and Pie or Coffee and Pie in the future.”

    These special events are just a start for the Fayetteville Pie Company. The Washburns hope to continue ticketed and special events throughout the year.

    “We’re trying to get to where we have events going on pretty much every week is what we’re building up to, whether it be music or trivia or we do music bingo once a month,” Kerry said.

    “We’re going to start having live music with brunch every Sunday. So we’re working to get artists lined up for that. And that all could become a normal thing where with our Sunday brunches, we have live music.”
    The Fayetteville Pie Company will announce any new and upcoming events on their Facebook page and website, www.fayettevillepiecompany.com.

  • 15With temperatures and prices soaring this summer season — families across Cumberland County are looking for ways to beat the heat without emptying their wallets.

    Parents looking for endless hours of entertainment in a safe, air-conditioned environment need look no further than their local library.

    A part of the American landscape since the mid-18th century, libraries are as familiar in the scenery of everyday life as grocery stores, schools and churches. It's rare to meet someone who's never set foot in one.

    That said, as the needs of the community shift and technologies become ever more advanced, the 21st-Century library offers a whole lot more than books.

    Cumberland County Libraries is determined to meet those ever-evolving demands with thoughtful action, varied programming and an eye toward the future.

    As the fifth-largest county in North Carolina by population, the library system of Cumberland County has developed a space that offers something for just about everyone.
    Though it's far more likely to see a phone in the average passerby's hand than a book, Faith Philips, director of Cumberland County Public Library, feels the value of a thriving library is just as relevant today as it's ever been.

    "Our library is a place for everyone to come and discover and explore," Phillips explained. "We want them to develop their interests and renew their passions. Be it knitting or STEM; we want people to come and connect.

    We have a wide variety of programs for everyone in the community, and we want to offer them dynamic experiences."

    With that in mind, the library offers a vibrant summer programming schedule that serves not only young children but teens, adults and seniors.

    Right now, all age groups are encouraged to participate in the summer reading program, "Oceans of Possibility," for an opportunity to play games and win prizes.

    Little ones in the community can also look forward to regularly scheduled story times across all eight branches, a visit from the North Carolina Aquarium and a presentation by Didgeridoo Down Under, to name just a few.
    As teens become increasingly dependent on their phones, Cumberland County Library aims to address the needs of that demographic with programs that speak to their interests.

    "We're really evaluating services for our teens," Phillips said. "After reviewing a community needs assessment in 2020, we found a growth opportunity in expanding our teen programs."

    There are several book, gaming, special interest and culture clubs that meet where teens can make connections among like-minded peers.
    Adults can also take advantage of all the library has to offer. There are meetings for crafters, readers, writers and even a Job Search Boot Camp, which helps with resume writing and interview skill throughout the year.
    The library also keeps the whole family in mind with programs that invite togetherness and quality time well-spent. Movie nights and a family camping skills program are just a few of the events to jot down on the family calendar.

    In addition to all of the exciting plans in place, the library has its thoughts firmly on the future as well.

    "I'm excited to talk about our grant," Philips told Up & Coming Weekly. "It's a grant to improve our capacity for programming and spaces. Over the next two years, we'll also be transforming many of the campuses, particularly here at headquarters. We'll focus on more interactive spaces such as light walls and bring in 3-D printers, laser cutters and a creation station for content creators. We're just so excited about all the cool and innovative things to come."

    Phillips, who's been the library director for a little over a year, is incredibly passionate about serving the community through this role and empowering its citizens to become whoever they want to be and have the ability to do whatever it is they want to do.

    "I want to give back to the community through the library. We want to have safe places for people to connect, renew and explore. Serving the community where I live means a lot to me, and we're so lucky to have such a great system in place."

    In her role as director, Philips is also very committed to meeting people of the community "where they are." The library has a dedicated community engagement division and mobile outreach services for homebound customers who can't make it to the library. Even those in Godwin, a town furthest from the library and its services in Cumberland County, will have access to a library locker in their town hall which will allow people of the community to check out and return books without having to travel too far.

    As the digital landscape changes, making internet resources available and useful to as many citizens as possible is another role and responsibility the library has taken on.

    "One thing that COVID has shown us is the digital inequities in our community. A person can check out a laptop or hotspot, but if they don't have the confidence to navigate that ecosystem — those tools are useless. Our Digital Navigator Team helps with digital literacy to promote digital equity."

    With branches in Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Hope Mills, the library is a fabulous resource for entertainment, self-improvement, and networking. It's one of the few spaces left where you can walk in with nothing and leave with the world — just don't forget the library card.

    To learn more about programs and events, visit the library website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.

  • 13Join the city of Hope Mills as they celebrate the Fourth of July in true patriotic fashion as they host their Independence Day Celebration.

    One of the year’s largest events, the small town outside of Fayetteville fully embraces the nostalgia and summer magic that makes Independence Day so great.

    The first celebration of its kind since 2019, Hope Mills is excited to finally bring people back together under a banner of red, white and blue on Saturday, July 2. The festivities kick off at 4 p.m. with a parade, complete with the festive floats, starting at Hope Mills Middle School and ending at Rockfish Elementary.

    Hope Mills Municipal Park celebration will begin at 5 p.m. to keep things moving.

    The festivities include a wide variety of children’s activities, music and food for everyone in attendance to enjoy.

    “We want to capture everybody,” said Assistant Director of Hope Mills Parks and Recreation, Meghan Hawkins Freeman. “I want this event to be a relaxing time for people, and I hope people are excited to come.”

    Guests can look forward to about 20 food trucks offering a carousel of cuisine for purchase and beer provided by Dirtbag Ales.

    Imagine Circus will provide stilt walkers and face painting for the family-friendly event. Zoo Life will have an array of exotic animals in tow, including a baby kangaroo, alpacas, and a kinkajou, just to name a few.

    Party band 80s Unleashed will rock the house well into the night, and fireworks provided by Pyro Shows East Coast will end the show in a fiery finale around 9 p.m.
    Freeman is especially happy to see the return of such festivities in the town of Hope Mills.

    “This is the first Independence Day celebration we’ve had since July 2019, and we want people to come out and spend time with their families and neighbors. There won’t be any vendors — it’s just a time to come hang out, eat dinner, listen to music and watch fireworks,” she said.

    The rain or shine event won’t be rescheduled, but in the case of inclement weather, people can enjoy the fireworks display at a different event. The Parks and Recreation Department encourages those who come to bring their chairs and blankets, but no outside alcohol is allowed.

    Mostly, Freeman hopes people bring a sense of pride and respect for the holiday and what it’s all about.

    “Right now, with everything going on, it’s nice to see people coming together and really standing behind the flag. I feel like we’ve lost that recently. It’s so important to honor those who serve, and we want to provide a safe outlet for people to enjoy themselves, be thankful, spend time with their families and be proud to be an American.”

    This event is free and open to the public. The parade begins at Hope Mills Middle School, at 4975 Cameron Rd. in Hope Mills. Hope Mills Municipal Park is located at 5766 Rockfish Rd.
    For more information, visit the town’s webpage at https://townofhopemills.com/349/Independence-Day-Celebration

  • 9bTwo Fayetteville-born musicians are in the finals of the “NO COVER” music competition with their band, Night Spins.

    Josh Brocki and Manq Minniefee are Fayetteville natives. They play music together and have attended live shows together around town.

    “We grew up in Fayetteville, and our parents were both in the theater together. So we’re just kind of forced to be around each other. And it wasn’t until high school we formed a band. We kind of developed a friendship to play music ever since,” Brocki told Up & Coming Weekly. “As a teenager, every weekend, seeing metal bands and punk bands and that was a really big influence on my part, just when it comes to live music. Being able to be there at such a young age with all these wild bands playing their hearts out.”

    Brocki went to college and met drummer Jesse Starr who knew bassist Andrew “Ace” Jernigan.

    They all moved to New York and created their band.

    “They’re from Texas. We’re from North Carolina. So southern guys in the city,” Brocki said.

    When the pandemic started in 2020, and the band was stuck inside, not performing, Brocki said they decided to apply for the "NO COVER" competition.

    "NO COVER" is a reality competition show on YouTube that pits “the world’s top unsigned artists against each other that actually write, record and play their own original music.” Celebrity judges and coaches vote for each band based on songwriting, performance, presentation and the “it” factor.

    Some of the judges this season include Gavin Rossdale, Alice Cooper, Lzzy Hale, Bishop Briggs and Tosin Abasi.

    The experience on the show started off rocky for Night Spins. They were kicked off during episode one but were brought back by the judges in episode eight as a wildcard. During the semi-finals, many of the judges complimented the band for their musicality, stage performance and their songs.

    Abasi told the band during episode eight that there was not much to criticize for the band and was surprised that they weren’t bigger. Alice Cooper told them that they should stick with their sound and keep going.

    “I normally would say listen to your producer, but in your case, I would say produce yourselves because nobody’s going to understand what you’re doing except you,” Cooper said.

    Brocki told Up & Coming Weekly that it was amazing to get that feedback.

    Night Spins’ Spotify account has grown since being on the show. Brocki said they went from 7,000 listeners to 17,000 fans on the one platform alone. They are now planning a tour in the Northeast for this summer. As tour dates get added, Brocki says they will come back and play in Fayetteville in the fall.

    The grand prize for "NO COVER" includes a six-figure recording contract with Sumerian Records, representation from United Talent Agency and Shelter Music Group, performance slots at a Danny Wimmer Presents

    Music Festival, a $10,000 shopping spree from Guitar Center and brand-new gear from Gibson USA, Mesa Engineering, Ernie Ball, Liquid Death and Discmakers.

    The final episode premieres on June 29 at 9 p.m. on Sumerian Records’ YouTube page.

  • 12bThe Fourth of July is a time to remember America's great history. It's a time to celebrate her victories, toast her potential and raise a flag for the freedom she offers to millions.
    While the country at large takes its observation of Independence Day very seriously — over 84% of Americans celebrate it — there's something special about the Fourth of July at the largest military base in the United States.

    Somewhat limited by health code restrictions in 2021, this year's Fourth of July Celebration on Ft. Bragg is back and better than ever.

    The celebration begins at 3 p.m. on July 4 at Fort Bragg's Parade Field.
    Attendees can look forward to the return of Kiddie Land, open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and "tent city," where guests can rent space for their family and friends to enjoy the festivities in the shade.

    Guests will also be treated to a few new additions to this year's celebration.

    "The beer garden is a new addition to the field this year," said Jennifer Fayson, Special Events Coordinator for Fort Bragg's Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "We are excited to be able to offer craft beer at this location. It is in a ticketed area and the only location on the field that will have craft beers available."

    Access to this area will cost $15 per patron, including a beer flight with additional craft beer available for $6 a can. Day of access ticket purchase is $20 and $8 a can. Also available will be a walk-up site where individual beers will be available for sale at $8 a can.

    As an added enticement, guests can now bring their own food, non-alcoholic drinks and ice. Pets, glass bottles and grills are not allowed.

    This year's entertainment will feature Nashville recording artist Chris Moreno from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and headliner Walker Hayes starting at 8:30 p.m. Both Moreno and Hayes are thrilled to play for Fort Bragg's troops, according to Sharilyn Wells, a Fort Bragg spokesperson.

    While this event is open to the public, non-DoD cardholders are encouraged to grab a 30-day pass at the All American Visitor Center before the event to avoid delays at the gate on the day of.
    Four gates will be open for public entry on the day of the event: All American, Longstreet, Chicken and Randolph.
    The night will conclude with a fabulous fireworks display at 9:45 p.m., which Wells admits is her favorite part of the celebration.

    "I always look forward to the fireworks display on Fort Bragg. This year it will be eighteen minutes long, and I know it will be a continuous stream of glitter in the sky as it always is. It has got to be one of the best shows around."

    Wells and Fayson both expressed their joy at bringing high-caliber opportunities to such a deserving group of men and women.

    "Fort Bragg strives to bring the best entertainment and events to our service members and their families; the cherry on top is the ability to share in the celebrations and festivities with our surrounding community," Wells said.

    To secure a visitor's pass, non-DoD cardholders should report to the All American Visitor Center at 3550 All American Fwy, Fort Bragg.

    For information about the event, visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/calendar/event/july-4th-celebration/5446931/23521. For more information regarding the Beer Garden, visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/happenings/craft-beer-garden.

  • 12aThe sights and sounds of Independence Day are senses embedded in the collective memory of almost every American.

    Nearly every lawn and business is draped in red, white and blue, and the last patriotic notes of "Stars and Stripes Forever" follow around every corner.

    The Fourth of July isn't just a holiday — it's a feeling. What better way to celebrate that feeling than with good music, good food and good company?

    The City of Fayetteville, The Sandhill Jazz Society and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra invite the entire community to join them for their Independence Concert at Festival Park on Monday, July 4.

    "Everyone should come!" Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Community Engagement Manager Anna Meyer told Up & Coming Weekly. "It's a nice community event."
    The concert gates open at 4 p.m., and attendees can make their way to various food trucks to address those Fourth of July cravings. Beer and wine will also be available, and local vendors will be on-site with crafts and goods to sell.

    The Independence Concert is a family-friendly event. There will be a kid's area with free bounce house admission for the day's littlest patriots.

    After remarks from Mayor Mitch Colvin, the epic concert will begin at 7 p.m., and the lineup is truly spectacular.

    The Fayetteville Symphonic Band will kick the night off with the National Anthem and play a set for about 30 minutes.

    Immediately following, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will play a mix of fan favorites, such as a reprise of "Bohemian Rhapsody," music from their upcoming season and traditional American standards.
    Another treat for guests this year is the heavy emphasis on different musical styles. Audience members will have a chance to experience Black Seed ft. Von Demetriz and Grammy-award-winning contemporary jazz musician Norman Brown up on the Festival Park stage.
    Meyer feels the exposure to various music styles makes this concert so special and exciting.

    "I think the variety of music is really interesting," she said. "I'm excited to share all of these artists, and it's a great way for the community to see different acts in one place, and it's free."

    The night will conclude with a fireworks display around 10 p.m., which, Myers admits, is her favorite part of the Fourth of July.

    "I personally love fireworks," Meyer said. "I think they are so beautiful. I also love how this holiday brings people together. I've always loved participating in the Fourth of July, and I love when people are brought together for a particular reason — the Fourth is a good time for that."

    The event is rain or shine, and while historically, outside food and beverage have been allowed, this year begins a break from that practice.

    This year, no outside food, drink, canopies or tents will be permitted. Service animals are, of course, welcome.

    The event is sponsored by the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, and Cumberland County Parks and Recreation and is free to the public.

    Festival Park is located at 335 Ray Avenue in Fayetteville.

    For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/478739547342426/.

  • 20The landscape of what is now Fort Bragg looked very different just over 100 years ago when the War Department purchased it.

    It was once a thriving community of Highland Scot immigrants.

    A glimpse of this past remains at Long Street Presbyterian Church, the oldest standing structure on Fort Bragg, constructed as a place of worship for this long-ago community in 1847.

    It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in the adjacent cemetery, the oldest readable marker dates to 1773.

    The cemetery comprises 232 known graves.

    When the War Department purchased the land, some six acres, the church, the cemetery and the adjacent school in 1923, the community was granted a handshake agreement.
    This agreement granted the heritage families the ability to maintain their connection with the landscape and the ancestors laid to rest on the grounds.

    The War Department committed to not moving any of the existing burials and assumed the stewardship for these cemeteries.
    The last internment, dated 1932, reflects the War Department’s handshake agreement in continuing to allow heritage families access to the church and cemetery.

    According to Fort Bragg Cultural Resources Management Program Archaeologist and Curator Linda Carnes-McNaughton, McFadyen family descendants held annual gatherings at the church during the mid-1950s to 1960s, in the 1970s to 1980s other heritage families joined in the reunions.

    In 1995 the Fort Bragg CRMP office was created. With the addition of the program, Fort Bragg was able to allow families access to the grounds for worship and support the event. Since 1995 the Garrison Chaplain’s office has provided additional support for the family reunions, and CRMP has provided access to the church grounds and helped coordinate the gatherings.

    The modern iteration, with a two-year pandemic hiatus, sees attendance of upwards of 120 heritage family members, soldiers and members of the public.
    Each summer the families gather and worship in the same pews as their ancestors alongside any who choose to come and join them.

    Military members and the public are invited to participate in this year's special worship service and a picnic lunch on the church grounds.
    All faiths are welcome, and participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share for the picnic.
    Carnes-McNaughton feels there is much to gain for members of the public choosing to attend.

    “They gain a greater appreciation of the depth and longevity of this landscape and its cultural heritage, and an understanding of the diversity of early settlers, the importance of religion in their lives in good times and bad times and how churches of this type served entire communities as cultural hearths, uniting families past and present,” Carnes-McNaughton said.
    Over the years Carnes-McNaughton has attended and provided support for many reunions. She has observed many special moments.

    “One of my favorite moments came when I witnessed (along with the congregants attending) the baptism of a McDiarmid descendant, a 5-month old boy," Carnes-McNaughton recounted.

    "Watching that child's face as Reverend Clark Remsburg touched his forehead with cool water, and declared him to us all to accept into the fold, walking him up and down each aisle singing Jesus Loves Me, and everyone standing to welcome this child, was so moving and meaningful, especially as I glanced out the open window into the graveyard and spotted his ancestor Rev. Angus McDiarmid's marker, knowing that he too was witnessing this event and the newest generation of McDiarmid of the Sandhills."

    The descendant congregation of the Long Street Presbyterian Church, the Fort Bragg CRMP and Fort Bragg’s Garrison Religious Support Office will host their annual reunion in celebration of the historic Argyle community on Sunday, June 26 at 11 a.m.

    The church has no electricity or climate controls, so those in attendance should dress appropriately for warm weather conditions. Parking is available near the church with assistance from the Chaplain’s Office for elderly and physically challenged patrons. Patrons entering Fort Bragg through an access control point should review installation access procedures prior to arrival to avoid delays.

    This year’s reunion will feature some historical highlights of early settlement in the region and Carnes-McNaughton will have an 1826 Gaelic Bible, on hand.

    The bible was donated to the church by Donald McDonald of Edinburgh. McDonald donated a Gaelic bible to every church who once had Gaelic language services.

    The bible is housed at the Fort Bragg CRMP Artifact Curation Facility for permanent care and will be at the event in a protective case to share with the attendees.

    For more information, contact the Fort Bragg CRMP at 910-396-6680.

  • 19It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay. Join Ryder, Chase, Marshall and Skye at the Crown Theater on July 5 and 6 for Paw Patrol Live. It’s an “all paws on deck” situation.

    The Sandhills’ littlest adventurers can put their hero skills to the test and help the gang rescue Cap’n Turbot and uncover buried treasure on Adventure Bay with the help of a mysterious map. Tracker, a new puppy addition to the usual lineup, will assist as Mayor Humdinger tries to thwart the canine crusaders.

    The show, now seen by over 4 million people since its debut six years ago, is an interactive experience that engages kids and parents alike.

    “It’s geared for ages 2 to 6, but I like to say 2 to 200,” said Jeff Dietzel, spokesperson for the show. “Kids of any age can come and have a great time with their family.”
    Since its debut in 2013, Paw Patrol has been a juggernaut in the kid’s entertainment area. The franchise, spawning several direct-to-video adventures, merchandise and a movie in 2021, shows no sign of slowing down.

    “Kids love puppies,” Dietzel explained the continued popularity of the show and its characters. “They’re so unique and individual. Each character has their own personality and fears; they’re unique, like all kids are unique. And sure, they’re small, but they can be heroes too.”

    While most kids are more than familiar with Adventure Bay’s four-legged heroes, a knowledge of the show and its characters isn’t necessary to fully enjoy the show.
    The broadway-style show certainly aims to deliver in the entertainment department, inviting audience members not only an opportunity to watch their favorite characters up on stage but to be a part of the show themselves.

    “There’s lots of singing and dancing,” Dietzel said of the show. “It’s a great introduction to live theater. It’s hard to sit there and be quiet. We encourage the kids to get up and sing and dance with us. Everyone in attendance gets a pIrate flag to wave — it’s a highly interactive experience.”
    Children are definitely the target audience, but Dietzel assured Up & Coming Weekly that the show is just as fun for parents as it is for kids.

    “It’s a great time for the whole family; parents have a great time seeing their kids have fun. It’s like a mini-rock concert,” he joked.
    General admission tickets are $18, with a limited number of VIP (Very Important Pup) packages also available. VIP tickets are $110 and include prime seating, an after-show photo-op with the characters and a souvenir bag to take home.

    “I really hope that kids have a great time,” Dietzel said. “My favorite thing is to hear that ‘this was the best day ever,’” It’s awesome to hear; it makes us feel like we’ve done a great job.”
    Showtimes are Tuesday, July 5, and Wednesday, July 6, starting at 6 p.m.
    The Crown Theater is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. in Fayetteville.
    For tickets, visit capefeartix.com, or call 910-438-4100.

  • 17Cumberland County Public Libraries and Fort Bragg’s Throckmorton Library have begun their summer reading programs.
    Both programs offer a fun opportunity for every family member to dive into a book during the hot summer months ahead. Using READsquared, an easy-to-download app, participants can track their progress and find games, challenges and activities to help make reading a pleasure, not a chore.

    Cumberland County Libraries will also have reading records at each branch or available for download on their website. Throckmorton Libary will use its app, https://jlthrockmorton.beanstack.com/reader365, to track reader progress.

    Participants can win prizes by reading books or attending or watching programs at the library. Prizes range from exclusive limited-edition t-shirts, books and gift cards to an annual family membership to the North Carolina Aquarium. Readers can unlock rewards from the program with as few as five logged hours of reading time.

    Summer reading programs are not a modern concept and have encouraged children to read throughout the year as early as the 1890s.
    Though the goal is the same, methods and certain program elements have evolved with time, technology and the target audience’s interests.

    “The emphasis of summer reading – getting kids and their families to read in the summer months – has been around as long as the program,” Faith B. Phillips, director of Cumberland County Library, told Up & Coming Weekly.

    “However, elements of the program have evolved as technology and interests have changed. For example, we now have apps that allow customers to log their reading minutes. We also include listening to audiobooks and reading e-materials for the program. There are many ways for folks to engage with a text, and we want to be inclusive of as many as possible.”

    As children, teens and adults become ever more dependent on screens, and their phones, the importance of reading and its benefits to cognitive development and learning are at the forefront of creating these programs.

    “Reading will always be a skill that humans need,” said Carla Brooks, division manager for programs. “By reading through the summer, kids and teens can prevent the summer slide —a decline in their achievement gains during the previous school year. Studies have shown that students who read through the summer make a better transition back to school in the fall and have higher reading performance.”
    Phillips, whose first favorite book was "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown, hopes the program creates life-long readers.

    “Ultimately, I hope that summer reading cultivates a love of reading in every person. I hope that the programs provide opportunities for community members to learn new skills and facts. And that both the reading and the programs bring laughter, fun, and joy to our citizens,” she said.

    Brown hopes the program helps participants gain more confidence in reading, noting the impact "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin made on her as a young reader.

    “[That book] made a huge impression on me as a child. I even started writing my own book after reading it. I loved how the author developed the characters and let me, as the reader, get to know them as if they lived in my hometown.”
    Natasha Dass-Ford, chief librarian at Throckmorton Libary, who loved Cinderella as a child, hopes the Summer Reading Program encourages a love of nature and a love for reading.

    “This year’s theme for the Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Beyond the Beaten Path.’ In keeping with that theme, Throckmorton is offering a variety of outdoor activities and story times about camping. We hope to promote reading as a fun activity incorporating crafts and outdoor events such as kite flying, star gazing and bird watching.”

    With eight branches, both Brooks and Phillips feel Cumberland County Library has a book for everyone inside their doors to unlock an Ocean of Possibilities.

    “There are so many good books available to all ages,” Brooks said. “I encourage customers to come in and talk with one of our library staff members to help them find some good books tailored to their preferences. Adults can use our online BookMatch service for a list of personalized reading recommendations.”

    Cumberland County Public Library’s Oceans of Possibilities program will continue until August 15 at all Cumberland County Library locations.

    Cumberland County Public Library’s Oceans of Possibilities program will conclude on July 31.

    To view a Cumberland County Branch Locations list or download a reading log, visit their website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.
    READSquared can be accessed at ccplnc.readsquared.com.
    To learn more about Throckmorton’s Summer Reading Challenge, visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/summer-reading-program.

  • 15Voted Fayetteville and Fort Bragg's "Best Band" six years in a row, Rivermist is headed to Gates Four Country Club on Friday, July 1.

    As part of the Gates Four Summer Concert Series and in partnership with Fayetteville Dinner Theater, the show begins at 7:30 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m.
    Music-lovers and those in search of a great time need only look for the easy-to-find pavilion outside the country club to take part in the free, family-friendly event.

    The series began last year as a ticketed event with five shows. Now open to the public with six performances scheduled, the concert series takes place every first Friday and features some of the finest entertainment in the Sandhills.

    While people might not be used to the words "free and public," in association with a country club, Greg Adair, band member and spokesperson for Rivermist, assured Up & Coming Weekly it is indeed an event for everyone.

    "Bring your dancing shoes," Adair joked. "This is open to everybody. People should remember to bring a chair, get some food, drink and get ready for some great music."

    While no outside food or drinks are permitted, the event will have plenty of both available for purchase and liquor provided by Healy Wholesale Co. Inc.
    Showcasing the talents of the Throwback Collaboration Band in April, the event headliners for May and June, Heart Breakers — a Heart cover band native to North Carolina, and Mostley Crue, a cover band from Raleigh, will rock the Gates Four stage later in the summer due to weather cancellations.
    A lifelong musician and Fayetteville native, Adair's journey to the spotlight started in 2014. Originally in another band with a friend who fell ill with cancer, Adair formed a group to help fundraise for treatments and medical care.

    After his friend's tragic passing later that year, the group remained but felt a name change was necessary out of respect. From there, Rivermist was born and has been rocking out ever since.
    Transitioning to the role of a full-time musician in 2019, Adair expressed no regret and genuinely loves what he does. As the drummer, vocalist and band owner of Rivermist, Adair wears many hats, but they all fit comfortably.

    "I love the exhilarating crowds," he explained. "I love seeing kids dance and freely enjoy themselves. There's nothing like seeing a kid enjoy music. They're so honest and precious, as adults should be."

    After experiencing a bit of a slow-down as cities across the United States hunkered down to stop the spread of COVID-19, Adair is glad to be back to business as usual.

    "We played about 65 shows in 2019," Adair reflected. "That dropped down to around 18 in 2020, and now we're scheduled for at least 70 this year. We still have 42 shows left this year."

    Despite the obvious pride in his band and their success over the years, Adair remains grateful, giving all thanks and appreciation to the band's fans.

    "We're humble," he said. "We have over 7,000 followers, people love to come to see us, and we genuinely love them too. There's no little man syndrome in this band, no divas or anything like that. Our families love each other, and we get along great. It's the most fun you can have in music."
    Known for their high-energy shows often tagged as #rivermistparty on social media, Adair maintained, "Ain't no party like a Rivermist Party cause a Rivermist Party Don't Stop."

    "We are a super energetic bunch," Adair shared, laughing. "We do it all. For the last show we had downtown, we had our guys walk through the crowds, wearing their instruments, and you couldn't even see them. Everybody was singing and moving; this band has just an abundance of personality. We get the crowd to participate and don't hold our heads down. We joke with each other and the crowd. It's just a fun time, and that's what it's about."

    Being from Fayetteville, Adair feels a particular joy in playing for people who know the band and follow their journey. He sees music and the band's position up on stage as a charge to spread joy and be a light to those in the audience.

    "We'll play about five to seven minutes at the beginning of each show and let the crowd know our goal is to take them away from anything bad lingering in their lives — we're there to make them happy. The crowd feeds off that. It's electric. To be on stage and see 5,000 to 6,000 people singing and dancing is definitely why we do it. There's nothing like seeing people have a great time."

    Playing a variety of dance and pop music, Adair and his band mates: Allen Pier (keyboard, lead and background vocals), Rick Starling (percussion, keyboard, lead and background vocals), Tony Harrison (bass) and Cliff Bender (lead guitarist), play a little something that everybody can groove to. Rivermist covers songs from the Eagles to Bruno Mars and Alice In Chains to Travis Tritt.

    "We try to vary the shows, so there's no crossover with these events," Adair explained. "There's something for everybody; we throw everybody a bone. 'If you leave here tonight and haven't heard anything you like — then you might not like music.'" He often jokes with the crowd.

    The concert series is an opportunity for people to be led and gathered under the ruling spirit of summertime. Just a moment in the busy, bustling week, where parents, home from work, can round up their kids and head to a place with no schedules, no worries and no agendas.

    Greg Adair, for one, is excited to see them there.

    Gates Four is located at 6775 Irongate Dr. in Fayetteville.
    The event is free and open to the public. Information about VIP tickets can be found at https://www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/.
    For updates and information about upcoming shows and music, visit the Rivermist website at http://www.rivermistband.com/.

  • 13With trampoline parks, playgrounds and plenty of indoor entertainment for big kids, it can be challenging to keep little ones entertained during the hot summer.

    Fascinate U Children's Museum in downtown Fayetteville offers a place where parents can watch their children explore, make friends and use their imaginations. Set up to resemble a little city complete with a fire station, farm, grocery store and stage, Fascinate U allows children to engage in a world of make-believe where what they want to be, is what they get to be.

    "This is a great place to take your kids in the summer to get out of the heat and have fun while learning," said Susan Daniels, Fascinate U director.

    Fascinate U opened its doors in January 1999 as part of downtown's initial revitalization efforts. Daniels has been its director since 1998.

    "I've been here since there was actual parking downtown," she joked.

    Her passion for children and their education has built a program that fosters a love of learning and discovery for all who step through Fascinate U's flashy purple doors.

    The museum's mission statement: "We strive to foster children's imagination while developing their social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills through basic play" is evident in the many programs, activities and classes they offer.

    There is an activity, project, demonstration, or opportunity to learn nearly every weekend at the museum. Children of all ages and interest levels should be able to find something to spark the artist or scientist within.

    The third Saturday of each month features a different science activity— this month, it's strawberry DNA extraction in the museum's science room on the second floor.

    There are crafting opportunities with "Make it Take it" every second Saturday and art classes with a different focus each month for children as young as four up to fifth grade.
    The museum's tot-room offers a safe space for children under four to explore their environment with sensory toys, puzzles, and make-believe stations.

    The Cape Fear Model Railroad Club also hosts monthly demonstrations on the first and third Saturday.

    There's truly a little something for everyone.

    In addition to their regularly scheduled programs, Fascinate U offers several weeklong summer camps to keep kids learning all year.
    Camps are offered for half and full-day with a focus on art and science and are designed for children entering first grade up to rising fifth graders.

    Daniels, who teaches the science classes at the museum, reflected on her career at Fascinate U as she transitions to retirement in less than a year.

    "I love working with children, I like the challenges, and I like using a lot of different skill sets. I could be writing grant proposals one day or mopping the floor the next," she said.

    Though Daniels will miss working with the kids and teaching the classes, she's excited about what's on the horizon.

    "We recently received a SCIF grant, [State Capital Infrastructure Fund], and we will use that to get out into the community. We want to know what expansion the community wants to see and how we can better serve in the future. We've been here 23 years and done a good job, but I look forward to new blood coming in. When I started, we weren't even on the internet."

    And while yes, technology and the times both change with alarming speed, Daniels noted the part of Fascinate U that stays the same.

    "The one thing that never changes is that the children love the role-playing and hands-on opportunities.

    Kids get technology at home and school; this is where they can get back to being just kids and using their imagination."
    General admission to the museum is $4 and $3 for anyone over 12. Yearly family memberships are $50.

    Fascinate U is located at 116 Green St. in downtown Fayetteville.

    For more information on camps, programs, memberships, and party room rental visit the museum's website at http://www.fascinate-u.com/ or call (910)829-9171.

  • 12 Tales of courage and bravery among resistance groups and partisans fighting against the Nazis will be on display across two exhibits at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum beginning next month.
    The exhibits tell the stories of the Chetniks in Operation Halyard and the Jewish resistance force, the Bielski partisan group.

    “It fits our mission of being an Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Special Operation soldiers work with local and indigenous populations to often help win the hearts and minds of the people,” Museum Director Jim Bartlinski told Up & Coming Weekly.

    When entering the museum, you will first see several panels set up in the lobby.

    The panels will tell the story of how a three-person Office of Strategic Services team, Serbian partisans known as “Chetniks,” and the 1st Air Crew Rescue Unit of the U.S. 15th Air Force airlifted more than 500 U.S. airmen out of Serbia.

    This exhibit, Operation HALYARD: The Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II, is on loan from the Halyard Mission Foundation.

    “They did not lose one person or one plane, so they were able to do this under the Nazi’s noses,” Bartlinski said. “It was one of those untold stories that just came to light in the last ten years because it was kept top secret because of what was going on between the former Soviet Union, Serbia and America. But it was finally declassified.”

    Weapons, equipment and three videos telling the stories of the three OSS men will also be on display.

    As visitors move into ASOM’s temporary gallery, Courage and Compassion: The Legacy of the Bielski Brothers will be displayed. This exhibit tells the story of the three Bielski brothers who ran a partisan group out of the forests in Belorussia. The brothers helped rescue and keep more than 1,200 Jews alive in those forests for more than two years. More than 70% were women, elderly persons and children who otherwise would have perished under Nazi occupation.

    While keeping people safe, the group also helped in several operational missions against the Nazis. They disabled German trains, blew up rail beds, destroyed bridges and facilitated escapes from Jewish ghettos.

    “The Bielski exhibit will be coming with a number of artifacts from the Florida Holocaust Museum — items used in the camps, items worn by the Bielski brothers and some video components as well,” Bartlinski said.“We will also be supplementing the exhibit with items from our own collection like weapons and other types of materials that partisans would have used.”

    Several programming events surrounding the two exhibits are currently being worked out and scheduled at the museum.

    “I hope they [visitors] get inspired by both stories and get an appreciation for the difficulties that people, past and present, go through to fight for their freedoms and independence against oppressive governments and militaries,” Bartilinski said.

    The two exhibits will be on display from July 4 through November 13. Admission to ASOM is free, but donations are highly suggested.

  • 11It’s 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, when most places see a lull in customers; Game On, a hobby and game cafe located off Reilly Road, is packed. The parking lot of the nondescript building is full, and game lovers are finding their way to the overflow parking lot on the side and the back of the building. The sign on the door holds an unusual duo of advertisements for Pokemon and coffee. The shop is packed with both young and old, an eclectic mix of people perusing cards, dice and boxes of games. In the back of the cafe are long tables, placed at a measured distance, one after the other. The gamers stand rolling dice and leaning forward to place items onto the tables and make their moves. The groups are huddled around the various tables. The playing is quiet and intense — each player so wholly immersed in what’s going on on the table that they hardly notice those around the counter, picking out cards from beneath the glass.

    In a room at the front of the store, a Game On sign is displayed on the top of a bookshelf. The room is filled with posters, but the most noticeable thing in the room is the sign. It sits as a relic of the company’s journey.

    This sign is different from the one that is now proudly displayed on the front of the store. It’s thick-lettered and all black except for a white O. The white O looks intentional, but it wasn’t.
    The two owners, husband and wife, Ryker and Sara Taylor, sit just beyond and laugh about its origins.

    “It was originally an American Burger Barn sign except for the O. We just had a limited amount of funds for a sign. We were a start-up. We pieced together parts of a sign for $500 off eBay,” Ryker said.

    When they got the big sign, Sara said, it was a huge celebration for the entirety of the company. Now, those driving by would finally be able to see them and the sign. They were moving up. The business was becoming more sustainable.

    Sara and Ryker started their business about 18 months ago, in the winter of 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Ryker, who always loved Magic the Gathering, did research and found that during times of recession, entertainment venues seemed to continue to thrive.

    “It was so smart because there was nothing out here that was open doing this … it brings people together, online or in-person,” Sara said.

    And really, the business started before the doors opened. Ryker admits he did what they call “back pack vending” — buying and selling cards out of a backpack. It allowed him to continue his love of card playing with business-related benefits.
    On the other hand, Sara grew up in Washington and around coffee stands. She always wanted to get into the coffee business.

    “My mom was always going to the coffee stand. We started with one espresso machine and four sides. Once we combined Red Bull with Italian sides, the cafe exploded,” Sara said. She tears up as she talks about the growth and the changes. She is proud of how far the coffee portion of the business has come.

    On that busy Saturday, many customers come in and head straight to the cafe in the shop. They look over the menu and place their orders, patiently waiting for their custom drinks to be ready. The names are often combined with game characters — like Dragonite, a combination of Strawberries and Dragon Fruit. Each drink looks a little different from the last, but most are colorful.

    “The coffee stuff was something I always wanted to do. We are making enough money where we can try anything we want to try. It has been really fun. It’s like being a chef in a way,” Sara said. She collapses her hands together as she talks to counterbalance her energy. “Tell us what you like, and we’ll work from there.”

    It is clear that some people come for the drinks, some come for the games and others do a bit of both. Perhaps it has something to do with the caffeine in some drinks or the combination of fruity flavors and added energy. Sara and Ryker’s drink add-in, Lotus, is equivalent to a Red Bull. Caffeine and a long, competitive card game can go well together.

    The shop, which sits only minutes outside Fort Bragg, is the perfect location for Ryker, an active duty soldier. When asked about moving and if it makes them nervous, Sara and Ryker shoot each other a look.

    “Oh yeah,” they say in almost unison.

    They laugh, but ultimately both are hopeful to be stationed at Fort Bragg for many more years. If not, Sara says, they feel like they have the right staff that could continue things on with them being in a different area.

    “We trust that we would be able to continue to run this,” she said. “We have been really lucky to get such a good group of people here.”
    Sara and Ryker both put in a lot of hours at the shop. Ryker puts in between 60 to 80 hours, while Sara clocks in about 40 to 50. The duo have two kids at home to juggle, along with the business and Ryker’s full-time job. The rewards, however, outweigh the added stresses of being a business owner.

    “My favorite part is interacting with the customers and the area. The amount of people that wouldn’t have been in the same place at the same time and fostering that relationship …” Sara gets emotional and trails off for a second. She wipes her eyes and continues, “We get a lot of different crowds in here … I can’t hold it together.”

    Sara wipes her eyes again as she and Ryker both laugh.

    They hold many events at the hobby and game cafe, including one-shot adventures on Tuesdays and Pokemon leagues for kids on Saturdays. The Pokemon League is free; parents can bring their kids in and learn about the card game and how to build decks. The shop even has Professor George, a certified Pokemon professor, to teach the kids. Above all, Ryker says, they teach good sportsmanship. When asked why they offer it free, Sara and Ryker have a quick and easy answer — “community building.”

    “From a mom’s point of view, there’s not a lot to do when it’s hot out,” Sara said.

    Ryker got into competitive Magic the Gathering games and is the Team Captain for the U.S. Army’s E-Sports Program for Magic the Gathering. For the Army, this is more of an exposure and recruiting effort, showing those interested in what the Army has to offer.

    For the Taylors, they aren’t quite at the place where they take a check. They said, first and foremost, they want to ensure they are paying their staff well and secondly, they love being a part of the community in this way.

    “The nerd community that people kind of hide from, the whole having a place where people can come and be themselves,” Ryker said.
    The business, so far, even without a paycheck for the owners, is doing well. The community is noticing them just driving by, and some people come in for just the coffee.

    “Hard work beats out knowledge. If you are willing to come and work the hours … I am not smarter than anyone else. I am just willing to work harder. I am willing to dump hours into it to make it successful without taking a wage.” Ryker smiles as he talks. And once again, they both mention how lucky they are to have their team. As Ryker says, they “crush” it.

    And whether it’s for coffee, games or a place where there are actually Pokemon cards in stock, Game On as a whole is crushing it.

  • 22Solve the fictional mystery of Miss Veronica Falcone’s disappearance during the first event of the Sunset Series on Friday, June 17, at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

    On August 26, 1947, Miss Falcone’s motorcycle was found crashed at the bottom of the river. Police found that a brake cable was deliberately cut, rendering the brakes useless.

    There are five suspects who may be responsible for her death. Guests are invited to crack the cold case — and they can bring their dogs to help sniff out the killer.

    The fictitious murder occurred in 1947, but attendees can use modern technology to gather clues and investigate the case.
    The guest detectives will be able to scan a QR code to submit their findings online and receive instructions for the next phase of the investigation.

    Prerecorded witness statements will be available for guests to view and use in solving the case.

    The 1940s-themed event features music from the era playing throughout the garden. Guests should dress to impress because there will be a contest for the best throwback styles from that period in fashion.
    Local dance instructor Molly Hamelin will teach guests how to get down with the lindy hop and jitterbug during swing dance lessons.

    “We also got our hands on a 1949 Ford that will be a selfie spot, parked in the garden for visitors to take pictures with,” said Meghan Woolbright, Cape Fear Botanical Garden marketing coordinator.

    To keep guest detectives from getting hungry on the job, the Jaz-N-Soul food truck will be on-site. Other vendors will be announced closer to the event.
    This marks the third year for the Sunset Series, a public event and fundraiser for the garden.

    Additional murder mystery events will be held on July 15 and August 19 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
    Dogs are allowed for the June 17 event only, but must be on a non-retractable leash. Guests should plan to pick up after their pets.

    The event is free for Cape Fear Botanical Garden members and $10 plus tax for non-members. Masks are not required this year.
    Visit www.capefearbg.org/event/the-sunset-series to learn more.

  • 21It will be a night of drinks, laughter, fun and PRIDE in downtown Fayetteville on Saturday, June 25.

    Cool Spring Downtown District will host its inaugural Heyyy Gurl Hay Comedy Trolley featuring the comedic stylings of three fabulous North Carolina Queens: Amanda LaRouxx, Michelle Michaels and Aida Stratton.

    Immediately following PRIDE in the Park, the comedy trolley will depart from Blue Moon Cafe at 7 p.m. Drinks will be permitted on board as the trolley makes its way through downtown.
    Cool Spring Downtown’s Director of Marketing and Events, Lauren Falls, is excited about this event and notes that it speaks to the heart of Cool Spring’s mission to bring diversity and inclusivity to its events.

    “The Cool Spring Downtown District’s mission is to not only create an arts and entertainment district but to promote an inclusive environment for our diverse community,” she explained. “Our downtown community will display their PRIDE flags, and next to the Cool Spring Downtown District’s office is a PRIDE photo station for all to enjoy.”
    Up & Coming Weekly also spoke with Amanda LaRouxx and Michelle Michaels, and both shared their excitement for the upcoming event and their thoughts on the importance of LGBTQ visibility.

    “We’ve been told to go all out,” joked current Miss NC PRIDE, Michelle Michaels. “I would definitely say this is an adults-only event.”

    “Everyone and anyone who likes to have a good time should jump on the trolley,” echoed Amanda LaRouxx. “I want people to go home with sore abs from laughing so hard.”

    With over 35 titles and over 30 years of performing experience between them, LaRouxx and Michaels shared their love of drag and the stage.

    “I have been performing in drag for eight years,” LaRouxx said. “The one thing I love about drag is the transformation and the art form.”

    Michaels, whose been performing as that character for nearly 25 years, shares a similar sentiment, saying, “The artistry is beautiful; nothing like seeing a dedicated performance and having it move you. I love the audience interaction and the emotional ties I can have with them.”

    In its modern interpretation, PRIDE originated from riots (most notably, Stonewall) as people in the gay community fought for their rights and fair treatment from the government and police throughout the 1970s.

    In keeping with the tradition of strength, pride and resilience, PRIDE marches turned into the global parades and celebrations more well-known today.

    It is precisely due to the bitter roots and violent history of PRIDE that LaRouxx and Michaels feel empowered and responsible for holding up a legacy of visibility.

    “Visibility is everything,” Michaels explained. “It’s PRIDE month, and we’re not celebrating who we sleep with. We celebrate our community becoming fuller than those before us. We celebrate the lowering of fear walking down a street, not being harassed or beaten up just by living. I celebrate the struggles and hard work of the generations before us who fought to make it a little freer.”

    LaRouxx agrees, saying, “LGBTQ visibility is so important, to be able to show the diverse, inclusive community we have built. We want to let those who feel invisible know they are seen and heard.”
    Ultimately, both performers want people to come out and have some laughs and a good time with one another.

    Tickets for the event are $30 and include one adult beverage. This event is restricted to those 21 and older.
    Blue Moon Care is located at 310 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville.
    Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/heyyy-gurl-hay-comedy-trolley-tickets-346149461357.

  • 06-09-10-swampdogs.gifWhen the Fayetteville SwampDogs take the field every night, they do so with roughly 25 young men from all across the United States. Some of them came to Fayetteville knowing no one, while others came here with some familiarity of a few of the players and coaches. But every player on the roster can agree that they came to Fayetteville with some sense of uncertainty.

    After all, they were starting a two and a half month journey with teammates from all across the nation that they had never met. Even though the journey just started a few weeks ago for many of the players, they are starting to feel more comfortable with every passing day.

    First baseman Corey LeVier is one of three players on the 2010 SwampDogs roster that came from the west coast. LeVier, who has signed to play baseball next season at the University of San Diego, says the atmosphere in the clubhouse continues to improve.

    “Over the past week everyone has gotten to know each other and we are becoming one big unit,” LeVier said. “We all have the same goal in mind and that’s to make the playoffs and win a championship.”

    SwampDogs assistant coach Ben Quinto also made the long trek from California to Fayetteville. Quinto says each of the players has a unique opportunity, which should make the transition much smoother.

    “We (coaches) made a decision from day one that we want guys here that live for baseball,” said Quinto. “Every single one of the players has a chance to play professional baseball. This is a great opportunity for all of them.” For many of the players, including LeVier, the weather and time change has been the biggest obstactle to overcome.

    “The weather has definitely been different than California,” says LeVier. “I’m used to a beautiful 75 degrees every day and not this humidity. The time change has also taken time to get used to because of the difference between California and here (Fayetteville).”

    Over the years, big reason why the SwampDogs players have been able to settle in after a short period of time has been due to the help of the host families. Each player on the team is housed with a host family for the summer, which has proven time and time again to be a positive experience. The SwampDogs realize that this team wouldn’t be able to function without the help of its great host families.

    As the players begin to settle in their new homes for two and a half months, the 2010 SwampDogs continue to look to take full advantage of the opportunity they have been given — the chance to showcase their skills every night in front of professional scouts on the grand stage of summer collegiate baseball.

    “I know this chance is going to allow me to develop my skills and have even a better chance of getting to the next level,” said LeVier.

    The SwampDogs play in the Coastal Plain League, which has had more than 700 players looking to make it to “the next level” and play minor league baseball. Meanwhile, 35 former Coastal Plain Leaguers have made it to the Major Leagues, which every young man in the league would tell you is the ultimate goal.

    When it comes down to it, the roughly 25 young men in Fayetteville for the summer are here because they want to be the next success story. They want to be the player that fans talk about for years to come.

  • 20For those who want to help celebrate Father’s Day at another level, look no further than The Dragon’s Lair. The local comic bookstore wants to highlight dads and celebrate them and their families.

    “We’re going to have local artists, we’re going to have live entertainment and, of course, we’re going to have sales on comics and stuff that we have in the store,” Beatrice Jackson, the store manager, told Up & Coming Weekly. “We’ll have raffles, and there’s a Cool Dad T-shirt contest. So, there’s going to be quite a bit going on.”

    The sales include 15% off bags, boards and the Spider-Man and Batman walls. Back issues will be buy-two-get-one-free, while kids’ comics will be buy-one-get-one-free.

    There will also be grab bags, specifically for fathers who come to the event. Inside those bags will be free comics and items from the vendors at the event.

    There will be live music throughout the event. Jammin' Jon Kiebon will kick off at 11:15 a.m. Richard Dixon Peacock takes the stage at 12:15 p.m. Mike Pennino will begin a performance at 1:15 p.m. The Kevin Regan Band will take over at 2:15 p.m. Finally, Fear State will close out the festival with its debut performance starting at 3:15 p.m.

    In addition to the fun, the comic bookstore will be collecting donations for the Karen Chandler Trust, a local nonprofit. The Karen Chandler Trust helps support local cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. That support ranges from helping with car rides to treatments and doctor’s appointments to paying off utility bills, car payments, mortgages and rents. All proceeds from vendor fees will go toward the nonprofit.

    “We kind of want to bring dads together on the day before Father’s Day and just have a really awesome time, but also raise money for the Karen Chandler Trust, which is a local organization that helps local cancer patients.

    So, we’ll have a good time while also raising money for a really great cause,” Jackson said.

    But of course, dads will still be the number one focus for the event. The Dragon’s Lair plans to do a “Best Dad Award” where people can submit nominations ahead of the event. Those details on how to submit have not been made public yet but will be available on the Dragon’s Lair Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Dragonslairfayetteville.

    Dragon’s Lair Comics has been a part of the Fayetteville community for over 40 years and has often given back to local nonprofits and causes at many of their events.

    The Father's Day Fest will take place on June 18, beginning at 10 a.m. and will end around 5 p.m. The comic bookstore is located at 6243 Yadkin Road.

  • 6162010img_738690_primary.jpgOn June 19, the Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center will host its annual Local Authors Showcase. The public is invited to meet and learn more about some of our area’s homegrown authors from noon until 4 p.m. in the Pate Room of the Headquarters Library, 300 Maiden Lane.

    If you are interested in writing and would like to hear first-hand from those who have published books, this will be a great opportunity to not only browse some locally written titles, but also learn the ins and outs of self-publishing. Books will be on sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Friends of the Library.

    Participating authors and their books, include: Bryan Avery, Olde Averasborough, Cape Fear River Town Suzanne Brandt, True Love Essie B. Bryant, My True Love Christian-Michelle Dickerson, The Razor and The Mirror Annette Dunlap, Frank: The Story of Frances Folsom Cleveland, America’s Youngest First Lady Robert Gable, Escape to Haven Naim S. Hasan Sr., Alien from the 8th Heaven Esther Holcombe, The Intruder Dorothy Hughes, The Journey Was Not Easy Ro-Shonda King, Plain Ice The Writer Karl W. Merritt Sr., From the Rough Side of the Mountain: Refl ections of a Country Preacher Theresa Slaughter, Raped by Man Saved by God Sherrell Straker-Valdezloqui, The Hurting Woman

    For more information about additional library programs and services, visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.us, call 483-7727 or find us on Facebook.

    Neighborhood Art Attack

    The Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County knows that art lives in more than its building. So, in an attempt to let art breathe and move, the agency has been going from community to community within Cumberland County to bring art to the people. On Saturday, June 19, Hope Mills residents will get a chance to live and breathe art, as Arts Council’s Neighborhood Art Attack comes to town.

    Arts organizations from around the county participate and actively engage residents in the diverse arts offerings in our community. The entertainment stage features a mix of professionals and local talent including students.

    Make plans to join the Arts Council from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Hope Mills Municipal Park for a free Neighborhood Art Attack.

    At this mini arts festival, enjoy hands-on activities with Cape Fear Basketmakers, Writers’ Ink Guild, Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center, painter Brian Steverson, 910moms.com, the Arts Council and many more agencies!

    Entertainment at the Art Attack includes: Storyteller Gran’daddy Junebug, music of Brian Morgan & Friends, music by A Different Drum, magician John Tudor, Jef the Mime, sketch artist Patricia DiGiammarino and Alex the Minstrel.

    The Arts Council’s 2010 Neighborhood Art Attacks are all sponsored by Miller-Motte College - Fayetteville Campus. The June 19 Art Attack is also sponsored by The Fayetteville Observer.

    For more information about Neighborhood Art Attacks, visit the Web page at www.theartscouncil.com.

  • 19bDinosaurs will be taking over the Crown Complex from June 17 through 19. Jurassic Quest, the “biggest and best dinosaur show in the land,” comes to Fayetteville with a full range of prehistoric creatures for all ages.
    Jurassic Quest’s website states they have full-sized dinosaurs throughout the exhibit, including a tyrannosaurus rex, a 50-foot megalodon and a spinosaurus. Guests can also interact with several juvenile dinosaurs running around the tour.

    Kids can ride triceratops, play in one of the many inflatables or create crafts. A dino dig is set up for those wishing to try their hand at being a paleontologist. Baby dinosaurs are also a popular attraction, according to the Jurassic Quest website. Guests can hold the baby dinos and take photos with them.

    Jurassic Quest is a self-guided, interactive tour. According to the website, it takes one to two hours to fully enjoy the whole experience. There are two types of tickets for kids. The standard ticket includes exploring the exhibit, arts and crafts and a walking dinosaur show. All rides and bouncy houses would require additional purchases of activity tickets. An unlimited ticket gives children access to all the rides and attractions within the exhibit without any extra cost. Adult tickets only come in standard, as many of the rides are built for kids only. Kids’ tickets are for ages 2 to 12.

    Tickets cost $25.50 for a kids’ standard and $40.50 for a kids’ unlimited. Adult tickets are $25.50. Military, police and first responders can get a discount on their tickets. Tickets are available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and time slots have to be reserved. Tickets may be sold at the door, but the website recommends purchasing in advance and booking a time slot online.

    Attendees can also add on quest packs as part of the Jurassic Quest experience. The quest packs range from the more basic Explorer Quest Pack to the more filled Trainer Quest Pack. These packs are purchased with tickets and include dinosaur-themed souvenirs and arts and crafts. Each pack contains dinosaur surprises. Visitors to the event can pick up their Quest Packs when they check-in for their tour.

    For more information about Jurassic Quest, visit https://www.jurassicquest.com/. For tickets and more information about the Crown Complex, visit https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/detail/jurassic-quest-2.

  • 06-23-10-amy,-vince.jpgWith several buildings and multiple venues to its name, the Crown Center has plenty to offer. Whether you are looking to see a hockey game, a concert or a theatrical show, or even if you want to put on a production or event of your own, chances are that this facility can handle it.

    What started as a civic center in 1967, consisting of a 2,400 seat theater and a 4,500 seat arena has grown into a complex spacious enough to host sporting events like the FireAntz hockey games and the Fayetteville Guard indoor football league.

    While private events are certainly welcome, the Crown prides itself on hosting a wide variety of events that appeal to the vast range of demographics living in the greater Fayetteville area.

    Just recently the Crown Center won a bid to host the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Eastern Regional Basketball Tournament for the next four years, beginning in 2011. The Eastern Regional Basketball Tournament is for boys’ and girls’ teams and is the last competition before the state championship.

    Wrestling fans will have a chance to see some action on July 31 when the superstars of TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Wrestling roll intotown. The action starts at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) and will feature “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy, “The Phenomenal One” A.J. Styles, TNA Tag Team Beer Money Inc., TNA World Heavy Weight Champion Rob Van Dam, TNA Founder Jeff Barrett, TNA06-23-10-jeff_hardy.jpg Knockout Champion Madison Rayne and many more celebrities.

    TNA Live! does more than entertain. They send fans backstage to meet TNA superstars. The ring announcer will hide a back stage pass on the premises and announce its location on Twitter before the show starts. Fans that purchase a ticket in the fi rst three rows are invited to a meet and greet with the stars an hour before the doors open. Tickets are on sale now.

    World Vision, featuring Max Lucado, Michael W. Smith and Third Day will be here this fall too. The show is titled Make a Difference and is the only North Carolina stop for the show. The show will make a difference for children by helping to raise sponsors for 25,000 children through World Vision.

    Frank Zaccaro has been the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Crown since last September and has been working hard to not only bring more big name entertainment to Fayetteville, but to also accommodate the local shows and events that the Crown hosts each year. He is really excited about the line up for the upcoming season.

    “It is just going to be a really good season for us,” said Zaccaro. “It has been an exciting nine months so far. Fayetteville is kind of a unique market because we are right between Raleigh and Charlotte. That is our challenge — to overcome those markets. This past season we had some really big names come to town, Jason 06-23-10-third day.jpgAldean, Carrie Underwood and Jeff Dunham. We are on peoples’ radar now. They know we are here and hopefully we can build on our successes of this past year to make next year even bigger and better.”

    While Zaccaro has plenty of things in the works, contracts are waiting to be signed and fabulous events are in the making, but he would only mention a very few specifi cs about the rest of the plans for the coming season. Look for events featuring local businesses and performers — WIDU is coming back in a three-day extravaganza that hosts the biggest and best performers they’ve ever had. Fayetteville State University is working to bring a very big name artist to their homecoming. The Summer Jam concert that is traditionally held at theFort Bragg Fairgrounds will be at the Crown this year, too. Vince Gill and Amy Grant will perform a Christmas show as part of theCommunity Concerts 75th Anniversary Series.

    “We’ve got an awful lot happening,” said Zacarro, adding that “We’ve got comedian Bill Engvall coming in after the fi rst of the year. ELO — it is called Orchestra now but it is the old Electric Light Orchestra — will be here this year, too. It is an incredible list of shows that we’ve got lined up. Our fall season is going to be just tremendous.

    Keep an eye out or visit www.atthecrown.com. As deals are signed, the calendar will fi ll up quickly and you aren’t going to want to miss a thing.

    Top left: Amy Grant and Vince Gill

    Middle right: Jeff Hardy

    Bottom left: Third Day

  • 19aThe Fayetteville History Museum in downtown Fayetteville is offering walking tours every third Monday of the month, beginning at 1 p.m.

    The walking tours meander through downtown Fayetteville and the Cool Spring area, with a historian from the museum talking about the historical places the tour encounters along the way. They are free for all to attend.
    The Fayetteville History Museum, like most other museums in the area, is closed on Mondays. Historic Properties Supervisor for the museum, Heidi Bleazey, enjoys the opportunity to offer something to the community on those days the museum is closed.

    “We’re here working on Mondays, and sometimes we see folks come to the doors, peek in. This is going to be something to offer those folks and gives Mondays a chance for us to come alive,” she said.
    The tours start right in front of the museum, with a discussion of the architecture of the building. The Romanesque Revival-style building was built in 1890 and was formally the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad depot. The tour then continues through one of the various archways found in downtown Fayetteville and onto Hay Street.

    “We are able to highlight things from all time periods and talk about some of the people who have been a part of our downtown story,” Bleazey said. “We walk by Capitol Encore Academy and talk about Jacob Stein coming here in the early days of the 20th century. He was a Jewish merchant and formed that very famous and wonderful department store, the Capitol, in our downtown.”

    Tour attendees can step into the shoes of a fictional character, John Warwick from Charles Chesnutt’s “House Behind the Cedars,” as they walk through the streets of downtown Fayetteville. The tour focuses on the State House and Market House before continuing to Liberty Point. A stop is made at the LaFayette statue at Cross Creek Park, which is right next to First Presbyterian Church.

    “Sometimes we lollygag so that the 2 p.m bells are going off as we are there,” Bleazey said.
    Occasionally, the tour will go down Maiden Lane, by the Cumberland County Public Library and Segra Stadium, where the guide discusses the history of baseball in Fayetteville.

    “If we are bold and daring and the sun isn’t too scorching, we can head to Cool Springs Tavern on North Cool Springs Street,” said Bleazey.
    The next tour will take place on June 20, and that, Bleazey said, is a very special day in Fayetteville history.

    “June 20 falls on a very historic day in our community’s history. The Cumberland Association, or the Liberty Point Resolve, is a document that 55 patriots signed here near the acute intersection of Bow and Person Streets,” she said. “In 1755, there was a tavern there, and 55 patriots signed a document pledging their lives and honor in defense of liberty. That document, then known as the Cumberland Association, now known as the Liberty Point Resolves, was an early document of independence in our city’s history, our state’s history and our nation’s history.”

    Those interested in attending the tours don’t have to pre-register, although Bleazey said the museum does like a head’s up for larger groups coming together. If rain is in the forecast, the museum staff still tries to provide something for those who wish to learn more about history in the area. If it’s light rain, the tour will continue. On very rainy days in the past, the staff has set up a power point and given a virtual walking tour. Bleazey suggests bringing a hat, sunscreen and umbrella for the tour.

    The museum plans to continue offering tours throughout the fall and may even conduct them during the winter months.

    “We are happy and excited to share and answer questions, point out things that even local residents, long-time residents, who haven’t put two and two together, may have driven past a bajillion times and not really put connections together,” said Bleazey. “I think it’s an exciting thing downtown; I’m glad we can offer it for free and have something on a day when normally we have been closed to the public.”

    For more information about the Fayetteville History Museum, visit https://www.fcpr.us/facilities/museums/fayetteville-area-transportation-and-local-history-museum.

  • 06302010shag.jpgAh, Summer! Nothing says it better than the sounds of beach music, good friends, great dancing and cold drinks. And, if you live in the Fayetteville area, you aren’t going to have to travel far to join in the fun. Shaggers, take out your dancing shoes and get ready for a Summer Workshop Party at the Fayetteville Holiday Inn Bordeaux.

    This year’s Summer Workshop Party will be hosted by the Fayetteville Area Shag Association (FASA) July 9-11. This “park and party” workshop will include a hospitality room with refreshments and drinks, shag and dance lessons, entertainment, vendors and door prizes like a watch or television. The Holiday Inn Bordeaux will provide a 2,040 square foot ballroom dance floor for shaggers anytime they want to dance during the workshop. This is the first time that the Summer Workshop Party has been held at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux.

    “We call it a workshop, but really it’s a big party with 100 shag clubs,” said Kathi Baloyot, of the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs.

    Tickets are $65 for all events and registration can be made at the door or by going online www.shagdance.com/ summerwork.htm. Registration begins at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 9 and at 9 a.m. on July 10. Reservations to stay at the hotel can be made by calling the Holiday Inn Bordeaux, at (910)323-0111, and mentioning the shag workshop. Participants must be 21 years or older to register because alcoholic beverages will be served.

    To date, 300 shaggers have already registered and the FASA is hoping for 400 people by the closing day of registration.

    This summer workshop is one of five meetings the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs holds annually. More than 100 shag clubs are usually present and attendance by at least two representatives from each club is required. However, all shaggers are invited to come out and have a good time.

    Disc jockeys for the event will include Tootie Brown, David Sessions, “Big” Al Pearce, Ricky Price and Murl Augustine.

    “FASA was formed in 1984 with the purpose of perpetuating and preserving the Carolina Shag dance, to promote beach music and the atmosphere surrounding the dance, and to create and maintain an environment conducive to the dance,” said Baloyot.

    FASA is a part of the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs, which was established in February 1984. The founders did not name the club based on location, but rather the Carolinas’ style of dancing.

    The first major event held by the Association of Carolina Shag Clubs was a cruise, with more than 150 shaggers, aboard the S.S. Galileo on March 3, 1984. For more information please visit www.shagdance.com/ home.htm or call Kathi Baloyot at home: (910) 630-1303, or by cell: (910) 818-9521,

  • 17As prices soar across the country, tips on cutting costs when and wherever possible have become valuable information.

    With that in mind, Fayetteville's Public Works Commission is hosting its Power and Water Conservation Expo at Skyview on Hay, Friday, June 24.

    The Expo is a symposium dedicated to giving citizens "the power to save" through helpful tips, demonstrations, a panel of experts and giveaways.
    Though this is the Expo's eighth year, it is the first in-person meeting since 2019 due to COVID-19 precautions. The event coincides with downtown Fayetteville's 4th Friday event to take advantage of the built-in audience and capitalize on an opportunity to reach as many people as possible.

    Open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. to ensure everyone, no matter their schedule, can come to learn about the many ways to conserve energy and save money — the Expo speaks to the service provider's desire to educate and empower their customers.

    "We wanted to create an event that could highlight our services as well as give information and tools designed to help people save," said Carolyn Justice-Hinson, PWC's communications and community relations officer.

    "We have so many helpful programs that people just don't know about."
    Stating that most people don't think about their utilities until the bill comes in the mail, she sees the Expo as an essential educational tool. She hopes it offers some perspective on what it takes to run a reliable utility service.

    For nearly 12 hours, the Expo will offer no shortage of opportunities for people to ask questions and learn the ins and outs of services necessary for day-to-day life.
    The Expo will feature PWC linemen there to discuss power outages, customer service reps will be available to answer billing questions, and specialists will offer demonstrations on new features of the service, such as the Online Energy Resource Center tool.

    Those in attendance can look forward to a few giveaways with prizes that stay on message. Spray nozzles and washers that help conserve water inside their water hoses to LED lightbulbs are just a few goodies people can expect.

    Whether a customer of PWC or some other utility provider, Justice-Hinson feels the importance of energy conservation and how to save money is something from which everyone can benefit and therefore encourages everyone to stop by and learn what they can.

    "We hope as many customers come as possible, but utility usage is universal, and conservation is valuable for everybody."
    And as for the best way to save on those utility bills, Justice-Hinson told Up & Coming Weekly that it doesn't take much.

    "These days, saving everywhere you can is so important. You don't have to make huge adjustments to save money. That's what's great about this Expo; you can pick up practical tips to manage the cost of electricity and water. We hope people will take the time to come out and learn and ultimately save."

    This event is free and open to the public. Skyview is located at 121 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville.

    For more information, visit https://fb.me/e/2xiTfdyzQ.

  • 15Fayetteville Area Habitat For Humanity will host its Framing the Future event at Sweet Valley Ranch on Sunday, June 26, from 4 to 7 p.m.

    The "Kool in Khaki" themed event will feature live musical performances by the Throwback Collaboration Band, a barbecue chicken dinner provided by Mountaire Farms, and door prizes from local businesses.
    While the event's primary goal is to raise funds for ongoing and future Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity projects, current CEO Ron Gunter very much sees it as a celebration. A celebration of all things accomplished and the accomplishments yet to come.

    Gunter also sees this event as an opportunity to say goodbye before his retirement at the end of June.

    Gunter, who came out of retirement to act as CEO in 2019, reflects fondly on his time with the organization and is very excited about things to come.

    "I love what we do here, our mission, and what we're about," he told Up & Coming Weekly. "We have a great, passionate staff and we're very team-oriented. Together we've built over 55 homes, completed over 100 repairs, and we're excited about what we've done and the possibilities of the future."

    Gunter takes his exit at a time of tremendous transition within the organization. Brandon Price, current advocacy and compliance officer and recent law school graduate, is poised to take over as CEO starting July 1.

    Additionally, Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity's geographic service area has expanded to include Cumberland, Robeson, Columbus, Sampson and Bladen Counties, making it the largest land mass affiliate in North Carolina. Gunter is especially thrilled with the inclusion of Robeson and Columbus counties as neither has had the support of a Habitat for Humanity Affiliate before.

    In addition to recognizing the exciting new developments on the horizon, Framing the Future will reflect on one of the organization's most significant accomplishments, the completion of Oakridge Estates.

    Oakridge Estates, located off Old Bunce Road in Fayetteville, comprises 47 homes, nine of which have veteran homeowners, and 15 will house those displaced by hurricanes. The project, which broke ground in the summer of 2019, is expected to be completed by the end of June. Currently, every home in the subdivision is occupied, except for four still under construction.

    For Gunter, the immense pride he has for the project and the people who made it happen is immeasurable.

    "We did this in a remarkable amount of time. Prior to 2019, with hurricanes Sandy and Matthew, almost all of our work was repair work. We've built three homes in Cumberland, Sampson and Bladen County in the last three years — no other new homes were built during that time. To turn that around and build 55 homes in three years, we're very excited to keep that pace and build more homes for families in need."

    To that end, Gunter spoke of a need for more community outreach as the need for safe and affordable housing becomes greater.

    "Single-family housing is our specialty," he explained. "The City of Fayetteville has been a wonderful partner, and we work with churches, several panhellenic organizations and service groups."

    Despite high visibility on a global scale, consistently reliable help is still sometimes difficult to come by and is vital in completing these projects, according to Gunter.

    "We want people to know and realize Habitat is here and involved, and it cannot do what it does alone. We need the community to volunteer, donate and understand that building a whole house takes a lot of time," he explained. "As a brand, we're very well known, but we still need help to create change and affect change in the lives of people in the community. We need more people that will come work alongside us — lots of people are necessary to help make the changes we need to make, and together we can make a difference."

    The Framing the Future event is free and open to the public. Still, April De Leon, Director of Marketing for Fayetteville Area Habitat For Humanity, hopes to attract people who want to get involved with the organization.

    "We're hoping to see county leaders and create potential volunteer partnerships. All of our staff will be there to answer questions about donations, volunteering, and all the ways available to get involved," she said.

    Gunter also hopes the fundraiser will bring awareness to what exactly Habitat for Humanity is and what it isn't.

    "There is a lot of Habitat for Humanity misinformation out there," he said. "We don't just give homes away. Our homeowners have a mortgage, and we're the underwriters, the builders and the mortgage-holders. Habitat homeowners put 300 hours of sweat equity into their homes. Most are first-time homeowners, so 50 of those hours are spent in classes on budget building, property tax, insurance and the ins and outs of owning a home. Most people only see the front side, us building the homes, but we do all we can on the backside to keep the families in that home. Our goal is to help build generational wealth by putting them in a safe, high-energy-efficient home and will last their lifetime — something to leave their children."

    For those interested in donating, there are several ways to do so outlined on the event's website. People can donate items to the silent auction, sponsor a table or become a FAHFH partner.

    From Friday, June 24, until Sunday, June 26, a portion of all sales at Sweet Valley Farm will be donated to Fayetteville Area Habitat For Humanity.

    Another way to support the organization's efforts is shopping at the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Proceeds from all sales go toward underwriting new homes.

    Framing the Future is an opportunity for people to come out, eat good food, listen to good music and enter a conversation about what it means to be a good neighbor.

    Sweet Valley Ranch is located at 2990 Sunnyside School Road in Fayetteville.

    This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. To RSVP, visit the FAHFH website at www.fayettevillenchabitat.org/.

  • 14Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, a 12-man team of U.S. Army Green Berets inserted deep in northern Afghanistan to aid local partisans in their unconventional war against the Taliban.

    Working with officers from the CIA, the Special Forces soldiers helped raise an army of some 5,000 Afghans, in a campaign across some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world.
    Over a course of two months, the Green Berets advised Afghan commanders and directed a massive air campaign to rout the Taliban from power. It was the most successful unconventional warfare campaign in modern history.

    The Americans were dubbed “The Horse Soldiers” by western media reporting on their triumphs. The team’s exploits have been portrayed in the Hollywood movie “12 Strong,” the Emmy-nominated documentary “Legion of Brothers” and various books and monographs.

    A monument to their honor, “America’s Response Monument,” was erected at Ground Zero in New York City, where it is viewed by thousands daily.
    The newly published book, “Swords of Lightning,” is their story, told from their point of view for the first time, with never-before revealed details and insights of the campaign, their struggles, and how close they came to failure and death.

    This story, as written by the Horse Soldiers, has never been told directly by the men who shared the experience first-hand. It has been dubbed a must read for all interested in history and war.

    On June 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the public is invited to hear their story and enjoy a Horse Soldier® Bourbon tasting and specialty cocktails at a fundraising event hosted by the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation at the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Admission to this special event includes a presentation by Operational Detachment Alpha-595 team members Mark Nutsch and Bob Pennington, along with author Jim DeFelice, and a signed copy of “Swords of Lightning.”

    Mark Nutsch, a former U.S. Army Special Forces Major, is a Kansas native. Nutsch served for 24 years in the Army, as an infantry, 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Forces officer with unique combat and leadership experiences. As America’s response to the attacks of 9/11, then-Capt. Nutsch led one of the first “Task Force Dagger” combined teams of CIA, Special Forces A-team (ODA-595), and Combat Controllers into northern Afghanistan.

    Advising the armed resistance leadership against the Taliban and al Qaeda they spearheaded unprecedented Unconventional Warfare operations, while mounted horseback. The “Campaign for Mazar-e Sharif” resulted in the liberation of six northern Afghanistan provinces within weeks. Recognized as the catalyst for the collapse of the Taliban regime and expanded pursuit of al Qaeda terrorists. He is currently involved in efforts to evacuate American citizens and his team’s Afghan allies, aiding their resettlement.

    Featured in various books, museums and as a guest speaker. Nutsch, his wife, and the ODA-595 team are featured in the Emmy-nominated documentary film “Legion of Brothers.” Nutsch is portrayed by actor Chris Hemsworth in the feature film by Jerry Bruckheimer Studios entitled “12 Strong.”

    Bob Pennington, a retired senior warrant officer, served in the Army for thirty-plus years and is a Georgia native. Pennington commanded Green Berets in combat and trained candidates attending the Special Forces Qualification Course.

    Pennington has written military doctrine, as well as lectured and consulted on film, books and military monographs. He was recently inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment and the Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of many combat and peacetime awards, to include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and two oak leaf clusters. Pennington is a recipient of the 2018 MG Shachnow Award (special recognition for combat actions), and the 2014 Bronze Order of Saint Philip Neri (20 plus years outstanding achievement in Special Forces). He also received a Special Commendation from the Governor of Georgia and honored through a State Resolution by the Georgia House of Representatives for his military service. He is a lifelong member of the distinguished Office of Strategic Services Society.
    Pennington, Nutsch and their business partners operate a nationally growing, whiskey distillery brand, Horse Soldier Bourbon at American Freedom Distillery, featuring their double gold award-winning Horse Soldier Bourbons.

    Jim DeFelice is author or co-author of 16 New York Times bestselling books, including “American Sniper” and “Everyman a Hero.” He has written over 50 fiction and non-fiction books. Among his recent nonfiction works are “Every Man a Hero”, a memoir based on the World War II service of combat medic Ray Lambert. The book won the 2019 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award. An international blockbuster with over 5 million sales, “American Sniper” (2012) detailed the life and service of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Made into a record-breaking blockbuster movie of the same name in 2015 starring Bradley Cooper and directed by Clint Eastwood. “Sniper” was followed by two more New York Times best-selling nonfiction works, and a limited television series movie based on “American Wife” (2015) with Taya Kyle is under development in Hollywood with DeFelice as a consulting producer. His work in video games includes “Afro Samurai: Revenge of Kuma” and “Ace Combat: Assault Horizon,” the number one selling air-combat franchise in the world. A winner of the Army Historical Foundation Award for his writing, he lives in the Hudson Valley.

    Tickets to the fundraiser are $75 per person/ $125 couple, and include a bourbon tasting, appetizers, presentation by members of ODA-595 and a signed copy of “Swords of Lightning,” while supplies last. The first 10 who reserve a spot will also receive a custom Horse Soldier® Bourbon glass.

    For event and ticket information, contact the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation office at 910-643-2778 or visit the event website at https://shop.asomf.org/whiskey-and-war-stories.

  • 24Every Saturday from April to December, the grounds of the Fayetteville History Museum transform into a bustling street market full of good food and local crafts for sale.

    City Market at the Museum brings together 25 to 30 of the city’s artisans and makers to create a unique shopping experience for those visiting downtown Fayetteville.
    Vendors at City Market must sell produce, farm products or food from a certified kitchen. If selling crafts, vendors must have had a hand in making them, maintaining the market’s commitment to selling local products to local consumers.

    “I think the City Market is just another important element in the concept of a ‘vibrant downtown,’” said Bruce Daws, museum director. “People have an opportunity to enjoy an outdoor market that offers farm-fresh, local and organic products. It’s also great for people interested in different types of art.”

    Originally a farmer’s market operating out of the parking lot at the Cumberland County Courthouse, City Market at the Museum, as it’s known today, has been in operation on the museum grounds for a number of years.

    The Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum, located in a restored railroad depot, tells the story of Fayetteville’s rich history through a series of engaging rotating exhibits. Recipient of the Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit for historic preservation, the museum itself and its annex give visitors to the City Market a little more bang for their buck.

    “It’s a nice crossover, with the market located here,” Daws said. “People wander into the museum and get another cultural opportunity. They come to buy tomatoes and leave with a little dose of history. It’s shaded; it’s grassy and nicely landscaped. I think it’s just a total experience.”

    City Market at the Museum aspires to be a place where people of the city come together to enjoy the local color of downtown Fayetteville. It’s a place for families to get outside and an opportunity for small businesses to share their offerings with the community.

    “It’s’ a very friendly environment,” Daws told Up & Coming Weekly. “People bring their children and dogs, and it’s nice to see regular customers interacting with their favorite vendors and witness the camaraderie between them.”

    Downtown Fayetteville strives to bring culture, art and support to local businesses through a wide variety of weekly events. Daws sees the City Market as directly in line with those aims and enjoys offering people a new experience.

    “[The market] is just something else in the larger scheme of things. There are lots of restaurants and unique boutiques; this is just another piece of that patchwork quilt that makes the downtown so vibrant and gives it character. For everyone here at the museum, probably the greatest thing to see is people walking around and talking to one another.”

    City Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday.
    The Fayetteville Area Transportation and History Museum is located at 325 Franklin St. in Fayetteville.

    For information about City Market at the Museum, visit www.facebook.com/Fayettevillehistorymuseum/.

  • 06-05-13-race-riot.gifHistory is an ever-important part of our society. Always appreciated in hindsight, it teaches us where we come from as a people and serves as a moral compass on the winding road to where we are going as a nation. Join the Museum of Cape Fear Historical Complex as it displays the informative exhibit of the 1898 Wilmington Race Riots. The display debuted on March 19 and closes June 16.

    An intriguing look into the past, the exhibit challenges one to think about how far society has come and consider the individual choices to be made in order to secure a better tomorrow for future generations.

    The inspiration for the show began after the Arts Council voted to bring the Anne Frank exhibit to Fayetteville. Inspired by her legacy and defi ance against Nazi oppression, agencies were contacted to bring more events to the city in order to lead discussions about diversity. It was that need for people to connect and explore history together that led to the Wilmington Race Riot exhibit. Though many people may not know about the exhibit, The Museum of Cape Fear wanted to feature an event that is relevant to the hearts of North Carolinians as well as the rest of the country.

    In 1877, during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War, Jim Crow laws were enacted throughout the South and were not abolished until the middle of the 20th century. These laws gave privileges to white, elite planters and farmers who favored the Democratic Party and discriminated against minorities. In 1898, the Democrats needed to win the most populated city, which at the time was Wilmington. The problem, however, was that the city’s lawmakers were partly comprised of African-Americans who were educated businessmen and middle-class residents.

    In order to overcome this obstacle, the Democrats planned a strategy to infl ame white men who published newspaper articles calling for the lynching of black men by stating that they were slandering white women. They gained much support from men who felt it necessary to defend these “victims.”

    To respond to these allegations Alex Manly, editor of the Wilmington Daily Record, refuted these claims in another article and stated that some white women actually preferred black men. Using this as fuel for their agenda, the Democratic Party staged a coup d’état, which resulted in a political riot where white supremacists illegally overthrew legitimate elected offi cials of Wilmington. There was destruction of the Wilmington Daily Record and the ousting of several of the city’s leaders. Remembered as the only successful coup d’état in American history, this riot serves as a cold reminder of our state’s past.

    David Reid, administrator of the Museum of Cape Fear Historical Complex is knowledgeable of the event. He said, “It’s important, but not a well known part of North Carolina’s history that does have relevance for today.”

    He believes that the exhibit serves as an invaluable example of how far we’ve come as a state and nation. Experience the Wilmington Race Riot exhibit and see how learning from the mistakes of the past can lead to a brighter future for tomorrow. For more information, call 910.486.1330.

    Photo: 1898 Wilmington Race Riots exhibit at the Museum of Cape Fear Historical Complex closes on June 16.

  • 23Discipline In Action (DNA) Sports Performance LLC, in partnership with Catch These Hands Massage Co. LLC, invites everyone to come down for a unique Father's Day celebration. The third annual Father's Day Footrace will occur at Mazarick Park on June 18, starting at 10:30 a.m.

    Unlike previous years, this year's festivities will include a Debonaire Dad's Walk to honor those fallen. This event will also roll into a Juneteenth celebration.

    The Father's Day Footraces began with Calesio Newman, DNA Sports Performance LLC owner, school teacher and retired pro track and field athlete. Newman, embroiled in a contentious custody battle for his daughter, wanted nothing more than to run outside and play with her.

    After being granted custody, Newman wanted his first Father's Day with his daughter to be a celebration. The Father's Day Footrace was born from there.

    "Our first year, five people showed up," Tiffany Newman, owner of Catch These Hands Massage Co. LLC, said. "We bought about twenty pizzas, had a DJ, and nobody came, but we weren't discouraged. We rode around and gave away pizzas and juice to the homeless. It was bittersweet but an awesome experience."

    From those humble beginnings, the Father's Day Footraces has grown into a massive undertaking for the Newmans and a supportive slew of sponsors, community volunteers and dads from all walks of life.

    "Every year, it's gotten bigger," Tiffany Newman said. "It more than doubles each time, and I'm expecting over 100 kids this year for the foot race and even more for the Juneteenth celebration. I reserved 666 tickets on our event page to represent the 6 protons, neutrons and electrons that make up melanin," she continued. "This event is for everyone, but we're proud to celebrate Black excellence whenever and however we can."
    Kids and their families will be treated to footraces of the old-school variety from 10 to 11 a.m. Newman hopes three-legged foot races, potato-sack races and a little healthy competition will help families enjoy time together outdoors.

    E.E. Smith's Magnificent Marching Machine will lead the Debonaire Dad Walk in a traditional funeral procession starting at 11 a.m. The walk is one of solidarity and is intended to commemorate fallen fathers, who, in giving their lives for freedom, are no longer here.

    Folks in attendance can look forward to a pizza party at noon, tribal face painting, a bouncy house, DJ Scooby, fun cultural facts, spoken word artists, Father's Day swag bags and more.
    The Newmans feel the importance of an event like this cannot be overstated, especially within the African American community.

    "The Black community doesn't have enough fathers available," Tiffany Newman said candidly. "We wanted to create an environment where there are enough dads for everybody. We always want to encourage male groups and fraternities in the community to come out and volunteer some of their time to run races with these kids. And what better way to celebrate Black fatherhood than on Juneteenth?"
    This is the event's second year incorporating the newly minted federal holiday. A family-reunion-style barbecue is set to kick off around 2 p.m. There will be drinks, food, music and fun — all free of charge.

    "This is a party for all of us," Tiffany Newman explained. "I just want to feed my family. You never know who's your family, so we're all family. Enjoy your sister from another mister or your brother from another mother," she joked.

    People are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and coolers. There will be pavilions open for games, dominos and dancing.

    "This is a family gathering, everything is provided, and people are expected to come and have fun," Newman stressed.
    More than anything, the Newmans hope important connections are made during this time of joy and celebration.

    "We want to show fathers some love," said Tiffany Newman. "But I want to hear how much the kids had a good time, made new friends or found new role models. I hope everyone understands that this day is about family, the ones we have and the ones we make."

    This event is free and open to the public. However, donations toward next year's event are accepted. Mazarick Park is located at 1612 Belvedere Ave. in Fayetteville. Tickets can be found on Eventbrite at debonairedadwalkjuneteenthinthepark2022.eventbrite.com.

  • 21 Rock’n On The River concert series featuring Fayetteville’s The Fifth and Stone Whiskey will be held Friday, June 17 at 6 p.m. at Campbellton Landing on the Cape Fear River.

    “We are known for our high energy live shows, and it is a very crowd interactive rock ‘n’ roll experience,” said Roy Cathey, lead singer of The Fifth. “We like to give the audience the kind of performances of the good old days when the bands were on the stage really entertaining the crowd.”

    The Fifth is an 80s rock band that has been in existence for 20 years, and the members are Justin Womble, lead guitar and vocals; Gary Smith, vocals and drums; Jake Tripp, vocals and bass guitar; and Roy Cathey, lead singer.

    “We are a pretty good mixture between modern rock and classic rock,” said Cathey. “We have three CDs out, and we were just recently signed to RFK Media, which is a new label headed by Ron Keel.”
    He added, “Ron was the front man for an 80s metal band called Keel, and The Fifth is the first band that he decided to sign to his new label.”

    “We also have a new video out, and we have just come off of a nine-state tour,” said Cathey. “We have been very busy lately supporting our new EP, which was released a couple of months ago.”
    The band’s hits include “Shake Little Sister” and “Lost.”

    “We will do a mixture of our music, and we are going to play some favorites for the audience to give them a little taste of yesteryear,” said Cathey. “We are going to throw in some Guns N’ Roses, some old-school Van Halen and make sure that everybody has a little bit of something.”

    Some of the greatest songs that are written come from a specific inspiration, and the band’s three CDs have songs that were written about life’s experiences. The song “Shake Little Sister” comes from Cathey spending many years as a DJ in a nightclub. “Lost” is about his experience during a divorce and “Even To This Day” is about dealing with child abuse and was featured on the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy.”

    “So we have really tried to touch on many subjects with our music, and it is not only about partying, chicks, sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll because we always try to put a message behind our music as well.”
    The band is a national touring act, and they also toured in Japan in 2008. They are looking forward to an upcoming tour that is on the horizon.

    “It has been a long time since we played for Fayetteville, and we look forward to everyone getting a shot of The Fifth,” said Cathey. “We are going to give you something for your ears, something for your eyes and everyone will walk away happy.”

    The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 910- 797-7140.

  • 20While the third Sunday in June is typically reserved for celebrating dads, the SouthEast Crab Feast is hosting an event the whole family will enjoy.

    On Saturday, June 18, Southeast Crab Feast will bring their wildly popular low country heritage all-you-can-eat blue crab event to the John D. Fuller, Sr. Recreational/Athletic Complex.

    The event will start at 1 p.m. and continue until about 6:30 p.m. The day will be split into two sessions, each lasting two and a half hours.

    Ticketholders can bring their plates up to a serving station doling out fresh, perfectly seasoned blue crab and then slide over to get a side of fish and chips.

    The SouthEast Crab Feast supports fishers and crabbers of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida who harvest and deliver blue crabs and other seafood within 48 hours of the event. Everything is hot and fresh and cooked on site.

    In business now for over a decade, Jamell Hamilton, owner of SouthEast Crab Feast, initially just wanted to bring the saltwater memories of his coastal South Carolina childhood to a few friends and family.

    “Prior to this business, I was in corporate America,” Hamilton explained. “I would have conversations with people about where I grew up in Hampton, South Carolina, and people were intrigued. They encouraged me to throw a feast in Charlotte. I went home to South Carolina and brought back some fresh seafood to enjoy with friends and family at no charge. I estimated about 23 to 30, and over 100 showed up.”

    Later that same summer, Hamilton organized an event selling out around 150 tickets in just two days. That’s when, he said, a light bulb went off. “I wondered if people in other cities would enjoy the same experience. The following year we did three cities, Columbia, Charlotte and Raleigh.”

    Since that initial feast in 2010, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based business has grown to include stops in about 32 cities up and down the Southeast. Fayetteville has been a popular stop for about the last five years or so.

    Hamilton credits the success of the SouthEast Crab Feast to keeping things simple and delivering a great experience in a family-friendly environment.

    “People love it, and they come to have a great time,” Hamilton told Up & Coming Weekly. “We’re well-organized, I have a great staff, and people walk away with a smile on their faces. We cater to all demographics and celebrate a love for crab. We offer something most people can’t get anywhere else.”

    Keeping ticket prices low is a commitment Hamilton takes seriously. Opting to play jazz music over a PA system instead of offering live music, for instance, is a choice driven by a desire for this experience to not be out of reach for people and their families.

    “If you compare our ticket price to other crab feasts, it’s easily doubled,” he explained. “I wanted to kick the ticket price down so whole families can come out without it being a burden. We make it accessible — if I can walk out and see a table of three generations eating our food, that’s a success.”

    SouthEast Crab Feast events help raise funds for cancer research and treatment organizations such as the American Cancer Society and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

    Adult tickets for ages 12 and up are $38, and kids tickets for ages 5-11 are $15. Tickets can be purchased at https://southeastcrabfeast.com/.
    The John D Fuller, Sr. Rec Center is located at 6627 Old Bunce Road in Fayetteville.

  • 19June is LGBTQ* Pride month, and this year, PrideFest returns to Fayetteville’s Festival Park on June 25. The all day event will feature music, vendors and a drag show along with other entertainment. There will also be a kids’ area with activities such as face painting and balloon animals.

    Fayetteville PRIDE, a local LGBTQ* non profit organization, is hosting the event.
    Katrinna Marsden, the president of Fayetteville PRIDE, is looking forward to the return of the event. With the COVID-19 pandemic, PrideFest 2020 was canceled, and 2021’s events were more scattered and smaller in nature in an effort to be safe while celebrating.

    This year, however, Marsden expects a full crowd at Festival Park.

    “Our first PrideFest in 2018 was at Lafayette Park, and 1500 people showed up. We knew we were outsized from that park from the first year,” she said. “In 2019, we had the festival in Festival Park, and had 5,000 people in attendance.

    The event is the largest fundraiser on Fayetteville PRIDE’s calendar. The organization holds monthly support meetings for the community, has created a Youth Empowerment Group, and works with local charities. The vendor fees and sponsorships from PrideFest help fund the organization’s goals throughout the year.

    “We aren’t just a festival, we are an organization that is year round and our mission is about embracing diversity and about being a support network,” Marsden said.
    Marsden said the festival has hit their capacity for vendors, and that people have come forward to volunteer for the event in numbers they weren’t expecting.

    “We were worried we wouldn’t have enough volunteers, but we have had over a hundred, and people have come up to ask day-of if they could volunteer. We’ve just had an outpouring of support for (the festival), and it makes it really worth it,” Marsden said.

    PrideFest celebrates LGTBQ* acceptance, and Marsden said that can be a huge thing for an LGBTQ* person who may feel alone. She expressed most LGBTQ* people wonder how they will fit into “normal.” By having Pride events, meeting others in the LGBTQ* community, these people discover there is a whole community with similar experiences.

    “It makes you feel like you have a place in the world. We still regularly get people who come up to us as at events, who have found out about us and express to us that they have felt alone. (It’s important) just knowing there are other people out there who support you,” Marsden said.
    Marsden said it takes hours and hours to prepare for PrideFest, and sometimes it can seem overwhelming. But for Marsden and her fellow board members, the outpouring of support from the community makes the long days worth it.

    “Every year we get to hear stories what it means to people, and I think that is the thing that makes it all worth it to us,” she said. “I can distinctly remember the very first PrideFest in 2018, standing there with the other board members crying because so many people were there and they kept telling us how much it meant.”
    Marsden also expressed excitement to see parents supporting their LGBTQ* children at PrideFest.

    “I did not come out for a long time. I didn't figure it out for along time. But looking back, I can see it in kindergarten and first grade, sixth grade. I can see all these things, I don’t know why I couldn’t figure it out,” she said.

    “And then when you see 12 and 13 year olds at these festivals standing with their parents, wearing rainbow gear, it's really exciting.”

    PrideFest will be held June 25 at Festival Park between noon and 6 p.m. The stage will host alternating musical and drag acts, with some Fayetteville favorites making appearances. For more information, or to volunteer or donate, visit www.fayettevillepride.org/.

    Volunteers can register at https://forms.gle/SxAki7yahwUKbtHq9. Volunteers can donate as little as two hours of time, and sign up as an individual, as a family or with a friend.

  • 17 Juneteenth has been a time of celebration since its introduction in 1866. Marking the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth is a proud cultural moment for African-Americans and America as a whole.
    After 250 years of Black enslavement, 100 years of Jim Crow, a 20 year fight for civil rights, and an epidemic problem of systemic racism on a national scale — Juneteenth being celebrated loud enough for everyone to hear feels a long time in coming.

    Officially declared a federal legal holiday in 2021, the city of Fayetteville wasted no time creating an event that shines a bright light on such an important day in American history.

    In partnership with Circa 1865 and Cumulus Media, Cool Spring Downtown District will present the inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee and Praise Party, beginning with a festival downtown on Saturday, June 18, and ending with the Juneteenth Jubilee Heritage Brunch on Sunday, June 19.

    Plans for the celebration have been in progress since early 2022, and all those involved are excited to bring such an important celebration to the people of Fayetteville.
    Up & Coming Weekly spoke with Ashanti Bennet, Director of Special Projects for Cool Spring Downtown District, and Tyrell Walker of Circa 1865, Executive Coordinator of the Juneteenth Freedom Festival. Both expressed their thoughts on what makes this celebration so important.

    "This event feels very timely amid some of the social unrest of the last few years," Bennet shared. "I think there's been a yearning to claim some positive victories for the culture. Juneteenth is not just for Black Americans; it's for all Americans. It's the end of a dark time in our history, and it's a time for people to be joyful. We want to celebrate Black culture in a joyful way where everyone feels welcome and included."

    Walker sees this event as a powerful source of recognition.

    "First and foremost, for us, this is about acknowledgment. A lot of Black history has been overlooked en masse. This acknowledgment from a federal level is about recognizing Black history and what we've gone through as a people — our transition from slavery to freedom is huge."

    Circa 1865 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, empowering, entertaining and uplifting the Black community as a whole.
    Having hosted Juneteenth celebrations since 2018, Circa 1865 was honored to join Cool Spring Downtown District in curating the celebration.

    "They've been part of the planning process all the way through, "Bennet said of Circa 1865's involvement. They've helped every step of the way, and it's been nice to combine our efforts — we're just so excited to be doing this."

    Saturday, June 18 will focus on bringing people together through food and music. Festivities kick off at noon, and attendees can look forward to a full stage show featuring appearances by Grammy-award-winning rapper Morray and Grammy-nominated folk and country artist Amythyst Kiah.

    Also on-site will be nonprofits to share some history about Juneteenth for those not quite as familiar with the holiday.

    "There's an excellent opportunity to learn about this holiday," Bennet explained. "Education and information about its history are so important to see how far we've come, especially in a community as diverse as Fayetteville."
    Local musicians, artists, vendors, bounce houses and food trucks will fill downtown, adding to the atmosphere of joy and celebration. Fireworks will officially end the event.

    "The need to celebrate feels distinctly American," Bennet said. "It will be nine hours of music, fun and food. This event is great for families and a great way to blend history and entertainment together."
    Bennet also sees the Jubilee as an official start to the summer.

    "It's an opportunity to see local Black-owned businesses, support community, support our local nonprofits. It's a good reason to be outdoors and wander around to see friends, grab something amazing to eat, grab a cold beer and sit and enjoy the day," she said.

    Sunday, June 19 will be a more reserved but no less powerful observation of the holiday with the Juneteenth Jubilee Heritage Brunch at Studio 215 in Fayetteville.
    The Juneteenth Jubilee Heritage Brunch will have the honor of hosting Jaki Shelton Green as its keynote speaker. Green, North Carolina's two-time Poet Laureate, is the first Black woman to hold the role — a fact that speaks to the possibility of change and the power of lifting Black voices to tell Black stories.
    The brunch is a ticketed event catered by The Friend's Table, a local Black-owned business. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m.; the event will start at 10 a.m. and conclude around 12:30 p.m.

    "It's nice to have an event here in Fayetteville that gives you a little intellectual stimulation. People can get dressed up, but it's still accessible to the community," Bennet said.
    One ticket option offers a nice boxed lunch for $25; the other offers a full hot brunch, including a cocktail bar, for $50.
    Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra's Jazz Trio will provide entertainment. A short award ceremony will likely take place before the event's end.

    While the Juneteenth Jubilee and Brunch are massive events for the community, they are but a part of the large-scale Juneteenth celebration taking place all over the city and surrounding areas.
    Circa 1865, in response to the holiday becoming federally recognized, has organized a four-day celebration, making it the largest Juneteenth celebration in the country.

    "We want to make Juneteenth as big as possible," Walker told Up & Coming Weekly. "We want to blow the roof off. We have celebrations planned for Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Fort. Bragg and Fayetteville."

    Celebrating Juneteenth in a city such as Fayetteville, which has a high number of Black business owners, seems particularly significant.

    "For me, this is about celebration plain and simple," Walker said. "This is our time to celebrate."

    Though Juneteenth holds special significance in the African American community, Bennet and Walker both agree that the city's celebration of the holiday is for everyone.

    "In our fight for freedom, many people who didn't necessarily look like us still fought beside us," Walker explained. "I see this as a unifying celebration. It's kind of like a birthday party; anyone can come to celebrate — but you still know who the party is for."

    "I want people to be pleasantly surprised at the amount of fun they had," Bennet said, adding to the sentiment of unity. "I'm excited to see some diversity, and I want people to have joy. Joy is at the center of everything we do here. We want to bring people together. There's so much going on in the world; it's important to be gathered in a spirit of joy," she continued. "I think it multiplies."

    To find out more about Cool Spring Downtown's Juneteenth Jubilee and Praise Party, visit https://visitdowntownfayetteville.com/juneteenth-jubilee/.
    For more information regarding Juneteenth celebrations in Hope Mills, Fort Bragg and Spring Lake, visit https://juneteenthfreedomfestival.com/.

  • 15 Judy Dewar moves her hands as she speaks. She’s passionate and thorough. Her mind focuses on the details. This is key to what she does now. Today she wears a cotton purple T-shirt adorned with flowers and butterflies. The shirt is from Cape Fear Botanical Garden and speaks to her love of gardening, flowers and horticulture.

    “It’s really quite pretty,” she says, looking down at the shirt. “My husband bought it for me.”

    Dewar is Chair of the Cumberland County Extension Master Gardeners Volunteer Association. She jokes about the length of the title and that about seven years ago, she raised her hand at the “wrong time” and found herself as chair. For her, this is a joke, of course, as she remarks that gardeners are some of the best people she’s ever associated with.
    Dewar has two pairs of glasses — one on her face and the other resting upon her head. She talks for a minute, stops to feel the frame of one of the pairs, and continues speaking.

    “I am just going to ramble,” she jokes.
    In just a couple of weeks, on the 25th of June, the 2022 Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Spring Gardening Symposium will take place. This title is longer than hers.
    Dewar is busy making plans and lots of calls. She wants to make this year’s event successful. In the height of COVID-19, the symposium drew fewer crowds than it had in the past but is important for the community, she says.

    “We are trying to reach as many people as we can.”

    The symposium will have four speakers and will take place starting at 9 a.m.; doors open at 8 a.m. Speakers will include Doug Tallamy, Bryce Lane, Kenny Bailey and Dawn Adkins-Hurley. There will be about 30 minutes between each speaker, and during that time, there will be 12 vendors that will provide information about horticulture or will be selling items. These items will include herbs, gardening materials, and other things related to horticulture. The botanical garden will be open and accessible to all the symposium participants as well. Dewar and others in her group are hoping for about 65-125 attendees at the event.

    “We are hoping to God that on the 25th of June we will really and truly be up and coming,” Dewar said. “We just want to have a lot of fun. This event is our fun time.”
    The symposium’s purpose is for the association to raise two $1500 horticulture scholarships. The group’s members offer grants to high schools and teachers and sustain local gardens with the funds. Public Works Commission is the main sponsor of the event, which will also include a garden luncheon by Chef Judy — a Food Network winner.
    Dewar’s involvement in the group and the symposium started thanks to her husband, Jack, about 19 years ago. He read about the group in the newspaper and told his wife about it. She called the group up to see how to get involved.

    “I knew nothing about growing anything. The person on the other end of the line said, ‘Sweetheart, neither do we. Come and join us.’”
    The group teaches the master gardeners how to learn acceptable horticulture practices. According to Dewar, the group takes interns, and there’s a three-month class available with a minimal fee about the bible of horticulture. North Carolina State, she says, has put out a book superior to all others.

    “I could go on about it — for this old lady in tennis shoes, there is a miracle every time I see something come up in my garden or yours. I like to think I contribute a little bit to that.”
    The upcoming symposium is open to the public, and Dewar urges all those interested to register ahead of time for it. There will also be raffles at the event that anyone can participate in.

    “It’s geared to everybody who has never grown a weed to those who grow — it’s a whole spectrum. There is no speaker that you won’t get one little nugget of knowledge from.”
    For those interested in gardening or who have been considering it, Dewar offers this advice. She stops for a minute before she doles it out.

    “I often say to new gardeners — just have faith.”
    Dewar smiles and says if it dies three times, she knows to throw it out.

    To register for this year’s symposium, go to https://mg_symposium.eventbrite.com/. Tickets are $75 each.

  • 13 Lights, Camera, Action! It’s fashion with a message. On June 18, Culture Clash will present its fashion show “Unmask the Unseen” at the Destiny Event Center in Fayetteville.

    Culture Clash, founded by Shawna Lathan, is dedicated to tackling HIV and AIDS through education, outreach, morals and Christianity.
    AIDS and HIV disproportionately affects members of the African American community. According to HIV.gov, about 1.2 million people in the United States are infected with HIV. African Americans account for over 40% of all new cases as of 2018 though only making up 13% of the population.

    “Unmask The Unseen” speaks to the secretive and often taboo topic of sex education, sexually transmitted infections and preventative resources within the Black community. “It’s time to talk openly about these things,” Lathan said.

    “We not only want to erase the stigma of AIDS/HIV and STIs, but we also want to address the ignorance that facilitates the spread of these deadly diseases.”
    The creative approach of a fashion show appeals to Lathan’s sense of style and appreciation of the arts, but she also wishes to bring attention to a conversation too often shrouded in shame.

    “Even today, parents don’t know how to talk to their kids about this, and those kids are getting the wrong information from the wrong sources,” Lathan said.
    Representatives from the Sampson County HIV-AIDS Task Force will be present to offer education, information and resources. According to the organization’s CFO, Phillip White, this aspect is the true value of the event.

    “Many people in the community still see HIV/AIDS as an issue that impacts only one type of person,” White shared. “Due to this ignorance, they put themselves and others at risk. Letting everyone know this is still very much an issue, and sharing this knowledge is huge for the community.”

    Radio personality Tammy Renae will act as the evening’s host, and attendees can look forward to a night of carefully crafted elegance. Models wearing beautifully designed clothes will present messages of hope, courage, despair and redemption through choreographed dance.
    Clothes by local and more established designers such as Carolina Fashion Award recipient Sheila Holly and DeLima Designz will be for sale.
    Several local vendors will be on-site, making “Unmask the Unseen” a one-stop-shop for the latest styles and trends. Guests can also look forward to a silent auction, the musical stylings of DJ PJ and a special surprise guest.

    Tickets for the event are $25. The price includes a raffle and a swag bag. VIP tickets start at $50 and include exclusive incentives at the silver and gold levels.

    All proceeds will be donated to the Sampson County HIV-AIDS Task Force to help their efforts to engage, educate and empower the community.
    Lathan hopes everyone in attendance leaves with a spirit to share what they’ve learned.

    “I hope people are empowered and motivated to ‘reach one to teach three,’” she said. “I hope we’ve given them something to think about.”
    A VIP reception will begin at 5 p.m. with the fashion show following from 6 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be sold during the show’s intermission.

    The Destiny Event Center is located at 6405 Camden Road.
    Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.cultureclashshow.com/.

  • 11 Participating Blue Star Museums across the country are offering free admission to military personnel and their families through Labor Day.

    The Blue Star Museums program is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, working with the Defense Department and museums.
    The list of participating museums includes museums from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    “Museums educate and inspire, cause us to wonder and imagine dream and remember,” said Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Participating museums offer military personnel and their families an opportunity to feel connected to their community and to explore the world through the power of the arts, culture and design, contributing to each person being able to live an artful life.”
    The program is open to those currently serving in the military and up to five family members. Those eligible must show their Department of Defense ID card for free entrance to participating museums.

    “The Defense Department is grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and museums across the country who participate in this program,” said Patricia Barron, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy.

    “As an Army spouse who raised three very creative children, I know the importance of these enriching experiences to the lives of military families. Improving the quality of life for our nation’s service members and their families through programs like Blue Star Museums ultimately leads to increased readiness among our service members.”

    While there aren’t any participating museums in Fayetteville, there are a few located just a short drive away. The Averasboro Battlefield Commission, Inc., in Dunn, is part of the North Carolina Civil War Trails Program. The Fuquay-Varina Museums Complex consists of six museums: Centennial Museum, First Fuquay Post Office, "Squire" Ballentine Schoolhouse, Tobacco Barn, Johnson Playhouse and the Norfolk Southern Caboose #375.

    There are also several museums in the program located within a two to three-hour drive from Fayetteville. These include: the Nasher Museum Of Art At Duke University (Durham), the Joel Lane Museum House (Raleigh), the Cape Fear Museum (Wilmington), the North Carolina Museum Of Dolls, Toys, & Miniatures (Spencer), and the North Carolina Museum Of History (Raleigh).

    The Bechtler Museum Of Modern Art, the Charlotte Museum Of History, the Mint Museum and the Wing Haven in Charlotte are also participating in the free program.
    For a full list of museums that are currently participating in the program, visit www.arts.gov/blue-star-museum-map.

    Museums may join the Blue Star Museums program all summer long, so families are encouraged to keep checking the map for museums in their community or on their summer travels.

  • 06-08-11-wizard-of-wonderland.jpgComing direct via a rabbit hole and the yellow brick road, two of fiction’s famous girls meet Saturday, June 11, at Pope Theater for two performances of Dorothy Meets Alice, or, The Wizard of Wonderland.

    The one-act play is the base’s entry into this year’s Army Festival of the Arts competition, so all of the cast and crew are either active duty, retired, Department of Defense civilians, or family members of military personnel. The event also marks a return to theatrical productions in Pope Theater after about a decade.

    “It’s a wonderful family play,” said Denise Heller, the action offi cer for the project with the Family and Morale Welfare Recreation offi ce, which is producing the show. “In the combination of their stories, there are a lot of good lessons learned for kids about tolerance for other people who are different from you, getting along with other people, not procrastinating and doing your homework.”

    The story opens with Judson, played by Sgt. Ben Weathersby, falling asleep before fi nishing a project for school. He awakes to fi nd himself in the Tulgey Wood, borrowed from Lewis Carrol’s “Jabberwocky” poem and used in the play as an in-between place where Wonderland and Oz border. He’s quickly joined by Dorothy, played by Fort Bragg Middle School student Madison Shiffl ett, and Alice, played by Department of Defense civilian Sara Hylla.

    The Cowardly Lion, The Tin Man and The Scarecrow are here, too, along with The Mad Hatter, The Dormouse and The White Rabbit. Together, the two sets of characters learn lessons, help each other and Judson, and evade the play’s villains, The Wicked Witch of the West and The Red Queen.

    Local theater veterans Joyce Lipe and Grace McGrath steal the show as they portray their parts of the witch (Lipe) and the queen (McGrath) with relish and glee. In the play their characters meet for the first time after being longtime pen pals, but Lipe and McGrath have worked together before in local community theater.

    Lipe said she’s excited to help restart a theater program on base, something she was involved with in the past. Even better, her role as the green-faced wicked one is the first that has been more than just rewarding and exhausting.

    “This is fun,” Lipe said. “This is the first time in all the years I’ve been acting that it’s been fun. It’s been fun finding her, being wicked but not evil.”

    McGrath echoed her sentiments about having a good time on the production.

    “The play itself is funny, and then the people we’re working with are a great ensemble,” McGrath said.

    Staff Sgt. Ruben Avila-Burns, the director as well as The Mad Hatter, said the play has appeal for adults as well as children. A fi rst-time director, Avila-Burns hopes the play will win awards in the competition and renew the MWR’s theater program.

    “It’s kind of stressful, for one, because it’s my first time directing, and for a competition,” he said. “And it’s the first time there’s been a play on Fort Bragg for 10 years so, yeah, no pressure,” he joked at a rehearsal in May.

    The director said he hopes for a full house at both performances, which he thinks will help with the competition.

    “When you’re on stage you feed off the energy of the audience,” he said. “It makes the show go faster and brings up the energy of the house.”

    The show will be judged for competition during the second showing, at 7 p.m. All aspects of the show, from acting to lighting, could win an award. In last year’s entry into the competition, a talent show, one of the participants won second overall for best dance, according to Heller.

    For the active duty members of the cast and crew, the competition has more on the line than just bragging rights against other military installations. The annual arts festival is also used as a feeder program for the U.S. Army Soldier Show, which scouts performers and crew members to join its annual traveling entertainment program.

    The show runs at 2 and 7 p.m. at the theater, which is located in Building 372 Virgin Street on Pope Army Air Field. Admission is $5, with family four-packs for $15, and children under 5 admitted for free. The show is open to the public, but tickets must be purchased at Leisure Travel Services on base. For more ticket information, call (910) 907-3617.

  • The dog days of summer are upon us.

    Sure, that’s usually more of a reference to August, but we’re not talking about the heat. We’re talking about the best baseball around — the Fayetteville SwampDogs. Back in action for their 11th season, the SwampDogs are once again poised for a run at the Petitt Cup Championship in the Coastal Plain League. It’s the All-Star Summer of Fun as the SwampDogs will host the CPL All-Star Game on July 17-18, and there’s no better way to spend a summer evening than taking in the best baseball the Cape Fear region has to offer.06-22-11-swamdogs.jpg

    Infielder Eric Grabe is back for his third season with the club, and has brought with him teammates from the University of Tampa. Junior, Cody Davis, has already made his impact felt both at the plate and on the mound, serving as the team’s centerfi elder and closer. Shawn Pleffner has provided a power bat in the middle of the SwampDogs order, while other upperclassmen like Danny Gesick of Shawnee State, Dillon Checkal of San Diego, and Joe Vaskas of Emporia State have all delivered on different nights to keep the dynamic offense balanced.

    Perhaps the biggest reason for the SwampDogs early success has been the quality and depth of the pitching staff. Starters Dom Macaluso and Brandon Browne lead a rotation that has limited opposing offenses, ensuring the offense plenty of opportunities to score, while the bullpen has been arguably the best in the CPL. Headlined by Cory Kent, Michael Anarumo, Derek Brooks and Davis, the relief corps earned six wins and fi ve saves in the opening week, pacing Fayetteville to the early division lead.

    The SwampDogs will host three home games this week, starting Thursday night against the Peninsula Pilots. The first 500 fans into the ballpark will receive a stein courtesy of Miller Lite and Healy WholeSale. We’ll also salute HGTV, as fans can find people to answer all of their home improvement needs.

    On Friday, the SwampDogs continue their rivalry with the Florence Redwolves on Military Appreciation Night. The SwampDogs honor the military every night, but this night will be extra special! The first 500 fans will also receive a visor courtesy of Rick Hendrick Toyota. The 24th is also Dog Day at “The Swamp,” where fans can bring their dog to the ballpark and enjoy the game.

    The week’s final home game will be Monday, June 27, as the SwampDogs play host to the Columbia Blowfi sh on Trunk-or-Treat Night! Come celebrate the biggest, safest, and best community event in October even earlier by dressing in costume and participating in a costume contest.

    Despite twice having the league’s best record, head coach Darrel Handelsman says this might be the best team he’s had in seven seasons at “The Swamp.” So don’t miss your chance to catch the SwampDogs in action at J.P. Riddle Stadium — the best kind of “dog days” this All Star Summer of Fun has to offer.

  • It’s no secret that sports are a big deal in North Carolina but many may not realize that it goes much06-04-14-sports-&-society.gifdeeper than a basketball rivalry. For instance, this year is the centennial of Babe Ruth’s first professional home run, which took place right here in Fayetteville. To complement the centennial and other sports activities in the area, Assistant Professor Alex Macaulay, Ph.D., from Western Carolina University will speak about the subject in a presentation at the Museum of the Cape Fear. Titled It’s Not Just a Game: Sports and Society in North Carolina, the program explores North Carolina’s sports and the wide-reaching effects it has had on the state over the years.

    “People attending this event can expect to learn the integral role that sports play and have played in the lives of North Carolinians. This is a humanities presentation that shares information that causes people to think about the way the past influences the present. During the presentation, people will find themselves asking questions about why, particularly in this state, sports has the impact that it does on our residents. Why don’t we have a professional baseball team? What attracts major sporting events like the women’s and men’s U.S. Open Championships to North Carolina, but in particular, to the Sandhills region?” Leisa Greathouse, the Curator of Education for the Museum of the Cape Fear, said.

    This year is a big year for sports of all kinds in North Carolina. There is the centennial of Babe Ruth’s first professional home run as a paid professional in 1914 and the U.S. Open Championships that are scheduled for Pinehurst this summer. To embrace the convergence of events, the museum has focused on the history of sports in the area in multiple ways. “The museum has been promoting sports in the Sandhills to bring attention to the sports history of the area, and the state. Back in March, the museum created a small panel exhibit, currently hanging in the lobby, that talks about our local baseball history, including how a young George Herman Ruth picked up the nickname ‘Babe,’” said Greathouse.

    Regardless of previous sports knowledge, the program is sure to be interesting for all sports or history fans. “Most sports enthusiasts will be aware of North Carolina’s sports history. Others will be surprised to learn about the significance North Carolina has played in sports. What will not surprise them will be the role sports has played in North Carolina society. I meet many people who associate North Carolina with college basketball, and Michael Jordan, and there are many who think we are sports nuts in this state. At this presentation, they can learn why,” Greathouse says.

    The event is totally free to the public, thanks to a generous grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The event will be on Sunday June 8 at 2 p.m. at the Museum of the Cape Fear. The Museum is located at 801 Arsenal Ave. For more information call or visit http://www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf.

    Photo: Baseball legend Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville. North Carolina is home to many major sporting events.

  • Uncle Sam’s birthday is fast approaching, and that only means one thing — it’s almost time for thegreatest fireworks show of the year at J.P. Riddle Stadium.

    06-29-11-swampdogs.jpgSure, this would be a perfect place for a metaphor for something about lots of baseballs flying out of the ballpark for the Fayetteville SwampDogs, but we’re actu-ally talking about real fireworks to celebrate the birthday of the red, white, and blue. It’s the annual Independence Day fireworks show at J.P. Riddle, and it’s part of the Fayetteville SwampDogs All-Star Summer of Fun.

    Tickets for the July 3 game against the Wilson Tobs are scarce, which includes the tribute to honor America and the fireworks extrava-ganza of the summer, following the game. But there are plenty of chances to see your SwampDogs in action this week as they battle Florence and Morehead City for the first-half divi-sion title.

    On Thursday, come help the SwampDogs go “green” at their fourth annual Green Night as the Edenton Steamers make their only trip to Fayetteville. The first 500 fans will receive a reusable tote bag courtesy of Fayetteville PWC, FAMPO and Restore Warehouse. It’s also Methodist night, so wear your green as part of Green Night to show your support for the Monarchs.

    Keeping with the theme, Friday is Recycle Night presented by DEX. The first 500 fans into the ballpark for the game against the Columbia Blowfish will receive a logo baseball courtesy of DEX, and any fan that brings their DEX phonebook to the ballpark will be entered into a prize drawing. It’s also Opening Night Part II, with tons of games and prizes to celebrate the start of the second half of the season.

    Then on Sunday it’s all about celebrating the birth of America. Gates open at 5 p.m. for the special 7:05 p.m. start time against Wilson, so get to the park early to celebrate everything that is the 4th of July.

    There’s no better place to celebrate Independence Day — or any other beautiful summer evening — than with the Fayetteville SwampDogs as part of the All-Star Summer of Fun at J.P. Riddle Stadium.

    Photo: There’s no better place to celebrate Independence Day — or any other beautiful summer evening — than with the Fayetteville SwampDogs.

  • 06-11-14-ftcc-uncchapelhill.gifThe Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program, housed in the office of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, seeks to admit, identify, enroll and graduate high-achieving, low-to-moderate-income students transferring to Carolina from partnering community colleges.

    Fayetteville Technical Community College became a partner college with UNC-Chapel Hill in the spring of 2011, and since that time, FTCC has had eight students matriculate. This year, the program will have its largest number of students entering class for the fall of 2015 with 15 students.

    “I now feel more confident in my abilities to succeed at Chapel Hill because the C-STEP program has prepared me for the transition,” stated upcoming Radiologic Science major De’Quadre Hart. “C-STEP has given me the opportunity to grow as an individual, to grow academically, and to form new bonds with my cohort group. I have come a long way.”

    The program holistically reviews potential candidates and consistently challenges students to put forth their best efforts to complete their two-year asociate of arts or associate of science degree, while maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average. The majority of FTCC C-STEP students maintain at least a 3.5 GPA. Current C-STEP student Joseph Espinoza offers his views on how to be successful through the C-STEP program: “You have to give up something to get something in return, and you also have to stay on top of your grades. C-STEP is a lot of hard work, but I absolutely love it! I consider the C-STEP group members to be a part of my family, and we are not just one — we are a cohesive unit. And the experience is not just educational. It’s emotional — in and out of school — and the support the program gives you is amazing.”

    “Attending UNC-Chapel Hill will be a testament to my dedication to school, the hard work to stay in the program, and how far I have come,” stated C-STEP student Brandon Perez. “I think about my mom and my family, and this is my chance for my mom to be proud of my accomplishments.”

    According to C-STEP student Erik Carlos II, “C-STEP has given me a more positive attitude and an opportunity to grow as an individual. I have more pronounced self-confidence, and I now look forward to the new opportunities and challenges that UNC-Chapel Hill will offer me. This program has given me direction and a clearer perspective on life. I’m moving forward — progressing — and I now know where I am going.”

    C-STEP currently serves more than 400 students, and more than 200 of those students have already enrolled at Carolina. Interested candidates seeking more information about the C-STEP program should contact L. J. Nelson at FTCC [(910) 678-8205 or nelsonl@faytechcc.edu].

    Stop by the FTCC Campus in Fayetteville or Spring Lake or visit the FTCC office at the Bragg Training & Education Center for a face-to-face tour! Visit our website, faytechcc.edu, to learn more about how FTCC can change your life in positive ways.

  • 06-20-12-drayton-road.jpgDrayton Road is a new rock group in town who are set on making their mark here in Fayetteville and hope make a name for themselves and their city. The four-piece band is more than familiar with the local music scene. Brent Underwood once fronted Nephilym, which was in the past, Fayetteville’s super-group. Taking on the other half of the vocal and guitar duties is Jacob Smotherman who formerly fronted The Evan City Saints. They then recruited Harry Godwin and Nick Peeler to handle the rhythm section. Since then they have recorded a five-song self-titled demo.

    At first Drayton Road might confuse their listeners by their song titles compared to their sound. Four out of the five songs have ridiculous titles aimed to show they have some humor and a carefree side. The actual music speaks volumes, showing they are serious about their business and have what it takes to make it out there in the music world.

    For the band, Fayetteville seems like a great place to start because they believe they can mix in and match the skills of many of the artists performing locally today. Songs like “Coconut Doughnut” and “The Curse of Bob Barker” could easily be a radio single, and that is what the band hopes will happen in the near future. The songs showcase the band’s melodic rock side and carry an upbeat anthem feeling.

    “Coconut Doughnut” has a Sevendust feel to it when the band taps into the more upbeat melodic side. Then Drayton Road gets a little nasty on us with the tracks “Rise of Master Splinter” and “Cleveland Steamer.” These are the heavier songs on the demo. “Cleveland Steamer” has a heavy southern sound and the lyrics on this song could actually make you chuckle some with the band, not at them. “The Curse of Master Splinter” has a heavy Godsmack vibe to the music, but thankfully Underwood’s vocals take them in a different direction and distinguish the piece as an original Drayton Road song.

    “September Skies” is the only song here that is 100 percent serious and rightfully so. It’s a tribute to our fallen heroes and family members, which can be easily relatable here in Fayetteville with Fort Bragg as our neighbor. This is the ballad on the album and a fitting commemoration to those who gave their all for us.

    If you love listening to bands like Staind, Chevelle, and Theory of a Deadman, then this will be right up your ally. You might even hear them on the radio one day.

    The demo can be downloaded for free at http://soundcloud.com/draytonroad. If you like with the demo, you can also vote for the band to win Carolina Music’s rock band of the year award at http://carolinamusicawards.com/cma/vote/.

  •     When Bo Thorp decided to pull an all-star lineup together for the final show of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s 2007-2008 season, she knew what she was doing. The ensemble cast in "Company" is stellar. The production is a fitting end to a successful season.
        "Company," on stage at the CFRT through July, is a sophisticated, witty tale of relationships. The good, the bad and the ugly. The cast tells those tales through a series of vignettes and songs — all from the perspective of Bobby, a single 30-something guy with commitment issues. Don’t we all know a Bobby?{mosimage}
        In this instance, Bobby is brought to life by Greg King. King’s portrayal of Bobby was both comical and thought provoking. On the night we saw the play, he was in fine voice, his comedic timing was on the money and his connection with the character and the rest of the cast flowed easily from laughter, to despair to hope without missing a beat.
        I have to say it was odd watching a play that didn’t move from one sequence to another. The whole story is told from Bobby’s perspective, all during the few moments before he blows out the candles on his birthday cake. After each vignette, we wind up in his living room waiting for the candles to be blown out. For some the idea might be hard to follow, but just remembers — it’s non-linear. You aren’t going from A to B. Keep that in mind and you won’t get lost.
    While there is a chance that Bobby could have come off smug and egotistical, King brought his humanity to lifesize. We saw, through King’s eyes, Bobby’s desire to belong to someone. We saw his loyalty to his friends, his need for their acceptance. We saw a tenderness that keeps Bobby just this side of being a jerk. And King nailed it.
    His friends, a group of married couples whose one overarching theme is their desire to see Bobby happy, are played beautifully by another group of veterans of the CFRT. This cast is a veritable who’s who of local theatre, and it was a delight to see them all on stage at one time.
        One performer who literally grew up on the CFRT stage, Jenny Beaver, has a special place in our hearts at "Up and Coming Weekly." Beaver spent a summer at the paper as an intern. We were delighted to see her put another of her many talents to use in this play. Her comedic timing was flawless, and her connection with her on stage spouse was priceless.
        The audience was delighted with her portrayal of the wife who is obsessed with food, but who won’t eat it; who spends her days in the gym — and later demonstrates her skills in an impromptu wrestling match with her husband. Physical comedy can be bit difficult, but she managed it in fine style.
        Cassandra Vallery, has brought a special light to the stage in several shows this season: "Oliver!," "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and "Good ‘Ol Girls," were among some of her finest work. In "Company," Vallery plays a self-described "square," and when the square decides to let her hair down by smoking a little wacky weed — you can’t help but laugh.
        Of all of the performances in the show, and this is a hard call to make, I have to say that Libby Seymour’s performance as Bobby’s boozy, multi-divorced, wise-cracking friend stole the show. Seymour is a force of nature in this production. Her performance of "The Ladies Who Lunch" was dramatic and poignant. If you go to the play for no other reason than this, it is well worth the price of your ticket. She brought the house down.
    Company has an all-star cast, and in this case all the stars shone bright.

  •     Throughout the month of June, Fayetteville residents have had the opportunity to be exposed to terrific music and support the arts all in one fell swoop. On Sunday, June 29, the last concert in the series will pay homage to our nation’s birth, as the N.C. Symphony takes to the Festival Park stage for a rousing concert whose encore is a fabulous fireworks display.
        The June concert series at Festival Park came into being through a joint partnership between the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, The Fayetteville Observer, the City of Fayetteville and Reed-Lallier Chevrolet. The impetus behind the concert series was Mike Lallier, long a patron of the arts.
        “Mike Lallier’s dream was that every Saturday in June, there would be a concert in the park,” said Bo Thorp, artistic director of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. The CFRT is one of of the local arts agencies that will benefit from the concert series. Last weekend, the cast of the latest show at the CFRT got together with the pianists from     The Keys Piano Bar, to make some beautiful music. Local arts groups receive the proceeds from the sell of concessions during the concerts, so the event becomes a win/win for both the community and the arts.
        “Mike Lallier has always been a patron of the arts in our community,” said Thorp. “He always is willing to help us out.”
        {mosimage}Thorp noted that for a number of years Lallier’s children were very active in community theatre, and even though they’ve moved on he continues to offer his support. “Mike has always been a great supporter of the theatre and of the arts in general,” she continued. “He’s a great citizen of our community.”
        The upcoming concert will include a little something to please the whole family. The symphony will perform a march, “Radetzky March,” written by Austrian composer Johann Strauss I. Although he is better known for his waltzes, the march is one of his most performed pieces. Movie buffs will thrill to the sounds of John Williams’ “Star Wars Suite.”  The collection of music, from all of the Star Wars movies, gains rave reviews wherever it is performed. Wrapping up the concert will a “Patriotic Overture,” which will set the tone for the spectacular fireworks show to follow.
        The June Concerts in the Park series is designed around and for families. Thorp noted, “This is a great opportunity for families to experience the arts without any cost to them. This series allows people to come to these artistic events and be exposed to a wide range of music.
        Keeping with the theme of family, grab your blanket or your chairs and pack up the family and head out to Festival Park at 8 p.m. for the symphony. But leave your four-legged family members at home, as no pets are allowed in the park, and leave your picnic baskets and coolers at home as well. Food, soft drinks, beer and wine will be available — and remember, all funds raised through the sell of these items goes to support the arts in our community. 
  • Up & Coming Weekly’s staff brought home four awards during the national Association of Free Community Papers Awards Contest during the annual conference in St. Petersburg, Fla., May 5-7.

    “This is a really great honor for the Up & Coming Weekly family,” said Publisher Bill Bowman. “These annual awards have entries from hundreds of papers from all across the country. We put our product up against papers that are three and four times larger than we are with huge staffs, and we still left with awards. I think that says a lot about the quality of our product and our commitment to our community.”

    The publication took a first place award in Best Original Writing for an article by Dave Wilson, one of its contributing writers. The article that won Wilson honors centered on closure of Dock’s last year. The article, “Docks: A Capitol Offense” was a two-part article that contained“What We Say in 2010” and “What We Said in 2005,” which was re-run of Wilson’s article written in 2005. The 2005 article predicted the failure of the facility and the financial problems that would be encountered by the city if it invested in the venture. Wilson’s words in 2005 rang true in 2010.

    Bowman garnered third place honors in the Best Original Writing Opinion for an article titled “City’s Crime Spree: What you Don’t Know Can Hurt You.” Bowman is a frequent winner in the opinion category.

    Designer Alicia Miller took a first place award for Best Banner Masthead for her design for the opening of the FireAntz Hockey season. The cover incorporated a hockey puck flying out of the “O” in Up & Coming Weekly. “Alicia is an extremely talented graphic artist,” said Janice Burton, the associate publisher of the publication. “Her covers are always striking and always tell the story. We are fortunate to have her on staff, and are thrilled that she garnered this honor — one of many she has won since she has been with us.

    ”The final award was a second place honor in the Best Agency Ad. The ad, which announced the opening of Panera Bread, scored a hit with local readers as well.

    “I think it’s great that a national chain is garnering recognition for something that it did announcing their arrival in our community,” said Bowman.

  • FPD logo A section of McArthur Road was closed to traffic briefly after a head-on collision about noon Tuesday, according to the Fayetteville Police Department.
    The drivers of two vehicles were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, a news release said.
    Officers were sent to the 500 block of McArthur Road at 12:03 p.m. Tuesday. McArthur Road was closed temporarily in both directions from Rosehill Road to Francam Drive while officers investigated the crash, according to the release.

  • 05-16-13-ftcc.gifLocation, location, location! Fayetteville Technical Community College’s newest Cliffdale Park campus opened its doors in January, bringing “My Community College” to your neighborhood.

    Nestled amidst residential and business areas on the corner of Reilly and Cliffdale Roads, CDPK is convenient to Fort Bragg, Western Cumberland County and established city bus routes. Hundreds of students have already flocked to the new building for in-demand programs including Certified Nursing Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and EKG Monitor Technician courses. These continuing education courses are designed for new high school graduates as well as working or returning adult students and have flexible schedules and reasonable tuition. In fact, students from neighboring states come to North Carolina to take advantage of these courses.

    With 12 classes currently running, local businesses are enjoying the foot traffic from the morning, afternoon, evening, weekend and all-day students. Some courses even have a preregistration website where students can avoid long lines and save a seat in the class in which they wish to enroll. CNA and phlebotomy students can begin their journey by going to www.ftccpass.com where they can view upcoming course schedules, locations and registration information, as well as helpful details about MyCAA, a program that aids with tuition for eligible military spouses. Most of these programs have a clinical component, where students get valuable hands-on training in their field, and many are offered jobs while still finishing up their classes. With two new hospitals opening soon, there is a high demand for trained employees.

    Have you been thinking about a career change? Now, with this new location and training in employment fields that are in high demand, this may be the season for you to take that first step at FTCC. Learn more by visiting our website at faytechcc.edu or stop by our 2201 Hull Road campus to learn more about the many programs offered by FTCC’s Continuing Education division. FTCC offers affordable, high-quality education at locations convenient to you. Make plans to visit FTCC soon to learn how we can help fulfill your educational needs!

    Photo: FTCC recently opened a campus in west Fayetteville at Cliffdale Park. 

  • fayetteville nc logo Candidates for mayor and Fayetteville City Council will answer questions from the public and members of the media at an election forum Thursday morning, June 30.

    The forum is sponsored by the Greater Fayetteville Chamber and will be from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Crown Coliseum.
    Those who attend must enter through the West VIP entrance of the building.

    All the candidates except one have confirmed that they will participate, according to chamber officials.
    The election for city offices is July 26. Early voting begins July 7.

    “The candidates will have a chance to express themselves and give their vision of the city,” said George Breece, a member of the chamber’s Government Relations Committee. He is also director emeritus of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber.

    “We just think it’s important that citizens in Fayetteville have an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates,” Breece said.

    The candidates for city office are:

    • Mayor: Mitch Colvin and Freddie Delacruz.
    • City Council District 1: Kathy Keefe Jensen and Alex Rodriguez.
    • City Council District 2: Shakeyla Ingram and Tyrone A. Williams.
    • City Council District 3: Mario Benavente and Antonio B. Jones.
    • City Council District 4: Thomas C. Greene and D.J. Haire.
    • City Council District 5: Johnny Dawkins and Frederick G. LaChance III.
    • City Council District 6: Peter Pappas and Derrick Thompson.
    • City Council District 7: Brenda McNair and Larry O. Wright Sr.
    • City Council District 8: Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and Michael Pinkston.
    • City Council District 9: Deno Hondros and Yvonne Y. Kinston.

    The forum will be recorded and available for home viewing on the chamber’s website.
    Gary Rogers, a member of the chamber’s board of directors, will serve as moderator.
    Journalists with CityView TODAY, Up and Coming Weekly and The Fayetteville Observer will ask the questions.

    Breece said Tuesday that all candidates have confirmed their participation except Deno Hondros, who Breece said will be in Florida for a family wedding.
    Breece says he expects the candidates to discuss “their vision for the city of Fayetteville and how they can individually make a difference. You have incumbents, and you have challengers. I imagine the challengers will talk about why they feel they would better represent a district than the incumbent.

    “There are some real interesting races here,” Breece added.

  • 06-02-10-shrek4_poster.gifYou know how awful Shrek The Third was? So depressingly awful that Ididn’t even really plan to see Shrek Forever After(93 minutes). From acharming ogre-meets-ogre love story the Shrek franchise slid steadilydownhill over a pile of clichés and story retreads until the high pointof the last movie were the end credits.

    Happily, the latest entry recalls the heyday of the loveableOgre living his own special brand of fractured fairy tale. Althoughthere is not much to discover that hasn’t been discovered morethan once over the course of the three previous movies, at leastthe sweetness is back.

    The tale opens with the story of when Shrek (Mike Myers)met Fiona (Cameron Diaz), which segues into the story of justwhat Fiona’s parents were doing when they discovered thattheir daughter had been “cured.” It turns out that King Harold(John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) were gettingready to make a very bad decision, and only the wonderfulnews of their daughter’s rescue prevented catastrophe.

    Much, much later, Shrek is becoming disillusioned withboth the life of a settled down family ogre and the paparazzo’sobsession with his every word and gesture. So, oncemore, Shrek is dealing with emotional problems stemmingfrom his inability to connect appropriately with thosearound him. At this point, it is all very retread (albeit verycute retread). Send Shrek to a therapist, get that Ogresome Prozac, and we’re out.

    But then things start to get interesting. The cutesinessof the opening scenes quickly shifts to the introductionof Rumplestiltskin (Walt Dohrn), a much bettervillain than whoever it was from the third movie. As anyone familiarwith fairy tales should know, but what somehow escapes Shrek’s attention,is that Rumplestiltskin shouldn’t be trusted. How he missed that fact wheneveryone he knows seems well aware of it is beside the point. The real issue iswhy Shrek, a comparatively worldly ogre, is so easily taken in by a little manin curly shoes who grins like a used car salesman, and does everything buttwirl a black mustache while laughing evilly to telegraph his generallack of trustworthiness.

    Of course, if Shrek wasn’t so easily fooledthe movie would be pretty short. This takesus into a world where he is footloose andfancy free. At least, until he realizes thatmagical little men don’t always have our bestinterests at heart.

    Following his moment of clarity he isstalked by some tricked out witches and meetsDonkey (Eddie Murphy) again for the first time.Rinse, Wash, Repeat. So many sitcoms have donethis to death, but the whole It’s Wonderful Lifepredictability of it all never wears too thin sincethere are so many fun characters to reintroduce.

    As shown in the previews, Puss-in-Boots isnow a pampered housecat and Fiona is a redheadedValkyrie type. As in previous Shrek films,a few new characters are introduced, but recurringcharacters such as Dragon and Gingerbread Man arenot neglected.

    For those of you keeping track, try to pick outMad Man Jon Hamm, The Office’s Craig Robinson,and Kathy Griffin. For those of you not keeping track,just enjoy the fact that Shrek is ending ona high note instead of with the completelyinferior Shrek The Third.

  • FPD logo The Fayetteville Police Department is investigating a sexual assault and stabbing that happened early Tuesday near Santa Fe Drive.

    The department responded to a reported sexual assault around 4:27 a.m. at the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Coalition Boulevard. The preliminary investigation revealed that a woman had been stabbed multiple times and sexually assaulted, police said in a release. The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

    Detectives obtained images from an area business surveillance system of a person of interest as well as the vehicle the person was operating, the release said.

    Just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, police said they had located the person and interviewed him. No other information was immediately available.

    Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective J. Lewis at 910-703-9503 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • Madame Melville, by Richard Nelson, is an enticing coming-ofage play about a lonely 15-year-old American boy named Carl who is06-09-10-madame-melville.gifcompelled into maturity by his literature teacher, Claudie Melville. Madame Melville is making its debut on the Gilbert Theater stage June 10 through June 27.

    The story is told by a man in his 50s who is recalling the memory of the play from the apartment of Madame Melville in Paris. Madame Melville schooled Carl in everything, and while her life was perhaps not what she would truly want it to be she creates a fond memory for Carl which he holds dearly in his heart for the remainder of his life. The part of “Carl” will be played by Topher McLean.

    “I think it’s a story that shows emotional experiences as common human experiences and provides a greater understanding of the adolescence coming of age,” said Marcela Casals, who is playing the part of Madame Melville.

    Casals is no stranger to Gilbert patrons having directed a number of plays at the theater. It is a rare treat to see her on stage, and one the Gilbert faithful is sure to enjoy. “The purpose of any art is to be a mirror of us and look at part of ourselves we many not look at otherwise,” said Casals.

    Madame Melville was originally performed in the Vaudeville Theatre of London, in 2000, and drew rave reviews, particularly for its subject matter.

    “Nelson, in his 100-minute play, intertwines two familiar themes: the sexual initiation of the young and the confrontation of American innocence by European experience. But what gives the play its peculiar charm is the tender collision between two people at different stages of their emotional cycle: Carl has what Henry James called “the hungry futurity of youth” while the messed-up Claudie has the restless solitude of the permanent other woman,” noted Michael Billington of The Guardian.

    The curtain opens Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets will be $10 per person. For group rates and ticket purchases please call: (910) 678-7186. For more information contact the Gilbert Theater at (910) 678-7186.

  • fayetteville nc logo Annexation requests for three properties have been approved, including an 83-acre parcel south of Dunn Road that would be developed as an industrial site.

    The Fayetteville City Council approved the annexations at its monthly meeting Monday night, June 27.
    The request for the proposed industrial site was presented by Brandy Zachery, a civil engineer. The parcel is south of Dunn Road and east of Plymouth Street.

    A request to rezone the property would change it from Cumberland County rural residential and Residential 10 to heavy industrial under the city’s zoning code.
    The property belongs to heirs of Marie H. Whisman and Aom II LLC, a real estate brokerage with offices in Eastover.

    Jennifer Baptiste, a senior planner with the city, said the land is vacant.

    “The reason for annexation is for a proposed industrial site,” Baptiste said.

    The council approved the request on a unanimous vote.
    Two other annexation requests were approved by the council.
    Tumbleweed Holdings LLC, which was represented by Bobby Branch, owns 5.3 acres near Shawcroft Road at Kimsey Lane.

    The King’s Grant community is nearby.
    The request was to change the zoning from Cumberland County Planned Neighborhood Development to Single-Family Residential 15.
    The zoning commission and planning staff approved the initial rezoning, City Planner Craig Harmon told the council.

    “The neighborhood has come together,” Councilwoman Kathy Jensen said. “We’ve got them at the table, and they’re one of the builders. They can help us out.”
    The council had discussed right-of-way concerns about the project at an earlier meeting.
    Branch said he had been unaware of access concerns at the site but that he will work with potential partners to open the right of way.

    “We want to be good neighbors,” Branch told the council. “We’re going to help with King’s Grant on access. … There will be more access built into Farmers Road.”
    Tumbleweed Holdings has no plans to build homes on the land or otherwise develop the property, he said. The swampy 5.3 acres will be used for stormwater control, he said.

    “We determined that that infrastructure there is not suitable for development,” said Michael Blakely of Vacuum Design Services, who spoke on behalf of the project. “This will be part of a larger project that we are proposing — 140 lots by right.”

    The land will be used as a utility corridor and for devices used to reduce pollution in stormwater runoff, which protects area waterways, Blakely said.

    The council also approved a request from Gregory Whitley of MacRae, Perry, MacRae & Whitley LLP to annex eight parcels on behalf of a six-member ownership group. The 16.47 acres would be rezoned from rural residential and Residential 10 under county zoning to limited commercial conditional in the city’s zoning code.

    The properties are on King and Rockfish roads.
    Rick Myskey, who spoke in support of the annexation, said there are concerns about crime in that area and he was asking for more police presence.
    He said the council should review security in the area.

    “We’re right next to a school,” Myskey said.

    Michael Futch covers Fayetteville and education for CityView TODAY. He can be reached at mfutch@cityviewnc.com. 

  • 6162010th_corkyjones.jpgSince 2005 Claudia Swartz has been coordinating blues showcases to give local talent a venue to entertain the community and to give the community another fun event to attend.

    In the past, these events have been held at the library.

    There is a new twist to this event — a few new twists actually. The first is that Swartz is teaming up with The Rock Shop owner Shawn Adkins to bring Fayetteville a bigger and better Blues Showcase. In case you missed it, The Rock Shop (newly christened The Rock Shop Music Hall) has moved to King Street, and while they still have that fun and funky atmosphere going on, there is a lot more space to spread out and relax … and jam.

    “This is going to be a major step up from the library showcases. We have put together a truly great blues show with all the best musicians here in town,” said Swartz. “Hopefully this will get a lot of people in. I am hoping that by bringing this to a bigger venue we can really pack them in.”

    The other twist in this event is that the funds will be used to start a foundation to help local disabled musicians. The funds will be used to cover medical and living expenses for these artists. A few of the people that the foundation is looking to help are Chris Cox, Pat Vines, David “Thumbs” Johnson and Jerry B. 

    “There are so many great artists here in Fayetteville that have suffered tragedies that have left them disabled,” said Swartz. “I just want to be able to help them out in their hour of need.”

    The artists scheduled to perform are names you’ve probably heard before — Robbie Reid Band, Corky Jones, Bradley Muffet, Puncho Forrest, Chris Cox Band, David “Thumbs” Johnson, Willie Bradley, Blues Enigma, Claudia Swartz, Ray King and blues phenomenon Lakota John.

    “Lakota John, the 13 year-old blues kid, is our pride and joy. He just turned 13 in April and he has been a blues musician since he was ten,” said Swartz. “He just sounds so amazing. He sounds like a grown man playing the blues. He is a really charismatic young man and he motivates a lot of young folks. We are proud and happy to bring him out on the big stage at The Rock Shop Music Hall.”

    If you’ve never attended a local blues showcase, Swartz promises that it is is something that you will want to mark on your annual entertainment calendar. “It is a very vibrant scene and I am happy that I can do what I am doing by promoting these terrific talents,” said Swartz. “It is just a wonderful, wonderful, magical show — it will be like a theatrical production. I hope that people will come. The best musicians in Fayetteville deserve support from the community, especially since we are trying to help less fortunate musicians who have played here for a long, long time.”

    The fun kicks off at 8:30 p.m. and lasts until 1:30 a.m. Tickets are available at Edwards Music Company on McPherson Church Road for $10. Tickets will be $12 at the door on the night of the event. For more info give the Rock Shop Music Hall a call at 321-ROCK.

  • fayetteville nc logo Bond packages totaling $97 million could add 3.5 to 4 cents to the city property tax rate in coming fiscal years.

    The Fayetteville City Council on Monday, June 27, authorized public hearings on Aug. 8 on three separate bond packages that total $97 million. They would be put before voters on the November general-election ballot.

    On Monday evening, the City Council voted unanimously to advance the bond packages that would authorize $60 million for public safety improvements; $25 million for street, sidewalk and connectivity projects; and another $12 million for housing projects.

    Jay Toland, assistant city manager and chief financial officer for the city, presented the bond packages to the City Council.

    “As the mayor said, we’ll need to set the public hearings for the bond orders," Toland said.
    While the higher tax rate would not take effect in the coming fiscal year, it would come later.

    “We are looking between a 3.5 cents to 4 cents tax rate increase to support the $97 million, if it all passes,” said Toland. “Each one of these awards you all just adopted will be a separate question for or against on the Nov. 8 ballot. And so, assuming all those pass, we would look to raising … (taxes) to 3.5 to 4 cents.”

    Interest rates would be a factor, he said.

    Councilman D.J. Haire said he wanted to make sure the bond packages are presented to residents so they “will well know what’s involved in the proposed tax rate.”

    “When does that begin?” he asked. “How do we move forward with it? Have you come up with a plan yet that’s been created for how we market to the citizens?”

    Toland said it will be important that community partners help promote the plans.
    City Manager Doug Hewett has said that the coming months will prove significant for the city’s progress as several key projects will be completed.
    Those include moving forward on the proposed $97 million in bond packages, he said.

  • uac063010001.jpg On July 3, 1776, in a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams, one of the Committee of Five who worked to create the Declaration of Independence, wrote:

    “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

    While July 2 was the actual date that Congress approved the resolution of independence, and although most members of Congress did not actually sign it until August 2, Americans celebrate the date displayed on the Declaration of Independence, and each year Fort Bragg offers a July 4th celebration that would make John Adams proud.

    Considered one of the Top 20 Events in July by the Southeast Tourism Society, this year’s event at the Main Post Parade Field begins at 3:00 p.m.,06302010colt-ford-int2.jpgculminating in a fireworks display, “Concert in the Sky,” simulcast on 96.5 The Drive radio, that ends at 10 p.m.

    “We are celebrating America’s Birthday,” said Rhett Stroupe, business manager, Special Events at Fort Bragg’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). “It is a privilege and honor to do it at Fort Bragg with America’s finest. It is a fun family day, where people can relax and get away from everyday stresses.”

    An estimated 45,000 people attended the celebration in 2009, which is open to the public.

    “It’s a very well-received event,” Stroupe said. “We encourage people to come early to beat the traffic.” 06302010fireworks.jpg

    Nearly all of the celebratory activities that Adams recommended will be available. At 3 p.m., authorized vendors and Kiddie Land will open. Country music singer Jamie Tate and the 82d Division All-American Chorus take to the stage from 4:30 to 4:55, and up-and-coming country music and hip-hop superstar Colt Ford follows from 5 to 6 p.m. From 6 to 6:30 p.m., the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, will present a freefall parachute demonstration. Chicago-based rock trio Chevelle will perform from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. After remarks from the commanding general, the National Anthem and flag ceremony, the 82d Division All-American Band will feature the “1812 Overture,” leading up to the illumination of the fireworks display.

    New to this year’s festivities is the Wife-carrying Championships sponsored by Fort Bragg Sports. Open to military and government ID cardholders 18-years-old and over, the competition takes place from 3-5 p.m. Men carry their wife or female partner or women carry their husband or male partner on their backs or in their arms through an agility course.

    “We saw it in Finland on TV and thought it would be interesting and something different,” said Heather Adams, sports specialist with the MWR Sports and Fitness department. “We’ll hold three heats and a final competition with all of the heat winners. We’ll be giving out trophies. Entry is free, and people can sign up on site.”

    Also new to the annual celebration is an opportunity for attendees to “go green.”

    “We’ll have recycling bins for aluminum and plastic products, and we’re asking folks to please use them,”06302010chevelle.jpgStroupe said.

    And of course, no Fourth of July party is complete without great American food.

    “There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, turkey legs, barbecue, water and sodas,” said Stroupe.

    If you plan to attend one of the best birthday parties for America, be sure to leave your pets at home in the air conditioning. Pets and glass bottles are not allowed. Tents and shelters are permitted in the designated area on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Let’s see…“Pomp and Parade”? Check. “Shews, Games and Sports”? Check. “Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations”? Check! Don’t miss Fort Bragg’s July 4th Celebration, a birthday party that would make John Adams smile.

    For more information, call 396-3919 or visit www.fortbraggmwr.com.

  • spring lake logo The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen on Monday night, June 27, voted to table an endorsement of the fiscal 2022-23 budget ordinance passed by the Local Government Commission on June 22.

    Board members said there were several reasons for their decision, including not having enough time to review the final budget before they were asked for the endorsement, saying there were numerical errors within the budget and saying they needed questions answered before they could fully endorse the spending plan.

    Interim Town Manager Joe Durham said the information had been given out previously and the budget was approved after the public hearing was held at the last board meeting on June 12.

    “The Local Government Commission has already adopted the town’s budget, and they are requesting that you endorse the town budget as submitted,” Durham said.

    Durham summarized that the budget did not contain staff furloughs and added a 3% cost-of-living increase for town employees. He also said the budget shows a decrease in the Spring Lake property tax rate from 70 cents per $100 valuation to 65 cents due to the town entering into the county recreation tax district. The additional 5 cents will be reflected in the recreation tax, which will negate the property tax decrease for residents.

    Alderman Raul Palacios asked why the board needed to endorse the budget when it has already been adopted.

    “The LGC having assumed management authority for the town’s financial affairs. The public hearing was held a few weeks ago and the town staff has been intimately involved in the creation, so they are asking for your endorsement and support,” Durham said.

    Palacios identified some line items that he said he could not get to add up, including property tax collection at 98% instead of the 88% of the projections he was calculating.

    “This budget has already been adopted by the LGC and this board has no control over what this budget says, but I cannot endorse a budget when the numbers are wrong,” Palacios said.

    Alderwoman Sona Cooper said she needed more time to look at the budget. The board received the final budget ordinance Monday morning, and board members said they did not have enough time to review it before being asked to endorse it Monday night.

    “My issue is we received the budget this morning and we haven’t had time to review it,” Cooper said.

    The board voted to table the budget for a future meeting.

    Durham also presented the monthly financial report from May, which showed the general fund in better shape than it has been in recent years.

    “We are moving in the right direction showing good budget discipline, and the financial statements reflect that today. This is very good news, but we are still operating in the negative, in the red,” said Durham, adding there is still a need to restore the general fund and the upcoming audit will help give the town a clearer picture of its finances.

    Audit Committee report

    Palacios also updated the board on the Audit Committee meeting held June 9.

    The update included the charges filed against former finance director/accounting technician Gay Tucker. Tucker, who was arrested on June 10, is accused of embezzling more than $500,000 from the town. Palacios said a proof of loss insurance claim has been filed on behalf of the town.

    Palacios also updated the board on several other issues the committee outlined to address the findings cited in the March audit released by the State Auditor’s Office. He said:

    Segregation of duties has been implemented, including for check signers.
    Bank reconciliations are up to date, and the Local Government Commission continues to update the board with monthly financial reports.
    The town is working on a policy handbook with a completion date of Jan. 1.
    The committee is working on an ethics policy for board members and staff.
    The town will work to replace contracted staff. The new budget provides for a 50/50 split of contracted staff and town employees.
    The search for a permanent town manager will begin in July.
    All credit cards are now being held by the town manager. The credit cards are only disbursed when proper documentation is submitted.
    The $9,900 owed as a result of the overpaying of a monthly cell phone stipend has been recovered, and cell phone allowances are no longer provided. This resulted in a $33,000 savings.
    Closed session meeting minutes have been completed and will be on a July agenda for approval.

    The Audit Committee was formed after the Local Government Commission was critical of the town’s response to issues raised in the audit. The commission said the town’s response to the audit report lacked sufficient detail, did not include target dates for completing items, and did not indicate who would be responsible for corrective actions, among other issues. Mayor Kia Anthony, Palacios and Cooper serve as the members of the Audit Committee.

    In other action, the board voted to approve a special-use permit to allow nonprofit activities, a farmer’s market and historic exhibits at the Sandhills Family Heritage Association site at 230 Chapel Hill Road.

    The board approved requested conditions in the motion, including gravel parking alongside the paved ADA parking spaces, natural tree line buffering in lieu of fencing, vendors to only be from Harnett and Cumberland counties and the open-air farmer’s market, which opened in 2007, to operate only on Saturdays and Sundays during daylight hours.

    The chairwoman of the association’s board, Janet Brower, secretary Debra Clyde and treasurer Priscilla Burton spoke in favor of the project during a public hearing. There was no opposition.

    “The next step is to approve the development plan, which will provide more detail than this special-use permit plan,” said David Moon, deputy director of Cumberland County Planning and Inspections.

    The Sandhills Family Heritage Association plans to renovate the existing building with the $250,000 allotment from the General Assembly in the last budget.

    Mayor Pro Tem Robyn Chadwick, Alderwoman Adrian Thompson and Cooper were all complimentary of the renovation, saying they had grown up in Spring Lake attending events and family reunions there.

    Moment of silence

    For the second meeting in a row, Anthony called for a moment of silence instead of an invocation.

    The board voted in May to reject a prayer policy, which would have allowed the mayor to call for a moment of silence, in favor of continuing to pray during the invocation. The board also agreed to invite guests to pray as a way to connect with local pastors and churches.

    At a special meeting on June 21, Alderman Marvin Lackman asked that the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance be said when Anthony skipped that part of the agenda. Anthony called for a moment of silence although Lackman stated Thompson was willing to give the invocation. The board voted to have the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance at that meeting before going into executive session under the general statute for personnel.

    Local lawyer Michael Porter joined the board in that executive session.

  • sessoms The Fayetteville City Council unanimously approved funding Monday night to go toward a housing trust fund that will address the lack of affordable housing in the city.

    The funding includes grants valued at $1 million from the state and more than $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which provides funding for affordable housing, based on need, to municipalities across the country.

    The council also approved nearly $3.4 million in funding toward the trust fund from the American Rescue Plan Act, federal legislation that provides funding to local governments to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The city is using more than $270,000 in local funds to match federal dollars.
    Fayetteville’s economic and community development director, Chris Cauley, said the purpose of the housing trust fund, using various sources of funding that are tracked and reported, is to identify revenue streams and to allocate those dollars, under the direction of council policy, to address affordable housing.

    “It all goes towards the same efforts, it all goes towards the dedicated revenue sources, and then the policies and procedures behind it,” he said.

    Those policies consist of, according to county documents, allowing both nonprofit and for-profit entities to apply for the dollars within the trust fund for the purpose of building affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households.
    Policies under the trust fund will also focus on the creation of “middle housing,” a concept that Cauley defined as residential units in size between single-family homes and multifamily apartment complexes, such as duplexes and quadplexes.

    “We’d be looking to find some things that are mixed income, that are different housing types that help build and grow our communities, but do so while providing for affordable housing,” Cauley said.
    Applications for programs under the trust fund will open in July.

    The city will also provide workshops for nonprofits that are interested in becoming housing developers, Cauley said.

    ‘It’s not enough’

    Even with the funding approved by the council, Cauley said the city has a long way to go toward fully meeting the needs of low-income renters in Fayetteville.
    According to a recent study by city staff, between 2010 and 2018, a 21% increase occurred in the number of renter households that earn below the median household income in Fayetteville.

    Of those low-income households, 75% are cost burdened, meaning they spend 30% or more on their income toward housing costs, such as rent and utilities.
    According to Apartment List, a company that tracks rental rates and lists apartments for lease nationwide, the average monthly rent for an apartment in Cumberland County increased from $964 in May 2019 to more than $1,300 last month.

    “What Fayetteville has done in the past 2 1/2 years has been very clear that (the City Council) recognized that housing availability, housing quality and housing price is a challenge in our community,” Cauley said, referring to local funding toward affordable housing. “But even with all of that, it’s not enough.”

    High rents occur at a time of high inflation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index on all consumer items rose by 8.6%, the highest inflation rate recorded in decades.

    The poverty rate in Fayetteville, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is nearly 20%.

    “It’s hard for kids to achieve academically and think about that next step and job skills training and going to college, if appropriate, or trade school or whatever, if you’re moving from house to house every year because your family’s getting evicted,” Cauley said.

    “Housing is where it starts. This is an economic problem in most advanced economies at this point. We’ve got significant affordability problems, and Fayetteville’s a very, very significant challenge.”

    Other approved funding

    The City Council also approved $1.8 million in grant funding from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program. About half of that will go toward housing, but the other portion will go to other forms of community development.
    Council members also approved a HUD grant worth more than $757,000 that will help people living with AIDS and HIV find and maintain stable housing.
    To further address housing, the City Council decided in May to put a $12 million housing bond up for a referendum for November’s election.

  • 9aState Department of Environmental Quality plans remote public hearing for residents as federal guidelines for safe drinking water change due to new research.
    New federal standards for the safe amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, present in drinking water put an additional 1,700 wells in southern Cumberland County over the limits of a new health advisory, according to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

    The area surrounds a plant operated by the chemical company Chemours, which produces GenX, a trade name for one PFAS. PFAS make up a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in various consumer products since the 1950s, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

    The new health advisory, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week, lowers the safety threshold for GenX found in drinking water from 140 parts per trillion, an interim standard established in 2016, to a final advisory of 10 ppt.

    Two other PFAS, Perflourooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS, and Perflourooctanoic acid, or PFOA, have been lowered from 70 ppt to interim amounts of 0.004 ppt and 0.02 ppt, respectively. These interim amounts will stay in place until the EPA establishes a national drinking water regulation.

    GenX is considered to be a replacement for PFOA, according to the EPA. Another PFAS, PFBS, has a final health advisory of 2,000 ppt in drinking water. PFBS is considered a replacement for PFOS.
    In March, Cumberland County filed a lawsuit against Chemours and its predecessor company DuPont, alleging that they “secretly pumped millions of pounds of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances” with a “blatant disregard” for residents in the county.

    In an emailed statement from April to Carolina Public Press, Chemours said the company was disappointed by Cumberland’s decision to file a lawsuit.

    “Our discussions with the county have included offering different alternative water systems to qualifying county properties,” the company said.

    “We are also working collaboratively with the county and (the Fayetteville Public Works Commission) water to connect impacted Cumberland County residents to public water where feasible.”

    On Chemours’ website, the company says GenX is safe, claiming that the substance is “rapidly eliminated from the body” if incidental exposure were to occur.

    At Monday’s Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting, when county officials presented information on the new EPA health advisory, board Chairman Glenn Adams said the county needs to address drinking water in not just the area around the Chemours plant but in all of Cumberland County.

    “This is just deplorable,” he said. “This is going to hit every municipality all over the state of North Carolina. … Don’t think that ‘Oh, that’s just those folks down there.’”

    Last week, The News & Observer reported that unfinished drinking water in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill is also over the new EPA health advisory.

    New state orders on Chemours

    In light of the new EPA health advisory, DEQ sent a letter to Chemours, requiring the company to revise its plans, in line with the new threshold, of providing new drinking water, or new filtration, to affected residents.

    This update to the state’s order makes the additional 1,700 well users eligible for new drinking water or new filtration.
    Cumberland officials at the commissioners meeting on Monday said people who live near the plant can call Chemours at 910-678-1101 to have their water sampled. Residents can attend a remote public hearing, hosted by DEQ, on a draft permit for Chemours at 6 p.m. Thursday. The draft permit would substantially reduce the PFAS entering the Cape Fear River via contaminated groundwater, according to DEQ.

  • cumberland co schools Six new district-level administrators will help lead Cumberland County Schools in new roles for the coming school year.

    The Board of Education approved the appointments on the recommendation of Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr., according to a school system news release.
    Their appointments follow the retirements of five associate superintendents this summer.

    The new leaders are:

    • Jane Fields, associate superintendent of school support. Fields joined the district in 1996 as a social studies teacher at Douglas Byrd High School. She received her master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University, then earned an education specialist degree in 2013 and a doctorate in educational leadership in 2016 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She most recently was CCS assistant superintendent of K-12 curriculum and instruction and assistant superintendent of secondary education.
    • Jay Toland, associate superintendent of business operations. Toland most recently was assistant city manager and chief financial officer for the city of Fayetteville. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2007 and has worked in the Sandhills area since 2001. Toland previously was assistant finance officer for the Hoke County Board of Education and chief financial officer for the Scotland County Board of Education.
    • Melody Chalmers McClain, associate superintendent of student support services. McClain, who joined CCS in 2004, earned her master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2005. In 2018, she was named assistant superintendent of transformation and strategic initiatives. She was previously and is currently a member of the N.C. Principals Advisory Council; the board of the N.C. Association of Principals and Assistant Principals; and the Governor’s Commission on Access to a Sound Basic Education.
    • Kevin Coleman, associate superintendent of auxiliary services. Coleman joined CCS in 1997 as a teacher at Rockfish Elementary School and became assistant principal at Bill Hefner Elementary School. He earned his master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2005. As CCS executive director of technology when the COVID-19 pandemic led to expanded remote learning, Coleman led implementation of student and teacher support initiatives.
    • Kimberly Nash, executive director of data and accountability. Nash joined CCS in 1994 as a mathematics teacher at Terry Sanford High School. She earned her master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2009 before becoming assistant principal at Gray’s Creek High School. Most recently, Nash was the coordinator of CCS’ secondary curriculum and instruction services programs.
    • Maria Pierce-Ford, executive director of federal programs. Having joined CCS in 1994, she was a biology teacher at Westover High School and E.E. Smith High School, then assistant principal at John Griffin Middle School. Pierce-Ford earned her master’s degree in school administration from Fayetteville State University in 2006. Over 13 years, she was principal at several schools, then was named Title I coordinator of federal programs. She is a member of the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators and National Alliance of Black School Educators.
  • 06-04-14-daughters-of-christ.gifDaughters of Christ Ministry presents a Christian Conference for Women on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux Ballroom at 9 a.m. Daughters of Christ is a Christian counseling and teaching ministry that seeks to assist women “in being intimately connected with Christ through the sharing of his holy precepts in his word and via times of prayer to him.”

    The event is open to women of all ages that would like to attend a Christian conference without regard to their affiliation to this ministry.

    The schedule of the conference entails breakfast from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Vendor table browsing takes place from 7:30-8:45 a.m. The conference begins at 9 a.m. Lunch is served from noon to 1 p.m. Visit the vendor room from noon to 1 p.m. The final session ends at 4 p.m. Fellowship and vendor table browsing follow from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

    The keynote speaker of the event is renowned author and Christian counselor Leslie Vernick. She has been featured on Focus on the Family and her book titles include The Emotionally Destructive Marriage, Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy and Defeating Depression. “I am going to teach how people get their faith from their head to their heart in very practical and ethical ways — especially when their life is going wrong,” said Vernick. “It can be in a traffic jam, while we are burning dinner or when a teenager has a smart mouth.” Vernick added that she will teach how to respond by putting your faith into practice and understanding what God is up to at the moment and how it allows us to grow.

    Vernick will also do a workshop about her book The Emotionally Destructive Marriage. “Twenty-five percent of Christian marriages report a lot of emotional or verbal abuse going on,” said Vernick. “I talk about the emotionally destructive marriage because it is the silent elephant in the Christian home.”

    Vernick added that in the church people often do not like to admit it or talk about it but it is happening. It happens a lot and oftentimes women are told to try harder, submit and get your husband to love you and if you would only do it right, he would not treat you this way.

    “The Christian marriage is supposed to be a picture of Christ and his bride,” said Vernick. “The husbands are instructed to lay down their lives or sacrifice for their wives yet traditionally in church teachings we have been giving husbands a selfish card.”

    Vernick added that what she means by this is that the husband believes that because he is the head of their household it somehow gives him the right to get his way all the time and do whatever he wants and the wife is supposed to comply. That really is not the definition of headship or submission. Sacrificial leadership is the true definition of headship.

    Several recording artists will provide the music and guests from San Antonio will share biblical messages and lead the songs. Vendors will set up their merchandise at the event.

    Tickets cost $80 per person. Registration is open until June 30 and seats are going fast. For more information or a vendor application visit www.daughtersofchristministry.org. For more information about Vernick visit www.leslievernick.com.

    Photo: Renowned author and Christian counselor, Leslie Vernick, is the Keynote speaker for the Daughters of Christ Conference on July 25 and 26.

  • vote yes3 copy Discussion of a plan to restructure the way Fayetteville City Council members are elected has been removed from the agenda for Monday’s (June 27) council meeting.

    The proposal, which supporters hope will be put to voters in a November referendum, calls for five single-district seats on the council, four members elected at large, and the mayor elected at large.

    Currently, the mayor is elected citywide, and all nine council members are elected by district.

    Proponents of the new plan say it will give voters more representation on the City Council because each voter would help choose the mayor, four at-large council members, and a district representative.

    Mayor Mitch Colvin and others who oppose the plan say it would dilute representation by increasing the size of the districts.

    “I have served as both a district representative and mayor, and I believe the district representative model provides focus on the specific issues of the district’s residents,” Colvin told CityView TODAY earlier this month. “It’s impractical to believe we obtain higher-quality education by increasing the size of the classroom.

    This is the same concept of the Vote Yes (plan).”

    Vote Yes Fayetteville is an organization that supports the new plan. Tony Chavonne, publisher of CityView TODAY, is one of several former council members who started the Vote Yes initiative.

    No matter when the issue is discussed by the council, Colvin said it will end up before voters in a referendum.

    “So, at the end of the day, the voters are going to decide whether to approve this or not. That’s not a political matter,” Colvin said Thursday. “The statute is pretty clear, and it says the council will do it. We’re in compliance as far as I know.”

    Originally, the matter was on the City Council’s agenda for Monday the last regular meeting until August, said City Clerk Pamela Megill.
    Megill said City Attorney Karen McDonald emailed her on Wednesday, June 22, and asked her to pull it from Monday’s agenda and switch it to the Aug. 8 meeting.

    On Friday afternoon, McDonald said she didn't think it would be accurate to say the issue was on Monday’s agenda. She said the city manager, city clerk and city attorney evaluate what will go on the meeting agenda and determine what should be taken up at a later date.

    “There are a number of items on the agenda,” McDonald said. “The decision was made to not put it on the agenda and put it on a later agenda. It’s just a matter (that the agenda) was packed, and there were a couple of things that had to go on this agenda. We’re trying to balance the agenda to priorities — what had to go versus what goes another time."

    Freddie Delacruz, Colvin’s challenger for reelection as mayor, said he heard it was the mayor's decision to remove the issue from Monday’s agenda
    McDonald said Colvin was not involved in that decision and dismissed the notion that it is related to the upcoming election.
    The municipal election and runoff primary are set for July 26.

    “I don't necessarily characterize it like that," McDonald said. "As we look at the agenda, it's really what I would call a group decision — the clerk, the manager and I."

    Megill said pulling items from the City Council agenda “happens all the time.”

    Colvin said he does not think the closeness of the election had anything to do with changing Monday’s agenda.
    A petition calling for a referendum on the new voting plan received the necessary 5,000 signatures of registered city voters, meaning the referendum could be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

    Angie Amaro, interim director of the Cumberland County Board of Elections, notified the city that the petition has enough signatures.
    Amaro said Thursday that the last she heard was that the matter would be on Monday’s council agenda.

    Should a decision not be made until August, Amaro said, there would still by ample time to put a referendum on the November ballot.

    “Because the filing for Board of Education doesn’t end until August,” she noted. “You can’t do ballots until all the filing is completed.”

    But the City Council must pass a resolution to put the question on the November ballot if one is to be held.
    Vote Yes Fayetteville says on its website that the new structure would give voters six council members who would be directly responsible to them versus the current two.

    “Most cities in North Carolina have some number of at-large members of their council structure, including nine of the state’s 12 largest cities,” the Vote Yes website says.

    Other elected boards, including the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education and the town boards of Hope Mills and Spring Lake, all have at-large representatives, the website notes. That provides more accountability, it adds.

    The mayor’s challenger, Delacruz, said he helped push the Vote Yes Fayetteville initiative, convincing 50 people to sign the petition.

    “It all boils down to: Do you want six people representing you on City Council or do you want two? It's a no-brainer,” he said. “People read into it like it's some

    kind of conspiracy going on. It's equal on both sides.

    "It actually streamlines the districts better," he said. "That's really the bottom line."

  • fayetteville nc logo The Fayetteville City Council on June 27, is scheduled to discuss projects that would be part of a proposed $97 million bond package to put before voters in November.

    The City Council meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall. It will be its final regular monthly meeting until Aug. 8. A work session is scheduled for earlier that month.

    The City Council will consider an order authorizing $60 million in public safety improvement bonds; $25 million in streets, sidewalk and connectivity bonds; and $12 million in housing project bonds, according to agenda materials from the city.

    During a council agenda briefing on Wednesday, June 22, City Manager Doug Hewett called the referendum on the bond packages “a significant item.”

    Two days later, he said through a city spokeswoman: "The proposed $97 million bond, if approved by voters in November, would allow for significant investments in Fayetteville's infrastructure and operations. The funding could pave the way for the city to pursue key projects in public safety, public infrastructure and housing affordability. Progress made across all three areas has the potential to improve the quality of life for residents by addressing needs directly related to safety and security."

    According to information in the agenda packet, the $60 million for public safety improvements would be used to acquire, construct and equip various law enforcement and firefighting facilities.

    The $25 million for streets, sidewalk and connectivity improvements would be used for street, road, mobility, sidewalk and streetscape improvements, bridges, bicycle lanes, curbs and drains, traffic controls and greenways, the agenda materials say.

    The $12 million in housing bonds would be used for community development programs “to provide and rehabilitate multifamily and single-family housing inside the corporate limits of the city, principally for the benefit of persons of low- and moderate-income’’ the agenda materials say. This would include programs to provide loans or other financial assistance to people and private housing providers.

    The City Council on Monday will consider the adoption of the bond orders. A public hearing on the proposed bond orders is expected to be scheduled for Aug. 8, which is also when a resolution calling for a bond referendum would be considered, according to materials in the agenda packet.

    Should the bonds be approved by voters, an increase in the property tax rate would be needed to repay the bonds in future budgets. However, the city has said that would not be in the fiscal 2022-23 budget just approved by City Council.

    Hewett has said the coming months will prove significant for the city’s progress as several key projects will be completed. That includes moving forward on the proposed $97 million bond referendum.

    “I am excited about the direction we are collectively making as a city," he has said, "and the impact that will have for our residents."

  • pexels Crime tape The Fayetteville Police Department is investigating a shooting Sunday afternoon that left one man dead.

    Officers were dispatched at 12:17 p.m. to the 1600 block of Veanna Drive in reference to a shooting that had just occurred, police said in a release.

    Douglas Mangum, 30, had been shot in the upper torso, police said. He was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries, the release said. His next of kin has been notified.

    Members of the Homicide Unit are investigating.

    Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact Detective T. Kiger at 910-705-6527 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • spring lake logo The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen is expected to endorse the proposed town budget on Monday night, June 27, ahead of the Local Government Commission’s adoption this week.

    The Local Government Commission last year took control of Spring Lake’s finances. The commission had warned town leaders about long-standing financial disarray, concerns about potential budget deficits and investigations into missing money.

    The commission staff put together the proposed budget. The commission and the Board of Aldermen held a joint public hearing on the proposed budget earlier this month.

    The $13.3 million proposed budget keeps the property tax rate unchanged at 70 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed budget includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for town employees. Water rates are expected to be raised by 14% and sewer rates by 5%.

    Also on Monday, the board is expected to receive a financial statement through May from interim Town Manager Joe Durham.

    According to the Local Government Commission comments submitted with the financial summary report for Monday, the town’s general fund is reporting positive revenue over expenditures, and the town was praised for exercising good budget discipline.

    Susan McCullen, director of the fiscal management section of the State and Local Government Finance Division, said there was concern that the general fund will show a negative fund balance. That cannot be confirmed, however, until the audit is completed by June 30.

    “The audit will document the state of the fund balance. If there is a deficit, N.C. general statutes require any deficit to be eliminated in the budget,” McCullen said.

    The board also will consider a special-use permit to allow nonprofit activities, a farmer’s market and historic exhibits as part of the Sandhills Family Heritage Association at 230 Chapel Hill Road.

    The Sandhills Family Heritage Association was incorporated in 2001 and the farmer’s market has existed on the site for several years. It is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with local vendors, produce, music and food.

    In December, the Sandhills Family Heritage Association received $250,000 to renovate the civic center.

    According to the special-use permit to be presented Monday night, the property will be used for nonprofit activities, employ five to seven people and be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The existing building will be renovated and serve as a community resource center with community heritage archives, a warming kitchen, historic exhibits, workshops, office space and room for community events and gatherings.

    “Our hope is to renovate the building and the historic site,’’ said Aimee Jenkins, executive director of the Sandhills Family Heritage Association. “The architecture is not significant, but the activities that took place on-site are. We are hoping to get state and national historic recognitions.”

    Jenkins said the site is of interest to anyone wanting to know more about rural African-American history and heritage and tours are readily available.

    “Our communities worked together and provided farm products to the area. We hope to show those contributions to the state as we have those exhibits at the site,” Jenkins said.

    The board also will receive an update from the Audit Committee and hear reports from various board and staff members.

    The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Grady Howard conference room at Town Hall.

  • pexels Crime tape Detectives with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office are asking the public for help in identifying a man who tried to rob a convenience store in Spring Lake earlier this month.

    The incident happened just after 12:20 a.m. on June 8 at the Circle K gas station at 2820 Lillington Highway. The Sheriff’s Office said a man entered the store, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money from the safe and cash register.

    “When the suspect discovered that the clerk could not open the safe or cash register, he fled on foot in the direction of McCormick Bridge Rd.,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

    The man was wearing a white hooded jacket, black jeans, black and white Van shoes and a black mask, the release said.

    Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Lt. J. Woods at 910-677-5511 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • pexels emma guliani 12366954 Just weeks after a draft option by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked indicating that the high court was prepared to end constitutional protections for abortion, the Supreme Court made the move official and overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, June 24, 2022.

    Immediately after the ruling North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein took to social media to assure residents in North Carolina that women still have a legal right to abortion in the state:

    “I have a message for the women of North Carolina: you still have a legal right to an abortion in our state. North Carolina state law protects women’s reproductive freedoms.

    “This is true even after the Supreme Court today stripped women of their right to an abortion under the Constitution by overturning Roe v. Wade. If we want to keep our freedoms under state law, then we have to elect state officials who commit to protecting them.”

    Gov. Roy Cooper released a statement saying, “For 50 years, women have relied on their constitutional right to make their own medical decisions, but today that right has been tragically ripped away.

    “That means it’s now up to the states to determine whether women get reproductive health care, and in North Carolina they still can. I will continue to trust women to make their own medical decisions as we fight to keep politicians out of the doctor’s exam room.”

    Republican Sen. Thom Tillis released his own statement saying, “This ruling is historic and monumental and affirms my belief that all life is sacred. Each state government and its duly elected representatives will now make the determination about the types of laws they wish to have in place.

    “I, for one, will continue to advocate for commonsense measures that the broad majority of Americans support like protecting life at crucial points of development and prohibiting horrendous procedures like partial-birth and pain-capable abortions. This is a very emotional and sensitive issue for many Americans, and I urge calm and respect for the Court’s decision and hope people who have strong feelings on both sides will voice them peacefully.

    Congressman Patrick McHenry, (NC-10) released the following statement:

    “I join with millions of Americans applauding the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. It is an important step forward to protect the right to life of the unborn and end the tragedy of abortion.

    “Today’s decision also marks a return to our constitutional norm of rights and powers being reserved to the states, and a federal government of limited and enumerated powers.

    “Despite today’s win for the most vulnerable among us, more work remains to protect the lives of those who cannot defend themselves.”

    Democratic candidate for NC District 11 Jasmine Beach-Ferrara said:

    “Even though we knew the decision to overturn Roe was coming, the reality of it is hard to absorb. I feel a mix of anger and sadness. I can’t stop thinking about all of the people whose lives and health are going to be put at serious risk.

    “The decision to get an abortion is deeply personal and often difficult, and lawmakers have no right to restrict that choice. The government should not be in the exam room as a person is making a deeply personal choice. Everyone deserves the right to choose, and as a pro-choice pastor, I will be a vote in Congress to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law.

    “As I speak with voters across the district, the people of Western North Carolina add their voices to the majority of Americans — there is a fundamental belief that people have a right to privacy and a right to choose

    “In America, your rights should not depend on your zip code, and yet that is exactly what today’s ruling means. So many Western North Carolinians, and Americans, have relied on the courts to protect our constitutional rights, and now those rights are under threat. We cannot go backwards. Every race on the ballot matters more than ever now.

    “If elected, I will be a vote and a voice in Congress to restore and protect the right to choose, the right to privacy and the right to equal protection.”

    Republican candidate for NC District 11 Chuck Edwards said:

    “The Supreme Court has now decided that this is a state issue, and I’ll keep working with the North Carolina legislature to ensure that life is protected in our great state.

    “I have always been pro-life, I am pro-life today, and I’ll be pro-life tomorrow.”

    Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Cheri Beasley said:

    “The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and decimate abortion access sets a dangerous legal precedent for our personal freedoms. As the former Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court, I know reproductive freedom is a constitutional right.

    “Washington has shown they lack the courage to act to protect our freedoms. Everyone deserves the right to make their own health decisions without government interference. As your Senator, I will not hesitate to be the 51st vote to end the filibuster and codify Roe nationwide.”

    Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Ted Budd said:

    “Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is a historic victory for the millions of Americans who believe that every life is precious and deserves protection. And it is a victory for the millions of unborn children who may now realize the most fundamental of all human rights, the right to life.

    “The Court’s ruling correctly empowers the people’s representatives in each state to decide how best to protect unborn lives. As a conscience-driven pro-life advocate, I will continue to support protections for unborn children everywhere.”

    NC House Speaker Tim Moore released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs Ruling:

    “Today’s decision from the United States Supreme Court is long overdue and a major win for protecting life! The end of Roe v. Wade rightfully returns authority back to the states to determine abortion law.”

    He continued, “While I remain unequivocally pro-life, the short budget adjustment session does not afford us sufficient time to take up the issue. However, North Carolinians can rest assured that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that current restrictions on the books will be enforced. North Carolinians can also expect pro-life protections to be a top priority of the legislature when we return to our normal legislative session in January.”

    How we got here
    On May 2, the drafted opinion was published in Politico. The opinion was for a case challenging Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

    “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” the draft opinion states.

    Following the leak of the draft opinion by Justice Alito back in May, gatherings and protests were held across the country including in Western North Carolina.

    Hundreds rallied in Asheville and Hendersonville in the days following the draft release.

  • pexels terje sollie 336948 The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be aware of a phone scam.

    The scammers are identifying themselves as employees of the Sheriff's Office and telling whoever answers the phone that they have pending charges for missing jury duty, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

    The caller tells the person on the phone there is a warrant for his or her arrest. To avoid being arrested, the caller says the person needs to provide personal information and Green Dot prepaid debit cards or gift cards to the caller, the release said.

    “Law enforcement will never demand money to avoid an arrest,’’ the release said.

    In previous versions of the scam, callers were asking people to purchase gift cards to pay their bonds. The person was asked to send a picture of the gift card with the code on the back to avoid being arrested, the release said.

    Now the scammers are asking people to text a picture of their identification card, the release said. Once the scammer receives the picture, the scammer sends a barcode. The barcode allows money to be loaded instantly onto the scammer's prepaid gift card, the release said.

    “This new method does not require a picture of a gift card, which previously was an indicator alerting you of the scam,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said.

    The Sheriff’s Office warns residents against sending pictures of their identification to people, saying it could lead to identity theft.

    Anyone who has information about this scam or who has been a victim should contact Sgt. D. Frankart at 910-677-5565 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • pexels Crime tape A bill that would require people convicted of domestic violence offenses to provide their DNA to the state passed out of a state Senate committee Wednesday morning.

    However, the bill differs from a version of House Bill 674 that passed with near unanimity out of that chamber, which would have required DNA collection upon being charged with assault on a female, a misdemeanor charge often associated with domestic violence.

    The change could unnecessarily leave perpetrators of crimes long ago unidentified in communities throughout the state, those in favor of an arrest standard for DNA collection say.

    “Research has clearly shown that suspects arrested for domestic violence often cross over and commit other serious offenses, including rape,” said John Somerindyke, a former Fayetteville Police Department lieutenant who led the department’s cold-case special victims unit.

    “If this bill passes, cases will slip through the cracks. Violent criminals, including rapists, will continue to prey on victims.”

    The revised legislation
    Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson, said the goal of the revised bill is to capture the DNA of those who commit domestic violence and assault on a child under age 12.

    Passing a requirement to collect DNA upon arrest “could put added strain on law enforcement” to collect the DNA and pay for testing without providing the resources to do so, while absent evidence that someone who is charged but not convicted of domestic violence is more likely to commit a sex offense, Britt said.

    Britt’s revision of the bill drew applause from the American Civil Liberties Union.

    “We have serious privacy concerns with the expansion of mandatory government DNA collection, especially from people who have been arrested and are presumed innocent,” an ACLU spokesperson told Carolina Public Press on Wednesday.

    “The amendments to limit the expanded DNA collection to individuals who have been convicted of these charges is a significant improvement; however, we urge further discussion about the privacy issues related to government DNA databases.”

    Bill author Rep. Billy Richardson, R-Cumberland, said with the new version of the legislation, law enforcement can seek DNA under what’s called a nontestimonial identification order, and he expects the language of the bill to be amended to reflect this.

    However, current state rules on nontestimonial DNA collection say only prosecutors can request the DNA, not law enforcement.

    There are more barriers to using a noncustodial identification order, said Jason Arnold, chief assistant district attorney in Western North Carolina’s 43rd Prosecutorial District.

    “I haven’t needed to do one in about 10 years,” Arnold said. “We do search warrants every day, and because there is a lot of overlap, we typically use those rather than seek noncustodial orders.”

    Wouldn’t have helped in dismissed cases
    When Somerindyke led the Fayetteville Police Department’s cold-case sexual assault unit, he examined the criminal histories of 28 cold-case suspects of 51 sexual assaults. Of those, 13 DNA-confirmed suspects had prior domestic violence arrests.

    Among those cold cases was an assault against a woman named Linda. Nearly 30 years ago, she was taken from her job cleaning offices in Fayetteville by three men who assaulted her and left her for dead in the woods of nearby Harnett County. Her assault was known by the spray-painted phrase on the hood of her white Toyota: “3 Horsemen.”

    The state found a match to the DNA in her rape kit after Roy Junior Proctor submitted to DNA collection as a condition of his probation for an unrelated conviction — however, he had been arrested earlier in 2013 for assault on a female.

    Proctor wasn’t connected with Linda’s assault then because state law doesn’t require collecting DNA for the 2013 arrest. Ultimately, his charge in that case was dismissed. He currently is awaiting trial in the Cumberland Detention Center for kidnapping, first-degree rape, first-degree attempted murder and other charges related to Linda’s attack.

    If the current version of the legislation now before the Senate were in place back in 2013, it’s entirely possible that a DNA match for Linda’s case would not have been detected then, either.

    “I can’t believe law enforcement or prosecutors would be on board with this,” Somerindyke said. “There are already dozens of criminal offenses on the books which require DNA collection upon arrest.”

    Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said the Conference of District Attorneys favored the bill in its original form.

    “We still support the bill (of collecting DNA) upon conviction,” West said, although an arrest standard is preferred.

    “The victim (of domestic violence) in many cases is reluctant to go forward, and so, an assault on a female charge is going to be dismissed probably more often in other crimes of violence. Therefore, I think it’s important that (DNA should be collected) upon arrest and not just upon conviction, particularly on that charge.”

    State law currently does not require DNA collection for arrest for or conviction of assault on a female, assault of a child under 12 or violating a domestic violence order of protection.

    “What we’re doing is we’re moving the needle where statistically it has been shown to relate to people who are committing crimes of sexual assault,” Britt said.

    Of course, not everyone who commits domestic violence will go on to commit sexual assaults, West said. “There is a correlation, in some cases and in some relationships, of an escalation of violence to include sexual assault.”

    North Carolina already collects DNA upon arrest for more than a dozen other crimes, including murder, various maiming offenses, felony assaults and many other felonies. The current state law also says the state must destroy the DNA if the accused is acquitted, if the charges have been dismissed or if there’s no conviction or active prosecution.

    Attorney General Josh Stein’s office said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, “The Senate’s version of the bill is an improvement to our current DNA collection laws by adding the DNA of thousands of people convicted of certain crimes to our database.

    “That said, we’d like to continue working to strengthen protections against sexual assault even further by supporting proposals to collect DNA upon arrest for these crimes. Doing so will make our communities safer.”

    Deanne Gerdes, executive director for Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, was far blunter.

    “If, in fact, it passes with these changes, legislators totally missed the point on why this is needed and once again have told women in our state they just are not very important,” Gerdes said.

    “North Carolina had a chance to change all of this. Instead, they continue to let rapists roam among us.”

    Britt said the state Senate could vote on the amended bill as early as Thursday. If it passes, the bill would have to return to the state House for a concurrence vote.

  • fayetteville nc logo Fayetteville’s city manager and city attorney will get pay raises after job performance evaluations by the City Council.

    After evaluations discussed in closed session on Wednesday night, the council retained City Manager Doug Hewett and City Attorney Karen McDonald.
    The closed session followed a meeting that included an agenda briefing for Monday’s regular council meeting at City Hall.
    Hewett received a 2% pay increase while McDonald got a 3% increase, according to a city official.

    “I appreciate council's feedback on our efforts and their continued support in moving Fayetteville forward,” Hewett said in an email.

    “The coming months will prove significant for our city’s progress as several key projects will be completed,” he said. “And we will be moving forward the proposed $97 million bond referendum. I am excited about the direction in which we are collectively headed as a city and the impact that will have for our residents.”

    During the agenda briefing, the council heard presentations on three zoning requests by Gerald Newton, director of development services, and Craig Harmon, a senior planner for the city.

    Presentations on these three requests will be given again Monday evening. Monday’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

    A public hearing is scheduled on each request.

    The first request is for rezoning 16½ acres for a grocery store and outparcels in the Gates Four community.

    The second is for 5 acres and infrastructure on property between Kings Grant and Liberty Hills, according to Newton. Currently, that property is designated for stormwater management.

    The third annexation request is for about 84 acres that would go from residential to a heavy industrial zoning.

    That property is on North Plymouth Street where the old Soffe textile plant was in an area zoned for industry.

    “They want to turn the area into an industrial park,” said Newton.

    Also Monday, code enforcement supervisor Dereke Planter will discuss four properties that the city wants to demolish because the properties have been neglected. The properties are at 862 W. Orange St., 912 Ramsey St., 837 Varsity Drive and 308 Preston Ave.

    Hewett said another significant item on Monday’s agenda is a referendum on bond packages that would authorize $60 million for public safety improvement; $25 million for street, sidewalk and connectivity improvements; and $12 million for housing projects.

  • Up & Coming Weekly heard from The Treblemakers recently. Here is what they have to say for themselves and their place in the local music scene.

    UCW: Who are the band members and what instruments they play?06-08-11-treblemakers_logo_3.jpg

    TM: Doug Skipper plays guitar and sings vocals, Sean Anderson also plays guitar and sings for us. Bob Quintano is our bass/vocals, while Roger Manning plays the drums.

    UCW: Give us a brief history les-son on the band. When and where did you get started?

    TM: The Treblemakers band is a diverse group of local musicians from dif-ferent parts of the United States. We all now live along the North Carolina coast in New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties. The band formed early in the summer of 2010. We are currently performing regionally and playing a split format of electric blues and early classic surf. We also pepper the sets with a few eclectic songs from other genres. Thus far the format has been very well received! Our two guitar line-up along with a dynamic and rock solid rhythm section pro-vides a powerful, lively sound. As a live band we strive hard to perform dynami-cally and with a lot of energy, but we also manage our volume very well. We also do our part in promoting the band and advertising our shows. So come on out to one of our gigs, meet the band and get ready for some high-energy blues and surf! We know you’re going to dig the many timeless surf classics we perform and our brand of lively electric blues is some of the best you’ll hear!

    UCW: How did the band get its name?

    TM: Our guitarist Sean Anderson came up with the name. Our “surf sound” is slathered with reverb and treble, hence The Treblemakers.

    UCW: How would you define your music?

    TM:High energy and fun! It’s fun to play and fun for the patrons to dance party and listen to.

    UCW: Who are your favorite bands/influences on your music?

    TM:Lawrence Welk, The Ventures, Floyd Cramer, Dick Dale, Minnie Pearl, Link Wray, The Man.

    UCW: Do you write your own music and where does that inspiration come from?

    TM: We do! Most of The Treblemaker originals are rooted in old school re-verb saturated surf, spaghetti western sound tracks and spy movie music.

    UCW:If you only had two words to describe your band what would they be?

    TM: Electric Americana! (That’s our band slogan btw.)

    UCW: What are your hopes/goals for the future of your band?

    TM: Our immediate goal is to continue providing high-energy top-notch and fun gigs regionally. We plan to record an original album in the very near future comprised of well written Surf & Instro style music.

    UCW: Where do you see the band five years, 10 years from now?

    TM:Five years from now we will be THE Surf/Instro band in North Carolina! 10 years from now who knows, but we’d love to tour Japan or Denmark?!

    UCW: Where can Fayetteville music lovers check you in the near future?

    TM:July 16 (Saturday) @ The Black Cat Lounge, 2918 Fort Bragg Rd, Fayetteville, N.C., and online at www.reverbnation.com/thetreblemakerssurfandblues and www.facebook.com/pages/The-Treblemakers/174913405862136.

  • PWC logo Fayetteville’s public utility is considering changes to its rate structure to encourage conservation of electricity as well as economic development.

    The Fayetteville Public Works Commission met Wednesday to discuss proposed electric rate options that would take effect after 2024.

    “We conduct biennial reviews of our electric and our water system,” said Elaina Ball, the utility’s CEO and general manager, who presented staff recommendations on electric rates to the commission.

    Over the past several months, Ball said, the utility’s staff has been reviewing electricity costs. On Wednesday, she presented the recommendations of that review to the commission, which include no change in electric rates at this time.

    No action was taken by the board after the presentation, but a public hearing on the proposed new electric rates was set for July 13.
    Ball said the proposed rate changes will be discussed further at upcoming PWC meetings.

    “The changes that we’re recommending – the new additions and updates to our tariffs – are really in support of three of our key areas in our strategic plan,” she said. “No. 1 is conservation. You’ve heard me talk and the team talk – probably exhaustively – about the single-largest tool in our tool bag to help control electric costs. … So we have some changes specifically aligned to conservation and the ability to control demand.”

    One proposed initiative would be a rate tied to economic development designed to attract new businesses and help existing ones expand. The rate would be offered beginning this September.

    Other updated rates would address periods of higher and periods when PWC pays the highest amount for electricity from Duke Energy.
    A solar buyback rate would be applicable to customers who install rooftop solar panels. This structure, which has required two meters in the past, would require only one in the future.

    The solar panels could power a customer’s home or business, said Carolyn Justice-Hinson, spokeswoman for PWC.

    “The provision in this rate is that customers can do this but the credits they receive can never exceed their basic facility charge,” Justice-Hinson said. “It does allow them to have a model that’s more popular for those who want solar and how they get credit for rooftop solar.”

    The staff also is proposing a whole-home rate option intended to help customers who charge electric vehicles at home.

    “There’s a concern that electric vehicles can have an impact on the electric grid,” Justice-Hinson explained. “If they charge (vehicles) during off hours, it will help.

    The basic facility charge would be about $10 higher than the regular electric customer’s.”
    Customers paying the whole-home rate would use electricity mostly during what PWC is calling a super off-peak period – between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

    During those hours, Justice-Hinson said, the cost is a little over 4 cents per kilowatt hour. The cost during peak hours is about 13.2 cents and during off-peak hours, 8.4 cents.
    The whole-home rate would go into effect in February 2023.

    CEO Ball said PWC customers have requested many of the changes.

    “We’re really trying to make our tariffs more friendly and listen to our customers and make the changes accordingly,” she said.
    Other proposed changes to the PWC rate structure include fee reductions for connections, reconnections and meter testing and provisions on cross connections and water shortages.

    As recommended, the initial connection fee would drop from $22 to $20; the initial connection fee after hours would decrease from $65 to $20; the disconnection attempt fee would drop from $22 to $20; the meter testing fee for electricity would go from $50 to $25; and the meter testing fee for water would fall from $85 to $40.

  • 06-22-11-choir-karen-popolle.jpgWhat’s actually more difficult to receive than an invitation to sing at Carnegie Hall? An invitation to sing at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

    But on Monday, June 20, 112 members of the Snyder Youth Choir, a ministry of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, will travel to the nation’s capital for their performance at the Washington National Cathedral on Friday, June 24 at 6:45 p.m. in a very special capacity.

    “It’s a pretty big opportunity,” said Larry Dickens, director of the youth choir. And it’s a pretty big deal. Their performance is part of the 14th Annual Nation’s Capitol Festival of Youth Choirs sponsored by YouthCUE, “a national organization that promotes youth choirs across the country,” Dickens said.

    “YouthCUE encourages youth choir ministry in the church and community through festivals, seminars, newsletters and networking. This is the second year that this festival has invited an honor choir, so we are participating as the ‘Spirit of Cue’ honor choir, which means we will open the festival as the honor choir for a 25-minute concert, and that will be followed by a full grand concert by the festival choir of about 250 singers,” he explained.

    The Snyder Youth Choir will be under the direction of Dickens, with Joy Cogswell, assistant director, as accompanist. Associate Director Dr. Robert Williams will also conduct. Members of the National Symphony will accompany the festival choir, an interdenominational group made up of choirs from across the country.

    The six-day festival takes place June 20-25, 2011, at Western Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C., and the Washington National Cathedral.

    “The National Cathedral is where funerals for heads of state are held. Ronald Reagan’s funeral was held there,” Dickson said. “It’s an Episcopal church, but it was designed to have a place where national events could be held.”

    Part of this very special national musical event is the world premiere of a piece commissioned by Snyder Memorial Church in memory of Billy, Kathy, Connor and Cameron Maxwell.

    “It is a commissioned anthem to honor all four of the family members who passed away in November 2009,” said Dickson. “This will be the premiere performance of this anthem. It’s never been performed before, and the full festival choir will be premiering it.”

    Written by Dan Goeller, the anthem is titled, “I Have Overcome the World” and is based on John 16:33, the first scripture read at the Maxwells’ memorial service.

    In addition to performing, the choir members will also have plenty of time to play tourists during their stay.

    “We’re going on Monday, June 20, and will be there for the entire week, rehearsing Monday through Friday mornings,” Dickson said. “Afternoons will be free, and they’ll be doing some touring in the D.C. area — the monuments, the Smithsonian museums. They’ll be giving a concert on Wednesday night in Baltimore, Md., at the Helping Up Mission, a shelter for homeless folks who are dealing with addiction. We went there about eight years ago, so they’ll be making a return visit. They’ll be leading a chapel service for the overnight guests. On Thursday, they are going to Ford’s Theatre for a production.”

    Dickson noted that support for the choir’s performance has been very generous.

    “The church is paying about 50 percent of everyone’s expenses, and some students are receiving scholarships from our church and community so that many would be able to attend,” said Dickson. “The participation costs for each student are more than $900 for the week. We’ve had tremendous support from the church, church members, and the Connor and Cameron Maxwell Scholarship Fund. At this point, we think between 200 and 300 people from the Fayetteville community will be attending the concert — in addition to the ones who are singing.”

    The Snyder Youth Choir is one of the largest church youth choirs in North Carolina. The members have appeared as guests with the Fayetteville Symphony and state and international festivals, denominational conventions and are featured each year in six performances of Fayetteville’s Singing Christmas Tree. Ensembles from the choir have performed in England, Switzerland and Trinidad and Tobago. This June, the Snyder Youth Choir can add one of the more elusive performance venues and a world premiere to its impressive list of musical accomplishments.

    For more information about Snyder Youth Choir or the Nation’s Capitol Festival of Youth Choirs, contact Larry Dickens at (910) 484-3191 or larryd@snydermbc.com, or visit www.snydermbc.com.

  • Cumberlan Co logo While the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners was being briefed by county staff on the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory for GenX, the company responsible for discharging the chemical pollutant disputes the findings.

    The EPA last week dramatically changed the minimum levels of GenX in drinking water from 140 parts per trillion (ppt) to 10 parts per trillion. The new minimum replaces the state’s provisional safe drinking water goal for GenX established in 2018.

    Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt presented the latest EPA findings to the board during Monday night’s regularly scheduled meeting. Only four of the seven members attended: Chairman Glenn Adams, Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart and Commissioners Jeannette Council and Charles Evans.
    GenX is one of the chemicals used at the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant that has leached into groundwater and the Cape Fear River and contaminated private drinking water wells, especially in the Gray’s Creek community in Cumberland County. The Chemours plant is located on the Cumberland and Bladen County line.

    The board has established providing safe drinking water for the community as one of its stated priorities in the recently adopted fiscal 2023 budget.
    Shutt told the commissioners the EPA final health advisory for GenX affects a current consent order that requires Chemours to provide whole house filtration or connection to public water for any private drinking well that tests above the new health advisory.

    The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality already directed Chemours to revise its drinking water compliance requirements by taking into account the 10 ppt for GenX. According to the state, the newly released health advisory for GenX levels will make about 1,700 more private wells eligible for whole house filtration systems.

    Contacted Monday for a response to the new requirements, Cassie Olszewski, the Chemours media relations and financial communications manager, referred to a Chemours statement released within hours of the EPA announcement.

    “At Chemours, we support government regulation based on the best available science. While the EPA claims it followed the best available science in its nationwide health advisory on HFPO-Dimer Acid (“HFPO-DA"), that is not the case,” the release states.

    It further states, “Nationally recognized toxicologists and other leading scientific experts across a range of disciplines have evaluated the EPA’s underlying analysis and concluded that it is fundamentally flawed.”

    GenX is the trade name for HFPO-DA and is used, along with its ammonium salt, as a polymerization aid in the manufacturing of “high-performance fluoropolymers” used in a variety of products, from cooking pan coatings to electrical wire insulation. DuPont previously marketed the fluoropolymers as Teflon.
    According to the release, Chemours currently uses what it calls state-of-the-art technologies at its sites to abate emissions and remediate previous pollutant releases.

    “We are evaluating our next steps, including potential legal action, to address the EPA’s scientifically unsound action,” the release states.

    The concern of GenX contamination of private water wells in area communities is prevalent among county leaders and staff. Well water contamination ranged 10 miles south and 25 miles north of the plant, according to Shutt.

    “It’s deplorable,” said Adams.

    “In 2017 it was 140 (ppt), now it's down to 10. We need to look at the entire county,” Adams said.

    “We have PFAS in PWC water at higher concentrations,” he said.

    The EPA also listed interim health advisory levels for several other PFAS chemicals: PFOA at .004 ppt and PFOS at .02 ppt. A third chemical, PFBS, did not have significant concentrations in samples taken to date in North Carolina.

    During two rezoning cases involving small lot properties near Gray's Creek, Evans voted against the rezoning because those properties were not connected to water lines and instead relied on well water. Asked why he voted against the rezoning requests, he replied, “GenX.”
    The state DEQ plans to hold community information meetings in July. The date has not been determined. Both the DEQ website and the Cumberland County government website will announce the dates for the information session.

  • pexels Crime tape A Fayetteville man faces trafficking charges after drugs were found in a stolen vehicle in his possession, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

    On June 16, the Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit responded to the 2600 block of Belhaven Road for a stolen motor vehicle, a release said. Deputies found 29-year-old J’Qwan Devon Robinson inside the vehicle, the release said.

    Robinson was processed on outstanding warrants from the Hope Mills Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office, the release said.

    Sheriff’s detectives charged Robinson with larceny of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods. He was held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $10,000 secure bond, the release said.

    Two plastic bags containing 37.33 grams of a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine and two digital scales were found in the stolen vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said.

    On June 17, narcotic agents charged Robinson with trafficking methamphetamine by possession, trafficking in methamphetamine by manufacture and maintaining a vehicle, the release said.

    Robinson received a $100,000 secure bond. His first appearance was at the Cumberland County Detention Center on Monday.

  • fayetteville nc logo The Fayetteville City Council on Wednesday will evaluate City Manager Doug Hewett and City Attorney Karen McDonald during a special meeting.

    The meeting will follow the agenda briefing that is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The purpose of the meeting, according to a release from the city, is to discuss personnel matters regarding an evaluation of Hewett and McDonald.

    The meeting will be conducted in closed session, the release said.

    Hewett has served as city manager since April 2016. Prior to that he was interim permitting and inspections director for Fayetteville. He has nearly 20 years of local government experience in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida, the city said.

    Hewett could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon.

    Hewett just delivered a recommended $249.17 million budget for fiscal 2022-23 that the City Council approved unanimously on June 14. The budget keeps the property tax rate at 49.95 cents per $100 valuation, and the residential solid waste fee stays at $225 for a single-family residential unit. Also, there are no changes to the stormwater fee of $6 per month.

    "There's a list of things he has done," Mayor Mitch Colvin said Tuesday. "We'll get into that tomorrow."

    A former public information officer for Halifax County and the city of Wilmington, Hewett first came to Fayetteville in May 2004 as management services director. That role, the city said on its website, focused on strategic planning and public relations for the city.
    Hewett was promoted to assistant city manager in April 2007, a position he held until January 2012. That was when he became a city manager in Florida.

    McDonald has served as Fayetteville’s city attorney since August 2002. She grew up in Fayetteville and graduated from Pine Forest High School.

    She is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to the City Council and city employees regarding matters that arise during the course and scope of their employment, the website states.

    "McDonald is a member of several legal and civic organizations and is licensed to practice law in the states of North Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas," the city said.

    She was the city’s first assistant city attorney. At that time, her duties included the enforcement of city code violations.

    From 1998 to 2000, McDonald worked as a staff attorney for the Cumberland County Attorney’s Office. Following a two-year stay in Little Rock, Arkansas, she returned to Fayetteville, where she was appointed city attorney by the City Council.

  • OIP Summer made a splash in Fayetteville on Tuesday morning when the city’s newest splash pad opened with a ribbon-cutting.
    The splash pad is outside Lake Rim Recreation Center at 1455 Hoke Loop Road. City Council members joined members of the Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear and Fayetteville- Cumberland Parks & Recreation summer camp participants to cut the ribbon, according to a city
    news release.

    The Kiwanis Club donated $20,000 to build the splash pad, which is zero-depth entry and uses recycled water, the news release said. This is one of 12 public splash pads throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Access is free. Hours and contact information are posted online. The splash pad is one of several recreation additions in west Fayetteville, the news release said. About four miles from the pad, the Bill Crisp Senior Center is under construction beside
    Lake Rim. It is scheduled to open later this summer.

    Other recreation projects underway in the city include the expansion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, a new tennis center at Mazarick Park, and Mable C. Smith Park, according to the release.

  • 9Fayetteville has a new budget for fiscal year 2023.

    The City Council unanimously approved the budget Monday night, June 13, forging ahead with little disagreement over Fayetteville’s financial planning for the next year.

    The property tax rate will stay the same at 49.95 cents per $100 of property valuation.

    The city’s solid waste fee will remain at an annual rate of $225 per single-family residential unit.

    City officials previously considered increasing the trash fee several months ago.

    The final value of the approved budget is more than $249 million, a slight increase from the slightly more than $248 million initial proposal introduced to council members last month.
    Public comments on city vision

    While no one spoke at the public hearing on the budget ahead of the council vote, speakers at Monday’s general public comment period of the council meeting addressed the vision of city government, urging the council to better address systemic racism and inequality in Fayetteville.

    Several speakers addressed gun violence and police brutality, particularly an incident in January when Jeffrey Hash, an off-duty Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy, shot and killed Jason Walker, an unarmed Black man.
    The N.C. Conference of District Attorneys decided in April not to press charges against Hash, arguing that the incident was a case of self-defense under North Carolina law.

    “This council should be championing economic justice, racial justice, equity and health care and independent oversight of the Fayetteville Police Department,” said Shaun McMillan, co-founder of Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Task Force, during the public hearing.

    “The majority of you should be forging ahead on policy that boldly and unapologetically dismantles the systemic faults that perpetuate inequality in your city. We need accountability, transparency, justice, policy and change.”

    Changes to budget

    After the budget was presented in late May, the City Council met three times to discuss and make alterations.

    The city added $865,000 to the general fund, appropriated from various other parts of the budget.

    The added money will increase funding for at-risk youth programs, workforce initiatives, community beautification programs and resurfacing of the walking trail at Lake Rim Park.

    It will also add about $500,000 in increased payment to temporary, seasonal workers, increasing their minimum wage to $15 an hour.
    While there were some initial disagreements about this change, the council ultimately approved it unanimously.

  • FOrt Bragg signEditor’s note:This story has been updated. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command is double-checking the location where the incident occurred.

    A soldier assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School died Sunday after being struck by a vehicle on an interstate in Duplin County, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said in a release.

    The soldier, whose name was not released, was participating in a training exercise when he was identified as needing medical treatment, the release said.

    Womack Army Medical Center, which had limited beds, made arrangements to send the soldier to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, the release said.

    While en route to Camp Lejeune, the soldier exited the vehicle and was struck by oncoming traffic, the release said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The incident remains under investigation.

  • EPA logo The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released national drinking water health advisories for four PFAS chemicals including GenX, which has plagued private well water supplies near the Chemours plant off N.C. 87 at the Bladen and Cumberland County line.

    The EPA release includes interim health advisories for PFOA and PFOS and final health advisories for GenX and PFBS.

    The EPA lists the health advisory level for GenX chemicals of 10 parts per trillion, and for PFBS at 2,000 parts per trillion.

    The EPA drinking water health advisory released Wednesday for GenX replaces the 2018 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services provisional drinking water health goal of 140 parts per trillion.

    GenX is the trade name for a chemical component of a larger collection of man-made chemicals known as per- and polyflouroalkyl substances or PFAS. Manufacturers use GenX, a replacement for some PFAS, to produce nonstick coatings, pizza boxes and a number of other consumer goods. GenX also can be a byproduct of some manufacturing processes.

    For years, Chemours has discharged GenX into the Cape Fear River and the air. Groundwater and well testing revealed that Genx has contaminated the drinking water supply for much of Cumberland County’s Gray’s Creek community. Well contamination also has been discovered 25 miles from the Chemours plant, in an area between the towns of Falcon and Wade.

     The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality obtained a consent order that requires Chemours to test private wells for PFAS if they are located within a certain distance of the plant or the Cape Fear River.

    The order requires Chemours to provide whole-house filtration for private drinking water wells that contain concentrations of GenX greater than the recommended levels in the newly released health advisories. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality also requires Chemours to keep affected residents informed about all of the available options for testing and filtration.
    The DEQ estimates that more than 1,700 additional private well users are now eligible for whole house filtration systems or connection to a safe public water supply.

    GenX and other PFAS have been associated with several types of cancer, liver disease, high cholesterol, low birth weight, immune system disorders and other diseases

    The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday is scheduled to get the latest update on the EPA results as part of its regular monthly meeting. The county administration is keeping the affected population informed about the presence of GenX and any other compounds produced by Chemours that have leached into the Cape Fear River and nearby drinking water wells.

    The board meets at 6:45 p.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.

    The board recently hired an engineering firm to complete an engineering report for extending water lines in the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District. The project is among the board’s top priorities and is funded in the fiscal 2023 budget. The county is working on extending water to two elementary schools and homeowners with contaminated drinking water wells and has unsuccessfully sought the Fayetteville Public Works Commission's inclusion in the project. PWC did participate in paying for the engineering study.

    The EPA also invited states and U.S. territories to apply for $1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant money to fix PFAS and other drinking water contaminants. The $1 billion would be the first of $5 billion available in grant funding, specifically for small or disadvantaged communities.

    A news release from the Southern Environmental Law Center said the EPA drinking water health advisories for GenX and other PFAS show the need for EPA and state agencies to enforce existing laws against polluters.

  • juneteenth The inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee was a big success over the weekend for the city and its co-sponsor, the Cool Spring Downtown District, according to organizers of the celebration.
    The jubilee was a first for Fayetteville tie-in to the federal holiday that commemorates the abolishment of slavery in the United States. It also was observed as a city holiday for the first time on Monday.
    Bianca Shoneman, president and CEO of Cool Spring Downtown District, called the festival “absolutely” successful. She said feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

    “We had two full days (with) … three different events,” she said.

    “Many of the vendors that attended the Saturday event (reported) strong sales,” Shoneman said. “(They were) pleased with management and communication from the managing partner and in general had a good experience. Enjoyed the diversity of the music. Enjoyed the day as a whole, the spirit of it overall.”

    An estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people attended Saturday’s part of the two-day jubilee at Festival Park. The entertainment included saxophonist Reggie Codrington of Fayetteville; the musically diverse Diwali Cissokho and Kaira Ba; the funk-based Fatback Band of Fayetteville; Americana singer-songwriter Amethyst Kiah; and hip-hop artist Morray, another native son who is perhaps best known for the song Quicksand from 2020.
    Cumulus Media of Fayetteville oversaw Sunday’s Praise Party in the Park, which concluded with a performance by acclaimed gospel singer and minister Donnie McClurkin.

    Early Monday afternoon, Shoneman said she had not yet spoken with a representative of the radio group.
    Phone messages left Monday with Cumulus were not returned, but Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin and City Councilman D.J. Haire both said they were told that a crowd of about 15,000 filled Festival Park for the Sunday proceedings.

    “It was full,” Colvin said. “That’s what I was told.”

    Last week, Shoneman had said she hoped Juneteenth Jubilee would draw about 10,000 people.

    “I didn’t attend all of the events,” Colvin said Monday. “What I did attend, I was very impressed. It looked like people were enjoying themselves, and I think that was the intent of the council. I really went to Praise in the Park. It was very good.”

    The mayor said he has no complaints.

    “It really showed that the city of Fayetteville is diverse, and it also showed that entertainment is desired,” Colvin said. “I’m not aware of any major incidents down there. I think that was groundbreaking to show that we can have a lot of people in a space without any issues from different types of music.

    “They had a really diverse selection of entertainment, from gospel to hip-hop to other,” he said. “And it was really enjoyed. They’re only scratching the surface. At the end of the day, it’s about bringing people downtown to spend money and have a good time.”

    Like Colvin and Haire, Shoneman reported “zero” problems, including no arrests.

    Haire, who attended the first day of the jubilee with his wife, said he thought the earlier part of Saturday's activities was “beautiful.”

    “I think that Sunday was probably the best,” he said. “Sunday had a theme of history, so it kind of took you from one part of culture to another. For our first go-around, I think we did pretty good."

    Haire said he received phone calls on Monday morning from people saying they thought the celebration was great.

    “People from Moore County, just various folk from all over the city. We really enjoyed it,” said Haire. “Many people thought it was like integrating Juneteenth and Father’s Day. I think it was nice. Nothing but a plus.”
    Shoneman said organizers encountered some production challenges throughout the day Saturday. Kiah, the Americana artist, appeared upset on stage as her band warmed up for its set. She was having problems with

    sound and her amplified acoustic guitar. At one point, she could be heard saying to someone onstage, “Let’s just get it done.”

    “It was the intent of the festival to hire locally owned, Black-owned businesses across the board,” Shoneman said. “Not only on stage was it Black-led talent, but there certainly was diversity onstage. We engaged a Black-owned production business, and we were very proud of that. If there was folly, it was to support the spirit of Juneteenth.”

    The local celebration was put together in a matter of months by the downtown district staff members after the City Council requested that they come up with ideas for a Juneteenth celebration.
    In early March, the council approved $141,000 for the roughly $160,000 festival.

    On Jan. 10, the City Council voted to make Juneteenth a city holiday.

    “One of the things I’ve been working on and I’m continuing to work on are quality-of-life things,” said Colvin. “What determines to make the community fun and enjoyable is always connected to entertainment. … This weekend was successful. I think we’ll continue to do that. That’s what makes communities. I talk to a lot of people – a lot of younger people – and they say they spend time in Raleigh and other places because they have things to do. We have a beautiful city.”

  • I06-08-11-cape-fear-botanical.jpgt is not always easy to find that quiet, peaceful place in the midst of life’s busy-ness. Sure, taking the day off and heading out of town is sometimes out of the question, but a place to catch your breath, calm your inner voice and maybe find some peace and inspiration, that’s not asking too much, is it? No. No, it’s not, and there is a place right off 301 heading to the interstate that is just perfect for such things. It is the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

    It’s 77 acres of serenity, tucked between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek, and it’s a mere two miles from downtown. It’s been a part of the community since 1989, offering classes and hosting events like Heritage Day and the semi-annual plant sale, providing walking trails and beautiful scenery along with education and inspiration.

    Recently the garden had a major upgrade that makes their mission of enrichment, inspiration and enjoyment of nature; the collection, culture and aesthetic display of plants; encouragement of environmental stewardship, conservation, education and research; the preservation of our agricultural heritage; and engagement and involvement of the community that much easier and enjoyable for its visitors.

    The Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex boasts a brand new gift shop, complete with a revamped selection of updated items for sale, as well as a new café. Feel free to visit either one without having to pay admission to the garden.

    “There are unique garden accents, perfect birthday gifts for children, a little apparel, specialty herbs and plants that you can grow in pots,” said Anna Grantonic, assistant director of development and marketing.“

    Anything that you might need for your garden that is unique you can find in there. The gift shop is carrying new and different things that people here will be interested in, some regional things as far as what type of plants we offer, there is a whole section on roses, rose t-shirts, rose magnets, things of that nature.”

    While you are there, stop and have lunch. Sit on the patio if the weather isn’t too sultry and enjoy a meal prepared by the invisible chef. The café is open 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon – 2:30 on Sundays. Or, if lunchtime won’t work come back on Thursday evening. Through the summer, the garden is extending their hours. On Thursdays only, they will be open until 7 p.m. Right there is a little bit of extra time to take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

    Grantonic was excited to share the news that the garden is nearly finished with a beautiful arbor, complete with a water feature. Work on the butterfly stroll is close to being completed, too.

    “Eventually it is going to be a paved path, which will make it more accessible and it is going to feature plants that attract butterfl ies,” said Grantonic. “It is not contrived, it is a natural environment as opposed to a butterfly house where they are not necessarily in their natural environment. There are just going to be plants that attract butterfl ies. So hopefully, when it is in bloom it will be a fun place to see butterfl ies forming around these plants that are irresistible to them.”

    Coming in September look for the Big Bugs exhibit. This nationally renowned exhibit has already been to more than 100 botanical gardens through out the country. Artist David Rogers creates huge sculptures made of all natural material depicting a variety of bugs.

    “We’ll have those through out the grounds in different areas of the garden for people to walk through,” said Grantonic. “In conjunction with that there will be special tours and special merchandise. It will be here Sept. through Dec. We are very excited about it, we think it is a neat thing, especially for children to get a bugs eye view of things.

    Visit the garden website to fi nd out more about their special activities and hours of operation at www.capefearbg.org.

  • hope mills logo HOPE MILLS — The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday night voted to hold a public hearing in July on a temporary moratorium on some types of businesses while the town staff researches a proposed zoning overlay district.

    Chancer F. McLaughlin, the town’s Planning and Economic Development director, appeared before the board to ask for the moratorium.

    Overlay zoning is a regulatory tool that creates a special zoning district over existing zoning. It can include additional or different regulations that apply within the district.

    McLaughlin said he wants to do more research into overlay districts, which are a way to help guide development. For the past 10 years, there have been some business uses the town has no interest in, McLaughlin said.

    “A moratorium is a temporary halt by a government on business permits,” McLaughlin said, reading from a prepared statement.

    ”Why do we need one?” he asked. “Over the last year, staff have noticed a particular trend in businesses that can create an issue in saturation from economic development.”

    “Without these types of checks and balances, citizens and towns are left open to transitions that are detrimental to the town’s growth,” McLaughlin said.

    McLaughlin told the board he had received several calls from concerned businesses. Some board members said they also had been contacted.

    Some new businesses expressed concerns that a moratorium would halt their planning. McLaughlin said a moratorium or an overlay district would not affect businesses that already have been approved. McLaughlin said a moratorium would only affect new establishments.

    McLaughlin said he has started the research and discovered the town needs to have a public hearing in order to implement a moratorium.

    The board decided to move its workshop scheduled for July 18 to Aug. 1 and voted to hold a public hearing on a proposed moratorium on July 18.
    In a memo to the board that was included in the agenda packet, McLaughlin said the staff wants a six-month moratorium while they work to develop an overlay district.

    The uses that staff would like included in the proposed moratorium include:
    ● Motor vehicle parts and accessory sales.
    ● Motor vehicle repair and/or body work.
    ● Motor vehicle rentals.
    ● Motor vehicle sales, new and used.
    ● Retail establishments that are primarily tied to smoke shops and vape establishments.

    In other business, the board heard an update on the new public safety building from its architect, Scott Garner. Garner said the building has 40% of the interior painting done, 80% of the tile done and 90% of the plumbing done.

    “We just need to set the fixtures,” he said.

    Garner said the project is on track, and the building is expected to be occupied by October.

    Garner also asked the board to approve the eighth change order for the building. The money would come from the contingency fund.

    The biggest item on the list was $66,102 for the building's BDA system, Garner said. The BDA, or Bi-Directional Amplifier, enhances frequencies and gives a signal boost within the building allowing the police and fire personnel to use their required radios, phones and WiFi in the building, Garner told the board.

    Commissioner Jerry Legge, who has builder experience, asked Garner why the project wasn’t turn-key.

    Garner said there was no way to accommodate or plan for that type of expense using blueprints until the building got to that stage. Garner said this was needed and expected.

    Also included in the change order was $9,775 for the removal of a modular trailer.

    The trailer initially was going to be used later by the town, but town staff decided it was of no use and needed to be removed, Town Manager Scott Meszaros said. Several people told the staff they would haul it off but those plans fell through, he said.

    The trailer has since been hauled away. Meszaros said the funding in the change order was a formality.

    Commissioner Joanne Scarola said she would have liked more time to find a use for the trailer.

    “We’re not going to use it, and now we have to pay to have it hauled off,” Scarola said.

    The board voted 4-1 to approve the change order. Commissioners Bryan Marley, Kenjuana McCray, Grilley Mitchell and Scarola voted in favor of the change order. Legge voted in opposition.

    When asked why he voted against the change order Legge said, “I’m tired of change orders. A contingency fund is good to have in case of an emergency. But when we do this over and over, someone didn’t do their homework.”

  • pexels Crime tape The Fayetteville Police Department is investigating a shooting Sunday morning on Danish Drive that left one man dead.

    Police were dispatched at 11:38 a.m. to a reported shooting on the 800 block of Danish Drive.

    Officers found a man who had been shot and performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police on Sunday night identified the man as 32-year-old Marshall Parks of the 800 block of Danish Drive.

    “The preliminary investigation revealed the shooting was the result of some type of disturbance between a male and female on scene that are known to each other,’’ police said in the release. “The shooting was not a random act of violence.’’

    Police said a suspect is in custody, but no other information has been released.

    Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective J. Nevitt at 910-703-3499 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • Cumberlan Co logo The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners agreed Monday night to approve a $510,000 incentives package for a national home construction company that says it plans to build a manufacturing plant in Fayetteville.

    The move follows the Fayetteville City Council’s approval last week of a $317,000 incentives package for the same company.
    Robert Van Geons, CEO and president of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corp., said the industry recruitment effort is code-named “Project Dogwood.” He said the proposed site for the 130,000-square-foot manufacturing plant is on Dunn Road, on vacant property across from the former MJ Soffe garment and apparel factory.

    Van Geons said developing that site may cause a ripple effect and open the area to other industrial investments.
    The county’s incentives will be paid over five years.

    “To receive the incentives, they must produce jobs,” Van Geons said. “We don’t front anything in these agreements.”

    The company would pay taxes and adhere to agreements that include creating 189 jobs by 2027, he said. The average annual wage would be $45,079, and the annual payroll would exceed $8.5 million. The unnamed manufacturer also would be required to invest $25 million in real-estate improvements.

    Van Geons estimated the company will pay $210,000 in county taxes annually and $134,000 in city taxes.
    No one spoke for or against the project during a public hearing held just before the board took action.
    Commissioner Charles Evans made the motion to approve the incentives, and it was seconded by board Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart. The vote was unanimous with Evans, Stewart, Jeannette Council and Chairman

    Glenn Adams voting in favor of the project. Commissioners Larry Lancaster, Michael Boose and Jimmy Keefe were not present.

    In other action:

    The commissioners voted to incorporate the town of Spring Lake into the county’s recreation district. The town, which has its own recreation department, asked to be included.
    Only one person spoke during a public hearing before the vote. Former Spring Lake Alderwoman Fredricka Sutherland asked the board to ensure Spring Lake would “have a seat at the table and a voice” on recreation issues. She expressed concern that low-income youths would not have easy access to recreation programs because fees have not been discussed.

    Adams assured Sutherland that “at the end of the day,” Spring Lake residents would have more recreation programs and services without added taxes.

    Also, the commissioners voted to use a portion of the county’s American Rescue Plan funds to pay incentives to help retain county employees.
    The fiscal 2023 budget includes a 4% pay raise for county employees, but an 8.5% inflation rate has made it difficult to retain employees, according to Brian Haney, assistant county manager and interim human resources director.

    Haney told the commissioners that private-sector employers and other government agencies with higher wage plans are constantly recruiting employees away from the county.

    The county management staff recommended giving each employee $4,000 in incentives in fiscal 2023, which starts on July 1. Qualified employees would get $1,500 in the July 22 payroll, another $1,000 in December, and a final $1,500 in July 2023. Part-time employees would get a pro-rated share, Haney said.

    Haney estimates the maximum cost would total roughly $8.176 million and includes retirement.
    The county manager, county attorney and board clerk are not eligible for the incentive payments.

    Stewart made a motion to approve the use of ARP funds for the first incentive in the July 22 payroll. The vote was unanimous.

  • 11 City elections are coming up, and the Greater Fayetteville Chamber wants to make sure people are informed before voting.

    Tonette Johnson, the events coordinator for the Chamber, says the forum was the idea of the Chamber's Government Relations Committee Chair Eva Houston-Henderson, Chamber member George Breece and the Chamber Board's Chairwoman Tammy Thurman. Johnson said the three partnered together to build this forum and help get the information out to the community about the candidates.

    "It was just a seamless decision because we're so already heavily involved in what's going on in the community," Johnson said.

    The Chamber has invited all the candidates for Mayor and the nine city council seats to the forum.

    The Mayoral Candidates are Mitch Colvin and Freddie de la Cruz. The city council candidates up for election include Kathy Jensen, Alex Rodriquez, Shakeyla Ingram, Tyrone Williams, Antonio Jones, Mario Benavente, D.J. Haire, Thomas Greene, Derrick Thompson, Peter Pappas, Larry Wright, Brenda McNair, Yvonne Kinston, Deno Hondros, Johnny Dawkins, Frederick LaChance III, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and Michael Pinkston.

    Candidates will not take questions from the audience at the event. Instead, questions have been submitted ahead of time by Chamber members, business owners and community members and will be vetted before being asked.

    "We're not playing any games. We want to get to know the candidates. We want to know their agenda, what their plans are for the community," Johnson said. "We wanted to make sure that the topics that needed to be touched on, that needed to be heard, and it is a wide range of topics. However, we just kept it to our community's growth and development."

    Johnson said most of the questions would be directed at all the candidates, but some will be explicitly directed toward the mayoral candidates.

    Gary Rogers from Beasley Media Group will be the Master of Ceremonies during the forum. Rogers is a board officer with the Chamber and is an Ambassador for the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. He will direct questions to the candidates and keep people on topic.

    The forum will not be live streamed. However, it will be recorded and broadcast at a later date.

    Other media outlets will be present, including Up & Coming Weekly, CityView Today and The Fayetteville Observer.

    The forum will take place at the Crown Coliseum Thursday, June 30.
    Attendees are asked to enter the Crown Coliseum through the West VIP Entrance to get to the event venue.

    The free event will also have a continental breakfast.

    Reservations are not required to attend. Instead, it will be first-come, first-serve for seating and food. The event starts at 8 a.m. and is expected to end around 11 a.m.

  • 7cUp & Coming Weekly has been recognized as one of the Best of the Best in the Association of Community Publishers for our entertainment columns, our front pages, best ad series and self-promotion.

    The Association of Community Publishers announced on Wednesday, June 8, the winners of the 2022 Best of the Best awards.

    Up & Coming Weekly column writer, Pitt Dickey, won second place for Best Original Column that entertains the reader.

    Up & Coming Weekly’s former Art Director, Dylan Hooker, was key in the publication receiving 3rd Place for Best Front Page, 3rd Place for Self-Promotion, and an honorable mention for Best Ad Series.

    "Winning National Newspaper Awards for local journalism, design, and proficient writing and reporting has always been an honor. It's our annual
    barometer on how Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper stacks up against other national top-ranking community newspapers. It is also an opportunity for our local writers, editors, and designers to get the national recognition they deserve," Publisher Bill Bowman said.

    The Association of Community Publishers represents community publications from coast to coast, reaching millions of homes on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis.

    These publications are united in providing the best advertising coverage to their clients and valuable advertising information to their strong and loyal readership base.

  • 7b The former Spring Lake Finance Director was arrested, June 10, on charges of Embezzlement, Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.

    The federal indictment alleges that 63-year-old Gay Cameron Tucker embezzled more than $560,000 from the Town of Spring Lake during her tenure as finance director and accounting technician for the town. The indictment further alleges that Tucker carried out the embezzlement through fraudulent checks containing forged signatures of the mayor and town manager.

    “City government officials are entrusted to spend taxpayer funds on public needs – not their own,” United States Attorney Michael Easley stated in the press release. “Our prosecutors and law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously investigating all allegations of public corruption.”

    This arrest comes after the Office of the State Auditor released its final report into allegations of the misuse of funds in Spring Lake.

    According to the indictment, approximately $148,000 in checks were made payable to “Gay C Tucker” or “Gay Tucker,” and roughly $177,000 in checks were made payable to “Heritage Place,” “Heritage House” or “Heritage.”

    The audit report states that Heritage House was the nursing care home where Tucker’s husband was living. The report states that these checks were used to pay her husband’s monthly resident bills.
    Approximately $240,000 in checks were made payable to “Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union” or “BMFCU.” These checks were deposited to an account belonging to Tucker.

    The indictment states that after receiving the town’s money into her bank account, Tucker used the funds for her interests. Those interests included rent, personal living expenses, cash withdrawals and money transfers to individuals.

    Tucker has been released without bail.

    She is being charged with one count of embezzlement from a Local Government Receiving Federal Funds, four counts of Bank Fraud, and two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft.

    The maximum punishment for embezzlement is 10 years in prison. The maximum punishment for Bank Fraud is 30 years in prison. The maximum punishment for Aggravated Identity Theft is not less than, nor more than, two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

  • 7aThe Fayetteville Police Department went to Puerto Rico for several days to recruit 25 new officers — costing the city more than $20,000.

    The FPD, as well as many police agencies nearby, have several vacancies. This makes the job of current officers more difficult. Several incentives have been added to help attract potential recruits, including higher wages, signing bonuses, education incentives and relocation reimbursements.

    The agency is also looking at other police departments to see if experienced officers would like a job with them. One place that is becoming a popular site for police recruitment is Puerto Rico. The FPD isn’t the only police agency to find recruits in Puerto Rico. The North Charleston Police Department in South Carolina has recently sworn in three out of ten incoming officers from the island as part of a partnership with the University of Puerto Rico.

    According to Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins, the U.S. island territory’s pension system for its police officers does not compare with the retirement and benefits provided by the FPD. Last year, officers went on strike to demand a better public pension plan. The Puerto Rico Police Officers do not receive Social Security or health insurance upon retirement, obtaining only 30% to 40% of their salary.

    Seven people from FPD flew to Puerto Rico on April 3. Those in attendance included Hawkins, Police Major Roberto Bryan Jr., Sgt. Gerald Poland Serrano, Sgt. Kendra Faire, Detective Brandy Bohannon, Detective Stephanie Berrios-Rivera, and Officer Asbel Torres. They left on April 7.

    For FPD to travel to Puerto Rico, the tickets cost FPD $4,584.70. This cost did not include the $176.47 for the Main Cabin Extra seating, which is $25.21 for each person flying.
    The recruiting event took place at Embassy Suites by Hilton San Juan Hotel & Casino. The FPD spent $5,352 for two conference rooms on April 4, April 5 and April 6. The hotel also charged FPD $4,084.80 for four rooms and $169.52 for parking.

    $4,989.63 was spent at Publi-Inversiones Puerto Rico, the owner of the daily newspaper, El Vocero. It is a free Puerto Rican newspaper that is published in San Juan. FPD ran several advertisements from March 16 to April 5 in the El Vocero. The ad on Facebook received 537 reactions, 476 shares and 160 comments.

    Other costs include a $258.04 visit to Walmart, an $86.73 visit to a grocery store, $75 to park at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, $130 in baggage receipts, and $620 in passenger receipts.

    On April 4, there were three separate time slots for orientation. On April 5, there were two time-slots for the written and physical exams. On April 6, there were the interviews.

    Applicants had to be at least 20.5 years of age, have a driver’s license, have an acceptable driving record, have a high school diploma, and be fluent in English. Those that passed the exams will have to travel to North Carolina to take the Police Officer Physical Abilities Test, the Computer Voice Stress Analyzer, the Medical and Psychological Testing and pass an interview with Hawkins.

    Sixty people applied during the recruiting event. Hawkins told Up & Coming Weekly that 25 of those applicants passed the entry test. That means that the FPD, and the city, spent $825.07 to recruit one applicant from Puerto Rico.

    However, Hawkins told Up & Coming Weekly that the recruiting event was worth it.

    “What’s the cost of going without an officer?” she asked. “How much money is spent on overtime when we are short 50 officers?”

    Up & Coming Weekly reached out to FPD about the price totals and when the recruits will be expected to start but have not received a reply at the time of publication.

     

  • pexels Crime tape The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit on Monday executed a search warrant on Clinton road and seized rifles, money, over 50 pounds of marijuana and various THC products, including edibles.

    The search was conducted Monday morning at 9095 Clinton Road, Autryville. Agents seized four rifles, over $28,000, pills, two sets of body armor, hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition, over 50 pounds of marijuana and 500 various THC products, including edibles, vapes, hash, and wax resin, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

    Jon Alan Davis, 37, was charged with drug offenses, including two counts of trafficking in marijuana and one count each of possession of marijuana, maintaining a vehicle and dwelling for a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon, the release said.

    He was placed under a $14,000 secured bond.

  •     The inner monologue.
        Everyone has one, although not everyone chooses to use it. The inner monologue is that bit inside of each of us that plays a running commentary about what is going on around and inside us. It’s that voice that silently whispers, “Wow, you’re too stupid to breathe,” when one encounters someone who in fact is too stupid to breathe. Most of us have control over that inner monologue, and what happens inside our head stays there.
        In Company, the newest offering by the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, the inner monologue not only fuels the action of the play, it drives it. Opening Friday, June 13, Company brings together some of the CFRT’s favorite local performers for an all-star performance of a witty, sophisticated, thought-provoking play about relationships and marriage.
        Directing the performance is Fredrick J. Rubeck, the chair of the performing arts department at Elon University. Rubeck, who has directed nearly 100 performances throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, is a newcomer to the CFRT, but it’s something he has wanted to do for quite a while. “I serve on the N.C. Conference of Directors with Bo (CFRT artistic director Bo Thorp) and there’s an ongoing thing where everybody starts sentences with ‘When I did this play with Bo’ or, ‘I worked with Bo,’” he explained. “So when I introduced myself, I said, ‘I’m the one person who has never worked with Bo,’ she got the subtle hint and called me this spring.”
        He said he was excited when he got the call, having seen the play numerous times, he already had ideas about what he wanted and what his expectations were for the crew. “I hope I’m living up to their expectations,” he said. “A director can do a lot with this show — it’s nonlinear and you get to figure out how to make it work. There are a lot of ways to play with it and give the play a different angle. I saw a couple of bad productions, and knew I could do it right.”
        The play revolves around the life of Bobby, a 30-something single guy, who is constantly surrounded by married couples and his girlfriends. They all want to know when Bobby is going to settle down — a question he’s trying to answer himself. Bringing the role of Bobby to life is veteran CFRT performer Greg King. King explains that Company is very “Seinfeld-ish” in its comedic take and its look at life. “It’s very quirky. It’s everyday kind of life,” he said. “Aren’t we all a little like Bobby?”
        While the play itself is exciting to King, he’s even more excited about the cast. He explained that the the play was really put together as a vehicle for a group of veteran CFRT performers. “There’s a group of us who live here, work here and do theater here,” explained King. “We all get together to do theater and it’s a lot of fun.”
        That group includes theater veterans like Cassandra Vallerey, Michael Brocki, Nicki Hart, Libby Seymour, Ken Griggs and Jenny Beaver, among others.
        “This play is really built for this group that has done so much for theater in our community,” said King. “It’s all ensembles, and the play showcases a lot of what everybody does well.”{mosimage}
        The musical comedy Company opens on Friday, June 13, and runs through Sunday, June 29. Tickets range in price from $12 to $23. For times and dates, visit the CFRT Web site at www.CFRT.org or call the CFRT Box Office at 323-4233.

  • fay city council logo

     

     

    Municipal employees would be paid a minimum of $15 an hour as a result of additions to the proposed 2022-23 budget approved by the Fayetteville City Council on Thursday night.

    The eight additions would increase the budget by a total of $899,000.

    In its third budget work session, the council spent much of the time discussing specific items that members want to see incorporated into the budget.

    The additions would be the only changes to the $248.25 million budget recommended by City Manager Doug Hewett. The property tax rate would remain at 49.95 cents per $100 valuation.

    “It will not change,” said Kelly Olivera, the budget and evaluation director for the city.

    A public hearing on the budget will be held during the council’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

    “They’re not extensive by any search of the imagination. They’re reasonable,” Olivera said of the additional expenditures.

    Most will be paid for from the fund balance, a kind of savings account.

    The items that were added by a consensus vote of the council include:
    ● $15 an hour pay for all city employees, including seasonal part-time workers. That will add an outlay of $484,000.
    ● A multipurpose indoor sports facility in partnership with an existing facility.
    ● Resurfacing the walking trail at Lake Rim Park for $35,000.
    ● Outdoor basketball courts that have already been funded.
    ● $100,000 for a “next generation” workforce initiative. The city will pursue partnerships with schools and businesses to provide training and job opportunities for students and others to learn skills for jobs in demand.
    ● An additional $200,000 for micro-grants for at-risk youth programs, doubling that allocation. The grants would range from $1,000 to $5,000. Community groups will be able to submit ideas to the city for funding. The increase is meant to allow for bigger initiatives.
    ● $30,000 for neighborhood signage, a project added to a community beautification initiative that had already been allocated $20,000.
    ● $50,000 for a concierge program intended to add security to the downtown area.

    Mayor Mitch Colvin said the concierge program is important for downtown.

    “That environment is not good,” Colvin said. “We have a bad environment down there.... It is bad down there after the (baseball) games.”

    He said visitors to downtown are being solicited for money by homeless people and others, which puts a blight on the city.

    Left off the list of consensus budget items were gunshot detection technology, a $260,000 outlay that will be covered by money from the American Rescue Plan; financing a makerspace and the Sherwood Road recreation center; a beautification plan for the Bonnie Doone neighborhood; and homelessness and affordable-housing programs that also will be funded by the American Rescue Plan.

     

  •     {mosimage}The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s Conductor Fouad Fakhouri, better known as the Maestro, will orchestrate the FSO’s first Texas Hold’ Em Poker & Casino Night fund-raiser on Friday, June 27 from 6 – 10 pm. A prize raffle will take place from 10 – 10:30 pm.
         “The symphony has been looking for a signature fund-raising event for a couple of years,” said Linda Frenette, executive director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. “The Maestro is a poker fiend and has a love for this kind of event.” 
        Frenette added that Fakhouri proposed the idea to the board and offered to go beyond his conductor duties to help plan the entire event.   
         “I invite the public to come out and try to beat me at poker and help the orchestra with the fund-raiser,” said Fakhouri. “We are grateful that a flat screen TV and other items have been donated for this event.” 
        Casino Night will be held at the Eutaw Conference Center located at 2724 Bragg Boulevard. Patrons can try their luck at various game tables such as Blackjack, Craps, Let it Ride, Roulette, Money Wheel and others. Funny money can be traded in at the end of the night for raffle tickets for the big prize raffle.
        “The money raised will be used to fund some of the concerts that we will provide to the community during the year,” said Frenette. “We want to continue to establish relationships in the community between Fouad and music lovers throughout Fayetteville.”         
        The FSO serves the community in various ways: performing free concerts, providing speakers for meetings, acting as a resource for local school music teachers, donating music stands to Cumberland County Schools and providing free concert tickets to support other nonprofit organizations in the community. 
        “Hopefully, we have started a brand new tradition for the Fayetteville Symphony,” said Frenette. “We hope this event will be extremely, extremely successful.” 
        Admission tickets are $75 and include funny money and a beverage ticket. A seat at the Texas Hold’ Em table is an additional $50. For more information and to purchase tickets call 433-4690. 


  • hope mills logo The planning director told the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday that it may want to consider establishing an overlay zoning district to help guide development in the town.

    The discussion came up after the Board of Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included back-to-back zoning requests related to two tire businesses: Discount Tire and Mavis Tires.

    That prompted smiles and laughter from some on the board.

    Some board members expressed concerns about the influx of vape shops, gas stations and tire services that recently have popped up in Hope Mills. 

    The town can’t legally tell a landowner what kind of business he or she can put on the property if the land is zoned for its use, said Chancer McLaughlin, director of Planning and Economic Development.

    McLaughlin told the board that establishing an overlay district may be a solution to help guide growth in the town. He said he had been working on the language for such a district.

    Overlay zoning is a regulatory tool that creates a special zoning district over existing zoning. It can include additional or different regulations that apply within the district.

    “An overlay is a mechanism in zoning that allows the city to put a boundary on map in a particular area that helps groups like businesses,” McLaughlin said.

    An overlay would allow the town to say, “it’s not that you can’t have that vape shop, you just can’t have it right here next to these rows of restaurants,’’ McLaughlin said hypothetically.

    “It would help the town be more deliberate in its planning,” he said.

    “Without the overlays, the businesses can come in wherever they want,” McLaughlin said.

    “This helps with the quality of life in Hope Mills,” he said.

    McLaughlin told CityView TODAY that the quality of life in Hope Mills is what helps drive the department’s decision-making.

    “I’m always asking myself is this business or subdivision good for Hope Mills? Will it make people want to move here?” he said.

    Commissioner Grilley Mitchell and Mayor Jackie Warner agreed with McLaughlin about the overlay zoning and said they were looking forward to what McLaughlin would present to the board.

    Mclaughlin said the department was not trying to hinder any proposed business and its right to exist, he was trying to suggest a tool that would help the town be more deliberate in its planning.

  • FPD logo A Georgia man was killed Wednesday when the motorcycle he was driving ran off the road and crashed into a tree, according to the Fayetteville Police Department.

    The accident was reported about 9 a.m. in the 300 block of Airport Road.

    The victim was Roberto Miguel Garcia, 30, said a police news release.

    No other vehicles were involved, the release said.

  • fay city council logo The executive director of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival faced questions about her organization’s commitment to diversity as she asked the City Council for financial support.

    The council voted 8-1 on Monday night to provide $15,000 to support what Executive Director Sarahgrace Snipes called the sustainability of the festival. But council members asked that Snipes report back to them with a plan of action to tackle their concerns about diversity in the festival’s entertainment lineup.

    Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram cast the lone vote opposing the appropriation. Earlier in the meeting, Ingram expressed concern about a lack of diversity, agreeing with Mayor Mitch Colvin and saying, "There are a lot of missing pieces to the puzzle."

    Snipes has overseen the Dogwood Festival since being hired in April 2021.

    The $15,000 will be used to pay off costs of the spring festival and contribute to financial sustainability “so we do not have to dip into the savings account," she told the council.
    Snipes reminded council members that the spring festival and other activities were canceled in 2020 and scaled back in 2021 because of restrictions on crowds gathering during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “When I started on April 19, 2021, I’ll be honest; it was my first job,” Snipes said. “I was super-excited, eager to get into the office and start planning events. But along with the job, I saw that there were many challenges that the Dogwood Festival still has to iron out, and one of them was COVID-19 and making sure that we were financially stable.”

    On her first day, she said, she found out that the organization had to postpone a mini-festival that was scheduled for the following weekend.

    The event was rescheduled to June 2021 and moved to Festival Park. Then the state relaxed its mass-gathering policies, which meant the minifestival could be open to public and not have to charge for tickets.

    “It was quite successful,’’ Snipes said. “And might I add, we received funding from the city of Fayetteville, which contributed to its success.”

    A couple of Fayetteville After Five concerts also were staged in July and August 2021. Organizers struggled with attendance at those shows, according to Snipes.

    “We demonstrated a strong presence in the community while building sustainability for the winter months,” she said. “... There is no sustainable income other than sponsorships, and that depends on when sponsors choose to pay.”

    The spring Dogwood Festival returned in April 2022 for its 40th edition.

    City Council members Kathy Jensen and D.J. Haire voiced support for the festival.

    "Dogwood Festival is our heritage. It's part of what we do," Jensen said.

    Councilman Larry Wright asked Snipes if she believes this year’s festival was a success.

    "Yes, I believe it was successful," she said, adding that attendance was roughly 215,000 over three days.

    But Wright said he is concerned about "the diversity of people" who perform for festivalgoers.

    Mayor Colvin asked Snipes what festival organizers are doing to diversify the music lineup. He said he has heard complaints about a lack of diversity of entertainment since he joined the council in 2013.

    In 2022, he noted, Friday’s concert featured rock bands, Saturday’s featured country performers and Sunday’s was a band that pays tribute to the artist Prince.

    “What are you doing to speak to the diversity of the community with your lineup?” Colvin asked.

    Snipes said financing is a factor in that.

    “My concern with expanding the nights – I would like to touch on every population in Fayetteville. Get the country night, get the rock night, get the tribute night. … And also add on another night," Snipes said. “I believe we did hip-hop in past years. I think that is an excellent idea, but my concern is that if we do not have the funding to spread into four nights, then we’re not going to be able to expand into four nights.”

    Colvin asked why the festival favors rock and country artists.

    “My knowledge is that is what Dogwood Festival has always done,” Snipes responded.

    “That is what I wanted to draw out,” Colvin said. "You’re here today, so only your 2022 request is being considered, not historical performance. Historically, the community hasn’t really done a good job being inclusive and diverse. So what is your plan to change that? …”

    Snipes said, “I personally would like to hear from the community what they would like to see. Because my goal as executive director -- and I’ve stood very firmly since my hire -- is to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for all community members to enjoy. So I am always open. I cannot change what Dogwood Festival has done historically or my predecessors have done. I am always open to hear.

    “And I want to be the change for the organization,” she said.

    Snipes said that in the festival’s annual operating budget, the top three expenses are the music acts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

    “All the acts are close to $75,000,” she said.

    Administrative costs include $108,000 for insurance, payroll, permits and facility maintenance.

    Production costs of the spring festival are close to $40,000, she said.

    For the fall Dogwood Festival, she said, the cost is about $30,000. The Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, which this year was rescheduled to September, costs an average of $10,000 to put on.

    The festival’s summer concert series averages $43,500, Snipes said.

    The festival organization received $25,000 from the Tourism Development Authority of Cumberland County, Snipes said. Sponsorship income since April 2021 totals $180,000.

    Over the past year, the festival has received grants in collaboration with The Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County, Snipes said.

     

  • sessoms Cumberland County education leaders called for increased funding for schools Monday, June 16, during a public hearing, but the Board of Commissioners voted to pass the budget for fiscal year 2023 with no such increase.
    In a meeting following the public hearing, however, the board voted to raise the salary of Vice Chair Toni Stewart by $2,000 over a previously planned increase. The measure passed 4-2 with Commissioners Jimmy Keefe and Michael Boose voting in opposition.

    Before that vote, the board considered a similar pay increase for all commissioners, except Chair Glenn Adams, but that motion failed 3-3. Boose, Keefe and Stewart voted in favor while Adams and Commissioners Larry Lancaster and Jeannette Council were against the plan.
    Commissioner Charles Evans was not present for either vote or the public hearing.

    Under the newly adopted budget, Adams will earn an annual salary of $31,100, and Vice Chair Stewart will earn $25,297. The rest of the commissioners will receive $23,297.
    It’s an increase from last year’s budget, when commissioners approved a chair salary of $30,194 while the rest of the commissioners earned $22,619.
    This is not including a 3% and 4% cost-of-living raise on the fiscal year 2022 and 2023 base salaries, respectively.

    The cost-of-living raises also apply to county employees
    The board did not discuss comments during the public hearing that called for increased education funding.
    Commissioners did not immediately respond to emailed questions from Carolina Public Press concerning the votes for salary increases and calls for increased education funding in the public hearing.

    The board approved $84.3 million in funding for Cumberland County Schools, lower than the $88.2 million requested by the school system, but the approved funding is an increase of $1.3 million from last year.
    Commissioners also approved a $95,000 work study that will examine how to best retain workers amid what County Manager Amy Cannon had described at previous meetings as an employees’ market.
    The approved budget did not increase property taxes or solid waste fees.

    Calls for increased school funding

    During the public hearing, education leaders in Cumberland County spoke to commissioners, advocating for the $88.2 million in the school board’s original request.
    Among them was Cumberland Board of Education member Charles McKellar.

    “I come from the business world, and I know the responsibilities of any organization,” McKellar said. “You have to plan for the future.”
    While McKellar had previously voted against budgets recommended by the majority of the Board of Education, he said he supported this year’s request.

    “I’m in total support of this year’s (school) budget, and the reason is it’s been simplified,” McKellar said. “You can understand where the money’s going.”
    Heather Kaiser, a schoolteacher and president of the Cumberland County Association of Educators, said the budget decisions made by the Board of Commissioners will have a “lasting and far-reaching impact” on students, teachers and the community as a whole.

    “Those of us with our boots on the ground need you to know that expecting Cumberland County Schools to continue to do more with less is not the way forward,” Kaiser said. “We cannot make progress and positively impact children under those conditions.”
    Cynthia Brent, chair of the Fayetteville NAACP’s education committee, said more funding was needed to address how some students are falling behind academically. She noted that the N.C. Department of Public Instruction had classified 23 schools within the Cumberland County system as low-performing schools.

    “The pandemic has exposed the need for additional resources,” Brent said.

    “These resources include additional social workers, counselors, nurses and teachers assistants and also includes access to broadband, high-quality child care, after-school child care, quality summer programs and a committed community.”

    Leslie Craig, a schoolteacher at Max Abbott Middle School, said school staff needed more income to pay for increasing costs due to inflation, particularly housing.
    Craig cited her personal experience with the high cost of housing. She told commissioners that her rent had increased by $250 in the past year and that more affordable housing was not available to her.
    According to Apartment List, a nationwide apartment listing service that also collects rental data, the average monthly rent in Cumberland County has increased from $995 two years ago to more than $1,300 last month.

    “If teachers and support staff cannot meet their daily life needs for themselves and their families, particularly for housing, how can they stay in their jobs?” Craig said.
    Per state requirements, the new budget that commissioners approved includes a new minimum wage of $15 an hour for certain school employees, as well as a 2.5% increase for anyone already at that pay grade.

    Changes to budget

    Some changes were made to the budget proposal that was presented last month after a few weeks of deliberation.
    This includes $30,000 and $3,000 in additional funding for Cumberland HealthNet and the county’s Vision Resource Center, respectively.
    To account for this, $33,000 in funding has been taken from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.

  • hope mills logo HOPE MILLS — The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday, June 26, approved the fiscal 2022-23 budget with a few adjustments to the wording of some entries.

    The $15.5 million budget keeps the property tax rate at 46 cents per $100 valuation.

    No one spoke during a public hearing on the proposed spending plan.

    The budget was approved unanimously. Commissioner Bryan Marley was absent on official business but sent an internal note to Mayor Jackie Warner informing her of his confidence in the proposed budget should the board vote on it, Warner told commissioners.

    “I think it's a really good proposal,” Town Manager Scott Meszaros said. “It’s a good framework to get us moving forward.”

    Before the vote, several commissioners expressed concern about the wording in part of the document that said departments had the authority to move budget funds around without having to bring it before the board.

    Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray asked the town manager to explain that section. Drew Holland, the town’s finance director, stepped in to answer the question. Holland said a department can do an internal budget amendment without having to bring it to the board for a vote.

    “It’s an internal adjustment and doesn’t increase the overall budget and it's not moving it from one department to another,’’ Holland said. “It just moves funds within the department. It’s a standard and has been in our budget every year.”

    According to the wording in the budget, the departments were not required to inform the board about moving the funds.

    “That’s the first time I’ve seen that language within a budget,” Commissioner Grilley Mitchell said.

    The wording also said the funds could be moved “without limitations.” The ambiguous wording and “without limitations” bothered McCray, Mitchell and Commissioner Joanne Scarola.

    Holland assured the board that the movement of funds was signed off by the head of the department. Mitchell said that’s not what the language states and said ”it’s very ambiguous.”

    Scarola agreed with Mitchell, saying it didn’t matter to her that it has always been that way.

    “That’s not very transparent,” Scarola said.

    The board agreed the wording needed to be changed before approving the budget. The town’s legal counsel said the board could still approve the budget with those noted changes without having the new wording in place.

    The commissioners agreed and approved the budget.

    The board also met in closed session for personnel and contract discussion and attorney-client advice.

  • Cumberlan Co logo Developers will not have to deal with temporary restrictions on lot size and setbacks after a vote by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday morning, June 6.
    A motion to establish a 90-day moratorium for zero lot-line development failed to get a majority vote. Board member Jeanette Council made the motion for the moratorium to allow the county Planning Board to review the issue and make recommendations to the commissioners.

    Council and Commissioners Toni Stewart and Glenn Adams voted in favor of the motion. Commissioners Michael Boose, Larry Lancaster and Jimmy Keefe voted against it.
    The moratorium was one of two options the county attorney recommended in a memo to the commissioners. The second was to eliminate zero lot-line development without further input from the Planning Board and to amend the county’s subdivision ordinance accordingly.

    Just before Monday’s public hearing on the subject, board Chairman Adams said the board never intended to stop zero lot-line development.

    “That’s the furthest thing from the truth. We are for orderly development, not getting rid of zero lot lines,” Adams said.

    He blamed miscommunication and misinformation for confusion on the issue. He said the board often has received conflicting recommendations from the Planning Board and its staff.

    After the vote, Adams said the board will still ask the county staff to look at the issue and make recommendations.

    Zero lot-line development allows subdivision developers to build on smaller lots and use smaller setbacks from adjoining structures. Rural residents in Stedman, Eastover and other communities adjacent to proposed zero lot-line developments had complained to the county about the smaller residential lot sizes.

    Four people spoke against the proposed moratorium. No one spoke in favor of it.
    Lori Epler, vice president of Larry King & Associates homebuilders, said that eliminating zero lot lines would be “stealing” the right of builders and property owners to maximize return on their property.
    Amanda Smith, president of Longleaf Pine Realtors, said there is a shortage of houses in the Cumberland County market. Removing the zero lot-line option would “wipe away affordable houses” here, and it would take almost a decade to make up the shortage, Smith said.

    Jamie Godwin, president of the Homebuilders Association of Fayetteville, said removing zero lot-line development would curtail thousands of jobs in the homebuilding industry and shift new construction to surrounding counties. He also said that because Cumberland County lacks water and sewer lines in some areas, zero lot lines rarely are used because there’s a need for septic tanks and leech lines. That requires builders in the county to use larger lots and have greater separation between houses.

    Finally, former County Attorney Neil Yarborough, speaking on behalf of developers, said the process of reviewing zero lot lines should be transparent and involve the public. Doing so, he said, would result in greater acceptance of any policy on the issue.

    After the June 6 public meeting, according to the agenda, the board was scheduled to go into closed session to discuss land acquisition and economic development.

  • fay city council logo The Fayetteville City Council on Monday night, June 6, voted unanimously to move forward with implementing a revised affordable-housing policy, including bringing back an incentive program and developing a housing trust fund.

    The council funded an affordable housing study in fiscal year 2022 and adopted action plans on housing in 2022 and 2023.
    In other business, the council discussed a request for financial assistance from organizers of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, which is trying to recover from financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The festival’s board of directors has requested $15,000 from the city.

    Some council members voiced concern about diversity, including in the festival’s traditional concert lineup.
    The housing issue is about “how we preserve existing housing, how we help our seniors stay in their houses longer and how we produce more housing,” said Chris Cauley, director of the city Economic and Community Development Department.

    A housing trust fund has two primary purposes, according to Cauley. They are identifying revenue sources, including federal and state grants, a potential housing bond and annual allocations from the general fund and setting policy guidelines on how to evaluate funding requests.
    Most recently, the council directed the city staff to add a $12 million housing bond on the ballot in November.

    “There’s a lot more work to be done,” said Cauley, who presented a report to the City Council on Monday, June 6. “So tonight, what we’re talking about is checking in with the work that your team has done for the city, making sure that the direction staff is going is the right direction council wants it … as we revise our affordable-housing policies and procedures.

    “And then moving into the fall, we’ll be talking about our development finance incentives, which are a little bit different than economic development incentives,” he said. “We’re not talking about recruiting jobs. We’re talking about incentivizing certain kinds of development to happen in certain places where council achieves the specific goals that council has laid out.”
    According to Cauley, housing goals include improving awareness and access to housing resources; increasing the number and diversity of affordable-housing options; supporting self-sufficiency; and ensuring housing quality.

    Cauley noted that one of the biggest problems in the Fayetteville area is that rental housing is more expensive than in other cities.

    “So, a lot of our problem, which is unique in Fayetteville, is that a lot of our housing challenge is at the lowest end of the spectrum,” he said.
    Renters are significantly more financially challenged than homeowners, he said.

    “I cannot emphasize enough that COVID did not do good things to these numbers."
    City Manager Doug Hewett said after the meeting that moving forward on affordable-housing policies is a significant step.

    “We don’t have enough affordable housing,” Hewett said. “It plays an integral role in the development of the community. The establishment of the housing and trust fund and bringing back the incentive policy incentivizes development in our redevelopment area.”

    Cauley said the city has about $12.4 million available in housing resources.

    "I cannot underscore that this is not enough," he added.

    Hewett said the city “is putting money on this, making these plans real.”

  • sessoms photos 6 6 During talks Wednesday, June 1 surrounding the county’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, Cumberland officials voiced concern about low retention rates among the county’s workers amid rising inflation and stress from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Part of the reason that we’re losing employees is, first, the emotional stress of the pandemic,” County Manager Amy Cannon said.

    Cannon said she’s hopeful that the situation is going to turn, leading to an employer market, but for now, she has concerns about county employees.

    “They’re burning out,” she said. “They don’t feel like they can take a day off, because when they come back, it’s going to be difficult to then catch up.”

    Beyond the pandemic, the ongoing labor shortage has contributed to high vacancies among county positions, Cannon said.

    “It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep people,” she said. “You may bring somebody on, and then six weeks (later), when they realize what we’re asking them to do, they exit out.”

    To address these concerns, county officials are adding a 4% cost-of-living raise to employees in the proposed budget. The proposal includes funds for a $95,000 study to best determine how to retain employees.

    County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe expressed concern about the long-term solution to ongoing cost issues.

    “Health care’s gone up, energy’s gone up, everything’s gone up,” Keefe said.

    According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index, which measures inflation, has risen 8.3%.

    Current measures won’t completely address employee retention issues related to this inflation, Cannon said.

    “That’s not going to stop the bleeding,” she said. “It’s not going to fully take care of their disposable-income loss.”

    Keefe said the county needs to create new solutions in the future to fully address inflation.

    “I would caution us on thinking that old ways of doing things are going to get us through in the future,” he said. “I think we have to be more creative.”

    Public hearing

    The county will conduct a public hearing on the proposed budget on Monday, June 6 at the Board of Commissioners’ regularly scheduled monthly meeting at the Cumberland County Courthouse at 7 p.m.

    Further work sessions on the budget will take place on June 8, 13 and 15.

    Residents can view the budget online on the county’s website.

    Pictured: The Cumberland County Courthouse houses meetings of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners in downtown Fayetteville. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press)

  • 16 Fort Bragg Fourth of JulyFort Bragg will host its annual Independence Day celebration with a return to a pre-pandemic line-up that includes music, demonstrations, food and lots of family-friendly fun. The event was streamlined last year due to COVID-19 restrictions but returns with a full afternoon of entertainment leading up to headliner Foreigner before the evening culminates with a fireworks display.

    “We know the community is excited to get out and celebrate together,” said Theresa Smith, Fort Bragg’s Special Events Coordinator. “The Fourth of July celebration has always been a popular event, and we expect this year will be no different.”

    The celebration begins at 3 p.m. on the Main Post Parade Field. The event is free and open to Department of Defense ID card holders and guests with a visitor pass, which can be obtained at the All American Visitor Center, Smith said.

    There will be food and drink vendors on site with an assortment of items available for purchase to include barbecue, ice cream, funnel cakes, Philly cheesesteaks and more.

    Guests will enjoy a parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights. Returning this year is the popular Flag Ceremony, a long-standing tradition that highlights the nation’s states and territories, as well as the units that call Fort Bragg home, Smith said.

    The musical line-up includes the 82nd Rock Band, local band The Fifth and Foreigner.

    Local rock band The Fifth was formed in 2001 by former Cold Sweat vocalist Roy Cathey. The band has since built a strong and feverish following by touring the east coast and giving fans exactly what they want — a great show and a good time, every time. The band has enjoyed a string of successes including music featured in television ads for Dodge Ram and television promo ads for “The Voice” and “Grey's Anatomy.” The Fifth has seen a two-week tour in Japan, a Top 10 single ("The Gift") on WVRK-FM Rock 103 in Columbus, Georgia, and a Monster Energy sponsorship. Cathey said the group will release a new album later this year. You can find their music on https://www.reverbnation.com/thefifth. For more information of the band visit www.facebook.com/thefifthmusic.

    The Fifth kicks off their set at 6:45 p.m. and Foreigner is scheduled to take the stage at 8:15 p.m.

    Hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world, Foreigner has a musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales.

    Foreigner is responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems including “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Cold As Ice,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Hot Blooded,” “Juke Box Hero” and the worldwide #1 hit “I Want To Know What Love Is.” Foreigner has 10 multi-platinum albums and 16 U.S. Billboard Top 30 hits.

    The group continues their success more than 40 years in the business with massive airplay and continued Billboard Top 200 album success. Audio and video streams of Foreigner’s hits are over 15 million per week.

    Foreigner is Mick Jones (guitar), Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass, vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards, vocals), Bruce Watson (guitar, vocals), Chris Frazier (drums) and Luis Carlos Maldonado (guitar, vocals).

    Group founder and Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jones is the maestro whose songwriting, indelible guitar hooks and multi-layered talents continue to escalate Foreigner’s influence and guide the band to new horizons.

    “Live music is at the heart of what we do and I’m thrilled to be back on the road and visiting so many places over the next year. Looking forward to seeing you all out there,” Jones says.

    Lead singer Hansen says "I am so looking forward to getting our feet back on stage and the crowd in front of us! I have read and heard so much about how people want to get back to live music. It’s such a part of the fabric of who we are and we can’t wait to get out there and reclaim this piece of our lives. Can’t wait to rock it out!"

    In June, Foreigner announced a year-long, 123-date concert tour across 16 countries. The Greatest Hits of Foreigner Tour takes the band to 72 cities in 42 U.S. states, including their Fourth of July concert on Fort Bragg.

    “We will, of course, end the night with our fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.,” Smith said. “Fort Bragg is notorious for having the largest fireworks display in the area, and this year will be no different. We expect approximately 15 minutes of a vibrant fireworks display with an assortment of sizes.”

    The Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program is bringing back tent city this year for those who want shade. Reservations are required and will be on a first-come basis. You must be a DOD ID card holder to rent space. A space costs $20 and a space and tent rental is $40.

    Pets, glass bottles, grills are not allowed at the event. For a full list of prohibited items visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/application/files/9315/6105/4803/brgg-special_events-Prohibited_Items_Bag_Policy-4th_of_July.pdf

    Guests are encouraged to arrive early and plan for heavy traffic flow. Parking is available with general and handicap parking designated. A parking map is available on the website.

    “People can look forward to celebrating Fourth of July together with live music, local food vendors, beer, and unique Fort Bragg traditions,” Smith said.

    For more information about the event visit, https://bragg.armymwr.com/calendar/event/july-4th-celebration/5184435/23521

    Pictured below:

    Foreigner (left) and local band The Fifth (right) will perform at the Fourth of July celebration on Fort Bragg. (The Fifth photo by Raul Rubiera)

    30 Foreigner group photo31 the fifth courtesy facebook

  • hope mills logo The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday, June 6 will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2022-23 budget.

    The board meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

    Town Manager Scott Meszaros has proposed a $15.5 million budget that keeps the property tax rate at 46 cents per $100 valuation.

    The proposed budget also includes a tax of 5 cents per $100 of property valuation to raise the revenue listed in Parks & Recreation fees.

    The board could decide to adopt the budget after the public hearing. The new budget has to be adopted by June 30.

    A public hearing also is scheduled on the annexation of 6 acres in the Horner subdivision on Corporation Drive owned by Beers N Trees LLC. This would be a contiguous annexation.

    Those who want to speak at the hearings should sign up with the town clerk prior to the meeting and limit their time to 3 minutes.

    Under the consent agenda, the board will consider accepting a budget amendment to receive just over $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. The town has identified several projects for the funding, including nearly $2.4 million for street improvements, $1.4 million for ballfields at the Golfview property, $586,000 for police radios and $500,000 for a police real-time crime center and a license plate reader system, according to a memo to Meszaros from Finance Director Drew Holland

    The board also will consider accepting a budget amendment in the amount of $97,500 for general fund expenses that include additional election costs and additional parking at the Lake Park. Of that, $9,000 is for election expenses and $88,500 is for the Fountain Lane parking lot, according to a memo from Holland.

    The board also will consider a budget amendment in the amount of $16,000 for fuel expenditures as part of the consent agenda.

    In general, items listed on the consent agenda are passed on a single motion without discussion.

    Under new business, the town will consider the approval of the Cumberland County Joint Planning Board draft by-laws.

     

  • 12 N1905P37003H CopyFort Bragg’s Child and Youth Services is offering free summer sports clinics to military affiliated children.

    The clinics will offer four different sports: football (ages 6–12), soccer (ages 5–14),
    basketball (ages 5–14) and baseball (ages 6–12). A current sports physical and CYS registration is required for participants.

    “There will be three clinics per sport and a capacity of up to 10 children per class,” said Evelyn Eggins-Alston, program operations specialist for CYS.

    The clinics will take place at the Polo Field for football and soccer; baseball will be at Armstead Field; and basketball will be at Tolson Youth Center located on Fort Bragg from Monday through Thursday 9-11 a.m. and 5-7 p.m.

    “The summer sports clinics taking place this summer offer an opportunity for our military families to involve their CYS-registered children to do outdoor athletic activities,” said Elvia Kelly, Fort Bragg Garrison spokeswoman.

    “During the pandemic last year, many services were closed or cancelled, including the sports clinics. The goal this year is to help our youth get involved with our sports program as an avenue to learn or improve new skills and, ultimately, for the children to have fun in the process.”

    Although June clinics have commenced, the July schedule offers football and soccer clinics July12-15, and basketball and baseball clinics July 19-22.

    “This year we decided to conduct a free clinic so that our families would be reintroduced to our sports program,” Eggins-Alston said.

    The Youth Sports Program will provide 12 coaches in total for the clinics. As per new guidelines, masks will not be required while actively participating and equipment will be sanitized between classes.

    For more information, please contact the Youth Sports & Fitness Office at 910-396-5437.

    “While the Child Youth Services sports clinics are held during the summer, military-connected families can involve their children in upcoming sports or other activities throughout the year,” Kelly said.

    Parents can learn about current programs offered by the Youth Sports & Fitness program by calling 910-907-5832, visiting the website https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/cys-services-sports-fitness or by visiting the Tolson Youth Activities Center on Fort Bragg.

    The registration deadline for clinics is noon on the Friday prior to the start of the clinic.

  • fay city council logo The Fayetteville City Council on Monday night, June 6 is scheduled to consider providing financial assistance to the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, which is looking to recover from financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The discussion has been tabled twice, including a request to drop it from last Thursday’s (June 2) budget work session.

    The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

    The 40th Dogwood Festival was held in downtown Fayetteville on April 22-24.
    The Dogwood Festival Inc. board of directors has requested $15,000 to support the event’s expenses.

    “As many know, the festival has been on a long hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020,” reads an April 7 letter addressed to City Manager Doug Hewett from festival Executive Director Sarahgrace Snipes. “Due to this hiatus, the annual festival has not been able to be held since 2019; fortunately, the festival has shown resilience.

    “Throughout the pandemic, several small fundraisers were held and as mass gathering restrictions relaxed last summer, events have been able to continue.”

    While the festival has been able to bounce back from the financial hardship, Snipes wrote, the support would be greatly appreciated. It is the festival’s intention to use the money to promote sustainability.

    With the latest festival, Snipes said in an interview Friday, organizers were still working with some funds from 2020.

    "We are still a little behind, and we would like a little bit of support to maintain financial sustainability for the next events for the remainder of 2022," she said.

    The festival's overall budget for the year is close to $500,000, according to Snipes.

    "All of our other financial support comes from sponsorships and grants," she said. "I would say sponsorships make up a considerable portion of our income. We do receive some grant funds from the Tourism Development Authority of Cumberland County and also The Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Any other funds that we don't receive from them we recruit sponsorship and ticket sales and other revenue... If we're looking to make up that money — the $15,000 or even more — we would have to add additional fundraising."

    Snipes said the latest festival did not wind up in the red in terms of profit and loss.

    "We have seen some profit but doing festivals like ours, it takes a lot of financial resources," Snipes said. "It sometimes comes down to cash flow."

    Watershed study

    In other business, staff members are expected to present the findings of a Blounts Creek watershed study. Part of the study focused on Blounts Creek into downtown.

    The recommendations include improvements to the bridges at Russell and Person streets as well as stream enhancements, according to materials in the agenda packet. The estimated cost is $20.5 million, the agenda packet states.

    The materials say the improvements to Russell and Person streets would keep more roads open during large storm events.

    The project would require consulting and coordinating with the N.C. Department of Transportation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and other agencies, the materials state.

    On another matter, Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin is expected to discuss support of a proposed aquatic center.

    The parks and recreation advisory board has expressed interest in an aquatic center and is requesting the council’s support, Banks-McLaughlin states on her agenda item request. No other information about the aquatic center, including where it would be located, was available in the agenda materials.

  • 14 DW 8Local entrepreneur Dr. Fred Surgeon, and wife Anita, have once again created a vision for an entertainment venue that caters to the adventurous and focuses on customer service. As the owners of Sweet Valley Ranch, the Surgeons recently opened their latest and perhaps most exciting venture yet — Dinosaur World. The prehistoric adventure awaits visitors of all ages, and like Sweet Valley Ranch itself, has been years in the making.

    Sweet Valley Ranch was established in September 2016 when the Surgeons purchased the land off of Sunnyside School Road. At the time they purchased 186 acres of raw land, for a few horses and goats. However, Dr. Surgeon saw potential with the land layout and knew that this could really become a place to share with the community. The ranch now consists of 300 acres.

    Sweet Valley Ranch is more than just a business to the Surgeon’s, it is also a place that calls back to Dr. Surgeon’s own upbringing and he hopes it will eventually be their legacy.

    “Sweet Valley Ranch is hands down, out of all the businesses, is one we had to do everything from
    the ground up,” said Dr. Surgeon, owner of Sweet Valley Ranch.

    After about 12 months of owning Sweet Valley Ranch, they decided to expand their animal collection with rabbits and peacocks. “When you said you want that animal, you have to understand the certain care and living situation for that animal,” said Dr. Surgeon. About six months after the rabbits and peacocks they expanded with introducing cows and horses.

    Now the farm has around 350 animals of different types, from cows and horses, to peacocks and reptiles. The possibilities with the lay of the land were endless, and Dr. Surgeon knew that owning and running this farm in this location was an opportunity to give back to the community.

    “Every business I own relates back to some part of my past. Sweet Valley Ranch is no different. Growing up my family lived on a farm, and I can remember times that we would be waiting on the chickens to lay eggs, so we could eat them for breakfast,” said Dr. Surgeon.

    At Sweet Valley Ranch there is a 1954 Farmall tractor that belonged to his grandfather. This tractor is the most valuable possession to him on the farm, reminding him of his childhood and growing up
    on a farm.

    In 2017, the vice president of the company mentioned doing Christmas lights on the farm. So, Dr. Surgeon joined a display company out of Missouri. Once everything came in and the team looked at the extent of the project, they realized they needed more time to plan it through. Fast forward to 2020 and the COVID pandemic - the Surgeon’s realized that they could bring the joy of Christmas to the people of the community and give them something other places couldn’t — animals. With hard work and attention to detail, they were able to bring a Christmas light display to the community. The success proved to be incentive for the planning and development of Dinosaur World.

    Now in 2021, Sweet Valley Ranch has opened its gates once again for Dinosaur World. It is a perfect place for the family to experience adventure and see many of the different species of Dinosaurs that now rule over Sweet Valley Ranch.

    Different Ticket Options include:

    Regular admission includes access to the Dinosaur World Trail, Abandoned Research Lab, Reptile House, Fossil Dig and Farm Animals

    Regular admission with Farm Tour includes Dino World Trail, Abandon Research Lab, Reptile House, Fossil Museum, Fossil Dig, and a 30-minute guided tour to experience all Sweet Valley Ranch has to offer. Guests will be riding in a covered wagon pulled by a tractor.

    Regular admission with Rescue Mission includes all mentioned above with an Interactive two-hour nighttime attraction that begins on Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. Participants are tasked with the mission of locating missing staff members who were involved with the creation of Sweet Valley Ranch’s Dinosaur World. Beware of “Big Rex” and his friends because they are hunting, too. Guests will also be riding through the farm to experience the lights and farm animals.

    Regular admission with Farm Tour and Rescue Mission includes all mentioned above.

    The Sweet Valley Ranch also has additional excursions that can be purchased onsite such as the Go-Kart Nature Trail Tour, Bouncy Castles, Fishing at the Ranch and Dino-playland.

    The trail is a paved trail in the woods, and it offers over 25 animatronic dinosaurs. This experience is one that will take guests back in time to when dinosaurs ran the world. It is not only a fun interactive experience, but an educational one as well.

    Sweet Valley Ranch also has concession areas, a produce stand and a gift shop with something for all price ranges. While Dinosaur World is sure to continue to be a summer success, fall will bring the return of the 10-acre Corn Maze, Haunted Hallows of Cedar Creek and the Festival of Lights.

    “We don’t have to have the biggest and best at the farm, because we do our best to make it about the customer and their experience. Customer services is a big part of the farm,” said Dr. Surgeon.

    Over 30% of the animals homed on Sweet Valley Ranch are rescues, providing them a safe, caring environment to grow and prosper. Sweet Valley Ranch does not only support local businesses but has also created job opportunities for many people within the community.

    Sweet Valley Ranch is located at 2990 Sunnyside School Road in Fayetteville. For more information on tickets and events visit www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com/.

  • Cumberlan Co logo The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday, June 6 will hold a special meeting to hear comments from the public regarding the recommended fiscal 2023 budget.

    The proposed budget calls for nearly $553 million in total expenditures across all funds — which includes school and capital investment funds — and has a $362 million general fund.

    The tax rate would remain the same at 79.9 cents per $100 property valuation.

    Cumberland County estimates it will receive nearly $171 million from property taxes this fiscal year, which makes up roughly 55% of the general fund. A penny on the tax rate earns $2.4 million.

    The June 6 meeting seeks public comment regarding the proposed budget. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse. The meeting takes place in room 118 on the main floor of the courthouse.

    Historically, representatives from outside agencies seeking county funding speak at the public hearings. This year, 17 outside agencies sought public funding. The recommended budget allocates $486,042 to outside agencies, the same amount as in the fiscal 2022 budget and $142,827 less than requested.

    Initially, of the 17 agencies requesting money, the budget only allocated funds for 15 agencies. The North Carolina Symphony Society and Cumberland Health Net Inc. were not recommended for funding. However, during last Wednesday’s budget work session, board Chairman Glenn Adams requested that $30,000 of the recommended $68,000 be taken from the Arts Council to fund Cumberland Health Net, which had requested $41,000. He also asked that another $3,000 be taken from the Arts Council for the Vision Resource Center. The Vision Resource Center had asked for $10,000 but the budget allocated $7,000, the same as last year. The additional $3,000 makes the Vision Resource Center the only outside agency receiving what it had requested.

    Adams said he believes because of the pandemic during the past two years, the Arts Council did not spend all of its money. Also, the Arts Council receives a portion of the county’s motel and hotel occupancy room tax, which he predicted has increased over last year.

    County Manager Amy Cannon did not have those figures available at Wednesday’s (June 1) budget workshop.

    The city of Fayetteville’s recommended fiscal 2023 budget allocates $75,000 for the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County to partner for community art programs.

  • 12 British Invaders picSummertime is the perfect season to have outdoor, family-friendly events. That’s exactly what Gates Four is offering with their Summer Concert Series. On June 26, the British Invaders band will be performing at the Gates Four Golf & Country Club Pavilion. The band will present a Beatles Tribute to Beatlemania of the 1960s when English bands stormed the U.S. music charts and won over crowds of screaming fans. While dressing in period Nehru suits and playing vintage instruments, the British Invaders will entertain the audience with a mixture of British hits from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Dave Clark Five, The Animals, The Yardbirds, Rod Stewart and Elton John.

    The Beatles formed in the 1960s and when they hit the scene in the United Kingdom, their fan base exploded. The Beatles were dominating the music scene in 1963, with women, men and young people of all ages going crazy over them. The term “Beatlemania” was coined by the press to describe the scene at Beatles concerts, and even during their travels. The Beatlemania was so strong, that during their concerts people couldn’t even hear the music being performed, due to all of the loud screaming fans. So, in 1966 the Beatles decided it was best for them to remain a studio-only group.

    The Summer Concert Series will allow those in attendance to step back into what is remembered by many as one of the greatest musical eras. The British Invaders have been known for their striking resemblance to the Beatles band which is one of the many reasons they were selected to play this year’s Gates Four Summer concert series.

    “Getting people out after 2020 and bringing the music they want to listen to, and bring something appealing to all ages, was the goal in putting together this line-up,” said Greg Adair, coordinator for Gates Four Summer Concert Series.

    Tickets for all concert dates are available for purchase online at www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com. Tickets are $60 per person and include the concert, food and lawn seating (bring your chairs). Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with food (included with ticket price) served from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A complete line of beverages will be available at three convenient full-service cash bars serving Healy Wholesale beer, wine products and your favorite mixed drinks. Concierge table service will be provided for VIP tables inside the Pavilion. Fayetteville's own Mash House Brewery will also have a large selection of their custom craft beers available.

    For VIP Tables, group rates or more information, call 910-391-3859. Tickets are limited in order to keep the concert attendees comfortable and socially distanced.

  • court house faytteville01 scaled Members of Cumberland County’s staff unveiled their recommended budget to the public Thursday, setting up weeks of deliberation over how the county will spend its taxes throughout fiscal year 2023.

    County Manager Amy Cannon and the rest of the county’s staff set the value of the proposed budget at just under $553 million, an increase of about 10% from the current fiscal year.

    The property tax rate, which is 79.9 cents per $100 of property valuation, would remain the same. The county’s annual solid waste fee of $56 would also stay the same.

    Property taxes, sales taxes, motor vehicle taxes and money from the federal and state governments are the county’s primary sources of funding for the budget — 48%, 17%, 7% and 21%, respectively.

    Property tax revenue is projected to increase by more than $2 million while motor vehicle tax revenue would increase by more than $1 million in the new budget above the level of the current fiscal year.

    For fiscal year 2023, the county is recommending that more than $60 million be collected in sales tax, a 4% increase in what is projected to be collected by the conclusion of fiscal year 2022 on June 30.

    Even with these revenue increases, however, Cannon said during her presentation Thursday to the Board of Commissioners that overall growth in the budget is limited compared to expenditure increases.

    “I had to make some tough decisions to balance this budget,” she said. “But our focus remained on three things: to maintain current services, to address unmet needs where possible within the funding available and to continue advancing the board’s strategic priorities.”

    Those three priorities, laid out by Cannon, are the continued development of the Crown Event Center to replace the Crown Theatre and Arena, public water access for Gray’s Creek and addressing homelessness within the county.

    To address homelessness, Cannon said the county had received $1 million from the N.C. General Assembly to construct a homeless shelter. She said the county is collaborating with the Cape Fear Valley Health System and Fayetteville Technical Community College.

    ‘The new normal’

    Cannon said new realities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have forced the county to push money in new directions to adapt.

    “The last two years have been characterized by rapid, abrupt and constant change because of the magnitude of the pandemic,” she said. “Uncertainty continues as we transition to what I’m going to call this evening, ‘the new normal.’”

    At the top of this list was inflation.

    “The increased cost of goods and services and interest rate hikes will continue to reduce disposable income,” Cannon said. “Economic optimism nationally among chief financial officers has eroded in the first quarter of 2022.”

    In the proposed budget, mandated increases from the state or those associated with health costs amount to $6 million.

    One mandatory cost hike is the increased price of health insurance for county employees. Contributions that the county must make to the employee retirement fund have also increased.

    The N.C. Department of Public Safety has required counties to increase their share of youth detention facility costs, Cannon said.

    The state late last year also required that certain school employees in each county receive a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour. A wage increase of 2.5% of anyone already at the $15-an-hour mark is also required.

    Due in part to this, the Cumberland Board of Education requested a school budget of $88.2 million, an increase of more than $5 million from last year.

    Due to the new $15-an-hour minimum, the school sought the ability to address salary compression, a situation where the difference in wages between employees of different experience levels is minimal.

    However, Cannon said the county is not required to address salary compression. Therefore, the recommended school budget is lower than requested, at $84.3 million.

    General increased labor costs are also a cause of increased expenses in the county budget.

    Cannon said increased labor costs are a trend across the country due to the pandemic.

    “It’s impacted people both mentally and physically,” she said. “It’s caused employees to reflect on their priorities and life in general. Americans are seeking better pay, but even more than that, they’re seeking flexible work schedules that create a better work-life balance.

    “The Great Resignation has had an impact on all organizations. Cumberland County is not immune from this workforce crisis.”

    Cumberland has experienced worker resignations, Cannon said, that have resulted in an average employee age of 44 and an average of four years of experience with the county.

    To help maintain its current workers, Cumberland is incorporating a 4% cost-of-living pay increase into the proposed budget.

    The county is also increasing the annual pay of entry-level detention officers and deputy sheriffs to $40,457 and $44,000, respectively, both an increase of about $2,700.

    Cannon said the county conducted an analysis of the salaries among Cumberland employees. The majority of workers made close to the minimum in their salary ranges.

    “Our pay structure lacks a mechanism to move people throughout their range,” she said. “From a recruitment perspective, the minimum salary by many of our grades is no longer competitive in this employee-driven market.”

    To address this, the county has included a $95,000 worker study in the proposed budget as a way to determine how to best retain employees.

    Cannon said the city of Fayetteville had recently conducted a similar study. In Fayetteville’s proposed budget, the city is including merit pay increases for employees, Carolina Public Press reported.

    Other counties, including Harnett, Durham, Guilford, Forsyth and New Hanover, are in various stages of conducting pay studies, Cannon said.

    Deliberation over next few weeks

    The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners plans to conduct work sessions to discuss the recommended budget on June 1, 8, 13 and 15.

    Each work session will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Room 564.

    A public hearing, where residents can voice concerns over the budget, will take place at 7 p.m. June 6 at the courthouse in Room 118.

    The Board of Commissioners may hold a work session immediately following that hearing based on community feedback on the budget.

    Pictured above: The Cumberland County Courthouse houses meetings of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners in downtown Fayetteville. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press)

  • FAY COMICCONComic Con is returning to Fayetteville’s Crown Complex Convention Center June 19-20. This is a family event, where everyone can come and enjoy their favorite comics, video games and more.

    Among celebrities scheduled to appear include John Turk, Kerri Hoskins and Lia Montelongo (“Mortal Kombat”); Gigi Edgely (“Farscape”); Megan Hollingshead (“Yu-Gi-Oh!”); wrestlers Magnum T.A., Caprice Coleman and Lex Luger; and many other actors, artists and writers in the industry.

    There will be much to see and do, like take part in a cosplay contest where the winner will take home $500. Vendors will be selling your favorite video game and comic character merchandise. There will also be four food trucks, with Italian ice and kettle corn. The Crown will also be serving concessions. The lines are expected to be long for same-day ticket purchase, so organizers are also bringing some Comic Con outside to entertain guests to keep spirits up outside the building.

    While the Crown has returned to full capacity, to help with overcrowding at certain vendor booths, the event coordinators decided not to run the American Tattoo Society tattoo alley this year. The tattoo alley will return to Comicon in 2022.
    One of the biggest changes Comicon has faced coming back after a year of pandemic life is ticket sales. Due to the box offices at the Crown not being in operation, it has challenged the coordinators in how to get tickets out to the public. However, if there is a will, there is a way! Tickets can be purchased from the Comic Con website https://fayettevillecomiccon.com/, at the comic shop in Fayetteville called Dragon’s Lair, or on the Crown Coliseum website. Tickets for a single day will cost $15 and a weekend pass will cost $25 per person.

    Comic Con of Fayetteville has been around for 5 years, and each year producing two events. Due to the COVID pandemic in 2020, they were not able to hold the event, but that did not stop coordinators from planning for 2021. The sponsors for June 2021 Comicon are the American Tattoo Society and Fayetteville State E-Sports.

    For more information on Comic Con visit https://fayettevillecomiccon.com/. For panel and main stage schedules, visit the website or www.facebook.com/fayettevillecomiccon for information.

     

  • pexels Crime tape Fayetteville police are investigating the death of a man and the wounding of two other people in a shooting at a hookah lounge early Monday.

    Officers were called to Airborne Hookah Lounge in the 5000 block of Raeford Road about 2:15 a.m. Monday, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department.

    They found a woman with life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound, the release said. Two other people also had been shot during the incident. One was in a vehicle on Raeford Road, and the other was at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, the release said.

    Antwain Maurice Hoskins, 22, of the 500 block of Trust Drive, died from his injuries at the hospital, the release said.

    Detectives determined that there was a disturbance outside the lounge before the shootings. One victim was treated at the hospital and released. The third victim remains in stable condition at the hospital. Their identities were withheld.

    The Fayetteville Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating the shootings and asks that witnesses or anyone with photographs or videos from the scene contact Detective S. Shirey at 910-751-3009 or CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

  • 15 2019 4The month of June has been observed as LGBTQ+ Pride Month since 1970 to honor the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. According to the Library of Congress, the commemorative month’s purpose is to recognize and honor the impact of the LGBTQ+ community on history locally, nationally and internationally.

    “It does have a lot of significance for me personally, obviously,” Fayetteville Pride Board President Sam DuBois said. “The amount of friends and families of LGBTQ+ community that have come out and supported us really shows me how far we’ve come over the years.”

    Fayetteville Pride was established in 2017 and focuses on instilling pride, celebrating unity and embracing diversity and inclusion while providing education and support within the LGBTQ+ community.

    For more information on the organization visit www.FayettevillePRIDE.org/

    DuBois said he used to think of Fayetteville as an uber-conservative area and expected pushback when the organization first started.

    “But at the end of the night we were flabbergasted by the positive response from people attending the event,” he mentioned. “It has been extraordinarily welcoming
    to Pride.”

    Due to the pandemic the Pride Fest 2021 is postponed until further notice.

    “We have hopefully reached a satisfactory substitute with Cool Springs Downtown District, and we will be setting up an info table at their weekly Summer Markets downtown and there will be part of the field dedicated to the Pride Community Picnic on June 24 from 4-8 p.m.,” DuBois said.

    The Summer District Markets are held on Thursdays and will feature live entertainment, food trucks and games.

    “Everyone is welcome, come with that attitude and we are happy to have you,” he said.

    There are a number of other Pride events scheduled this month.

    There will be a free online chat event June 20 from 8-9 p.m. The Free Mom Hugs Social Happy Hour is hosted by the Free Mom Hugs Fayetteville/Sandhills chapter. For more information visit, https://freemomhugs.org

    The NC VA Coastal Health Care System invites all LGBTQ+ veterans and allies to participate in the 2021 Pride Car Parade & Drive-Thru from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on June 21. The event will take place at the Fayetteville VA Health Care Center at 7300 S. Raeford Road. Participants are encouraged to decorate their cars for the free event.

    The Rainbow Reunion, a business mixer for LGBTQ+ community to network and connect, will be held Jun. 26 and 27 at Hampton Inn & Suites located at 2065 Cedar Creek Road. The event will have a happy hour mixer from 4-6 p.m., a kickback from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and a night swim from 8-10 p.m. The hotel will have limited rooms and those interested can book by calling 910-635-3200

    Cool Spring Downtown District will host Drag Me Downtown on June 25 from 5-9 p.m. on Maxwell Street featuring performances by local drag queens, and a cabaret headlined by Miss Minnie Bouveé. Tickets are available for purchase on their Facebook page, $25 general admission and $125 for a VIP Table seating up to 6 people.

    Drag Me to Designer BINGO will take place at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom from 6-9 p.m. on June 30. The event will feature Tatianna Matthews. Tickets are $40 with a portion of the proceeds going to Fayetteville Pride. Dirtbag Ales is located at 5435 Corporation Drive in Hope Mills.
    For more information about Pride events, follow @fayncpride on Facebook.

    Pictured above: Although the Pride Fest 2021 was postponed, there are a number of local events scheduled in June to celebrate diversity in support of pride month. (Photo Courtesy of Fayetteville Pride). 

    18 2019 6Pictured bottom left: Morgan Richards preforms at an event 2019.

    Pictured bottom right: Friends come together to enjoy an event celebrating diversity and inclusion. 19 2G6A0204

  • FOrt Bragg sign The prospect of a new name for Fort Bragg is getting mixed reviews from veterans and civil rights leaders in Fayetteville.

    A federal commission tasked by Congress with recommending new names for military installations named for Confederate officers has suggested that Fort Bragg become Fort Liberty.

    That’s fine with Jimmy Buxton, president of the Fayetteville branch of the NAACP.

    “It’s somewhat mind-boggling that they came up with ‘Liberty,’” said Buxton, who was invited to share his input when representatives of the naming commission visited Fort Bragg in the fall for feedback.

    “I knew it had to be changed,” Buxton said. “I think I can live with Fort Liberty - what ‘liberty’ stands for. And it’s what Fort Bragg has stood for for years. It brings a pretty good meaning to Fort Bragg.”

    Buxton said he didn’t have a suggestion for a new name, but one of the men whose name he would have liked to be seriously considered was Gen. Roscoe Robinson, the first African American to command the 82nd Airborne Division.

    Retired Army Gen. Dan McNeill, former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, said he thinks the commission chose wisely, considering all the suggestions it had.

    "If you named it after a person, which person would you have picked?” he asked. “If you picked one, as opposed to groups of others, you would have left others behind.”

    McNeill said the commission spoke to a lot of diverse people while seeking feedback from the community.

    "It was a good job of assembling a wide array of people," he said. "By the time the last meeting occurred, they all seemed to agree on ‘Liberty.’ A name is what caused this problem to start with. When someone said ‘Liberty,’ it made a lot of sense to me."

    The naming commission announced its recommendations last week. They will be forwarded to Congress and, if approved, to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, who will have the ultimate authority to rename the installations.

    Fort Bragg, with more than 53,000 troops, is home to the 82nd Airborne Division and Special Operations Forces.

    The post, which opened in 1918 as a field artillery station, was named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, a North Carolina native. The Army artillery officer was known for his role in the 1847 Battle of Buena Vista, Mexico. He later served as a Confederate general and was a slave owner.

    Troy Williams, a legal analyst and criminal defense investigator, said at this point, he doesn’t see the renaming of Fort Bragg as a big deal.

    Williams served in the Air Force from 1973 through 1977.

    “I don’t like the Fort Liberty name,” Williams said. “It’s not going to sit well with some people. At this point, this far into the game, it’s a moot point … to change this because they were Confederate officers.”

    Williams questioned when all the name changing would end in a period of political correctness. He said some military installations are named after Union Army leaders who “slaughtered native Indians” and the buffalo they hunted.

    “They were slaughtering these people. They’ve got stuff named after them,” he said. “My challenge is, are we going to change everything?”
    Williams doesn’t like the proposed name.

    “If we’re going to come up with a name, at least make it a name that honors people,” he said. “Fort Liberty – what the heck is that? We honored Bragg all these years, and now we can’t honor another person?”

    U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., whose district includes Fort Bragg, has suggested that its association with Confederate Gen. Bragg instead be with Bragg's cousin, Union Army Gen. Edward S. Bragg of Wisconsin, as a compromise.

    Most historians rate Edward Bragg as the better military leader.

    William Greene, 59, the quartermaster of VFW Post 10630 in Hope Mills, served five years in the reserve before serving on active duty in the Army from 1985 to 2005.

    Greene agrees with Hudson.

    “To me, personally, I’d call it Fort Bragg after the Union guy,” Greene said. “The Confederate general – they’ve got to get rid of that. All the Confederate history.”

    But changing the name would be costly, he said.

    “You’re talking a lot of money,” Greene said. “I don’t know how you’ll raise those funds to rename the roads, all the signs. Keep it simple, anyway, so we can save money.”

    The name “Liberty” would reflect “all the things going on at Fort Bragg,” he said.

    “I’m just trying to save some money,” he said.

    Grilley Mitchell, 67, president of the Cumberland County Veterans Council, had a 20-year Army career that ended in 1993.

    “You know what? They have already made the decision,” he said. “I have no opinion. … They’re going to do what they want to do. We just get in line with the marching orders. That’s the reality of things. The military makes the decisions.”

    Mitchell said he’s on record saying that the post should remain Fort Bragg but named for Edward Bragg.

    “He was an ambassador, a true patriot for the Union,” he said. “I thought there was a better option. Think of the money that was going to be saved.

    “The young may call it Fort Liberty,” he said. “For us, the old school, it will always be Fort Bragg. If you told anyone you were from North Carolina, they say, ‘Fort Bragg.’ They know Fort Bragg. This should be an opinion made by soldiers who served in the military and their families and not the politicians.”

    The federal commission recommended new names for eight other Army installations. Fort Bragg is the only one that would not be named after a person.

  • 08 ReflectionsTrialByFiredoubleWith the beginning of summer and people looking for outdoor entertainment, the Rock’n On The River summer concert series is the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends, enjoy food and drinks, and dance the evening away.

    On June 18, all are invited for live, free entertainment from local Fayetteville band Reflections II and North Carolina band Trial by Fire.

    Reflections II is a widely known local Fayetteville band of three professional musicians. Bringing a variety of music to the table from pop to Motown and the oldies. Known for their entertaining performances, the band will kick off the evening at 6:00 p.m. and it is sure to be a show you won’t want to miss.

    At 8:15 p.m., headliner Trial by Fire takes the stage. The tribute band is named for Journey’s album of the same name released in 1996. Back in the day, after an injury suffered by lead singer Steve Perry, Journey was unable to tour and promote the album “Trial by Fire.” Now, five seasoned musicians from North Carolina are bringing the tour to life with area audiences — recreating the glory days of the Journey era to their fans.

    Rock’n on the River is a free live concert, sponsored by Healy Wholesale, Bob 96.5 FM radio, and Up & Coming Weekly. The event will have beverages sold by Healy and food exclusive to Deep Creek Grill. Coolers and outside food are prohibited at this event. Pets are also not allowed onto the concert grounds. There is a $5 parking fee per person.
    The event is first come first serve, as the venue can only host 1200 to 1400 people.

    “Bringing a well-rounded live concert series to get people out after lockdowns in 2020, and having something they will enjoy listening to is the goal,” said Greg Adair, event coordinator.

    Each monthly concert showcases a different genre of music, bringing together different crowds of people for a good time with friends and family.

    Rock’n On The River is located at 1122 Person St. in Fayetteville (behind Deep Creek Grill). Parking for the event will begin at 5:00 p.m.

    For information on the concert series, visit https://www.facebook.com/Rockn-On-The-River-271048666818630

    07 rockn logo jpeg

  • 01 UrineTown0005 2The Broadway musical “Urinetown” opened at the Gilbert Theater to sold-out shows, an indication that audiences are willing to overlook the odd title in exchange for an evening of hysterical entertainment.

    Set in a dystopia where the masses are suffering from a drought, one giant corporation has monopolized bathroom usage. Citizens are forced into a pay-per-use urinal by law, with the ultimate punishment of being sent to Urinetown. The musical addresses important social issues and freedoms while keeping it fun with music.

    The show is narrated by Officer Lockstock (played by Zech Williams) and Little Sally (played by Hannah Smith) who win the audience’s heart with their mesmerizing performances. Smith does a terrific job with her vocals and acting in her debut show at the Gilbert.

    “Urinetown” is a satirical comedy written by Greg Kotis and directed at the Gilbert by Robyne Parrish. The show draws in the audience for a night filled with many laughs.

    The first act reflects on the injustices done by the Urine Good Company and its president, Mr. Cladwell (played by Bill Saunders) — a shrewd, selfish man. The lead Bobby Strong (played by Tim Zimmerman) begins to light the fire of revolution and justice amongst the people after his father, Old Man Strong (played by Gabe Terry) breaks the law and uses the urine facility without paying and is sent to the ultimate mysterious bad place – Urinetown.

    Hope Cladwell (played by Linda Flynn) is the naive, kind daughter of Mr. Cladwell, who falls in love with Bobby Strong, leading to a series of humorous interactions and drama.

    “There is the star-crossed lover’s aspect,” said actor Jacquelyn Kessler (who plays McQueen).

    While the lead urges the masses to uproot governmental control and tyranny, the urine facility’s supervisor Penelope Pennywise (played by Jennifer Newman), Lockstock, and rest of law enforcement and UGC’s employees resist their advances.

    Newman, also in her debut at the Gilbert, deserves a special shoutout for her performance of Penelope Pennywise.

    With musical delight, the show encompasses a classic class struggle between the rich and poor, the have and have nots and sends the audience for a spin to question different social constructs like the legal system, capitalism, corporations, corporate mismanagement and bureaucracy.

    The latter half of the show focuses on the masses kidnapping Bobby Strong’s love interest and leading lady Hope, to get her father and villain to agree to their terms. The corrupt old man then refuses to save his daughter and has Strong arrested and sent to Urinetown.

    What happens next reflects strongly on misuse of power and authority by the rich and law enforcement, as Urinetown is a violent death to anyone who disagrees with the authority. The production’s last bit shows Hope leading the masses against her father. The show, however, doesn’t necessarily end in happiness for all as many lose their lives or move away due to lack of water after their freedom led to overuse of the resources, as Lockstock narrates. Overall, the production delivers a fantastic time with great actors, band and a successful execution by the crew.

    “It has all the things you want to see in the musical, it’s got love, heartbreak, death and fantastic characters, so any big Broadway musical lover is going to love this show,” Parrish said.

    For tickets or more information call 910-678-7186 or visit www.gilberttheater.com

    Above photo: The cast of "Urinetown" delivers an entertaining performance at the Gilbert Theater. (Photo by Tori Barker)

  • 09 20210516 Dinner Theater Promotion 010The 2021 Fayetteville Dinner Theatre will present “Beyond Broadway: Music of Our Time” June 17-19 at the Gates Four Golf & Country Club. Tim Zimmerman and Linda Flynn will headline the show with special guest Tyler Tew.

    Zimmerman and Flynn will perform popular Broadway musical hits for the audience.

    “Tim used to work on cruise ships, and this is a show he did,” Flynn said.

    “He included me in this and I helped him with the backstage stuff. It’s Broadway shows rockified cause that's Tim’s whole style, he makes Broadway rock ’n’ roll.”

    The musical will focus on duets with mild banter in between by Flynn and Zimmerman, including mashups, medleys and hits from shows such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Les Miserables” and more.

    Written by Zimmerman and directed by Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman, the dinner theatre will commence at 6 p.m. with a welcome reception and wine tasting followed by a dinner and the performance at 7 p.m.

    “I think we have got something like 13 to 14 numbers in the show, the first act is 45 minutes long and the second act is 30 minutes long,” Zimmerman said.
    “This is going to be a night of all your Broadway favorites, Broadway tunes from classic and modern as well.”

    There will be three performances. The June 17 show will be a dessert preview which includes the welcome reception and dessert (no dinner). Tickets are $40 per person.
    Tickets for performances on June 18 and 19 will be $75 for general admission or $95 for VIP seating. The dinner theatre offers senior (age 65 and up) and active duty military discount tickets for $65.

    Although a wine tasting is part of the welcome reception, wine will also be available for purchase. All wine sales will be donated to The CARE Clinic, which provides free quality health care to eligible uninsured, low income adults who live in Cumberland County and surrounding areas. The CARE Clinic relies entirely on the generosity of donors, grants from foundations and fundraising events.

    Tickets for all shows can be purchased at www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com

    “We are excited because COVID has restricted everything and not everyone can plan a trip to New York City, so we are bringing Broadway to them,” Bowman said.

    “Beyond Broadway” will be a more refined version of the headliner show Zimmerman performed on cruise ships, Bowman said.
    The dinner theatre will also showcase local musician Tyler Tew.

    “I was trying to get some music out and when the opportunity came up with the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre for me to come out as a special guest and perform, I thought it was great,” Tew said. “It's strictly country music, growing up hunting, fishing, my family listened to country and that’s something I relate to.”

    Tew, a singer-songwriter and guitar player, will perform a half-hour set. He said he is excited for people to hear his music.

    “One of the things that the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre aims to do is showcase local talent and give young people a chance to perform while maintaining a quality performance for the audience,” Bowman said.

    So far, audiences approve. The last Fayetteville Dinner Theatre show “A Sinister Cabaret” in April sold out both performances and prompted Bowman to offer a third performance this time around.

    Bowman said he is expecting a similar response for “Beyond Broadway.”

    “It's definitely a great dinner theatre show, and Gates Four is the perfect venue,” Bowman said. “We know that there is definitely demand for this kind of entertainment.”

    “We’ve got good theatre here with Cape Fear and the Gilbert but we didn't have a dinner theatre,” said Bowman who resurrected the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre a few years ago.

    “People had to go to Greensboro, Raleigh or Charlotte for dinner theatre," he said. "We really found the right niche to be able to pull all this talent together to perform. It has been very rewarding.”

  • 06 71779616 10156368551201969 3438027097455460352 nThe Dogwood Festival’s mini-fest which was postponed earlier this year is being held June 11-12 at Festival Park off Ray Ave. Live music from the Throwback Collaboration Band and On The Border will be staged on day one. The second day features a car and motorcycle show, as well as scaled-down collections of arts and crafts. Food vendors will provide snacks. "We're all very excited for this opportunity," said Sarahgrace Snipes, who was recently named Dogwood Festival Executive Director. The scaled down mini-fest is among the first events being held at Festival Park since the COVID-19 pandemic began early last year. The festival runs from 5-11 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Donations are being accepted.

  • 05 markethouse For years — decades — both the Fayetteville City Council and the Cumberland County Commissioners have poured a lot of money into various organizations and plans to bring new business with well-paid employment to our area. These efforts have now been turned overnight into irremediable failure.

    No properly managed enterprise, after conducting due diligence, will ever set up in Fayetteville. If the local police force will not protect their property and employees, having set this precedent, these businesses will go elsewhere. This is not hollow conjecture.

    While the news of the rioting and looting in Fayetteville got lots of media attention, it is significant that there was no similar violence in surrounding communities. Rioting, looting and vandalism in Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Clinton? Reportedly, the Aberdeen police department got intelligence of a planned event at their Walmart, but they deployed in force, and stopped the riot before it could begin.

    Although our police chief has praised herself for the “restraint” shown by her police in the face of the looting, vandalism and assaults during the recent riot, there is going to be a consequence of this failure to protect property that will doom any future hopes for economic growth in Fayetteville. This must be considered at the police chief’s performance evaluation.

    Another dire situation our police chief’s actions, or rather, inaction, has generated is “vigilante policing.” If the Fayetteville police will not commit to protecting this city’s citizens and their property, then these citizens will take up arms and protect themselves. The consequences will lie at the feet of the police chief. An unintended consequence of our police chief’s laissez-faire approach to protecting Fayetteville’s citizens and their property is the end of the anti 2nd Amendment movement. How can you keep a straight face arguing against “gun violence” when you are promoting wanton looting and vandalism? Since when was a Molotov cocktail not a weapon?

    The examples set by our city’s leadership and police chief have branded Fayetteville as a poor choice to move to and set up a business. Business, and the investment money to set it up, will go elsewhere. That is the real debris that will have to be cleaned up. But can we expect our city leaders and police chief to accomplish this now?

      — Leon A. Goldstein

    Fayetteville City Council and Mayor: No paint needed

    I was raised in this city and grew to love it with all my heart. My working career took me to many places, Greensboro, Raleigh, Rochester, New York, Atlanta Georgia, and then back to Raleigh. I always said, when I retire, I’m going to move back to Fayetteville, North Carolina, a great city and state. I planned well and was fortunate to retire at the age of 59 and immediately moved back. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I hardly ever go to the grocery store that I don’t run into someone I know, and I enjoy that very much. I could almost make a list of those that I might run into at the Teeter. Several of their employees are always greeting me when I come in. “Hello, Mr. Wilson.”

     My childhood was spent at places like Honeycutt Rec. Center (as much as all day, either playing baseball, football or basketball, pool or ping pong). Who could ever forget George Crumbley (with his pipe) or Howard Chesire with all his athletic talent, or Roger Hobson sometimes being the umpire for some of the Little League games. Rowan Street Park, teen night dancing — I am not a good dancer, but really enjoyed watching those that were. Lamond Street Park and the pool we got to swim in once a week. Hay Street, and riding the escalators in Sears and The Capitol. Mr. Stein, owner of the Capitol, probably accused Gary and myself for maybe wearing the escalators out at the Capitol. Alexander Graham Jr. High School (7th, 8th and 9th grade) with Johnson and Underwood sports teams.

    I used to thumb downtown to junior high every day for school. Funny thing, a police lieutenant would pick us up almost every day after he had dropped his son off at Fayetteville Senior High. I wish I could remember his name to give him credit here. The Carolina Soda Shoppe, a “real” orange aide, with a hot dog all the way. Breece’s landing, and going on Mr. Oscars big boat. Playing in the alleys of Holmes Electric, where my mother (grandmother) worked for $25 a week. You should have seen some of the big rats we would chase there. Fort Bragg, a place I have, and still do, always hold with the utmost respect for the men and women that serve this great country, especially those men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Going to Emmanuel Baptist church on Hull road every time the doors were open. I grew up with some great friends there.

    The Market House ….what a nice symbol recognizing this great city. It’s our logo, if you will. In fact, there are paintings hanging all over this city, in homes, as well as many offices, painted by such great artists as Mary Nan Thompson and other talented artists. One of Mary Nan’s is hanging in my home. I personally have never thought of it as a place where slaves were sold.... I personally have never seen anything, written or other wise, that might suggest that. All my life I have thought of the Market House as a place where farmers went to sell their produce and livestock — nothing more! I could be proven wrong, but I believe his group, Black Lives Matter, is simply an organization that is radical and it’s sole purpose is to loot and steal and create criminal and racial disturbance. Two of the three people that started it were both confirmed Marxists. Why not protest in peace, as Dr. Martin Luther King suggested. All Lives Matter. Christ proved that when he gave his life for everyone, regardless of color!

    Now, according to our local newspaper, our city council is thinking about having racial slogans painted on Hay street, or even have the building demolished. Our looters and criminals have already tried to burn the building down. Thankfully, one criminal suspect got what he deserved by having put himself on fire... justice served, I believe. My question here is, Where were the police or fire department? Very bad choice Mr. Mayor and Ms. Police Chief, very bad.

    The other sad thing is that the merchants have worked very hard to make downtown Hay Street a place we could all be proud of. The only thing thing they got in return was their widows broken out and stolen merchandise.

    I will personally have no desire to go back downtown to shop or visit one of the many nice restaurants located there unless there is a dramatic change. There must be a Market House standing, with no paint on the streets! Oops. I forgot. I will continue to support our Woodpeckers, I do love baseball. Hey Fayetteville residents, we do have
    an election coming up very soon, please get out and vote.

    If I am not mistaken, the Market House is protected by the fact that it is on the 1832 list of the National Historic Registry places, making it deemed worthy of preservation for its historical significance. Why were the police not present to help deter some of the damage done to the Market House? Voters, an election is coming up soon... please remember that.

    As this piece is being written, we have a fence around the Market House — for its protection, I guess? Tonight the City Council is meeting to determine if the building should be demolished and done away with.

    This should be about police brutally, not race or racism. I am so very sorry that Mr. George Floyd lost his life; I hurt for his family and friends. However, race did not kill him... a police officer that had no business being on the force ended his life. Hopefully, justice will prevail, and all the officers get the punishment they all deserve. I respect the fact that anyone could use their constitutional right to protest, unfortunately, there are many of these protesters that have used this as an opportunity to loot, steal and destroy — even to the point of burning down buildings and destroying people’s livelihoods. The virus is doing that quite well, it doesn’t need any help.

    Demolishing the Market House, or painting the street with Black Lives Matter, would critically ruin this fine city I was privileged go grow up in. If we are going to do that, why not put the nasty, slutty bars back in the first block of Hay Street and finish the city off?

    I say not!

    Respectfully Submitted,
    Jerry Wilson
    Fayetteville Resident
  • 06 CAP02810 1 CroppedLegends Pub will host their 24th annual Spring Fling the weekend of June 4-6. Known to many locals for its welcoming and altruistic nature, the pub, located at 4624 Bragg Blvd # 1, has hosted the event since owner Holly Whitley purchased it about 25 years ago.

    “We take care of our own in our own community, we feel as though our own community needs this more than anything,” Whitley said. “It’s quite phenomenal for a little biker bar on the boulevard.”

    Spring Fling began way before Whitley owned the pub. She and a group of friends would host parties at Whitley’s house and called it the Gypsy Women Spring Fling.

    “It was just a get-together of friends and then when we bought the bar we thought of having it there and at that time one of our friends had had a motorcycle accident and they needed our help so we decided to turn the party into a benefit,” she said. “And that’s how we all started as a group and Spring Fling is now our largest benefit of the year.”

    Whitley, in Fayetteville since 1979, bought the pub in the 90’s. Ever since, each year the Spring Fling has raised money for many different individuals and causes in Cumberland County.

    “We’ve been around for 25 years and I have got a good, solid base of people that have been with me for many years, supported our benefits and each other, and they knew if hard times came, we would be there to support them as well,” she said.

    This year's Spring Fling will benefit the local non-profit Seth’s Wish, a charity helping those affected by homelessness and food insecurity.

    “We had a space in Fayetteville for three years and last year a drunk driver drove their car through our building, which is why Holly is doing the Spring Fling this year to help us get into a new building,” said Seth’s Wish Founder and Executive Director Lindsey Wofford.

    The non-profit offered hot meals and a place for the homeless to relax during the day. At their old site they also had a clothes closet, food pantry, hygiene closet as well as hot showers for people to use.

    “With COVID and the car hitting our building we are really depending on the Spring Fling to move towards our goal of getting into a new space, since all our funds are being constantly exhausted,” Wofford said. “We help house families as well, helping with electric bills, helping people with hotel rooms during winter nights, so it's constantly a game of keep up.”

    Whitley said she has helped Seth’s Wish before and has since gotten to know Wofford and how she works.

    The 2021 Spring Fling will be a free event for all with the kick off on Friday, June 4 with free pizza and a pool tournament starting at 8 p.m. People are encouraged to bring donation items for the raffle and auction, as well as gallon sized canned food items or small pop-top canned food and personal hygiene items.

    Saturday will feature the Scott Sather Memorial Poker Run, a motorcycle ride where participants stop at designated locations to pick up cards and build the best poker hand. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and end by 4 p.m. before the auction.

    “We do the Scott Sather Memorial Poker Run in honor of Scott Sather, a regular at our bar, he was killed in Iraq in 2001, and we always have a toast for him,” Whitley said. “He was a part of our family.”

    Raffle tickets will be available for purchase for $20 each or $100 for 10 tickets.

    “One of our bigger raffle prizes this year is a 70-inch TV among other things,” Whitley said.

    The event will feature the live-band Bone Deep from Raleigh after the auction at the end of the night.

    On the last day of the Spring Fling, there will be a Bike Show, from 1 to 4 p.m.

    “After the show, we usually have a lunch of hotdogs and barbecue sandwiches,” Whitley said. “I don’t ask people to pay for the food because I love people to eat at the bar, just come on down and join us.”

    The competitions will feature different awards and prizes, she said.

    The 2020 Spring Fling was cancelled due to the pandemic but the pub reopened with a remodel and was revamped.

    “My staff has been with me for a long time, they all stuck with me through the pandemic and came back, so I didn't have an employment issue coming back,” Whitley said. “I had a lot of support from the community in being able to pay my rent and
    utilities.”

    Over the last 25 years, Legends Pub has raised over $50,000 each year.

    “The Spring Fling is our biggest event, but we do other events throughout the year as well,” Whitley said. “Over the last 25 years or so I would say we may have raised about a million dollars or so for our community. “We never know when someone has the need, so God forbid something happens.”

    Wofford hopes with the help of the money raised with Spring Fling, Seth’s Wish can be back in a building space by this fall before the weather starts getting cold.

    “I chose this community to be where I raised my children, and they’ve grown up and become successful here,” Whitley said tearing up. “I just feel like you have to build on your own community. As much strife as we've had in our community this last year, it’s been so hard on all of us, my daddy used to always say, we got to take care of our own, never forget our own.”

    Pictured Above: The 2021 Legends Pub Spring Fling will benefit Sth's Wish, a local charity helping those affected by homelessness and food insecurity. (Photos by Christy Alphin)

  • 04 N2008P18007C  It’s that most wonderful time of year — a time of sweetness, light and goodwill toward men. It’s the summer run-up to the presidential election of 2020. It’s a time for civil, reasoned political discourse. A time for love, a time for joy. A time for thoughtful conversations about the direction of government. A time when Americans of all political stripes link arms, sing “Kum Ba Yah,” and arrive at a mutually agreed consensus about where we want to go as a nation. Ha! Fooled you. None of the above. Let’s get ripping and roaring, tossing invectives, stink bombs and fake ads at the other side. As “Where the Wild Things Are” advised: “Let the wild rumpus begin.” Each side will accuse the other side of being in league with Satan. Both sides will screech, “This is the most important election in the history of America.” Every four years we have the most important election in the history of America. Someone needs to come up with a new slogan.

    We will have a choice between another four years of Dear Leader’s curious antics and Joe Biden’s calmness. Personally, I am riding with Biden. If you are a true believer in all things Trump, this column is not going to be beneficial to your blood pressure. Kindly stop reading it. Go to your safe space on Fox or OAN. At least take some Phenergan to prevent nausea if you persist in reading this drivel despite the trigger warning that it will be unkind to Dear Leader.

    Perhaps you have seen the picture of a dejected and disheveled looking Dear Leader walking from the helicopter after the Triumph in Tulsa rally. He appeared to be a Conquering Zero. Think of General Lee after Gettysburg or the Carolina Tar Heel basketball team walking off the floor after the loss in the Final Four to Indiana in 1981. He looked that bad, his red tie dangling forlornly, crumpled MAGA hat in hand. It was bigly sad. The blue wave turned out to be wall-to-wall rows of empty blue seats in the BOK arena. Apparently, some of the vacuum in BOK was created by teenagers with cell phones calling in fake reservations. The leader of the free world got punked by teenagers. If the White House can’t figure out how to deal with bored teenagers, what does that say about Dear Leader’s ability to deal with Vlad Putin and China’s Chairman Xi on matters more weighty than phony phone calls? Like the King of Siam said, “It is a puzzlement.”

    Would you buy a used Pandemic from this man? Maybe you would. Maybe America will too. Despite Biden’s apparent lead in the polls, we all remember what the polls said about President Hillary Clinton before the actual election. Ain’t no guarantee that Biden will win. Dear Leader might well be like Bullwinkle J. Moose and pull another rabbit out of his presidential hat.

    Trouble remains right here in River City with 40 million +  unemployed Americans. The COVID cooties have killed over 120,000 Americans as this column slouches toward the printing press. The Black Lives Matter remains front and center. The stock market is up despite the pain on Main Street. Someone wiser than I said that the Dow Jones average represents how rich people feel about money, not what is happening in the actual economy where people live. It’s a veritable constellation of crud. Something is happening here, and you don’t know what it is, do you Dear Leader?

      Let us assume for the moment that Biden gets elected. As William Butler Yeats once wrote, “’What then?’ sang Plato’s ghost. ‘What then?’” He will have a bit of a mess to clean up, beginning in January 2021. Joblessness, pandemic in double full bloom and troubles on the streets all await the next president. Fixing the mess reminds me of one of the 12 labors of Hercules. Hercules had been made insane by the goddess Hera. While he was crazy, Hercules killed his wife and family like the Overlook’s caretaker Charles Grady in “The Shining.” Once his crazy passed, Hercules was grief-stricken and wanted to make amends. Like Alcoholics Anonymous, Hercules was assigned a 12-step program of seemingly impossible tasks to gain redemption.

    Hercules was given the job of cleaning out the Augean Stables in a single day. These stables housed thousands of cattle, sheep and horses. These critters produced a prodigious amount of poop. The stables had not been cleaned out for over 30 years. There was a lot of stable mucking to be done. A lesser man might have given up before even starting to shovel. Hercules believed in working smarter, not harder. He dug a giant ditch and diverted two rivers into and out of the stables. This successfully carried away three decades of poop. The Environmental Protection Agency did not exist then, so no federal regulations on the discharge of animal waste were violated.

     If Biden gets elected, he will have a fair amount of stable cleaning to enjoy. If Dear Leader gets reelected, even though he is a very stable genius, I suspect the stables will just collect more poop. Let the wild rumpus begin.
     
  • 12 DSC 0593 ClarkAfter a year of being masked, isolated and vaccinated, the sun is shining — literally and figuratively — and it is finally time to venture back into the great outdoors. 

    There are a number of local area sites and activities that offer a chance to see and experience the wonders of nature. You don’t have to go far or spend much money if you look to our own Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation.
     
    “There is something for everyone at Clark Park,” said Jennifer Smith, Ranger Supervisor at Clark Park Nature Center. “The city’s second largest regional park remains a natural area dedicated to preserving the environment and educating the public about nature.”
     
    About 27,000 people per year enjoy programs and the Nature Center. Thousands more enjoy the playground and park trails. Spring, summer and fall are all busy seasons, Smith said.
     
    “The Nature Center offers programming for educators, groups, individuals and families plus self- guided experiences,” Smith said. “You can attend a class on fall fungi or take a Star Wars-themed archery class. The Nature Center features 23 live animals including eight species of turtles native to North Carolina.”
     
    The Nature Center also has museum exhibits and displays on natural history, and all of them have interactive elements. You can search for 38 of North Carolina's smallest frogs, toads, snakes, salamanders, lizards and turtles in an exhibit created by wildlife artist Joe Morgan. 
     
    Morgan hails from Liberty, North Carolina, and his work has been featured in museums around the world such as the Smithsonian Institute and also in film and TV. You can get rewards for finding the creatures with some prizes and take home your own set of baseball-style animal fact cards.
     
    There are self-guided activities to get you moving and exercising out on the trails, Smith said.
     
    StoryWalks break the notion that reading only happens within libraries and that parks are only for exercise and recreation. Visitors can stroll along the River Trail with a story to guide their way. The stroller-friendly paved trail is less than 1/2 mile in total. 
     
    Stories change about four times per year. The project is a partnership between the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center and Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation.  It was funded by a grant from the Women's Giving Circle of Cumberland County, through the Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc. 
     
    The Great Pinecone Scavenger Hunt is a themed activity that gets visitors to explore the unpaved, woodland trails of the park. They search for large golden pinecones hidden along the trail as they experience topics such as tree bark, spring flowers and winter buds. Sheets for the hunt are outside the Center.
     
    “We have three park rangers that do the majority of our programming, plus two ranger supervisors who do most of the administration,” Smith said.  
     
    “One of our rangers actually majored in recreation, but the rest of our staff are all science nerds. Two studied biology and two studied wildlife. They love doing in-depth programs on plants and animals, and all are involved in monitoring local populations of birds, frogs and toads, moths and other creatures. Our recreation ranger is amazingly creative at coming up with fun programs that really engage his audience. He has a following of regular customers.”
     
    Most popular activities at the park are the public animal feedings, campfires with storytelling and archery programs, Smith said. 
     
    “This is because they appeal to a wide age range,” she said. “Families with young kids enjoy watching the animals eat, and the older kids enjoy the thrill of gathering around a fire at night or learning how to fire an arrow.”
     
    Park visitors ages 5 and up should be prepared to don their masks while in the Nature Center and practice social distancing guidelines. All visitors should also sign in at the front desk.
     
    Nature Center hours during COVID are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For the latest programming information and learn more about the park visit www.fcpr.us/parks-trails/parks/clark-park
     
    “The most valuable thing we do is to create and maintain awareness of the wonders of nature, especially in the young, and to maintain a place where people can go and still have the chance to see something amazing, like a tiny Cope’s gray tree frog curled in the knot of a tree,” Smith said.  “Clark Park is an island of diversity, preserving some species that have resided here since the time of the last ice age. The rangers have to keep awareness of that flowing out into the community, in order to keep the park and its biology valued and intact.”
     
    There are a number of activities available at Clark Park and Lake Rim Park for visitors of all ages and abilities. Most activities are free or charge a minimal fee to cover expenses, such as $3 to build a bee house or $5 for archery targets. 
     
    A schedule of activities is updated monthly on www.fcpr.us/parks-trails/parks or call Clark Park at 910-433-1579 and Lake Rim Park at 910-433-1018.
     
  • 03 margaretLike millions of other Americans, I wake up every morning wondering what is going to happen today. How horrifying will the COVID-19 resurgence be? How and why has a protective health measure like covering one’s nose and mouth become a political statement? Will protesters be on our streets and will there be violence, damages and injuries?

    It is a time unlike any other, at least in my lifetime.

    The negatives of our collective situation are apparent to all Americans, and many of us are suffering financially and psychologically, individually and collectively. Each of us and our families approach this difficult time in our own ways, and none of us is certain we are doing it well. Every decision and every action seem — and are — a calculated risk.

    It helps to think of silver linings, and there are some.

    Since March, millions of us have been forced to slow down. Working remotely or not working at all has given us more time with our families, not all of it fairy tale perfect, of course, but opportunities to get to know each other in new ways. We are not side-by-side with our friends and coworkers, but we do “see” them through 21st century technology.

    We are spending more time outdoors, because we have more time and fewer places, like gyms, to go. Walkers and bikers, both serious athletes and casual strollers and pedal pushers, populate our neighborhoods. We are listening to and watching for birds, with apps to identify birds by both sight and sound downloaded by the millions. Live-cam feeds of nesting birds have soared in popularity.

    Cats and dogs are flying out shelter doors as Americans adopt them in record numbers.

    Experts say we foster and adopt pets to help them, especially those who have been abandoned, but we wind up helping ourselves cope with stress and become more active as we care for our new charges.

    We are learning that maybe, just maybe, we really do not need all the possessions and services we thought we did. This American did not have a haircut for more than three months, and while I was not thrilled by my shaggy tresses, I muddled through just like everyone else and was delighted when I finally did get a trim. Ditto for other personal services and impulse purchases not made because we are not out shopping as often as we were preCOVID-19.

    And, glory be — Americans are cooking again. With restaurants closed or operating at reduced capacity, we have had to provide for ourselves, and many of us are getting creative. Sourdough starter is having a big moment, producing bread, pancakes, waffles and anything else bakers want to try. Many of us are cooking together, a first in some American households. The Dicksons’ summer obsession turns out to be finding the perfect tomato pie recipe, and we think we have it now.

    More cooking means more groceries, some of them selected online and then picked up or delivered. No surprise then that grocery profits have spiked during the pandemic, as have those of other industries that make us more comfortable at home. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that also thriving are meal prep companies and prepared food outlets, cleaning and delivery services, liquor and wine stores, game makers and sellers, fitness equipment companies, landscaping and yard services, garden centers, and — guess who — mask producers.

    Americans are also doing each other small kindnesses, and each of us has a story to tell about those. One that resonates with me comes from the Gallery X Art Collective in Murray, Kentucky. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, the tattoo parlor is offering to cover up inked symbols of hate or gangs — free of charge. Says tattoo artist Ryun King, “Having anything hate related is completely unacceptable. A lot of people when they were younger just didn’t know any better and were left with mistakes on their bodies. We just want to make sure everybody has a chance to change.” Their phone is ringing regularly.

    Such is the phenomenon that is 2020, which still has six months to go.

  • 11 The District Summer Market Logo light in dark out 1The Cool Spring Downtown District will launch The District Summer Market in June at Festival Park. This farmers-and-makers market is scheduled to be open to the public from 4-8 p.m.every Thursday starting June 3 through Aug. 26. The exception will by July 1, when the market will be closed.

    About 25 vendors will be selling their products each week, and they include a variety of farmers, ranchers, artists and artisans.

    Saira Meneses, co-owner of Purpose Driven Family Farm, expressed her own excitement: “We’re thrilled to be part of The District Summer Market this year; it's going to be, without a doubt, a great addition to downtown Fayetteville, and my husband, AJ, and I are looking forward to introducing our farm and unique products to attendees.”

    Purpose Driven Family Farm raises its livestock using organic/non-GMO methods and sustainability practices on a 10-acre farm in Parkton. Owners AJ and Saira Meneses believe in raising thier animals humanely and with integrity, love and respect, because they know that happy, healthy animals mean better products for their community. Learn more at www.purposedrivenfamilyfarm.com/

    As a part of its ongoing objective to position downtown as a viable arts-and-entertainment district, Cool Spring’s Chief Executive Officer, Bianca Shoneman, continues to seek opportunities to create and/or host family-friendly activities that bring people downtown to shop, eat and play, safely.

    “We simply recognized the fact people are looking for more opportunities to intentionally spend their money on locally produced food, art, etc. in 2021,” Shoneman said, “and thanks to the support of the city of Fayetteville, The District Summer Market will be a fantastic opportunity for downtown’s visitors to shop local while enjoying a fun, family-friendly outing in our lovely Festival Park.”

    Cool Spring Downtown District is planning to invite local food trucks and musicians to participate in the market once restrictions are lifted. Additionally, a variety of games such as cornhole, Connect 4, and ladder ball will be available for groups to enjoy playing on Festival Park’s spacious lawn.

    “We’re extremely excited for the grand opening of The District Summer Market and are looking forward to serving folks through our pasture-raised and nutrient-dense pork, beef, chicken and eggs,” an owner of Spartan Tusk and Feather Livestock said. “We believe this market will change the way people look at the food they’re consuming.”

    Spartan Tusk and Feather Livestock is a veteran-owned-and-operated family farm, located on 60 acres in Shannon, that produces antibiotic-free, hormone-free, and humanely raised food products. Owners Adam and Tiffany Jeter pride themselves on providing sustainable, healthy foods for their community. Learn more at facebook.com/SpartanTuskandFeatherLivestock

    Cool Spring Downtown District is inviting the public to apply to be a vendor for one or more of the 12 markets being planned over the summer. Email marketmanager@coolspringfay.org for more information. Additionally, if a company is interested in sponsoring one or more of the markets, email bianca@coolspringfay.org.

    The public may follow all market plans and happenings on Cool Spring Downtown District’s website https://visitdowntownfa

  • I doubt that those calling for the eradication of Fayetteville’s historic Market House know much about its history.  

    In 2020, Fayetteville’s biggest threat is perceived to be a 188-year-old structure steeped in North Carolina history and tradition, which remains mostly ignored — the Fayetteville Market House. Recently, there have been calls for it to be torn down because it offends the sensitivities of a particular faction of residents. I know what you may be thinking. Downtown establishments in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s offended the sensibilities of many local residents, and some were finally torn down. This is true. But in the years that followed, the people who were responsible for demolishing them had laser-focused plans for Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s future and the leadership skills to see it through. They knew exactly what they wanted Fayetteville’s future to be for all its citizens.
     
    Local city and county government leadership had vision, tenacity and plenty of practical business experience. They had a well-thought-out and workable plan to improve and enhance the quality of life for all citizens — without regard to race, color or religious affiliation. Former mayors J. L. Dawkins and Bill Hurley, County Commissioner Thomas Bacote, city manager John Smith, city attorney Bob Cogswell, Democrat Sen. Tony Rand, Danny Fore of the  Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation and David Jamieson of the Chamber of Commerce are just a few of the respected names that come to mind when I think of prominent Fayetteville and Cumberland County leaders who contributed to our valuable, however brief, renaissance.

    02 market houseThis was an exciting time for our community. When downtown was cleaned up, it marked a rebirth of our community. People were excited and willing to engage. Cumberland County and downtown Fayetteville became vibrant and alive. Commerce returned to downtown, a new city hall and police station were built on Hay Street, the Prince Charles Hotel was salvaged, the Airborne & Special Operations Museum and Veterans Park came to be, Fayetteville Little Theater became Cape Fear Regional Theatre, the Crown Coliseum Complex was built, and the third Thursday Chamber Coffee Club was standing room only in anticipation of hearing updates on new local projects and programs. Everyone benefited from the community’s success, and the Market House solidified itself as the city’s symbolic icon of pride, perseverance and progress. And, as history has proven, the Market House has never been depicted as “the slave market house” or a place of human degradation.

    I have lived here over 50 years and never once felt Fayetteville was a racially hostile community. And, saying it is does not make it so. Nor does destroying the Market House prove the point.

    My closing message relates to 2020 as an election year. The things we are now experiencing — from protests and riots to toppling statutes to the Black Lives Matter movement — are staged political distractions. Dissension means votes. Across this country, politicians need the black vote desperately. Without it, they have no political careers or future. These leaders stoke racially charged issues then stand down in the comfort of affluent neighborhoods while racial conflict and disharmony consume and destroy the communities in major towns and cities. Blacks and other minorities should never be used as pawns for anyone’s personal gain. Politicians use race as their weapon of choice. In politics, the color of one’s skin makes no difference. In politics, the rich get richer. In politics, power is both the objective and an intoxicating drug. All humanity needs to take a closer look at the people and the purpose of things to which we are asked to support and pay allegiance.

    The Market House is a historic symbol of pride that, as time passes, measures how far we have progressed in 188 plus years. We do not want to go backward.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

     
  • POW banner 01 4 14 V2 03The Airborne and Special Operations Museum opened a new exhibit May 7 to honor American prisoners of war. Victory From Within: The American Prisoner of War Experience explores the POW experience through sections titled Capture, Prison Life, Those Who Wait and Freedom.

    The exhibit includes artifacts from James “Nick” Rowe, a Special Forces Lieutenant and POW held by the Viet Cong; Raymond Schrump, also a POW in the Vietnam War; and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Durant. The ASOM supplements the exhibit with POW artifacts from its own collection from World War II, Vietnam and Operation GOTHIC SERPANT, along with related artifacts from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum.

    Director of the museum Jim Bartlinski said, “I hope this exhibit brings a better understanding of the sacrifices our military men and women give for us to have our freedom.”

    Rowe was captured by Vietcong communist guerillas on October 29, 1963, and spent five years in captivity moving between POW camps in South Vietnam. In December of 1968, Rowe escaped when he overpowered his guard and flagged down an American helicopter.

    Schrump was a Special Forces Major assigned to Tay Ninh Province in southern Vietnam. He was taken prisoner by the Viet Cong on May 23, 1968, and held captive for close to five years.

    Durant was taken captive during operation GOTHIC SERPENT in October of 1993, when the Black Hawk helicopter he was flying in Mogadishu was shot down by Somali militants. He was held captive for 11 days.

    “It is an honor and a privilege to bring these stories to the public and those within the military community,” Bartlinski said. “I hope this exhibit will bring inspiration to those about to leave or returning from SERE training.”

    SERE stands for Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. SERE training is required for military personnel whose assignment makes them vulnerable to capture by the enemy or terrorists. SERE training prepares troops to resist the enemy’s attempts at exploitation, to escape from captivity and to return home with honor. Rowe is credited with developing the course. After his retirement from service, Schrump was a speaker during the SERE course.

    This exhibit runs until September 26. It is offered in partnership with the Andersonville (Ga.) National Historic Site National Prisoner of War Museum. Admission to the museum is free. For more information on the ASOM and their upcoming events visit www.asomf.org/.

  • 07 scott graham 5fNmWej4tAA unsplashThere’s certainly been plenty of volatility and uncertainty the past few months, but one aspect of your financial picture has probably remained stable: your need for insurance. And since National Insurance Awareness Day is observed on June 28, now is a good time to review your overall insurance coverage to determine if you and your loved ones are well-protected.

    You might be surprised at the lack of protection among your fellow citizens. Less than 60% of Americans have life insurance, and just about half of those with insurance are underinsured, according to LIMRA, a research organization.

    Of course, you might think the reason so many people don’t have insurance is because they don’t need it. But just about every age group can benefit from life insurance.

    If you have a house and a family … Your insurance needs are obvious: If something happened to you, could your mortgage payments still be met? How about your car payments? Doctor’s bills? College for your children? Even if you have a spouse or partner who earns a decent income, your family could still have big trouble paying its bills if you weren’t around.

    If you’re young and single with no family responsibilities … If you’re in this group, why would you need life insurance? For one thing, perhaps you owe money together with someone else — you might, for example, be a joint debtor on a mortgage. If you passed away, your codebtor would be responsible for the entire debt. And just because you don’t have family responsibilities now, it doesn’t mean you never will. If you have a family history of serious health issues, which may eventually affect you, you could have trouble getting life insurance later, or at least getting it without paying a lot. Now, when you’re young and healthy, the coverage is available and may be more affordable.

    Your children are grown and you’re retired … If you retire with debt or have a spouse dependent on you, keeping your life insurance is a good idea, especially if you haven’t paid off your mortgage. Plus, life insurance can be used in various ways in your estate plans.

    Even if you recognize the need for life insurance, though, you may be uncertain about how much you require. Your employer may offer insurance, but it might not be sufficient for your needs. And, perhaps just as important, if you leave your job, voluntarily or not, you’ll likely lose this coverage. If you purchase a private policy, what’s the right amount? You might have heard you need a death benefit that’s worth seven or eight times your annual salary, but that’s just a rough estimate. To determine the appropriate level of coverage, you’ll need to consider a variety of factors: your age, income, marital status, number of children and so on.

    Still, even after you’ve got the right amount in place, it doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. You should review your coverage regularly, and especially when you change jobs, get married or remarried, have children or experience any other major life event.

    Life insurance should be a key part of your overall financial strategy, along with your retirement accounts and other investments. Make sure you’re properly covered – for today and tomorrow.

  • 06 C0830100 1Should Gov. Roy Cooper continue his current approach to reopening North Carolina’s shattered economy, speeding up the pace to save more jobs and businesses, or slow it down in response to increases in hospitalized patients with COVID-19?

    I bet you have a strong opinion about this question. Most North Carolinians do. I certainly do, and have expressed it repeatedly: I think Cooper’s initial shutdown orders were too sweeping and Draconian and ought to be lifted more quickly.

     There are two assumptions embedded in my answer that deserve further explanation. One is that Cooper’s reaction to the coronavirus crisis has been relatively stringent. The other is that state regulations have a significant effect on economic activity separate from the direct effect of the virus itself. After all, many North Carolinians would have stayed away from workplaces and businesses even if the state hadn’t ordered them to.

    Let’s start with stringency. Comparing state COVID-19 responses is no easy task. You can’t just tally up how many states issued stay-at-home orders or closed “nonessential” businesses. Details matter. Some orders lasted only a couple of weeks. Others lasted a couple of months. Some contained lots of exceptions and defined “nonessential” broadly. And in places such as Florida, local responses came earlier and have been more burdensome than the statewide orders.

    Taking all that into consideration, the only state in the Southeast that seems to rival North Carolina in the stringency of COVID-19 regulation is Virginia. Its stay-at-home order lasted longer. On the other hand, Virginia has allowed some categories of businesses such as bars and gyms to reopen, albeit under tight restrictions, while Cooper has refused to do so in North Carolina.

    Another way of gauging the relative strictness of state regulations is to look at their effect on behavior. To do that, I used a mobility measure from the University of Washington’s COVID model that combines cellphone tracking from Google, Facebook, Safegraph and Descartes Labs. I also focused more specifically on the restaurant sector by using an OpenTable.com tool that compares the average number of seated diners to pre-COVID levels in each state.

    The results matched up closely with my assessment of state policies. After the initial wave of COVID regulations, followed by the current wave of phased reopening, mobility in the average Southeastern state is about 20% below pre-COVID levels. The three states where mobility remains significantly more limited are Virginia (still down 34%), Florida (down 31%), and North Carolina (down 27%).

     With regard to restaurant reservations, all Southeastern states show a substantial drop from pre-COVID levels. But there is a wide variance. The situation is noticeably worse for restaurants in Virginia (-82%) and North Carolina (-68%) than in Florida (-49%), South Carolina (-46%), and Alabama (-37%). The other states fall somewhere in-between.

     As you can plainly see, even the states with the lightest regulations have still experienced large declines in mobility and business activity. The same can be said for jobs and incomes. It would be silly to blame Roy Cooper in North Carolina, or any governor in any state, for all of the economic pain experienced since March.

     However, it would also be silly to assert that state policy has played no role. Don’t take my word for it. In a study posted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a team of academic researchers from Indiana, Ohio and Georgia estimated that employment dropped by an average of 1.7 percentage points for every 10 days under a state stay-at-home order. “Our estimates imply that about 40% of the 12 percentage-point decline in employment rates between January and April 2020 was due to a nationwide shock,” they wrote, “while about 60% was driven by state social distancing policies.”

     To show that Roy Cooper’s shutdown orders were relatively onerous and very costly is not necessarily to show they were a bad idea, of course. We’ll keep debating that question for weeks and months to come. But now, at least, the question is more clearly framed.

  • 05 N1903P69003CWhen we think about gratitude or thankfulness, we often table the thought until we get a little closer to that November holiday with the turkey, a four-day weekend and the conversation with our weird uncle. But genuine gratitude is more a way of life than an annual celebration.

    I got a little miffed when I turned on the news the other day — which isn’t difficult anymore — because it seemed to be more opinion and editorial than a reporting of the facts. To make matters worse, the angle from which the news show presented each story seemed to be positioned in such a way that it was intentionally trying to rile people up.

    I’m grateful to live in an era where communication and information technology have advanced and continue to advance beyond anything I dared to dream as a young child. Still, the more I see irresponsible use of the platforms technology provides, the easier it is to see that we humans suffer from a lack of gratitude and thankfulness in our lives.

    Chances are you woke up this morning in a comfortable bed, in a house with a solid foundation and a roof with no leaks. You likely turned on a light, used indoor plumbing, and poured some coffee into a cup, settled into a chair and began to ponder what the day ahead held for you. You might have picked a book or turned on your computer to get your mind in gear before breakfast.

    Every one of those things is worth being thankful for. Not everyone in the world has those things. A bed, a home, electricity and plumbing — those are all things most of us take for granted. But to a considerable percentage of the world’s population, they are only dreams.

    The past few months have taught us something else about gratitude and privilege, too. We’ve learned the value we place on relationships. We’ve discovered we not only enjoy, but need interaction with other human beings to maintain some sort of mental stability. Our family, coworkers, church and social connections are vitally important to us, and we learned that the loss of freedom (another thing to be thankful for) to exercise those relationships freely was daunting, to say the very least.

    What I hope you’ll see if you made it this far, is that there is much to be thankful for in our immediate surroundings. Because when we learn to sense those things and express gratitude for them, it begins to spill over into the rest of our lives. We begin to notice the beauty of the landscape instead of the length of the drive, and we see the diversity of the people in any crowd rather than notice how many people are “not like us.”

  • 04 joshua rodriguez SbwOToII 4 unsplashColumn Gist: I do not know what the situation will be in America when this column is published; however, protests, too often accompanied by violence and looting, have been routine over the last two weeks. The horrible killing of George Floyd prompted all of this. A primary component of what is being called for is a discussion of race and racism in America. Watching all that is being done in this time, and what is being said, leads me to ask if there is a real desire to seriously discuss race and racism in this country.

    This, from a Wikipedia article titled, “Killing of George Floyd”:

    “On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street; two other officers further restrained Floyd and another stood by and prevented onlookers from intervening.”

    As I start this column on June 8, protests intended to be peaceful have been conducted for several days across America. Many of these protests ended with the looting of businesses, burning of buildings, attacks on police officers and civilians and even killing of innocent people, including police officers.

    Let there be no doubt, the killing of George Floyd was a horrendous act that should never be inflicted on any human being. Amid the protests and violence that accompanies many of them, there is a call for discussing and confronting the alleged “rampant racism” in America. It is often referred to as “systemic racism.” The focus of the protests, speeches and other actions has been the contention that police killings of black citizens are out of control. Some people even label the situation as one of “genocide.” A Google search gives this definition of genocide: “… the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.”

    Any discussion where there are differing thoughts or positions requires that all parties be able and willing to acknowledge what is factual. Just yesterday, I was in more than a two-hour phone discussion with a black friend that I have known for almost 70 years. We disagree on just about every consideration relating to the condition of black Americans. At one point in the conversation, I quoted some statistics to support a comment I had made. His response was that statistics can be twisted and what I was quoting probably came from some conservative source. I suggested that he check the statistics and source for himself. He had no interest in doing that. If you are not willing to come to grips with facts, are you really serious about discussing race and racism in America? The good news regarding that friend is that we left the conversation still friends. That has become a rare experience over the past several years since I started sharing my conservative views.

    Against that backdrop, consider some facts. In 2015, The Washington Post began to log every fatal shooting by an on-duty police officer in the United States. Data for 2019, from The Post, is referenced in an article by Heather Mac Donald titled, “The Myth of Systemic Police Racism.” Portions of that article follow, but I encourage reading the full piece:

    “In 2019 police officers fatally shot 1,004 people, most of whom were armed or otherwise dangerous. African-Americans were about a quarter of those killed by cops last year (235), a ratio that has remained stable since 2015. That share of black victims is less than what the black crime rate would predict, since police shootings are a function of how often officers encounter armed and violent suspects. In 2018, the latest year for which such data have been published, African-Americans made up 53% of known homicide offenders in the U.S. and commit about 60% of robberies, though they are 13% of the population.

    “The police fatally shot nine unarmed blacks and 19 unarmed whites in 2019, according to a Washington Post database, down from 38 and 32, respectively, in 2015.

    “In 2018 there were 7,407 black homicide victims. Assuming a comparable number of victims last year, those nine unarmed black victims of police shootings represent 0.1% of all African-Americans killed in 2019. By contrast, a police officer is 18 ½ times more likely to be killed by a black male than an unarmed black male is to be killed by a police officer.”

    The Mac Donald article indicated that police killed nine unarmed blacks in 2019. In his June 3 show, Tucker Carlson on FOX Cable News reported this number as 10. Carlson included the one unarmed black woman who was killed while Mac Donald only included black men. Carlson reviewed what happened in each of the 10 cases. This is what he indicated: in five cases, the officer was clearly attacked by the offender; one involved an accidental shooting while the officer was struggling with the victim; four resulted from pursuit of an offender… two of these officers were charged with homicide. Watching the Carlson piece is absolutely necessary for anyone who wants to fairly answer the question posed by this column. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qwif8PF1EI and start
    watching at 6:40.

    Examination of the information put forth by Mac Donald and Carlson gives a person reason to ask whether there is really out-of-control killing of black Americans by police officers; is there “black genocide?” The information used by Mac Donald and Carlson was based on data published by The Washington Post. It should be noted that a guest on Laura Ingram’s show, June 4, indicated that The Post changed the number of unarmed blacks killed by police officers in 2019 from 10 to 15. Does that increase of five change the picture?

    Beyond the 10 or 15 deaths of unarmed black citizens attributed to police shootings in 2019, consider the 7,407 black homicide victims in 2018 — a number that will likely be similar in 2019. Following from an article by Barry Latzer titled, “The Need to Discuss Black-on-Black Crime”:

    “In 2018, where the homicide victim was black, the suspected killer also was 88 percent of the time. And this is not an exceptional situation. From 1976 to 2005, 94 percent of black victims were killed by other African Americans.”

    Applying Latzer’s 88% to 2018’s 7,407 black homicides means the suspected killer in 6,518 of those cases was likely black.

    Seriously and successfully discussing race and racism requires that all voices be heard without anybody facing intimidation or penalty. An example of how this absolute requirement looks, when violated, shows in action taken by the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, North Carolina State University, University of South Carolina and the Charlotte Knights minor league baseball club. An article at www.wsoctv.com/news titled, “Panthers, Hornets cut ties with CPI Security after CEO’s protest remark” applies. Segments follow:

    “Charlotte’s two professional sports franchises, as well as two universities, have canceled partnerships with a North Carolina home security company after the firm’s CEO told an activist, who leads Queen City Unity and called for a boycott of CPI, he should focus on black-on-black crime rather than the George Floyd protests.


    “Queen City Unity’s executive director said he sent a letter to city leaders calling for change when it comes to police brutality and community safety.

    “In response, he said he received an email from CPI CEO Ken Gill saying in part, ‘A better use of time would be to focus on the black-on-black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men.’”

    The CPI CEO offered an apology for his comments in a tweet. Considering the facts presented earlier, should CPI be punished for the CEO’s response? Was the CEO at all out of line in his comment? Do the actions of the Panthers and others advance serious discussion of race and racism?

    If you see yourself as a person who really wants to discuss race and racism in America, how do you measure up on just these two points: (1) facing facts and (2) hearing opposing voices without seeking to intimidate or punish the sources of those opposing views?

  • 03 Sanford2Raleigh political pundit and writer Gary Pearce posed an interesting question last week during this tense and racially charged time in our state and nation.

    “What would Terry Sanford do?”

    Terry Sanford was a man of great accomplishment. A country boy from down the road in Laurinburg, he was an Eagle Scout who later parachuted into France during World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his efforts. He became an attorney and settled into private practice in Fayetteville, a small city whose size he liked and was not far from his hometown. Sanford had political aspirations, though, and spent a term in the North Carolina Senate before being elected governor in 1960. The Sanford family decamped from their Haymount home for four years in the Governor’s Mansion and later onto the national stage as Sanford became president of Duke University, a United States senator, and a two-time candidate for president of the United States.

    Sanford’s is a storied history of service to North Carolinians and Americans in both politics and education, but it is his time as governor that Pearce references. Sanford was elected governor the same day John F. Kennedy was elected president, sharing the same platforms and with the same dreams. Sanford was an outlier in the South, a part of the country still mired in Jim Crow segregation and with strong and openly white supremacist leaders. Sanford defeated just such a candidate in the Democratic primary, a man who vowed to preserve racial segregation. Once in the Governor’s Mansion, Sanford forged ahead of other Southern leaders by supporting increased education funding, promoting higher education, including the establishment of North Carolina’s community college system. He promoted antipoverty programs, including establishment of the privately financed North Carolina Fund, a structure that insulated the fund from the protests of segregationists.

    Sanford’s most enduring legacy, though, may be his support of civil rights and improved race relations, earning North Carolina a reputation as a progressive Southern state. By the time Sanford took office, segregation had been largely struck down by various courts but was still ingrained. He came into office concentrating on other issues but realized that racial discrimination underlay all aspects of daily life in North Carolina. He then appointed African Americans to state positions and integrated our state parks. He established what he called the Good Neighbor Council to facilitate communication and nondiscrimination and to prepare young people for the workplace. Sanford arranged for an FBI agent to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina, finding that our state was home to one of the nation’s largest Klan chapters.

    While all this sounds pretty tame and anachronistic by today’s standards, it is important to remember that Sanford was virtually alone among Southern governors and other leaders in the stances he took and the efforts he made. Billboards supporting the Klan could be spotted on North Carolina’s roadways as late as 1977, a clear indication that our state was not past its segregationist heritage. Sanford’s legacy is that he spoke up when he saw injustice at a time when few Southern leaders did.

    The legendary Kareem Abdul Jabbar, whose only connection to North Carolina, as far as I know, was beating the socks off the UNC-Chapel Hill basketball team in the 1968 NCAA championship game, sums up our situation this way. “Racism is like dust in the air. It is invisible — even if you are choking on it — until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands.”

    That was true in Terry Sanford’s day and it is true in ours.

  • 02 fORT bRAGGLast week, I was interviewed by a reporter for The Washington Times who wanted to know if I was for or against the proposed renaming of the Fort Bragg military installation. Without hesitation, I told her I felt changing the name was an ill-conceived idea and another unfortunate knee-jerk reaction to the unsavory political unrest our nation is currently experiencing. I also told the reporter she would be hard-pressed to find five people out of 100 who even knew who Braxton Bragg was, let alone know he was a general in the Confederate Army — and an unpopular general at that.

    Fort Bragg has a proud and honorable history. It’s home to the 82nd Airborne Division. The renaming controversy, to many, appears to be another example of political exploitation of the ill-informed. It would undoubtedly deal a death blow to Fayetteville both emotionally and economically, stripping it of it’s one single valuable and marketable asset. Besides, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is not the first military installation named after North Carolina’s native son Braxton Bragg, who was born in Warranton, North Carolina. In Northern California, there is an entire city named after him — Fort Bragg, California. In 1857 the U.S. military established an army post on the Mendocino Indian Reservation, and the young lieutenant in charge of that project, H. C. Gibson, named the post in honor of then-captain Braxton Bragg, whom he admired as his commanding officer in the Mexican-American War. Hence, Fort Bragg, California, est. 1857. The main highway, Route 20, entering this city of 7,500 is named Fort Bragg Road.

    Bragg went on to be a general in the Army of the Confederacy from 1861-1865. He died in 1876. Even though Bragg was one of the 750,000 Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War, he contributed little to history or the outcome of the war.

    Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was created in 1918. Forty-two years after his death. So, why did they name this military installation after Bragg? Who knows. Maybe it was because he was from North Carolina. Or, maybe it was because of Fayetteville’s close proximity to the Battle of Bentonville, which was the last Civil War skirmish Bragg participated in.

    With the naming of an Army post 42 years after his death, it’s doubtful it had anything to do with elevating or advocating for antiquated Confederate values.
    What’s important today is what this proud military installation means to our soldiers, our community, the nation and the world. Fort Bragg is much more than a name; it’s an institution with a global reach and humanity’s assurance that goodwill always triumphs over evil.

    In a former career and for over a quarter of a century, I traveled coast to coast working and meeting tens of thousands of people in hundreds of cities and towns across America. Never, and I mean never, when I introduced myself and told them I’m from Fayetteville, North Carolina, did they not instinctively mention Fort Bragg with an enthusiastic sense of patriotism and pride. They understand that as one of the largest military bases in the country, we house and deploy the most impressive, mightiest and deadliest fighting machine on Earth. Worldwide, people know Fort Bragg. They trust Fort Bragg. They respect Fort Bragg, and our enemies fear Fort Bragg. They know that anywhere in the world, when a nation gets in trouble and dials 911, it is Fort Bragg that picks up the phone. Fort Bragg is an American icon of freedom, pride, patriotism, justice and democracy. Fort Bragg is synonymous with world security and stability.

    Changing the name of the most historically significant American military installation in the world just to appease the reactions of political activists looking to make a statement is not worth debasing the spirit of North Carolina, the Fayetteville community or the patriotic pride of the millions of soldiers, veterans and their families that have called Fort Bragg their home. We can only pray that common sense prevails in this matter. After all, that’s a lot of street signs to change and birth certificates to reissue.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 05 N1206P15012CAs a parent, I remember the pit in my stomach as each of my children got old enough to get behind the wheel. Of course, I see the worst of what happens when people do not drive safely, but for all of us, there are so many worries and so much anxiety as our children learn how to drive. Will they drive safely? Will they be safe? What about the other crazy drivers on the road?

    How does this process work? North Carolina has a graduated licensing process that requires students who are at least 14 ½ years old and are pursuing a high school diploma or GED to enroll in an approved driver education course, which consists of 30 hours of classroom time and six hours of driving time, as well as an eye exam. Once completed, a student will receive a Driver’s Education Certificate, which allows them to apply for a Level 1 permit. Under Level 1, a driver must be 15-17 years old, must drive only when supervised — between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. — for the first six months. The use of mobile devices is prohibited. Once these requirements are met, a Level 2 “limited provisional license” allows unsupervised driving from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and to or from work. A driver must be 16-17 years old, have a limited learners permit for 12 months, have completed and logged at least 60 hours of driving, have no convictions of moving violations or seat belt/mobile phone infractions and pass an on-the-road driving test. Under the provisional license, there must be proof of liability insurance, no more than one passenger under 21 years old in the vehicle — unless they are members of the same household as the driver — and use of mobile devices is prohibited. The final step is a Level 3, which is a full provisional license. It allows unsupervised driving at any time so long as the driver is 16-17 years old, had a provision license for at least six months, has no convictions similar to those listed in Level 2, has completed and logged at least 12 hours of driving and, again, use of mobile devices is prohibited. For more information on the graduated licensing process, visit https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/new-drivers/Pages/graduated-licensing.aspx.

    Here are a few important things to do through this graduated licensing process: 1) make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. See my article from Jan. 8.
    2) Enforce and set the example on mobile devices. Some studies show teens whose parents drive distracted are two to four times as likely to drive distracted themselves. 3) Lay down the law — understand North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle requirements and follow them. Your teen will be safer for it.

  • 04 IMG 1885Can you remember life before the Corona Cooties came to town? What is your very first memory? Say it quietly to yourself in case it’s embarrassing. Take a walk down memory lane. We are going to compare what Greek mythology and medical science say about memory. Neurologists say your memories hang out in various socially distanced parts of your brain. The brain is a wad of tissues and electrical charges that weighs about 3 pounds. Some people use their brains more than others. If you are of a certain age, your memory lets you call up the cigarette slogans from a half-century ago — like “Kent with the Micronite filter refines away harsh flavor, refines away harsh taste.”

    Fun fact: Kent’s Micronite filter was asbestos.

    Your brain has little nerve cells called neurons that keep sending electrical charges to each other. When you experience something, the nerve cells get excited and tell their neighbors about it. These electrical charges end up in various parts of your brain to ultimately form memories. The amygdala of your brain’s temporal lobe is shaped like an almond. It attaches emotions to memories. It is the basis for the candy Almond Joy’s slogan, “Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don’t.” Next up is the hippocampus. Despite its name, the hippocampus is not where a hippopotamus goes to get a college degree. The hippocampus converts short-term memories into long-term memories. These ship out to the neocortex, where they reside permanently until you need them. Once the neocortex is called upon to produce a memory, it promptly forgets the name of the person you just met.

    All that medical stuff is a bit on the dry side. Greek mythology provides the real truth about memory. The goddess of memory is Mnemosyne. Minnie, as her posse calls her, is the reason you can remember where you were on 9-11, the day Elvis died and when UNC last beat Dook. Minnie came from sturdy stock. Her daddy was Uranus, and her mom was Gaea. They were the original heaven and Earth of mythology. Zeus took a liking to Minnie and spent nine nights with her playing house and making whoopee. Minnie got in the family way and gave birth to nonuplets, which is a fancy way of saying she had nine babies at once. These weren’t just nine ordinary babies, no sirree, Bob. These were the nine muses who inspire artists, musicians and various creative types who have found a way to make a living without working. The muses invented music, language, dance, human senses, planets and the Greek alphabet.

    Minnie was a first-responder in the Underworld of the dead in Hades. She kept watch over a pool and the River Lethe in the Underworld. When a dead person showed up in the Underworld, Minnie would get them to drink from the River Lethe, which would cause them to forget their past life above ground. The Greeks believed that the dead would end up getting reincarnated. If they had not forgotten their past lives, they might try to get their stuff back from their heirs and all manner of troubles would prevail. Hence, belly up to the River Lethe and have a swig. However, and there is always a however in mythology, there was another river in Hades named after Minnie called the Mnemosyne River. Drinking from it would cause the newly dead to be able to remember all of their past life, but it kept them from being reincarnated and going through all the troubles of life again.

    So, who to believe about what memory is? The neurologists or Greek mythologists? It’s all Greek to me. You should make your own decision. The idea of memory has sold more records than you can shake a stick at. Who can forget Bob Hope singing, “Thanks for the memories”? The horror of the musical “Cats” song “Memory” sung by more Miss America contestants than can be heard without nausea: “Midnight not a sound from the pavement/Has the moon lost her memory.” Dean Martin singing “Memories Are Made of This”: “The sweet, sweet memories you gave to me/You can’t beat the memories you gave to me./” Mary Hopkins belting out “Those Were the Days”: “Those were the days my friend/We thought they’d never end/We’d sing and dance forever and a day.” John Lennon’s mournful “In My Life”: “There are places I’ll remember/All my life, though some have changed/Some forever, not for better/Some have gone, and some remain/With lovers and friends I still can recall /Some are dead, and some are living/In my life I’ve loved them all.” The “Whiffenpoof” song has the immortal lyrics: “We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last/Then we’ll pass and be forgotten with the rest/We are poor little lambs who have lost our way/Baa, baa, baa.”

    The best song ever written about memory comes from Randy Newman, a little ditty called “Potholes.” Randy is pondering his fading memory due to aging and is thankful for it. Not only does he forget the good stuff, but more importantly, he forgets the bad stuff. He wrote: “God bless the potholes/Down on Memory Lane/Everything that happens to me now/Is consigned to oblivion by my brain.”

    What was the point of this column?
    I forget.

     

  • 03 margaretAn online thesaurus finds nearly 300 synonyms for “critical mass” and “tipping point.” These include “the last straw, “sea change,” “crossroads,” “watershed,” and “game changer.” Both critical mass and tipping point are technical terms in physics, but both are increasingly used in sociology. Merriam-Webster defines tipping point this way: “the critical point in a situation, process or system, beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.”

    Apparently, watching the excruciating murder of George Floyd on television is just such an American moment, and the United States appears to have reached the tipping point on the Black Lives Matter movement.

    Evidence abounds, both data and anecdotal.

    Public opinion has trended toward BLM since the shootings of Trayvon Martin (2012) and Michael Brown (2014), but since Memorial Day, support for the movement has increased almost as much as it has over the last two years, according to polling by Civiqs. That is true for all registered voters of whatever political stripe, all ages — including the over-65 crowd, all education levels from noncollege graduates to Americans with advanced degrees and all races. Civiqs is not alone in its findings. Monmouth University polling finds that fully 76% of Americans believe discrimination and racism are a “big problem” in our nation. Other polling finds that most Americans agree that police are more likely to use deadly force against African Americans, according to The New York Times. I recently had an expired license plate on my car and had difficulty resolving it because license plate agencies had closed in response to COVID-19. I knew that I could be cited for noncompliance, but I also understood that my white skin probably insulated me otherwise.

    There is more.

    Police are increasingly being held accountable. Four officers are charged in George Floyd’s death, six in Atlanta for their handling of protestors, and two in Buffalo for shoving a 75-year-old protestor, who suffered a head injury.

    Calls for defunding law enforcement agencies are increasing, with supporters demanding to shift funding to human services such as nursing, counseling and increased education. School systems are also shifting funds away from policing to other services.

    Monuments to white supremacists and colonialists are being toppled not only in the United States but around the world. Demands for changing the names of both places and things bearing the names of white supremacists are being heard internationally, including our own Fort Bragg and a middle school in Raleigh named for Josephus Daniels. He helped plan and execute the 1898 coup d’etat in Wilmington, the only one in United States history.

    American businesses, including tech companies, big box stores, professional sports organizations, and entertainment giants face public reckonings over both their policies and their actions. In an apparently pro-active move, a popular country music band, Lady Antebellum, announced its new name, Lady A, professing ignorance about the Civil War and slavery connotations of the word “antebellum.”

    No one knows whether what is happening now constitutes a true tipping point or another disappointment. Major tipping points have occurred in our nation’s recent history. The United States Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage five years ago this month, after years of rising public support.

    Black Lives Matter feels like that to me.

    During my COVID-19 extended stay at home, I have tried to walk daily with varying degrees of diligence. Mine is a predominantly but not exclusively white neighborhood, and I have noticed and been heartened by the BLACK LIVES MATTER signs dotting front yards. Most are of the printed variety that someone made an effort to obtain and then place front and center. Last week, though, I saw the one pictured here. It is so lightly done I did not realize what it was at first until I took a good look. It bears the hand-done letters BLM and appears to have been done by a child.

    It gives me hope.

  • 02 UAC06102001A big thank you to everyone who reached out with positive comments about our commemorative 2020 high school edition. And an especially big thank you to Cumberland County Schools for allowing us to celebrate this year’s graduates with you!

    I doubt any of us will forget the unique circumstances around this year’s graduation celebrations.

    When my oldest walked across the stage a few years ago to receive her diploma, I could not have been prouder. Big days like this don’t just happen. For more than two decades, countless people invested in her and her peers. I remember pondering at the time how much it takes to educate a young person. This year, thanks to COVID-19, the task was exponentially more difficult, and watching everyone rise to the challenge was nothing short of inspiring.

    My daughter is a product of the Cumberland County Schools system. I am thankful for everyone in it who contributed to her success: the teachers who pushed her to do her best; the ones who called her out when she was trying to get away with doing less; the ones who saw her struggle and offered encouragement; the ones who taught her how to be an independent thinker; the ones who taught her to love reading. I am thankful to the teachers who sponsored clubs that instilled in her a love of theater, debate, foreign languages, adventure and a sense of civility and love for her fellow man. I am thankful for the administrators who showed compassion when her dad was deployed and our family was struggling. I am thankful for administrators who were always kind and professional. My hat is off to the volunteers who spent time in her classrooms, held fundraisers to benefit local students and who helped in other ways I’ll never know. I’m thankful to all of them — and so many more.

    Having good-hearted, solid leaders who care for children at the helm of our education system makes all these things an everyday occurrence in this community — even if it’s online and not in person. You can’t underestimate the impact teachers, administrators and school staff have on our young people. The impact of COVID-19 and the confusion of how to move forward were met with grace and common sense, making the most of a terrible situation.

    In recent years, we’ve heard many comments about how protected this generation of Americans is. Are we really turning out a generation of easily-offended, emotionally vulnerable snowflakes? For all our good intentions, has the helicopter parenting, coddling and overpraising backfired? I hope not. I choose to believe not. After watching the amazing teachers, administrators and staff of this school system shepherd our young through one of the strangest schools years of our time and watching students rally, reset and complete what is likely the strangest school year they’ve known, I am confident. Confident in our schools and in our young adults who are going out into
    the world.

    Class of 2020, there are many challenges ahead … and just as many opportunities. I cannot wait to see what you do with them!

  • 07 BibleReflecting on the events and conversations of the past few weeks, I have to admit I am unable to make sense of most of it. And, I realize what I have to do is look beyond what I can see, and listen beyond what I can hear. I have to look and listen for God.

    As Jesus reminded us to not be be anxious over what we see and hear, what we have or lack, what we know and don't know, he said this, as recorded in Matthew 6:33:

    “...seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

    You catch that? As we seek the Lord first, his wisdom and understanding pour over us with real freedom to follow his plan and purpose for our lives. In1 Corinthians 1:25, it says this:

    "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

    That's what we need. The wisdom of God. The strength of God. The freedom that is greater than anything in our Constitution and beyond the liberty afforded us by any amendment.

    When we seek and enter the presence of God, we'll find the peace we've been seeking all along. And as we acknowledge his presence we'll see more clearly that he is what we really need.

    I see our national condition as the result of a systematic removal of absolute truth from the laws by which we govern and a shifting moral base. You and I need to cry out to God. We need to ask God to step in. We need to start or rebuild the relationship and acknowledge he is our Father, our Abba Father, our Daddy.

    Gone is the time for demanding our rights as citizens of this nation more loudly than we proclaim and present Jesus to a world that needs him.

    Gone is the time to just say we love Jesus without loving others.

    Now is the time we need to come together, lock arms and pull together for what the Gospel really is: the true story of God's love and collective plan for us without regard for the color of our skin, the country we were born in or what denomination we prefer when we go to church.

    America needs Jesus.

    China needs Jesus.

    Russia, Mexico and Sudan need Jesus.

    The world needs to know the truth about God and find the peace only he can give in the midst of this and any storm. He is truth. He is justice. And he is waiting.

    Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all.

  • 04 JackHunt“Go see Rep. Jack Hunt first thing. He is married to one of my cousins. He will take care of you.”

    That was my first instruction from UNC President Dick Spangler when he tapped me to represent the university system in dealing with the state’s General Assembly.

    That might have been the best advice President Spangler ever gave me. Hunt, who died at 97 on May 27, chaired the powerful House Rules Committee and was a close friend of the legendary Speaker Liston Ramsey and most of the other insider legislators.

    Hunt tried to keep me out of trouble and when I messed up, he helped rescue me.

    He spent a lifetime helping people. In addition to his state government and Army service, he was for many years a dentist, farmer, and business owner in Cleveland County. He and his wife Ruby had five remarkable daughters, all active in community and public service. One of them, Judy Hunt, served in the state House of Representatives alongside her dad. He was a mentor to one of his dental patients, Walter Dalton, who served as a state senator and lieutenant governor, and is now president of Isothermal Community College.

    Perhaps the best thing Hunt did for me was to introduce me to Ruby.

    It happened one day when I tried to enlist Hunt in my effort to find good local eateries to write about in this column.

    One day I asked him, “Where is the best place to get country cooking around here?”

    He paused, squinted, smiled a little bit and finally said, “Well, the truth is there is nothing better, I think, than my wife Ruby’s cooking.”

    “We have folks over from time to time. Maybe you’d like to join us sometime.”

    Jack and Ruby regularly invited their government friends for informal suppers of country ham, baked chicken, cornbread, biscuits with sourwood honey and molasses, and vegetables from her garden, including corn frozen minutes after it had been picked the previous summer. There were always desserts of homemade cakes and pies. Of course, there was also the opportunity to make friends with governors, Supreme Court justices, and legislative leaders.
    But there is more to it

    than that. It’s more than just the joy of getting together and making other people happy.

    Jack Hunt was one of the “peacemakers” in the legislature. When there was a tough, mean problem that divided people, Jack Hunt often got the call to try to bring them together. Getting around factions, petty jealousies, and partisanship, he tried to find out what it would take to resolve the disagreement.

    “What’s keeping us from working this out?” That was the question people counted on Jack Hunt to ask, then listen, and move everyone towards the answer.

    He thought the people’s representatives made better decisions when they were not angry at each other. When everything else failed to bring people together, “Ruby’s Cooking” worked magic.

    Once, when President Spangler and Governor Jim Hunt were at loggerheads about the governor’s budget proposals for the university, they could hardly speak to each other until Jack invited them to breakfast with Ruby. Neither the governor nor the university president could say no to Ruby and Jack. After they sat down to Ruby’s cooking and warm spirit, they worked out a compromise.

    It was hard to be angry with anyone when Ruby Hunt was serving her home cooked meals and the breakfast of ham biscuits with sourwood honey and molasses helped Jack bring his two friends together.
    We miss Ruby’s cooking for sure.

    Even more, we miss Jack’s gentle, positive, and respecting peacemaking that made all of us better people.

  • 03 graduationmargaretDear graduates of 2020,

    First of all, big congratulations to each of you!

    You have worked hard, pushed yourselves, recovered when you fell, balanced various aspects of your lives, persevered and achieved with the support of those who love you. You have every reason to be proud of yourselves and to look forward to whatever comes next. You may not have had a traditional graduation ceremony. Yours may have been in your backyard with your family, it may have been virtual, or it may have been no ceremony at all, but do not be discouraged. It is your work that is important and has real meaning, not donning a cap and gown crossing a stage.

    That is the good news. The more challenging news is that you are entering your next stage of life at a critical time, whether your path is continuing education or becoming a productive member of our workforce. Our nation faces both a vicious virus with no end in sight and deep divisions in our political, economic and social fabrics.

    Your parents’ generation — and some of even older generations — are part of the solutions to the United States’ profound struggles, but you will be the leaders. I urge you to embrace the role. Use your knowledge and your life experience to help your community, be it your school, your church, your workplace and certainly among your family and friends. Set an example not only for productivity but for caring and fairness. Be willing to make things better for others and for yourself. Share your talents for the public good.

    Mothers have lots of advice, of course, so here are some basics from this mom. First impressions do count, so try to look nice. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Good manners will carry you far and to places money cannot take you. Eat breakfast. Never underestimate your enemies. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

    We all have difficult moments in our lives, times when we are sad or fearful. When those times have come to me, several thoughts have sustained me and helped me move forward. One is that late in life, most people regret not what they did, even though they acknowledge decisions and behaviors that were wrong and hurt others. Instead, they regret the things they did not do — opportunities untaken because they were afraid, forgiveness not given, relationships not nurtured, personal potentials unexplored. Even though you are young and just starting out in the adult world, remember the wisdom of those who have been down the road you are just starting. Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt put it this way. “You gain strength and courage by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

    And finally, learn to know, trust and depend on yourself and to enjoy your own company. As much as you may love your parents, siblings and friends, the reality is that many of them will not always be with you. A hard truth of life is that the only person who will take every step of life with you is you. Nourish your strengths and enjoy them. Be aware of your weaknesses. Know that you can trust yourself to make the right decisions.

    So, I challenge you to go forward — to make the world a better place for your having been here. It is my deep and fundamental belief that it is better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all.
    I wish you all good things.

    Cordially,
    Margaret

  • 02 CongratsgraduateGraduates: This edition of Up & Coming Weekly is for you. We want to say congratulations to each one of you and thank Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelley, his administrators and staff, the Cumberland County Board of Education and countless teachers and high school principals who pushed the limits of their imagination and creativity to make sure that graduating seniors were academically prepared to graduate and free to pursue whatever future path they choose. The recent COVID-19 pandemic drastically disrupted their academic acumen. What local education will look like in the future is unknown. One thing you can be sure of is that we have the right people at the helm to steer it in the right direction.

    Like I said, this edition of U&CW community newspaper is dedicated to all Cumberland County High School 2020 graduates. It was made possible on short notice with the cooperation of Connelly, the coordination efforts of Associate Superintendent of Communications Lindsay Whitley and the diligent and timely response of all 17 CCS high school principals, who provided the information to create this 2020 graduation commemorative edition. We thank them immensely, as we do our business and community sponsors who have made it possible to provide a copy to each graduate.

    Every Cumberland County high school is showcased with the name of each graduate, along with a personal, heartfelt message from their principal. This is a significant event and accomplishment for our young people and future leaders. Up & Coming Weekly, Fayetteville’s community newspaper, is proud to be a part of their once-in-a-lifetime celebration. We are so proud of these young adults and wish them the very best and bright future.
    Thank you for reading U&CW.

  • 06-02-10-fyp-logo.gifA little less than a year ago I sat down at this very computer to write my story about why Fayetteville was in need of a young professionals organization. Growing up in this city, you take for granted the ability to “come home” to familiar surroundings, to friends you’ve known your whole life, to mom and dad, to local restaurant owners that treat you like family. Fayetteville is a wonderful city to its local population. However, imagine being fresh out of college or newly married and coming to this city without knowing anyone — perhaps for a job or perhaps because you were transferred from another military base.

    Last June, a group of young professionals in the Fayetteville area, came together with the mission to form a networking community of young professionals from all around the city. We contacted the Chamber of Commerce and asked if it would consider “powering” our program. Once we received approval, we began to develop a plan, a mission and a vision to start the Fayetteville Young Professionals.

    Oh my, have we come a long way!

    With what served as a launch party to the FYP program last August, the Fayetteville Young Professionals kicked off our program strong — 350 members strong! Boom! Just like that, we went from 25 young professionals sitting at a conference table in the chamber offices to a full-fledged 350 member organization and we haven’t looked back yet!

    Since our initial 350 member flood, we have gained another 100 members (between the ages of 21 and 40) over the last nine months. Each month FYP offers our members and their guests a variety of social events to participate in, such as, The Stoneybrook Steeplechase this past April; Adult Field Day hosted at Omni Gym where 100 FYP members gathered for an evening of three-legged races, obstacle courses and tug of war; our FYP Halloween Hike up and down the streets of downtown; or our BBQ Dinner Hoedown at Paradise Acres where Cornhole Champions were born and lots of fried chicken and BBQ were eaten! We also provide monthly professional-development seminars to help young business owners learn how to be better bosses. We recently brought in Denise Ryan, former Fayetteville resident and owner of FireStar (motivational speaker) out of Raleigh, who spoke on how to motivate ourselves and our employees; and we’ve hosted seminars at Cape Fear Valley Hospital with speakers on how to “De-stress” your life! In the near future, FYP will be offering golf lessons at local golf courses, as well as wine tastings and table etiquette seminars! We even have our own softball team that made it into the championship playoffs this past month!

    It’s local businesses like the one’s above, and others like Harris Wholesale, Greenbiz, Capital Bank, The Wing Company, The Speak Easy and many more that have helped make everything we do for our members affordable to the average 20-something-year-old! We cannot thank local businesses enough for everything they have done over the past year, and continue to do for our young professionals.

    06-02-10-fyp.gifOur members love this organization! Some have even told me, “FYP is the best thing that has happened to me since I moved to Fayetteville!” I’ve actually met many new friends from being an active participant within this membership and I look forward to every social and professional development event because I know I am going to meet more people who will become friends!

    If you are between the ages of 21 and 40 and you have not at least checked out the Fayetteville Young Professionals, then I hope I am never standing next to you in a bar or at a restaurant and hear you mutter the words, “There is nothing to do in this city,” because, friend, there is EVERYTHING to do in this city and the Fayetteville Young Professionals is the organization that is getting it done! So I dare you, this organization dares you, step out of your bubble and look at the new potential to be gained for really making Fayetteville your home.

    *Become a member of the Fayetteville Young Professionals! Visit www.fayyp. org for more information. Membership is $45 a year (Students- $25 a year). 

    **This Friday, June 4, from 8pm-12am the FYP is hosting our MEMBERSHIP PARTY event at the Robeson Medical Plaza building, located at 2301 Robeson St. (right off of Raeford Rd). The party is a celebration of our first year as an organization and is open to the public. Tickets prices range from $25- $40 and can be purchased at: www.fayyp.org. Don’t miss out on checking out FYP!

    Photo: Fayetteville Young Professionals sponsors many events that provide networking opportunities — and fun.

     

  • 06 N2005P72022CDuring the coronavirus pandemic, our health concerns — for ourselves and our loved ones — have been at the top of our minds. But financial worries have been there, too, both for people whose employment has been affected and for investors anxious about the volatile financial markets. And one aspect of every individual’s total financial picture has become quite clear — the importance of an emergency fund.

    in normal times, it’s a good idea for you to keep three to six months’ worth of living expenses in a liquid, low-risk account. Having an emergency fund available can help you cope with those large, unexpected costs, such as a major car repair or a costly medical bill.

    Furthermore, if you have an adequate emergency fund, you won’t have to dip into your long-term investments to pay for short-term needs. These investment vehicles, such as your IRA and 401(k), are designed for your retirement, so the more you can leave them intact, the more assets you’re likely to have when you retire. And because they are intended for your retirement, they typically come with disincentives, including taxes and penalties, if you do tap into them early. (However, as part of the economic stimulus legislation known as the CARES Act, individuals can now take up to $100,000 from their 401(k) plans and IRAs without paying the 10% penalty that typically applies to investors younger than 59½. If you take this type of withdrawal, you have up to three years to pay the taxes and, if you want, replace the funds, beyond the usual caps on annual contributions.

    Of course, life is expensive, so it’s not always easy to put away money in a fund that you aren’t going to use for your normal cash flow. That’s why it’s so important to establish a budget and stick to it. When developing such a budget, you may find ways to cut down on your spending, freeing up money that could be used to build your emergency fund.

    There are different ways to establish a budget, but they all typically involve identifying your income and expenses and separating your needs and wants. You can find various online budgeting tools to help you get started, but, ultimately, it’s up to you to make your budget work. Nonetheless, you may be pleasantly surprised at how painless it is to follow a budget. For example, if you’ve budgeted a certain amount for food each month, you’ll need to avoid going to the grocery store several times a week, just to pick up “a few things” — because it doesn’t really take that many visits for those few things to add up to hundreds of dollars. You’ll be much better off limiting your trips to the grocery, making a list of the items you’ll need and adhering to these lists. After doing this for a few months, see how much you’ve saved — it may be much more than you’d expect. Besides using these savings to strengthen your emergency fund, you could also deploy them toward longer-term investments designed to help you reach other objectives, such as retirement.

    Saving money is always a good idea, and when you use your savings to build an emergency fund, you can help yourself prepare for the unexpected and make progress toward your long-term goals.

  • 06-09-10-cgb_album_cover.gifAfter more than a decade of providing free summertime entertainment to the community, Fayetteville After 5 continues to bring seasonal entertainment that the whole family can appreciate. Everyone from Grandma to the youngest member of the family can enjoy the wholesome atmosphere and great music.

    It is not uncommon to see folks of all ages dancing on the Festival Park promenade, grown-ups sitting and chatting together and youngsters playing games of tag and darting between blankets that have been spread out picnic style in the grass in front of the stage at Festival Park when the third Thursday of the month rolls around.

    This is the 13th season for the popular concert series where proceeds directly benefit the Fayetteville Museum of Art and this support has never been as important. The museum closed its doors on May 31 until further notice. The museum’s board of directors has hopes that it can reopen at a future date, with the funds raised through Fayetteville After 5 used to maintain the museum’s permanent art collection in a secure, climate-controlled environment.

    Not only will the public have a great time at the concerts this summer, by showing up you are also showing support for an important institution and for the arts in our community.

    “This month enjoy the sounds of The Coconut Groove Band! We like to refer to it as feel good music that is loved by all ages,” said Fayetteville Museum of Art President Meredith Stiehl.

    On June 17, the band will provide entertainment for the second concert of the 2010 season. The Charlotte-based band used to play this venue several years ago and has been invited back to entertain us once more.

    “We are just a hard working band who likes to get together and play good music and entertain people,” said Rick McClanahan. “We started out playing a lot of Jimmy Buffet-type music and have added classic rock, rhythm and blues and a fair share of jam music from a lot of different artists from the ‘70s and ‘80s.”

    The park opens around 5 p.m. with local bands performing before the headliners take the stage around 7 or 7:30 p.m. and jam until 10 p.m. Bring a blanket, a lawn chair, your family and friends. The concert is free and so is the fellowship. No pets or coolers are allowed at the park, although there will be concessions available for purchase.

    And as for the Coconut Groove Band, well, they are looking forward to offering some great music and some good old fashioned fun.

    “We are very pleased to be invited again we are looking forward to being there,” said McClanahan. “It remains a privilege to work with our generous sponsors. Their meaningful contributions support the museum and at the same time allows for these events to be free to the public,” concluded Stiehl.

  • Bill,

    As I read your (May 13) editorial I keep saying AMEN! You hit the nail on the head. At my age (76) it is difficult to realize that our freedoms are slowly — maybe rapidly — being taken away from us. Your opinion piece should be read by everyone. Put your piece together with the article by Karl Merritt and we have all we need to know about the path this country is taking. AMEN! AMEN! to both of you.

    Thank you for your work at Up & Coming Weekly.

    —Myra Parker
    (Mrs. Weeks Parker)

    ***********************************************************************

    05 pennyI was stuck in traffic on McPherson Church Road at 5 p.m. Saturday. When I finally reached the intersection, I saw that the police were protecting a line of people holding signs — that was a peaceful
    assembly.

    Three hours later I heard on the radio about smoke and a man on fire at the Market House — that was not peaceful. Six hours later, I learned of looting and broken glass at Walmart on Skibo and
    JC Penney at the Mall — that is a mob.

    What happened, dear Fayettevillians? We are not Baltimore, we are not Los Angeles, we are not Minneapolis. I have lived half my life here and have embraced the city’s 230+ year history. We are black and white and brown and yellow. We are biracial, interracial, multi-ethnic. We are not Bosnia or Serbia or Croatia, where neighbors fought neighbors. We are not an underdeveloped country, although the COVID crisis almost reduced our day-to-day economy as such with toilet paper lines instead of bread lines. We are the center of the military universe and about to celebrate the 2020 graduation of our high school and college students. Is anarchy their future instead of law and order and respect for oneself and others?

    My heart broke when I visited the Market House Sunday. Priceless Lafayette exhibits on the second floor were taken and now stolen from the children of this county. To see boarded up windows and doors on both sides of Hay Street was awful. These are small-business owners. A hurricane did not cause this; reckless action did.

    My thoughts Sunday at midnight were where was the city’s leadership, telling the crowds: “OK, time to go home. Do not destroy your town; do not destroy our town.”

    Why did the police stand down, be it at Walmart or the Market House? Was it to prevent confrontation, prevent escalation of a planned tense situation? A witness told me Sunday that cars were parked zigzag on Hay Street while their drivers were ransacking the area; that sounds like a calculated maneuver. Other Skibo Road witnesses told me of the 2 a.m. swarm of cars and people running in and out of Walmart as well as J.C. Penney’s with merchandise, egged on by others on their cell phones. With all the store cameras and the bragging Facebook posts, will the police be serving warrants soon?

    Perhaps the beloved educator, Dr. E.E. Smith, can return and calm the waters. He lived in a time when the racial wounds were more fresh (1852-1933). Yet, he worked well with others to achieve his education and ministry, build up Fayetteville State University, start the first black-owned newspaper in North Carolina and represent the U.S.. overseas. Every Fayetteville child should know about him and Lafayette; mob rule should not be their model.
    We cannot be going backward.

    — Linda McAlister

    Community Notes

    Update: Republican headquarters across the state are temporarily closed. The June 13 event will still take place. 

    • 2810 Bragg Blvd. will be the 2020 Headquarters for the Cumberland County Republican Party. Educational material, voter information and precinct maps will be on display. Campaign literature, and candidate signs will be available soon. The current shelter-in- place lockdown has delayed distribution of signs.

    County Chairman Jackie Taylor and her Board of Officers will be hosting an outdoor Grand Opening with Ribbon-Cutting and special guests on June 13 in the parking lot. There will be a guest speaker, Mark Robinson, candidate for Lt. Governor. More details to be announced. In the meantime, doors will be open Monday through Saturday  12 p.m. to 4 p.m. as of June 1. For more information, contact jackieleetaylor41@gmail.com or call the Headquarters at 910-339-2011.

    • St. Ann RC Church in Fayetteville is hosting a Blood Drive, Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m.-noon at 357 N. Cool Spring St. The Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is providing two Blood Mobiles to facilitate the collection of blood.
    The Blood Mobiles can accommodate five donors every fifteen minutes. Average time it takes to donate is approximately
    30 minutes.

    There is an urgent need for O-negative blood.

  • 06162010ali2.jpg2010 has been a year of change for Ali Durham, the owner of A Star Iron, 4011 Sycamore Dairy Rd. During this year, Durham has known great sorrow and great joy. She is bringing the two together to strengthen not only herself, but the community as well.

    A gregarious transplant from Baltimore, Md., Durham and her husband Duke, are happy to call Fayetteville home. They moved here of their own volition, and in doing so, Ali found a life she never knew she wanted.

    A former tattoo artist who studied physiology and psychology in college, Durham never saw herself in the role of fitness guru. In fact, it’s the last thing she thought she would be.

    “I had no interest in going into fi tness at all. I always loved gymnastics, but in my junior year of high school, I had some knee issues. The doctor told me I could not do anything active for the rest of my life or have knee surgery. At 16, I elected not to have surgery,” she said. “I just dabbled trying to find what I liked. I worked a lot of odd jobs — an aerospace company, a trucking company — the last thing I found in Baltimore was a job as a tattoo artist. I was able to parlay my study of physiology into a job, and I was making money doing art. That’s where I met my husband.”

    One thing Durham did not dabble with was family. Her family ties run deep, and when she had the opportunity to move to Fayetteville to be near her sister and her children, she took it.

    Since neither she nor her sister worked at the time, they began spending time at the gym. It was there, that she made a connection that changed her life forever.

    “My sister belonged to Corey Everson’s Gym, and we worked out there for a couple of years. There was a manager there who asked me if I really liked working out, and then she told me about John Velandra (a Fayetteville fitness legend who was killed this year in a car wreck),” continued Durham. “She set up a meeting for me with John, and I will never forget that day. My husband had married a rocker/tattoo artist who stayed up until 3 a.m. and lived on fast food and Mountain Dew. He didn’t know how much our lives were going to change.”

    Durham said she walked into her meeting with Velandra wearing jeans and carrying her beloved Mountain Dew.

    “John just had this way about him. It wasn’t like an interview, it was more like meeting someone for coffee. By the end of the three-hour meeting, I walked out thinking, I can’t drink Mountain Dew anymore,” said Durham. “He didn’t ask me not to, he just gave me the facts. We hit it off, and John took me on as a trainer. From August 2004 to October 2004, I spent 40 hours a week at his side, learning about fitness.”

    But Velandra taught her more than what muscles did what and how to build those muscles.

    “John not only dealt with people on the outside, but everything that went with it. What happens on the outside comes from the inside,” she said. “Most days I feel more like a therapist than a trainer. That’s a really big part of it. If you can’t get a person to start looking inside, then they are going to go down a bad path.”

    Durham said that the reason most people don’t take care of themselves is deeper seated than time.

    “A lot of it has to do with self esteem and body issues,” she said. “People are going through a process, and a lot of people feel uncomfortable going to gym. They are afraid of what people will think. They feel they are stared at. I have a client who came one time, she liked what we did, and she came back. She said it wasn’t like going to the gym and feeling like she couldn’t keep up with everybody. She told me she wanted to quit, but she couldn’t because everyone at the gym was cheering her on.”

    That’s the kind of community that Durham is building at her new business, A Star Iron.

    “One of the biggest things John instilled in me was that everybody is on their own journey. You don’t know what’s gotten them to that point, but you have to be prepared for anything that comes out,” she continued. “When you are working out hard with people, you can see them start to cry when they accomplish something. Sometimes, it seems like you know more about them than their significant other.”

    Durham’s gym is not your grandmother’s gym. When you walk in, you might see people flipping tires or throwing weights. It’s all about building strength. “

    A lot of movement we do gives people confidence,” she said. “We have women come in who have never lifted more than five pound dumbbells, who find themselves dead lifting 175 pounds.”

    She noted that there is an eclectic group of people who frequent the gym. There are those women with self-esteem issues who are working out right beside Special Forces soldiers. She noted that she tells everyone to leave their egos at the door.

    “In the gym, we don’t care what’s on your uniform or how deep your pockets are,” she continued. “We are all here to have a good time and journey our way into fitness It’s not about judgment. Everybody does the same workout, and it doesn’t matter who finishes first, because that person stays to cheer the others on.”

    The exercise program is based on the CrossFit methodology. Durham said she modifies the program to make it work for everyone. “The workout is the workout, but I want people to work at their skill level. The entire workout is based on general functional fi tness, so it is appropriate for everyone”

    From start to finish, the workout takes between 45 minutes and an hour. It encompasses everything from Olympic weight lifting to gymnastic movements to plyometrics, which is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sport, to metabolic conditioning.

    Durham noted that participants have their strong points in the workout, and not everyone excels in every aspect of the workout. Durham said that the facility is an adult facility that offers group classes, as well as personal training and sports nutrition counseling. The gym is holding its grand opening on June 19, along with the other merchants in the Sycamore Station shopping center. The event scheduled between 12-4 p.m., is a chance for folks to come out and see the workout. “We want people to give it a try,” she said. “If you don’t like it, don’t come back. But the majority of the people who come end up staying.”

    Just as Durham stayed by Velandra’s side until his untimely death. “I would never have done this as long as John was in business,” she said. “He was my best friend. I truly believed in the product he offered and how he approached the business — it was way more personal than business.”

    When Velandra’s family decided to close his gym, Durham and her husband decided to open theirs. It has helped her deal with the loss of her mentor. “A lot of the people who come are the same people who came to John’s gym. We are a family. It’s a community,” she said.

    For more information about Durham or A Star Iron, visit her Facebook page or call 764-1144.

  • During the current Corona Cooties crisis, it’s time we all began to think seriously about the kind of world we want to leave behind for Keith Richards. No one, no civilization, lasts forever, with the only exception being Mr. Richards. Able to survive years of curious multiple-substances ingestion, able to fall from a coconut tree on his head without permanent damage, longer-lasting than a Twinkie or a cockroach, the unsinkable Mr. Richards goes on and on into the future. Once America is gone, once we are all gone, what kind of legacy will we bequeath to Mr. Richards? It is a question made even more timely with the two-week interval between America’s coming out party on Memorial Day and the surge of Corona, which is sure to follow.

    I got to thinking about Mr. Richards when I realized that this column would disgrace the annals of journalism by appearing the week of June 3, which, coincidentally, is the anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ first American tour in 1964. Climb into Mr. Peabody’s Time Machine to go back to June 5, 1964, in San Bernadino, California, where the group had its first American concert. The Stones’ song setlist began with “Not Fade Away,” included “Route 66,” “Walking the Dog,” and finished up with “I’m Alright.” The Stones were billed by the radio station sponsoring the concert as “the ugliest band in England.” The Stones opening acts on that tour included Bobby Goldsboro, George Jones and Bobby Vee.

    04 Keith Richards Berlinale 2008The combination of the Rolling Stones and Bobby Goldsboro playing the same gig boggles the mind. Bobby went on in 1968 to write “Honey,” possibly the worst song of all time. Bobby’s song mourns his lost love, a gal named Honey, who cried over movies and wrecked his car. The immortal lyrics include: “See the tree how big it’s grown/ But friend it hasn’t been too long, it wasn’t big/ I laughed at her, and she got mad/ The first day that she planted, it was just a twig … She was always young at heart/ Kinda dumb and kinda smart, and I loved her so/ (Honey then gets called home by the angels) … And now my life’s an empty stage/ Where Honey lived, and Honey played and love grew up/ A small cloud passes overhead/ And cries down on the flower bed that Honey loved/.” Gentle Reader, if you can hum these lyrics from memory and not throw up a little bit in your mouth, you are a better person than I.

    The bizarre combination of the Stones and Bobby Goldsboro might only come close to being matched by a Janis Joplin concert in Chapel Hill that I attended in Carmichael Auditorium in February 1969. This concert paired Janis with the opening act of Gene Barber and the Cavaliers. Janis was wild and crazy San Francisco rock; Gene and the Cavaliers were pure beach music. The crowd was not there to hear beach music. Gene was not well received. It reminded me of the scene in the Blues Brother’s movie where the boys are playing “Rawhide” at Bob’s Country Bunker red neck bar behind a chicken wire fence dodging thrown beer bottles. Gene did not get to finish his set. Cooler heads prevailed. He was hustled off the stage before he came to bodily harm from the fans who had not come to shag to beach music.

    Speaking of strange stage fellows, another odd coupling of bands that nearly rivals Bobby and the Rolling Stones was when the Jimi Hendrix Experience was the opening act for The Monkees in July 1967. Imagine a time when “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and “The Last Train to Clarksville” took precedence over “Purple Haze” and “The Wind Cries Mary.” You cannot make this stuff up.

    Odd combinations are not limited to the world of Rock & Roll. In an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry David has a sandwich named after him at his favorite delicatessen. The Larry David sandwich is a temptingly hideous combination of whitefish salad, smoked black codfish, onions, cream cheese and capers. Larry is greatly offended by the contents of the sandwich and tries to switch sandwich names with Ted Danson. If this plot sounds too involved or trivial to be concerned about, you are probably right. Not every sandwich can be a gem. Larry’s dismay with his namesake sandwich is what is known as a First World Problem.

    But what does all this have to do with Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones’ first American concert? Not much. But lest we forget, 1964 is a long time ago. Fifty-six years to be exact. Keith was alive then. He’s alive now. He will be alive long after we are all gone. So, if you were expecting some sort of coherent point to this column, remember — you can’t always get what you want. Time may not be on our side, but it certainly is for Keith. If life offers you a Larry David sandwich, don’t eat it. Paint it black. It’s an election year, be sure to get your fair share of abuse.

    Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday, who could hang a coconut on you? See you in two weeks if the Cooties don’t get us first.

    Pictured: Keith Richards
    Photo credit: Siebbi / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)

  • uac062310001.jpg With a combination of artists, performers, refreshments, bistros, galleries, shops and bookstores, appealing to people of all ages, 4th Friday, presented by the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County is something you do not want to miss!

    The fourth Friday of every month celebrates the arts and entertainment in downtown Fayetteville and is free to everyone. This month’s 4th Friday is June 25, and will include a Summer Swing performance at the Arts Council’s Grand Hall located on 301 Hay St, by the Gregg Gelb Quintet, from 7 to 9 p.m. The quintet features Gregg Gelb on the saxophone and clarinet, Steve Anderson on the keyboard, Paul Ingbretsen as bass, Chris Gelb on drums and Kathy Gelb with vocals.

    One of the newest additions to 4th Friday is Arts Alive!, located on Maxwell Street, where artists illustrate their work from 6-10 p.m. Arts Alive! was introduced on May 28 and featured artists including Greg Hathaway with pottery, painter Brian Stevenso, and Shannon Davis with glass jewelry and sculptures. Poet Neal Ray, puppeteer Frank Byrne and the River Valley Players all entertained and plan to return on June 25.

    Visual Pleasures also began on May 28 and featured an art exhibition with fi rst place winner, A. Jones Rodgers for her painting, “Fayetteville Connection.” Rodgers also won second place in the exhibition with “Grand Daughters.” The third place winner was Charlotte Lane with “Dalmatian-A Trouper.”

    Any artists interested in participating in Arts Alive! at 4th Friday can submit a jury application or call Ashley Hunt, the Art Council’s special events coordinator, at 910-323-1776, extension 230.

    Other events happening this coming 4th Friday include the opening of Nature’s Elements at the Cape Fear Studios at 148 Maxwell St.,4thfriday.jpg from 6-10 p.m. Thad Mumau will be signing When the Grass Turns Green and Minstrel Fool Randy Holliday will be performi06-23-10-frankbyrne.jpgng folk songs and ballads on the guitar at the City Center Gallery and Books at 112 Hay St., from 6-9 p.m., where light refreshments will be served.

    Cumberland County Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane will feature the BluesEnigmaBand and will have light refreshments. Guests are also invited to the Fascinate-U Children’s Museum at 116 Green St., where they are invited to help fi nish the “Military Mural” which will be on display throughout June and refreshmentswill be served.

    Exhibits and artifacts from old fashioned transportation will be on display at the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum of 325 FranklinSt., and Kenny Huffman will be performing from 6-9 p.m. at Horne’s Café at 124 Hay St. Drummers are invited to join a drum circle under the Market House and Olde Town Gallery at 124 Maxwell St. will have work by watercolorist Gail Gilbert and White Trash and Colorful Accessories will showcase mosaic cake and cupcakes by Michelle Legler beginning at 6 p.m.

    For more information please visit www.theartscouncil. com/4th_Friday.html.

    Frank Byrne is one of many artists who will be on hand at 4th Friday.

  • 03 N1401P14003CMy heart hurt with the sad news the Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Early Childhood Education Center has permanently shuttered its doors. The loss of a 5-star day care center in a young community that needs more, not fewer, of them negatively impacts families, employees and the community at large. FTCC’s Board decided it could no longer underwrite the Center’s financial losses, especially since the pandemic forced the center to shut down more than two months ago. That left a business model with little income and ongoing expenses. Since 1996, the Center provided both high-quality daycare services and a hands-on learning laboratory for students in FTCC’s Early Childhood Education program.

    On top of 100,000+ human deaths, COVID-19 is killing U.S. industries that depend on customers who show up faithfully day after day and pay to do so. Daycare is the very definition of such an industry. Working parents depend on daycare, but it is a two-way street. When COVID-19 forced closure of schools and most daycare facilities to slow the spread of the virus, the two-way street shut down. Like the FTCC center, many of those daycare businesses will not return, making high-quality daycare an even more precious commodity.

    Underlying the daycare problem in the United States is that we are so two-faced about it. We profess that daycare, especially for preschool children, is essential, and then we walk away.

    Daycare is indeed essential to the modern American workplace, but we do not put our money where our mouths are. We tell each other that early childhood education is important on two critical fronts — allowing parents to provide for their families and, with luck, continue upward mobility and preventing educational disparities. High falutin’ talk aside, we put next to no public investment into daycare, relegating the industry to small businesses that are at the head of the failure line when disaster, such as COVID-19, strikes. Most day cares lack financial resources to stay afloat in hard times.

    Public schools, where, by far most American children head when they are old enough, are different in one critical way. Public schools, like other essential services such as law enforcement and fire protection, receive public funding. Their teachers, staffs and operations are paid with public dollars.


    When disaster strikes, public schools will pick up where they left off when it is safe to do so, while daycare centers can only hang on as best they can for as long as they can. Some economic forecasts project that COVID-19 will cost the United States about half of our daycare capacity. The question then becomes whether daycare be available when parents are ready and can afford to put their precious kiddos back into day care so our American economy can get going again. The New York Times reports about 76% of mothers of children under six work full time, and 96% of their fathers do. Those percentages constitute big numbers, and marshaling the skills of those potential workers is critical to our nation’s economic recovery.

    The list of troubled and needy industries suffering from the pandemic is long, and many hands are out for public support. The time has arrived for Americans not only to talk the talk but to figure out how to walk the walk when it comes to day care as support a humming economy.
    Either it is essential, or it isn’t.

  • 06302010candide.jpgThe age of enlightenment was characterized by blasphemy, intellectual rebellion and the desire for truth. Candide, an opera adapted from Voltaire’s novella is a perfect example.

    It is full of sarcasm, and a little erratic, but it portrays humanity with disturbing accuracy. It was written in 1759, but like any great classic it still rings true today, and was banned for a time by the church and government, further proving that the story has something to teach us.

    When Candidewas first performed it was not very successful, but it is now very popular. It has been adapted many times, but the most successful version was written by Leonard Bernstein, and this summer Fayetteville State University will bring Bernstein’s opera to life July 16-17 at Seabrook Auditorium. This is the fifth year of summer opera at Fayetteville State, and the tradition is to alternate between a classic and a contemporary opera. Candide is considered a contemporary work.

    One may ask how a play based on a story from 1759 can be considered contemporary and still apply, but Phoebe Hall, the director of the opera, explained, “I think the play is about two young people who go off and search for the brave new world when really the brave new world is the one you already live.

    “It’s just the way you look at it changes,” continued Hall. “It’s still relevant today. People go looking for greener pastures when really the best thing that you could have is right in front of you. It’s just a matter of how you perceive it, and what you do with it.”

    “I remember it as being very, very funny,” says Hall, when asked why she chose Candide for this year’s performance. “I wanted something that was fun, and funny, that was by an author that someone could relate to, and everyone knows who Leonard Bernstein is.”

    During the age of enlightenment people were trying to break from the molds of society and into truth, and so much of the resulting literature was banned, but Candide by Voltaire survived and was adapted. “Everybody is looking for knowledge, and everyone wants to be aware,” said Hall, noting that the desire for knowledge is one of the reason that the work survived this long, and is still interesting for many people.

    Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for staff, $3 for children, and $2 for students. For information call 672-1006. For reservations contact Antoinette Fairley, the ticket manager at 672-1724. Children are free when accompanied by an adult or at the matinee showing on July 16.

  • 02 cleanupAs I write this editorial, no doubt city officials have already met to “circle the wagons” to come forth this week disseminating a consistent and coherent message, as they pat themselves on the back, proclaiming to the public what a great job they did in managing the protest, riots and unrest that took place over the weekend. Many will certainly disagree. I sit here Sunday evening with a heavy heart at the devastation and violence and destruction that has been perpetrated on our community in the name of George Floyd. His death was a travesty; however, to loot, steal, burn and pillage personal property in his name is beyond reprehensible. Fayetteville, North Carolina, our hometown, was transformed into a criminal flashpoint — as were about 30 other cities across the country.

    In Fayetteville, our leadership really blew it on multiple fronts. I have written several times about the lack of vision, talent and leadership in our community. The horrifying events of last weekend only confirm this. As I watched the carnage taking place on Hay Street and across our community, my only thoughts were: Where is the mayor? Where are the police? Where is the Fire Department? Where are our community and government leaders, and why are they not present?

    It is incomprehensible and unacceptable that in the city of Fayetteville and county of Cumberland, where we have people of color in the most trusted, prominent and vital positions of leadership — the mayor, city manager, city attorney, seven out of nine City Council members, the police chief, fire chief, Cumberland County Sheriff, Cumberland County Schools superintendent and three Cumberland County Commissioners — that no one stepped up to even try to address the protesters and calm the crowd for the safety and welfare of the community. Where were all the black pastors and clergy from the dozens of African American churches in the community? Where were all these encouraging voices of love, fellowship, compassion and reason? The good reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., must be turning in his grave after witnessing the criminal acts being invoked in his name.

    The leadership capacity of City Hall is meant to serve and protect Fayetteville citizens. These duties are not just reserved for law enforcement. Here, the mayor and all of the City Hall departments were derelict in their duties. Not just because our leaders were unsuccessful in their efforts — but because they didn’t even try! They were complicit to the carnage and must be held accountable.

    Saturday night in downtown Fayetteville was a horrid spectacle. It was made worse by the fact that no effort was made to protect the citizens, personal property, city property or the businesses that employ hundreds of residents and have been the lifeblood of the downtown revitalization effort — the very economic revitalization that our leadership supposedly has been advocating for and the taxpayers have been generously paying for. Yet, they collectively acquiesced and sat back and did nothing.

    Fayetteville and Cumberland County leaders need to rethink the vision for our future and how they are going to get us there. A good friend told me something that rang so true: “In every case,” he said, “friction eventually destroys.” He is right — car engines, marriage conflicts, employee relations, personal and business relationships — friction eventually destroys any opportunity for progress or resolution.

    Our community will never be all it can be with leadership that is so self-absorbed in unilateral racial motives. This protest and rioting situation have exposed the ugly but inevitable truth that race alone doesn’t make a person a leader, nor does it make someone smart. And it definitely doesn’t keep a person from being an opportunist — especially when they yield to protest organizers and allow them and their disciples to become the pied pipers of destruction, looting and criminal intent. 

    Fayetteville and Cumberland County are at a crossroads. Real leadership is the only thing that can save this community. Who will step up? More importantly, who should step down?

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides  (Rated PG-13 )  Three Stars06-08-11-pirates-of-the-caribbean.jpg

    Gore Verbinski passes the director’s chair to Rob Marshall in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (a bloated 137 min-utes, but still the shortest of the four Pirates films). Not that it does anything to make the franchise interesting or watchable. Really, the whole series is completely beside the point and always has been. While I have been forced to watch the films, I have never managed to get through one of them in a single sitting, mostly because there is nothing there to hold my attention besides seemingly endless sword-fights. In any case, after 600 cumulative minutes of watching Johnny Depp stagger around wearing eyeliner the only really memorable bits are the sharp pointy things and Kiera Knightly and Penelope Cruz being way too skinny. It’s not so much that the writers and directors are doing anything wrong, more that they don’t really manage to do anything right.

    After some preliminaries to introduce random Spaniards, Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) intervenes in the trial of his former first mate Joshamee Gibbs (Kevin McNally). Gibbs tells him that a Jack impersonator is recruit-ing a crew to search for the Fountain of Youth, but before they can figure out how to handle that Sparrow is kidnapped and bought to King George II (Richard Griffiths).

    Why the King needs Jack when he could just follow the random Spaniards or steal the map to the Fountain of Youth is puzzling. After all, Sparrow is a pirate, and isn’t piracy illegal? Apparently not illegal enough, because in walks yet another pirate, albeit a reformed one … Captain Hector Barbarossa (Geoffrey Rush). Barbarossa fills in the audience on why he has a peg leg, which involves the story of how he lost Jack’s precious ship, The Black Pearl. Expository mission accomplished, Sparrow escapes, which makes one wonder why this scene exists at all. During the painfully repetitious escape scene, Jack is rescued by his father Captain Teague (Keith Richards), who issues a fairly vague warning before disappearing.

    Turns out that his father has brought him into the same pub as the imposter, a woman from his past named Angelica (Cruz). Her character is poorly written, poorly acted, and serves no real narrative purpose. She is pretending to be him for some reason never fully ex-plained, in order to hire a crew for Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

    Jack manages to join Blackbeard’s crew and plans to sail The Queen Anne’s Revenge to the Fountain of Youth. He decides the ship would get there much faster with him in charge, and he doesn’t even believe that Blackbeard is on the ship anyway, so he foments some insurrection. That blows up in his face because it turns out that not only is Blackbeard hiding in his state room, he also has voodoo powers. (Sure, why not?) and can control the ship riggings with his magic sword. Hmm. It seems that could have used some backstory, but, you know, whatever. Blackbeard decides not to kill Sparrow, but he needs someone to kill so he picks out a red shirt from the crew and kills him instead. Released during the attempted mutiny is a captured priest (Sam Claflin) who objects to pirates... being pirates, basically.

    Even though the Spaniards have a huge lead, the English sight them at sea but somehow The Queen Anne’s Revenge beats them to the mermaids. Oh yeah. There are mermaids. But wait! Not just pretty Peter Pan Disney style mermaids! These mermaids are vampires! Ok, that’s pretty cool. The pirates need a mermaid for the ritual at the Fountain of Youth, and they also need two chalices from the ship of Ponce de Leon. Blackbeard sends Sparrow off alone to retrieve the chalices, since pirates are generally so trustworthy. The film limps to an unsatisfy-ingly obvious conclusion, but if you’re willing to sit through the credits, there is a bonus scene.

  • History, Science and Fun Await You In Raleigh

    If the summer heat has you scrambling for something cool to do, why not take a road trip to Raleigh? The capitol city boasts eclectic cafes, cozy pubs, funky shops and some of the best museums in the southeast. If you head out early enough, you just might be able check them all out in a single day.06-22-11-day-trippin-pic-1.jpg

    The North Carolina Museum of History, located downtown at 5 East Edenton St., is a great place to start. With more than 55,000 square feet of space, the museum houses more than 150,000 artifacts, some of which date back six centuries. Susan Lamb, the museum’s public information offi cer, says, “There is always something new to see and do so come and explore North Carolina’s rich history and learn about its people. The museum’s compelling exhibits highlight the state’s military history, sports heroes, decorative arts and more, and admission is free.”

    This summer the museum is once again hosting its 2nd Saturdays series which features craft demonstrations by talented toymakers, jewelry designers and potters. Most of these programs are free and during the months of July and August, hands-on make-it-and-take-it sessions will allow attendees to actively participate in activities such as bead and ornament making.

    Currently the museum is offering part one of a fun and interactive exhibit entitled, The Story of North Carolina. The engaging format offers visitors the opportunity to tour a reproduction of an American-Indian dwelling, milk a cow and fi nd out what a pirate ship in the 1700s really looked like. For more information about exhibits, hours, parking and more, visit the museum website at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org.

    The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, located right across the plaza, is one you shouldn’t miss. Four fl oors of exhibits include a 20-foot indoor waterfall, live butterfly house as well as real animals. Sometimes referred to as “the dinosaur museum,” this is one the kids will love! The Discovery Room gives children the ability to explore on their own by trying on animal costumes or using microscopes to take closer looks at items ranging from coral to butterfly wings. If you happen to get hungry while there, no worries, there’s a café on the fourth floor.

    Our Expanding Oceans is a special exhibit running now through Nov. 6 that explores global climate themes ranging from icebergs to rising seas. The museum stays open late every first Friday (with the exception of July).

    “This is a great night out for younger adults. We have a live band, serve beer/wine and snacks, have a reception for a new gallery artist and the best part, (we) show a really bad sci-fi flick in the auditorium,” said Jonathan Pishney, communication director, adding that one recent film shown was, Devil Girl From Mars. He noted that while the events are free, they do charge for food and beverages.

    Perhaps their biggest event of the year is the annual BugFest, which will be held on Sept. 17. The highlight of this free event is the food that’s served. If you happen to be a fan of bug-infused delicacies like “ant-chiladas” or “chocolate chirp cookies” (think crickets), then you need to put this one on your calendar. Keep up with museum news by visiting the website at www.naturalsciences.org.

    Also located downtown in Moore’s Square is the well-known children’s museum, Marbles. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining indoor destination than this whimsical place! Catering to kids 10 and under, Marbles is explosive with hands-on activities and exhibits. One of the museum’s most popular exhibits, Splash, features a science submarine where youngsters can don lab coats, gloves and goggles and become instant marine biologists! Prepare to get wet in The Lighthouse with oversized water bowls that allow kids to discover what sinks and what floats. Don’t worry about messing up clothes as the museum even provides smocks.06-22-11-day-trippin-2.jpg

    Around Town is a pint-sized community that lets the little ones explore how people work, live and play together. Kids can get in the driver’s seat of a city bus, jump into uniform and become a fi refi ghter, a cashier, weigh, sort and deliver mail, conduct a train, treat an injured pet and more! Marbles is also home to the area’s only 3D-giant screen IMAX theater. For more information about admission, exhibits and show times, visit thewebsite at www.marbleskidsmuseum.org.

    A final museum worth checking out is the North Carolina Museum of Art located on Blue Ridge Road, just a few minutes from downtown. As with most of the museums highlighted, there’s no general admission, just an occasional charge for a special exhibit. Here, you will find colorful textiles from Africa, paintings of American landscapes, a 6,000-year-old ceramic jar from Egypt as well as more than 30 bronzes from Europe.

    A popular feature at the museum is its 160-acre park with walking trails, picnic area and large art sculptures carefully displayed along the way. You may want to head here when you’re hungry so you’ll have an excuse to dine at Iris. Located at the museum, Iris is a contemporary and sophisticated full-service restaurant that uses local and seasoned ingredients to come up with delicious culinary art! You can get updates about current exhibits and special events at the North Carolina Museum of Art by logging onto the website at www.ncartmuseum.org.

     Photos: North Carolina Museum of History is offering part one of a fun and interactive exhibit entitled, The Story of North Carolina. The engaging format offers visitors the opportunity to tour a reproduction of an American-Indian dwelling (pictured below left), milk a cow and find out what a pirate ship in the 1700s really looked like.

  •     Hey batter, batter... swing! Don’t you just love baseball? The smell of hot dogs, popcorn and the crowd yelling after a home run?
        “We are a lot more than just baseball,” said Mark Wilderman, operations manager of the Fayetteville SwampDogs. “We are affordable, fun family entertainment.”
    Wilderman added that in today’s times, where it is hard for a family to go on vacation with $4 a gallon gasoline, their games are a great family outing.         
        The SwampDogs have a plethora of promotional events that will keep the Fayetteville community busy for the rest of the year. Friday the 13th is Freaky Friday. There will be a costume contest and trunk-or-treating inside the park.
        {mosimage}Military Appreciation night is June 14. On June 15 the SwampDogs play the U.S. Military All-Stars. The team consists of active-duty military from all over the country raising money for military charities.
        On June 20, the team will host USA Baseball’s National Team of Collegiate standouts in an exhibition contest at J.P. Riddle Stadium. The team consists of the best collegiate players in the country.
        There is an area high school all-star game on June 21 with recent graduates from the area. The MVP will receive a scholarship.
        June 28 is the SwampDogs’ first annual Green Night. It is designed to show appreciation for Planet Earth. Canvas tote bags will be given away at the event. On July 3,  there will be a  Fireworks Extravaganza.
        “This has become a staple in this area for fans to come out and see one of the best fireworks shows in the area,” said Wilderman.
        The second annual Striking Out Cancer night, hosted by the Blood and Cancer Clinic, is July 19.
        “Our players wear pink jerseys and we auction the jerseys off,” said Wilderman. “We donate the money to a local cancer charity.”
        Wilderman added that cancer survivors come out and walk around the bases during the seventh inning, making it a powerful night. Other events include a Hanna Montana night for young girls. There will also be a Bobble Head Doll giveaway on Aug. 1 for the first 500 fans.
        The SwampDogs have partnered with South River EMC of Dunn to bring three one-day camps to J.P. Riddle Stadium this summer on June 26, July 15 and Aug. 1. Camp hours are 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Students must be between the ages of 5-13 and will receive a free SwampDogs T-shirt, lunch and a ticket to a SwampDogs game. One day of camp is $40, two days of camp is $75, and all three days of camp are $100. Space is limited.
        “We love to give back to our community,” said Wilderman. “I am so excited about all the fun things that we do for families.”
        Tickets for SwampDog games range from $3 to $7. For more information, call 426-5900 or visit www.goswampdogs.com.
     
  •     If you’re a fan of the piano but have a pair of left hands when it comes to tickling the ivories, ride on over to Festival Park for a free show on Saturday, June 21, and watch how the experts do it as a pair of pianists from The Keys Piano Bar in downtown Fayetteville perform as part of the free concert series sponsored by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Reed-Lallier Chevrolet and the City of Fayetteville.
        {mosimage}Tim Buie, house pianist at The Keys Piano Bar will perform along with fellow pianist Craig Kerr; they will be accomnied by a drummer and saxophonist, playing music guaranteed to keep you boogying.
        "It’s all upbeat stuff they’ll be performing," said Chrissie Tanner, who opened the piano bar six months ago. "It’s pretty much what we have here at our regular shows — classic rock, beach music, party music. We’re extremely excited about this — it’s a great opportunity for us."
        The concert series is designed to introduce local art novices to the Fayetteville scene, as well as entertaining certified arts and music lovers.
        While the show is free, money from concessions goes to the Arts Council, some of which is passed down to the  Cape Fear Regional Theater, which is helping host the June 21 show.
        Leslie Roraback-Flom, marketing director for the CFRT, says she expects a great show and it’s all for a great cause. In addition to the musicians from The Keys Piano Bar, the cast of the CFRT musical “Company” will show up at Festival Park after its performance to sing selections from the play and other standards.
        "The cast from 'Company' will have an early show at 7 p.m. so they can make it out to Festival Park," said Roraback-Flom. "They’ll also be encouraging audience participation when they sing, which should be lots of fun. This is really a great way for you to go out and support the local arts, as well as hear some great music."
        The show begins at 8 p.m. Blankets and lawn chairs are allowed, but no coolers and no pets.

  •     Take a ride with me now on the Wayback Machine to the late ‘70s: a time of platform shoes and mood rings and the Fonz; a time when bands such as Foreigner and Boston and Cheap Trick ruled the FM airwaves; and a time when a little old band from North Carolina called Nantucket launched itself onto the charts and into the national consciousness with a song called Heartbreaker — a rock monster that rumbled through the God-awful age of disco like a sledgehammer smashing a mirror ball.
        Well, squeeze into those bell bottoms and dust off the Pet Rock, because Nantucket is coming to Fayetteville on June 19 for the Fayetteville After Five series of free performances held at Festival Park.{mosimage}
        And before you head to festival Park, make sure you leave behind your visons of potbellied old rockers attempting to relive the glory of their past by stumbling out of retirement with maybe one or two members of the original lineup, shuffling across the stage as if sleepwalking and spitting out rock oldies to former groupies who recently signed up with AARP — this is the original Nantucket, rocking out with the same spirit of ‘78, albeit with a few new twists.
        "It’s still fun and we still kick ass," said Mike Uzzell, the band’s manager and keyboardist. "It’s great to look into the faces of our fans and watch them remember the old days. You know, they say you can’t go back in time, but when we’re playing and I look out into the audience, I see all these people suddenly going back 25 years to when they were in high school listening to Heartbreaker on the eight-track."
        Despite their past glories, Nantucket won’t just be performing 20 different versions of Heartbreaker and Born in a Honky Tonk. The band — which has toured with such rock heavyweights as AC/DC, Ted Nugent and the Atlanta Rhythm Section —  adds a new, often humorous angles to some old standards.
        "We do a very popular takeoff on Rocky Top called Hawgater Top, as in halter top," said Uzzell. “And since we have such an outstanding saxophone player (Eddie Blair) we do a cover of Junior Walker and the All-Stars’ Shotgun which just knocks people out. Folks who have never heard a saxophone come up to Eddie after the shows and tell him how impressed they are with his playing."
        And it’s not just the old guard — the 40- and 50-somethings — who come to the shows and root on one of the best rock bands to ever hail from the Tar Heel state; Uzzell says the band is also popular with a younger crowd that is rediscovering why Nantucket was so popular in the ‘70s and early ‘80s.
        Known for their dynamic live shows, Nantucket is fronted by lead singer and brother of Mike Uzzell, Larry Uzzell, who also plays the harmonica and trombone. Back in the band’s heyday, he also played the heartstrings of female fans as a true, long-maned rock ‘n’ roll heartthrob. He was the face of Nantucket when it was featured in countless newspaper and magazine article, including such iconic publications from the ‘70’s and ‘80s as Hit Parader, Grooves and Rock Scene.
        Other band members include the aforementioned Blair on sax; Mark Downing and Tommy Redd on guitar; Thumbs Johnson on bass; and Kenny Soule on drums. Soule, who joined Nantucket in 1972, is nationally known for his chops: in 2000, Soule was invited to participate in the Experience Music Project in Seattle as part of the museum’s first Innovator’s Series — a tribute to Jimi Hendrix. There, he played alongside such notable musicians as Johnny Reznick (Goo Goo Dolls), Kenny Wayne Shepard, and Double Trouble. Soule left Nantucket in 1981 to form the legendary rock trio PKM, which was a top attraction at North Carolina clubs in the early ‘80s, and went on to tour with Blue Oyster Cult and Ozzy Osbourne before the band sparkled out and faded away in 1988.
    While some of the sparkle may be missing, the old magic hasn’t completely faded away from Nantucket — the members just a grew a little older, a little wiser, and took day jobs.
        "We don’t tour nationwide like we used to," said Mike Uzzell. "We do maybe 15-16 select shows a year. We don’t really leave the state much, except for a show in South Carolina now and then, because we all have regular jobs and business interests. One of our members is a realtor in Raleigh, and my brother Larry and me run a cable business. Besides, it’s pretty tough standing on stage for an hour and 45 minutes."
        Though Nantucket has released just a handful of albums — the last being 1995’s "Still Live After All These Years" — you can order the band’s recordings, including a Nantucket box set, from the Myspace page, www.myspace.com/nantucketband. You can also book the band for a performance at this site and purchase Nantucket T-shirts with the famous lobster album cover from their first LP, as well as posters and even a Nantucket calendar magnet — the latter especially appropriate for a band that takes its listeners back in time.
    Fayetteville After Five is a free event held at Festival Park, starting at 5:30 p.m. and ending at about 9:30 p.m. It is a fund-raiser for the Fayetteville Museum of Art.

    Tim Wilkins, Associate Editor
    COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 105 or tim@upandcomingweekly.com


  •     I’m a 46-year-old woman who just started seeing a 55-year-old man. He’s always telling me how excited I get him, how he’s your typical horny male, and how I’m asking for trouble if we make out at the door after lunch. Frankly, he seems all talk. For example, on our much anticipated weekend away in San Francisco, we had two hours to kill at the hotel before dinner. He suggested window shopping. I suggested we “make out on the bed.” (I wanted to say “have wild sex.”) We kissed, and when things started heating up, he said we should head out. When we returned, he said, “So, should we get to it then?” It was so crass, I suggested a movie. He seemed relieved, and we watched “Juno.” Afterward, we started fooling around, but it was bland — as was sex the next morning. I’m frustrated but hoping things will improve over time. Am I too focused on sex? I should say something, but it’s so awkward, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings.
                                               — Lustbucket


        Here you are on a weekend getaway with a guy you just started seeing, and all he can think to do is get away from the bed: “Shall we totter down to Neiman Marcus and stare at the displays?” Now, there is that chance he’s freezing up out of performance anxiety or because he sees sleeping together as an I.O.U. for commitment. But more than likely, his favorite sex positions are spooning, snoring, and doggie-style — as in, rolling over and playing dead.
        This sort of bedroom bait-and-switch — the dud billing himself as a dynamo — is pretty common with older guys who are embarrassed that they don’t want sex like they used to. Perhaps this guy’s had a drop in his testosterone level (as men do, usually after 40), or perhaps there never was much “T” to go around.     What’s especially worrisome is that this a brand new relationship — the time when you should be having trouble making it out of the elevator with clothes on. “In The Truth About Love,” Dr. Patricia Love explains, “During infatuation, with the help of PEA (phenethylamine), dopamine, and norepinephrine, the person with the low sex drive (the low-T person) experiences a surge in sexual desire.” Uh-oh. What’s he experiencing, a surge in window shopping?
        As for whether you’re “too focused on sex,” you are what you are — probably too focused on it to be satisfied with a guy who’d rather watch “Juno” than...you know...but who finally blurts out, “So, should we get to it then?” What, clean the hog pen? Yeah, let’s get this chore over with. You can hint a guy into expressing himself more appealingly, but what matters is whether that’s how he really feels: if he’d really rather be napping.
        You hear people say stuff like, “Sex is best in the context of a loving relationship.” No, sex is best when the two people having it are sexually compatible. You can ask a guy to do more of what you like, but you can’t get him to be more of what you like. Go ahead, hang around a little longer, maybe try initiating, and see whether he’s just a bit slow to come out of hibernation. Ultimately, the person in need of your honesty is you: whether the man for you is one who’s always got Mr. Happy at the ready, or whether you can make do with a guy who should probably pet-name his entire sex drive Nuclear Winter.
  • 10 N1907P23004CThe Fourth of July in the Sandhills usually involves big crowds, free concerts, fireworks and more. This year, public safety concerns over COVID-19 have changed that. The sounds of the symphony orchestra won’t resound in Festival Park. Instead of Fort Bragg’s Parade Field filled with first-rate music and a salute to the flags from each state, the field will be empty. Fireworks may still be on the schedule, though. Learn more about the plans for Fort Bragg’s Independence Day celebration at https://bragg.armymwr.com/calendar/event/4th-july-celebration/3832248/23521.

    Hope Mills Municipal Park won’t host its annual fireworks display this year until Ole Mill Days in October. In lieu of the Fourth of July event, the town is celebrating Independence Day with a Porch Parade from June 30-July 5. Residents and businesses are invited to decorate their porches and storefronts with their favorite red, white and blue décor. To sign up to be part of the Porch Parade, visit https://www.townofhopemills.com/349/July-4th-Celebration.

    Celebrations will likely be smaller — more along the lines of intimate backyard barbeques. Perhaps as you’re firing up the grill, consider our nation’s beginnings. And try a tasty new burger recipe as well.

    The history of America’s Independence Day

    Few summertime holidays elicit as much excitement as the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day in the United States. Each year, family, friends and revelers anticipate the arrival of the holiday so they can host barbecues, enjoy the sun, listen to their favorite summertime tunes and commemorate the freedoms afforded by the monumental events that led to the holiday’s establishment.

     Independence Day became a federal holiday in 1941, but July 4th has stood as the birth of American independence for much longer. July 4th marks a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. According to PBS, the colonies were forced to pay taxes to England’s King George III despite having no representation in the British Parliament. “Taxation without representation” became a battle cry and was one of several grievances colonists had with Great Britain.

     Conflict between the colonies had been going on for at least a year before the colonies convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in June of 1776, says Military.com. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from England. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.

    The Declaration of Independence is an historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer of the declaration writing committee charged with putting the colonies’ sentiments into words. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia was one of the first people to present a resolution for American independence, and his commentary was the impetus for the formal Declaration of Independence. A total of 86 changes were made to Jefferson’s original draft until the final version was adopted. The signing of the document helped to solidify independence, and eventually lead to the formation of the United States of America.

    A total of 56 delegates signed the document. Although John Hancock’s signature is the largest, it did not hold more weight than the other signatures. Rather, rumor has it, Hancock signed it so large so that the “fat, old King could read it without his spectacles.” However, the National Archives said it was also customary that, since Hancock was the president of the Continental Congress, he be the first person to sign the document centered below the text.

    The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence on July 6, 1776. The first public readings of the Declaration were held in Philadelphia’s Independence Square on July 8, 1776.

    Take your Fourth of July burgers up a notch

    The year 2020 is one few people will soon forget. Life changed dramatically and perhaps forever in 2020, when the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 forced billions of people across the globe to make sacrifices to prevent the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

    The sacrifices made in response to COVID-19 are perhaps most noticeable on holidays, when people accustomed to gathering with family and friends were unable to do so, or only able to do so on limited terms.

    Despite those restrictions, people continued to celebrate on holidays like Easter and Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July does not figure to be any different. Fourth of July celebrations often take place in the backyard by the grill, and this year marks a perfect opportunity to expand your culinary repertoire. This recipe for “Best Burger With Blue Cheese Butter,” courtesy of Eric Treuille and Birgit Erath’s “Grilling” (DK Publishing) offers a new take on a backyard barbecue staple.

    Best Burger With Blue Cheese Butter
    Serves 4
    1 pound ground chuck steak
    2 teaspoons salt
    1 teaspoon black pepper
    4 1-inch slices blue cheese butter (see below)
    4 sesame hamburger buns, halved

    Combine ground steak with salt and pepper. Divide into four equal-sized pieces and gently shape into four burgers about 1-inch-thick. Grill burgers and warm buns according to instructions below. Top burgers with butter and serve hot in sesame buns.

     Outdoor cooking: Grill over hot coals for three minutes per side for rare, four minutes per side for medium-rare, or five minutes per side for well done. Place buns cut-side down on grill until warm and lightly golden, 1 minute.

     Indoor cooking: Preheat a ridged cast-iron grill pan over high heat. Cook for three minutes per side for rare, four minutes per side for medium-rare, or five minutes per side for well done. Place buns cut-side down on grill pan until warm lightly golden, 1 minute.

    Blue-Cheese Butter
    Makes 15 servings
    16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
    4 ounces (1 cup crumbled) blue cheese
    2 teaspoons black pepper

    Place ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until well blended. Wrap in foil. Place in the freezer until hard, about 45 minutes.

    To serve, roll back foil and cut into 1-inch slices. When slicing from frozen, warm the knife under hot water first. After slicing, always tightly rewrap the unused flavored butter roll in the foil before returning to the refrigerator or freezer.

    Best Burger Variations

    Herbed Burger: Add 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 crushed garlic clove and 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion to the ground steak.

    Spicy Burger: Add 1-2 teaspoon tabasco, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard to the ground steak.

    Think ahead: Shape burgers up to one day in advance. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

    Cook’s Note: Overhandling the meat when shaping will result in a tough, dry burger. To guarantee a juicy burger, handle the meat as little as possible.  
  • 09 01 sizemattersIt might seem like the world has come to a standstill the past few months, but the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County has not. As more and more businesses and organizations open in the coming months, look for new exhibits and happenings downtown. In the meantime, the online energy is strong here, and the Arts Council continues to provide first-rate art and entertainment options. Currently, two programs that have met with much success are the online exhibit, “Size Matters: Works that Push the Scale of Dimensions,” and the Hay Street Live performance series.

    Hay Street Live is a weekly event that typically includes a host/hostess — sometimes more than one — and a performer. The earlier versions of the event also included a local mixologist to showcase his or her signature drink. “Our viewers have spoken, and they love the music,” said Scott. “We’ve received several requests to extend the show from viewers who can’t get enough of this virtual jam session. So, we’ve elected to extend the musicians playtime by removing the mixology section. Now it’s all about the arts. The performer will have more time to share their artistry with their virtual fans.”

    09 02 hay street liveJune 19, don’t miss the Hay Street Live performance of Dan 64. This is a returning band from one of the earlier shows in April. The host will be Sweet Tea, host of “The Sweet Tea Show” found on Carolina Country 100.1 FM and Carolina Country 93.9 FM.

    The June 26 band will be a Fayetteville favorite — 80s Unplugged. The band celebrates all the goodness and quirkiness of the 1980s, including Rubic’s cube, Swatch watches, Members Only jackets, skinny ties, Vans checkerboard shoes, guys with mullets and girls with Camaro hair, but especially the music.

    Goldy of WFNC 640 AM’s “Good Morning Fayettevillle” will host the show.

    Starting in July, Hay Street Live will move to Thursdays. Whiskey Pines Band will perform July 2. The Arts Council’s Metoya Scott will host the event.

    “Size Matters” opened on April 24 and remains accessible online through June 25. “Size Matters,” as the name implies, is all about scale. The exhibition encourage(s) artists to experiment with scale. The artwork represents recognizable objects that have undergone a disorientating shift in size. The show was originally set to open April 24 and was shifted to an online event due to COVID-19 restrictions on group gatherings.

    The exhibit, gives visitors an opportunity to experience a virtual version of the show. Additionally, all 44 pieces, which represent the works of 31 artists, are available for purchase.

    It includes artists with followings that span the globe. “My viewership is all over the world,” said pictorial artists David Pickett. “With this exhibition, I’ll gain 10 times the exposure and have greater visibility. My friends and family that are out of state can’t always visit the gallery. Now they all can.” Pickett, a resident of Shallotte, North Carolina, has two pieces featured in the exhibition.

    Another feature of the exhibition is “Palette Talk.” “’Palette Talk’ was an intimate, authentic, unguarded conversation that occurred between two artists featured in our ‘Size Matters’ exhibition and facilitated by myself,” said Metoya Scott, public relations manager for the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “During the show, I encourage viewers to ask the artists questions and acknowledge them for their contribution to enhancing visual arts experiences not only in Cumberland County but worldwide through our virtual exhibition. … I had the opportunity to speak with the artists one on one about how they fell in love with art, what inspires them to create, and why they submitted to our exhibition. Artists hailed from Miami, Florida, to Iowa City, Iowa, and, of course, sprinkled all across the Carolinas.”

    One of Fayetteville’s best-loved perennial exhibits follows “Size Matters.” Celebrating its 15th year, the “Public Works” Exhibition Aug. 28 and runs through Oct. 17 at the Arts Council. This really is the people’s exhibit. There is no jury.

    “’Public Works’ is a communitywide art exhibit sponsored by the Fayetteville Public Works Commission,” said Scott. “This is an opportunity for all artists of all ages to have their work exhibited … at the Arts Council.

    “Who’s eligible? You are, if you live in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties or Fort Bragg or Pope Field.

    “Bring your artwork to The Arts Council, 301 Hay St., between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, August 14, or on Saturday, August 15, between noon to 4 pm.”

    There will be a People’s Choice award.

    August 28-31 the public is invited to vote for their favorites. The artwork with the most votes be featured on the Arts Council’s Facebook page for a Virtual Vote. A photographer will be present the day of Art in-take to capture the artwork; each entry will be uploaded to the “Public Works” Exhibition App, managed by the Arts Council. Voting will be available via the app. Winners will enjoy a prize pack full of unique items from downtown businesses, according to the Arts council website. Winners of the online Virtual Vote will get an Arts Council goody bag.

    Find out more about these and the many other initiatives at the Arts Council at theartscouncil.com.

     

  • 06-02-10-army-10-miler.gifJune 14 marks the 235th birthday of the U.S. Army. Of course there will be cakes and ceremonies and other birthday type celebrations at U.S. Army posts worldwide. The Web site www.army.mil/birthday/235 is even offering folks a chance the submit Happy Birthday videos to the army online. Amidst all the celebrating, there will also be a chance to do a little PT (physical training) in the name of paying tribute to 235 years of all things Army.

    If you are married to a hooah, friends with one (or more), related to one or just happen to know of one, and especially if you are one, then you know that PT is as much a part of being a soldier as breathing is a part of being alive.

    On Friday, June 11, Fort Bragg MWR is hosting the Army Birthday 10-Miler. It is open to the public so anyone who is up for the challenge is welcome to participate. Preregistration is required and all packets have to be in by June 10 at 5 p.m. The entry fee is $15 if you register before 5 p.m. on June 3, and $20 for all entries received after that. Payment must be received with your entry form.

    “This is an opportunity for us to honor soldiers, and honor the community as well,” said Steve Johnson, who has coordinated this event since its inception 14 years ago. “At the beginning, I think we wanted to establish a challenging event that the soldiers like — not only to help with building esprit de corps — but it also helps us to identify our top runners that we will send to the Army 10-miler in Washington, D.C., in October. We send a men’s team, a women’s team and a mixed team from Fort Bragg.”

    Johnson mentioned that last year’s turn out was the biggest they’ve had to date, with about 2,000 runners competing. Of course, everyone is welcome to participate but Johnson notes that “they need to know that it is a challenging course. There are some rolling hills and it is06-02-10-10milerfinish.gifnot fl at by any means.”

    “Due to the time of the year, the heat and humidity can be very challenging. Even though we start the race at 6:30 a.m., the climate conditions are a challenge,” he said.

    While only a few of the runners will actually be sponsored by Fort Bragg in October, there are several categories for awards in this race.

    The standard age brackets apply and there will also be prizes given for hand crank (all ages) and wheel chair (all ages). The men’s overall champion, women’s overall champion and the top three finishers in each classification will be recognized, too.

    The Chrono Track Timing System will track each runner, using a timing tag attached to each runner’s shoes. High frequency technology captures the runner’s data through antennas embedded in the tag.

    This event is designed for more than just the elite athletes among us though. There is also a fourmile walk. The 4th Annual Army Birthday 4-Mile Walk for Fun is a noncompetitive event that will run in conjunction with the 10-miler. Registration requirements are the same as the 10-miler.

    On race day, athletes will rally at Sports USA/Hendrick Stadium at 6 a.m. Allow some extra time though, because there will be road closures because of the race route. At 6:20 a.m., pre-race instructions will be given. The race starts at 6:30 a.m. Please note that pets, bicycles, headphones and roller blades will not be permitted on the course. For more information call 396-1217 or 396-1218 or visit the Web site at www. fortbraggmwr.com/sportsrec/tenmiler.

  • Citizens are invited to come be a part of history at the opening of the Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum Annex Tuesday, June 1506-09-10-museum-annex.gif at10:30 a.m. The annex, operated by the Historic Properties Division of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation, is located at 302 Russell St. next to the Transportation Museum.

    On display are a circa 1882 Silsby Steamer and artifacts related to early to mid 20th-century automobile, aviation and military transportation. The Silsby Steamer is historically maintained by the Fayetteville Fire Department and was a common firefighting tool in its day.

    A replica 1930s gas station and garage is housed in the annex.

    “We’re thrilled to be opening the Transportation Museum Annex, as a lot of work and care has gone into making it a quality attraction,” said Bruce Daws, historic properties manager. “The annex completes the Transportation Museum complex and adds more breadth to the story of Fayetteville’s transportation history.”

    The N.C. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Supplemental Funding Committee funded the annex with three grants of approximately $2.3 million from the DOT Enhancement Division and approximately $105,000 in additional enhancement funds. The three grants were matched by 20 percent of local funds, which are a combination of city funds and donations from private companies and individuals.

    The Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum opened in 2006 and offers displays focusing various modes of transportation in the area throughout its history, with a number of displays forcusing on Camp Bragg, now Fort Bragg.

    The hours for the annex are the same as for the museum — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

  • The Fayetteville Museum of Art demonstrated valiant resolve to keep its doors open during a shaky economy and amid criticism. Committed to its mission in the face of public scrutiny, the museum was dependent on donations and support from the community to survive.

    After the museum published the blueprint of their contemporary building to be built in Festival Park, the drama began and has played out in the local newspapers. From the whine of frisbee enthusiasts who wanted open space in Festival Park, to City Councilman Theodore Mohn initiating the City’s Task Force to review the museum’s  financial records in 2008, the drama unfolded publicly.

    All the speculation, criticism,  fingerpointing and innuendo ended when the museum announced it would have to close it doors on May 31, 2010 due to the lack of  financial support to sustain the operation.

    The Fayetteville Observer’s coverage of the situation culminated in a lengthy article (“Why Did the Museum Fail?” 5/30/2010) which highlighted some of the events that have taken place since the museum opened in 1971. The time line in the article skipped many years during the museum’s history, picking up the story in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    The above article noted two obstacles that prevented large financial support of the museum —a grant from the Arts Council and the possible support of a bill by Senator Tony Rand to support of the museum’s new building. Both did not take place.

    I think the statement in the Observer’s article by one of the city’s task force members, George Breece, says it all, “Museum officials were slow to understand there had been a political shift against the park location.”

    How could the museum know the political shift had changed after they were given two acres in Festival Park in April 2007? They proceeded to have a renowned architect design a stunning contemporary building.

    It’s all debatable — people who are interested in the arts, either for political reasons or for their affection of the arts, have an opinion about the “political shift” and any contributing factors that contributed to the museum closing.

    For me, after much reflection, I see it as a long story. If chapters in the story had been scripted different, we would have a different ending.

    First and foremost, an art museum in Fayetteville will always have a difficult task to support itself until more large donors come to the table consistently. Not only big donors, but it is also the responsibility of all art advocates in the community to buy a membership, participate in the events and buy art from the museum, the museum store and from local artists.

    Support of the museum was so much more than going to a Fayetteville After Five event. It’s an annual, monthly commitment to being a part of making a museum possible, making the arts possible.

    Those members of the community who have given large sums of money for support and for those of you who have regularly given what you could, you are the reason the museum was able to hold on as long as it did. Without you, the museum could not have existed since 1971.

    For those who are interested in the arts, didn’t contribute to its operation, but thought others would make the museum an art venue for the community and the museum would always be there — well, here we are. It’s a part of the story, a chapter that could have been scripted differently with a lot more support from members in the community.

    Then there was the 2004 chapter when plans were in place for a building at the opening to Festival Park. We covered it in Up and Coming Weekly; we fought the fight for the museum to find its new home where the Lundy Building now stands. The museum was strong, the economy was strong, the downtown was hot with investors, and was poised for the museum to move to Festival Park.

    Again, politics thwarted the move for the museum. The Downtown Development Corporation presented the Lundy Group building to the City of Fayetteville; their reasons for not accepting the PennMark proposal (which included the museum of art) was simply “it did not meet the requirements for new projects downtown” (“DDC Already Answers Questions”, Up and Coming Weekly, November 24-30, 2004).

    John Malzone, successful downtown real estate agent and developer, stated the following in reference to the choice between the Lundy Building and the PennMark proposal: “To select other projects (the Lundy proposal) because of political pressure would send a terrible signal to the investment community” (Fayetteville Observer, 11/28/04).

    The Lundy proposal boasted about its plans “to construct a building that would have shops and restaurants on the fi rst fl oor and offi ces on the second and third floor (Fayetteville Observer, August 14, 2004). The Lundy building was selected and built (details of what it cost the city are not included here). Those plans were never fulfilled.

    In the article titled “Festival Park and the FMA: Red Flags are Flying”, (Up and Coming, December 8-14, 2004) the red flags were clearly listed and they all came true: “doubts about the DDC’s lack of sensitivity to the Renaissance Plan for an arts complex downtown” and “do we have such a poor image of ourselves (as a city) that we think developers will be interested in us (Fayetteville) if we hand over prime real estate right next to a park which is being developed by the city.”

    We can nit-pick all the details between the DDC and city council’s decisions, not having the foresight to see the Fayetteville Museum of Art where the Lundy building stands in 2004. Now I hear people in 2010 say: “Wouldn’t it be a great idea for the Fayetteville Museum of Art to purchase the Lundy building?” Great idea, but the support of the idea is just six years too late for our community.

    In the end, the Fayetteville Museum of Art has made a significant impact on this community over the years and there are many people in the community who have helped to keep them operational.

    Thank you to those who made the museum possible, and to Tom Grubb, Michele Horn and the entire staff at the Fayetteville Museum of Art for all the years you tirelessly spearheaded so many amazing exhibits every month, over and over again, year after year, for the people of Fayetteville and the region; for giving so many children an opportunity to engage in the arts in your youth programs.

    When I think of the Fayetteville Museum of Art, I remember the quality it ascribed to, paintings that would wow you as you walked into the gallery, sculpture installations that brought awe, photographs, prints and sculptures that made a difference for so many, for so many years. I will remember all the wonderful receptions hosted by the museum, the quality of their intent and dedication, moments where you could meet and mingle with individuals who knew the value of the arts.

    The negative affects of not having a museum of art are immediate, but it will also have harmful far reaching effects. What it says about our community as a whole is not positive. The Fayetteville Museum of Art, like the arts in Fayetteville, was always a fragile gem in our community. Over the years, it needed to be protected by the many, not just the few. An Artist’s Perspective on the Museum Closing

  •     The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is hosting a free concert in the park on Saturday, June 14. Don’t turn the page … conductor Fouad Fakhouri knows what kind of reputation his genre of music has, and he’s out to destroy that myth. 
        {mosimage}“Most people think that the symphony is stuffy. You have to put on your suit and go sit there and not speak and be bored. The lights are down and you have to sit in this environment that is very sterile,” said Fakhouri.
        “Why go to the symphony when you can go to a pop concert or go sit in front of a TV and watch a football game where you can eat your chips and do all sorts of stuff while you are being entertained?”
        It’s a good question, with a simple answer: it’s good music, it’s fun, and Fakhouri considers it a personal quest to bring it to anyone who wants to listen. 
    “It’s a personal love of mine to try to attract as many people to this medium as I can. Because I love classical music, I don’t think about it as a chore, I think of it as ‘This is fun for me,’” said Fakhouri, adding that introducing someone to the symphony is like making a new friend.
    “It is almost like introducing a friend of yours to another friend. This is my friend and I get along with him very nicely. How about you meet him and then we can all three be friends?’ It is that type of mindset for me.”
        Like any good host introducing two friends, Fakhouri is doing all he can to make the atmosphere enjoyable and his guests comfortable.
        This year, the concert will start at 8 p.m. It will be cooler and a little darker than last year. The theme of this concert is going to be a bit different too — all-American music. There will be Sousa marches and things of that nature along with the works of many great American composers.
        “When we give a concert like we are doing … knowing the history of Fayetteville and the majority of the people that live in Fayetteville and their affiliation to the military, etc. … if we can fit the Fayetteville Symphony to that and inspire people to come and listen to us I can guarantee that there will be people that will be very, very happy after this concert,” Fakhouri promised.
    “It is very much a patriotic American concert.”
        Unlike the stiff and rigid images that the symphony can sometimes bring to mind, this performance will be much more relaxed, which is exactly the point.
    “When you do a pop concert like we are doing in the park, the beauty of that is that people can be less formal, they can bring their food — it is a free concert,” said Fakhouri.
    “They can put their blanket on the lawn and sit and have a glass of wine or a drink and eat their food as they are listening to the music.
        “I feel that we can never do enough to continue to provide our services to as many people in Fayetteville as we can,” said Fakhouri. “It is crucial that we do this.”
        They not only perform in concert halls for a specific group of people who are really diehard fans and aficionados of classical music, but they go out and try to attract new audiences too.  
        “This is a real fun thing for me so why don’t you come and join me and see how fun it can be for you?” said Fakhouri.
        The party is at Festival Park, 8 p.m. Admission is free.

  •     In what would be a new modern record for the lapse of time between a death and its notice, neighbors found the mummified body of a Croatian woman in her Zagreb apartment in May, and police said no one remembered seeing her alive after 1973. (A Croatian news organization said the last sighting was in 1967.) She missed no maintenance payments because her building, which was state-owned when she was last seen, has since become a cooperative, and aggregate charges were paid for collectively by the other residents.

        News of the Weird informed you in 2007 of camel beauty pageants in Saudi Arabia, but the obsession with the animal runs deeper, based in part on nostalgia for the days when camels were important for transportation. Breeders cuddle and nuzzle them, and at the country’s largest camel market near Riyadh in March 2008, they bought and sold based, one breeder told The New York Times, on the standards of “judging a beautiful girl. You look for big eyes, long lashes and a long neck.” Said another, “See this one? She isn’t married yet, this one. She’s still a virgin. Look at the black eyes, the soft fur.... Just like a girl going to a party.” He added (after kissing the camel on the mouth), “My camels are like my children, my family.” (In January, a prominent cleric issued a decree condemning the pride people take in their camels.)

        March is the season for Shinto religious fertility festivals in Japan at which symbolic phalluses are offered to the gods for business fortune as well as good sexual and marital luck. In the small town of Komaki, a 2-meter-long phallus is carried through town every year and presented to the local temple. The best-known celebration is the Kanamara Matsuri (“Festival of the Iron Penis”) in Kawasaki, where colorful phallus floats abound and delight the children of all ages who line the streets.

        Because Japan’s suicide rate is so high, there is sometimes collateral damage. In April 2007, News of the Weird reported yet another instance in which a despondent person leaped off of a building (a nine-story edifice in Tokyo), only to land on someone else (a 60-year-old man, who was only bruised). These days, chemical ingestion is the trendy method, and in May 2008, a despondent farmer drank a chlorine solution and was rushed to Kumamoto’s Red Cross Hospital, but as doctors tried unsuccessfully to save him, he vomited, and the fumes sickened 54 workers, including 10 who had to be hospitalized.

        With rising prices paid for scrap metal come the increased threat of theft, and metal dealers are on alert, as well as power companies, which use valuable copper wire. However, as the number of thieves increases, so does the number of clumsy ones who fail to respect that electrical substations are live. In May, at least three men were killed and three others badly injured in attempts to steal wire from substations in Lancaster County, Pa., Somerset County, Pa., Savannah, Ga., Chicago and Edmonton, Alberta.

        There was yet another fight in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre this past Easter (celebrated in mid-April by Orthodox Christians). This time, Armenians (one of the six Christian branches that share management of the holy site) believed that a Greek Orthodox priest had encroached on their part of the church and tried to eject him, leading to a brawl in which some in attendance used Palm Sunday fronds as weapons. It usually falls on Jerusalem’s Muslim police officers to restore order.

    COPYRIGHT 2008 CHUCK SHEPHERD
  •     Austrian director Johann Kresnik’s re-interpretation of the classic Verdi opera “A Masked Ball” opened for a limited engagement in Berlin in April, aimed at America’s “war and the excesses of American society today,” he said. In one scene, against a backdrop of the ruins of the World Trade Center, 35 naked senior citizens danced, wearing Mickey Mouse masks.
        “Art is no longer just a painting on the wall,” said the curator of the Museum of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, Israel, in April. “Art is life; life is art.” He gave that as an explanation for why he had accepted, as a live exhibit, seven young people from Berlin whose art is merely to live in the museum for three weeks with lice on their heads. The artists denied they intended a Holocaust expression based on Nazis’ references to Jews as “parasites.”
        Worth Every Penny: At an April auction in Beijing, artist Liu Xiaodong’s large (8 feet by 30 feet) oil painting, part of his Three Gorges series, brought the equivalent of about $8 million. The work, “Breeding Ground No. 1,” depicts 11 men in their underwear playing cards.
        In May in New York City, a buyer spent $15.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction to acquire sculptor Takashi Murakami’s “My Lonesome Cowboy,” which is of a naked man holding his penis and creating a long, curly lasso out of his ejaculate.

    The Continuing Crisis
        In May, eighth-grader Michael Avery of Thousand Oaks, Calif., told the hometown newspaper “The Acorn,” that he was undecided which area high school he would attend next fall. This was a matter of interest in that Avery, 15, is a basketball prodigy and, though undecided on high school, he knows exactly where he will go to college because he had just accepted a full scholarship at the University of Kentucky beginning in 2012. The following week, Kentucky offered another one, to ninth-grader Jeremiah Davis III, to enroll in 2011.

    Fetishes on Parade
        Martin Turner, 39, of Blackpool, England, pleaded guilty to four counts of harassment in May, specifically, pestering several workmen by telephone over a three-year period to please come by and stand on his face, his fingers and his genitals while wearing their heavy boots. [His lawyer said it had something to do with “domination.”]
  • Whether it is for competition, recreation, a matter of healthy living or as a means of transportation, bicycling offers benefits to most everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are 6-years-old and riding in a circle on your cul de sac, if you are 14 and biking over to a friends house, a 20- or 30-something training for a race, a parent out with the family for an outing, a person recovering from an injury or a senior looking for a low impact and relaxing way to exercise — cycling offers something for everyone, if they care to give it a try.

    Unfortunately, Fayetteville is not exactly a bicycle friendly place if you are looking to really put in some miles. The roads are often dangerous and congested. Aside from the Cape Fear River Trail, there are no bike or riding paths to speak of and really, how many times can a person make that eightmile round trip ride without getting a little bored? And sadly, that doesn’t leave much for the long distance biker to explore.

    That being said, there are folks in our midst who are dedicated to riding and are fi ghting to show the community that bicycling is something that can and should be pursued. 06-02-10-traffic-signs.gif

    Since 2003 the Cross Creek Cycling Club has been advocating for cyclists in the greater Fayetteville area.

    “Our primary focus, originally, was going to be on the recreation side and rider development as far as getting people in and teaching them how to ride together as a group and riding safety — that kind of stuff,” said Robert F. Havens, president of the Cross Creek Riding Club. “Then we sort of evolved and now we also have people who race under the club’s name.”

    The club is still 80-90 percent recreational riders though, and the original goal of getting people out on the bike, learning to ride with traffi c and obeying the laws hasn’t changed.

    “There are a lot of people who don’t even know the most basic laws about cycling,” said Havens. “Not just for cyclists, but for vehicles. Car drivers that don’t ride don’t know the law. That is usually our biggest stumbling block — trying to educate people. We are trying to make it safer for everybody.”

    They make it fun, too. With about 140 members, in addition to supporting and sponsoring club members who choose to compete statewide, regionally and even nationally, the club also sponsors events like the Patriot’s Criterium and the Wounded Warrior Ride. They also have an event coming up to raise funds and awareness for Fayetteville’s “Bicycle Man” Moses Mathis.

    Havens said that while things aren’t ideal for cyclists in the Fayetteville area, the Fayetteville Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) is working to change that. The organization is currently conducting a bicycle and pedestrian connectivity study. The purpose of the study is to help guide the growth of the region’s walking and bicycling facilities.

    The study is in the early phases and is focused on reviewing previous plans, understanding existing conditions, working with stakeholders and listening to public views on biking and walking in the region.

    “We started working with FAMPO three or four years ago and they didn’t have a lot of knowledge on how riding was in our area,” said Havens. “They’ve started working on mapping and commuting routes... I hope that it does come to pass. If you compare Fayetteville to Charlotte or Greensville, there is a lot more support for cyclists in those other cities.”

    To learn more abut cycling in the greater Fayetteville area or to weigh in on the issues, check out http://crosscreekcyclingclub.org. There is a link to the FAMPO survey as well as information about the study.

  • 06-09-10-civilwar.gifAlthough 145 years have passed since Sherman’s March through Fayetteville, visitors to Campbellton Landing on Saturday and Sunday, June 12-13, will enjoy an opportunity to witness history in the “remaking” as the North Carolina Naval Squadron sets up camp and presents Civil War reenactment skirmishes, infantry demonstrations and artillery fi ring from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

    “We try to make it a good family-friendly event,” said Lieutenant Ronnie Goldman, executive offi cer of the crew.

    The group, founded in 2001 in Plymouth, N.C., portrays the Confederate Navy both on shore and onboard the 65-foot 3/8-scale replica of the ironclad CSS Albemarle owned by the Port of Plymouth Museum.

    “The event is a fundraiser to help the squadron help preserve the Campbellton Landing Civil War Site,” Goldman said.

    Campbellton Landing is located on the Cape Fear River and includes original confederate earthworks or breastworks — considered to be some of the best preserved in the state –– put in place to stop Sherman.

    “People can walk inside the breastworks, and part of the reenactment battle will take place on the original site. Our cannons will be sitting where the original cannons sat,” said Goldman.

    Visitors may also see the road where Sherman and his troops crossed the Cape Fear, as well as a road leading down to the river where the ferry would have crossed in the original colonial settlement of Campbellton. In fact, this living history event offers something for everyone.

    “We will also have some Revolutionary War re-enactors,” said Goldman, “and a period fashion show. On Saturday night after it gets dark, we’re going to do a night fi re with the cannons. The camps will be set up, and visitors can wander around them and see what life was like and view artifacts. We hope the mule rides will be there, and souvenirs, food, drink and homemade ice cream will be available. We will also be holding a silent auction on Saturday for a couple of members that were hurt.”

    “We want everyone to come out and have a good time,” Goldman said.

    Admission is $5 for adults; children 10 and under are admitted free.Campbellton Landing is located at 1122 Person Street near downtown Fayetteville. For more information, contact Ronnie Goldman at (910 483-4469 or visit www.freewebs. com/ncnavalsquad.

    PHOTO: Civil War reenactors will take to the battlefi eld June 12-13 at Campbelllton Landing
    on the Cape Fear River. Photo courtesy of Ivan Williams.

  • uac061610001.jpg Meredith Stiehl has a lot riding on her shoulders. Stiehl, the president of the Fayetteville Museum of Art’s Board of Directors, has spent a lot of sleepless nights, and packed days working to keep the museum alive. When the decision to close the museum’s doors was made, Stiehl was the one who broke the news to the community, and was the one who has worked to close the facility.

    “As the board president, I know, and the museum board knows that our vision has got to be based on an accurate view of the current reality,” said Stiehl during a recent interview. “We have to make decisions based on where we are right now.”

    Where the museum is right now is in debt, without a staff and with its facility for sale. It is also in a bad relationship with the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County and is facing a community that is at best confused about what has happened over the past couple of years. This is the reality Stiehl lays down with at night and gets up with in the morning.

    “I really wanted to believe over the past year that we could all hold hands and come together and work things out,” said Stiehl. “But that didn’t happen. So now, we have to go from here.”

    Stiehl is the first to say that she is not in the business of finger pointing. “I’m not laying the blame for our closure on anyone. If any fingers are pointing, they are pointing right back at us,” she said. “But now we have to move forward.”

    Part of that movement forward is the establishment of an advisory board made up of members of the community who are not board members. Stiehl established the group in March of 2009, but it was derailed in the face of the city’s task force to study the viability of the museum. On Thursday, June 10, the board met for the first time, and for the first time in a long time, Stiehl believes the museum might be on the right track.

    The museum’s board of directors accepted an offer by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County on a way ahead. Upon the agreement of the boards of both agencies, the Arts Council will pay for a “nationally recognized visual arts museum consultant, approved by the American Association of Museums, to provide an institutional assessment of the museum and to make recommendations for a way ahead.

    Stiehl said the consultant will look at everything from the museum’s finances to long- and short-term debt to its expenses. The consultant will look at personnel issues, performance issues and facility issues.

    “They will go out into the community to hear what the community has to say about the museum and to see if we are meeting its needs,” said Stiehl.

    The museum board will work with the Arts Council to pick the consultant. Stiehl knows that the term consultant will immediately turn a lot of people off, but she wants them to give the consultant a chance to hear their needs and to get a picture of what the community needs and wants from the museum — even if the answer is the community doesn’t want a museum.

    “We want them to talk to a broad spectrum of the community,” she said. “We are going to need that input if they are going to guide our community.”

    Stiehl said since the formation of the advisory group, which she said is filled with many people who may be considered the museum’s critics, more people have come forward to say they want in on charting the path forward.

    “We welcome their input,” said Stiehl, who said she has had countless phone calls, and has learned more about the museum’s operations and the community’s thoughts than she had known previously.

    “At this point, we really have to go back to the beginning,” she said. “Thirty-eight years ago, when the charter for the museum was signed, they had to plot the course, and we have to do the same thing. We are starting at the beginning.”

    Part of that includes clearing up unfinished business. Stiehl, along with a group of volunteers has being working to ensure that area artists get their artwork back. That bills are paid, and that the closing is done in an appropriate manner. “We want to handle things in a professional manner,” she said.

    “I believe the Arts Council and the museum are equally committed to keeping a strong visual arts museum in the community,” she said. “And, I believe we are on the right path. I believe we have found a common ground.”

  •     Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (124 minutes) is bound to disappoint the really hardcore fans. Screenwriter David Koepp did a commendable job in managing a workable script from the somewhat ridiculous premise. In fact, it is entirely to Koepp’s credit that he managed to find a compromise in writing that satisfied Spielberg (who insisted on the crystal skulls plot) and Harrison Ford (who didn’t like the crystal skulls). The previous three installments are powerhouse action/fantasy classics, and the concept still works nearly 20 years later. Spielberg uses a nice light touch with this material, and unlike his more emotionally manipulative work, he manages to avoid aiming for the obvious tearjerkers in the story. 
        {mosimage}The year is 1957. Colonel Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) uses Indiana Jones and a never-before-seen partner, Mac (Ray Winstone), to infiltrate a military base in Nevada. At first, all the mysterious clues point to the reappearance of a relic from a previous adventure. Soon after, Irina is revealed as a prototypical new-ager, concerned with strange powers and mysterious energies. Following a better than expected escape sequence, Indiana finds himself barely surviving a series of harrowing encounters. 
    Upon his return to his day job, we learn the fate of several characters from the previous films. Then, Indiana is waylaid by Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf) and agrees to assist him in rescuing his mother, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and a man named Oxley (John Hurt). In classic Indy style, there are fights over ancient relics, improbably dramatic escapes and other crazy hijinks, all while Indiana Jones attempts to solve the mystery of the crystal skull.
        Despite the excitement of seeing a new Indiana Jones movie after so many years, Ford seems pretty bored with going over the same plot twists and reciting the same tired old retorts to a rather lackluster villain. Koepp made a serious error when he used the communists as the antagonists, forgetting that Indiana was always at his best when fighting larger than life evil. One wonders who talked Blanchett into playing such a one dimensional, smaller than life nuisance. 
        Overall, this is the weakest entry in the franchise. This is not due to the weakly written villains or completely unrealistic stunts or plot (Temple of Doom was at least as burdened, but still a fun movie). It was nice to see Marion Ravenwood, but the absence of many Indiana Jones regulars was glaring. Would it have killed Spielberg to insist on a part for Ke Huy Quan (better known as Short Round to Indy fans)? 
        The Good: Shia LeBeouf is growing on me like fungus, but he seems to spend an awful lot of time on the verge of tears. The Bad: The plot, but especially, that ending! I left the theater completely stunned at the complete and utter destruction of a once great mythology. The Reason to See the Film: Indiana Jones! The Fedora! The Whip! Crazy Archaeological Trap Niftiness!  You may not agree with the direction of the movie, but you will enjoy the ride.   

    Contact Heather Griffiths at editor@upandcomingweeekly.com

  •     {mosimage}This ain’t no video game.
        On Saturday, June 14, local fighters — amateur and professional — will be exchanging uppercuts and hooks, kicks and wrestling moves, some blood, a lot of sweat and possibly tears as they compete in Close Quarters Combat in the Cage at the Crown Arena.
        It’s called mixed martial arts, and in order to be proficient at this brutal and entertaining sport that harkens back to the days of gladiators battling for life and limb in the Coliseum, you have to be good in all aspects of the competition: boxing, wrestling and the martial arts.
        “You have to set time aside to work on different aspects of the fighting styles, but then you have to set time apart to blend them together,” said Jason Kwast, a 5-10, 155-pounder from Palm Beach, Calif., who will be fighting in front of Fayetteville’s fans for the very first time. Kwast is a professional fighter with a record of 5-3; he will be tangling with Alvin Decker, known as a Kempo karate expert.
        And why would Kwast want to compete in a potentially bone breaking, potentially (though incredibly rare) fatal sport.
        “I used to get picked on a lot,” said Kwast, smiling through a gap where there used to be two front teeth.
        Kwast certainly doesn’t get picked on anymore.
        And neither does 170-pound Rhomez Brower, who is fighting in the main event against Kendrick Johnson, a grappling expert also known for his sharp martial arts skills — skills that have earned him a 19-13 record.
        {mosimage}Despite the talent of his opponent, Brower, his ripped physique pouring sweat like a human waterfall, smiled at the prospect of the Saturday night fights.
        “Hell yeah I’m looking forward to it,” said Brower, a native of Winston-Salem who works at Kim’s Barber Shop on Yadkin Road. “It’s exciting. It’s right here in Fayetteville. I never thought I’d see the day that I’d fight before the hometown crowd.”
        Helping bring Brower and Kwast’s dreams of fighting before the hometown fans is Fayetteville’s Spartan Entertainment Group, which is responsible for assembling the Close Quarters Combat fighters from all over the world, from Maine to Vermont to Guam.
    Will Clark, Jesse Drake and Jeremiah Lancaster started the organization to bring a new form of professional sports to Fayetteville.
        Clark, a soldier, has a unique perspective on the sport, as he himself has competed in the cage.
        “We love this sport — this is the fastest growing sport in the nation and we wanted to bring it to Fayetteville and bring another entertainment venue to Fayetteville,” said Clark. “In all honesty, Fayetteville is lacking in professional sports; we have sports, but we really needed to get mixed martial arts and combat skills sports here. We wanted to offer this warrior sport to this warrior city.”
        The Close Quarters Combat team had its first fight at the Crown on Aug. 12, which Clark said was a huge success.
        “The reception has been great, fantastic,” said Clark. “The walkup crowd to the Crown was the largest the Crown has ever seen. Fayetteville is a city full of fighters of one nature or another, and warriors like warriors.
        “We had a lot of compliments about the last show and our fans were on their feet the entire time,” added Clark. “I’ve seen other fights in North Carolina and I saw an absolutely different reaction here in Fayetteville.”
        And these proud warriors aren’t some punch-drunk bums from Palookaville or guys who like to get drunk on a Saturday night and wail on each other down in the parking lot of a strip club — there are champions among these bruisers.
        One fighter of particular note is Jason Palacios, a 155-pound scrapper from Guam who competed in the International Fight League and who recently flew to Japan and returned the lightweight winner of the King of Pancrase fight.
        There’s also a possible surprise for fight fans showing up at the Crown Saturday night: Rich Franklin, a contender for the 185-pound Ultimate Fighting Championship, will either be at Saturday’s match or at another CQC fight on Aug. 2.
        To spice things up, the first three fights on the card will pit local members of the Army against a trio of battling marines from Camp LeJeune, which should really get the juices of all local servicemen rocking and rolling.
        “The Marine Corps and the Army are brothers in arms and we fully expect to see the kind of friendly rivalry you see around the Army-Navy game or any time the services compete,” said Clark.
            Also added to the mix will be live music and the ever present and ever beautiful ring girls, who help out around the cage and also interact with the crowd.
    Speaking of the crowd, don’t be intimidated by the old reputation of organized fighting; the sport has come a long way since the early days of no holds barred brawling when the first sanctioned event in North Carolina, a 1994 match in Charlotte, caused the banning of the sport in the state until Aug. 2, 2007. Since then, rules have been put in place to protect the fighters, and, as one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, it appeals to a wide demographic, including 55 percent women.
        “Our last show was featured on HDNET — national network,” said Clark. “How many sports get featured on national TV?”
        Gates open at 7 p.m. with the fights starting at 8. Clark says the fights usually take about 2 1/2 hours. Tickets are $83, $63, $43, $33, $25 ($5 off for 12 and under).
        “We have some great fighters, live entertainment and some pretty ladies,” said Clark. “Really, what more do you need for a great night out?”
        If you’d  like more information about the CQC, check out their Web site: www.cqcinthecage.com, where you can even sign up to be a fighter or ring girl.
        Who knows? CQC just might be able to release the inner beast or beauty in you.
  •     It took me two years to get a divorce from my husband, a jerk I was married to for only 13 months, after knowing him for just nine weeks. (I was 38 and increasingly desperate to get married and have a baby.) I basically gave up on “equitable distribution” because I ran out of steam, but he agreed in our divorce decree and in court, under oath, to give me $7,000 of his retirement monies. Two years and numerous legal letters later, he has yet to comply. Meanwhile, he just published his first novel and is doing readings at local bookstores. I’d like to show up at the last one, and when he’s done, stand up and ask when he plans to pay me. So...out of curiosity, what would you do? Looking forward to a pithy response!
        —Plotting


        Oh, are you?
        Let’s start by talking about my writing process. Much as I’d like it to involve afternoons spent in a silk dressing gown in a canopy bed dotting witticisms on vellum with a big quill pen, the reality is rather different: long sweaty hours crawling under furniture looking for better verbs — when I’m not too busy trying to unzip my skin and run away screaming. 
        This guy just wrote his first novel, a feat on par with climbing Mt. Everest in a motorized wheelchair. I don’t care if he snacks on kittens, if you’re looking for justice, you have 8,758 other hours in the year to make your case. Of course, if this really was about getting what you’re owed, you’d go about it in the most pragmatic way: dragging him back to court and garnishing his wages or bringing in a collection agency. Instead, you’re about to make him hate you so completely that he’ll probably do anything to avoid paying you, including ditching fiction writing (an endeavor typically less lucrative than picking lettuce) for a career in the fast-paced world of haiku.
        As for your plan to hijack his reading, will you just be reciting your grievances, or should the bookstore put out a table for you so his friends, relatives and groupies can line up to have you autograph copies of your divorce decree? If you weren’t so deluded with rage, you might see that the person who’s likely to come out of this the worst is you. At the moment, he’s yet another first-time novelist clamoring for shelf space. Cue the cut-rate Heather Mills McCartney (that would be you), and he and his book might even make front-page news. Meanwhile, you’ll have established a permanent resume for yourself as a vindictive, mouth-foaming shrew — possibly endangering your current source of employment, almost certainly impairing yourself in gaining future employment, and surely making you the last woman any guy with Google will ever date.
        “Equitable distribution” after 13 months and no kids? To me, it’s a wave goodbye. But, he signed off on giving you that $7K, so he should pony up. And sure, try to get it, but factor in how much that’s costing you, and maybe shift your focus to having a future of your own instead of destroying his. If you ever loved him, how do you behave this way? For real resolution, look to yourself: If he’s such a bad guy, why did you marry him? What did you refuse to see? Hmmm, perhaps that the correct answer to “How do I love thee?” isn’t “I’m 38 and increasingly desperate to get married and have a baby.”

        Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA  90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)
    (c)2008, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.
  •     So the Fourth of July is coming up and gas prices are coming up as well. What is there to do? Fayetteville residents have only to travel 15 miles for one of the rockingest Fourth of July festivals around — Freedom Bikefest.
        Freedom Bikefest, sponsored by the corporation that owns The Doghouse, will bring motorcycles and music together for a three-day festival that will rock your socks off. Now, you might be wondering why we’re talking about concerts in this space — well that’s simple, as the name of the festival points out, bikers and their bikes will be at the center of the event.
        Throughout the course of the event bike shows will be held on a daily basis. In addition to the shows, the event will include a vendor city with more than 100 vendors on hand to sell their wares, a biker Olympics, an FMX Stunt Riders Demonstration, Food Vendors, Extreme Skydivers, celebrity bike builders and daily benefit rides. The event will also bring a reality star to the area in the form of a real artist — a tattoo artist. Ami James is an Israeli-born American tattoo artist. He is the co-owner (with Chris Nuñez) of the Miami, Fla., tattoo parlor known as LoveHate, and is the subject of the TLC reality television program Miami Ink. {mosimage}
        If all of that isn’t enough to entice you, how about the fact that the festival is being held on more than 30 acres of land outside of Parkton (in between I-95 and U.S. 301.) The property is open for camping; however, campsites are on a first come, first served basis. Staying at Freedom Bike Fest at Southern Comfort Campgrounds gives you and your friends the best of both worlds: Enjoy the ease of accommodations right next to the action and still surrounded by the natural landscaping of the great outdoors. Campground space is still available — call Dave at 1-843-267-3477 to reserve your spot today.
        And, of course, there’s always the music. Fourteen bands will perform over the three-day period, including some top national acts and some great local acts. On July 4, the entertainment will kickoff at 7 p.m., with the sounds of D.L. Token and will wrap up at midnight with the rocking sounds of Molly Hatchett.
        On July 5, music will start at noon and will run throughout the day, featuring On Tap, Crush and Run, Aftershock, Peacepipe, D.B. Bryant, The Fifth, and Blackfoot. To wrap up the night is a fabulous fireworks show.
        On July 6, the festival goes a little bit country, welcoming some of country’s big names, as Dixie Highway, Daryle Singletary and Sammy Kershaw light up the stage.
        Tickets for the event are $25 for one day and $50 for the full three days. Tickets do not include camping. For more information, visit www.freedombikefest.com or purchase your tickets at Ticketmaster.
  • In honor of those who have served in the military, the North Carolina Symphony has created the Red, White and Blue Tour which will run06-02-10-full-symphony.gif June 1-5.

    The idea for the Red, White and Blue Tour came from Grant Llewellyn, music director of the North Carolina Symphony. The symphony itself is 69 members strong and combines 19 unique instruments in its performances. The concerts will have guest performers, like vocalist Sgt. Christal Sanders Rheams and other members of the military.

    The first performance will be on June 1 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base on the Fitness Center Track and Field. Food items will be sold and base access is required. The show at the Station Theater of Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point will be on June 2, and will require tickets in advance. June 3 a performance for the troops stationed at Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station at Riverwalk Crossing Park in downtown Jacksonville will be held. Then on June 4, the tour will move to the Main Post Parade Field of Fort Bragg. A photo ID is required for base access. The tour will conclude at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in the Regency Park of Cary.

    All of the performances in the Red, White and Blue Tour are free and will begin at 7:30 p.m. The concerts will be approximately an hour and a half long, with a 15 minute intermission, except at Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg’s concert will be 90 minutes long and will not have an intermission.

    “I am incredibly proud that we’re going to be doing this particular tour. Music holds a special place in my heart and I think this tour is important to honor those who have served in the military,” said Rob Maddrey, director of Statewide Development for the symphony.

    Big crowds are expected because Ft. Bragg and Jacksonville can accommodate more than 2,000 people and typically Cary has brought around 3,000 people to evening concerts the North Carolina Symphony has performed.

    While the Red White and Blue Tour itself will probably not become a tradition Maddrey hopes this will not be the last time the North Carolina Symphony plays at these military installations. Maddrey also said that the symphony has been warmly welcomed every step of the way.

    The Red, White and Blue Tour’s sponsors are First Citizens Bank and Our State magazine. Complimentary copies of the magazine will be given away at the Fort Bragg concert. The Fort Bragg concert will also have a Hat Parade at 6 p.m., where people are invited to wear their wackiest hats, and an “Instrument Zoo,” where kids can play trumpets, violins, flutes and other instruments. The show in Cary will also have an “Instrument Zoo” and will be part of the North Carolina Symphony’s Summerfest. Summerfest, now in its 20th year, is a series of concerts held over seven Saturdays in the summer months, with different themes.

    The North Carolina Symphony was started during 1932, in Chapel Hill, with 50 volunteer musicians from all over the state.

    For more information please visit the symphony Web site at www.ncsymphony.org/ redwhiteblue.

  • uac060910001.gif The farming community of Gray’s Creek is just about as far from the international political scene as you can get. But this year, students at the new Gray’s Creek Elementary School began a journey that brought the world to their doorsteps. And, if the excitement in the children’s voices as they talk about this past school year is a way to judge that journey, then it’s been one heck of a ride.

    Gray’s Creek Elementary, which opened in August of 2009, is the pilot Global School, which is a partnership between the Cumberland County Schools and VIF International Education. The VIF program, based out of Chapel Hill, N.C., brings international teachers to American schools to help students learn about different cultures and see the world through different eyes.

    When Gray’s Creek Elementary Principal Cal Violette, an educator for 26 years, was approached with the idea of taking on the new school, and creating an international school, he was excited.

    “I can honestly say this has been one of the best years out of my 26 years in education,” he said. “This was a great opportunity to open a new school with this international theme. We were able to pull together an outstanding staff and we inherited a great bunch of kids.”

    Violette also was given the opportunity to blaze the path where international/ global education is concerned in Cumberland County. The new school was one of a kind, and is the only school of its kind in North Carolina. One third of Violette’s staff is comprised of VIF teachers. The school is what the VIF has termed a Passport School.

    A Passport School is designed to build a foundation for students to achieve global literacy. Schools designated as Passport Schools emphasize experiential learning, cultural exposure and early language skills.

    Violette noted that while many schools have some component of the Passport School in their curriculum, Gray’s Creek is the only school to have all four components in place. To be designated as a Passport School, the school’s curriculum must have fi ve key components:

    06-09-10-grays-creek-1.gif    • Regional focus by grade level 

        • International Staff

        • World Language 

        • Professional Development

        • Instructional Resources

    “I think we are opening up a new way of learning for our students,” he said. “We are expanding our curriculum, which has allowed us to integrate specifi c regions within our curriculum, and it is enriching and challenging our students on a daily basis because of that.”

    At Gray’s Creek, each grade is focused on a specifi c region of the world, and international teachers from those regions teach at that grade level. Kindergarten is focused on North America. The staff felt that it was important for those students just entering school to know about their country fi rst. First grade is focused on Australia, second graders learn about Asia, while third graders study Africa. Fourth graders focus on Europe and fi fth graders look at South America. If a student begins school at Gray’s Creek as a kindergartner, they will literally go around the world by the time they go to middle school.

    A key component to the program is the study of language. All students at Gray’s Creek study Spanish, with the hope of incorporating an additional language as the school grows. Violette noted that it was important to introduce students to language early on, so a particular emphasis is placed on language in K-2. There are two full-time Spanish teachers at the school.

    Spanish isn’t the only language students are hearing or learning, though.

    Deirdre Furlong is a fourth-grade teacher from Wexford, Ireland. Furlong, with her bright red hair and Irish lilt, sparkles when she talks about her students and the past year. She laughingly says she has picked up a southern drawl, while her students have picked up a bit of Gaelic, the ancient Irish language.

    Furlong has been with the VIF for two years. Her first year was spent in Raleigh, and in August she made the move to Cumberland County, and the rural school.

    “I was so excited when I found out that it was going to be an internationally themed school. I not only had the opportunity to teach, but also to infuse the curriculum with international themes,” she noted. “I thought it was going to be great.”

    “I think Gray’s Creek is an ideal place to have an international school,” she continued. “A lot of these children may not be exposed to other cultures and countries but this experience will awaken their curiosity, and later they may want to travel there.”

    06-09-10-grays-creek-2.gifShe said the children have been like “sponges,” soaking up everything they have heard. The parents have also been receptive of the idea and very supportive of the new initiative.

    “A lot of the parents are learning through their children,” she said. “People may have an idea about a certain area or people and think they know what they are about, but now, they are learning that might not be the whole story. They’ve learned that Ireland is more than leprechauns and rainbows.”

    Furlong plans to return next year, and like Violette, she sees the program and the instruction expanding. “We are all so excited about what we can do next year. There is so much more that we can build on. We’ve gone past maps, fl ags and food. We’ve learned not to judge people or stereotype because we’ve shown the children how people live. And maybe it’s not wrong, it’s just different.” Allie Lamber, a 10-year-old in Furlong’s class agrees with her teacher.

    “We learned about cultures through our classes and through the people who came in and talked about their countries to us. I am so interested in what we are learning. I want to go to Europe. This year has been so cool,” she said.

    Paul Chavis, another 10-year-old concurs. “When I fi rst came in, I was a little uncomfortable,” he said. “Ms. Furlong asked me if I could tell where she was from, and I saw pictures on the walls and heard her talk about leprechauns, so I thought about Ireland. I know it’s more now.”

    “I love this school,” said John Burton, another of Furlong’s students. “Ms. Furlong is absolutely wonderful, and she is able to bring stuff about Europe into just about everything we do — even talking about the oil spill. This year I have learned so much, and have seen a lot about different countries. I feel like I actually went around the world.”

  •     Hip-Hop’s live band, the Roots, returns with its staggering eighth (can you believe it?) full length studio album, titled Rising Down. The title could not have been more appropriate because over their illustrious career it almost seems like the better the situation gets for the Roots, the more things remains the same, or get worse.
        {mosimage}They’ve been making excellent music for the past oh, 15 years. The crew boasts Grammies, hundreds of sold-out shows across the world, classic albums and gold record sales, etc.; however, they are still largely overlooked by the mainstream public. The lead vocalist MC, Black Thought, is arguably one of the Top 10 rappers walking the planet. Musically, they are led by drummer/composer, Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson, who with the band always delivers some jams that are hot if not unique to groove to.
        One of best aspects of the group has been that the vocals of Thought. The sounds of the band are always on the same page, neither one outshining the other to a large extent and this LP offers no exception. The heavy drums and aggressive bassline of Get Busy and the upbeat melodic tone of The Show with its pulsating drums show the Roots at its best. Not only is the music a feast for the ears but the sound quality is exceptional as well. Anyone who listens to music heavily often notices that no matter how great the music may be, if the sound quality (mixing, mastering) of the presentation is just “average,” it leaves the listener a bit unfulfilled. Because the production of the Roots is orchestrated by a live hip-hop band vs. the usual hip hop record where much of the sounds originate from a sampler or an MPC, most of the Roots records sound much better sonically then the usual.
        Lyrically, Thought is utterly peerless on Rising Down. He spits battle ready raps, he story tells, he provides social/political insight, and he gets personal, showcasing his versatility and range on each track. One of the unique qualities of Black Thought’s persona is the fact that he has been rapping for so long that he still sounds as hungry and as passionate as a new jack in the game and each track he spits on he sounds as if it will be his last. One of the first things many Roots fans will notice when picking up this CD is the abundance and the diversity of guests featured on the disc. Out of 14 tracks only two feature BT rocking for delf on the mic. The usual Roots family of Dice Raw and MLK B appear as well as the fellow backpack rappers such as Mos Delf and Tallinn Quell are featured. However, the Roots also look for help outside the usual gamut and enlists street hard rock Styles P, mix tape new jack Saigon and R&B songbird Chrisette Michelle as well as others. Many of the guests on the album strengthen the disc.
        The album kicks off with the title track featuring Thought, Mos Delf and Styles P. All rappers deliver quotable verses with a slow but moving beat provided by the band. The beat is very epic yet it is so minimal that it provides each MC to voice their social commentary and political views about the present world without being overshadowed by the music. Other highlights of the album include @15, which is a long lost a capella recording about one minute long featuring Black Thought rapping at the age of 15. One can only marvel at this track because in truth the teenage Thought’s delivery, vocal dexterity, and wordplay is better then most rappers nowadays that are adults. Immediately following is 75 Bars, where BT simply explodes over a minimal drum beat with an errant horn.
        As aforementioned, one of the weaknesses of the LP is the fact that Thought is such a great MC, that many of the songs the guest rappers simply don’t bring their A game and rather then riding shotgun with Thought they are simply asleep in the back seat. Tallinn Quell is also a brilliant rapper in his own right, but he comes up short on Lost Desire. The band provides an eerie moving rhythmic beat on Singing Man but the direction of the song is confusing and Mercedes Martinez gives the listeners a reason to press the fast forward button.
        Fortunately, a few of the guests actually make their own splash, as Common spits an exceptional verse on the aforementioned The Show,and Saigon gets deep on Criminal. The Roots save one of the best tracks for last on the album’s closer, Rising Up, featuring Wale and the aforementioned Chrisette Michelle. This track is not only hot because of the music, but with a closer listen it defines the integrity of the group and also gives us a deeper meaning about the state of hip-hop and music in general. This album is not perfection, but two or three duds out of 14 is definitely worth a trip to the record store. In fact, the group is so agitated that the album opens and closes with real conversations (not a skit, but actual arguing and cursing) between group members and their label about the marketing and promotion of their music, or lack thereof. Perhaps one day the Roots will finally get fed up with being underappreciated by the masses and hang it up.

    Contact Jay Howard at editor@upandcomingweekly.com

  •     My boyfriend of two years has been living with his parents for four years. He’s 49, and first said he had an apartment near them but never wanted me to come over. I soon caught on, and he confessed he was ashamed of being in debt and living at home. I gave him another chance because we get along well, except for money. (I’m frugal and he can’t hang onto a dollar.) The biggie happened last week. I discovered he’d actually lived in his parents’ basement with his wife and kids for several years before they divorced. I don’t know if I’m more upset because he lied or because he put his wife and kids in a basement for so long.
                                                                          — Angry Girlfriend


        So he didn’t exactly take you on a tour of the home he lived in with his wife and kids: “And here we have the master bedroom...” and you look down on two sleeping bags zipped together on bare cement next to the furnace. “And here we have the kids’ room...” a big plaid suitcase from the ‘70s. (Hmm...maybe the baby slept in the bowling bag?)
        Even if what happened in the basement stayed in the basement, there had to be signs the guy wasn’t exactly the financial genius of our time...like, he pays the electric bill by setting up a lemonade stand, and when he picks you up for dates, instead of opening the car door, he helps you onto the handlebars.
        Men and women on the make both lie, just about different things. Because men are hard-wired to prioritize looks, women spend hours painting themselves into “natural beauties,” and squeeze into “shapewear” with names like “Lipo in a BOX.” Because women go for men with money and power, a man’s more likely to be like my friend Frank, who wanted me to take a picture of him leaning on a Porsche so he could send it to the girl he’d been chatting up online. “But, Frank, you’re going to pick her up in your late-model Nissan and take her to your one-bedroom apartment!” He pouted, “Well, it’s not like I’m saying it’s MY Porsche.”
        Come on...you’re angry because you found out the guy stashed his wife and kids in a basement? His live wife and kids, not their mummified corpses? This is the kind of thing men who are chronically broke are forced to do. Maybe what’s really eating you is what a bad investment you’ve made: putting in two years with a guy for whom moving up in the world means going from his parents’ basement into his parents’ garage. In his defense, at least he has the decency, if not to put a roof over his kids’ heads, then to mooch one.
        In your own defense, you say “we get along well, except for money.” Except for money? That’s a bit beyond “He’s into Muzak and I’m into metal.” At 49, the guy’s still working on getting his starter apartment — a reflection of a rather serious character flaw. Has he given you any reason to believe he’ll have it patched up by 50? Instead of pretending not to see the dealbreakers so you can make the deal, be honest about your standards, and hold your dates up to them from the start. If what you really want is a man who’s fiscally responsible, you’re never going to be happy with a man who might be able to bring home the bacon, but only if you give him an advance on his allowance and send him to the grocery store in your car.

    Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA  90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)
    (c)2008, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.


  •     I grew up in East Tennessee. It is a beautiful place and a draw for  motorcyclist. It has recently become famous for the Snake. The start of the run, the Snake’s eyes, is located in Shady Valley in the northeast portion of the state. This is where U.S. 421 and Hwy. 91 cross and Hwy. 133 intersect. There is only an intersection and no red light. There are three stores, one of which is geared to motorcyclists.
        The Snake consists of 489 curves in 12 miles. Hwy. 91 goes east and west from Elizabethton, Tenn., and onto Hwy. 133 Damascus, Va. U.S. 421 goes from Boone, through Mountain City Tenn., towards Bristol, Tenn. Everyone seems to find some part of the road suited for their particular riding style. The road conditions are well maintained surfaces. Beware, there is some loose gravel from gravel roads that connect to the Snake. This is also a commercial vehicle road so it is possible to go around a corner and encounter an 18-wheeler hogging the entire road. Wildlife is another concern.{mosimage}
        There is little room for error here. You will find mountain on one side and a 100-foot drop on the other. There are guard rails on some parts of the road but this serves to be a “Vegematic,” slicing and dicing motorcyclists with no mercy. Keep focused on your drive, because the drops are unforgiving.
    The highway is heavily patrolled by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. I was there recently and counted three patrolman in a very short time.
        The road from Mountain City to Shady Valley is the curviest. The average posted speed is 20 mph. To me this is the most enjoyable part of the ride because I like sharp curves going uphill. The most scenic part is the ride from Shady Valley to Damascus
        Along the way is Backbone Rock, a beautiful area in the Cherokee National Forest and a good place to stop and enjoy the mystic peacefulness on a hot summer day. In the town of Damascus you will find a lot of little shops, restaurants and coffee shops. You will see many hiking shops because the Appalachian Trail passes through the town.
        From Shady Valley north towards Bristol is South Holston Lake. Not far after the lake the road turns into a four-lane highway without much scenery. However, if you cut off and go over to the South Holston Dam, you’ll find a great experience. At the dam, you will find spectacular views as you drive across the 1,600-foot top and look down 285 feet into the beautiful blue green, ice-cold waters of South Fork Holston River.
        From Shady Valley west towards Elizabethton is a nice curvy road over Iron Mountain. If you are looking for a quick hike and swim you can visit the Blue Hole. After the road flattens out, continue down into Stoney Creek until you see the brown sign on the road which will have you turn up toward Holston Mountain. About a couple miles up you will find a gravel parking lot to the left. The trail is less than a mile long to a beautiful waterfall and nice swimming hole which constitute the Blue Hole. There is plenty of nice riding in this area, so take some time and go on an adventure.
  • Finally, Shyamalan bounces back (Rated PG-R)

    Rated Five Stars

        OK, M. Night Shyamalan, we used to have a good relationship. I trusted you. I paid good money to see The Village, and even though that sucked, I invested my time in Lady in the Water. I was this close to breaking up with you completely, but I decided to give you one more chance. I admit, after so many bad experiences with you, I was worried. Before The Happening(91 minutes), I crossed my fingers, held my hands out to the big screen, and pleaded with the world itself for your film not to disappoint me and break my heart for the last time. Despite the people sitting in front of us making fun of everything that made your movie great, I am happy to say that this didn’t suck. Good job. You may have gotten drunk with star power for a few years, but you seem to have gotten over it.
        The film opens in New York. People are acting funny, although animals seem unaffected. I am instantly struck with intense dread that at some point, a sweet little kitty or puppy is going to be mauled and devoured. As shown in previews, people begin dying. We switch to high school science teacher Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg) discussing how useless science is for explaining the world around us. Eventually, Elliot and a large, blue-eyed china doll named Alma (Zooey Deschanel) head for a train, along with Elliot’s friend Julian (John Leguizamo) and daughter Jess (Ashlyn Sanchez). I am now concerned that at some point Jess will be kidnapped or poisoned.  {mosimage}
        Throughout the movie, Elliot’s group composition changes as various ideas about the causes of the increasing human mortality are advanced. Eventually, Elliot and his considerably reduced number of followers arrive at the home of everyone’s favorite gramma, Betty Buckley, who plays Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Crazy represents the kind of loony common to rural Pennsylvania (I grew up there and I would know). Of course, if Shyamalan wanted to really capture the essence of the Pennsylvanian hermit he would have given her a shotgun and a jar of moonshine. While she serves our survivors a nice homemade meal, the viewers are offered a series of newscasts that reveal the parameters of the event that they are attempting to escape. Unfortunately, Mrs. Crazy doesn’t have a TV or radio, nor does she have any interest in hearing about the event currently taking place in the outside world.
        If this were another kind of movie, more plot details might be welcome. This, however, is a Shyamalan movie. Any more plot description is only going to ruin it. Suffice to say that this is indeed the great comeback we have been waiting for. While it is true that the dialogue was a little bit ripe, and buying Mark Wahlberg as some kind of science genius who figures out what is going on requires a little bit more suspension of disbelief than I am prepared to offer, I don’t care. The plot doesn’t disappoint, the pace is just right, and the shocks are placed for maximum effect. As always, the cinematography is moody, the use of color is carefully planned, and the ending comes way too soon for a spellbound audience. Finally, If I might be allowed one moment of self-congratulation, I totally spotted Brian O’Halloran (Dante from Clerks) based only on his puffy-faced profile seen on screen for approximately 10 seconds.

  • 10runThe Fayetteville Running Club presents its 6th Annual Firecracker 4 Miler Race on Thursday, July 4, at 7 a.m., at the North Carolina Veterans Park in downtown Fayetteville. The 1-mile fun run begins at 7:50 a.m.

    “This is the event that the Fayetteville Running Club uses to support several different charities,” said David Wilkes, president of the club. “Our largest recipient is the Gold Star Teen Program. That sends the kids of a Gold Star family to camp, and they have different activities throughout the year.” Wilkes added that a Gold Star family is one that has lost a family member during that member’s military service.

    “We also have two scholarships that we give out to two high school track or cross country runners,” said Wilkes. “We give one male and one female $1,000 a piece who are seniors and have participated on their cross country or track team during that time.”

    Wilkes added that every month, the organization makes a $500 donation to a local charity. Some of those charities include The Rape Crisis Center, Operation Inasmuch, Action Pathways, the Autism Society, the Bicycle Man, Fayetteville Urban Ministry and more.

    “We created a 4-mile route that highlighted many of the scenic and historical sites downtown,” said Wilkes of the July 4 run. “It goes through Arsenal Park behind the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, the various downtown water fountains, Freedom Memorial Park and other areas.”

    Awards will be given to the top three overall winners and the top three male and female winners in each age category. All 4 Mile and 1 Mile finishers will receive a medal. There will be awards for most spirited, best costume, fastest wheels and more. Raffle prizes will be given. There will be fruit, beverages and music at the event.

    “The Fayetteville Running Club’s mission is to support our community through living a healthy lifestyle, and there will be about 2,000 people who will show up for this event, which is one of the largest running races in town,” said Wilkes. “We look forward to everyone coming out to participate.”

    Same-day registration begins at 6 a.m. The cost of the 4 Miler Race is $30. Packet pickup is Wednesday, July 3, from 4-8 p.m. at Fayetteville Otolaryngology, which is located at 1839 Quiet Cove Rd. Race-day parking is available at the Medical Arts Center and the parking garage on Franklin Street. For more information, visit https://its-go-time.com/firecracker-4-miler/.

  • 08kidsDuring the summer months, it is important for students to retain the skills learned during the school year. Here are some free summer reading programs for your child that will help keep those skills going.

    1. DOGOBooks Summer Reading Program Kids are invited to read books and share their reviews of the books. The top 10 reviewers will win a book prize pack, and the next 25 top reviewers will be eligible to win a $10 gift card. Find out more at www.dogobooks.com.

    2. Barnes and Noble’s Summer Reading Kids can read any eight books and record them in the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Journal, which is available online or in stores. Once readers complete the journal, they can take it back to the store to choose a book from the free book list. Learn more at www.barnesandnoble.com/h/summer-reading.

    3. Chuck E. Cheese’s Reading Rewards Calendar Download a Reading Rewards calendar, which requires your child to read each day for two weeks. They can then turn the calendar into your local Chuck E. Cheese for 10 free game tokens. Read more details at www.chuckecheese.com/kids-corner/rewards-calendars.

    4. Scholastic’s Read-a-Palooza Summer Reading Give Back Kids can log summer reading minutes to earn digital prizes. Children participating in the challenge can help unlock a giveaway of 200,000 books from Scholastic in collaboration with United Way to kids in need across the country. Learn more about it at www.scholastic.com/summer/home.

    5. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain In June and July, kids 14 and under can earn a $5 coupon by reading at least 300 minutes a month and tracking their minutes on a reading calendar. Get more information at www.halfpricebooks.com/fyb.

    6. Book Adventure Kids K-8 read books that include 7,000 titles and take a short quiz to earn points. The points can be redeemed for virtual prizes. Find out more at http://bookadventure.com.

    7. Reading Rewards Customize a reading incentive program and set up personalized reading goals for your children. Then, allow your kids to buy rewards in the reward store created by you. Learn more at www.readingrewards.com.

    8. Sync Summer Reading Program for Teens This is a summer reading program established for teens 13 and older that will get them two free audiobooks each week through July 25. Each week, there will be a current young adult book that teens will be able to download for free. Find out how it works at www.audiobooksync.com.

    9. Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center The summer reading program is for readers of all ages. Stop by any library branch and pick up a reading record. Summer programs include visits from Pete the Cat and Clifford the Big Red Dog and the use of STEM kits involving crafts, experiments and more. Teens and adults are eligible for prizes and drawings for gift cards as they progress toward their reading goals. Learn more at http://cumberland.lib.nc.libguides.com/src.

  • OMG! What depressing headlines. I was up early last Friday morning, coffee and newspaper in hand, ready to jump start my Memorial Day weekend when I read the Fayetteville Observer’s front page, below the fold headline Docks building in default. Then, another headline bombshell in the local news section caught my eye. This time, it’s above the fold: City sues Chen over fi nes. Both, inevitable and unfortunate signs of impending disasters for which our community will again become the victim. How exasperating!

    06-02-10-prince-chrles.gifWill we ever learn? Now, there is nothing left to do but shake our heads in dismay and disgust and imagine what could have been. It begs the question, why has Fayetteville/ Cumberland County never been a community that learns and benefi ts from its past mistakes?

    What makes this so incredibly sad is that both of these depressing situations could have been avoided using common sense, honesty and prudent judgment. In the case of Dock’s it is not as if the banks, city staff, city council members and the Chamber of Commerce (then the CC Business Council) were duped, blindsided or misled.

    They were simply irresponsible by turning “blind eyes” and “deaf ears” to what many local and vocal concerned citizens were calling gross and obvious disregard for sound, basic and elementary business and economic-development practices. Duh!

    Red flags were up all over the place. Up & Coming Weekly has followed the Dock’s saga since the inception. Many articles have appeared in this publication over the last several years bo06-02-10-docks01.gifth celebrating Dr. Mel Henderson’s initiative and vision for his downtown business but also in questioning the terms and conditions of the “wink wink-nod nod” program Marshal Isler championed to involve the city, Chamber of Commerce and the taxpayers of the city. Well, get ready, because I have a feeling all the gory details of this transaction are going to come to light very soon. It will not be pretty. Matter of fact, the city better get ready because as the details of this fi asco becomes known the credibility and competence of all involved will be called into question. As the “he said, she said” fi nger pointing and confrontation begins the feasibility of the Dock’s venture will fall apart like a cheap suit in a rain storm. And, again, local taxpayers will be left holding the treads.

    Concerning John Chen and his unresponsive and arrogant posture toward paying the city more than $45,000 in fines for violating our historic standard codes (and our community) at the Prince Charles Hotel. Well, in my opinion, jail time would be good. Chen leaving town would be even better. He as infl icted enough embarrassment on our community. Enough said for now on both issues.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Stay tuned. We will continue to provide you insights and observations on these and other important issues affecting our community.

  • 01coverUAC062619001We’ve all heard the thrilling story. On July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Although the colonies wouldn’t actually win the War for Independence and form the United States until eight years later, Massachusetts made July Fourth an official holiday in 1781 — and it stuck. Here we are, more than 200 years later, celebrating America’s birthday. Here is a list of local events celebrating the Fourth of July.

    Friday, June 28

    Fayetteville Woodpeckers vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Fireworks!

    Segra Stadium invites the public to watch the Fayetteville Woodpeckers at 7 p.m. There will be a patriotic postgame fireworks show. Call 910-339-1989 for more information.

    Mommy’s Time Off: 4th of July Crafts

    Kidcreate Studio – Fayetteville invites parents to drop the kids off for some fun Fourth-of-Julythemed crafts. The studio requests that parents pack a nut-free snack and drink for their child. The event takes place from 9 a.m.-noon. Search the activity title on Eventbrite.com for more information.

    Saturday, June 29

    D-Day 75th Anniversary Exhibit

    The Airborne & Special Operations Museum presents the 75th Anniversary D-Day Exhibit in tribute to our veterans this Fourth of July. This special event will honor those who fought on the “Day of Days” with priceless artifacts that have never been on display until now. Detailed histories and insights about the artifacts, including their significance and who owned them, will be included in the display.

    The exhibit will be open Tuesday-Saturday until Aug. 31. Call 910-643-2778 for details.

    Sunday, June 30

    “Baseball in Fayetteville” exhibition

    This exhibit highlights the 150-year history of baseball in Fayetteville and why our citizens love it so much. Located at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, this free exhibit is open weekly from Tuesday-Saturday until Dec. 31. To learn more, call 910-433-1457.

    Monday, July 1

    Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s “Independence Concert” and Fireworks

    Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will be at Festival Park on July 1 for the concert of the year, presented by the city of Fayetteville. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the concert will include patriotic tunes and popular songs to kick off Independence Day celebrations. The night will end fittingly with fireworks. Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. For more information, call 910-433-4690.

    Wednesday, July 3

    Freedom Fest 2019

    The games, fireworks and Southern barbecue buffet at this festival are sure to make the eve of Fourth of July unforgettable. Entertainment also includes part two of the Rock the Cradle Concert Series featuring Departure: The Journey Tribute Band. Freedom Fest takes place at Pinehurst Resort, 80 Carolina Vista Dr., Pinehurst, from 5-9 p.m. Visit www.thepinestimes.com/community-events/ pinehurst-events/9-pinehurst/121440-freedomfest-2019 for details.

    Fayetteville Woodpeckers vs. Salem Red Fox: Independence Day Celebration

    There’s nothing quite like celebrating USA with America’s favorite pastime. The game will take place at Segra Stadium at 6 p.m. and finish with the largest postgame fireworks show of the season. Call 910-339-1989 to learn more.

    Fayetteville SwampDogs vs. High Point-Thomasville HiToms: Fireworks Extravaganza!

    The SwampDogs are known for their postgame fireworks displays that celebrate Independence Day. The game starts 7:05 p.m. and takes place at J.P. Riddle Stadium. For more information, call 910-426-5900.

    Thursday, July 4

    Fort Bragg’s 50th Annual 4th of July Celebration

    Fort Bragg’s famous annual 4th of July Celebration is held at Main Post Parade Field. Musical guests include 3 Doors Down and The Fifth. Other activities include parachute free-fall demonstrations, fireworks, the popular flag ceremony and food and beverages. Pets, barbecue grills and glass bottles are not allowed. The gates open at 1 p.m., the opening act starts at 3 p.m., and fireworks start at 10 p.m. For more information, call 910-396-9126.

    37th Annual Hope Mills Independence Day Parade

    The parade starts at 4975 Cameron Rd., Hope Mills, at 10 a.m. The public is invited to enjoy the 37th Annual Hope Mills Independence Day Party in the Park afterward. The party, taking place at Hope Mills Municipal Park Fields 1 and 2, runs from 4-10 p.m., with patriotic fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Live musical entertainment includes Open Road and the Guy Unger Band, and there will be food trucks, a large petting zoo, an inflatable waterslide and more. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    Firecracker 4 Miler

    The run starts at North Carolina Veterans Park, 300 Bragg Blvd., at 7 a.m. There will also be an untimed 1-miler race, beginning at 7:50 a.m. at the same location. To register and to learn more, visit www.its-go-time.com and click on Firecracker 4 Miler.

    Spring Lake’s Fourth of July Festival

    This free festival takes place on Main Street, Spring Lake, from 3-10 p.m. For details, call 910- 436-0241 or search the event on Facebook.

    Friday, July 5

    MOB Entertainment presents: “Heat of the Summer”

    The independence week festivities finish with a summertime concert. The Crown Coliseum is hosting multiplatinum-selling artist Jeezy live, along with Stunna 4 Vegas, Carolina Red and Tigo B. The show starts at 7 p.m. Call 888-257-6208 to purchase tickets.

  • 09ButterfliesThe weekend of June 21-23, Sustainable Sandhills will join forces with local businesses and organizations to celebrate pollinators. It’s only fitting, as June 17-23 is National Pollinator Week. Dubbed “Pollipalooza,” the local event creatively spotlights the many ways pollinators like bees, bats and butterflies impact our world — and our wellbeing.

    “Pollinators are vital to our ecology,” said Jonelle Kimbrough, executive director of Sustainable Sandhills. “We wanted to draw attention to the fact that pollinator populations are in decline.

    “One-third of the food we eat depends on pollination. We wanted an outlet to bring awareness to the community about the importance of pollination. We thought a fun event that would highlight food and beverages that are pollinated would be a fun.”

    Kimbrough noted that a lot of people don’t realize that tea plants depend on pollination. Winterbloom Tea came to mind as the perfect partner to showcase this fact. From 7:30-9 p.m., Friday, June 21, join the Pollipalooza Tea Party at 238 Hay St. Tickets cost $35 and include a hot and cold tea tasting, a honey tasting by Beehive Yourself and sweets by Ariana’s Cakes. There will also be an auction featuring items by Fayetteville Pie Company, The Household 6 Catering, Ariana’s Cakes, Sustainable Sandhills and more. Tickets can be purchased at www.pollipalooza.com.

    Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., visit Sink Field at Methodist University to learn about pollinators and how to make your outdoor space inviting for these essential creatures. There will be educational workshops, including Beekeeping 101 and Gardening for Pollinators, as well as children’s activities and vendors. Tickets cost $5 at the gate.

    “People can come to attend the workshops and learn about plants that pollinate and that bees are attracted to,” said Kimbrough. “And the Beekeeping 101 workshop will cover equipment, resources and certifications (involved with beekeeping).”

    Saturday, June 22, from 5-8 p.m., Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom will host “Nature’s Nectar: Bites and Brews Pollinator Party.” The offerings all focus on pollinated products. This event features a flight of five beer and wine creations— all influenced by pollinators’ efforts. The ticket price also includes a flight of five tapas-style delicacies, also featuring pollinated ingredients. There will be a live band and a silent auction as well. Tickets cost $55 and are available at www.pollipalooza.com.

    Sunday, June 23, enjoy Dirtbag Ales Famers Market from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The market will maintain a focus on pollinated products in honor of National Pollinator Week. Vendors offerings include local honey, flowers, candles and produce. There will also be live music, craft beer and food trucks.

    Sustainable Sandhills will have an information booth and will be selling wildflower seeds and a Build-A-Buzz Children’s craft. The farmers market is free to attend. Prices for individual activities and products vary from vendor to vendor.

    A portion of the proceeds from Pollipalooza will go to Sustainable Sandhills, whose mission statement is: Through education, demonstration, and collaboration we are dedicated to supporting and enhancing the communities and environments of the Sandhills region for current and future generations. Find out more about Sustainable Sandhills at its website, www.sustainablesandhills.org.

  • 09ButterfliesThe weekend of June 21-23, Sustainable Sandhills will join forces with local businesses and organizations to celebrate pollinators. It’s only fitting, as June 17-23 is National Pollinator Week. Dubbed “Pollipalooza,” the local event creatively spotlights the many ways pollinators like bees, bats and butterflies impact our world — and our wellbeing.

    “Pollinators are vital to our ecology,” said Jonelle Kimbrough, executive director of Sustainable Sandhills. “We wanted to draw attention to the fact that pollinator populations are in decline.

    “One-third of the food we eat depends on pollination. We wanted an outlet to bring awareness to the community about the importance of pollination. We thought a fun event that would highlight food and beverages that are pollinated would be a fun.”

    Kimbrough noted that a lot of people don’t realize that tea plants depend on pollination. Winterbloom Tea came to mind as the perfect partner to showcase this fact. From 7:30-9 p.m., Friday, June 21, join the Pollipalooza Tea Party at 238 Hay St. Tickets cost $35 and include a hot and cold tea tasting, a honey tasting by Beehive Yourself and sweets by Ariana’s Cakes. There will also be an auction featuring items by Fayetteville Pie Company, The Household 6 Catering, Ariana’s Cakes, Sustainable Sandhills and more. Tickets can be purchased at www.pollipalooza.com.

    Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., visit Sink Field at Methodist University to learn about pollinators and how to make your outdoor space inviting for these essential creatures. There will be educational workshops, including Beekeeping 101 and Gardening for Pollinators, as well as children’s activities and vendors. Tickets cost $5 at the gate.

    “People can come to attend the workshops and learn about plants that pollinate and that bees are attracted to,” said Kimbrough. “And the Beekeeping 101 workshop will cover equipment, resources and certifications (involved with beekeeping).”

    Saturday, June 22, from 5-8 p.m., Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom will host “Nature’s Nectar: Bites and Brews Pollinator Party.” The offerings all focus on pollinated products. This event features a flight of five beer and wine creations— all influenced by pollinators’ efforts. The ticket price also includes a flight of five tapas-style delicacies, also featuring pollinated ingredients. There will be a live band and a silent auction as well. Tickets cost $55 and are available at www.pollipalooza.com.

    Sunday, June 23, enjoy Dirtbag Ales Famers Market from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The market will maintain a focus on pollinated products in honor of National Pollinator Week. Vendors offerings include local honey, flowers, candles and produce. There will also be live music, craft beer and food trucks.

    Sustainable Sandhills will have an information booth and will be selling wildflower seeds and a Build-A-Buzz Children’s craft. The farmers market is free to attend. Prices for individual activities and products vary from vendor to vendor.

    A portion of the proceeds from Pollipalooza will go to Sustainable Sandhills, whose mission statement is: Through education, demonstration, and collaboration we are dedicated to supporting and enhancing the communities and environments of the Sandhills region for current and future generations. Find out more about Sustainable Sandhills at its website, www.sustainablesandhills.org.

  • UAC061919001A few years ago, I got the sense that the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center proposed for Fayetteville had substantial public support and was moving toward realization. Over the past few weeks, media reports and commentary on social media, especially Facebook, tell a different story.

    Given that the opposition, in my estimation, presents bits and pieces of information that fit their narrative, I decided to look for facts that would allow me to assess this Fayetteville opportunity fairly.

    I started by attending a meeting, May 18, of Cumberland County Citizens United. Representatives of the History Center talked about the effort and answered audience questions. They were John “Mac” Healy, president of the Civil War & Reconstruction History Center board of directors; Mary Lynn Bryan, board vice president; and David Winslow, president of the History Center. In the days after that meeting, I spent substantial time researching this endeavor. In the end, I concluded that what is being pursued is desperately needed not only for North Carolina but for all of America. What follows are some of the facts and considerations that led me to this conclusion.

    Start with the storytelling focus of the History Center as stated in the following segment from its information brochure: “North Carolina’s Civil War stories are much more than the stories of soldiers and battles. They are the stories of our homefront, and they include the experiences of women, children, the elderly, yeoman farmers and African Americans, freed and enslaved. They are stories of Quaker pacifists and strong secessionists living side by side.

    “The NC Civil War & Reconstruction History Center will tell them all, truthfully, based on solid scholarship and honoring the memory of the sacrifices made by North Carolinians from all walks of life.”

    My life experience says that knowing what others have gone through, what has shaped their thinking, makes it much more likely that we can successfully address the relationship-stressing differences that divide us.

    For some years, I had a neighbor around the corner from me who had a huge Confederate flag in the window, facing a major street. Without a doubt, it would have been productive if anybody who was troubled by that flag could have calmly and respectfully heard the story as to why he or she put it in place. I believe the approach of this center will promote this process of hearing and appreciating one another’s stories.

    The other value in storytelling is that those who hear the stories are often inspired and instructed in ways that contribute to success in their living. My father spent the early years of his life in Miller County, Georgia. He often referred to Miller County during his youth as being the most racist county in America. When Daddy was 16 years old, his father was shot and killed. Mama Nettie, my paternal grandmother, was left alone to rear six sons and a daughter. Another daughter was an adult. The family had spent years sharecropping, but after my grandfather’s death, they moved to a plantation where they rented land for farming. Times were hard, very difficult.

    From that circumstance, Daddy, his two sisters and four of his brothers went on to finish college and build very successful lives. The one brother who did not earn a college degree completed mortuary training. He also became a valued scientist with the federal government. They accomplished all of this despite the pain and struggle experienced in Miller County and beyond.

    I really got to know my father’s story as we recorded hours of conversation so that I could work with him to write a book about his life. Whatever success I have achieved is due, in great part, to being inspired and instructed by my father’s story. We live in a time when far too many Americans, especially the young, do not have access to these stories that inspire and instruct for successful living. Instead, there is an overabundance of stories and experiences that have just the opposite impact.

    I firmly believe that this essential need for telling the stories of people from the Civil War and Reconstruction periods will be accomplished through this project. In part, that conviction is inspired by my reading some of the stories already collected and posted on the Center’s website at http://nccivilwarcenter.org/featured-stories.

    There is further evidence that the focus will be on people, their thinking about the happenings of this period, the challenges and how they were addressed. For me, further evidence comes in the process being employed by the History Center. North Carolina’s leading scholars on the antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction periods were brought together over two days. They presented facts regarding these periods that are the History Center’s focus. Philip Gerard, the author of at least 12 books and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, was invited to attend the two days of meetings and, from it, construct a coherent narrative to bring together those facts.

    The process described in the preceding paragraph resulted in a 30-page document that substantiates the History Center’s focus on people and their stories. As planned, this narrative based on facts was written by Gerard.

    In words, he brings alive the harsh living conditions faced by people in North Carolina even before the Civil War. Then there is fact-based addressing of stories of struggle and perseverance. Woven in is a look at what caused the Civil War and the journey to it. There is a multitude of facts that dispel some of the assumptions about those who lived in the South. This matter of assumptions is a critical point because coming to grips with it can help produce an atmosphere conducive to productive conversation relating to race and other divisive issues. Gerard’s narrative was used in the beginning planning of the exhibits and the digital education program.

    As I read Gerard’s straightforward narrative, I thought about the concern raised by many that any reference to the Civil War dissuades black Americans from engaging in the dialogue. The argument is that this response is due to the Civil War, and any reference to it, being a reminder of the horrible episode of slavery.

    My observation is that American society has regressed to a point where we, almost totally,  lack the capacity to forthrightly address and work through tension-producing issues. Given that much of the racial divide and tension that we face today goes back to the Civil War and Reconstruction period, we fool ourselves if we think we can rectify our current disaster without coming faceto- face with the genesis of this disaster.

    This lack of capacity for forthrightly addressing difficult issues is further reflected in the call by some to come up with a “generic” name for the History Center. That is, do not include the words “Civil War.” My position is to let us accurately identify what it is we are addressing. In so doing, we might just start the journey back to being able to productively tackle the myriad difficult topics faced by our country rather than dance around them and give them disgusting lip service.

    The economic impact of this project is also a factor in my conclusion that Fayetteville and Cumberland County need this center. A study conducted by ConsultEcon, Inc. in 2014 stated, “The preliminary attendance potential is estimated at 75,000 to 135,000, with a midrange estimate rounded to 105,000 in a stable year of operation.”

    That is no small economic impact. The projection considered Fayetteville’s total offering as reflected in the following statement. “When combined with: the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Transportation and Local History Museum and the other recreational offerings and events sponsored in Fayetteville, along with Fayetteville’s attractive downtown area, a sufficient ‘critical mass’ of visitor attractions will be created to significantly enhance the visitor profile of Fayetteville and its tourism economy.”

    Given the increased “critical mass” of visitor attractions resulting from Segra Stadium, the Woodpeckers baseball team, a renovated Prince Charles Hotel and other downtown enhancements that were not in place at the time of this study, the economic impact will likely be even greater than the 2014 projections.

    The History Center was projected to cost $65 million. Fayetteville and Cumberland County passed resolutions saying that each of them would contribute $7.5 million. The History Center’s board is endeavoring to raise $17.5 million. Every indication is that if the History Center, including local government commitments, raises $32.5 million, the state will provide the remainder. Further, when the History Center is completed, the state will take over all funding requirements.

    For me, the economic impact component also speaks to the argument that the money could be better spent on more pressing needs. My response is that there must be balance between investing for long-term return and spending in the moment. Governments do a lot of spending in the moment while not investing for return. This center will give some balance. As a property owner whose taxes keep going up, I want to see some investment that produces return in terms of jobs and tax revenue. This project will do so.

    The economic impact study makes a couple other points that I find to be of tremendous value when assessing this project. This study was done when the facility was referred to as North Carolina Civil War History Center. “Through its onsite education offerings, outreach programs and online programs, NCCWHC will expand informal educational opportunities for students in Fayetteville and State-wide. Enhanced opportunities for adult continuing education will also be created.

    “The quality of life benefits of the new NCCWHC may have the most profound and long-lasting impacts on the Fayetteville community. This project will improve community self-esteem and citizenship by becoming a source of community pride and identity. NCCWHC will enhance Fayetteville and the downtown area as a place to live, work and recreate, thus improving all aspects of the local economy and community.”

    Finally, I am amazed by the distinguished and extremely capable individuals who are actively involved in giving life to the History Center. There is some paid staff, but more than 100 volunteers are also investing their time and talents. Volunteers span civic leaders to educators and historians from here in Fayetteville, across the state and the country. I want to detail many of the staff and volunteers, but space will not allow it. Consequently, here are just a few.

    John “Mac” Healy and Mary Lynn Bryan serve, respectively, as president and vice president of the History Center’s board of directors. They are volunteers and spoke at the Cumberland County Citizens United meeting referenced in the opening paragraph. Their vision, commitment and superb leadership skills showed through not only in their presentations but also in the progress of this effort to date.

    David Winslow is president of the History Center. As president and founder of the Winslow Group, Inc., he brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and experience. This is coupled with a track record of successes in providing, from the company’s website, “a full range of fundraisingrelated services including campaign counsel, feasibility studies, emergency fundraising, campaign planning, prospect/donor database management, organizational assessments, and strategic planning.”

    In an article from 2009 titled “The Finish Line,” David Wireback details how Winslow helped raise desperately needed funds to finish the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Here are two lines from Wireback’s opening: “Barely a year ago, efforts to transform the former F.W. Woolworth Co. building into a world-class civil rights museum faced a huge challenge. Enter David Winslow, a Winston- Salem consultant with a statewide reputation for raising money for daunting projects.”

    Please visit www.winslowgroupinc.com to learn more about the track record of David Winslow.

    Dr. James Anderson, outgoing chancellor at Fayetteville State University, is on the History Center’s advisory board and is forthright in his support for this project. He speaks and writes in support. Even further, his organizing of events that allow citizens to become fully informed demonstrates a level of understanding and commitment far above the routine.

    In recent weeks, Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust, a historian of the Civil War and the American South, committed to assisting with the digital education component. Faust served as the 28th president of Harvard University from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2018. She was Harvard’s first female president and the first Harvard president without a Harvard degree.

    Vines Architecture was chosen for this project. Victor Vines is president and principal. The design work is complete and available on the History Center’s website. Even though no construction had begun, the impressive design earned an Unbuilt Merit Award from American Institute of Architects in North Carolina in 2014.

    America needs this center because it offers tremendous help in successfully addressing the racial tension and other issues that portend a dreadful future for this country. That help comes by way of a storytelling focus on people, an accuracyproducing process, positive economic impact, an effective educational approach and enhanced community self-esteem.

    Finally, the effort is in the hands of people who are fully committed and extraordinarily capable.

  • 10OnTheBorderIf you missed the first Fayetteville After Five concert, it’s not too late to enjoy the next installment of free music in Festival Park. Every second Friday, May through August, free concerts under the stars, food trucks and beverages beckon citizens to kick up their heels and welcome the weekend with free entertainment and a night of familyfriendly memory making.

    June 14, it’s a local favorite that takes the stage — Eagles tribute band On the Border. Taking the tribute band experience up a notch, each member gets into character and performs as their respective band member from The Eagles during the performance. The members of On the Border are Tracy Maples (vocals, guitar), Tim Giovanniello (vocals, guitar), Bill Morgan (vocals, guitar), Andy Young (vocals, drums), Scott Sobota (vocals, bass) and, Bob Orazi (vocals, keys, guitar). Their delivery of spot-on music has not only garnered them a loyal following. They have been declared the greatest Eagles tribute band in the world by AXSTV and host Katie Daryl.

    On the Border hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been granted licensed rights for live musical performances of the Eagles catalog. Known for their delivery, the band brings some of rock ’n’ roll’s best classics to Fayetteville — and it is free to attend.

    The Eagles originated in Los Angeles, California, in 1971 with founding members Glenn Frey (guitars, vocals), Don Henley (drums, vocals), Bernie Leadon (guitars, vocals) and Randy Meisner (bass guitar, vocals). The Eagles were one of the most successful bands in the 1970s, with five No. 1 singles, six No. 1 albums, six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards. To date, the band has sold more than 100 million albums. Songs like “Hotel California,” “Take It Easy,” “Witchy Woman,” Peaceful, Easy Feeling,” “One of Those Nights” and “Desperado” are just a few of their most well-known songs. The Eagles split in 1980 and reunited in 1994. The band is currently on tour through October of this year.

    A local band with a solid following, Rivermist headlines the July 12 concert. The band has been playing in the area for more than 20 years in different iterations. Rivermist as it is known today formally came together in 2014. A classic rock and variety party band, the group is known for being energetic on the stage. The band knows its audience and hits every chord just right when it comes to pleasing the crowd. Rivermist tours the East Coast with a focus on Virginia and the Carolinas. The band has won several awards locally, including Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville.

    Aug. 9, Kasey Tyndall closes the season. Tyndall’s debut single, “Everything is Texas,” dropped in 2017, and the video was in the top 10 on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown.

    “For as long as people have been breaking hearts or getting their hearts broken, there’s a bar, that bar’s regulars, and its staff to help,” says Tyndall on her website. “We all have that bar in our life — no matter what we’re going through, we’re somehow family when we come together there.”

    The gates open at 5 p.m. for all the concerts. Music starts around 6:30 p.m. and ends around 10:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. No canopies, please. No coolers or outside food is permitted. Service dogs are welcome. The concerts are free. Visit www.thedogwoodfestival.com/fayetteville-after-five to learn more.

  • 09SweetTeaShakespeareSweet Tea Shakespeare presents “Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” through June 22 and June 23, respectively.

    From repeated comparisons to “Game of Thrones” to its “Psycho Killer” theme song to the corpses littering the space in its opening moments, STS’ presentation of Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” which opened June 4 at the Poe House, was an ambitious attempt with a promising beginning that fell a bit flat.

    The play depends upon dialogue to move the plot forward and to describe the action, most of which occurs offstage. Dialogue delivery was hampered throughout the evening by intermittent microphone problems and often overwhelming traffic noise from the MLK highway just beyond the tree line. Despite copious program notes, because of the inability to hear the dialogue and the fact that Elizabethan English is an arcane tongue to modern ears, Richard’s convoluted machinations to gain the crown of England were often hard to follow. The players gamely carried on.

    Standout performances were Evan Bridenstine’s rendition of “Psycho Killer,” Jen Pommerenke’s strutting Buckingham and Jane Moran’s commanding performance as Queen Margaret.

    The premiere performance of “Merry Wives of Windsor” coincided with some much-needed rain. Undaunted, the plucky troupe cobbled together a play space in the fellowship hall of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and in the best tradition of the theater, the show went on. And what a show it was!

    Aaron Alderman was brilliant as Sir John Falstaff, the greedy, lascivious “fat knight” who woos two married women in hopes of gaining access to their husbands’ wealth.

    Playing Dr. Caius, one of three suitors of young Anne Page, Jen Pommerenke’s French accent, reminiscent of the best of Peter Sellers and Emma Thompson, never failed to elicit laughter. Her comic timing, along with that of Alderman, was always spot-on. The spirit of the ensemble was upbeat and merry throughout the entire performance. It was infectious, drawing the audience in and carrying us along on a rollicking adventure that definitely transcended the less-than-stellar play space.

    Dena Vassey, costumer for "Richard III," does a lot with a little. She used white-infused and predominantly scarlet plaid shirts to differentiate between Richard’s York (white) and Lancaster (red) cohorts. Sana Moulder's costumes for “Merry Wives” were more elaborate but no less inventive as costume changes for several characters were crafted from one basic piece that could be quickly manipulated offstage into an entirely different look.

    Jeremy Fiebig and Molly Malone co-directed both shows, with Avis Hatcher-Puzzo also joining as a co-director for "Merry Wives."

    This intrepid band of itinerant players deserves both kudos and community support for their dedication to keeping theater at its most accessible alive and well in our midst. They are a multi-talented group. Not only do they have prodigious memories and the ability to master reams of difficult dialogue, they are talented singers, musicians and dancers.

    Under the direction of Jacob French, STS pre-show and intermission mini-concerts are always a delight with songs both contemporary and traditional chosen to fit the mood of the play.

    Food, nonalcoholic and adult beverages are available during the pre-show concert and again at intermission. The pre-show begins at 6:45 p.m. with showtime at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and online with discounts available for students, seniors and members of the military. For show dates and times, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com. Unless it’s raining, be sure to bring your own seating.

  • {mosimage}Swingtown (Thursday, 10 p.m., CBS) is CBS’s attempt to sink to depths of depravity.
    The series is set in 1976, at the height of suburban swinging. A square couple named Susan and Bruce (Molly Parker, Jack Davenport) move to a go-go Chicago neighborhood where everybody’s sleeping with everybody. The leering husband and wife next door are apostles of open marriage, and they talk Susan and Bruce out of their clothes within five minutes. Our squares simply pop a quaalude, roll a joint and join the orgy. The screen fills with writhing bodies — that’s right, soft-core copulation smack in the middle of prime time. Clearly, American viewers are about to get aroused on a mass scale.
    But wait. Just when you think Swingtown will be a wicked romp, CBS pumps in socially redeeming value. God forbid we could simply enjoy the bare-naked sex. No, it must be incorporated into a stern morality tale about the corruption of decent values. The soundtrack cues up an earnest Seals & Crofts song as the squares look searchingly into the ether, meditating on what they’ve lost.
    Suddenly, American viewers are no longer aroused. If the series succeeds in bringing back Seals & Crofts, some of us may never have sex again.

    She’s Got the Look
    Wednesday, 10 p.m. (TV Land)
    It’s yet another modeling reality show, with pouts, tears and weekly eliminations. But this one has a twist: contestants over 35. And you wouldn’t believe how enjoyable it is compared to, say, America’s Next Top Model. That show asks us to hang out with callow young skeletons who have nothing between their pretty little ears. By contrast, most of the models on She’s Got the Look seem like substantial human beings. They’ve been around the block with marriages, kids and careers and that tends to make them more interesting.
    It feels like spending time with your mom — that is, if your mom had the world’s most perfect rear end.

    Sybil
    Saturday, 8 p.m. (CBS)
    This new adaptation of Flora Rheta Schreiber’s book stars Tammy Blanchard as the troubled young woman with multiple personality disorder and Jessica Lange as her patient psychiatrist. It’s the mid-1950s, and the medical establishment scoffs at the idea of multiple personalities. But Lange’s Dr. Wilbur is stunned to watch Sybil change from one persona to another — 16 in all.
    We, on the other hand, are not so stunned. The story is familiar from Sally Field’s 1976 TV-movie version of Sybil, not to mention countless other psychological-disorder movies in the intervening years. There aren’t a lot of surprises as Dr. Wilbur peels back the layers to discover Sybil’s abuse by a cruel mother. On the other hand, both Blanchard and Lange give powerful performances, and the movie treats the potentially heavy-handed subject with finesse.
    So part of me liked Sybil, while another part of me was bored. Part of me was moved, while another part of me laughed hysterically. Part of me.

    The Circuit
    Sunday, 8 p.m. (ABC Family)
    This car-racing TV movie finds a pretty young newcomer (Michelle Trachtenberg) trying to make her mark in a male-dominated sport. She’s living in the shadow of her estranged dad (Billy Campbell), a racing star whose bad behavior has ruined his career. And she’s pitted against a devilishly handsome rascal (Drew Fuller) who’s become the sport’s latest sex symbol. Will she beat him or fall in love with him? And if she falls in love with him, will she break the heart of the regular-guy mechanic (Tommy Lioutas) who’s always been sweet on her?
    No, The Circuit doesn’t overlook a single cliché. But, dammit, I like it anyway. The actors aren’t just gorgeous, but lively, witty and substantial. Though, admittedly, they had me at gorgeous.
  • 08CurtNunneryAfter nearly 60 years on Fayetteville radio airwaves, Curt’s Coffee Club has convened for the final time. Curt Nunnery, who got his start locally as a Fourth of July replacement on WFAI back in 1960, passed away recently at the age of 83.

    Show guests and professional cohorts remember him as man with an incredible passion for his work who had an almost magical connection with his loyal radio fan base.

    Janet Gibson, marketing and communications director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, had some family connections with Nunnery and, like him, was a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She got to know him best during the last couple of years when she made regular appearances on his morning show on Sunny 94.3 FM, promoting the Arts Council’s 4th Friday events.

    “He would teach me how to speak in the microphone,’’ Gibson said. “He was a great teacher. I’m not the only one he’s done that with. People have similar stories about his generosity of spirit.’’

    Gibson said Nunnery’s fans loved his morning show, and they were people of various generations and cultural backgrounds. “He was the quintessential Southern gentleman,’’ Gibson said. “You want to protect someone like that and revere them. I think there was a lot of respect.’’

    Gibson said it was little things that made Nunnery special to listeners. For example, when he read a commercial for a local restaurant, he’d list all the names of the servers there as he talked about the food they offered.

    In a time when technology is moving so fast and people are glued to smartphones, Gibson said Nunnery reminded everyone to slow down and show gratitude. “He always showed gratitude,’’ she said. 

    Carolyn Justice-Hinson, also a regular guest on Nunnery’s radio show, is the communications and community relations officer for the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Justice-Hinson recalled a time when Nunnery helped host an event for PWC that was being held outdoors on a cold and rainy day. “His listeners that came to visit that day were upset,’’ Justice-Hinson said. “They wanted us to move him inside. They didn’t want him out there in the cold.’’

    Justice-Hinson said Nunnery was part of the lives of his listeners. She is certain there is going to be avoid that can’t be filled now that he’s gone.

    “I can’t imagine what’s going to happen,’’ she said. “It’s going to be very difficult for people. We were all blessed we knew him and had him as long as we did.’’

    Danny Highsmith, regional vice president for Beasley Broadcast Group, where Nunnery worked for many years, said Nunnery had deep roots in the community that endeared him to his listening audience. “He could talk about what’s going on in Fayetteville,’’ Highsmith said. “He was not some syndicated guy from New York.’’

    In the end, Highsmith said Nunnery was not unlike the name of his program, Curt’s Coffee Club — that morning cup of coffee that everyone depended on to start the day.

    “When they turned on the radio or woke up to the clock radio, he was familiarity,’’ Highsmith said. “That familiarity is something that endeared him to people as well.’’

    Photo: Curt Nunnery

  •     The U.S. military operates a beachfront vacation site for its personnel worldwide and their families at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, with $42-a-night air-conditioned suites, surfing, boat rides, golf course, bowling alley and even a gift shop. One T-shirt for sale reads, “The Taliban Towers at Guantanamo Bay, the Caribbean’s Newest 5-star Resort.” News of the facility was not widely reported until a British lawyer who represents 28 of the nearly 300 detainees housed there described it to London’s Daily Mailin May.

    The Continuing Crisis
        Another Criterion for Teacher Certification: Police in Fort Myers, Fla., were called to Royal Palm Exceptional School in April and wound up arresting an 8-year-old boy named Deshawn for punching his female teacher in the face, leaving several bruises. Said Deshawn’s grandmother, Dorothy Williams, when interviewed by WBBH-TV: “He gets very upset, and he loves to hit,” but “If he was overpowering her that much, I feel like she shouldn’t be in that line of work.”
        America in Decline: One of the Internet’s successful Web sites (10 million page views a month, with $500,000 in ads from companies including Verizon, McDonald’s and General Motors) is a site that merely reports on what celebrities’ babies are wearing, in that so many mothers are apparently obsessed with mimicking those clothing choices for their own tots. A May Wall Street Journal feature said sometimes the site’s posting a photo of a celebrity baby incites a nationwide run on what it’s wearing.
        Workplace Culture: Salesman Chad Hudgens filed a lawsuit in January against his former Salt Lake City employer, charging that the boss and a “motivational trainer” used, as a “team-building” exercise, what was essentially the controversial “torture” practice of “waterboarding.” The boss allegedly said that if salesmen tried as hard to close deals as they’re trying to breathe during the simulated drowning, sales would soar. 
        British office worker Theresa Bailey, 43, was awarded the equivalent of about $10,300 by a court in Ashford, England, in May after she complained of sexual harassment by her otherwise-all-male direct-marketing team at Selectabase company. Among the “laddish” behavior was her boss’s regularly “lift(ing) his right cheek” and expelling gas in her direction.

    First Things First
        A supervisor at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services told a Billings Gazette reporter in March that some of his employees were complaining that new computers delivered to the office lacked games like solitaire, hearts and Minesweeper, and that it wasn’t fair that employees with older computers still had the games. 
        The traffic commander of the Rusafah district in Baghdad told his officers in April to start enforcing the country’s seat-belt laws. The fine is the equivalent of about $12.50.

    News of the Tacky
        The leader of the Liberal Party in the Australian state of Western Australia said in April that he would not resign even though an accusation against him was true: that at a party staff meeting in December 2005, when a female colleague got out of her chair, he playfully moved over and sniffed it.
        The Missouri Supreme Court suspended the law license of David A. Dalton II in March for allegedly arranging leniency, with a prosecutor, for one of his clients in exchange for the client’s having her godfather, retired football star Terry Bradshaw, autograph a baseball for him.
  • 16KiwanisThe Fayetteville Kiwanis Club presents its 68th annual Kiwanis Talent Night Showcase on Saturday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

    “May 18, dozens of children came through — preschoolers through 12th grade — to audition from public, private and Christian schools. There were also a lot of home-schoolers,” said Bill Bowman, chairman of the Kiwanis Talent Night Showcase. “We have five divisions, including a classical division. The talent is absolutely amazing.”

    Bowman added that the showcase has lasted through so many years because of the way it is put together. He said the secret is in choosing qualified and knowledgeable judges for the event. The judges are experts in the areas of voice, music and dance, so they are informed and objective when it comes to judging the talent.

    “We are putting a show together to highlight what we feel is the best of the best (students) that come out to audition,” said Bowman. “So, once we have them, we can put a show together that not only creates a wonderful evening of quality entertainment, but it gives the children a chance to showcase their talent.”

    Bowman explained how the show is valuable to its participants. There are hundreds of local children who take voice, music and dance lessons, and they have very few venues in which to perform. Being able to perform at events like the Kiwanis showcase, Bowman said, “is really how you get good.”

    Special guests include the 2019 Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Queens and the Campbellton Youth Chorus. The emcees of the event are John Kistler and Debbie Best.

    JML Piano will provide a 7-foot grand piano for the contestants to play for their performances.

    “This is a fundraiser for The Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, and all of the money raised will go back into the community in some sort of program of education,” said Bowman. “The Cumberland County Schools have been major sponsors of this event for over three decades, but everybody participates in it.”

    The 2019 overall winner will receive a trophy and $200. In each division, the first-place winner will receive a trophy and $100, the second-place winner will receive a trophy and $50, and the third-place winner will receive a trophy and $25.

    Four $150 music scholarships will also be awarded in the areas of voice, strings, piano and band instrument.

    “I would like to thank the Cape Fear Regional Theatre for giving the kids this experience,” said Bowman. “We invite everyone to come out and enjoy this wonderful event.”

    Tickets cost $8 at the door. Refreshments will be sold courtesy of Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop. For more information, contact Bowman at 910-391-3859.

  •     Don’t let the pedigree fool you. Even though critical darling Judd Apatow receives a writing credit, he hasn’t put pen to paper for You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (113 minutes) since 2000. Unfortunately for the viewing audience, Apatow’s absence left Adam Sandler and Robert Smigel to muddle through material that was just a tad out of their reach. Neither man is noted for subtly or sensitivity. The idea is funny enough, and maybe eight years ago when Sandler and company first began working on it, he could have pulled it off.             However, watching Sandler limp through this material with his scary dead eyes, massive codpiece, and tired expression is next to painful. Sure, it’s an amusing concept for a Saturday Night Live sketch, but the laughs are few and far between, and the joke wears thin before the movie is even half over. Die hard Sandler fans will love it, but everyone else should consider themselves fairly warned. {mosimage}
        Zohan (Adam Sandler) is living the good life on an Israeli beach, hacky-sacking and discoing, until the Israeli army comes to claim him for a special mission. He heads out to capture a Palestinian terrorist (John Turturro, and what was he thinking?). During the ensuing Matrix-inspired slugfest, Zohan quits it all to go on the lam in New York, where he will fulfill his lifelong dream of cutting and styling hair.
        Bored yet? At this point, I sure was. As Zohan struggles to find his styling niche, he has relations with many older women, including Gail (Lainie Kazan). It is about this time that Zohan meets his true love, Dhalia (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a sweet window ornament who doesn’t get a lot to do in the movie beyond looking gorgeous. Did I mention the revoltingly simplistic subplot about the evil developer who wants to destroy the neighborhood in favor of big business? It’s like the writers saw Be Kind, Rewind and thought padding out their bad movie with some bits and pieces of an original movie would help somehow.
        Amidst all this unremarkable dreck enters Rob Schneider, playing a Palestinian cab driver named Salim, and Mariah Carey playing an aging, botoxed, self-centered singer named Mariah Carey. 
        If you want to see a movie that intelligently uses racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes to make a political statement, go see Borator Blazing Saddles. Do not look to Zohan for sly political quips — every joke in the movie is just malicious and mean spirited. The entire script is homophobic, (and, after seeing Chuck and Larry, one supposes that Sandler is as well). Women are objectified, mocked, and as much as I love to think that Mrs. Garret (Charlotte Rae from Facts of Life in a cameo) is still out there, the slaps she delivers to Zohan after the midway point were well deserved. The character of Zohan, and many of the bit players are walking talking stereotypes…and nobody is laughing.
        P.S.  If you are looking for clear signs of the Apocalypse, the trailer for Beverly Hills Chihuahua is attached to Zohan.   

  • 12HorseCarriageThere’s nothing like a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Fayetteville. Even more exciting are the historical carriage tours of Olde Fayetteville that cover 250 years of history in 45 minutes. This summer, Cool Spring Downtown District invites the public to “time travel” with horse and carriage on three Saturdays: June 15, July 13 and Aug. 17.

    The tours consist of about one mile of historical sites downtown, but no two tours are alike “because everybody’s different,” said Hank Parfitt, a tour guide and volunteer with CSDD and the Downtown Alliance. “All the tour guides have their special things that they like the most, so no, you wouldn’t get the same tour every time.”

    Among several other sites, stops include the old courthouse on Gillespie Street, Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church, Cool Spring Tavern and the Market House. The tour guide’s goal is to make the town’s past exciting for everyone involved, history buff or not. “That’s part of what the guides do, and it’s so important,” said Parfitt. “(They’re) not there to just spew out a bunch of facts (they) have memorized. What makes it fun is you talking and telling the stories of these events and the people connected with them.

    “It’s a double whammy: You find history that is fun, you have a good time doing it, and you learn more about your town.”

    Baseball lovers are welcome, too. If you attend a Fayetteville Woodpeckers home game any time from May 29 to June 10 and save your ticket, you’ll get a discount on a carriage ride. “If you bring in your used ticket … you’ll get a 40% discount,” said Parfitt. “And it has to be in advance; you can’t do it the day of. At the time you make your reservation, you’ll also be entered into a drawing for four free (Fayetteville Woodpeckers) tickets.”

    Reserve a tour and bring your used ticket by the CSDD office at 222 Hay St. for the discount.

    Kris Johnson, another tour guide, is excited to see historical Fayetteville’s evolution into a thriving city. “You don’t always appreciate what’s in your ow  backyard,” said Johnson. “We are in such a renaissance. It’s exciting to see people come down and get that positive energy going. Fayetteville’s got a lot to offer, and we always have; it’s amazing.”

    Cool Spring also offers holidaythemed carriage rides throughout the year for holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

    Historical carriage tours of Olde Fayetteville will take place June 15 from 1-5 p.m., July 13 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and August 17 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Groups of all sizes are welcome, but call 910-223-1089 if your group includes more than four people. Tours depart at 222 Hay St., across from the Cameo Art House Theatre. For tickets, call 910-223-1089 or visit www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com.

  •     I hope The Factory (Sunday, 10 p.m., Spike) doesn’t get overlooked in the middle of the cable dial. It’s a working-class answer to The Office, featuring four regular Joes who run the machines in a dreary factory. They banter in the break room, hash out their marital problems and attend the occasional wake for a coworker ground up in the gears.
        These guys aren’t the brightest bulbs, but “The Factory” doesn’t make the mistake of looking down on them. Like  The Office, it finds the perfect tone of deadpan absurdity, so that our heroes are ridiculous without being objects of contempt. The cast is attuned to the script’s eccentric comic rhythms, which get you smiling without the aid of a laugh track.
        I plan to clock in at The Factory at 10 p.m. sharp every week.

    “The Baby Borrowers”
    Wednesday, 8 p.m. (NBC)
        In this reality series, five teenage couples are shown what the future may hold. After being set up in a home, they’re asked to care for an infant, then a toddler, then an adolescent, then a senior citizen. They stumble through every challenge and learn about the responsibilities associated with adult life.{mosimage}
        Interesting. But one can’t help wondering what happens to the infants, toddlers, adolescents and senior citizens once The Baby Borrowers is through with them. Are they simply returned to the prop shop and made available to other reality series?

    “AFI Lifetime Achievement Award”
    Wednesday, 9 p.m. (USA)
        Every time you turn around, Warren Beatty is picking up a lifetime-achievement award. He gets another one here, despite the fact that he hasn’t directed a film in 10 years or acted in one in seven.
        Maybe if Beatty skipped a few lifetime-achievement ceremonies he’d actually have time to achieve something again.

    “The Secret Life of an American Teenager”
    Tuesday, 8 p.m. (ABC Family)

        This family series from the creator of 7th Heaven is set in a high school obsessed with sex. Good girl Amy has shocked her friends by getting pregnant at band camp. Meanwhile, the football star lusts after his cheerleader girlfriend, but both are Christians committed to abstinence … for now. The new nerdy kid has his eye on Amy, but so does the cad who knocked her up. The adult characters can only stand around and wring their hands, including one time teen-sex-movie star Molly Ringwald as Amy’s mom. (The fact that Ringwald is now tormented by her own screen daughter can only be called poetic justice.)
        I’d welcome a series that offered insight into adolescent sexual activity, but this isn’t the one. Oddly, none of the teenage actors comes across like a real teenager. Blame a script that makes the nerd too nerdy, the slut too slutty, the jerk too jerky, etc. Nothing rings true, and the tone veers awkwardly from earnest to satirical.
        The only line delivered with real passion comes from a friend of Amy’s, speaking to another friend: “You’d better not be suggesting she get an abortion!” This is clearly something the filmmakers feel strongly about, since an abortion would spoil their trumped-up scenario.

  • uac060210001.gif Paul Cezanne, whom some call the father of modern art, believed that color, line, shape and form were as important as the actual subject of a painting. Fayetteville artist Jonathan Starling is a strong believer in that idea as well.

    “I strive for that kind of painterly look in my paintings,” said Starling, a Fayetteville native, whose current exhibition of travel photography is hanging in the Leonard G. McLeod Gallery in the offi ces of Up & Coming Weekly.

    Starling, who was handed his fi rst camera by his aunt when he was in third grade, has spent his life studying colors, lines, shapes and forms. He learned the art of looking at life in those terms through a lifetime of looking behind a lens.

    “I’ve always loved photography,” he explained as he sat surrounded by his work during a recent interview. “I’ve been shooting ever since my aunt gave me that camera, so I ought to be really good by now.”

    During his childhood he spent time learning his camera, and at the age of 16, he got his fi rst 35mm fi lm camera.

    “I really loved that camera. I enjoyed it, and then I decided that this was a lot of fun,” he said. Although Starling waited until his 20s when he was working retail to actively pursue his passion, it was never far from his mind.

    “I wanted to do something that would really allow me to be my own person,” he recalled. “I found that in photography. It allowed me to start my own business, and I’ve been doing that for the past 25 years.”

    During those early years, Starling shot portraits, weddings and babies. “And I still do that,” he said. “But I’ve been able to branch out and do some commercial things and some artistic things.”

    He’s also been able to translate his passion into teaching. He not only teaches professionals new tricks, he also teaches photography in the adult education program at Fayetteville Technical Community College. In his classes, he preaches his beliefs about light, form, color and shape.

    “I’ve always looked at things differently,” Starling said. Maybe it comes from looking at everything through the lens. “I’ve always had an awareness of light, color and shadows. To me, that’s what makes my work different is my ability to see those subtle differences. I’ve tried to teach my students to look at the world that way, too.”

    Starling’s world has also been shaped by his heritage, the son of an Italian mother, he has always had a strong interest in his family’s history. In recent years, he began to plumb the depths of that history, and sought to gain dual citizenship in his mother’s homeland. The process took four years, much longer than he had thought.

    “You wouldn’t think it would take so long to gather documents from your family over the last 100 years, but it did,” he said.

    Once he established his lieneage through his grandfather, an Italian fi sherman from the village of Molfetta, he applied for and gained dual citizenship.

    “I don’t think it’s an unpatriotic thing to do,” he said. “I did it to honor my grandfather, and having the dual citizenship will allow me travel and work throughout Europe if I choose to.”

    The act of receiving the citizenship was an impetus to travel to Italy for an extended time, although Starling needs little encouragement to travel. Last year, he spent the month of August traveling throughout the cities and streets of his ancestors. While there, he found that Italy is a country alive with color.

    “Italy is full of modern cities will and old feeling,” he said. “It is vibrant. I remember sitting in a 2,000-year-old building and thinking, ‘Wow!’”

    As he wandered through the countryside, his camera at hand, he met warm people, who he realized were no different than his neighbors in Fayetteville.06-02-10-starling.gif

    “People have the same wants. They have the same love for their children. They want to love and enjoy life. That’s worldwide, everywhere I’ve been. We have the same common interests,” he noted.

    While in Italy, Starling often found himself wandering through the streets until the early morning hours. “Rome is so hot in August, so I spent my time out at night, and the streets were full of people, it really helped me look at things differently,” he said. “The colors there are so unique, and there are so many of them. It’s history and its ancient,” he said. “I wanted to capture that.”

    Starling did just that. You have only to look at his photographs of villas surrounded by sunflowers or bridges over Venetian canals to step back and breathe in the heart of Italy. But he doesn’t want it to stop there.

    “Next year, I hope to lead a photographic safari of sorts throughout Italy,” he said. “I’m trying to put that together now.”

    The trip, designed for amature photographers will not be the usual tourist trip – see Italy by bus. Instead members of the group will walk the ancient streets. They’ll meet the locals, eat great food and see Italy through the eyes of one of its newest sons.

    If you’re interested in becoming a member of that group, you can contact Starling at his office. Or if you simply want to bask in the colors and light that comes from an artist with a passion for his subject, stop by the Leonard G. McLeod Gallery to while away an afternoon.

  •     “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
        Those were words that one of America’s favorite sons, Benjamin Franklin, uttered more than 200 years ago. Today, many people still agree.
        Beer and the brewing of it has become a cultural phenomenon in America. Home brews, once the product your weird uncle made in his basement, have now reached the mainstream and can be found on grocery store shelves alongside their traditional counterparts.
        On Saturday, June 7, Fayetteville residents will get the opportunity to celebrate beer and music as the Cape Fear Regional Theatre brings the fifth annual Blues and Brews Festival to Festival Park. The event, according to Cassandra Vallery, the coordinator, has outgrown its former home at Campbellton Landing.
    {mosimage}“We loved the location at Campbellton Landing,” said Vallery. “But we feel that we are growing so we needed a little more space. It’s kind of bittersweet.”
    Vallery noted that people coming from outside the community to attend the festival found the Campbellton Landing site hard to find — even while they found it beautiful. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, I loved the river,’” she explained. “But as we continue to grow we had to take a look at a different locale.”
        If the name of the event doesn’t give it away, the event features great blues music and some of the southeast’s best brews. In total, there are 17 breweries participating in the event. While some of the breweries are local, other brewers are bringing their blends from the mountains and the coast. Just as diverse as their locations is the different types and blends of beers the brewers will be offering.
        As a rule, beers fall under two distinct categories: lagers and ales. While there are two categories, there are literally thousands of varieties of beers. What sets the categories apart is the type of yeast used to brew them and the temperature at which they are brewed. Lagers use special yeast that ferments at cooler temperatures, while ale uses yeast that ferments at warmer temperatures. What then separates them into their various varieties?
        It’s the types of hops and barley used. Lagers tend to be light in color as well as in taste. Ales include porter and stout beers. Porters are darker and more full bodied. Porters usually have a more noticeable barley flavor that is reminiscent of chocolate, along with a mild hop flavor. Stouts are the darkest type of beer, almost black in color. They are thick and taste strongly of the barley and hops that they are made from.
        While many people have a distinct taste for one or the other type of beer at the Brews and Blues Festival, they’ll get a chance to taste a variety of both.
        Leigh Rangel, the brew master at the Asheville Brewing and Pizza Company, will bring her offerings from the mountains. Rangel will offer her Shiva, an Indian Pale Ale, as well as Rocket Girl, a golden ale with a light and hoppy finish. Her main offering will be a Ninja Porter, which she describes as a dark ale with chocolate undertones. “It’s very good,” she said. “It’s actually my favorite beer — it’s outstanding. Twice a year we direct 5K races to raise money for nonprofits. Last fall we had the Night of the Ninja. We had 300 people running downtown dressed like Ninjas to raise money for the local food bank. It’s probably one of the most popular beers.”
        Paul Philponne tends to wax philosophical when it comes to his beers. Philponne, the master brewer at the Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery in Farmville, has something of a following in Fayetteville. His beers are sold at two locations in town, including Bob’s Wine Shoppe. Prior to becoming a brewer, Philponne was a philosophy professor. His days in the classroom gave him the idea for the brewery’s logo. The picture came from one of his philosophy books — if you look at it one way, it’s a duck. If you look at it another way, it’s a rabbit. His ability to look at things in a different manner lends itself to the making of his beers.
        Philponne started brewing as a hobby while teaching in Michigan — that was in 1987. In 1988, he chose a different path and left academia to return to school for a different kind of learning — that of becoming a brew master. Upon completion of his brewing education, he went to work at a number of different breweries, which led him south. In 2004, he opened Duck-Rabbit in Farmville. “The stars aligned to allow me to open my own place, and I felt I had the background and experience that I need to go on my own brewery,” he said.
    Beers at the Duck-Rabbit run to the dark side.
        “Our flagship beer, the one that allows me to pay my utility bills, is the Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout,” he explained. “The beer is brewed with lactose milk sugar, which gives it sweetness and a full body. It’s really delicious.”
        Another beer that Philponne will be sharing is a traditional English Porter. He said it is an espresso-style dark beer. An American Brown Ale, with a “malty, complex grain” is also on the menu. He said it is heavier on the hops and has a significantly more bitter taste. For this particular beer, Philponne used American hops, which gives it a piney, citrusey bitterness. The last beer he will showcase is an Amber Ale. “It’s the lightest of the beers we make,” he said. “It’s really dominated by caramel malt flavors — there are no sharp edges, it’s a round, full-bodied beer that won’t scare anybody off.”
        Philponne said his participation in the Blues and Brews has become an annual event. “Fayetteville is quite near to us, and this is one of the festivals we attend. It is, in a manner of speaking, in our backyard,” he said. “There are definitely a lot of people who enjoy craft beer, and if the festival promoters are willing to put out an effort to make it happen, we’re willing to pour a little beer and talk about it.”
        You might even get a little philosophy thrown in.
        Closer to home, Julie Bagget, the new master brewer at Huske Hardware House will be on hand to talk about her beers, but won’t have any to offer. Baggett said the restaurant is still in the process of developing its brews and perfecting the recipe, but they are willing to talk about their beers. When the brewery is up and running, the restaurant will offer seven beers: a German Blonde, a Pale Ale, an Irish Red, a Nut Brown Ale, a stout and a French Farmhouse Ale. Baggett said the taps should start flowing some time this summer.
        The Mash House will be well represented with a number of beers, as well as food. Zach Hart, the master brewer, was instrumental in the organization of the first Brews and Blues. Vallery said he gave the theatre a lot of direction and connected them with other breweries. These days, he doesn’t have to worry about that too much, he just concentrates on his own beer. Hart has been brewing beer at the Mash House since it opened in 2001. His love for beer developed in college when he was bar tending. The bar he worked in transitioned to a brewery, and Hart began his love affair with hops. He would tend bar all night and then stay until 4 a.m. when they started brewing. A couple of years later, the owners asked him if he wanted to be the brewer’s assistant. He had to return to school — the American Brewer’s Gill in California — where he learned the necessary skills and then went back to work at his art.
    Prior to The Mash House’s opening, he came to Fayetteville to close down the brewery and change over the recipes. “It’s not like a kitchen, you can’t just throw some seasoning on a steak and throw it on the grill,” he said. “You don’t brew for today or tomorrow — you brew for down the line.”
        Hart said the beers are brewing for two to four weeks at a minimum before they are ready to be consumed. So needless to say, he’s been busy preparing for the festival. The Mash House will offer its Summer Brew, which is a wheat ale that is fermented with a Belgian yeast. “The yeast creates a citrus character, so the beer has a tart twang to it,” he explained. “A lot of our regulars compare it to a Corona with the lime already in it.”
        They will also offer an Irish Red, which has a caramel character. “It’s one of our staples,” he continued. “It’s slightly sweet, but very light and refreshing.”
        The star of the show will be their Big Daddy — the brewery’s flagship — which is an India Pale Ale. It is very hoppy, very bitter and higher in alcohol than the average beer. “It has a nice floral, lemony taste — flowers and lemon altogether in smell and aftertaste,” he said.
    The restaurant will also be smoking 12 briskets and serving sandwiches with barbecue sauce, baked beans and cole slaw — not your usual fair fare.
        Other breweries participating in the event include New South Brewery from Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Weeping Radish, Foothills Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewery from Charlotte, Old Hickory, Terrapin Brewery from Georgia, Front Street Brewery from Wilmington and Ham’s Brew House from Greenville. Local distributors Harris, Healey and Empire will also be showcasing several beers.
        That takes care of the Brew end, but when it comes to the Blues, the CFRT has you covered as well. Three bands will perform throughout the afternoon, with Chapel Hill’s Jule Brown kicking off the show. They will be followed by Greensboro’s Holy Ghost Tent Revival, with the headliners Elliott and the Untouchables coming from Columbia, S.C. Vallery said the musicians offer a great mix of blues and will put on great show.
        Gates open at 3 p.m., with the first beer pour and entertainment beginning at 3:30 p.m. Vallery said a children’s entertainment area will be set up from 3-6 p.m. “There will be face painting, a bouncy house, puppets and games like sack races and hula-hoop races,” she said.
        Families are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit back and enjoy the music. She added that they can even stay for dinner as a variety of concessionaires will be on hand. “We will have everything from pizza to polish sausage and chicken strips,” she said. “One of the brewers is from the old country. He raises free range pork and makes his own sausages and hot dogs.”
        In addition to the beers, soft drinks, water and ice cream, energy drinks will also be for sale.
        Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased at the CFRT Box Office or on the day of the event. With the ticket you get a three-ounce beer glass that can be used to sample beers from all of the brewers. A VIP ticket can be purchased for $40. The VIP Ticket includes parking adjacent to the park, a special VIP tent and free food. Children under 12 are admitted free, and you must be 21 to sample the beers.
        Vallery said while the event does spotlight beer, it is family-friendly. “People don’t get crazy,” she said. “It’s a very relaxed, laid-back event.”
        Funds from the event support the theatre’s operations. Vallery noted that while there are numerous partners who help sponsor shows throughout the year the cost of putting a play on stage is huge. “The money helps us bring talent to the stage and offer programs throughout the year,” she said.
        For more information, visit the theatre’s Web site at www.cfrt.org.


    Contact Janice Burton at editor@upandcomingweekly.com
  •     Each year, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts plan an annual trek out west. The group, sponsored by the Association of Free Community Papers, calls itself the Black Sheep. Based in cities all across America, riders will follow a variety of routes to get to the main meet-up point in Jackson, Wyo. The riders are expected to converge on Jackson on the evening of Friday, Aug. 1. {mosimage}
        On Aug. 2, the main thrust of the group ride will begin as riders take a trek through one of America’s most breathtaking national parks, riding through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. The group will stay just outside of Yellowstone National Park. Riders who have participated in the event before say that this part of the ride is easy but puts some of the country’s most beautiful sites in your sight.
        On Aug. 3, the route will take riders over Beartooth Pass, through Red Lodge and Billings to the Little Bighorn National Battlefield near Crow Agency, Mont. Beartooth Pass is reputed to be the prettiest highway in America. Opened in 1936, the Beartooth Highway crosses through the mountains, and in 1989 was designated a National Scenic Byway. Charles Kuralt, who spent much of his life touring the United States, called it “America’s most beautiful road.”
        The Beartooth route originates in Red Lodge. South of Red Lodge, the road quickly begins ascending the Beartooth Plateau. Between 50 and 60 million years ago, a massive uplift created the Beartooths. At roughly 3,000 square miles, the Beartooths are one of North America’s largest land masses, rising above 10,000 feet, reaching its highest point at 12,799-foot Granite Peak. This is a land of glacier-carved cirques, high alpine lakes and fragile tundra.
        On Monday, Aug. 4, the final leg of the ride will see riders crossing Montana and arriving in Sturgis, S.D., about mid-afternoon just in time to kick off the 68th Annual Bike Week. Bike Week at Sturgis has a long and storied history. The event was started by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, which formed in 1936, and started the Sturgis Rally in 1938. That first rally had a lineup of only nine racers and a very small audience. These days, thousands attend the event which has grown from that one small race. The Jackpine Gypsies still organize the event and a majority of events during the week take place on the club’s 40 acres, which includes a race track, permanent seating, a clubhouse, a concession business and a campground. Each year, 12 events are held during the rally, which draws more than 6,000 spectators.
        Black Sheep riders can stay in Sturgis or nearby areas for as many or as few days as they want, returning home at their own schedule. Riders from the Fayetteville area will meet up with other riders in Nashville, Tenn., to start the cross-country trek.
        Contact Bill Bowman at Bill@upandcomingweekly.com for more information.
  •     For those about to rock, the Rock Shop salutes you... and for free, no less.
    One of the best kept secrets in town is the free concerts offered during the work week by the nightclub located at 106 S. Eastern Blvd., in downtown Fayetteville.
        Founded about a year and a half ago by Shawn Adkins and then business partner Dave Johnston, owner of the Huske Hardware House, the duo opened the club to meet a demand for a live rock facility.
        “I was doing shows all over Fayetteville, and I was renting out places to throw bands and the turnout was so good that Dave approached me and was like, ‘You know man, you could open a club.’ And I was like, if you want to go in with me, let’s do it,” said Adkins. “And the next day we were looking at this building and it happened that fast. I bought him out seven months into it. He helped me out tremendously.”
        Shawn says business has been gangbusters on the weekend, drawing in nationally known acts as well as top local bands, such as Gasoline, Scarred for Life and Falling in Two.
        “We do have incredible local bands; we do have touring bands coming in all the time,” said Adkins. “Weekday shows are always touring bands. Some of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my life are these free shows. People are just mind-boggled at how good these bands are and they keep coming and coming.”
        Adkins adds that the Rock Shop is gaining quite a reputation nationally, as he receives mountains of tapes and requests to play the club from all across the country — many of whom will wind up playing the free shows.
        {mosimage}And to further increase the interest in the free shows, Wednesday features $3 for any drink and “the cheapest beer prices in town,” said Adkins.
        In a more intangible shot at increasing the quantity and quality of it’s audience, the Rock Shop is trying to create a “good vibe” for live music — a term Adkins uses so often that the theme song for the club should be the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations.”
        “We have a very artistic vibe,” said Adkins. As if to prove his point, kids with spiked hair and blue hair, all covered in menacing black leather and chains, traipsed peacefully and good-naturedly through the Rock Shop, awaiting punk band Private Radio, one of the four free bands playing that night.
        “We’re really trying to bring a good vibe to Fayetteville, it’s not all about making money, we just want to bring a good vibe to Fayetteville,” said Adkins. “If you walk through the door trying to be all hard, you don’t belong here. We want stand for it. You need to just be yourself. And also, good music brings culture to Fayetteville.”
        While Adkins admits the Fayetteville music scene is dominated by metal and hard rock — the night of this interview featured punk metal — he does want to bring diversity to the club. He wants artists from all genres: bluegrass, blues, rockabilly, country, rock.
        Some of this diversity will be on display June 20, which will be a night of rockabilly and straight-ahead rock when the Bo Stevens and Tater make the scene.
        “Good music is good music, no matter what the genre,” said Adkins.
        In the meantime, Adkins hopes music fans of all ages and tastes will visit the Rock Shop for one of its weekday live shows. Upcoming free shows include back-to-back performances on June 26 and June 27, featuring Endway and The Future Kings of Nowhere, respectively.
        “It’s really some of the best live music you will see,” said Adkins. “And you can’t beat the price.
        The Rock Shop is located at 106 S. Eastern Blvd. You can check out what bands are playing when at www.therockshoplive.com, or www.myspace.com/huskehardware.
  •     {mosimage}Tha Carter III has finally arrived. After months of pushing back release dates, numerous mixtapes, dozens of cameo appearances (over 70 in the past year or so) and braggadocio from one of hip-hop’s biggest stars, the long awaited record is finally here. Tha Carter II was a platinum selling disc and critically acclaimed which caused fans to vault Lil’ Wayne into the upper echelon of hip hop’s elite superstars. With all of the excitement and promotion over Tha Carter IIIexpectations are that it will make a big splash commercially and take him to an even higher level. Ever the cocky superstar, Lil’ Wayne aka Weezy F. Baby (please say the Baby) has insisted that he is the “best rapper alive“ over the past few years, and his latest project hopes to support his claim.
        On the opening track, titled “3 Peat,” Wayne states “they can’t stop me, even if they stopped me.” Of course, this might sound like an absurd, redundant statement from anyone else, but Wayne and his infectious delivery and charismatic personality allow him to spit crazy lines such as this and make you listen. “3 Peat” features Wayne at his fiery best and starts off the album with a bang. The next track features Jay-Z on the epic “Mr. Carter,” where the two flaunt their rap heavyweight status, over some pounding keys and a smooth sample provided by Drew Correa. “Got Money” with T-Pain and the lead single “Lollipop” featuring Static Major are also definite hits.
        Lil’ Wayne also throws listeners a curveball by venturing outside his usual musical realm, and offering crooners Robin Thicke and Bobby Valentino a chance to shine on “Tie My Hands” and “Mrs. Officer,” respectively. The two songs are typically laidback and slow down the momentum of the album from the pounding drums and hard basslines of some of the earlier tracks but they are welcome additions that grow on you after repeated listens.
        However, the true gem of the album is “Dr. Carter,” featuring Wayne playing the part of a doctor trying to heal patients from various “ailments” rappers suffer from such as lack of concepts, weak flow, lack of style, etc. Swizz Beatz laces the track exquisitely by flipping a sample from David Axelrod’s “Smile” and allowing Wayne to perform his “surgery.” The concept is so well developed that there is even dialogue from Wayne and his nurses in between the verses, and the music even takes an upward tone when he appears to be “saving a victim.”
        This track is simply Lil’ Wayne at his best, and is one of those songs driven by a concept that a rapper like Nas or Ghostface would bless us with on their album. As great as Lil’ Wayne claims to be all too often, he would truly be timeless if he offered more memorable tracks such as this, but Tha Carter III has its downsides as well.
        As creative as it was for him to play a doctor on the aforementioned track, Wayne falls flat on another concept song “Phone Home,” where he plays the role of a Martian. As stated, “Mr. Carter” is a great song, but unfortunately Jay-Z steals the show with a stellar verse, and guests Fabulous and Juelz Santana also outshine Weezy on “You Ain’t Got Nuthin.” The latter track features a trademark sinister, brooding beat from the Alchemist, but Weezy wastes the heat and comes in third place providing better support on the song’s hook than his actual verse. Truly, the best rapper alive shouldn’t get shown up repeatedly by his featured guests on his own album right?
        He also falls flat on the Kanye West track “Let the Beat Build,” but thankfully, Lil‘ Wayne he finds his niche on “Comfortable,”  a melodic serenade also produced by West featuring R&B legend, Babyface
    Fortunately, for all of the flaws that Tha Carter III suffers from, the bonus disc that many received when purchasing the album make up for some of Wayne’s miscues on the main disc. The bonus disc features seven songs with our hero at his best going back to his usual musical backdrop and swagger of hard basslines, braggadocio lines and crazy metaphors that we are familiar with from his past efforts. No crooning singers or lackluster hooks on this one. Not saying that Wayne trying to stretch his creative boundaries should be frowned upon, but songs such as the pulsating “Gossip” where he spits “I graduated from hungry and made it to greedy,”  and the moving “Love Me or Hate Me,” are what make Lil’ Wayne a star. If some of the songs from the first disc were cut and replaced with a few of the bonus cuts it definitely would have fared better for him.
  •     Manolo Blahniks.
    If you’re heterosexual and male, those two words are all you really need to know about the screen adaptation of Sex and the City.
        Evidently, Manolo Blahniks is a brand of very stylish and very expensive women’s shoes which also turn out to be a key plot device toward the end of this 2 1/2-hour queen of all chick flicks.
    If you are a fan of either that particular shoe brand or the now defunct HBO series, Sex and the City, then this film is probably for you.
        If you don’t know Manolo from Mazola and never got into the Sex phenomenon during its four-year run, or if you have even remotely male tendencies — such as planning your weekend around a Charles Bronson movie marathon or keeping a stack of Maxim magazines in the bathroom — I would save my time and money and go see Iron Man again.
        {mosimage}OK, full disclosure: Before I screened Sex and the City, I’d never seen a single episode of the — supposedly — groundbreaking series. Of course, through pop culture osmosis I knew that main character Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) has a shoe fetish on par with Imelda Marcos, that the girls like sex — hence the title — and they drink Cosmopolitans nonstop.
        So, I guess you legion of Sex fans think not having seen the series should disqualify me from reviewing the movie, eh? To that, I say... bad sexists! What would happen if a male film critic said female critics were not qualified to review movies, such as the aforementioned Iron Man or the Spider Man anthology, because most women did not grow up reading the comic books said films are based upon?
        That’s right, they’d be strung up by the soles of their Kenneth Coles.
        So, in a broadside for men’s right, here’s what I know about Sex and the City — the movie.
        The plot seems to revolve around Carrie attempting to tie the knot with the rich, handsome Mr. Big (Chris Noth), who leaves her waiting at the altar because, you know, men are pigs.
        By the way, I went to a Monday matinee, because, well, men are not only pigs, but we’re cheap pigs. And let me tell you, I have never, ever felt so out of place at a movie. I was the lone male in the audience and the estrogen was cascading down the aisles like some sort of mutated fog, redolent of Chanel No. 5 and contraband cocktails.
        Anyway, Carrie is so depressed following her matrimonial meltdown that she and her three gal pals flee to Mexico for a vacation in which they drink margaritas instead of their trademark Cosmos and don’t have a lot of sex — the one thing that would possibly attract males to the film. I mean, it is called Sex in the City, not Babes Bonding South of the Border.
        After that, it’s mostly a roller coaster of hormonal hijinks, including pregnancy, infidelity and a spayed dog that likes to make sweet, sweet love to pillows, chair legs and human legs.
        Samantha (Kim Catrall) is, to me, the sexiest and funniest of Sex in the City’s four stars, even if she does spend too much of the movie holding on like grim death to her much younger soap star boyfriend Smith (Jason Lewis).
        The character of Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) is the one involved in the aforementioned pregnancy. When she runs into Mr. Big on the street and starts to animatedly give him a piece of her mind over how he treated Carrie, everyone in the theater smarter than Dick Cheney immediately knew her water was going to break and Big would end up saving the day by driving her to the hospital. I mean, gee whiz... I learned that plot device about the same time I figured out any time teenagers have sex in a slasher flick, they’ve got about three minutes left to live.
        And in the end, predictability is what sinks the good ship Playtex. The writers should have taken a chance or two. Personally, I believe the real life lesbianism of Cynthia Nixon could have been alluded to, giving the film some much needed edge. For example, perhaps she could have fallen head-over-stilletos for a TV repairwoman or a hardened stripper with a heart of gold — played by either the hilarious Ellen DeGeneres, or DeGeneres’ girlfriend, the gorgeous Portia de Rossi (I’ll let you guess which one I would cast to drive the big brown truck and which one would do the pole dancing).
        Or maybe, Nixon, DeGeneres and de Rossi could have been involved in some sort of sexy love triangle.
        Yeah, that’s the ticket — nothing draws dudes to the bijou like a ménage à trois.
        Because, well, you know... men are pigs.
  • 12generationThere is little we can do to prepare for some of life's best moments, yet everything we've ever done has prepared us for each one.

    Graduation season has come and gone here in North Carolina. Emotions run the gamut as young men and women everywhere experience that final trip through the doors of their schools as students. Most will reflect fondly on the days they spent preparing to launch into the world. They'll begin writing their own stories. And like every generation before them, both friendships and rivalries they swore would last forever will begin to fade as others grow. Of one thing they can be certain: relationships with fellow students, educators and even their families will all change in some way as they continue their journey through life.

    Of all the things that could possibly cause me anxiety, concern for future generations is somewhere near the top of the list. This is partly because of their expectations and partly because of the condition of the world we're leaving them. Not the physical world, but the condition of mankind in general. Somewhere along the line, we seem to have taught young people in America that winning is more important than character. The very people who we need to be able to look up to are failing and falling around us. And we are too quick to condemn and step around them to notice and avoid the brokenness that led them there in the first place.

    So, can we change the course? Can we raise up a generation of leaders with the intestinal fortitude to right the many wrongs we've left them to deal with? As a person of faith, I believe we can, and it's really a matter of moral integrity stemming from deep convictions and an acknowledgment of a creator to whom we're all accountable. Yes, God. Many will disagree and stop reading right here, so if you're still with me, maybe we agree — if only a little.

    Our real problems begin at home. There's a growing indifference to patterns of behavior that erode families, from what we allow to enter through the television screen to our relationships with our children's friends and their families. Everyone knows the phrase “it takes a village," but when the village steps in with advice, it's too often taken as a personal affront. And someone stomps away only to return with a posse willing to prove how wrong the offender is and how the mob can destroy them and their way of thinking.

    What we've reaped so far is an unhappier, less fulfilled and definitely angrier world. We can do so much better. By modeling love, respect, kindness and accountability to our children, we can begin to right this ship. A short trip through the red letters in the Bible will yield a wealth of wisdom we can use to prepare our children for what lies ahead. And when we begin to embrace and adopt those words in our own lives, we will see a change for the better in the mirror as well.

  • 11FTCCI was asked to do a presentation last winter, and while doing my research, I stumbled across information that floored me. According to Forbes magazine, student loan debt in this country is second only to mortgage debt. Forty-four million people in the U.S. owe $1.56 trillion in student loan debt.

    Of the 44 million who owe student loan debt, 11% of them cannot pay their student loans; they are in default. This example reminds me of taking out a car loan for a car you cannot drive. There is something seriously wrong with this situation. So, what do we as a nation do?

    If these 4 million students who cannot pay their loans had begun their educational journeys at a community college, not only would their loans be significantly less in debt, chances are they could also pay on smaller loans with money earned from the jobs obtained after graduation. Earning a two-year degree in a trade skill such as welding or auto body repair not only ensures employment, it is more affordable. The same applies to a two-year degree in nursing or criminal justice.

    If a four-year degree is the goal, students can begin their education at a two-year college and transfer to a four-year college. This can save them up to $20,000 or more a year in debt, depending on the four-year university. This is great news.

    Fayetteville Technical Community College is currently registering students for the fall 2019 term, with classes beginning Aug. 19. Visit www.faytechcc.edu and click on the “Get Started” link at the home page. The link goes directly to the admissions page. Here, after you've completed the Residency Determination System process, you'll be directed to the free College Foundation of North Carolina application. Once the application is complete, FTCC sends an email to the email address used in the application. FTCC also sends a hard-copy letter to the physical address used by the student when completing the CFNC application.

    Once the FTCC application is complete, the student should visit www.FAFSA.gov. The FAFSA services at this website are free. Students should be careful to ensure that the location is www. FAFSA.gov to avoid any charges; if there is a charge, then it is the wrong website. Apply for the academic year 2019/2020. Be prepared with tax documents. Most students who live at home will use their parents’ income information, but extenuating circumstances may result in needing different information.

    In this high-tech world, FTCC recognizes face-to-face assistance is still important, and its staff are proud to offer the personal touch. FTCC offers over 280 degrees, diplomas and certificates. FTCC career and guidance counselors can help narrow a student's choices by providing a one-on-one career assessment for them. Once students have a pathway, FTCC will help them along the way. Assistance is available for steps like completing the FTCC application, financial aid and transcript evaluation processes, along with much more.

    Call 910-678-8473 or visit FTCC at the Fayetteville Campus in the Tony Rand Student Center, the Spring Lake Campus, or the Ft. Bragg Training & Education Center.

  • 04LyndonThere are times when circumstances dictate that individuals and groups speak up, even at the risk of being made to suffer. The Equality Act presents one of those occasions for Americans. The House of Representatives has passed the legislation, and it is now with the Senate for action.

    The act begins with this stated purpose: “To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.” If enacted, the negative impacts of this legislation seem almost endless. An article from the Heritage Foundation titled “The Equality Act: How Could Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Laws Affect You?” presents several impacts: 1. The Equality Act would force employers and workers to conform to new sexual norms or else lose their businesses and jobs. 2. It could force hospitals and insurers to provide and pay for these therapies against any moral or medical objections. It would politicize medicine by forcing professionals to act against their best medical judgment and provide transition-affirming therapies. 3. This politicization of medicine would ultimately harm families by normalizing hormonal and surgical interventions for gender dysphoric children as well as ideological “education” in schools and other public venues. 4. By silencing the scientific debate on transgender-affirming therapies through the politicization of medicine, the Equality Act would further normalize this radical protocol and create an expectation that parents comply. 5. It could ultimately lead to the erasure of women by dismantling sex-specific facilities, sports and other female-only spaces.

    The Heritage article, in general, points to negative religious impacts. However, an article by Kelsey Dallas and Matthew Brown titled “Would the Equality Act harm religious freedom? Here’s what you need to know” is more specific. It reads, “‘The Equality Act fails to provide essential religious liberty protections that would allow a diverse group of social service and civic institutions to continue to thrive,’ said Shapri LoMaglio, senior vice president for government and external relations for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, in an email.

    “In addition to creating new protections for gay and transgender Americans, the act would limit the scope of federal religious freedom protections, preventing religious people and organizations from using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense against discrimination claims.

    “If it passes, religiously affiliated schools and other faith-based organizations could face lawsuits over policies on gay, lesbian or transgender students, customers or employees, said Tim Schultz, president of First Amendment Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that promotes religious freedom protections.

    “‘There would be an effort to punitively sue them into oblivion and they would not be able to use (the Religious Freedom Restoration Act) in their defense,’ he said.”

    The danger in this legislation runs across the full landscape of American society. The final paragraph in the Heritage article succinctly summarizes what this legislation would do to citizens of this country.

    “The Equality Act actually furthers inequality, especially for women and girls, by punishing anyone who does not affirm a single viewpoint of marriage and biological sex. A federal sexual orientation and gender identity law would empower the government to interfere in how regular Americans think, speak, and act at home, at school, at work and at play. Any bill promoting such authoritarianism is a danger to our freedoms.”

    The Equality Act is based on the argument that as the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was used to support provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, it also, supposedly, supports providing the protections in this act. The 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The 14th Amendment approach was used in 1964 because, as explained at www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ equal_protection, “Equal Protection refers to the idea that a governmental body may not deny people equal protection of its governing laws. The governing body state must treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances.”

    Proponents of the Equality Act contend that, based on equal protection considerations, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer — referred to as ‘‘LGBTQ’’ — persons must have the same protections as provided to other groups in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

    Sen. Barry Goldwater was a Republican who represented Arizona for five terms in the U.S. Senate and lost to President Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 run for the presidency. Goldwater voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. All these years later, the argument being made for the Equality Act confirms that his objections had merit. That can be seen in an article by Lee Edwards titled “Goldwater’s vote against Civil Rights Act of 1964 unfairly branded him a racist.”

    Two paragraphs from different sections of that article follow: “Goldwater wanted to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as he had the civil rights acts of 1957 and 1960. But he reluctantly decided he could not, because he could see that the bill’s Title II and Title VII were unconstitutional. He predicted that Title VII, which dealt with employment, would end in the government dictating hiring and firing policy for millions of Americans. So it has come to pass.

    “When confronted with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its questionable constitutionality, Goldwater’s conscience led him in a different direction than his fellow Republicans. He did not flinch from the consequences, saying simply, ‘If my vote is misconstrued, let it be.’ His concern was not with himself or any single group but with the nation and ‘the freedom of all who live in it and all who will be born in it.’”

    I contend that the Equality Act is exactly what Goldwater feared. The equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment is being misapplied. The foundation for that misapplication is the extent to which it was used in supporting the 1964 Civil Rights Act. That foundational argument is being employed to add other groups to the protection of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

    A prime example of how the Equality Act would adversely impact the freedom of others, as it seeks to protect one group, shows in its effect on religious freedom. In essence, the act would allow for, would produce, discrimination against people of faith. That discrimination would be prohibited under freedom of religion as provided for in the First Amendment. A Heritage Foundation video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVKeOrxRnb0 explains “Religious Freedom” and how the Equality Act would allow for denial of this freedom.

    Start with this from the video: “What is religious freedom? Religious freedom is more than the freedom to worship in a synagogue, church or mosque. It means people shouldn’t have to go against their core values and beliefs in order to conform to culture or government. Religious freedom protects people’s right to live, speak and act according to their beliefs, peacefully and publically. It protects their ability to be themselves at work, in class and at social activities. Okay, that sounds good, but does such freedom allow people to do whatever they want under the cover of religion? Well, that answer is no.”

    The video goes on to say, “The Supreme Court has said the federal government may limit religious freedom, but only when it has a compelling interest to do so in order to protect the common good and limit people’s ability to harm others.”

    Cutting to the quick of what I conclude from the remainder of the video, the question is, does the federal government have a compelling interest that justifies adding to the 1964 Civil Rights Act the groups encompassed by the Equality Act?

    Consider the compelling interest question concerning race and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. Those laws denied necessities to black Americans and did so because of our blackness. Every black American in the South was adversely affected. The federal government clearly had a compelling interest that supported rectifying that situation.

    On the other hand, LGBTQ individuals are, by no means, in a situation similar to that of blacks under Jim Crow Laws. For instance, if a minister refuses to perform a same-sex wedding because of his or her religious beliefs, and not because the couple is homosexual, the couple can easily identify a minister who will perform their ceremony. The same is the case with bakers, photographers and others who are now being discriminated against because they will not, due to religious convictions, provide their services to LGBTQ persons. Some individuals who take this faithbased position are being sued, even having to close businesses. Passage of the Equality Act will put in place, without the federal government having a compelling interest, legislation that will make religious freedom and other freedoms a thing of the past.

    All Americans better see this legislation for the danger to freedom that it is and take a stand. The argument being made for the Equality Act validates the position taken by Barry Goldwater. Even though the cost might be high … like Goldwater, we better speak up.

  • 03drivingNot quite a year ago, as summer reigned across North Carolina, my beloved Station Wagon No. 7 — my home away from home, my filing system, my repository for everything I did not know where else to put — suddenly lost her air conditioning. I tried to tough it out until fall arrived, but the heat got me. When the verdict came that the A/C would cost almost half my beloved’s trade-in value, I bit the bullet and came away with Station Wagon No. 8. I felt terrible leaving my elderly 2010 model sweetheart in the dealer’s lot,tears I hoped no one saw.

    Cars came a long way during the 20-teens. And my new one, an updated version of precious No. 7, has some fine features new to me, including a handy backup camera, a Bluetooth connection for audio books, lights that flash if another car is coming up beside mine, a selfdriving system that nudges me back into my lane should I stray into another, loud beeps if another vehicle or a person is close by, and automatic emergency braking. I am accustomed to these convenient features now, but my first reaction was, who knew? Highway safety experts say new technologies are making American roads and highways safer regardless of our national angst about “driverless cars.” Technology, it seems, can save us from some of our human frailties.

    Technology is likely one of the reasons traffic crash fatalities fell by nearly 700 souls between 2016-18, although the U.S. Department of Transportation has not speculated on that.

    Other aspects of our roadway safety are not so positive.

    No matter how Americans might joke among ourselves about wild driving styles in other countries, particularly emerging nations, ours are the most dangerous roads in the industrialized world. Our fatality rate is nearly double those of Canada and Australia, even of Germany with its world-famous high-speed autobahns. Some of other nations’ declining fatality numbers have followed national highway safety campaigns, something the U.S has not undertaken recently. As David Leonhardt of The New York Times pointed out earlier this month, vehicle fatalities kill almost as many people in the U.S. as gun violence, although they receive far less public attention.

    So, what’s our problem? It’s likely several issues.

    We speed. The Governors Highway Safety Association recently issued a report subtitled “Rethinking a Forgotten Traffic Safety Challenge,” which asserts that nearly one-third of our traffic fatalities are caused by excessive speed. It cites “widespread public acceptance of speeding and lack of risk perception” among American drivers. A cruise along I-95 or I-40 confirms this public acceptance within seconds.

    We talk tough on impaired driving, but we are not walking the walk. As a nation in love with our vehicles, we slap many impaired drivers on the wrist and send them back onto our roadways. Most communities, including ours, have lawyers who specialize in this area and have handsome incomes to prove it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that someone dies every 51 minutes in an alcoholrelated crash. Prepare to hear more about legal moves to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05. That alone could save some of the 10,000 people who die in alcohol-related crashes every year in our nation.

    “Distracted driving” is a term often used to describe texting and other technology use while driving, but it actually means everything we do in our cars that is not driving — eating, drinking, tuning the radio, looking at back seat passengers — the list is individual and endless. Americans are in our vehicles so much that we seem to forget that we should not do in them everything we do when we are out of them. Our driver’s ed teacher’s advice still holds — two hands on the wheel and eyes straight ahead.

    Nervously but hopefully yours from behind the wheel of Station Wagon No. 8,

    Margaret

  • 02freedomEditor’s note: This piece first ran in Up & Coming Weekly on June 26, 2017. As we approach Independence Day, it’s fitting to recognize those who have embraced the liberties we have here.

    Gregory Gorecki was a young boy living in Poland when the Germans invaded in 1939. Even as his country was ravaged and the unspeakable became his reality, young Gregory’s spirit yearned for freedom. By the time he was a teen, the Russians ruthlessly ruled his homeland, quelling ambitions and crushing dreams in the name of socialism. He was bright and ambitious: a trapped bird ensnared in a world void of freedom and personal choice. And freedom was all Gregory wanted, really — freedom to be the very best version of himself.

    Gregory’s days were filled with hard work and drudgery. At night, he and his brother plotted their escape and dreamed of better days. They quietly planned for every possible scenario, vowing that one would not leave without the other. They knew their departure would mean hardship and government retribution for their loved ones and that consequences would be harsh should they be found out. The years passed, and Gregory became a physical therapist.

    Freedom presented herself to the Gorecki brothers in 1960 at the Summer Olympics in Rome. They’d been approved to travel to the Olympics with the Russian competitors. Gregory and his brother were in their 40s now and well-established professionals. Without a whisper to their colleagues or even a parting message for their loved ones, they reached for Lady Liberty’s hand and never looked back.

    The two hopped a train to Vienna and made their way to America only to learn their Soviet training and credentials were meaningless. Gregory had to start over. And he did. With great success. Only this time, it was on his terms. He built his physical therapy practice to his standards and settled in the San Francisco Bay area. He not only helped those in need; he also brought jobs to his community. He traveled. His kitchen was filled with the freshest produce, the choicest cuts of meat, the finest liquors. He embraced and embodied everything great about the American dream. He came with nothing and worked hard. He never said no to an opportunity — even the exhausting and ugly ones. He faced adversity, fought the odds that were so greatly stacked against him and found success. Happiness. Freedom.

    Gregory’s daughter is my best friend. We’ve spent countless hours pondering what makes him tick. What drove him to reject everything he knew — even success behind the Iron Curtain — in favor of chasing a dream? Why was he willing to risk everything he’d built to embrace the unknown? How could he have been sure that freedom would taste so sweet?

    Gregory and millions like him remain a powerful example of the very best of this experiment we call America and of all she has to offer. His passion for personal freedom and his drive to succeed and give back to the country that removed his shackles are what fuel the American Dream. He heeded the call to freedom and took seriously the responsibility that comes with it.

    This great country is filled with people like Gregory. As we prepare to celebrate America’s birthday, this seems the perfect time to give a nod of deep respect and appreciation to them — those who invested in a dream and did the hard work to make their lives and our country better.

    To the rebels, the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, the dream-chasers, the laborers, the scholars and everyone else who loves and has loved this country enough to give beyond themselves to keep the American Dream alive, and to those who fought and died defending it, thank you.

  • 04BearsHi buckaroos! It’s time for my annual “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” essay. Remember when you had to write these reports? This yearly assault on the standards of world literature began several millennia ago under the tutelage of my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Charlie Delgrande. Mrs. Delgrande, wherever you are, this column is for you.

    I had somehow managed to live for many decades without ever going on a cruise. My wife and I, being uncertain of how much time we might have left to undertake a voyage into excess, decided to hop a boat to Alaska with a couple of college friends. I had always heard everyone liked Alaskan cruises. Turns out, once again, I am not everyone.

    The trip started with a bang when my wife Lani, imitating Thor, inadvertently, she claims, dropped a hammer on me from the top of the stairs while I was saying goodbye to the dogs. The hammer narrowly missed my bulbous head and the dogs, only causing a minor but bloody flesh wound on my elbow. After expressing a colorful string of Anglo-Saxonisms that I didn’t realize I knew, calm returned in the form of a Band-Aid.

    It turns out people of a certain demographic tend to populate cruises. Like your columnist, most cruisers appeared to have been born during the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. Getting a bit long in the tooth, but not yet ready for sitting in the lobby of a nursing home. Cruisers tend to be very friendly and outgoing. They are not about to go gently into that good night.

    Off to the wilds of Alaska. We did a week on land before a week at sea. Alaska is pretty big. It has a lot of mountains covered with trees, snow and tourist buses. Inexplicably, Skagway and Juneau have more jewelry stores than you can shake a stick at.

    Allow me to explain what one does on a cruise in Alaska — eat with 2,000 of your closest friends. Every day is a Thanksgiving-level eating opportunity. Think of a church dinner catered by an expensive restaurant. Wall-to-wall food in the buffet line. Assigned seating for supper where your silverware is replaced every time you use a fork.

    In addition to eating constantly, you wash your hands obsessively under the supervision of a hand-washing safety patrol monitor stationed at the entrance to the buffet. The monitor chants, “Washy, washy” at the tourists herding in for the next feeding.

    The hand washing is to ward off the Norovirus cooties that are known to lurk on cruise ships. You then go in to grab your food with tongs that 2,000 other people had previously handled. One hopes the Washy Washy Guy was successful in shaming everyone into washing their hands.

    When not eating, one goes on tightly structured and highly expensive land expeditions to see natural wonders and wild things like whales, mountain goats, bears, sea lions and eagles. In the cruise brochures, these critters are shown being right next to you. It ain’t necessarily so.

    In the actual expeditions, the guide tells you the white dots on the mountain are Dall goats, the tiny blob flying overhead is a bald eagle, and that dark bump in the water 200 yards away is the back of a humpback whale. We have a plethora of pictures of white dots, tiny blobs and dark watery lines, which for $5 I will refrain from showing you.

    The ship features numerous lounges in which one can purchase expensive adult beverages complete with an 18% gratuity with every drink. One night, we drifted lonely as a cloud into a Mahogany-paneled lounge that resembled Las Vegas’ idea of a British gentleman’s club. There was a live band with a pretty girl singer who could belt out the hits along with her male co singer. Until you have heard a Filipino singer croon “West Virginia, take me home, country roads,” you cannot say you have truly lived. One lady of a certain age, who may have had a bit too much to drink, vigorously and entertainingly danced the night away.

    So what have we learned today? Once again very little. Would I go on a cruise again? Nope. Should you go? Sure. Pay no attention to me. Ride the high seas to adventure.

  • 03USAFlagsI have devoted most of my life to building, inhabiting and sometimes leading organizations devoted to advancing the cause of freedom. But what I mean by that term may be quite different than what you mean.

    Even if the context is limited only to political matters, most people would agree that “freedom” is an essential public value — and then proceed to disagree about what public policies are required to protect or expand it.

    The roots of such disagreements run deep. In his seminal work “Albion’s Seed,” the historian David Hackett Fischer describes four waves of settlement, emanating from four different regions of the British Isles, that helped shape the history and politics of the North American colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries. Each of the four “folkways,” as Fischer put it, contained its own conception of freedom.

    For the Puritans who settled New England from East Anglia and the Netherlands, the organizing principle was “ordered liberty.” You were free if you were part of a free, self-governing community. “Public liberty,” as the concept was also called, was “thought to be consistent with close restraints upon individuals,” Fischer explained.

    For the Royalists who settled Virginia and neighboring colonies from their original homes in the south of England, the organizing principle was something closer to “hegemonic liberty,” in Fischer’s phrase. In other words, while they emphasized individual freedom instead of the Puritans’ sense of collective liberty, Virginians didn’t think everyone was entitled to it. Rank had its privileges, in other words, and obviously, those held in bondage were excluded entirely.

    Quite different was the “reciprocal liberty” espoused by the Quakers and other religious dissenters who settled Pennsylvania and its environs. Their conception “embraced all humanity and was written in the Golden Rule.” While religious liberty was essential to this tradition, its protection of individual autonomy extended to other spheres of life, as well, including property rights and procedural rights for those accused of crimes.

    Finally, large waves of settlement from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Northern England during the 18th century brought the idea of “natural liberty” to the backcountry of early America. Rejecting the idea of tempering their personal freedom with the communal authority of the Puritans, the hierarchical authority of the Royalists, or the radical egalitarianism of the Quakers, the backcountry folk insisted that they simply wanted to be left alone. Indeed, as a group of Mecklenburg County leaders put it in 1768, their individual liberties came before their political obligations. “We shall ever be ready to support the government under which we find the most liberty,” they stated.

    These were just the original British folkways that help shaped America’s political culture. Weave in the distinctive beliefs of America’s other origin cultures and you have an ideological tapestry of intricate complexity. The late University of Oklahoma scholar Rufus Fears described freedom as existing at three levels. Individual freedom means the right to do what you choose without the government telling you otherwise. Political freedom means the right to vote and participate in civic affairs. Finally, national freedom means the right of a people collectively not to be ruled by some other people.

    Ideally, one would enjoy freedom at all levels. But for most of recorded history, most people have enjoyed just one or two of these freedoms, if any. For example, under the Roman empire, quite a few people enjoyed individual freedom and some enjoyed the political freedom to elect local magistrates. But no one outside Rome itself experienced national freedom.

    To my way of thinking, individual freedom is the end-goal. I value political freedom and national freedom precisely because I think they are most likely to protect individual freedom from encroachments, foreign or domestic. To be free is not necessarily to be happy. It certainly doesn’t make one free of social attachments, or capable of obtaining any particular goal. It simply means you can pursue whatever goal you wish without government telling you otherwise.

    And I think it’s worth fighting for.

  • 02TimMossholderFor weeks, the news and buzz around town have focused on homelessness and parking — or rather the lack of free parking or the fear of losing free parking.

    Both situations are real, and both are concerns that warrant merit. But once the emotions have been extracted from these issues, what remains are the symptoms commonly associated with a growing and vibrant city. And, that pretty much describes Fayetteville.

    We are a city in transition.

    We have implemented a massive economic development plan to revitalize our downtown, including a $100 million investment that, at its center, includes a $46 million baseball stadium. Ironically, by some, it’s referred to as Fayetteville’s “Field of Dreams.”

    “Build it, and they will come.” Well, sort of. And, that is what seems to be causing all the angst with downtown residents and businesses.

    Let’s break it down.

    Parking

    First, Segra Stadium is enjoying a warm and welcoming reception by the community, posting exceptional attendance numbers since its opening in April. The initial reaction of the city and those with resources and entrepreneurial spirit was to get into the paid parking business at $10 a space. However, it wasn’t long before the law of unintended consequences had the city’s ready-fire-aim parking policy reduced to $5.

    Baseball patrons, without intent or malice, continued to squeeze the life and vitality out of downtown merchants’ businesses. Adding to the perceived insult is the injury under consideration that all downtown parking, including street spaces, will convert to paid from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Ouch!

    At this writing, a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, at City Hall to discuss the parking situation. The mayor and City Council are eager to hear what the consulting “parking professionals” recommend as feasible downtown parking solutions. Needless to say, this should have downtown merchants rolling their eyes, as the perception seems to be the city will attempt to escape criticism by handing off the parking issue to a private company.

    This is interesting because city trash collection and grass cutting were deemed inappropriate for outsourcing.

    Panhandling and homelessness

    How does the city humanely deal with the panhandling and homelessness situation? Local people respected and trained to deal with indigents and the homeless population have gone on record in defining the cause and effect of homelessness in our community. Basically, they say our compassion and generosity attracts and enables the homeless by allowing them squatting rights on public and private property and providing them countless meals and other resources that only allow them to enjoy the lifestyle they subscribe to.

    This problem has plagued downtown for years. However, the homelessness problem has come to the forefront because of the increased activity downtown. Not only are more people noticing it, but they are noticing our city elected don’t seem to have the intestinal fortitude to deal with the problem, thus making it worse.

    Downtown residents and merchants site examples like the following: A homeless man, for weeks, set up a camp on Hay Street across from City Hall in the alcove of the AIT Building. Another did the same at the public restrooms across from Freedom Memorial Park. For months, a homeless woman set up camp on a public sidewalk on a main thoroughfare into downtown Fayetteville. Another lives in her car with an adult son and two dogs parked outside the main Cumberland County Public Library. This is not a good image for a community that is trying to brand itself.

    Parking and the homelessness issue downtown are now high priorities. In the short-term, it will be a little rough for the downtown merchants. However, both problems will dissipate with critical mass. Baseball fans, hotels, condominiums, apartments, offices. All of these entities contribute to a people factor.

    “Build it and they will come.” Downtown Fayetteville’s economic future will depend on how well we manage our brand. Currently, downtown is emerging as a unique destination point. As it emerges, look for the parking situation and the homelessness problem to dissipate. Critical mass. That’s the answer.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 13CoffeeI’ll be honest, I love a good feelgood moment. I love to feel good. I love to feel cozy, which is sometimes hard to achieve on a hot summer’s day. Warm and cozy quickly turns into sweaty and gross. Give me a breezy morning with a sunrise, a good cup of coffee, a light blanket and a journal, and I have found heaven on Earth.

    I found this Danish word recently that doesn’t translate well into English but totally speaks to me. I’ve seen it everywhere. It’s become somewhat of a trend, which I’m not exactly into, but it definitely addresses my need for all things cozy, nostalgic, warm and fuzzy.

    Derived from a Norwegian word meaning well-being, the word is “hygge” pronounced “hue-ga”). In Danish, it’s a concept that encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life. It’s considered to be deeply ingrained in Danish culture, a defining feature of their cultural identity and national DNA.

    Meik Wiking said in his book “The Little Book of Hygge, “What freedom is to Americans, hygge is to Danes.” It’s no wonder Denmark is consistently at the top of the list of the world’s happiest countries, even with their miserable winters.

    Hygge is not just a thing or a trend — it’s a way of life. It’s acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary, as cozy, charming or special. You don’t have to learn it or buy anything. It only requires a certain slowness and the ability to be present. It’s the art of creating intimacy. Contentedness. Security. Familiarity. Comfort. Reassurance. Kinship. Simplicity.

    I love the whole concept of hygge, but if I’m being honest, it’s the comfort part I’m most drawn to. Aren’t we all? We seek comfort above most everything else. I can see this playing out regularly in all aspects of my life as a wife, a mom, an employee, a daughter and, most frighteningly, a Christ-follower.

    A friend shared this quote with me yesterday, one I’d read before but conveniently forgot, probably because it grieves my heart when I let the words sink in.

    Wilbur Rees wrote in his book “Three Dollars Worth of God:” “I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk, or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of God to make me love a foreigner or pick beets with a migrant worker. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.”

    Those words are embarrassingly true for me. There are lots of hygge moments with God, for sure, but this is far from the point of why Jesus came to die for us. He didn’t come so that we’d live a more comfortable life — to make church services how we like them or give enough money to organizations so that we don’t actually have to step outside our door and interact with people who are different from us.

    In fact, if that’s all we attribute to salvation, we probably don’t have it. Living for Jesus does bring contentment, but it’s not from experiencing greater earthly comfort. The truth of the gospel is really uncomfortable — that I’m more sinful than anything I can imagine, that there is nothing I can do on my own to fix it and that I deserve death. But because Jesus lived the life I could never live, died the death that I deserve and rose to life, I am no longer dead in my sins. I am alive in Christ Jesus, and I get to know him. I get to know God personally — the one who is love, who loves unconditionally, who is always kind, compassionate, just, righteous, generous, faithful, loyal and good. That is intimacy. That is the most hygge it gets.

  • 12ScamThere is a fine line between a seller and a sucker, and the difference is a scammer.

    A few weeks ago, I put my wife’s beautiful F 700 GS BMW up for sale on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Two days later, I got a text asking if the bike was still available. I wrote back, “Yes.” They answered, “I like the bike, but it’s a little higher than I want to pay, but I want it. I will send you the money, but I am pretty far away and will need you to work with a trucking company to ship the bike to me.” Next, they asked for my PayPal account and said they would send the money.

    I looked at a friend I was with and said, “This is too easy. I smell a scam”. 

    I got another text saying, “I have sent you the payment plus $900 for the shipping company. Please check your PayPal.” I looked at PayPal and there was nothing there. A few minutes later I got another text saying, “Check your email. You may need to check your junk mail”.

    There was an email from PayPal that told me I needed to go to a convenient store and make a Walmart-to-Walmart money transfer to John Doe to pay the shipping company.

    And there it was — the scam. It said that once I transferred the money, I was to take a picture of the receipt and email it back to PayPal and they would release the money for the bike, and the shipping company would contact me. Of course, the scam is to get your money to this “shipping company,” and you would never hear from them again.

    When you think about it, why would PayPal send you an email asking you to go to transfer money to another money-transferring company?

    I quickly Googled Craigslist, Walmart-to-Walmart scam. Boom, there was some information about a scam. It said that if you did not pay, the scammer would harass you and tell you their money was tied up until you paid the shipping cost.

    A few minutes later I got another text asking if I got the email. I said, “Yes, nice try. I’m on the phone with the FBI. You should be hearing from them soon for Interstate Wire Transfer Fraud.” That was that.

    A few days later, I got an email from a guy asking if the bike was still available, and he was from Raleigh. He asked if there were any dings on it and if I could send him pictures of them. Later in the afternoon, I got another email asking, “Would it be possible to send me the bike history report from checkvinup.us because my mechanic told me to ask for that, and since I asked for it, I will repay you money for it when I come to look at the bike. If you send me the report and if everything is ok. I could come on Thursday so we can discuss the price and get everything done.”

    He had the checkvinup.us as a hyperlink. I never click on an unknown link from someone I do not know. I typed in the web address and it needed my credit card information to get the report. Again, I Googled it and found the same scam but with a different car history website.

    Never click an unknown link. If you do, it can launch a file and do a lot of damage to your computer or devices.

    As I wrote this article, I wondered if I’d removed the metadata from thephotos I sent that second scammer. Metadata is information that is captured when you take a photo. This includes time, camera information and your location.

    I went back to check, and I had not removed it from the photos I’d sent. Not thinking about what I was doing, I’d sent my metadata to a scammer, and now they have my address.

    To help protect against this kind of mistake, if you have an iPhone, go to Settings, Privacy, Location Settings, Camera, and then set “Allow access” to Never. On an Android, tap on the Settings icon in the Camera app and from the menu tap on the Settings icon again. A window will pop up. Tap on the Settings icon again and you should be able to see a “Location tag” option. Tap on it, and from the prompt tap “Off” to turn Geotagging off. Now you can take and send pictures without disclosing personal information.

    I hope this article helps keep you safe from scammers.

    If there is a topic you would like to discuss, contact me at motorcycle 4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

  • 11ClimateRealityProjectFayetteville Technical Community College, a Military-Friendly School at militaryfriendly.com, takes pride in serving active-duty service members, reservists, veterans and military spouses. FTCC partners with Military One Source’s My Career Advancement Account. Through this partnership, FTCC is able to support hundreds of military spouses in advancing their educational backgrounds and providing opportunities to compete in a growing, high-demand job market.

    MyCAA is a workforce development scholarship program that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance to eligible military spouses. Military spouses can pursue a license, certificate or associate degree in various program areas. Persons who qualify to use the scholarship are spouses of service members on Title 10 military orders, grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2. Although MyCAA does not provide funding for the cost of books, supplies and materials, spouses are encouraged to apply for federal student aid to obtain eligibility for the Pell Grant.

    FTCC offers 250-plus occupational, technical and college transfer curriculum programs, and FTCC’s corporate and continuing education area offers a wide range of programs and personal interest courses. With so many selections to choose from, spouses can ensure they receive the right educational program to meet their needs and desires.

    For students unsure of their professional goals, FTCC explores each learner’s personal interests and examines the appropriate career fields that match a student’s individual profile.

    FTCC guarantees students receive the best education possible by providing top instructors who are passionate about teaching. In addition to Fayetteville and Spring Lake locations, FTCC serves students at the Fort Bragg Training and Education Center, which is a convenient location for our community’s military population stationed at Fort Bragg.

    Eligible participating spouses establish an online MyCAA account through Military One Source and complete the enrollment process. This includes filling out an enrollment application, turning in official high school and college transcripts and completing appropriate placement testing, if applicable.

    The spouse then requests a MyCAA Education plan from the college and provides the plan to a Military One Source representative or uploads it to their online MyCAA Military One Source account for approval. Spouses have easy access to request payment for each course, licensure or certification program through the MyCAA account or by contacting a Military One Source representative, following approval into the program.

    FTCC’s goal is to give its students every opportunity for success, and its staff celebrates the opportunity to serve students by providing a leading education through an accredited and distinguished college. FTCC considers it a great honor to be ranked No. 1 in the Top 10 Gold Category Military Friendly Schools, 2019-2020. We thank every student for making FTCC the school of choice and invite you to enroll soon.

    Students can register now for summer and fall classes at www.faytechcc.edu/apply-now.

  • 04JakobRyanAlthough it may not appear so, the leaders of both major political parties in North Carolina favor lowering the tax burden of large businesses. Their real dispute is about the scope and magnitude of the tax relief.

    Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has consistently opposed recent state budgets, crafted by the Republican-controlled legislature, that reduced the corporate tax rate from 6.9% in 2013 to 2.5% today. This year, Cooper seems likely to veto whatever budget emerges from the General Assembly, in part because it will contain a cut in franchise taxes, which tax the value rather than the net income of a business.

    The administration’s spokesman, Ford Porter, put it this way after the Senate passed its budget plan: “Governor Cooper will continue pushing for a budget that represents middle class families instead of special interests and corporate shareholders.”

    But Cooper has also requested and enthusiastically supported big tax incentives for companies that moved to or expanded their operations in North Carolina, including multimillion- dollar packages for Lending Tree, Honeywell, equipment manufacturer Greenheck Group, biopharmaceutical firm Cellectis, and Charlotte tech company AvidXChange, among others.

    More generally, Cooper and other Democratic leaders have sought to restore, protect and expand tax breaks for politically favored industries such as solar energy and film production.

    It’s not necessarily a contradiction to favor large but narrowly tailored tax relief over acrossthe- board reductions. It does require making certain assumptions — and they ought to be clearly spelled out so that North Carolinians can decide for themselves whether the assumptions are reasonable.

    One such assumption is that when it comes to reducing state tax burdens, some but not all companies are “worth it.” They are more important to the state’s economic vitality, one might say, either because of their sheer size or their expected future growth in sales, investment and jobs.

    Another assumption is that some companies are more responsive to taxes than others. If ACME Manufacturing is going to do business and employ people in North Carolina at roughly the same level regardless of how much tax it pays, the state might be better off collecting the revenue generated by the higher rate and spending it on public services, or so the argument goes. On the other hand, if Ach-Mee Manufacturing won’t come to or stay in the state unless it gets a tax break, North Carolina ought to give it to them.

    Finally, and most importantly, advocates of targeted tax relief assume that they or some other state officials are capable of reliably distinguishing the worthy corporate recipients from the unworthy ones — that is, they can know with confidence which companies are economically vital and most sensitive to tax burdens.

    When Gov. Cooper insists, for example, that North Carolina shouldn’t cut state corporate or franchise taxes across the board but that our state should devote more tax incentives to film and TV production, he is suggesting that media companies are more valuable to the state’s economy than other kinds of firms, are more likely to do business elsewhere if they don’t get their way, or both.

    There are surely North Carolinians who find these assumptions plausible. I don’t. I think economies are far too complex a set of systems to be measured, forecast and planned at that level of detail. I don’t think it wise to put state officials in the position of choosing among “worthy” businesses or industries, which I suspect will inevitably lead to political favoritism and perhaps even rank corruption in the long run.

    Of course, even if it were technically feasible and politically sustainable, I still think it would be grossly unfair to tax companies differently based on size, location, average wages or industry. Uniform taxation advances both fairness and efficiency. If a billionaire came to your county and offered to live there in exchange for exempting her mansion from property taxes, on the grounds that she’d boost the local economy by spending lots of money, wouldn’t you want your county commissioners to say no?

  • 04JakobRyanAlthough it may not appear so, the leaders of both major political parties in North Carolina favor lowering the tax burden of large businesses. Their real dispute is about the scope and magnitude of the tax relief.

    Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has consistently opposed recent state budgets, crafted by the Republican-controlled legislature, that reduced the corporate tax rate from 6.9% in 2013 to 2.5% today. This year, Cooper seems likely to veto whatever budget emerges from the General Assembly, in part because it will contain a cut in franchise taxes, which tax the value rather than the net income of a business.

    The administration’s spokesman, Ford Porter, put it this way after the Senate passed its budget plan: “Governor Cooper will continue pushing for a budget that represents middle class families instead of special interests and corporate shareholders.”

    But Cooper has also requested and enthusiastically supported big tax incentives for companies that moved to or expanded their operations in North Carolina, including multimillion- dollar packages for Lending Tree, Honeywell, equipment manufacturer Greenheck Group, biopharmaceutical firm Cellectis, and Charlotte tech company AvidXChange, among others.

    More generally, Cooper and other Democratic leaders have sought to restore, protect and expand tax breaks for politically favored industries such as solar energy and film production.

    It’s not necessarily a contradiction to favor large but narrowly tailored tax relief over acrossthe- board reductions. It does require making certain assumptions — and they ought to be clearly spelled out so that North Carolinians can decide for themselves whether the assumptions are reasonable.

    One such assumption is that when it comes to reducing state tax burdens, some but not all companies are “worth it.” They are more important to the state’s economic vitality, one might say, either because of their sheer size or their expected future growth in sales, investment and jobs.

    Another assumption is that some companies are more responsive to taxes than others. If ACME Manufacturing is going to do business and employ people in North Carolina at roughly the same level regardless of how much tax it pays, the state might be better off collecting the revenue generated by the higher rate and spending it on public services, or so the argument goes. On the other hand, if Ach-Mee Manufacturing won’t come to or stay in the state unless it gets a tax break, North Carolina ought to give it to them.

    Finally, and most importantly, advocates of targeted tax relief assume that they or some other state officials are capable of reliably distinguishing the worthy corporate recipients from the unworthy ones — that is, they can know with confidence which companies are economically vital and most sensitive to tax burdens.

    When Gov. Cooper insists, for example, that North Carolina shouldn’t cut state corporate or franchise taxes across the board but that our state should devote more tax incentives to film and TV production, he is suggesting that media companies are more valuable to the state’s economy than other kinds of firms, are more likely to do business elsewhere if they don’t get their way, or both.

    There are surely North Carolinians who find these assumptions plausible. I don’t. I think economies are far too complex a set of systems to be measured, forecast and planned at that level of detail. I don’t think it wise to put state officials in the position of choosing among “worthy” businesses or industries, which I suspect will inevitably lead to political favoritism and perhaps even rank corruption in the long run.

    Of course, even if it were technically feasible and politically sustainable, I still think it would be grossly unfair to tax companies differently based on size, location, average wages or industry. Uniform taxation advances both fairness and efficiency. If a billionaire came to your county and offered to live there in exchange for exempting her mansion from property taxes, on the grounds that she’d boost the local economy by spending lots of money, wouldn’t you want your county commissioners to say no?

  • 03KayHaganTwo wonderful friends, one from my childhood in Fayetteville’s Haymount neighborhood and one of more recent vintage, are raising grandsons because their daughters are addicted to opioid drugs. One has custody of a rising ninth grader, a sterling young man who is doing well in school and a pleasure to know. The other shares custody with another grandparent of a just-turned-2-year-old, whose future may be a bit iffier. He spent his first 18-months or so in an apartment with little furniture and few toys because his parents sold most of their belongings to buy drugs. He sees his mother once a week for up to an hour and will not allow her to touch him.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 130 people die every day in the United States from opioid overdoses. It reports that there have been three waves of opioid addiction — prescription drugs in the 1990s and 2000s, followed, beginning in 2010, by heroin because it is cheaper, and now fentanyl, the deadliest of all. The economic burden on individuals, hospitals, communities, states and our nation is beyond staggering, not to mention the human misery laid down on both addicts and people who love them.

    These two boys are fortunate in having grandparents willing and able to step up to the parental plate for a second round. Many children of addicted parents wind up in foster care, a percentage that has risen to a full third of all children in foster care in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sadly, no one knows what this means for children of addiction.

    Associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, Dr. John Carter, told the American Psychological Association, “Because we are trying to put out the fire in terms of stopping overdose deaths, we haven’t really been tending to other casualties, including kids — most importantly.”

    If and when we end the epidemic, its collateral damage will remain with us.

    ********************

    Hope Mills resident Charles Jackson, 66, had his — and millions of other people’s — wildest dream come true last week. Wearing jeans and a baseball cap, Jackson picked up a ceremonial check for $344.6 million, which will be considerably less after taxes. His is the largest jackpot in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s history. Jackson did not realize he had won initially, and when he did, he thought it was $50,000 or so, not the multi-millions he will eventually pocket.

    Jackson says he will get some new jeans and take his wife on a trip back to her native country, Vietnam, but otherwise has no big spending plans. He seems like a fellow with his feet firmly planted, but other big lottery winners — well, not so much. Experts say that as many as 70% of them are broke within a few years of winning and recommend that big lottery winners step back, take a deep breath, hire legal and financial experts and keep a low profile.

    The Jacksons have no idea how many long-lost “friends and relatives” are going to come out of the woodwork.

    *********************

    Americans have just commemorated our brave military service members who have protected us and others all over the world, most recently those who took part in the Normandy invasion that ended World War II in Europe. There are other forms of bravery as well.

    Former United States Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., of Greensboro served in both the North Carolina General Assembly and the U.S. Congress, and last week, she appeared at the groundbreaking of an airport facility she helped to make possible as a U.S. Senator.

    She and her husband, Chip Hagan, were all smiles, demonstrating the bravery of perseverance and ongoing service.

    Photo: Kay Hagan

  • 02CivilWarCenterEditor’s note: It’s no secret that Fayetteville is divided when it comes to the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center. Thank you to The Fayetteville Observer, specifically its executive editor, Matt LeClercq, and WIDU radio co-host Troy Williams, for allowing us to share this important community message and initiative with our Up & Coming Weekly readers. This opinion piece by Williams originally ran in The Fayetteville Observer May 25, 2019.

    One of the storylines circulating since recent discussions about the N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center is that some African-American leaders, including Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, are worried that the proposed project will attract racists.

    Before we dive into it, here is an actual quote, courtesy of WUNC Radio. “There are a lot of people I’ve spoken with in the community that are concerned with the museum itself,” Colvin said. “We’re trying to bridge the divide here in Fayetteville, we don’t want a Charlottesville, Virginia.”

    Colvin has taken some heat for his role in creating this controversy, and to be frank, he should accept full responsibility. After all, at one point he said he supported the project. Maybe I’m reading this entirely wrong, but to me, Colvin’s original Facebook post’s tone and context would suggest that he has changed his mind and is presently against this project. His first post said, “Family, Asheville state representative asking for $10 million for cybersecurity, Greensboro state representative asking for $7 million for mental health program, Fayetteville/Cumberland County state representative Szoka and Lucas — $46 million for Civil War History Center. Priorities? Tell your state representatives we deserve more than this.”

    What did he mean by family? To whom was he referring? Shortly after his post, I asked him if he still supported the project. He said he wasn’t necessarily against it, whatever that means. One of his sycophants, a former City Council member, posted in social media referring to the mayor and the project that, “He is not with it.” I sent him a screenshot of the post. He said the post did not represent his views, nor did the former council member speak on his behalf. I suggested he counter the comments publicly with a more exact position of his views, and he has thus far resisted doing this.

    Other members of his inner circle have openly and repeatedly called the History Center a Confederate museum. By his own admission, he says a lot of people are concerned with the museum. That’s understandable, especially when fear mongering is involved. In the first place, it’s not going to be a museum; it’s a proposed history center, a digitally interactive center on top of that. Of course, there’s going to be opposition to this project if citizens believe it’s a memorial to the Confederacy, that’s a no-brainer.

    WUNC Radio also interviewed Fayetteville NAACP President Jimmy Buxton, who said, “If we have a bunch of rallies here with the sheets and the Confederate flag, that’s going to divide the city. That’s going to divide the state.

    “Even if those who are in charge of this say it’s not, this is what racists are thinking — a Civil War museum. When they get here they may be fooled, but they’re coming anyway because they feel like what they’ve been worshipping all their lives is going to be in this museum,” Buxton concluded.

    Two of our high-profile, African- American leaders are playing a pivotal role in shaping a negative perception of a significant state project poised to benefit our community. The operative word is leadership. However, some might believe, including me, that what’s happening is more akin to misleading than leading.

    Our neighbors in Richmond, Virginia, have a similar museum situation. But their approach is in sharp contrast to our own. Richmond has a rich Confederate history. Lest we forget, Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. In 2016, Richmond elected its youngest mayor, 35-year-old African-American Levar Stoney. Stoney succeeded Dwight Jones, another African-American who was preceded by Doug Wilder, the first black to serve as a governor since Reconstruction.

    About six years ago, Richmond took some bold steps with the creation of the New American Civil War Museum, which they merged with the Museum of the Confederacy with the intent to tell a whole story in hopes of dispelling the myths and misconceptions that linger into the 21st century. Christy Coleman, an African-American female, is the museum’s chief executive.

    The only way to deal with racism is with courage, which the leaders in Richmond decided to do. Have they been overwhelmed with racist protesters? The short answer is no, and they are a lot closer to Charlottesville than we are. The difference is they are armed with visionary leadership, which has garnered the attention of The New York Times.

    Fayetteville has a similar opportunity, and if our present leaders don’t get (it), maybe it’s time to elect new leaders. Homelessness, poverty and other social problems will always be a part of our big picture. But they should never become the reason we cease to strive for excellence in other community pursuits. It’s not going to be easy. Frederick Douglas said it best, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

    Troy Williams is a legal analyst and criminal defense investigator. He is a WIDU radio co-host on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon. He can be reached at talk2troywilliams@ yahoo.com.

  •     The Middleman (Monday, 8 p.m., ABC Family) is the most delightful pop-culture product since Juno. Heroine Wendy Watson (Natalie Morales) is Juno’s equal as a deadpan hipster smart aleck. But she has one talent Juno doesn’t: a knack for saving the world from machine-gun-toting apes.{mosimage}
        The Middleman is set in a satirical sci-fi universe full of comic book bad guys. Wendy is living a marginal life as an artist/temp when an ugly creature breaks out of a laboratory and grabs her with its tentacles. She calmly stabs it with a letter opener, and her sangfroid captures the attention of the Middleman (Matt Keeslar). He’s a wholesome hero type whose job is not only to save the world, but also to prevent the world from learning that supernatural phenomena exist. He convinces Wendy to be his sidekick over the objections of his cranky robot assistant.
    Wendy and the Middleman are an instant odd-couple classic. Where she’s wised-up and sarcastic, he’s a square-jawed square in the Clark Kent mode. He says things like “dog diggity” and “dag-nabit,” often while chugging a glass of milk. Creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach, who adapted the series from his graphic novels, has a ball spoofing spy movies, superhero comics, Planet of the Apes, The Godfather, Andy Warhol, The Avengers and animal-rights groups — and that’s just in the first episode.
        Is there any way I’m going to miss episode two? Not a gosh-darn chance in heck.

    Celebrity Circus
    Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. (NBC)
    NBC declares that this “thrilling new series immerses today’s top stars in the breathtaking world of the circus.” Would you really call Stacey Dash, Christopher Knight, Antonio Sabato Jr. and Wee Man Acuna “today’s top stars”? It kind of makes you wonder if the network is also stretching things with the words “thrilling” and “breathtaking.”

    The Bill Engvall Show
    Thursday, 9 p.m. (TBS)
        I dissed this sitcom last year based on the mediocre premiere. I didn’t watch it again ‘till now, and what do you know — I’m smiling.
        The Bill Engvall Show is unabashedly old school, with a laugh track, simple sets and a setup-punchline rhythm. The plots look for humor in the minutiae of suburban family life: a cell phone that gets bad reception, children who refuse to clean the garage. A million sitcoms have worked similar territory, but this one succeeds thanks to a great ensemble. Over the past year, something clicked among the actors, all of whom (even the kids) know how to put over the jokes. Engvall is amiable in the Father Knows Worst role, and Nancy Travis complements him beautifully as the Sarcastic Wife.
        I’d call Engvall to congratulate him if I could get reception on my damn cell phone.

    AFI’s 10 Top 10
    Tuesday, 8 p.m. (CBS)
        Every summer, the American Film Institute tries to find a new way to list America’s greatest movies: by focusing on actors, genres, etc. The problem is, America’s greatest movies don’t change all that much, so every year we hear about the same ones in a slightly different way.
        This time, the AFI gives us the top 10 films in 10 different genres. Think it might just be a big night for Citizen Kane and Casablanca … again?
  • We all want North Carolina to be an attractive place to live, work, create jobs, rear families and build communities. When we move from ends to means, the level of disagreement moves from low to high.

    Generally speaking, progressives think that the best way to accomplish these goals is to expand government — to tax more, regulate more and spend more on government services. Conservatives generally think the best way to make North Carolina a more attractive place to live and work is to restrain government so that it delivers basic services more cost-effectively, allowing households to keep more of their own money and freedom to use as they wish.

    The dispute is often framed solely in the context of interstate mobility. Certainly we want people, businesses and jobs to flow in rather than out. But let’s be more specific. Our growth over time depends heavily on our rate of entrepreneurship, the rate at which people — natives or newcomers — create and expand new businesses in our state.

    There are many different ways to assess the rate of business formation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counts jobs and business establishments across the country. Over the past three years, new enterprises represented about 3.11% of establishments in North Carolina. That’s modestly higher than the national average but lower than that of regional rivals such as Florida.

    A set of entrepreneurship indicators compiled by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation helps fill in the picture a bit more. While a higher proportion of Floridians (.42%) than North Carolinians (.28%) started a business last year, for example, that doesn’t tell the whole story. A higher share of those Florida entrepreneurs started their businesses “by necessity,” in other words because they lost a previous job. Entrepreneurship by choice was higher in our state. North Carolina startups were also slightly more likely than Florida startups to survive into a second year.

    However our state might fare in an elaborate applesto- apples comparison, there’s little doubt that North Carolina would be better off if more people were willing and able to take a chance on new business ventures in our state. You often hear the claim that small businesses are more important than large businesses when it comes to creating new jobs, or bringing to market new products and services that satisfy consumer demands. This isn’t quite right. A disproportionate amount of new economic value, including employment, comes from new businesses, regardless of size, although of course most new businesses start out small.

    So, how can policymakers foster a stronger culture of entrepreneurship in our state? Both ideological coalitions offer predictable sets of answers. Progressives insist that government ought to spend more on public services even if it means higher taxes and that the new regulations they favor would confer more benefits than costs on North Carolinians, including those inclined to start and grow new businesses. Conservatives disagree.

    It’s a complex matter, naturally, but on balance the empirical evidence supports the conservative side of the disagreement. Most studies find that startups are more frequent, and more likely to succeed, in states where taxes and regulations are low, all other things being held equal. Higher government spending doesn’t boost entrepreneurship in most studies.

    A different way to test the proposition is to ask entrepreneurs themselves. That was the approach taken by three economists who published a recent study in the Journal of Regulatory Economics. They zeroed in on entrepreneurs in Kansas City, which straddles two states — Missouri and Kansas — that exhibit differences in fiscal and regulatory policy. The vast majority of respondents said they would be less likely to start a new enterprise in a place that increased occupational licensing, corporate taxes or the time required to register a business.

    A few, 16%, indicated otherwise. Some business folks don’t see bigger government as a barrier. Some reside in North Carolina. You may have heard from them, and their opinions are valid. But they are also atypical. Policymakers, take note.

  • 06BirdThe report at the May 29 Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meeting was a learning experience for all of us. We learned about legal, ethical and procedural dilemmas and how some might have been handled differently.

    The independent investigator commissioned by the town of Hope Mills to investigate ethical misconduct and inappropriate protocols related to the town’s dealings with Lone Survivor Foundation found no ethical or illegal actions on the part of any of the parties involved. He did, however, find a procedural error in the presentation of the proposal to the Board of Commissioners. The presence of the nonprofit organization — LSF — at the closed meeting, where the possible lease/ purchase of “Lakebed #2” was discussed, appeared to throw off the decision-making process of the board members, giving them little or no time to digest the importance of what was being offered in terms of an economic opportunity to the town of Hope Mills. Nor were they up to date about the implications of future uses of the lakebed, which had been dried up and abandoned since at least the 1970s.

    It sounded great at first: a national nonprofit organization providing therapy to veterans and their families on an abandoned and forgotten town property, Lakebed #2. What once was an enthusiastic response from the staff members involved in the initial meetings with Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation and LSF soon dwindled amongst the Hope Mills board members as they questioned other possibilities for the lakebed. They felt as if they were being backed into a corner. It appeared that some of them had assumed that Lakebed #2 was being studied by the McAdams Company for the future Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan for the town of Hope Mills because it was shown as “parkland” in the Southwest Land Use Plan.

    However, at the Oct. 1, 2018, special meeting, according to the minutes, Principal Landscape Architect Rachel Cotter, representing the McAdams Company with some of its initial community responses to its study, surprisingly had not included the lakebed in its plan for recreational development because it was still shown as “other Town-owned properties...” As it had never been “...dedicated for use and a developed master plan adopted for those properties there isn’t a basis for including it under the umbrella of parks and recreation.”

    So, here we are — almost four months after the board rejected the offer at a closed meeting — just now finding out that there would be no projected parks and recreation use for the lakebed in its Comprehensive Plan.

    Isn’t that one of the main reasons stated by the board for not accepting the offer? Because they wanted to wait for the results of this plan? And the possible use of the lake as a reservoir?

    The working tour of some of the town properties, including the lakebed, was shown in the same minutes to be scheduled for Friday, Oct. 19, 2018.

    Now the lakebed is being talked about, but was it for the last 40 some-odd years?

    So, what have we learned from this $26,000-plus investigation and its results? We are not perfect. The board, the mayor and the staff are not perfect. We all have flaws. We all can do better. As a result of questions about the initial closed session meeting, now Hope Mills videotapes them, like they once did. I would hope that express verbal agreements might be transformed into express written agreements to avoid future questions of misconduct.

    Never having been presented with a prospective purchase or lease from the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation in the past, our town now knows the protocols for handling it right the next time, and Hope Mills Mayor pro tem Mike Mitchell acknowledged that another transaction has already taken place, without questions or accusations of improprieties or misconduct.

    We all must learn from these costly mistakes.

    The greatest lesson is to be inclusive, not divisive. We have too much of that in Washington, D.C., now. We need to set an example of working together, not pulling each other apart. The mayor and board were elected to represent the town of Hope Mills and its citizens. Back-stabbing and talking behind someone’s back can accomplish nothing, except to divide. They must realize that each of them has a heart and has the best intentions for this town and that they must learn to work together as a team, utilizing the best talents in each of them and improving the suspicious nature that led to this investigation and to the recent “lack of confidence vote” in the mayor. Commissioners, you are also not perfect.

    Not only did we spend more than $26,000 for the investigation, but we lost a golden opportunity to transform an all-but-forgotten lakebed into muchneeded economic development for our town. We not only had a “bird in the hand” and lost it, but we may have also lost “the two in the bush,” while waiting for the magic solution for Lakebed #2.

  • 04NorthKoreaSome wise person once said there are no coincidences. By coincidence, I can’t remember who said it. But since someone said it, I believe it, and that settles it.

    I began thinking about coincidences with the confluence of the visit to Japan of our very own Dear Extremely Stable Genius Leader over the Memorial Day weekend, which also coincided with the biggest weekend for mattress sales in the known universe. For reasons known only to mattress factory owners, Memorial Day weekend is the Super Bowl for sales on oddly named and expensive mattresses. We shall explore the mysteries of the timing of mattress sales in more depth a few paragraphs down if you can tolerate reading the entire column.

    But back to Dear Leader’s visit to Japan. Little Rocket Man, as Kim Jong Un was known before he and Dear Leader fell in love, after an 18-month hiatus recently launched two shortrange ballistic missiles. Some people who are paid to think about such things for a living have suggested that Kim fired his rockets as a cranky message to our Dear Leader that their love affair has not yet ripened into a sanctionfree North Korea. Even the noted pacifist John Bolton, the nominal national security adviser, said publicly that Kim’s rocket show violated the UN’s resolutions, which barred North Korea from launching missiles.

    Dear Leader ignored Bolton’s observation that launching of the missiles was a provocation. The Pentagon also took the position that the launches were violations. Unfazed, Dear Leader sided with Kim against his own administration. No big deal.

    Dear Leader explained “My people think it could have been a violation, as you know, I view it differently. There have been no ballistic missiles going out. There have been no long-range missiles going out. And I think that someday we’ll have a deal. I’m not in a rush.”

    The prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, who was next to Dear Leader, was more concerned, saying: “North Korea has launched a short-range ballistic missile. This is violating the Security Council resolution.” Abe is concerned, as Japan is in easy nuking range of North Korea’s missiles. Abe may be a worry-wart, but a missile by any other name would smell as sweet.

    What are we to make of Dear Leader’s siding with Kim against the advice of the Pentagon and Bolton? As the King of Siam once said to Anna, “It is a puzzlement.”

    Fortunately, I may have an explanation derived from Greek mythology and our old friend Icarus. Icarus’ daddy, Daedalus, was a handy guy around the workshop. King Minos of Crete had Daedalus build the labyrinth where the king imprisoned a Minotaur. The Minotaur is half man, half bull — and hungry all the time. The King didn’t want Daedalus and Icarus to spill the beans on how to get in and out of the labyrinth, so he locked them up in a tower.

    Daedalus wasn’t happy about being imprisoned, so he made sets of wings for Icarus and himself. The wings were made of feathers stuck together with wax. The wings worked fine.

    Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun as the wax would melt and the wings fail. Like most teenagers, Icarus didn’t pay much attention to what his dad said. Sure enough, Icarus started cutting fool when he was flying. He flew too close to the sun. His wings melted and down Icarus went into the sea, where he met a watery death. Bummer.

    Now what does this have to do with Dear Leader’s love affair with Kim, you might ask if you have gotten this far. Dear Leader has been warned by his version of Daedalus — his advisers and the Pentagon — not to gettoo close to Kim. Like Icarus and the sun, Dear Leader has flown too close to Kim. Dear Leader even went out of his way on foreign soil to agree with Kim that presidential frontrunner Joe Biden was a “Swampman and a low-IQ individual.”

    As someone said, love is blind. Dear Leader’s love for Kim is blind. You may be a murderous dictator, but if you criticize an enemy of Dear Leader, he will fly right up to you. What could go wrong?

    As to the mattress sales that coincided with Dear Leader’s flight to the North Korean sun, consider the names of mattresses on sale. Most people consider a mattress a fairly mundane item. However, some branding geniuses came up with mattress names that sound more like fine wines or exotic sports cars. Imagine the safe and restful sleep you could get on the following mattresses: Cheswick Manor Bellefonte Pillow Top mattress, Performance Hybrid Trust II Reservoir III Luxury Plush, Hybrid Copper II Plush, Three Pools III Ultra Firm, Premium Achieving Luxury Firm, Premium Exuberant Luxury, Highgate Cushion Plus Hybrid, Rockwell Luxury Plush Euro Pillow Top, Airewood Karpen Wilshire Luxury Firm, Grandbed 7400, or the Kingsdown Wibraham Luxury Eurotop Hybrid. Makes me sleepy just thinking about it.

    Even if Dear Leader gives away the farm while flying too close to Kim or Putin, America will always win the luxury mattress race, even if we have to use a CPAP to enjoy it.

  • 03HofellerA political operative described by The New York Times as “the Michelangelo of gerrymandering” for changing the U.S. House and legislatures from one party’s control to the other for years to come dies, leaving behind his computers and associated hardware. Enter his estranged daughter, who accidentally reads about his departure from this world on the internet and then returns home to help her mother. In sorting through her father’s personal effects, the daughter finds a plastic bag of hard drives and thumb drives, all containing backed-up data from the deceased’s computer. The widow allows her daughter to keep the backups, which turn out to contain about 75,000 files of photos and personal information, along with a gold mine of political material from the operative’s partisan work.

    Want more?

    In her search for an attorney to handle her late father’s estate, our estranged daughter rings up a citizen advocacy group and offhandedly mentions her father’s backup files. Staff ears perk right up, and next thing you know, lawyers are trotting out the files for use in gerrymandering lawsuits in various courts all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

    And the real kicker?

    Not only do the files detail race-based and partisan gerrymandering schemes for several states, but they also reveal a study concluding that adding a question about U.S. citizenship to the 2020 census questionnaire would depress immigrant participation in the census, thereby shifting political clout to the political party that hired the operative in the first place. In promoting a failed plan to base Texas legislative districts not on total population but on voting-age citizens, the deceased operative wrote that maps drawn that way “would be advantageous to Republicans and non-Hispanic whites.”

    You might find all this too absurd for even a made-for-TV movie, but, in fact, it is all true. The operative’s name was not Michelangelo but Thomas Hofeller, and he died in Raleigh last summer. He was the architect of North Carolina’s massive 2011 gerrymander, a substantial portion of which has been found unconstitutional while other parts are still in litigation.

    His daughter, Stephanie Hofeller, did indeed find those files and ultimately deliver them to Common Cause, which has worked for decades for gerrymandering reform. Whether the citizenship question will appear on the 2020 U.S. Census form is now before the U.S. Supreme Court with a ruling expected within the next few weeks.

    Gerrymandering is hardly new news, and many North Carolinians are familiar with and revolted by what happened in our state and others in 2011. A political operative’s involvement in developing questions for a constitutionally required census of all Americans is new news and also revolting. Both go to the issue of how government at all levels works for all Americans — or whether it actually does at all.

    The saga of Thomas Hofeller is spectacular, but it is only one of many involving hired political operatives. All of them beg the question of whether the people we elect to represent us in Congress and state legislatures are doing that work or farming it out to professional consultants to avoid public transparency and to achieve partisan objectives.

    Any of us can express our thoughts to our elected representatives if we choose to do so, but a precious few of us are insiders enough to be able to express our views to the Thomas Hofellers of this world.

    The lesson here is to pay attention and be involved.

    The quotation “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but also to Thomas Paine and others. Whoever penned it was speaking across time to us.

  • 02Jackie Warner 3No. That’s the consensus of most Hope Mills residents. They think not. And, there is a reason for that: It was their money the Hope Mills commissioners so recklessly spent on a frivolous investigation that netted the same conclusions Hopemills.net and Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper have been reporting for nearly four months.

    Everything we reported and editorialized about, including Lone Survivor Foundation, alleged improprieties of Mayor Jackie Warner, art sculptures, the Hope Mills Lake bulkheads, Teddy Warner, the Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation, closed sessions — all of it has been proven and brought to a vindicated conclusion. Last Wednesday, May 29, was the day of reckoning when Hope Mills Commissioners Jerry Legge, Meg Larson, Jessie Bellflowers and Mike Mitchell received the results of an investigation they initiated to try and expose improprieties and wrongdoings by Warner.

    They voted to hire a Raleigh law firm to conduct an impartial investigation for a whopping $26,000 of Hope Mills taxpayers’ money. Even more alarming and disappointing to the residents of Hope Mills is that they paid that exorbitant fee for information and verification that we, as a local media source, have been providing Hope Mills for free all along.

    So, even with the $26,000 price tag and complete exoneration of any wrongdoing by Warner, the town of Hope Mills staff or Warner’s family members, the question remains: Is it over? Really over? Will Legge, Larson, Mitchell and Bellflowers relinquish their pursuit to discredit Warner, impede her progress and keep her from performing her duties and responsibilities as the mayor of Hope Mills? Will they focus their attention on cooperation and pursuits that will move Hope Mills forward?

    I posed the question, “Is it over?” in writing to Larson, Mitchell and Bellflowers and asked them to respond with a statement of assurance. I let them know that once received, I would print their responses, verbatim, in this article or provide them their own space in Up & Coming Weekly to state their position.

    As of June 2, only Bellflowers responded. Here is what he wrote:

    “The findings of the investigation have been presented, and in my opinion, any further investigation(s) and all the finger pointing needs to end here. While I am sure not everyone agrees with the findings, the bottom line is there are no winners here! Should the LSF proposal been handled and presented in a more professional matter — you bet. Lessons learned. Going forward, we need to develop and approve effective protocols regarding the purchase/sale/ lease of any town-owned, municipal property areas. My hope is, perhaps... just perhaps … we can ALL move on from this investigation and use our positive energy — collectively — to engage on completion of the most needed projects our community citizens expect and deserve from their Town Board and Staff leaders. Our citizens deserve no less!”

    Our newspaper always strives to inform the Hope Mills community, providing news, insights and information they can trust and encouraging them to get involved in all those things that affect their business, family or quality of life.

    We have covered the town’s elected officials for months, including conflicts over art sculptures, Lone Survivor Foundation and false allegations and charges against the mayor and her family. Our blanket coverage of this ordeal from start to finish is the near perfect example of why Bellflowers, Mitchell, Larson and Legge voted to cancel the Hope Mills Initiative with our newspaper. It had nothing to do with the $28,000 cost. It was about greed, selfishness and obsession with power. Knowledge and information are power.

    They wanted to control the governing narrative by restricting media access to the citizens of Hope Mills — especially when it came to important issues. The objective was no transparency. They wanted to keep residents uninformed about town issues by limiting residents’ access to an independent media source they could not control. The board’s uncontained outrage, disdain and hostility toward Up & Coming Weekly came as a result of us not going away after they canceled our contract. It was unsettling to them that we continued to do our job of reporting the truth, advocating for the welfare of the citizens.

    I will end with this suggestion for everyone in Hope Mills. You are a community of nearly 17,000 residents. That’s a 17,000-strong voting bloc. It’s much larger and much more influential than these distractors. Shut them down by ditching their negative propaganda on social media. Don’t tune in. That includes the Hope Mills Chatter. It also consists of the postings of the Hope Mills Bee and Hope Mills Outlook. Together, they represent only hundreds, not thousands, of Hope Mills residents — and therefore votes. Who cares what they say or print? They lack credibility. If they had any credibility, they would own their words and not hide behind anonymity.

    The media is the natural enemy of those with intentions that are less than honorable. The previous board of Hope Mills commissioners understood this. This board, not so much.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. We’re not going anywhere!

    Photo: Jackie Warner

  • 01coverUAC060519001Editor’s note: May 29, the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners met to hear the results of an investigation by the law firm Cauley Pridgen P.A. into the 2018 proposed sale of Lakebed #2, property owned by Hope Mills. The potential buyer was a nonprofit called Lone Survivor Foundation  LSF intended to purchase town property for development of a retreat center for military service members suffering from the aftereffects of war. The investigation by Cauley Pridgen P.A. cost the town’s taxpayers $26,000 and took five months to complete. It absolved Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner and her son, Teddy Warner, of any wrongdoing in relation to dealings with LSF.

    An excerpt from the official report by Cauley Pridgen P.A.: The specific scope of the assignment was as follows: The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners commissioned an investigation into (1) allegations of ethical misconduct by members of the town of Hope Mills Board of Commissioners (mayor and commissioners) and town staff pertaining to various sections of the town’s code of ethics and conduct for town officials; and (2) allegations of inappropriate protocols used by all parties during the decision-making process regarding all official correspondence and efforts to purchase/lease municipal property presented or submitted by the Lone Survivor Foundation to the town of Hope Mills during the period of December 1, 2017 to November 6, 2018.

    The investigation by Jeff Thompson

    James P. Cauley III, president of Cauley Pridgen P.A., is an acknowledged expert in municipal law. Cauley is a certified superior court mediator and has served as a legal instructor at Campbell University School of Law, Barton College and Wilson Technical College. He was a charter member of the Council for the North Carolina Bar Association’s Government and Public Sector section and is also a past chairman of that section.

    In his report to the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners, Cauley repeatedly indicated he wasn’t exactly sure what the board wanted from him other than the lengthy written report. He made a live 50-minute presentation referring to his notes. He acknowledged that his findings would likely not satisfy everyone.

    Cauley learned during his investigation that the mayor and some members of the board were at odds with one another.

    A significant determination was that, in his opinion, Mayor Jackie Warner did not act improperly by not immediately informing commissioners of LSF’s interest in the property at Lakebed #2.

    Cauley noted that typically, mayors and town managers learn of economic opportunities before the interest becomes commonly known. He said Warner’s initial awareness of LSF’s interest in the site and her presentation to the board in a closed meeting were insignificant.

    Cauley noted Warner had worked well with boards of commissioners during her eight years in office, but that “when the new board took office in December of 2017, that relationship changed.”

    He declared it appeared at times that the mayor’s endorsement of a matter would automatically trigger opposition by certain members of the board. Cauley did not name the members, but Mayor pro tem Mike Mitchell and Commissioner Meg Larson have been outspoken in their opposition to Warner. Cauley went on to say that “2018 was a time of transition into the new roles and board members’ expectations.”

    In 2018, after squabbling during numerous public meetings and closed sessions, the town board decided not to entertain an offer from the LSF to purchase town property.

    Cauley concluded that the mayor, board members and town staff did not engage in unethical lapses of judgment or intentional misbehavior. His overall conclusion was that allegations of misconduct by any party were unfounded.

    Mayor Warner and Commissioner Edwards by Earl Vaughan Jr.

    Cauley said his probe into dealings between the town of Hope Mills and LSF came down to two central issues.

    “It is attributable to a combination of rookie mistakes and changing governance policies,’’ he said.

    In short, newcomers to the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners unfamiliar with how cooperative government works over-reached in their jobs and developed a hostile relationship with Warner, who had been serving with previous boards since 2011 with no conflicts nearly as unpleasant as this one became.

    Pat Edwards, the lone Hope Mills commissioner on the current board who consistently backed Warner following the new board’s arrival after the 2017 elections, said the new members of the board didn’t realize the board needed to work together and not venture out on individual missions. 

    Edwards said Warner has been active in her role as mayor, dealing with organizations and boards around Fayetteville and Cumberland County, representing Hope Mills and making numerous connections with other government leaders. “She knows so many people,” Edwards said. “She is the mayor and should be respected as the mayor.”

    This issue has been deeply personal for the mayor, as attacks have been mounted not only on her but on her son Teddy Warner, who was involved with the presentation made by the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Commission on behalf of the Lone Survivor project.

    When Cauley exonerated Teddy of any hint of wrongdoing or standing to benefit from any of his work on behalf of LSF, the mayor said she was thinking the whole time that prayers are answered. “That is one thing we’ve prided ourselves on as parents and members of the community — character and integrity,’’ Warner said. “Do what you say and always be a good public servant.”

    In defense of Warner’s son, Cauley noted that Teddy had nothing to gain financially from his role in the Lone Survivor presentation and that there was no mention of a benefit for him. “It appears he was performing his job duties as assigned, (with) the added personal incentive he genuinely thought he was bringing a coveted project to his hometown, a town in need of economic development opportunities,’’ Cauley said.

    Cauley said his investigation showed previous boards gave Warner more freedom to exercise her leadership, giving deference to her acting independently as the town’s chief ambassador. That relationship began to change when the new board was seated. “It appears at times the mayor’s endorsement of a matter could automatically prompt opposition,’’ Cauley said.

    A specific case in point involved the board’s reaction to its failure to renew an agreement with a professor at the University of North Carolina- Pembroke. The agreement involved contracting the professor’s students to create sculptures to be displayed at various points around town. Warner did not bring the matter of renewal to the board’s attention; it was reported the previous year, and board members knew they had to vote to renew the agreement to continue getting the art.

    When Up & Coming Weekly published a story about the failure of the board to renew the agreement, the board called a special meeting to deal with the story. Commissioner Larson accused the story’s reporter of fabricating comments by the UNC-Pembroke professor. This reporter categorically denies that accusation and stands fully by the accuracy of the comment.

    The comment the professor made about how the board handled the art contract basically repeated what Cauley said in his report about the board tending to reject anything Warner supports. The result was a vote of no confidence in the mayor by the board.

    While the board has the legal right to set the limits of the mayor’s power, after Warner had a freer hand as mayor under previous boards, Cauley suggested the sudden switch in what the mayor can and can’t do could be a handicap for all involved.

    “Their effectiveness in governing the jurisdiction depends entirely on the personalities involved,’’ Cauley said. “Hardball politics can make a board ineffective or dysfunctional.’’

    Warner said her major problem in working with the current board has been that some of them don’t seem to understand the relationship between the mayor and the commissioners and the different roles they fill. “It’s not because it’s an ‘I’ thing with me,” Warner said. “Nine times out of 10, if television, radio, newspaper or anybody comes, they’re going to call the mayor. That’s just what happens.”

    Warner’s parting words just before adjournment were from the heart, she said. “I don’t do anything without thinking first — is it right? Is it ethical?

    “I don’t like the idea of my integrity and my character being judged. What you do sometimes in politics, it does hurt. But you do have to move forward. As mayor of Hope Mills, I try every day to make sure I represent Hope Mills the very best I can.’’

    Warner said she does appreciate the current board and is doing her best to learn to work with each of them. “I hope we can move forward,’’ she said.

    She then called on the Hope Mills community to end negative comments on social media. “We need your support now,’’ she said. “We don’t need to be torn apart anymore.’’

    What’s next? by Elizabeth Blevins

    Commissioner Jerry Legge was quick to accept Cauley’s presentation and said, “I think the lesson we’ve learned is we just need to move forward … and we need to do what’s best for this town.” His sentiment was echoed by Commissioner Jessie Bellflowers and by the mayor.

    But Larson and Mayor pro tem Mitchell bombarded Cauley with questions and reiterated old accusations. Later that evening, Mitchell used social media to cast doubt on the integrity of the investigation, posting, “When ethics are no longer black and white but gray what will become of our beloved town?”

    By the next morning, the situation had turned ugly. Mitchell blocked Sue Moody, a citizen of Hope Mills and Mitchell’s neighbor, from posting on his official Facebook page. The North Carolina State Supreme Court ruled in January 2019 it is unconstitutional for an elected official to block members of the general public from commenting on their social media accounts.

    Moody, who attended the May 29 meeting, isn’t hopeful Mitchell or Larson can learn from the situation and move forward. Of their behavior at the meeting, Moody said, “The first question was challenging the investigator, simply to put into public record, again, the accusations when they’d already been addressed. They were defensive and aggressive; there was no spirit of working together for the good of the people. You can tell they both have their own agendas.”

    The board has made a habit of spending an exorbitant amount of money on surveys, investigations and studies, only to discover they don’t like the results rendered. They follow up by discrediting the experts and the processes to invalidate those results, leaving them free to deviate in whichever directions they want to go.

    For those following this investigation, it wasn’t a surprise when the mayor and her staff were exonerated. Nor was it a surprise when Mitchell and Larson refused to accept the results of the investigation.

    Several members of the board need to issue apologies to a very long list of people and organizations.

    Larson has publicly referred to the offer by LSF as the “LSF ordeal” on two separate occasions in the past month. She was also part of a conversation in which it was alleged the mayor’s son was offered bribes to facilitate the sale of municipal land to LSF. She and Mitchell have consistently used social media and their elected positions as a pulpit from which to judge and condemn the mayor and her family, and they’ve spent the better part of their tenure rewriting longstanding rules of procedure to strip the mayor of all authority.

    They owe apologies to Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Robert Van Geons and his staff, to the Hope Mills staff at Town Hall and to members of the local media.

    Finally, the commissioners owe an apology to the people of Hope Mills. After 18 months of reminding us it’s their sworn duty to be good stewards of our assets, it was difficult to watch them toss $26,000 toward an investigation based on fabricated allegations. And in the days that followed, they and their small group of supporters added insult to injury when they undermined Cauley and his investigation to justify their own bad behavior.

    Despite the investigation, which had just cleared Warner of any wrongdoing, Mitchell and Larson chose to continue a one-sided feud. Fortunately, the voters of Hope Mills will render a final decision on this issue in November.

  •     Insolence is big in Japan.
        So big, that its new album, Audio War, made it to No. 6 on the charts in the Land of the Rising Sun, beating out offerings from Linkin Park and Avril Lavigne.
        The band, which hails from San Jose, Calif., also wants to make it big in Fayetteville on Saturday, June 14, when it plays at Jester’s Pub in support of its new CD.
        While my musical tastes don’t tend to skew toward hardcore bands such as Insolence — my favorite “heavy” band of the moment being retro psychedelic space rangers Monster Magnet — I do appreciate a group with energy that takes a different road.
        And Insolence qualifies on both counts, using a metal/reggae/hip-hop blend that can make your head implode and your feet explode.
        The lead track, “Danger,” starts off with the requisite heavy metal thunder of distorted power chords and screaming, indecipherable lyrics, but then segues into a smooth, reggae-style dub that catches you completely by surprise. It’s sort of like Iron Maiden meets Bob Marley. Kudos to the band for creating something totally unexpected.
    “Megumi” takes the opposite tack — leading off with a reggae/hip-hop beat and then kicking out the jams with a wall of sludgy guitar that would make Insolence the perfect house band for Ozzy Osbourne’s retirement party... or funeral, whichever comes first.{mosimage}
        The third track, “Kobra Kai “... I have no idea what it’s about and don’t know if I like it or not — sort of like the first time I tried sushi. I can’t understand a word the kids are singing, though I love its punk rock roots and it does have an interesting guitar solo. It’ll probably grow on me, sort of like that stray wild hair that inexplicably sprouts out of your ear.
    “Blue Sky” is the money track. It’s gotten substantial airplay back in the Bay Area and in Japan. It combines a funky rhythm guitar with some deft deejay scratching; bonus points — my battered and beaten, middle-aged ears can understand every word! “Blue Sky” has echoes of the late, impossibly great Sublime and is absolutely sunny compared to the other tracks, with such sweet lines as the chorus, “Blue sky sunshine, bring back the love I’m telling all of you.” It’s like discovering that lead guitarist/buzzsaw master Scott Ian of Anthrax collects teddy bears. In fact, it’s so poppish that the band just might lose its membership in the Kick Ass Rap Metal All Boys Club. Speaking of which, an excellent rap weaves into the mix so much more melodically than the offerings of hip-hop/metal standard bearers Korn and Limp Bizkit. “Blue Sky” deserves to be a Top 10 hit.
        The band goes for a Rage Against the Machine vibe on “Liberation,” preaching anarchy and riots in the streets with the chorus “take it back, take it back, liberation” amid verses such as “death squads, angry mobs... they control you.”
    Among the remaining tracks, “Kyoadai” is a real standout, fusing Guns and Roses with some Fugees-like rap and a dash of Sex Pistols-style punk.
        All-in-all, a fine effort for a band on the rise.
        If Insolence can hook me — a grizzled old 40-something fan of the Beatles and the Stones — playing music with a probable demographic of males, 14-28, they’ve definitely got something good going.
        The show begins at 8 p.m. Insolence will be opening for the Kottonmouth Kings and tickets are $20.
  •     After finally getting a hold of the elusive band Stronghold, drummer David Sholter decided to give me the lowdown on the band, its dreams of fame and fortune, and a sum being bigger than its parts.
        Give me a Stronghold history lesson — how did you guys get started?
        “It’s the usual fairy-tale-garage-band-get-together. Late in 2004, bassist David West was playing with a popular local band that was beginning to lose steam. West’s in-law, Dave Sholter, had played drums with a few local rock bands ‘back in the day’ and suggested inviting friends, enemies, anybody to ‘the garage’ for jam sessions. The scraped-together sessions were fun, but sparse and going nowhere until West overheard coworker Danny Brock singing along to country radio tunes. Brock soon produced Simmy Sibbet, a guitarist then playing with pop band Clear Conscience, and a jam session ensued. The group found an immediate musical chemistry and lived happily ever after.”
        If you only had two words to describe your band, what would they be, and why?
        “How about: ‘Who gave those idiots instruments…’ wait, too many words… maybe: ‘Unlikely stepbrothers.’ When you see us together, you’ll know why.”{mosimage}
        Who came up with the name and why do you think it fits your band?
        “Bassist West singled out the word from the lyrics to ‘Addiction,’ one of our early original tunes. At the time, the name was pick-of-the-litter from a pretty uninspired short list of possibilities. Some of the runners-up are probably not fit to print.”
        Who does Stronghold look to for inspiration — who do you think did it better before you?
        “Tough one. In common, we all like rock but after that, influences start to pile up pretty randomly. One guy stands out to all of us, though: Jimmie’s Chicken Shack front man Jimi HaHa. That guy has both feet on the ground, with enough creativity and tenacity to fill a large crater. Aside from that, everybody did, and continues to do it better than us. We just hope to be walking upright by the end of the year.”
        What are your expectations for Stronghold?
        “The usual fame and fortune would be nice. Essential, actually. Short-term, we’d like to play out more, beyond our familiar turf.  We’re also looking forward to recording our first full-length CD which is waaaay overdue.”
        What compels you (collectively or individually) to play music?
        “It’s fun, period. Well, it’s mildly amazing to try something that seems beyond you, and then actually pull it off, and then find that it has metamorphosed into some unexpected state of gestalt.”
        What makes your band better then the rest of them?
        “See previous answer. OK, nobody is better or worse, just different. Hey, that’s very PC. We do what we do and a lot of people like it; we’ve never figured out why.”
        Most important music lesson? (Whether it relates directly to music or perhaps the industry.)
        “Rule No. 1 is to HAVE FUN. When you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s infectious. The whole point is to entertain. Rule No. 2: You can never learn enough.”
        Why should people get off their butts and check out Stronghold?
        “What, you gotta wash your hair or something? Besides, we’ve seen you all rubberneck at a lousy fender-bender. What would you pay to see a full-blown train wreck?”
        Coming off of playing at the Special Forces Festival it seems Stronghold is the next thing in town. See if you have as hard of a time getting “a hold” of them as I did. More info and dates are available on their Myspace: www.myspace.com/strongholdrocks.
  •     Life is a cabaret, old chum.
        It’s also fleeting, beautiful and often brutal, as shown in the wonderful adaptation of the musical Cabaret, which debuted at the Gilbert Theater on Thursday, June 5.
        The musical, which is set in pre-World War II Berlin, is a metaphor for the downward spiral of that country as the Nazis came into power.
        The performances are exhilarating and grand, especially the characters of Master of Ceremonies (Timothy Lee Lloyd) and Sally Bowles (Alexis Chieffet); but throughout, there is an undercurrent of tension and darkness, because as the boys and girls dance gaily and drink and love passionately at the Kit Kat Club, we know a storm of epic death and destruction is tap-dancing on the horizon.
        The action starts in the Kit Kat Club — the kind of place your mother warned you about — in 1930s Berlin. Lloyd, as the Master of Ceremonies welcomes the crowd, surrounded by beautiful cabaret girls and boys, dancing and frolicking, unaware that Germany is on the precipice of the worst case of mass murder in history.
        Lloyd is spectacular, with just the right mix of decadence and playfulness, intimating he loves a good time at all costs — whether it’s with the boys or the girls. His singing and dancing — as is that of the cabaret boys and girls — is spot on.{mosimage}
        The story segues to a train station where we meet two key characters, an expatriate American named Clifford Bradshaw (Jonathan de Araujo) who is traveling restlessly across Europe in search of inspiration to write his novel, finally settling on Berlin. He is joined on the train by Ernst Ludwig (Tom Bresley), the perfect picture of an Aryan — tall, blond and impossibly handsome. Ludwig is smuggling money for the Nazi cause from France and recruits his new friend Bradshaw into the game.
        After Bradshaw settles into the rooming house of Fraulein Schneider (Leslie Craig), he hustles down to the Kit Kat Club where he meets Sally Bowles. They’re obviously attracted to each other, though we know immediately this union will not end well. As Bowles, Chieffet is pitch perfect, displaying a wonderfully husky singing voice and projecting an exceedingly convincing portrait of decadent sexiness, cooing and purring while wearing the slinky clothes of a true chanteuse.
        A subplot running through the musical is the romance between Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz (Paul Wilson), a Jewish shop owner. It’s both sad and beautiful to watch these two older lovers take a final chance on love, while we as armchair historians know exactly what’s going to happen to Schultz.
        As the requisite Nazi, Ludwig destroys any chance at love between Schneider and Schultz by reminding her that marrying a Jew could have serious consequences.
        More tragedy ensues when Sally becomes pregnant with — possibly, we never know — Clifford’s baby. Clifford wants the couple to return to America and raise their child in a proper setting, as he sees Germany beginning to crumble. But Sally loves the spotlight too much and sells her prize fur coat to a doctor to abort the baby, returning to her job at the Kit Kat Club.
        Clifford eventually leaves for America, gaining the inspiration to begin his novel as he takes his seat on the train: he writes the story he has just lived through — his damned union with Sally, as well as the cursed engagement of Fraulein Schneider and Her Schultz.
    Through it all, the music never stops at the Kit Kat Club, though the performances become increasingly darker, with the ultimate foreshadowing of what’s to come when the Master of Ceremonies dances on stage in a full Nazi regalia, assisted by the Kit Kat girls and boys in the brown shirts of the Nazi youth.
        Standout musical numbers included the performance of the title track by Chieffet, in which she’s dressed like a satin doll and sings like one too.
        Lloyd is masterful in everything he does, giving a randy, raucous performance in which he seems permanently amused by the state of things — life may be going to hell around him, but he’s going to keep on dancing, damn it.
    de Araujo shows off a fine singing voice, even if I did find him just a touch too earnest in his role as the not-so-naive American who sees the swastika on the wall, though he can’t convince Sally that the party is about to end.
    The entire cast gels as if they’ve performed together for years.
        Highly recommended, old chum.
        The production of Cabaret runs through June 22. You can get show times and ticket information by calling 678-7186, or checking out the theater’s Web site: www.gilberttheater.com.
  • 10fascinate uChildren can drop as many as two reading levels during the summer months. Even though school is out, there is plenty to do to keep young minds engaged. One option is to read at least 30 minutes each day. Another is to explore learning opportunities in other places.

    Fascinate-U Children’s Museum has hands-on, child-friendly exhibits that will keep kids’ active minds busy and let young imaginations run wild during these hot summer days.

    “We are open every day except Monday and all of our exhibits are hands-on, so when you come to visit, the children get to play and pretend to be a grown-up,” said Susan Daniels, executive director of Fascinate-U. “We have a grocery store, costume stage, a news desk, a doctor’s office, school room, army fort, post office, farm, voting booth and restaurant exhibit.” Daniels added that the children get to pretend to be employees through role-playing, manipulation and interacting with each other.

    The museum also hosts several programs and events, including partnering with other child-centered summer camps in the community. “We do offer programs for visiting groups, and some of those summer camps come to us and we do science programs with the children,” said Daniels. “It is mainly slime and weird pets.”

    As part of its regular programming, the museum has recurring events for families that can’t get to the museum during the week. “The second Saturday of each month we have a craft activity between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.,” said Daniels. “On the third Saturday of each month, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., we have a science activity.”

    Daniels added that these events are free for participants with a paid membership. A family membership is $50 and includes admission for the whole family for the entire year.

    “We invite the family to come out and join us for some interactive fun and engagement,” said Daniels. During 4th Friday events, the museum offers free crafts for children each month.

    Another way Fascinate-U reaches out to the community is through partnerships with other community organizations like the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center for story times. The museum also hosts summer camps and is available to host birthday parties.

    Admission fee is $4 for children and $3 for adults. Admission is free Wednesdays from 1-7 p.m., and donations are accepted. For more information, call 910-829-9171 or visit www.fascinate-u.com.

  • 01coverUAC0062718001It’s America’s birthday this week, and there is no shortage of celebrations. Our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence 242 years ago. Their battle for freedom continued for eight more years before the colonies were freed from Britain’s grasp. In 1781, before America’s decisive win at Yorktown, the state of Massachusetts made July 4 an official holiday. It wasn’t until 1870 that Congress made it a federal holiday.

    Here is a list of local events celebrating the Fourth of July.

    Friday, June 29

    Field of Honor

    Visit the North Carolina Field of Honor, which is located at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum parade field downtown. Each flag on the field honors someone who has served or is currently serving in the armed forces. It is a salute to the modern patriots who have defended the hard-won freedoms the revolutionaries fought so diligently to claim almost 250 years ago. The flags come down July 6. Find out more at www.ncfieldofhonor.com.

    Saturday, June 30

    Cardboard Boat Race and Demolition Derby at Hope Mills Lake. The town of Hope Mills kicks of a weeklong celebration with a boat race. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be adult and youth races in single and multiple rower categories. Boats will be judged at noon with racing to follow. Boats will be judged on speed, style and spirit. All proceeds benefit Hope Mills Lake projects. Learn more at townofhopemills.com.

    The Hope Mills Lake CelebrationStreet Dance will take place 6-9 p.m. on Trade Street. It is free to attend. Food will be available for sale. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    SwampDogs baseball

    Enjoy America’s favorite pastime as the Fayetteville SwampDogs host The Heroes Grub and Suds Benefit Event in support of the Lone Survivor Foundation. The foundation offers therapeutic retreats for wounded service members and their families. Proceeds from this event will benefit the LSF, which is building an additional retreat facility in North Carolina. For more information on the LSF, visit its website at lonesurvivorfoundation.org.

    Local breweries, food trucks and business vendors will be on hand, and the swamp will be filled with fun activities, including a military member softball game. For more information, call 910-426-5900.

    Sunday, July 1

    A Star-Spangled Kind of Day

    From noon to 5 p.m., celebrate at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Enjoy a tasty treat from one of the food trucks that will be on-site. Indulge in a beverage from the garden cash bar, and listen to Open Road’s classic rock cover tunes. The band will play from 1-4 p.m. Embrace the backyard barbecue tradition on a grander scale with the many activities on tap – bounce houses, lawn games, crafts and more. This is a rain or shine event. Call 910-486-0221 for details.

    Heroes on the Water

    From 2-6 p.m., Heroes on the Water Combined Forces Chapter will be at Hope Mills Lake to provide active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and their family members an  opportunity to get on the lake for some kayaking and fishing. To register for the event or for more details, search the event on Facebook. Spectators are welcome but must provide their own seating. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    Church at the Lake

    Join Common Ground, a band from Hope Mills United Methodist Church, and musicians from Highland Baptist Church and Grace Place for the Inaugural Church at the Lake at Hope Mills Lake. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and get comfy around the gazebo. The event is free and runs from 6-9 p.m. Call 910-426-4109 to learn more.

    Independence Concert

    The City of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra come together Sunday evening to present a free concert in Festival Park. It’s free, open to the public and starts at 7:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on and then kick back and enjoy patriotic and popular works to celebrate Independence Day. There will be fireworks immediately following. Call 910-433-4690 for more information.

    July 2

    Art and Jazz at the Lake

    Hope Mills Lake offers Art and Jazz at the Lake from 6-9 p.m. Listen to cool jazz performed by The All-American Jazz Quintet while watching local artists paint by the lake shore. There will be activities for children, including crafts, water color painting and drawing. Peruse arts and crafts booths set up by North Carolina artists, and stop by Big T’s or one of the many onsite food trucks. Call 910-426-4109 or search the event on Facebook to learn more.

    July 3

    Beach Dance

    Hope Mills continues its celebration with a Beach Dance at Hope Mills Lake. DJ Ronnie will provide music, and local food trucks will be on-site with food for sale. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

    Wednesday, July 4

    Firecracker 4-miler

    The Fayetteville Running club hosts the Firecracker 4-miler at the North Carolina Veterans Park. The course winds through the beautiful, historic sites of downtown Fayetteville. The event runs from 7-10 a.m. and costs between $10 and $30. There is also a 1-miler event, which starts at 8:15 a.m. Call 910-494-6708 for more information.

    Fort Bragg’s Fourth of July Celebration

    Each year, Fort Bragg invites the public to its parade field for a fourth of July celebration to remember. There will be music, parachute freefall demonstrations, the popular flag ceremony,  fireworks, food and beverages. This year’s headliner is country music star Trace Adkins. The event runs from 3-10 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Call 910-396-9126 to learn more.

    Hope Mills’ July 4th Celebration

    This is a busy day in Hope Mills with a parade from 10 a.m. to noon followed by Party in the Park from 4-10 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park. There will be live music, bounce houses, horseshoe and washer tournaments, water slides, food and craft vendors and more. The celebration ends with fireworks, scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

    Red, White & Boat

    Spring Lake Outpost offers an entire day and evening filled with Americana. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy a day in the outdoors, floating down the river. Tickets cost $20-$60 an include a boat rental, local craft beer, sparkles and shuttle transportation. Call 910-248-3409 for more information.

    Thursday, July 5

    Hope Mills Food Truck Rally

    Every first Thursday July through September, Hope Mills hosts a food truck rodeo at Hope Mills Municipal Park. Enjoy outdoor music, great food, children’s activities, vendor booths and more. No seating is provided, so bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on. To learn more, call 910-426-4103.

  • 10SummerReadingThis summer, two library systems, Fort Bragg’s Throckmorton Library and Cumberland County Public Libraries, will host summer reading programs. The programs are designed to encourage reading among all ages through activities, events and prizes.

    The goal of these programs is to combat a phenomenon known as the “summer slide,” or summer learning loss. Summer slide is the tendency of students in the summer to lose some of the knowledge and academic skills they learned during the school year. Research shows, on average, students lose a month’s worth of school-learning over summer vacation, with declines in math and reading. The loss grows more substantial as student age increases. Reading is shown to help counteract the effects of the summer slide, and libraries hope to encourage readership through their summer reading programs.

    Fort Bragg’s summer reading program, held by Throckmorton Library, runs from June to July. Though it has already begun, anyone can sign up throughout the six weeks of the program.

    The program has an event each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The activities include the “Children’s Song Hour” on June 20 to help children learn letters, syllables, words and sentences  through music. The June 27 program is titled “The Parisian Juggler – Paris.” Another event is “Living in a Vacuum, the Liquid Nitrogen Show: Space” on July 11. This event will show science in action through experiments involving vacuum chambers and liquid nitrogen. July 18 is themed “Saddle Up ‘N’ Read with the Amazing Teacher, Steve Somers: Cowboys.” The program concludes on July 25 with “The Rockstar Magic of Chris and Neal.”

    All Throckmorton Library summer reading events are free and open to all ages. The summer reading program is sponsored by Fort Bragg Federal Credit Union, Triangle Rock Club, Pioneer Services and USAA.

    Cumberland County Public Library’s summer reading program began June 1 and ends August 15. Readers of all ages are encouraged to join, with the library hosting visitors such as Pete the Cat and Clifford the Big Red Dog. There will also be crafts and experiments focusing on science, technology, engineering and math. Readers who progress through the program will earn prizes. Teens and adults who participate may win gift cards. The gifts are provided by the Friends of the Library, and there is a limit of one prize per person.

    For more information on Fort Bragg’s summer reading program, and to register as a reader, visit: https://bragg.armymwr.com/promos/2018-summer-readingprogram.com

    For more information on Cumberland County Public Library summer reading program, and to register as a reader, visit: http://ccplbulletins.blogspot.com/2018/05/summer-readingprograms-because.html.

  • 09fourthFJune 22 marks 4th Friday in downtown Fayetteville. It is an exciting time the check out the new exhibits and activities. Every month, Cool Spring Downtown District sponsors a theme and coordinates with downtown businesses and galleries to host activities within that theme. It’s fun for the merchants as well as people who come to explore the small galleries, bookstores, bistros and shops while seeing exhibitors and artists of all types.

    This month’s theme is commUNITY, to celebrate the diversity within the community. Business owners will have posters set up with their stories of when they first felt like they were a part of the community, and a gift basket will be given away to those eligible after taking selfies with the stories of the owners.

    Every year, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County invites the community to submit artwork for its ever-popular unjuried exhibit, “Public Works.” More than 150 pieces of art representing the diversity and creativity of this community will be on display through July 21. For details, call 910-323-1776.

    The Ellington-White Gallery University Art Faculty Exhibit features the works of visual art faculty members from Fayetteville State University, Methodist University and Fayetteville Technical Community College. The exhibit will hang through June 30. Call 910-483-1388 for details.

    Fascinate-U Children’s Museum brings a touch of whimsy to each 4th Friday celebration with activities for children. This month, visitors can learn paper folding techniques to create three- dimensional sculptures. Visit www.fascinate-u.com to learn more about Fascinate-U and the many summer activities it hosts.

    The Market House of Cumberland County holds monthly exhibits on local history for 4th Fridays, and this month, World War I is on display in the “Fayetteville – ‘Over There’” exhibit along with its more permanent exhibit, “A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville.” Call 910-483-2073 to learn more.

    The Cumberland County Public Library will hold a local author showcase at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. Local authors will be available to meet and talk to the community about their books and many writings, providing the chance to recognize and learn more about local authors and the diversity of their writing inspirations. To make a reservation for a table at the annual Local Author Showcase, visit theartscouncil.com/opportunity/local-author-showcase-cumberlandcounty-public-library.com and follow the instructions for submission.

    The June 4th Friday event is all about the commUNITY and unifying those in the community, locals and tourists, with events, shopping, galleries, exhibits, artists of every kind, entertainment and more. Call 910-223-1089 to learn more.

  • 08smoke in his eyesThe oldest conveyor of human thought and emotion is storytelling. It manifests in art of all forms. From the symmetry of the Giza pyramids to the poetry of Maya Angelou to Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics, through and through, we somehow feel closer to humanity as art transforms and validates our existence. We know we need it, but how does inspiration for art come about? In the brain, the heart, the soul, the divine... magic? This is the driving question of Shane Wilson’s new book, “The Smoke in His Eyes.” City Center Gallery & Books will host Wilson’s premiere North Carolina book reading event Thursday, June 28.

    As a child, Wilson remembers how he fell into his imagination and conjured up stories. Now as an English teacher at Fayetteville Technical Community College, he has two novelsunder his belt. The latest book saw its publication release by GenZ Publishing on May 18.

    “The Smoke in His Eyes” tells the tale of musicians. TJ is haunted by a mysterious and traumatic childhood event that rears its ugly head in visions. Muna, who appears as ethereal smoke, attempts to help him understand the nature of his visions.

    “The book explores both of their individual reasons for creating art and their inspirations for it,” said Wilson.

    Much like his first novel, “Smoke in His Eyes” falls into the magical realism genre. But the story holds fast to real-world actions and emotions. According to Wilson, the book is very much a North Carolina book. An entire section is even devoted to seeing the protagonist in the Appalachian Mountains.

    The surreal elements of the narrative, in turn, heighten the mysterious events of everyday life.

    “The best parts of life are the parts we have a hard time explaining,” said Wilson. “That’s what I would consider the magic of life, so I just like to dial that up when I write fiction. As adults, we’ve lost that sense of wonder a little bit. But there’s something in people that still likes fantasy, that escapism.”

     

    Magic is just another word for inspiration, in Wilson’s words. After writing his first novel, his anxiety was, quite simply, having no new story to write. No inspiration to tap.

    One line sums up Wilson’s fear: You’re going to have to figure out what you’re going to write about when you’ve run out of stories to tell.

    Wilson’s fascination with the origins of inspiration ended up fueling the themes of his second novel.

    “What is the compulsion to create and what is the compulsion to share?” questioned Wilson. “Essentially, the art we create is the only evidence for the existence of inspiration.”

    “The Smoke in His Eyes” contemplates the role of inspiration in music. The main character is a guitarist. In fact, Wilson learned to play the guitar for this novel and even wrote the original songs featured in the book.

    His dedication to craft reveals itself also in his upcoming book reading at City Center Gallery & Books. According to him, the reading would be disingenuous without music.

    “The talks are going to be like a VH-1 storytelling situation where I’ll read a little bit and talk about it and then I’ll play a song,” said Wilson. “I think it’s an interesting wrinkle or spin on the old classic book reading.”

    Wilson hopes the discussions at the book reading pivot toward the intersections of the different arts and how those arts help us make sense of our own lives.

    “(My) book is for somebody,” Wilson said. “It’s just that those people have to find it, and readings give me an opportunity to do that. I love to talk about art, really. It’s less about talking about my own stuff than it is talking about books. It’s really exciting.”

    The reading will take place at City Center on 112 Hay St. from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 28. It is free and open to the public. Call the venue at 910-678-8899 for more information.

  • 10vegan festAudriaunna Kitterman is the first to admit she is still transitioning into a vegan lifestyle. She eats meat once and awhile, and the occasional fresh mozzarella. Changing what you’ve eaten all
    your life is no small task. But according to Kitterman, a movement to understand veganism and have more vegan food options in Fayetteville has been growing for some time. With her holistic training at the Prima Elements Holistic Wellness Center and veganism research in tow, Kitterman decided to establish the first Vegan Festival of Fayetteville, to be held Saturday, June 23.

    “I’m learning,” Kitterman said. “I’m understanding. I’m transitioning, and I know that there are other people within the (Fayetteville) community that are, too.”

    Three vegan food trucks are booked for the festival. One is coming all the way from Tarpon Springs, Florida; another from Charleston, South Carolina. A Venezuelan vegan food truck from Wilmington will be there as well. “They’ll have vegan arepas, which are completely to die for,” Kitterman said.

    Vendors of vegan-certified cleaning and cosmetic products are signed up. Educational booths and speakers on veganism will address misconceptions, transitioning and the health benefits.

    Five speakers from various disciplines are lined up for the festival so far.

    Jessica Carter works for the nonprofit Compassion Over Killing, based in Washington, D.C. As a vegan food and lifestyle coach, she will conduct a live talk and vegan cooking demonstration. Likewise, Dr. Amelia Jordan is a metaphysician, empath and vegan author leading a talk on bio-quantum physics.

    A holistic functional nutritionist will speak on the topic of the gut and the brain. A naturopathic expert is hosting an information session on the healing benefits of a vegan diet. Additionally, a board-certified life coach will speak on reiki and hypnosis treatment.

    According to Kitterman, certain misconceptions about veganism continue to persist in society. They relate to the nutritional merit of a plantbased diet, how and what to cook, and the culture of activism within the vegan community.

    Most notably, a vegan diet, which does not include meat, eggs or dairy, confronts the food pyramid mandate that a person needs a specific amount of meat for protein and dairy for calcium each day.

    Recent documentaries – “Forks Over Knives” and “Hungry for Change” – have shed light on major medical studies that posit the opposite. Doctors from the likes of the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard University contend meat and dairy aren’t as vital as they were once thought to be. In fact, meat and dairy increase the risk of various cancers and chronic illnesses. Vegetables, in turn,
    decrease those risks almost entirely.

    Another misconception, Kitterman said, can be summed up with this frequently asked question: Do you just eat salad all day?

    “You can probably do more with plants than you can with meats and other things,” she said. The possibilities are endless.”

    But it is the misconception about the culture of vegan activism that influenced Kitterman’s decision to put on the festival. According to her, many meat-eaters associate vegans with aggressive protestors. But for Kitterman and others, the lifestyle is a personal quest for a healthier relationship with food and the earth.

    Kitterman’s experience reflects the reality of the years it often takes to fully transition into veganism. She encourages those practicing all lifestyles to attend the festival.

    “If you’re not vegan, it’s okay. If you’re not vegetarian, it’s okay. Truly. Come,” Kitterman said. “Allow yourself to become educated. Try something new. Step outside of your comfort zone. Because the uncomfortable-ness means change. Change is growth, and growth is a beautiful, beautiful thing.”

    Along with its vendors and speakers, the Vegan Festival of Fayetteville will also feature flower planting for kids, drum circles and live entertainment.

    The festival is free and open to the public. It takes place at the Wellness Center on 124 Anderson St.,11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, contact the center at 910-483-8406.

  • 12Fayafter5Fayetteville After 5 presented by Bud Light brings Slippery When Wet, the Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute Band, to Festival Park. A local summertime entertainment staple, Fayetteville After 5 is set for Friday, June 8.

    “This is the second installment in our Fayetteville After 5 summer concert Series,” said Sarah Suggs, marketing and events coordinator. “We open at 5 p.m. with the music beginning at 6 p.m.”

    The event usually opens with local talent, and this concert is no different. This month’s evening will feature local band Matrix as the opening act.

    The purpose of the Dogwood Festival Organization is to provide free events for the community. “The After 5 series really helps us raise more money to go towards our Spring Festival,” said
    Suggs. “We want to make the festival bigger and better each year.” Suggs added that each event is a fundraiser for the next event.

    Slippery When Wet was formed in 2003 by Jason Morey. The band members are Jason Morey, Adin Stickle, Jimmi Botsford and John Martin. The band has played over 1,500 shows throughout
    the United States. They were the headliners for more than 60 cruises on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and played for the pre-game of Super Bowl 48 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In 2018, Morey was chosen to perform as the only impersonator to Jon Bon Jovi in the Legends in Concert show.

    “We are hoping this will be the most successful After 5 season yet,” said Suggs. “We look forward to a huge crowd – so come out and enjoy good food and music.”

    Food trucks will be on-site. Beer will be available for purchase. No outside food, coolers or beverages will be permitted. Bring your blankets and chairs. Gates open at 5 p.m.

    The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 910-323-1934.

  • 11brgg carlos menciaOn June 9, at 7:30 p.m., as part of Army Entertainment’s Summer Comedy Tour, Fort Bragg will host a show featuring Carlos Mencia, Trish Suhr and Jordan Rock.

    Mencia is a comedian best known for his work as the host of the Comedy Central show “Mind of Mencia.” Mencia has also appeared in movies, including “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Our Family Wedding.”

    With a wide range of styles, including man-on-the-street interviews, studio comedy, commercial parodies, nationwide sold-out tours and films, Mencia is known for his ability to connect with a large and diverse audience. According to the MWR website, “In the last couple years, Mencia chose to go back to his comedic roots, allowing him to share his newest material with smaller and more intimate audiences. In addition to touring, Mencia is continuously writing material for television pilots and upcoming comedy specials.”

    Performing with Mencia will be Trish Suhr, best known for her work on the video game “Grand Theft Auto V,” and Jordan Rock, who previously worked for “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.”

    The show will be held in the Sports USA Building, 3-2102 Longstreet Rd., Fort Bragg.

    “Sports USA has a capacity of up to 1,000 people depending on the event, but we expect 400 to 600 people based on the number of tickets we’re selling,” said Anika Stickles of the Fort Bragg Marketing Office.

    Parking is available on-site. For more information, go to https://bragg.armymwr.com/calendar/event/army-entertainment-summer-comedy-tour/2256401/26970 or call 910-907-0739.

    Tickets for the show are $20 and can be purchased in person at Sports USA or online through the website listed above. The show is available to anyone 18 or older, and the doors open at 6 p.m.

     

    PHOTO: Carlos Mencia

  • 19 N1808P16001HHave you ever found yourself not knowing how to navigate through a specific issue?

    I have been in this situation many times. Establishing a relationship with my mentor is what broke this cycle in my life.

    Growing up, I displayed a love for music. Dating back to even my diaper-wearing days, the rhythmic beats of drums captured my attention and motivated me. As I approached my teenage years, I wanted to play the drums at church. As I stepped closer to the drums at my church, I realized that I did not know how to play that shiny five-piece instrument and that I needed a teacher. What happened next was my game-changer. I heard the baritone, barren voice of the church’s drummer ask me, “Do you know how to play the drums?” I responded that I did not, and he became my drum teacher and eventually a trusted mentor.

    While enrolled in beginner drum lessons, I learned the mechanics of drumming and music performance. However, I also learned the value of character traits such as hard work, persistence and endurance.

    My teacher went beyond music; he became my first mentor. He routinely asked about my grades and never failed to remind me that drumming was secondary to my academics. He always sought ways to speak positively, encourage me and make certain that I knew he cared about me.

    Twenty plus years later, he and I still have an ongoing mentor/mentee relationship, and he continues to support me as I navigate manhood.

    Giving back to others has become my life’s mission, and being a mentor is my passion. I have worked in education for the past ten years in various capacities to share my passion. As the Male Mentoring Coordinator at Fayetteville Technical Community College, I provide academic support to enrolled male students as they work towards completing their programs and overcome common barriers that may impede their academic success. My recent efforts are aimed at developing literacy, employability and promoting a healthy lifestyle among the male students.

    Building meaningful relationships represents my overarching objective as a mentor. I often refer back to my younger days when I had a mentor and I try to model my mentoring approach after his “check and connect” model. At FTCC, I provide weekly “check and connect” conferences and group meetings with students whom I mentor. These meetings provide academic advising and personal support and also help students find and obtain work.

    It is a joy and privilege to guide students through their scholastic and personal endeavors. Everyone can benefit from additional support to reach success — whether personal, academic or professional. I invite you to join us for Fall semester; classes begin August 16, and you’ll have plenty of FTCC resources to help you find your way forward. At Fayetteville Technical Community College, Mentoring Matters! Contact me at wombleg@faytechcc.edu for information about how the Male Mentoring program at FTCC can help you.

  • 11 N1608P37005HThe Family Child Care Program at Fort Bragg is looking for in-home child care providers who live on post. The FCC offers free training, certification and assistance for providers.

    “The only providers that can actually be a part of the program are those that live in government owned or leased housing located on the post,” said Evelyn Eggins-Alston, Child and Youth Services program operations specialist for Fort Bragg.

    The program offers extended hours — whole day, part day, extended, overnight, weekends and hourly care in a comfortable home setting.

    “FCC is an integral part of our childcare system available at all Army garrisons,” said Eggins-Alston. “It provides quality home-based care for children 4 weeks to 12 years of age.”

    The program began in the early 1980’s and the certifications are transferable to other installations. It allows flexibility for the parents seeking childcare while alleviating some of the strain on regular Child Developmet Centers, where waiting lists are not uncommon.

    Those interested in becoming certified can go into the FCC director’s office located on the 4th floor of the Soldier Support Center on Fort Bragg or call 910-396-3823 for information.

    “They’ll have an interview and then will be provided paperwork and a welcome packet,” Eggins-Alston said. “There will be a background check and then will come the training they need. We will make sure their training is maintained and includes CPR, food handling, fire and safety, and more.”

    CYS oversees the program, but providers do enjoy some autonomy in how they run their service. The providers are free to choose what age group they are comfortable providing care for, and the limit for children per home depends on the ages in each house. Providers are their own entrepreneurs, but FCC does provide oversight tours and regulatory guidance and conducts four mandatory annual inspections and unannounced monthly visits, Eggins-Alston said. FCC offers subsidies along with some start-up bonuses for interested childcare providers.

    After the providers' week-long training and in-home inspections, they will create a contract with the parents on the hours and pay.

    In-home providers are independent of the Child Development Centers. “The way they get paid is they make a contract with the parents... we do have policies they can look at and decide how much they want to charge the parents, then what we will do at CYS, we offer 15% cost savings compared to our school programs for the parents.”

    The more qualified providers with the Child Development Associates will be eligible for a one-time $300 starting bonus and an additional monthly $50.

    Parents looking for childcare don’t have to live on post to take advantage of the service, but all children in care must be registered. For more information on registering children for care on post visit https://public.militarychildcare.csd.disa.mil/mccu/ui/#/

    “There shouldn’t be any children in the home that aren’t registered, because the children in the same house need to have the same immunizations as the other children," Eggins-Alston said.

    In-home providers offer flexibility that Child Development Centers, which have set hours, cannot.

    “Some parents are dual military or single parents, and they may need longer hours other than what our centers provide so the in-home provider can choose to go longer or more flexible hours,” Eggins-Alston said. “Maybe those that need weekend care, or during deployment, this program is there to pick up the slack where we can’t.”

  • 10 10 FTCCThe Paul H. Thompson Library at Fayetteville Technical Community College was awarded an $11,936 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to create a Makerspace Lab to serve FTCC students.

    Makerspaces are collaborative work areas with a variety of equipment. At the Paul H. Thompson Library, the grant will be used to purchase a computer, a 3D printer, a Raspberry Pi computer and a Cricut cutting machine, as well as furniture and related supplies to support curriculum programs and to improve learning outcomes of students.

    Library Director Laurence Gavin said the Makerspace Lab will be an active learning space where students will be able to work independently or in small groups to create, learn and share ideas to achieve their educational goals through access to a variety of educational technologies.

    The grant funds were provided by the Institute through the federal Library Services and Technology Act, which aims to help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services for their communities. The State Library of North Carolina administers the grant program in this state and funds projects in libraries across the state that advance excellence and promote equity by strengthening capacity, expanding access and community engagement.

    The Paul H. Thompson library received one of 47 competitive grants awarded to North Carolina libraries for fiscal year 2021-2022 from a federal allotment of $4.8 million. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

    Through the LSTA Grants to States program IMLS provides funds to State Library agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they may also distribute the funds through competitive subgrants to public and academic libraries. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

    For more information about North Carolina’s LSTA program visit the State Library of North Carolina’s LSTA web page at https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/services-libraries/grants-libraries/lsta-grant-information or contact the State Library’s Federal Programs Consultant at 919-814-6796.

  • 09 little girl book bagThe Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc., awarded the Cumberland County Public Library a $7,500 Summertime Kids Grant. Every summer since 1992, the foundation’s Summertime Kids Grants program has helped more than 1,000 youth have life-changing summer experiences.

    The library’s 2021 summer reading program serves children from birth through grades 6-12 at library locations. The library is using the Summertime Kids Grant to provide books and bags to children and teens attending summer camps offered by local nonprofits, neighborhood groups and other community organizations. 
     
    Cumberland County Public Library staff will visit camps from June through August at Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville Urban Ministry, Inc., the Salvation Army, Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation and Moore Street Foundation. Each child will receive two age-appropriate books and a book bag. Additional support for library’s outreach program to the camps is provided by the Friends of the Library.
    For more information on other free programs provided by the Cumberland County Library system, please visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.us or call 910-483-7727. For more information on the Summertime Kids Grants Program www.cumberlandcf.org/for-nonprofits/summertime-kids.html.
     
  • 08 2021 Sue Kelly Community Service AwardThe Fayetteville Public Works Commission received an American Public Power Association Sue Kelly Community Service Award June 22 during APPA’s National Conference in Orlando, Florida. The award recognizes “good neighbor” activities that demonstrate the commitment of the utility and its employees to the community.

    PWC partnered with the city’s downtown district to bring Prismatica, an interactive, public art installation, to light up the downtown after the city reopened following the COVID-19 shutdowns. “Prismatica-Powered by PWC” celebrated and highlighted the value of public power for a month and increased foot traffic by 30 percent, lifting both the economic outlook of businesses and the spirit of Fayetteville’s community.

    “PWC exemplifies the power of togetherness - the power of collaboration with their actions. They not only supply our growing region with quality/reliable infrastructure, but they believe in being good neighbors; and dedicating their resources to support the community,” said Bianca Shoneman, President and CEO, Cool Spring Downtown District, Inc.

    Annually, PWC employees have a strong commitment to the United Way of Cumberland County. In over 20 years, PWC employees have given more than $2 million in support of United Way. With donations projected to be down in 2020 because of the pandemic, employees stepped up and increased support by 9 percent with a $156,000 campaign.

    “PWC’s efforts and commitment to improving lives are evident in their work and through interaction with their staff,” says Amy Navejas, President, United Way of Cumberland County.

    “Their efforts stand out as they go above and beyond to encourage workplace support of those in need not only through generous financial support totaling over $2.2 million, but through volunteerism and dedication to numerous community events.”

    Throughout the years, PWC has remained service-driven and continues to implement various programs that greatly benefit its community. Other initiatives recognized by the APPA Award include:

    •Increasing awareness of bidding opportunities to keep more dollars in the local economy through its Building Business Rally initiatives.

    •Establishing a local Line worker program with Fayetteville Technical Community College, addressing concerns of an aging workforce, and need for line workers. PWC provides resources to the program including donating/setting the poles for the class pole yard.

    •Increasing renewable energy production, engaging customer participation in affordable renewable energy and lowering demand costs/customer rates by building NC's first Public Power Community Solar Project. The project provides Fayetteville’s transient military community, including renters, the ability to participate in solar energy without long-term rooftop solar investment.

    The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. The APPA represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 93,000 people
    they employ.

  • 07 N2108P16003HThe Cumberland County Department of Public Health is set to close the vaccination site at the Crown Coliseum on June 30 and focus vaccination efforts in other areas of the county.

    The Health Department will continue to host frequent vaccination clinics at the Health Department located at 1235 Ramsey Street in Fayetteville but will also continue outreach vaccination efforts to give county residents options which may be closer and more convenient for them.

    “Closing the Crown Coliseum is a natural next step for us in this pandemic as our numbers at the Crown have steadily declined,” said Dr. Jennifer Green, Cumberland County Public Health Director. “We look forward to continuing our outreach efforts and meeting the community where they are.”

    Cumberland County continues to see a downward trend of critical statistics according to June 21 data listed on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Dashboard. With an overall downward trend in positive cases, over 28% of the county population have been partially vaccinated, and 26% are fully vaccinated. These figures do not reflect Fort Bragg, Indian Health Service or the Veterans Affairs numbers.

    Cumberland County Department of Public Health supports the NCDHHS incentives to citizens to receive a chance to win a million dollars for those older than 18 years of age or $125,000 for those 12 to 17 years of age. More information can be found at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/summervaxcash.

    Cumberland County Updates

    The Health Department reports four Cumberland County residents have died of COVID-19 since June 11, bringing the total to 321 deaths. There have been 30,195 cases in Cumberland County reported since the onset of the pandemic.

    As of June 23, Cumberland County’s COVID-19 positive test rate is at 4.5%. The World Health Organization recommends a positive rate at or below 5%.

    Twenty-eight providers in Cumberland County offer vaccinations at 48 locations. Find your spot at https://myspot.nc.gov/ to become fully vaccinated.

    Vaccine Clinic Information

    All individuals (age 12 and up) may schedule appointments on the County’s COVID-19 vaccine page at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/covid19/vaccination. An online application form allows individuals to choose their own appointment date and time for the first dose and second dose of the vaccine. Second doses are automatically scheduled after the first dose is received.

    Upcoming clinic dates include:

    June 30, Crown Expo Center, 1960 Coliseum Drive (last day at the Crown), 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. for 2nd Dose Pfizer. The stand-by lane will be open.

    June 30, Murchinson Townhouses, 201 Rosemary St., 5-7 p.m. for the J&J vaccination.

    July 1, Health Department, 1235 Ramsey St., 3rd floor auditorium by appointment only (same day appointments available) from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for J&J and 1st dose Pfizer.

    July 6, 7, 8 vaccinations will be available at the Health Department, 1235 Ramsey St., 3rd floor auditorium by appointment only (same day appointments available) from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for J&J and 1st dose Pfizer.

    Visit www.cumberlandcountync.gov/covid19/vaccination to make an appointment. First and second doses are the same. Individuals may attend a “second dose clinic” to receive their first dose. However, they will need to find another location when due to receive the second dose. Call 910- 678-7657 weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you need assistance with the form or have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
    Individuals who need transportation to and from the vaccination site can call 910-678-7619 weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for assistance.

  • 06 N2108P16005HThe Cumberland County School District is partnering with Cape Fear Valley Health System to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics at local high schools. Individuals ages 12 and older can get vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine while supplies last. “We are excited to offer the opportunity for eligible students and their families to take their shot,” said Shirley Bolden, CCS Director of Health Services.

    “We encourage families to attend together, as getting vaccinated will help protect everyone from COVID-19.”

    Appointments are not necessary for these walk-in clinics. The first clinics will be held July 14, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (first dose) and Aug. 4, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (second dose) at Jack Britt High School, 7403 Rockfish Road; 71st High School, 6764 Raeford Road; South View High School, 4184 Elk Road in Hope Mills, Gray’s Creek High School, 5301 Celebration Drive; and Douglas Byrd High School, 1624 Ireland Drive. A second series of clinics will be held July 15, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (first dose) and Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (second dose) at Terry Sanford High School, 2301 Fort Bragg Road; E.E. Smith High School, 1800 Seabrook Road; Pine Forest High School, 525 Andrews Road; Cape Fear High School, 4762 Clinton Road; and Westover High School, 277 Bonanza Drive.

  • 05 Jack Britt athletes 2The Jack Britt Outdoor Track and Field team placed two athletes in the 2021 North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 4A Mideast Regional Championship Meet. Brian Marquis Jr. finished second in the 800-meter run at the regional championship, taking home the silver medal for Jack Britt. James Stover finished 3rd, taking home the bronze medal. Their finishes qualified them both for the State Championship. This was the first time Jack Britt has ever had two men's runners qualify for the Mideast Regional Championship in the same season in the 800-meter run. Both athletes were teammates in the 4 x 400-meter race which placed 4th overall, finishing two-tenths of a second behind the bronze medal team and also qualifying for the State Championship meet.

    Pictured above: Brian Marquis Jr. (left) and James Strover (right) 

  • 04 CPL Mojave LittlejohnA Fort Bragg paratrooper assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade died during an accident while en route to a training range on Thursday, June 17.

    Corporal Mojave Littlejohn, 21, a native of Roseville, Michigan, was a horizontal construction engineer, in 161st Engineer Support Company (Airborne), 27th Engineer Battalion (Airborne), 20th Eng. Bde. Littlejohn was involved in a collision while operating a military truck, resulting in his death.

    “Cpl. Littlejohn was an exceptional Soldier, friend and paratrooper,” said Lt. Col. Shawn Polonkey, commander, 27th Eng. Bn. “He had a larger than life personality, a razor-sharp wit, and an ever-present sense of optimism. He was incredibly proud to be a paratrooper, and unmistakably loved his family, his nation, and those with whom he served.”

    Littlejohn, a competitive weightlifter and fitness enthusiast, enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 2019. He was assigned to the 27th Eng. Bn. in September 2019 after completing Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and graduating from the U.S. Army Airborne School.

    He conducted airborne operations at Sicily and Luzon drop zones and served hundreds of hours behind the controls of bulldozers, excavators, graders and other heavy engineer equipment.

    “Cpl. Littlejohn was an integral part of the many important missions undertaken by the company, performing commendably,” Polonkey said. “We will keep this Rock paratrooper, his family, and his friends in our thoughts and prayers.”

    The incident is under investigation.

    Pictured Above: Cpl. Mojave Littlejohn 

  • 1A IMG 6781The U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum will open the "Traveling Korean War Memorial" on the Museum's Parade Field from June 25-28. The exhibit opens at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 25 and runs through 4 p.m. on Monday, June 28.

    “We are honored to host this inspiring memorial on the 71st anniversary of the start of the Korean War,” said Jim Bartlinski, Museum director. “This exhibit provides a visible and impactful reminder of the 5.8 million Americans who served during the Korean War, and the 54,246 who died during the conflict.”

    On opening day, Korean War veterans and former prisoners of war – Jake Roth, Bud Wilson and Dick Earl – will be available to provide interviews and share their personal stories of courage.

    The memorial consists of life-sized statues representing a platoon of 19 service members: 14 Army, three Marine, one Navy and one Air Force. The troops wear ponchos covering their weapons and equipment.

    The Korean War is sometimes called the "forgotten war." Nevertheless, it will never be forgotten by the tens of thousands of veterans who served during that conflict. The Museum currently has a Korean War section in permanent exhibit gallery.

    On June 26, author Melinda Pash will also visit the ASOM to discuss her book, “In the Shadow of the Greatest Generation: the Americans Who Fought the Korean War.” This event is free to the public and will take place in the Yarborough Bank Theater of the Museum at 2 p.m.

    The Traveling Korean War Memorial will be open and free to the public 24 hours a day for the duration and will be lit at night.

    2A korean war memorial poster JPEG

  • 22 Audra Ferguson freemomhugsThe month of June is observed as LGBTQ+ Pride Month and holds significance for members, supporters and
    allies.

    Several local organizations continue to strive for tolerance and inclusion. Leading the local effort is Fayetteville Pride, which focuses on instilling pride, celebrating unity and embracing diversity and inclusion while providing education and support within the LGBTQ+ community.

    When the organization started in 2017, Fayetteville Pride Board President Sam DuBois said he expected pushback, but most efforts have been met with a positive response.

    Fayetteville’s chapters of Free Mom Hugs and PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) offer various resources to the community.

    “We’re a group of moms and allies that get together either at events or we host things and we just celebrate the members of our LGBTQ community,” said Audra Ferguson, Free Mom Hugs Fayetteville/Sandhills chapter leader.

    Free Mom Hugs organization was established 2014 by Sara Cunningham, a southern Christian mother fighting for LGBTQ+ rights for her gay son. The organization became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2018. For more information visit, https://freemomhugs.org
    Ferguson said she joined when she met the local chapter at a Pride event with her two sons who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. She joined after she fell in love with their mission.

    “We go and give a hug to people who may just need a hug, we can be a stand-in parent if someone’s getting married and their family doesn’t accept that, we go and be their stand-in parent,” she said. “We just go out and support, be that for someone who doesn’t have it.”

    The organization also blocks protesters at Pride events, drag shows and more by standing guard without engaging.

    “In my group I always post different articles and resources to help people learn things they might not know,” Ferguson said.
    PFLAG Fayetteville works with parents and families and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals in providing support, education and advocacy.

    “Sometimes people come in with questions, sometimes they just want to observe what other parents are going through,” PFLAG Fayetteville Board President Devra Thomas said. “We are seeing less of let's not talk about it but more how do I talk about it, I need more information rather than this is not something I want to deal with.”

    The organization hosts monthly support meetings on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are currently over Zoom but are in the process of resuming into in-person meetings. For more details follow @pflagfayetteville on Facebook.

    “Back in spring I had a mom contact me through email whose teenager was starting to have questions about their gender identity,” Thomas said. “She just wanted to talk to somebody and asked what the right thing was that she was supposed to say, so we jumped on a phone call, had a great conversation.”

    “I identity as bi-sexual and have several family members who identity various ways,” Thomas said. “Pride month is a great month to see who else is in this space and fight for those rights. Any time we can get together and have a party and celebrate is great.”

    Thomas mentioned there is a slow and steady upward trajectory for continued interest in pride in Fayetteville. With more information shared and more public recognition, some have seen increased support for the LGBTQ+ community.

    Nadine Alonzo, a Major assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and recalls how things have changed over the years for members of the community even in the service.

    “I couldn’t let people get close to me, people who I loved and served with, because I didn’t want them to have evidence, not because I thought they would tell on me, but because if they ever put me in a military court martial or asked to testify, I didn't want to put them in that position,” Alonzo said. “This was between 2002-2011, so that was what it was like beforehand, and people now may not know that and that’s why history is important.”

    Alonzo said she has been lucky to be in the 82nd Airborne Division at Bragg and for their acceptance.

    “I look diverse, not like most ladies that serve, seeing me knowing you can probably guess what my sexual orientation is,” Alonzo said. “They are willing to look past that and look at me as an officer and give me a lot of opportunity which I am grateful for because that’s not always been the case.”

    Before gay marriage was legalized and it was legal by law to be gay in the military, she didn’t always feel accepted or comfortable during the days when “don’t ask, don’t tell” was the official policy for being gay in the military.

    “It was tough, it gets dark and lonely because you can’t let people get to know you because, back in the day if someone had evidence, I could get kicked out, so I had to be very careful,” Alonzo said.

    Originally from Long Island, New York, Alonzo joined the service after 9/11 to support her country and to give back to the country that helped her immigrant parents establish themselves.

    “To be an out person that other young people can see, and it probably helps them seeing me walk around in a leadership position, I am trusted by others and it legitimizes who I am and what I represent other than my rank and uniform,” Alonzo said.

    Representation is one way to help end the stigma still associated with the LGBTQ+ community.

    Alonzo said people often act tense when same sex couples show affection and she encourages people to relax, and to treat them the same as everyone else.

    Members of the LGBTQ+ community living their truth is perhaps one of the best examples for those who have questions or concerns, some advocates say.

    “The more we educate, the more people come around," Ferguson said. "It used to be so many years ago that it’s a choice, and well it’s not.”

    “There isn’t equality still and a lot of discrimination against the LGBTQ community — it's our hope to help that dissipate and make it better in the future for our children or our children’s children,” Ferguson said.

    For more information visit, http://www.FayettevillePRIDE.org/

    23 devra Pictured above: Audra Furguson is chapter leader of Fayetteville's Free Mom Hugs. 

    Pictured Left: Devra Thomas serves as Board President of PFLAG.

    Pictured below: Nadine Alonzo and her partner, just want to be treated like everyone else.  24 Maj 2  

  • 11 IMG 2395Here we go again, another Atlantic hurricane season to weather through — a long spell over the summer that traditionally runs from June through November.

    At least one named tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic prior to June 1 — which is the official start of the season — every year for the past half-dozen years.

    Fayetteville PWC reminds everyone that now is the time to start thinking about how you can prepare for the 2021 hurricane season.

    On their website, PWC has posted various sites for checklists, planning tips, FAQs and other resources for its service territory to help customers prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies.

    This season is expected to be another active Atlantic hurricane season with as many as 10 hurricanes forming, according to the federal government.

    “We’re prepared really at a moment’s notice for any emergency,” said Elaina Ball, the recently named CEO and general manager of Fayetteville PWC.

    The free PWC 2021 Storm Guide is now available. Besides being distributed directly to PWC customers, the guide will be available online. Not only does it contain information that pertains to electric and water, but there's an important added section on flooding.

    “It’s not just about the utility service,” Ball said. “It’s really about our community. Making sure they are prepared for everything.”

    As for PWC, Ball said the company is prepared year-round for any kind of storm emergency. “Our crews are a 24/7 operation,” she added. “We need to make sure that, not only on the power side but on the waste-water side, that our systems are prepared for extreme weather. We work year-round to conduct maintenance and make sure we have tools, equipment and materials to be able to respond during a significant storm event like a hurricane."

    “We’re really always on,” Ball said. “Our team works and lives in the community which is an added benefit during storm season. It helps reduce our outages when storms do come upon us so we’re not dispatching crews from other communities. We live and work here so that’s an added advantage of PWC and our workforce.”

    PWC already has an emergency plan of operations in place and is ready to implement it at a moment’s notice.

    “Should there be a hurricane,” she said, “we have an incident command structure able to respond to a hurricane to ensure that, first and foremost, puts the safety of the public and our employees at the forefront. But also that we can direct operations during those emergency events in a sufficient manner, making sure we get response to the highest areas of need to get the majority of customers back quickly and that we can provision our crews to get them what they need to get the power back on.”

    The municipal utility, Ball said, is continuously looking at ways to improve response time. “And I think one of the tools we have that really is going to help us during major storm events is our outage management system. We did just recently upgrade and this system allows the utility and customers to be able see real-time information relative to the status of our power.”

    Customers can sign up with the outage management system through the PWC online customer portal to get outage notifications even during normal times, not just during hurricane events.

    “If there’s a power disruption in your neighborhood and you’re out of power,” Ball said, “you will receive a message, and that will also notify you as soon as the power’s turned back on. At a higher level, the utility can see through the outage management system how many customers are out in an area based on how many outages are showing up in the system. It gives us a better idea of where to pinpoint trouble maybe, and that gets our crews to the areas where they can troubleshoot and make repairs more quickly.”

    Customers are encouraged to have a plan in advance of a looming hurricane.

    Jon Rynne, the chief officer for the PWC electric system, recommends that citizens have a plan for not dealing with power or possibly having a loss of water wastewater facilities during a hurricane or in the days that follow.

    Some of the general precautions often heard from Emergency Management, he said, “are definitely about buttoning up the house if you can. All the things that can become projectiles that can damage your property even further. From the other perspective of having all your things organized so that if you need to evacuate in the case of a flood or something of that nature, have them together so you can go before it’s too late.”

    Have non-perishable foods such as canned goods on hand to eat, Rynne said,so that when the refrigerator is out and customers lose power they still have something they can use to feed themselves and the family. Obviously, having a supply of water and be sure to follow guidelines for how much water you need for how many people you have in your home.

    In addition, consider putting together a “go box” with any important documents and medications that you can simply toss in your vehicle and leave if there’s a need to evacuate.

    In terms of more things specific to the electric system, Rynne said, people need to know what they can and can’t do with a generator: “Not back-feeding with your generator. If folks don’t know or don’t have the provisions in place that can safely inter-tie a generator with their home, they should not inter-tie them."

    “They should use extension cords and just plug in the really critical loads in your house so that you can get through the really critical loads that you need in your house to get through the period that you don’t have power,” he advised. “Because it becomes a very dangerous situation if you back-feed the high-voltage system, and we’re trying to do restoration efforts. It obviously presents quite a hazard and when the guys do restore power, if you are in that condition, you’re going to have a lot of damage to the service on your house and that generator when we restore.”

    Generators should be installed per code and properly, according to Rynne. When people take shortcuts, he noted, that’s when it gets a lot more dangerous.

    “That is an issue we always run into,” he said, “particularly if there’s a long outage and people get to the point where they just can’t stand it without having the generator running.”

    Another suggestion is that people do their routine tree trimming and removal that they should do in their yards. That’s because when a hurricane rolls through, anything of that nature comes down.

    “So, unfortunately, the utility can only clear trees within the right of ways and easements that they have,” said Rynne. “And if people have dangerous trees in their yards, the hurricane’s going to bring it down and it can cause damage to the system and cause outages. So there’s a lot of pieces and parts to it.”

    Carolyn Justice-Hinson, spokeswoman for Fayetteville PWC, also said much can be prevented with the right planning.

    The utility’s customers with medical equipment eligible for the medical priority program can be made a priority in emergency weather situations, she said. This requires a doctor’s certification. Call to find out more about the program.

    For more information on how to prepare for hurricane season visit www.faypwc.com/ call 910-483-1382.

    Pictured Above : A utility crew works to repair service after severe weather. (Photo courtesy PWC) 

     

  • 10 dogs in yardCumberland County residents who own pets will no longer be required to pay a pet privilege license effective July 1. The change is part of the revised Animal Ordinance approved June 7 by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting.

    Commissioners adopted the new ordinance after the proposal was presented at the May 13 Agenda Session meeting by Animal Services Director Elaine Smith. Dropping the pet license fee was one of several changes in the new ordinance. Smith told commissioners the pet license program was no longer economically practical due to a decline in fees collected.

    “The revenue declined rapidly and significantly over the last five or six years, and it has reached the point where the revenue generated is not making up for the amount of labor, the cost of mailing, postage and fees we pay to our database company,” Smith said. “It has a very shrinking benefit over returns.”
    Most counties in North Carolina do not have pet
    licenses, Smith said, and the Animal Services Department found the licensing requirement to be a disincentive for people getting their pets vaccinated against rabies.

    Current Cumberland County regulations require a pet privilege license for every dog and cat four months of age and older. The annual fee is $7 per animal if the pet is spayed/neutered, or $25 if the pet is not spayed/neutered. Licenses were available at the Animal Services office or through most veterinary clinics.

  • 09 fans croppedThe Department of Social Services is seeking box fans to distribute to eligible citizens this summer through the Fan Giveaway Program. The program provides relief to residents who do not have access to air conditioning during hot summer months. DSS is accepting donations of new box fans from civic organizations, churches, businesses and individuals in the community. The Social Services building is closed to the public so donors are asked to make an appointment to drop off fans. Call 910-677-2536 for more information.
    Citizens eligible for the Fan Giveaway Program are those individuals whose income falls below 200% of the current poverty level or who have a family member in the home under the age of 2, over the age of 60, or with a heat sensitive medical condition. Citizens are asked to call 910-677-2388 or 910-677-2389 to speak with a social worker and have an assessment completed. Eligible citizens will be given a date, time and location for fan pick up. DSS is located at 1225 Ramsey St.

  • 08 TaxPuzzlePiecesHC1604 sourceFayetteville and Cumberland County property tax rates will remain as they are in the 2021-22 Fiscal Year which begins July 1. The city of Fayetteville’s operating budget will be $240.3 million. “I’m very pleased that we are able to continue our high level of service to residents,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said. “We’ve been able to focus on key strategic areas as set forth by Council.” The property tax rate will remain at $49.95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Cumberland County's property tax rate will also remain the same at $79.9 cents per $100 of property value. County Manager Amy Cannon’s $502 million budget plan includes more than $340 million for the county's general fund and $83 million for the school system. Most school funding is provided by the state. Cannon said she had expected to see a revenue drop over the course of the last year, but that didn’t happen. In FY22, sales tax revenue is expected to go up by close to $10 million. The city and county will receive combined stimulus funding of more than $113 million through the American Rescue Plan.

  • 27 school uniformsThe Cumberland County School Board has approved a policy change for the 2021-2022 school year which ends a requirement in 26 schools that students wear uniforms. Families will still have the option of allowing their children to wear uniforms when they return to school in the fall. Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., gave the Board of Education an update on the district's school uniform requirements. He said the negative, financial impact of COVID-19 presented the need to modify school policy. Connelly said the waiver will provide sufficient time for the district to determine an appropriate path forward at each school. There will be no consequences imp sed upon students for uniform violations; however, student dress code requirements will remain in place. According to Dr. Connelly, the administration will provide another update to the Board in the coming months.

  • 07 police do not cross crimeTwo 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers were found dead in a barracks room on Fort Bragg June 11. Spc. Joshua Diamond, 35, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Pfc. Matthew Disney, 20, of Aberdeen, Maryland, are possible victims of drug overdoses. “We do have credible information that the soldiers were involved with illicit drugs,” said Chris Grey, spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Diamond and Disney served as field artillery radar operators and were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones and fellow paratroopers during this difficult time,” said Col. Phillip J. Kiniery III, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Both men joined the Army in 2019. Diamond was a combat veteran having deployed to Iraq in 2020.

  • 06 Chrysostom ManuelThe Greek community and much of Fayetteville are mourning the loss of Rev. Chrysostom Manuel, Pastor Emeritus of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. He died on June 11, following a period of declining health. He was 89. Manuel served the Fayetteville community for 37 years retiring as an active priest in August 2000. During his time in Fayetteville, the church sanctuary was built in 1964, with classical Byzantine iconography and architecture. The church was consecrated in 1984, and the education building with a library was completed in 2005. In 1964, Fr. Manuel became the first Orthodox clergyman to earn a master's degree from the Duke University Divinity School. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Amphitrite Anthoula Constantelos Manuel, four children and eight grandchildren.

    Pictured: Rev. Chrysostom Manuel 

  • 21 N1912P35012H Open businessA lot has certainly changed since this time last year, therefore, inevitably so have the markets. And maybe you have decided it’s time to own your own business and do what you’ve been putting off for years. As a potential buyer or entrepreneur, it is important to understand which industries you might be interested in, what types of businesses find success in your area, etc., in order to find the right business to buy.

    Buying an existing business already comes with several benefits. For instance, an existing operational and financial history (i.e., you are not starting from scratch), offers less risk. Particularly this past year, surviving businesses had to change and/or evolve to stay afloat uring lockdowns and capacity limitations. By purchasing an existing business, you inherit this insider knowledge.

    Of course, choosing the right business goes beyond surviving the pandemic. There are a few personal elements to consider and evaluate:

    1. What is your current lifestyle?

    2. What are your skills and strengths?

    3. What is your target market? In what industry? Have both factors been positively or negatively influenced by the pandemic?

    4. Where are you located? Where will your business be located?

    5. What are your price parameters?

    First and foremost, do you already own several businesses? Are you hoping to add another to your portfolio? In this case, you may need to look for something that does not need much day-to-day involvement as you may already have your hands full. Or, are you free as a bird and looking for your next large project? In this scenario, a business that needs a more hands-on approach may be better suited for you. This goes hand-in-hand with your skills and strengths. Depending on your level of involvement, you will need to choose a business that falls within your skillset. Does it need help with its marketing? Are there operational or inventory issues? Is it a computer-based business or more consumer-facing? You do not want to get involved in a business that does not fall within your comfort or skill level.

    Next, you need to consider what industry you’d like to enter — and therefore, your target audience, as well. Is this business within fashion and beauty or IT support? Although both can impact large groups of people, you should narrow down what your specific consumer might look like. Understanding this will help you best perform within specific marketing and sales parameters.

    Finally, two very important things to consider that will also affect each other — location and pricing.

    Before you buy a business, think about whether you know and understand consumer preferences in the market area or segment of your choice. Although you can virtually run a business from anywhere, is that the best option for you specifically? Keeping that in mind, location will also inevitably affect business’ sales price. You need to figure out what you are willing to invest, and how long until you may see a return on your investment.

    Contact us today to get started on your path to entrepreneurship. Transworld Business Advisors has created the Buyer Match program that will match you with businesses that meet your criteria when searching for the right business to buy. With a wide array of businesses for sale, our advisors can help you narrow down your wish list and find the perfect business based on your criteria.

  • 20 virtual dataSome people may think the world runs on Dunkin’ when in fact, it runs on data! You may think money makes the world go around when actually, data makes the money that makes the world go around. Have you ever heard the saying, “Behind every great man, there’s a great woman”? There is a line in a Beyoncé song that says, “I hear you be the block but I’m the lights that keep the streets on.” Money is that “great man that is the block.” And data is that “great woman that keeps the street lights on!”

    Data is changing the face of the world in many ways. From our devices tracking our every move to artificial intelligence, data is at the root of it all. Businesses thrive on data to help improve processes, save money and maximize profits. Decision-makers rely on data to help make key decisions on business practices and processes. Data helps find solutions to problems that are as close to predicting the future as humanly possible. Data helps businesses be extremely strategic in their approaches to
    success.

    Data is extremely important. It molds everything we do so it’s vital that it is managed properly, kept secure and accessible immediately. The Information Technology Database Management curriculum program at Fayetteville Technical Community College prepares graduates for this purpose.

    Course work includes the development of a student’s ability to understand the role of databases and database management systems within the field of Information Technology, to demonstrate knowledge of SQL data definition and SQL, to develop queries to extract information from large databases, and to implement a database solution in the area of Information Technology. Graduates understand the components of how information support systems and services work and are able to create, store, communicate, exchange and use information to solve technical issues related to database administration.

    Graduates should qualify for employment in entry-level positions within the database administration field providing support to database administrators wherever reliance is on computer systems to design and management information. The program will incorporate the competencies of industry-recognized certification exams.

    As the “keeper of data,” you will be responsible for ensuring the database is functioning proper, secure and is available to pertinent users. You are also responsible for ensuring that necessary backup and recovery plans are in place, if a database should suffer loss. You should be familiar with and support the different technologies that are used for a database to function at its optimal level, while providing support to data managers.

    The duties of some systems administrator technicians include managing database environments as well as planning, implementing, configuring, and administering various database managements systems. They are also required to implement, configure, administer and secure database applications.

    Data is a fast growing, highly lucrative field. FTCC will prepare you for what’s needed to enter the field of data. Sign up to take classes today. Fall classes begin Aug. 16. For more information, please contact Tomica Sobers at sobersto@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-7365.

  • 09 Carla Fagan3In honor of June 19th, known as Juneteenth, Up & Coming Weekly sat down with Dr. Carla Fagan, Director of the Social Work Program and Associate Professor of Social Work at Methodist University. We asked her to help us understand the history and continued relevance of Juneteenth.

    Can you explain the significance of Juneteenth?
    Dr. Fagan: Juneteenth is short for June 19th. On June 19, 1865, Major Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, with orders to read General Order Number 3 — a proclamation stating that all enslaved people were to be set free. “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involved an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

    Most people know that Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, freeing enslaved people. There are many versions of why this news did not reach Texas, but it did not until June 19, 1865.

    For African American people, Juneteenth is Independence Day, Freedom Day - the official end to enslavement. Juneteenth represents many different things to different people. Juneteenth is a day to remember, a new beginning. It is a day to celebrate the resilience of our people, to bring families together to reflect, to educate, raise awareness about the many challenges faced by African Americans — how far we have come and how far, still, we have to go, to reach that place of total freedom, equality, equity and inclusion.

    How does Juneteenth compare to other days of remembrances?
    Dr. Fagan: Juneteenth is not as well-known as other remembrances. While it is celebrated in 48 of the 50 states, efforts to make it a national holiday have not yet been successful. Most recently, Sen. Ed Markey (D) introduced S.475-Juneteenth National Independence Day Act earlier this year. One could compare Juneteenth to Independence (July 4th), Armistice Day (now Veteran’s Day-Nov. 11th), or International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27th). These days of remembrance are about freedom — the end of British rule, the end of WWI, the freeing of the Jewish people in Auschwitz. All represent a new beginning, as does Juneteenth. All represent the mandated end of oppression, enslavement, genocide, but also signal the beginning of a new struggle to keep the freedoms won. Juneteenth inspires African Americans to remember the resilience of our ancestors, celebrate their victories and educate and motivate our children to follow their dreams.

    How do you celebrate Juneteenth personally, and how can others?
    Dr. Fagan: As an African American woman, Juneteenth is a great time to reflect on who I am, where I came from and where I am going. I take great pride in my heritage. My people have had to be stronger, more resilient, more determined and more skilled, just to survive. Historically, African Americans have had to be twice as good to get half as far. Living while Black can be hazardous to one’s health if one does not remain ever vigilant and wary. Living with micro-aggressions and being the target of explicit and implicit bias can be very tiring and wearing on the psyche. Juneteenth is a time of reflection, new inspiration and renewal.
    “We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in his Holy Word, He’s never failed me yet…” (lyrics by Carlton Pearson). Juneteenth is a time to renew spirit, mind and body.

    Juneteenth is a time to spend with family, reconnect with our history, our heritage and share this heritage with others. Juneteenth celebrations are filled with educational activities, family reunions, games, decorations, symbols, sharing all the greatness of African American history. Juneteenth is also an opportunity for African Americans to embrace others and share our history with the rest of the world. This world can only celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion if we all learn to practice these principles in our everyday lives.

    How can we honor Juneteenth and be better allies in general?
    Dr. Fagan: This country has committed a huge disservice to all people in that history has been distorted, sanitized and plain lied about. There are hundreds of historians who have carefully researched American history and have exposed the many untruths told in our history books. Recently, many more people are becoming aware of this and are asking to learn the “truth.” The willingness of people to recognize the distortions in our history books is a first step to learning the truth. Education, affirmation, understanding, all play an important part in laying bare the real history of this country.

    Why did it take 2 1/2 years for the enslaved people of Texas to learn that they had been free for 2 1/2 years? Why, in 2021, are African Americans still fighting for the right to vote? Why must I teach my son how to respond if stopped by the police? Why must I still be twice as good to get half as far?
    Allies have stepped up all through the Civil Rights Movements and have marched shoulder to shoulder, sacrificed their lives and freedom, stood by to the end. That kind of commitment is still vital in the struggle of African Americans to achieve equity and inclusion.

    Considering recent events and the racial injustices being highlighted in the country, what can we do as individuals in terms of activism, education and more, to be supportive and fight injustice?
    Dr. Fagan: Fighting injustice requires one to be a strong proponent of social justice, equity, inclusion and diversity. Having said that, one must be willing to learn, think, examine one’s personal values and take a stand.

    The Black Lives Matter movement encompasses people from all races, ethnicities, etc. This has been somewhat downplayed by media. Black Lives Matter is a vehicle through which all people can take a stand for equity and inclusion. Over fifty years ago, the Freedom Riders, young people — Black and white — risked their lives to integrate interstate transportation. They took a stand.

    One of the ways change takes place is by communicating, one-on-one, with a person with a different point of view. We must communicate with people who view African Americans as less than, and, one by one, deconstruct their arguments. This requires that we have the facts to back up our points. There are still people out there who respond positively to facts.

    When you witness a micro-aggression or implicit bias, don’t just ignore it. If someone tells a racist joke in your presence, call them on it. We must learn to have the courage of our convictions.

    If you witness unwarranted aggression against African Americans, speak up. And, yes, doing the right thing is not always the easiest thing.
    Elected officials at every level make policy that impacts social justice. We must elect people to office who support equity and inclusion. Sadly, we have learned that bias transcends political party. We must carefully scrutinize the positions of candidates regarding social justice.

    Are there any books, clubs, movies that can help educate people?
    Dr. Fagan: There is a wealth of information out there. We just need to want to find it. Some of my favorites are: “13th “ directed by Ava Duvernay on YouTube and Netflix; “Amend” on Netflix, and any book written by Ibram X. Kendi (“Stamped From the Beginning”). Authors James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Michelle Alexander, Ijeoma Oluo are among my favorites. Circa 1865 is an organiza
    tion in Fayetteville that will sponsor a Juneteenth Virtual Festival this year. Organizing Against Racism Cumberland County is committed to educate the community and take action against racial inequities, wherever they exist. Juneteenth.com, is a repository of information about this historic day.

    You marched and participated in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. What can you share about your experiences?
    Dr. Fagan: Growing up in New York City, I did not regularly experience overt racism. I could eat a hotdog and drink a Nehi at the counter in Woolworths on 125th Street in Harlem as a child in the early 1950’s thanks to the efforts of Adam Clayton Powell. I remember visiting family in North Carolina, moving to the back of the bus, drinking from the “colored” water fountain, sitting in the balcony in the movie theater in Plymouth, North Carolina, and not fully understanding why.
    I first became aware of the bigger issues at age 10 when I brought an article for current events to school that was about a boycott in Clarendon County, South Carolina. When my teacher asked me why I chose that article, my response was that I felt sorry for the people who were conducting the boycott because they were losing their jobs because they were fighting for civil rights. Further discussion led to a food drive by my elementary school to support the people of Clarendon County participating in the boycott.

    Growing up in New York City (Brooklyn) gave me opportunities I probably would never have had in other parts of the country. I attended Hunter College High School after elementary school. I had to pass a test to get into Hunter. I attended City College of New York (now City College of CUNY) — free tuition — and am a founding member of the Onyx Society, the first Black student organization at CCNY.

    Upon graduation, I worked full time in corporate New York. I joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and volunteered in the New York office. I later joined the Black Panther Party. The activism of my youth taught me many lessons. I learned that the country that I thought I was a citizen in was the country that wanted to keep me oppressed, depressed and a failure. But I was blessed to have the tools to fight back and that is what I did.

    Is there a parting thought you’d like to share with our readers?
    Dr. Fagan: If you shake a bottle of soda and take off the top, the explosion is all that Juneteenth brings forth when an African American is asked to respond to it. Juneteenth is celebration, introspection, raising awareness, intrusion, education, frustration. Juneteenth can invoke anger, pain, grief, emotions that keep us connected to our reality. This is a huge topic, needing much more than one article to do it justice, but this is a good start. Thank you for the opportunity!

    Pictured above 14 Juneteenth Plaque Texas wiki12 27 0309a we march: Dr. Carla Fagan 

    Pictured on left: Photograph of the Civil Rights March on Washington Aug. 28, 1963. (photo courtsey National Archives)

    Pictured on right: A plaque in Texas commemorates Juneteenth. (photo courtesy of Wikipedia) 

  • 05 Fitchpatrick StephanieUNC Health Southeastern has appointed two new directors: Stephanie Fitchpatrick as director of critical care services and Magenta Smith as director of inpatient services.

    Fitchpatrick earned a bachelor in nursing degree in 2020 and a master’s in science nursing degree in 2021, both from Chamberlain School of Nursing in Chicago. She also earned certification as a national registry paramedic from Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio, in 2006.

    Before joining UNC Health Southeastern as emergency services coordinator in February 2019, Fitchpatrick held various nursing roles including head nurse/unit educator, flight nurse/crew manager, paramedic, staff nurse, and community educator.

    Fitchpatrick lives in Fayetteville with family.

    Smith earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst in 2001. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2005 and is currently pursuing a master of science degree in nursing, both from UNC Pembroke.
    Smith has worked for UNC Health Southeastern for 20 years in the following nursing roles: nurse manager, clinical effective nurse and staff nurse.

    A native of Robeson County, Smith currently lives in Fairmont with her family.

    06 Smith Magenta

    Pictured : Stephaine Fitchpatrick (above) Magenta Smith (bottom). 

  • 04 N1204P47005CStudents who graduated from a North Carolina high school in 2021 may be eligible for grants of $700-$2,800 a year for two years if they enroll this fall at one of the state's 58 community colleges.

    The new Longleaf Commitment Program provides grants, not loans. Funds do not have to be repaid. The program starts for the Fall 2021 semester and will conclude at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

    Here are the eligibility requirements:

    •2021 graduate of a North Carolina high school.

    •Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes.

    •Be a first-time college student (Career & College Promise and Early/Middle College High School students are eligible).

    •Enroll in a curriculum program during the 2021-22 academic year with at least 6 credit hours per semester.

    •Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2021-22.

    •Have an Expected Family Contribution from $0 – $15,000. (EFC is based upon student’s FAFSA determination).

    •Renew FAFSA for the 2022-23 academic year and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the college
    The program will supplement the federal Pell grant and existing aid with the aim of helping students earn an associate degree and/or credits to transfer to a four-year college of university in North Carolina.

    Students do not have to make a separate application for a Longleaf Commitment Program grant. They will be automatically considered for the grant upon applying to FTCC for Fall 2021. Those who meet the eligibility requirements will receive an award letter from the financial aid office.

    For information about FTCC’s admissions process visit www.faytechcc.edu/apply-now/ftcc-admissions/#steps or contact the Admissions office at admissions@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-8473.

    For more information about the Longleaf Commitment Program visit www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/student-services/north-carolina-longleaf-commitment-grant

  • 03 National Indoor Soccer LeagueA new sports federation is including Fayetteville among its franchises. The National Indoor Soccer League says Fayetteville's Crown Coliseum will be home to men’s and women’s teams. The Fayetteville Fury will participate in the NISL's inaugural season which will begin in late December. Inspired by his four daughters, NISL executive board member Joshua Blair saw the opportunity to break new ground beyond bringing professional soccer to the host cities.

    "Let’s face it! There is a lack of professional sports teams where our girls can interact with and emulate the male athletes," he said. The NISL will be the first professional indoor soccer league in the country to have both men’s and women’s divisions.

    "It is nonstop action and it’s going to be great for the city of Fayetteville and the surrounding area," said team co-owner and operator Andrew Haines. The NISL was formed in January and its first franchise, the Memphis Americans, was unveiled in
    late April.

  • 23 Chemours logoThe Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has decided to engage a law firm to deal with Chemours contamination of well water in the Gray’s Creek area. “Developing a long-term financially sustainable water system that will address GENX contamination is one of this board’s top priorities,” said County Commission Chairman Charles Evans. County Manager Amy Cannon noted the county has been in discussion with Chemours for a year and a half about funding a public water system to address the contamination of private wells in the area near Chemours’ Fayetteville Works plant on the Cumberland-Bladen County line. “We had hoped to be able to resolve it to our mutual satisfaction,” Cannon said. “At this point, we believe the next step is to hire a legal team to assist us with funding.” Cannon has projected that it will cost about $64 million to build a water system in the Gray’s Creek area. Commissioner Toni Stewart, who lives there, said her neighbors are worried about their health. “Ultimately the sooner we can get a public water system in place the sooner we can mitigate this serious public health issue,” said County Attorney Rick Moorefield. In January 2020, Cumberland County Commissioners agreed to set aside $10.5 million to help pay for public water in the area. The first phase would provide water along Alderman Road and the Gray’s Creek Elementary Schools.

  • Judge John TysonAppeals Court Judge John Tyson has been cleared of an assault allegation after a state prosecutor said there is no evidence of a crime.

    “My client is pleased to hear of the rightful dismissal of the summons against him,” attorney David Courie said in a statement released today. “False allegations should be dismissed. It is bad enough to be falsely charged and to suffer a rush to judgment by some despite the evidence, but it need not be followed up by blind prosecution.”

    In May, Myahtaeyarra Warren swore to a magistrate that Tyson committed assault with a deadly weapon by attempting to hit her with his SUV. Warren had been protesting in the vicinity of the Market House in downtown Fayetteville when Tyson drove his vehicle around the traffic circle on May 7.

    At least two other protestors reported witnessing the incident, claiming people had to “jump back to not get hit by the vehicle” and “people standing on the mural section had to back up to the fence…”

    The charge was referred to the independent Conference of District Attorneys after the local District Attorney’s office recused itself from handling the case, citing conflict of interest as Judge Tyson hears direct appeals of cases prosecuted in the county.

    According to Cumberland County Court documents released June 11, “the State obtained, reviewed, and agreed to release six different city cameras that captured various aspects of the described event.”

    The state reviewed the footage with Warren on June 10. “After this review, Ms. Warren and her mother acknowledged that Ms. Warren was standing on the sidewalk, leaned up against the fence before, during, and after Tyson’s car passed by them. Tyson’s car never moved towards Ms. Warren or any other protestor present.”

    The Dismissal document goes on to state that “the State finds no credible evidence that a crime was committed … the video evidence clearly shows no interaction between Ms. Warren and Mr. Tyson and no evidence of an assault.”

    The document further provides that “none of the three people on the circle side of the street reacted in any way to Mr. Tyson’s vehicle passing.”

    After the summons was dismissed, Courie elaborated on Tyson’s service as a lawyer, judge, professor and local businessman. “He has spent his life taking responsibility, caring for his family and others, and investing and giving back to his hometown and state.”

    “Our laws and criminal justice system cannot support the opportunistic use of the law and smearing of honest reputations earned over a lifetime of work and contributions to our state,” Courie said in a statement. “It can ruin lives and reputations, undermine the credibility of actual criminal acts, and result in the wasting of valuable local law enforcement and court resources in our community.”

    Pictured: Judge John Tyson courtesy nccourts.gov

  • 11 MU Golf National ChampsMethodist University erased a four-shot deficit on the final day of the NCAA Division III Women's Golf National Championship in May and scored its 26th Championship.

    “To say I am excited is an understatement,” said head women’s golf coach Tom Inczauskis as his team was greeted on campus by students, faculty and staff after the long trip from East Lansing, Mich.

    “I am so proud of the players and all they’ve overcome during this COVID-impacted school year and athletic season.”

    Combined with the success of the men’s golf team, which finished as the national runners-up, the MU women brought home the Monarch’s 38th national championship in golf.

    The women’s team — consisting of Ingrid Steingrimsen, Jillian Drinkard, Paige Church, Maggie Williams and Abby Bloom, and led by Inczauskis and assistant coach Brock White — took over second place from George Fox University with Day 2’s tournament-low round of 300, inching to within one stroke of leader Carnegie Mellon University.

    CMU extended that narrow margin to four strokes but was unable to hold off Methodist in the final round.

    The deficit was down to a single stroke after three holes, was erased on No. 4 and tilted in Methodist’s favor on the par-4 sixth hole, when the Monarchs played the hole in even par while CMU played it in three over.

    That three-stroke advantage grew to as many as six before Methodist settled for a five-stroke victory and its national title.

    “I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work, sacrifice and days on the road,” added Inczauskis. “They came together as a team. They played their best golf when they needed it most. They stayed upbeat and positive throughout the event. I hope they enjoy the moment with their families, friends and supporters. They had one of the greatest seasons in Methodist women’s golf history and I look forward to our future successes together.”

    At Oglebay Golf Resort in Wheeling, W.Va., the MU men’s golf team took home second place in the national championship tournament. A pair of Methodist golfers — Cooper Hrabak and Andre Chi — finished in the Top 5 in individual scoring.

    Hrabak ended in a two-way tie for second place. That is the highest finish by a Methodist golfer in the NCAA championships since Jeff Wells in 2015. Chi finished in a two-way tie for fourth place and just one stroke back of Hrabak.

    Methodist secured its spot in second place early in Round 4, then finished 11 strokes ahead of third-place Guilford College, falling short of Illinois Wesleyan University for the title by 13 strokes. The MU men’s golf team’s most recent NCAA Championship was in 2018.

    You can find additional information on the women’s and men’s championship matches at mumonarchs.com

  • 08 outdoor group healthy livingWith more COVID-19 vaccinations across the country, many Americans are looking forward to resuming their lives and returning to normal. This June, during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association — Eastern North Carolina Chapter is encouraging residents to make brain health an important part of their return to normal.

    “The past year has been extremely challenging for most Americans,” said Lisa Roberts, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Association — Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “Chronic stress, like that experienced during the pandemic, can impact memory, mood and anxiety. As North Carolina residents begin to return to normal, we encourage them to make brain health a priority.”

    The Alzheimer’s Association offers five suggestions to promote brain health and to help North Carolina residents restore their mental well-being.

    Recommit to Brain-Healthy Basics

    Evidence suggests that healthy behaviors took a backseat for many Americans during the pandemic. Gym memberships were put on hiatus, social engagement became more challenging and many Americans swapped out healthful eating for their favorite comfort foods, take-out meals and frequent snacking while working remotely. One study published recently found participants gained nearly 1.5 pounds per month over the past year, on average.

    The Alzheimer’s Association — through its U.S. POINTER Study — is examining the role lifestyle interventions,including diet, may play in protecting cognitive function. Right now, many experts agree that people can improve their brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline by adopting healthy lifestyle habits, preferably in combination, including: exercising regularly, maintaining a heart-healthy diet, getting proper sleep, staying socially and mentally active.

    Return to Normal at Your Own Pace

    Many Americans are eager for a return to normal life following the pandemic, but others are anxious. In fact, one recent survey found that nearly half of adults (49%) report feeling uncomfortable about returning to in-person interactions when the pandemic ends. For those feeling anxious, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests taking small steps. It may also be important to set boundaries and communicate your preferences to others in your social circles.

    Help Others

    There is evidence to suggest that helping others during the pandemic may not only make you feel better, but it may be good for you as well. Research shows that helping others in a crisis can be an effective way to alleviate stress and anxiety. One study published during the pandemic found that adults over age 50 who volunteer for about two hours per week have a substantially reduced risk of dying, higher levels of physical activity and an improved sense of well-being. To help others and yourself during June and throughout the year, volunteer in your community,run errands or deliver meals to a home-bound senior or donate to a favorite cause, such as supporting participants in the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day event on June 20.

    Unplug and Disconnect
    Technology has dominated our daily lives during the pandemic like never before. While technology has kept us connected through COVID-19, it has also created fatigue for many Americans. Experts warn that excessive stimulation coming from our phones, computers, social media sources and news reports can add to our already heightened anxiety levels. To avoid technology overload, experts advise setting limits on your screen time, avoid carrying your phone everywhere, and disconnecting from digital devices at bedtime.

    Control Your Stress Before it Controls You

    In small doses, stress teaches the brain how to respond in healthy ways to the unexpected, inconvenient or unpleasant realities of daily life. Prolonged or repeated stress, however, can wear down and damage the brain, leading to serious health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, memory loss and increased risk for dementia. Reports indicate that Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are especially vulnerable to physical and emotional stress. The Alzheimer’s Association offers tips to help manage caregiver stress. Meditation, exercise, listening to music or returning to a favorite activity you have missed during the pandemic are just some ways to manage stress. Do what works best for you.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic has been an overwhelming time for all of us,” Roberts said. “It’s important for people to know there are steps we can take to lessen the stress and anxiety we might be feeling. It can be easy to take brain health for granted, but now more than ever, it’s a good idea to make it a priority.”
    Currently, the Alzheimer’s Association and representatives from more than 40 countries are working together to study the short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the brain and nervous system in people at different ages, and from different genetic backgrounds.

    During Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association in North Carolina is hosting virtual events for participants to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, cognitive activity and social engagement.

    “Healthy Brain, Healthy Body, Healthy You Symposium” — will take place on June 7-11. Discover strategies and activities to incorporate into your plan for healthy aging in our seven-part series. Sponsored by Sharon Towers, this interactive virtual experience includes sessions such as a cooking demonstration and gentle yoga. Join all sessions or just those of interest.

    Part 1: Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body Overview took place June 7
    Part 2: Mindfulness Matters was scheduled for June 8
    Part 3: Med Instead of Meds: Eating the Mediterranean Way for Better Health is scheduled for June 9
    Part 4: Gentle Yoga (seated) is scheduled for June 9
    Part 5: Engaging with Art is scheduled for June 10
    Part 6: Mediterranean Cooking Demonstration is scheduled for June 10
    Part 7: Gentle Yoga (Mat) is scheduled for June 11

    “Taking PRIDE in Healthy Living” — will take place virtually on June 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. Science provides insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement. Hear from panelists such as Dr. Rhett Brown, a top healthcare provider for LGBTQ+ individuals and others who provide services and social activities to the LGBTQ+ community across North Carolina.

    “The Longest Day®” — leading up to and culminating on June 20, the summer solstice and the day with the most light – local residents will join advocates across North Carolina and the world to participate in The Longest Day to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through an activity of their choice. Together, they will use their creativity and passion to raise critical funds and awareness to advance Alzheimer’s Association® care, support and research programs. Participants can support the event at home, online or in-person – biking, hiking, playing bridge, knitting and more – to shine a light on the more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and the more than 11 million family members and friends providing care and support.

    Additional information on virtual educational programs and other care and support resources or how to get involved with the Association, can be found by visiting the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern North Carolina Chapter at www.alz.org/nc or by calling our 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

  • 07 ManPointingGunHC1607 sourceJune is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and while crime has gone down overall during the pandemic, homicides and other gun crimes have surged nationally, according to a recent report.

    The city of Fayetteville’s 2021 murder rate will likely exceed the local record of 31 violent deaths set in 2016. There have been 21 homicides in Fayetteville so far this year, according to police spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Glass. That’s a 38% increase over the first half of last year. There were 13 homicides during the first six months of 2020 and 11 during the corresponding period in 2019. “There are too many victims of gun violence that could have been prevented,” Gov. Roy Cooper has said.

    CBS News recently researched the 2019 murder rates of 65 U.S. cities with more than 100,000 residents. Fayetteville was ranked 55th. Charlotte was tied with Nashville, Tennessee, for 59th place. Winston-Salem was rated 56th, Durham 52nd, Greensboro 44th and High Point 34th. The lower the number, the higher the murder rate. CBS News’ calculations used the FBI's 2019 Crime in the United States data, as well as information culled directly from city police officials and the U.S. Census Bureau.

    Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins says the record sale of guns in 2020 was a major factor for the increase in homicides so far this year. “Violent crime is increasing around the nation and we’re part of it,” she said.

    The National Shooting Sports Foundation noted that 2020 was record-breaking in nearly every measurable metric. More than 8.4 million people purchased their first guns last year. The increase in homicide rates across the country is both historic and far-reaching, as were the social movements that touched every part of society in 2020.

    "Those that are predisposed to commit violent crime are not likely to remain in their homes away from other people because there is a stay-at-home order," said Kansas City Police Sergeant Jacob Becchina. “I think the pandemic — COVID — has had a significant emotional impact on people across the country,” Detroit police chief James Craig said.

    Chief Hawkins agrees with Craig. She told Up & Coming Weekly that individuals are not processing how they manage disputes. What used to be a fist fight has become a gun fight.

    Hawkins said that it’s difficult for law enforcement agencies to prevent murders, most of which are inflicted as the result of domestic disputes, gang activity, violent conflicts and predatory violence.

    “We absolutely are proactively on the forefront to eliminate crime,” Hawkins said. “The entire department works very hard to incorporate technology into solving crime.”

    She said that most of the 100 downtown video cameras are operating. They are monitored during special events such as the Dogwood Festival and baseball games at Segra Stadium.

    The National Council for Home Safety and Security has ranked North Carolina’s 50 safest cities. Fayetteville is not among them. Hope Mills is ranked 42nd. Pinehurst is North Carolina’s safest municipality. True to its image as an upper-crust resort community, Pinehurst recorded a low 0.93 per 1,000 violent crime rate along with the lowest property crime rate in the state.

  • 12 COVID vaccine cardCumberland County improved from a Substantial Spread of COVID-19 to a lesser tier on May 27,
    according to the N.C. Department of Health of Human Services county alert system. This is based on the case rate, positive percentages and hospital impact scores. Cumberland County is one of 41 counties statewide that improved from Orange Tier (Substantial Spread) to Yellow Tier (Significant Spread). The County Alert System is updated biweekly.

    The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is offering the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals ages 12 and up at locations throughout the county. According to the state, 309 Cumberland County residents have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. There have been 29,531 cases in Cumberland County reported since the onset of the pandemic.

  • 04 SHP Colonel Freddy L Johnson Jr FIThe North Carolina Highway Patrol has sworn in a new commanding officer. Colonel Freddy L. Johnson Jr. has been named the 28th commander of the S.H.P. He is a Cumberland County native and has been in public safety work all his life. After graduating from South View High School in 1989, Johnson was hired as a full-time firefighter and since 1996 has served as deputy chief of the Stoney Point Fire Department. Colonel Johnson attended Fayetteville State University and earned a criminal justice degree. He joined the North Carolina Highway Patrol as a State Trooper in 1995 and was assigned to Robeson County while maintaining his volunteer firefighter responsibilities. Johnson’s promotion ceremony on June 4 included remarks from Governor Roy Cooper, and N.C. Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks.

    Pictured Above : Col. Freddy L. Johnson Jr. 

  • 10 FTCC Photo 3 DSC 7425 Natasha BrownFayetteville Technical Community College held its 59th Annual Commencement exercises outdoors on its Fayetteville campus May 14. The event marked a return to in-person commencement exercises. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College held a virtual graduation in 2020. The easing of constraints made it possible for FTCC to hold in-person ceremonies this year even as safety protocols were observed.

    For the first time, the College held its commencement exercises on its Fayetteville campus, under large open-air tents. Three separate ceremonies were held simultaneously in three locations on campus to allow for social distancing. Graduates were under the tents. Family and friends watched from outside. The ceremonies were also streamed live and recorded for later viewing.

    More than 600 graduates participated in the in-person ceremonies. All 1,970 of the College’s 2021 graduates were included in a virtual ceremony that premiered on May 15.

    The keynote speakers at this year’s ceremonies included the Hon. Robert Wilkie, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Mark Sorrells, FTCC’s Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Services; and Dr. Murtis Worth, the College’s Dean of Nursing. Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville and a graduate of Reid Ross High School, was also the keynote speaker for the College’s virtual graduation ceremony.

    Wilkie told graduates that he had watched FTCC grow from a small technical college into “a wonderful institution dedicated to the human spirit.” He said education is a gift that can transform a person’s life. He urged graduates to use that gift to find and pursue their passion.

    “Remember what you’re passionate about, what will make you get up every day for the rest of your life,” he said. “Whatever you’re lacking in optimism, remember your special responsibility because of where you are, and what you’ve been granted. To hold up those who don’t fall to cynicism and to hold up those who see a world not as it is, but as it should be. So, be passionate.”

    FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen visited each ceremony. At Tent B, taking place on the front lawn of the Tony Rand Student Center, Keen told graduates success is not a destination, but a journey.

    “Please don’t stop here today, and say you made it,” he said. “But understand the real joy is in the journey. Take what you’ve learned, apply it and experience joy with every step that you take because it takes you to better fulfillment of life and the things you do. Every single person has purpose, has an opportunity, a series of opportunities to
    do well.”

    FTCC’s 2021 graduates earned a total 3,926 associate degrees, diplomas and certificates from 280 curriculum programs in these areas: Allied Health Technologies, Arts and Humanities, Business, Computer & Information Technology, Engineering and Applied Technology, Math and Sciences, Nursing, and Public Service.

    In addition, 76 students graduated from the College’s Adult High School program and 43 students graduated from the High School Equivalency program.

    Pictured Above: Keynote speakers encpuraged graduates to remain passionate about their goals. (Above Photo by Natasha Brown)

  • 01 Fisher1Pacific Islanders make up 1.4 million and Asian Americans make up 22.9 million of the U.S. population. The AAPI population has doubled from 2000 to 2019 and is projected to surpass 46 million by 2060 according to the Pew Research Center. Asian Americans trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

    “One of the biggest issues facing the community right now is how the Asian American community is viewed as a monolithic group, leading to issues facing a diversity of populations being overlooked, particularly highlighted over the past year are barriers to accessing services,” said Ricky Leung, co-founder and senior director of programs for North Carolina Asian Americans Together, or NCAAT.

    Language needs and socioeconomic levels vary drastically for different Asian American populations which leads to decision making that would gloss over the very real needs of already underserved communities, Leung said.

    The NCAAT is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on bringing together the Asian American community in North Carolina through civic engagement and political participation. For more information on the NCAAT mission or volunteer opportunities, visit https://ncaatogether.org/

    “Between the 2008 and 2012 elections, the Asian American eligible electorate in North Carolina grew by 27.8%, compared to overall statewide growth of 6.1%,” Leung said. “However, Asian American eligible voters are still behind in turnout and have the lowest voter participation rate of any racial minority in the state.” One reason behind this issue was that according to a 2016 study, over 70% of Asian Americans had never been contacted by a political party or candidate, he said.

    “Even when they were contacted, the outreach was unlikely to have been culturally competent or to have taken into account the language needs of this diverse population,” Leung said

    Founded in 2016, NCAAT’s goal was to fill this gap by focusing specifically on increasing civic engagement and political participation in the Asian American community. NCAAT was the state’s first and only pan-Asian social justice organization.

    Since 1978, May is observed as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month in the U.S.

    Master Sergeant Cathy Fisher of the U.S. Air Force is stationed at Fort Bragg and celebrates her Asian American Heritage year-round but is excited about the opportunity to introduce others to her heritage during the nationally recognized month of May. She identifies her heritage as Thai, and a mix of Thai, Laotian and Chinese ethnicities.

    “Food is a big part of Thai culture, as well as Asian cultures in general,” she said. It was always fun for me to introduce my non-Asian friends to food they had never seen, smelled or tasted and I brought in spring rolls for my coworkers a few weeks ago in celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

    One of her favorite things about Thai culture is the Loi Krathong, a water festival. “The first year I attended, my mom explained to me that the tradition of Loi Krathong was to light the candle that was put inside of a lotus flower-shaped candle holder, make a wish and then send your lotus flower out on the water for your wish to be released and come true,” Fisher said. “It was such a beautiful sight.”

    Fisher said she enjoys the diversity in the Department of Defense and has met many in the service with her cultural backgrounds and part of the AAPI community which has been great.

    Many DoD installations celebrate AAPI Heritage Month by inviting speakers and veterans to share their experiences in overcoming challenges that face the AAPI community, and or celebrate the culture by hosting events where people can sample authentic cuisine as well as experience cultural elements like dance or music, she mentioned.

    “As an Asian American woman, I was raised to be quiet and accommodating, the stereotype of being quiet, timid and subservient is a common one that is applied to Asian women,” Fisher said. “The Air Force taught me to speak up, it helped me find my voice to share new ideas, teach others what I had learned and to advocate for those who needed my help.”

    With the COVID-19 pandemic, the country saw a rise in hate-crimes against Asian Americans. According to a study by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University hate crimes against Asian Americans rose by 149 percent between 2019 and 2020, in spite of overall hate crimes in the country declining.

    The Anti-Asian sentiment has been deeply disheartening for her and has made her worry about her 70-year-old elderly mother, Fisher said.

    “A lot of feelings of helplessness came up as I saw more violence towards the AAPI community,” she mentioned. “I try to choose compassion when I don’t understand a situation and I couldn’t understand why anyone would attack an elderly Asian woman or shoot people for going to an Asian massage parlor.”

    Leung said some ways to spread awareness about issues affecting the AAPI community is to read more diverse authors and learn about the diversity of experiences of various communities.

    “Be intentional in outreach, think about who all is directly impacted and what are the best ways to make services more accessible to those who need them the most,” he said. “Thinking through language, culture, technology, means various parts of accessibility.

  •  02FTCC Foundation received a grant of $250,000 from Cumberland Community Foundation for the expansion of the nursing program and renovation of the Nursing Education and Simulation Center. The grant is the second largest grant received by FTCC Foundation for the nursing expansion. The largest grant received for the project was from the Golden LEAF Foundation for $961,200.

    “Cumberland Community Foundation makes a significant difference in improving the lives of the citizens of Cumberland County,” said FTCC President Dr. Larry Keen. “Our Nursing Education and Simulation Center has been enhanced significantly by their support and ongoing commitment to the students, faculty and our community members by their generosity and ongoing fulfillment of their vision and mission.”

    The grant is in honor of Cumberland Community Foundation’s 40th anniversary. The lobby in the Nursing Education and Simulation Center will be named for Dr. Lucile West Hutaff, the founder of Cumberland Community Foundation.

    Dr. Hutaff was the first full-time female faculty member at Bowman Gray School of Medicine where she served for 29 years. Her career was dedicated to helping others through preventative and community medicine. When she retired and moved back to Fayetteville, she created Cumberland Community Foundation with a donation of stock valued at $576,840. In 2020, Cumberland Community Foundation assets were valued at $115,419,715. CCF has paid $61 million in grants and scholarships since its inception.

    A second room in the Nursing Education and Simulation Center will be named in memory of the founders of the first five community endowments at Cumberland Community Foundation. These endowments support the best opportunities and greatest needs in Cumberland County, NC, every year. The founders are: Rachel W. and J. S. Harper; Elizabeth E. and Thomas R. McLean; Mary Y. and Walter C. Moorman; Iris M. and James M. Thornton; Mary B. and Wilson F. Yarborough.

    FTCC will renovate the building that formerly housed the childcare center to create a dedicated nursing education facility. This will add new simulation and skills labs, classrooms, meeting spaces and faculty offices for the nursing program. Three nursing programs will be housed in this facility – Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and Certified Nurse Assistant I & II (CNA). These programs will be moved to the 33,500-square-foot, 2-story building from their current location in the Health Technologies Center, which will continue to house 13 other programs. The first floor of the nursing education facility will be completely renovated. The second floor includes 9 classrooms and 10 faculty offices and will not need renovation at this time. This renovation and expansion will allow FTCC to increase its capacity for nursing students and to provide much needed graduates to the medical community.

    FTCC Foundation partners with donors to support Fayetteville Technical Community College by raising awareness and financial resources to provide college access for students to attain their educational and career goals. The mission of FTCC Foundation is to foster and promote the growth, progress and general welfare of FTCC, provide supplementary financial support to the College and its students, and advance and enrich the services provided for students, the community, alumni, faculty and staff. FTCC Foundation manages more than 200 scholarship endowments and other funds.

  • 15 185280188 122653423297614 3418956082562043674 nThe City of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg have agreed to build a sports complex on 70 acres of undeveloped property on post near I-295 and McArthur Road. City Manager Doug Hewett and Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Scott Pence signed the agreement at City Hall May 21. The sports complex was approved by voters in the 2016 $35M recreation bond referendum. “We are excited to bring this project one step closer to fruition, but we are even more excited about this new partnership with Fort Bragg that will provide us with 70 acres of additional park land conveniently located along I-295,” said city manager Doug Hewett. “This is a win-win for Fort Bragg and for the City of Fayetteville and we appreciate their partnership,” Pence added noting that more than 70% of local service members and their families live in Fayetteville and the surrounding communities. The sports complex will include baseball fields, playgrounds, restrooms, walking trails, parking spaces and open areas. Construction is expected to begin in early 2022.

    Pictured Above: Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Scott Pence (left) and City Manager Doug Hewett (right) recently signed an agreement for a new sports complex. 

  • 16 2021 Distinguised Grad Maria ChoiMethodist University graduated more than 200 students on May 8 during the first outdoor commencement ceremony in the school’s history. The commencement, held at Segra Stadium in downtown Fayetteville, graduated seniors from the class of 2021, but also recognized graduates from the class of 2020, who missed their in-person commencement when the global pandemic hit.

    “Graduates, I’m proud of you. Together, we’ve been through a long dark season because of COVID,” said Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, MU’s president.

    “I have witnessed your resilience and have seen you make countless sacrifices. I have witnessed you rise above challenges and uncertainty of these times. It has been a sacred privilege to spend this time with you.”

    Students, faculty and staff were able to make a far-from-ordinary academic year successful with hybrid learning and modified events, which resulted in the campus staying open for residential living and in-person classes all year while many colleges and universities across the state and nation shut their doors.

    One of these modified events was the commencement ceremony, which is usually held indoors. Methodist University became the first institution of higher learning to partner with Segra Stadium downtown to host the open-air ceremony.

    While some aspects of MU’s commencement changed, the ceremony remained one that honored the many accomplishments of its students. Eight students were recognized for their recent commission into the U.S. Army, while graduates Elias Rodriguez (Argentina) and Hamza Boubacar Kassomou (Niger) were recognized as the first MU grads from their respective countries.

    Aiden Sherry was presented with the L. Stacey Weaver Award, which is awarded to a Spring graduate via a vote from MU faculty. The student must exemplify academic excellence, spiritual development, leadership and service.

    Darryll Decotis and Rachel Townsend became the first MU recipients of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards. These awards are given to the students who demonstrate a noble character and act as humble servants who place service to others before their own self-interests.

    Distinguished graduates Allison Nagel (2020) and Maria Choi (2021) were selected by a vote by the senior class to share a few words during the ceremony.

    “The close-knit community at Methodist is what makes our experience so much different than that at other colleges,” said Nagel. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to every single person I’ve encountered at Methodist, and I challenge you to reach out and do the same. Even when you struggle, the people around you here today want you to succeed as much as you want to succeed yourself.”

    “We’ve experienced so much in the past few years,” added Choi. “How much more will we learn and grow in the coming years? Every day, we have the opportunity to leave the world a slightly better place than it was when we woke up.”

    The commencement address was given by long-time MU baseball coach Tom Austin, who was recently recognized as the winningest active baseball coach in NCAA Division III.

    Austin, who has earned more than 1,200 career wins at Methodist University since joining the staff in 1980, gave graduates several pieces of advice for their life
    after MU.

    His advice included be on time, be prepared, give a great effort, do the job no one wants to do, have a great attitude and great body language, treat others with respect and do the right thing.

    “I’m going to throw you one final pitch,” Austin said. “I hope you get a job you love as much as I love this job here at Methodist. Congratulations graduates, may God bless you and guide your every step.”

    Following his speech, Wearden presented Austin with the University Medallion, one of Methodist’s highest honors.

    Pictured Above: Distinguihed graduate Maria Choi (pictured) and Allison Nagel were chosen by their senior class to make remarks during the ceremony. 

  • 09 mental health servicesAbout 1 in 5 American adults will experience a diagnosable mental health issue, according to a survey by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

    Over the last year with the COVID-19 pandemic isolating people across the country and world, there has been an increase in adults seeking help for anxiety, depression and other mental conditions, a screening by Mental Health America found.

    The Issue

    “With the pandemic we really saw an increase in the number of overdose-deaths, alcohol and substance abuse problems, depression, suicide attempts, all of that has gone up,” said Mark Kline, department chair for psychology at Methodist University. “Therapists in Fayetteville and the state have noticed that there’s not enough therapists for all the people who need help.”

    Since 1949, the month of May has been celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month across the U.S. to raise awareness and educate people about different mental health illnesses. Many organizations host awareness campaigns, events and more.

    Many health care professionals say mental health topics are not given the importance they should in terms of public perception and its relation to overall health.

    “When the pandemic first started people were struggling with feeling isolated, they didn't have enough connections or weren't able to establish them because they couldn't go out, recreation was greatly reduced, plus additional stress with kids being home-schooled,” said Dr. Michael West, Deputy Commander for Department of Behavioral Health,
    at Womack Army Medical Center on Fort Bragg.

    According to SAMHSA, only 48.2% of adults in North Carolina receive treatment for their mental health, ranking the state 33 out of 50 for providing access to mental health services.

    “It’s a society wide problem, we are doing some things that are in the right direction like the mental health awareness month, on campus we do a lot of reaching out, we have different events we do for mental health awareness days, just to let people know it’s not a moral failure, there's nothing wrong with them and that it’s a normal part of human life and there is help available,” Kline said.

    Stigmatization is the main hurdle keeping people from seeking help, he said.

    Causes

    “You really can't separate mental and physical health, they really influence each other,” Kline said. “My argument would be that mental health is just as critical a need in our community as physical health and with COVID it really kind of brought that to the forefront.”

    Dr. West says for soldiers, many stressors come from managing the pace of Fort Bragg being a premier operational post, things move very fast and there's a lot of demand on the soldiers and their families.

    Many have to balance the job of serving their country, demands at home and still try to have a personal life, make time for hobbies and such, he said.

    “When those things get out of balance at home or work, during deployments, we think PTSD can happen, but one can also get depressed or anxious, people can develop marital or relationship problems, a whole bunch of stuff can come out with an imbalance of life,” Dr. West said.

    Although there is no one single cause of mental illnesses, many factors like genetics, environmental factors, brain injuries, life experiences and more can affect one’s mental health.

    “We really look at five areas — sleep, activity, nutrition, spirituality or purpose and then there’s what we say to ourselves, are we someone who accepts when we make mistakes or we beat ourselves up and get into negative self-talk because all that does is bring people down,” Dr. West said.

    “Those five areas are things that are very important and getting into routines and it's horrible during the pandemic to get into them because things are open and then they are closed, you can do this or can't
    do that.”

    See Something, Say Something

    Dr. West suggests people be more observant to notice if their friends or family are acting differently.

    “If a person who’s always been calm, relaxed and chill and suddenly they are now angry, irritable and stressed out, or negative in their approach, those are changes and things we have to take time to observe,” Dr. West said. “Then be willing to say something, sometimes it's to the individual and saying ‘hey, what's going on’ and being their buddy and sometimes it's talking to someone else and getting some assistance for them.”

    There is a lot of pressure on the person experiencing mental health issues to seek help, but friends and family can be a helpful resource to get them help before things get hard, Kline mentioned.

    “If you recognize a family member is struggling, it’s pretty easy to look up resources, just in Fayetteville, there are several mental health agencies, several practices, and a lot of resources,” he said. “And sometimes if a friend or family member can help facilitate that, let them you know ‘hey, I can sit with you when you contact them or ride with you there,’ that makes it a lot easier for people to access those resources.”

    Dr. West said that people need to reach out and express worry and ask how they can help when they see someone in distress.

    “Realize that we are all people, all have challenges, if not today then tomorrow or day after, we all have things that come up so asking for help or assistance is really not a big deal,” he said.

    Resources

    The SAMHSA treatment referral helpline 1-877-726-4727 is available Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 pm. EST and connects people with local resources and information on mental health. Those in immediate need can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) available 24/7.

    At Methodist University’s Center for Personal Development, a fully staffed mental health provider offers free mental health services to staff, faculty and students.

    Cumberland County lists local mental health organizations and providers on their website www.co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/mental-health. Their page lists a 24-hour Access and Information Line offered by Alliance and can be reached at 800-510-9132.

    The Department of Behavioral Health at Fort Bragg offers a full range of mental and behavioral health care to active-duty soldiers, families and children. They offer services to manage substance abuse issues. The Intrepid Spirit Center works with those suffering from traumatic brain injuries, pain management and more.

    “Many deployable units have behavioral health assets or officers, there’s military family life counselors that are here to help with very straightforward problems of life,” Dr. West said. “We also have behavioral health consultants who work with individuals with minor psychological issues, managing stress or physical conditions.”
    Womack’s Behavioral Health Department serves Department of Defense members with a team of counselors on Fort Bragg.

    The Peer Support Program at Fort Bragg offers support to those who have recently lost a relationship and they meet at various times and places and can be found on Facebook, Dr. West said.

    The VA Suicide Crisis line is 1-800-273-8255 or one can text 838255 or live chat by visiting www.veteranscrisisline.net to get helped by qualified responders. For those looking to support near you visit www.veteranscrisisline.net.

    “Just because a person comes to behavioral health does not mean they can't do their job or deploy, those are very unique cases,” he emphasized.

    Military One Source offers confidential counseling to military and family members. Military One Source can be reached at 1-800-342-9647 or by visiting www.militaryonesource.mil 

    “The Department of Behavioral Health is a great resource; we like it when people come in early so we can help get things on track quickly rather than waiting until the problems have really deepened and become much more ingrained.” Dr. West said.

    Maintaining Balance

    “Make sure you are doing things to take care of yourself, it’s different for different people, some it's going to the gym, for some it's spending time with family, or quiet time,” Dr. West said. “And really trying to maintain those balances of what you know helps you regain your resilience to help you to
    manage stressors.”

  • 07 Murphy and AdamsThe Cumberland County Board of Commissioners honored Demetria Murphy with the Cumberland County Cares Award in recognition of her volunteer work in the community. Murphy is a member of the Fayetteville Cumberland Re-Entry Council. The Council helps men and women who have been through the criminal justice system make positive re-integration into society. The Council provides support and resources to help individuals obtain employment or education opportunities.
    “Ms. Murphy has certainly made a positive impact on our community,” said Commission Vice Chairman Glenn Adams who described her “as a unique and inspiring young woman who speaks passionately about her volunteer efforts and her efforts to help those who are looking for a second chance in life.” Murphy also founded the Youth Diverse Intervention Group which works to promote positive influence and actions in the lives of young people. She also volunteers with the Veterans Empowering Veterans Organization and helped organize a much-needed food bank. The Cumberland Cares Award recognizes individuals, groups and agencies that have made outstanding contributions toward a better quality of life for Cumberland County’s citizens.

    Pictured Above: Demetria Murphy (left) was presented the Cumberland County Award by Glen Adams (right). the county commision vice chairman. 

  • FinancialAdvisorHC1501 source 05In modern times, military members have numerous resources when they start transitioning out of the military. A large number of those resources focus on business ownership. I have experienced firsthand that most of those resources are limited until you are within a few months of separation. Furthermore, the resources focus on the skills necessary to run a business, not the different options to becoming a business owner.

    The business ownership process takes longer than transiting into another job/career. Even once you get your company up and running it may take a while to replace your income. My goal is to provide the necessary knowledge sooner to ensure members have the time necessary to plan. Veterans perform well as business owners but may not know their options before leaving the service.

    This column intends to educate readers on three different methods of obtaining business ownership and identify the need to surround yourself with qualified advisors.
    Each of the three most common methods to business ownership has its benefits, risks and concerns.

    Start-up

    Start-ups allow you to control every step and process. They can sometimes allow for little to no initial capital. This is a common way to bring new ideas to market. Although those are very appealing benefits for start-ups, they also have a lower success rate than the other two options, as you often find yourself filling countless roles with little support. Even if your small business is successful, it may take several years for the company to become profitable.

    Franchise

    Not all franchises are created equal, but in general the value is in proven processes, purchasing power, brand recognition, knowledgeable support, training and higher success rates. Franchises allow for more accurate strategic planning than a start-up, as you have more data to support your goals. Those benefits do not come for free as there are typically both upfront and ongoing fees, but many franchisors offer a discount for veterans. There are countless different franchises so it is wise to work with a franchise consultant who can help match your criteria to the right opportunity.

    Established business

    Those coming from outside the business world may not know that you can find a profitable business for sale at reasonable prices. This business acquisition strategy allows you to enter something that is already established, with customers, employees and processes. This means from day one you may have a return on your investment. Sometimes the existing business for sale is a franchise and other times the business is fully independent. In my opinion, this area has the highest risk if you do not have a strong team of professional advisors to help make informed decisions. Business sales typically take around nine months from start to finish.

    As you transition out of military service you will face countless decisions. Surrounding yourself with advisors early in your decision process will smooth the transition into business ownership. Because every person’s situation is different and requires specific considerations, it is important to find an advisor who can tailor their service to help you meet your goals.

  • virtual hands on keyboard 04Cloud computing has become the norm. And with more entities adopting a cloud posture, opportunities abound for individuals who have some level of expertise in this specialization.

    What is the Cloud? Cloud technologies, such as AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Microsoft Azure, allow organizations to migrate their data storage and computing capabilities off premises. The three most common cloud models are Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The models are implemented in a virtualized environment.

    In a nutshell, virtualization is the ability to “split” one physical server into multiple servers using a specialized “operating system” (hypervisor) and/or software. To explore virtualization, you can download VMware Workstation Player or Virtual Box; both are available free for personal use. Each virtual server is viewed as a stand-alone entity from the outside world with its own CPU, memory and storage. In reality, the resources of the physical server are being shared by the virtualized servers. Benefits include reduced hardware costs, increasing efficiency, resiliency and elasticity (ability to increase/decrease computing resources on demand), as well as conserving energy and minimizing hardware footprint.

    Why are Organizations Moving to the Cloud? One reason many organizations are moving to the cloud relates to security. Cybersecurity attacks are increasing, yet the talent pool of security experts is not keeping up with the demand. Moving to the cloud mitigates this situation, as cloud companies are able to offer advanced security options and solutions. Another reason relates to cost. By moving to the cloud, the cost of storage, applications and computing cycles can be structured based on a variety of options from on-demand pricing, pay-as-you-go, to a “subscription” based model. All this, without the need to purchase, set up or maintain physical equipment.

    Who is Moving to the Cloud? Organizations of all sizes are moving many of their computing capabilities to the cloud. Even a sole developer can benefit from using the cloud as they would have a plethora of services and computing options available with the click of the button.

    How FTCC Can Help. Fayetteville Technical Community College offers an associate degree in IT/Cloud Management as well as a certificate option. The curriculum presents plenty of hands-on opportunities to help learners gain practical exposure and realize a meaningful learning experience. Industry certifications helps students prepare for Python, CompTIA (Security+), VMware, Red Hat, AWS and Azure. The role of a cloud specialist involves:

    •Helping organizations migrate to the cloud.

    •Building out and configuring the cloud infrastructure (computing, networking and security).

    •Developing functions, applications or databases that run on the cloud.

    •Managing an organization’s on-premise hardware and software with a cloud emphasis.

    How Much can a Cloud Specialist Earn? According to Glassdor.com the average base pay for Cloud Engineers is $100,00 per year. And according to ZipRecruiter.com, “as of Jan 18, 2021, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Cloud Engineer in the United States is $85,161.” The high salary is an indication of the shortage of talent that exists in the cloud realm. Companies are willing to pay a premium and will handsomely reward individuals who take the time to learn the valuable skills required to successfully serve in the cloud management space.

    Shifting the thought process of computing from a physical perspective to a virtualized environment may take a little bit of time. However, with a little effort, focus and dedication, a significant degree of competency will be achieved, and it will be well worth the journey. Call or visit FTCC to learn more.

  • Comic Con 02The Fayetteville Comic Con will return to the Crown Expo Center for one weekend in June. On Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20, Comic Con will present a family friendly atmosphere that celebrates all forms and fans of American and World Popular Culture for those who like comics, cosplay, gaming, collectible toys, or anime. The world of Comic-Con is not unlike that of a long-running comic series: it’s its own action-packed world filled with colorful characters and intricate story lines. Much like comics, getting into it can be a bit intimidating for the uninitiated. Comic-Con is a lot of fun with a non-judgmental atmosphere. Tickets can be purchased online at www.CapeFearTix.com. This year’s Fayetteville Comic Con will feature special guests from the world of comics and popular culture.

  • Library interior 01The Cumberland County Public Library announced BookMatch, a new service that will help adult readers find their next great read. Interested customers can fill out short online questionnaires on the library's website to identify books they have read and like, as well as the characteristics they’re looking for in a book. BookMatch’s features allow readers to choose a genre, time-period, location and character type. Based on the answers, library staffs can create and email readers custom-made lists. Customers can also have items on the list placed on hold for pickup at any of the library’s eight locations. “We have so many amazing books and we’d love to help our customers figure out what to read next,” said Adult Services Librarian Marissa Mace. To complete the questionnaire, visit cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite/content/readers-corner. Readers can also call 910-483-7727 for more information or email readers@cumberland.lib.nc.us.

  • 12WhyWhy are you reading this column?

    Make no mistake — I’m glad you are. I hope you are an avid reader of editorials, op-eds, and columns in newspapers, magazines and online forums. But motivation matters.

    If you read my column, or anyone else’s work, because you already expect to agree with the opinions expressed and want to feel reaffirmed, I get it. If you agree and hope you’ll gain more “rhetorical ammunition” with which to argue your case, I get that even more. It’s certainly one reason I read conservative editorialists and magazines voraciously.

    But if you don’t necessarily expect to agree with me, yet plan to read my column anyway, you have my sincere thanks. All opinion writers ought to aspire to attract readers with whom they don’t already agree. If I’m not trying to persuade, I’m not really doing my job. And if you’re not open to being persuaded – or, at least, to learning more about a topic and how different people think about it – then, if you’ll pardon me for being blunt, you aren’t quite doing your job as a reader, either.

    It’s no news at this point that our political conversation has become coarse, constrained and unsatisfying. Indeed, the conversation all too often devolves into a shouting match among partisan hacks rather than a reasoned exchange of contrasting views about challenging issues.

    Across the political spectrum, people say they don’t like this harsh turn in our politics. But which came first, the shouting matches or audience demand for them? Don’t the most bellicose, bombastic or hyperbolic talking heads get the most public attention, which encourages them to maintain their shtick and others to copy them?

    In my view, both the purveyors and the consumers of content have some power here. If you yearn for a better political dialogue, reward those who deliver it with your time and money. As for politicians and commentators, they can set a better example of constructive engagement across political differences – an example that, according to a growing body of empirical evidence, the public truly will follow.

    Dr. Vincent Price, now president of Duke University, has spent much of his scholarly career studying these issues. In one 2002 paper, he and his co-authors found that exposure to political disagreement helps people not just come up with more and better reasons for their own views but also helps them understand why other people might reasonably come to a different conclusion.

    Interestingly, this effect occurred when people were actually talking across the political divide with acquaintances. It didn’t come from exposure to the news media, where the one-sided screeds and shouting matches were already crowding out more substantive fare.

    Coincidentally, it was at Duke, but before Price’s arrival last year, that my colleagues and I founded the North Carolina Leadership Forum, which brings people from across the political spectrum together each year for precisely the kinds of conversations – respectful but spirited – that seem to bear the most fruit.

    Our goal isn’t unanimity. People disagree. In fact, a lack of substantive disagreement within an organization, a profession or a government can itself be a sign of trouble, evidence that the group may not be perceiving, understanding and carefully vetting all its options.

    In our view, the proper course is neither to engage in wishful thinking nor to encourage groupthink. It is to treat others with the respect they are due as fellow human beings. In my case, this means that I should assume you have good reasons for what you believe, and vice versa.

    If we disagree, I should hope to persuade you, yes. But I should also be open to having my own mind changed. Even if persuasion never occurs, I should hope to have you finish my column having learned something new – a fact, an argument, a way of thinking – that you will appreciate knowing even as you continue to disagree with my conclusions.

    And, of course, I should hope that you will read my next column.

  • 05cumberlandThe filing period for judicial races in Cumberland County opened this week. TheFayetteville Observer is reporting that longtime incumbent Tal Baggett is being challenged by former Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Young Evans. Other District Court judges may face challengers. Rumors abound about potential filings, but they always do in District Court races. It’s best to wait and see who files.

    One rumor that has been circulating for a while did come true last week, and it will set up a collision of power, party and politics in what may be the most interesting judicial election in recent  memory. District Court Judge Lou Olivera announced that he will run in Superior Court District 12C against Mary Ann Tally or Jim Ammons. The “or” is what makes this an interesting race.

    Earlier this week, after it was announced that Olivera had filed, I previewed the race on my blog as a three-way race with the top two vote-getters winning. This is how it has taken place in past  elections in District 12C. Instead, it appears that due to a complex array of events in the legislature and the federal courts (that would fill up most of my space to explain), Olivera may have to choose which sitting judge to challenge. The un-challenged judge will simply keep his/her current seat, assuming no one else files.

    A quick summary of the three candidates and what may happen:

    Jim Ammons is the chief resident Superior Court judge, clothed in the immense power of his office, but he left the Democratic Party several years ago and will be listed as “unaffiliated” on the ballot. Ammons has held a judgeship in Cumberland County since 1988 and has a campaign machine that has been oiled and tuned over the decades. To put it simply, he wins, repeatedly.

    Mary Ann Tally is the Democratic stalwart, a former Public Defender with a family name that runs deep in Cumberland County. Her mother-in-law, Laura, served as a legislator and a North Carolina senator for decades. As a judge, Tally has been popular with the local bar and is seen as effective, hard-working and fair. She’s going to get Democratic votes and is the only woman in the race, an inherent advantage.

    The wild card, Lou Olivera, left the Democratic Party in 2014 and will run as a Republican. He should receive party-line support as the only (R) in the race, but he may get more than that. Olivera received national attention when he spent the night in jail with a veteran he sentenced. His celebrity and time on the District Court bench provide him with strong crossover appeal. Olivera may get votes from both sides of the isle.

    If Olivera runs against Tally, it will set up a classic Democrat versus Republican showdown. The lines and differences will be easily drawn. Due to the success of Democratic women in judicial races in Cumberland County as of late, Olivera would have a tough road.

    The more interesting and more likely scenario is Olivera running against Ammons. This race would be inherently unpredictable. Both men have name recognition in the community. Who will get the Democratic votes with no Democrat on the ballot? Who will the women of Cumberland County choose? It’s a toss-up if there ever was one.

    For me to predict the outcome, I need to know the following: can Olivera pull minority votes in November despite having an (R) beside his name on the ballot? Can he do it in this particular election, a Trump referendum of sorts? If so, he may unseat a sitting Superior Court judge. If not, he picked a really bad time to become a Republican.

    Editor’s note: Matt Richardson is an attorney at The Richardson Firm and covers Fayetteville and NorthCarolina politics on his website: www.crosscreekdivide.com.

  • 04justin trudeau 8X10 colourHate him or love him, every indication is that Donald Trump understands that his first responsibility is to the citizens of America. Where the rubber meets the road in living up to that responsibility is not always a comfortable place. Trump hit one of those uncomfortable places in his recent dispute with Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada.

    The dispute resulted from the president placing a 10 percent tariff on aluminum and a 25 percent tariff on steel imported to America from Canada and some other countries. I have no idea where the situation will stand when this column is published, but, for now, I find it instructive for thinking through, and appreciating the need to think through, the difficult issues of our time. Doing so is  essential to America surviving and thriving. In this context, allow me to share what I hope is productive and accurate thinking through of this U.S./Canadian tariff dispute.

    A tariff is a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports. In this case, the tariff is on aluminum and steel. One might start by asking why Trump imposed the Canadian tariffs. Kate Dangerfield wrote the following in an article titled “What U.S. steel, aluminum tariffs mean for Canadians — and their wallets.”

    “The tariffs were originally announced March 1 when U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States was being treated unfairly. He said the import taxes will help protect American jobs and boost the U.S economy.

    The Trump administration also cited national security interests for implementing the tariffs, saying the military needs a domestic supply for its tanks and ships.”

    In making the unfairness argument, Trump points to tariffs Canada imposes on milk products that it imports from America. Josh Wingrove and Erik Hertzberg wrote about this in an article titled  “How Canada’s Sacred Cows and 270 percent Tariffs Set Trump Off at G-7.”

    “Canada essentially allows two avenues for dairy imports – those within quota, and surplus stuff. It’s the latter where tariffs spike, because Canada’s whole system is built to avoid a surplus – hence its name, ‘supply management.’

    “Take milk, for instance. Within quota, the tariff is 7.5 percent. Over-quota milk faces a 241 percent tariff. Other over-quota rates include blended dairy powder at 270 percent. Duties rise to as high as 314 percent for other products, according to data from the World Trade Organization. Canadian officials argue that all countries subsidize dairy, including the U.S. – Canada essentially does so indirectly by closing its borders and capping production. If you’ve got a slice of the quota, though, the tariffs don’t apply.”

    The bottom line of the statement above is that Canada makes it difficult for American dairy farmers to sell their products in that country. Even though the case is made that Canada has more reasonable tariffs on other products, it is clear that their aim is to protect jobs in that nation. Trump argues that, to protect jobs and build our economy, America must do the same until more fairness in trade practices is in place.

    An even stronger argument for the aluminum and steel tariffs is that unobstructed access to these products is required for our national security. That is, we should not depend on other nations to supply these products that are critical in building ships, tanks and airplanes that are essential to an effective military. Further, these materials are needed for other projects that impact our  economic well-being. Information at www.statista.com/statistics/209343/steel-production-in-the-us/ indicates America produced 82 million metric tons of steel in 2017. Even though this was a 3.5 million metric ton increase from 2016, it was a dramatic decrease from 98.2 in 2006. Various other references show that in 2017, America imported 36.9 million metric tons of steel, with 17 percent of that amount coming from Canada. This means, in 2017, we imported an amount of steel that equaled 45 percent of what was produced in America. At 17 percent, Canada provided more steel to us than came from any other country.

    Thinking through these facts says we are dependent, and seemingly growing more dependent, on other countries for a product, steel, that is essential to our national security and economic  well-being. This does not grab me as a wise course. Similar analysis can be done regarding aluminum.

    As I understand it, the kinds of concerns presented above, coupled with the large trade deficits America has with many countries and high tariffs assessed on our exports, Trump forthrightly  argues that America is being treated unfairly by many of our trading partners. The failure of countries, such as Canada, to take steps to rectify the situation resulted in the steel and aluminum tariffs. Trump pressed the case at the recent G-7 Summit in Canada. The G-7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Trump left the meeting early and flew to Singapore for what proved to be a historic and promising summit with Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of North Korea.

    A section of the communique released by the G-7 at the conclusion of their meeting appears to address Trump’s trade concerns. It states, “We acknowledge that free, fair, and mutually  beneficial trade and investment, while creating reciprocal benefits, are key engines for growth and job creation. We recommit to the conclusions on trade of the Hamburg G-20 Summit, in particular, we underline the crucial role of a rules-based international trading system and continue to fight protectionism.”

    Despite the commitment reflected in the preceding quote Trudeau held a news conference as Trump was flying to Singapore. In an article titled “In Context: What Justin Trudeau said that made Donald Trump angry,” Manuela Tobias quoted Trudeau as follows:

    “I highlighted directly to the president that Canadians did not take it lightly that the United States has moved forward with significant tariffs on our steel and aluminum industry, particularly did not take lightly the fact that it’s based on a national security reason that for Canadians, who either themselves or whose parents or community members have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with American soldiers in far-off lands and conflicts from the First World War onwards that it’s kind of insulting. And highlighted that it was not helping in our renegotiation of NAFTA and that it would be with regret, but it would be with absolute certainty and firmness that we move forward with retaliatory measures July 1, applying equivalent tariffs to the ones that the Americans have unjustly applied to us.”

    Trump and several members of his administration voiced very strong opposition to Trudeau’s news conference comments. Trudeau, as the president is flying to Singapore, makes this statement that, in my estimation, is totally contrary to what he agreed to in the G-7 Communique. Instead of negotiating, he is retaliating. Beyond that, his dismissal of our national security concern does  not reflect serious consideration of that concern. The president tweeted that Trudeau was “dishonest & weak.” Here was an American president on a mission to help save the world from a  nuclear disaster. Trudeau picks that time to undermine the president while claiming to be a friend of America.

    For me, thinking through all of what is presented above produces this conclusion: America must make every effort to ensure the well-being of our citizens; maximize self-sufficiency in producing products that are essential to our survival, security and prosperity as a nation; and only trust countries that prove themselves, by actions, deserving of our trust.

    Making these things happen requires leaders who do not collapse when the rubber meets the road.

     

    PHOTO: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

  • 03FirstladiesAbigail Adams, wife of the United States second president, John Adams, famously wrote to her husband in 1776 as he and other members of the Continental Congress considered formation of the newly emerging nation. She urged him to “remember the ladies” in the “new code of laws.” She knew – as women through the ages have known – that laws are necessary but that they must be humane and fair if people are to respect them. Humanity and kindness have not been much in evidence in our nation of late, and the world is watching with amazement, deep concern
    and a changing view of the United States.

    Recently, all five living U.S. first ladies – Rosalynn Carter, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump – have spoken out against the separation of immigrant children from their parents under Mrs. Trump’s husband’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy. Each spoke forcefully, with Laura Bush calling the policy “cruel” and “immoral” in an op-ed in The Washington  Post.Trump – forgive me! – trumped her predecessors by flying to Texas to visit two child detention facilities to see for herself. She clearly intended to show a kinder and gentler side of the  Trump administration in contrast to both her husband’s family separation policy and his own words about immigrants, including “infest.”

    Good for them! Mothers all, they understand with both their heads and their hearts that even the kindest and most capable strangers are no substitute for parents, especially for children too young to comprehend what has happened to them. President Trump has since rescinded the separation policy, but it is unclear to everyone how this will work. How will children who are released from detention get to parents who are still detained? Will our country detain children for long periods of time? Will we set up schools for detained children? Will some families never find each other again?

    No one knows.

    James A. Coan, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, wrote for The WashingtonPost about the ramifications of forced separation of children and parents. “At minimum, forced  separation will cause these children extreme emotional distress.” Quoting Nim Tottenham of Columbia University, he noted that “the sadness is not the thing that really matters here. What  matters is this is a trauma to a developing nervous system.” Coan added that “little minds and hearts can maintain that level of distress only for so long before the children face a horrifying decision: Continue, through severe emotional pain, to call out for their parents, or proceed on the assumption that their parents are gone.”

    The latter choice means the children will mature more quickly, which results in “cognitive and emotional inflexibility later on, as well as the assumption that the world is extremely dangerous.”

    Says Charles Nelson, a Harvard pediatrics professor, as such children grow into adults, they will be impaired in several ways – “direct weathering of their bodies and less effective problem-solving, impulse control and decision-making.”

    President Trump has rescinded his family separation policy, but thousands of unaccompanied children remain in detention, and although confusion abounds, it appears that families will  continue to be detained.

    The same day Melania Trump made her Texas visit, reports surfaced of detained children being given psychotropic drugs and restrained in chairs for hours, possibly days. In the meantime, organizations working on behalf of families are struggling to match children separated from their parents with their parents. Language complicates reunion, as does the tender age of children so  young or so traumatized that they cannot communicate any information about their families. Again, the same day as Mrs. Trump’s visit to Texas, federal health officials asked military bases to prepare space to house as many as 20,000 children.

    Our first ladies are doing the right thing, but our Republican Congress is not listening. Partisan political concerns take precedence over the wellbeing of families, for which we should all be deeply troubled and ashamed.

    This is not the America I know and love.

  • 02chemoursChemours has committed an investment of $100 million in plant upgrades to reduce GenX emissions by 99 percent. In addition, it has stopped pumping wastewater into the Cape Fear River and will now be trucking it to Texas. This was the message presented last week by Brian Long, general plant manager of the Chemours plant that borders Bladen and Cumberland counties. He was the host and keynote speaker at the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce breakfast last Thursday.

    Long was accompanied by Damian Shea from the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University. Together, they came to update the business community on the actions Chemours has taken and will be taking to alleviate community concerns about the alleged harmful effects of GenX, which has been detected in local wells and water systems. GenX is a chemical compound used in making nonstick surfaces such as Teflon. The talk was informative and reassuring.

    Unfortunately, only two of our elected officials were in the audience. I applaud Councilwoman Tisha Waddell and newly appointed Councilman Dan Culliton for their concern and interest. It was disappointing that no Cumberland County commissioners were present, considering the time and effort that has gone into addressing the GenX situation.

    When both speakers were asked during the public forum if they would be comfortable having their families and young children drink the water, both Long and Shea answered with a resounding yes.

    When it comes to GenX, the concerns over its toxicity and ill effects on residents seem unsubstantiated and grossly exaggerated. In some cases, they reek of government intrusion, unfounded accusations and speculation with a hint of corporate extortion. To many, Chemours is caught up in a tangled web of political power, greed and money grubbing. It’s unfortunate, but in this  climate of quick-fire litigation and political correctness, respectable and competent voices of the silent majority are reluctant to come forth to question outcomes, findings, studies and obvious flaws in the investigation process.

    My skepticism has to do with knowing, or not knowing, what real harm or danger results from exposure to Gen X. I have made two observations over the past year. First, after more than two decades of residents living, working and playing in areas exposed to GenX, there has been no proven case or recorded medical evidence validating that GenX has any adverse effects on human beings. That’s nearly three generations of healthy, happy families – all drinking and bathing from the same faucets with no reports of birth defects, premature hair loss, allergies or skin rashes – and no reports of three-eyed fish being caught in the Cape Fear River or twoheaded calves in the livestock. You would think after decades of exposure, there would be some evidence or telltale
    signs of a serious health hazard. There are none.

    This brings me to my second observation, which I call the “Where’s Waldo” disclaimer. In hundreds, maybe thousands of news features, articles and editorials written about Chemours and the GenX situation, you will always find that onesentence disclaimer that reads: “Animal studies have linked GenX to several forms of cancer, BUT, it isn’t known if the effect is the same in humans.”

    Like Waldo, you must search for it, but I assure you, it is there. The question everyone should be asking is, why is it there? For many, the answer is simple: After decades of exposure with no indications of detrimental effects on human beings, can you imagine how much toxin had to be pumped into that poor laboratory rat before it showed signs of cancer? Once the researchers accomplished this task, it became open season on Chemours. Chemours is now in their sights, viewed as a fat, cash-cow corporation that can be intimidated and squeezed by state and local governments, environmentalists and downriver municipalities.

    This could be North Carolina’s payday, and Chemours is the paymaster. Hundreds of thousands of tax dollars have already flowed to organizations and universities for “research” to solve a problem that has yet to be defined or determined. The state’s demand for more money for more testing and more inspections, if granted, would mean hiring more people, expanding the Department of Environmental Quality and, ultimately, expanding the government. Is all this prudent?

    The state Department of Health and Human Services weighed in with a four-week, all-inclusive study to determine and set the state’s health goal. According to Damian Shea, the NC State biological science professor, a proper study would have taken at least two years.

    Nonetheless, the situation is real. People are concerned. Private wells have been declared contaminated, and something must be done about it. In addition to the $100 million plant investment, Chemours has offered to pay for the installation of water filtration systems in homes with wells that have GenX levels exceeding the state’s recommended levels. To this, we should say, “Thank  you, Chemours.” And, “Thank you for the many years you have supported and contributed to the families and economies of both Bladen and Cumberland counties. You are a good corporate partner.”

    Thank you for reading Up & ComingWeekly.

  • 16Motorcycle Article Axis PictureIlove watching motorcycle racing. Speed, knees down and nerves of steel.

    I remember getting my first Yamaha FZ-1. I loved that bike. I was lean and mean, and I felt invincible. I remember taking curves with my knees hanging down just trying to be as cool as those superstar racers on TV. My adrenaline was pumping, and I knew I was hitting those 150 mph speeds. In reality, I was probably doing about 30 mph, and my knees were nowhere near the pavement. It was a good thing too, because all I had on was a pair of blue jeans.

    When we ride straight up, our body, bike and gravity make an invisible line that is vertical. This is the straight axis, which is the combination of the bike and rider combined. As we enter a curve and lean, the axis line stays vertical, but our angle, speed and gravity combine to move the bike’s center of gravity, and the new axis moves inward or outward.

    On the outside, motorcycling is just a fun sport. On the inside, it is machinery and science. To understand our ability to take curves, let’s looks at Newton’s laws of motion.

    Newton’s first law of motion states that every object will remain at rest or in motion in a straight line unless something changes by the actions of external force.

    A stopped motorcycle will stay stopped until force is applied to make it move. Twist the throttle, and the action is transferred throughout the bike to the rear tire so you move forward. Once moving, the bike will continue to move in a straight line until an external force makes it change.

    Newton’s second law states that the velocity of an object changes when it is subjected to an external force.

    This law can be applied to how we move our weight, lean, or push the handle bars in the case of counter steering. There are so many ways that one can turn a motorcycle. Our riding position, gravity, speed of the bike, the rate of the turn and force all form the equation of a turn.

    Riders can do little things to make their turns more controlled. If you place your feet inward on your foot pegs and press your knee against the tank in the direction you want to turn, your weight
    will shift ever so slightly, and your bike will start to turn in response.

    Newton’s third law states that for every action (force), there is an equal and opposite reaction. As we watch the racer take the curve, the rider leans off the bike. If you could see into his helmet, you would see his eyes focused on where he wants to go. As he approaches the turn, his eyes, mind and body have already calculated an angle to take the curve, and his body shifts as he moves into the turn. The speed of the bike compresses the shocks. The weight and lean of the bike keep it balanced throughout the turn.

    Riding and understanding the science of motorcycling is one thing. It is another to do it. If you think that you want to actually get your knees down and take turns as fast as a racer, I would strongly suggest going to a riding school. They will ensure your bike is set up correctly and that you wear the proper protective gear. With a clean track, good visibility and professional help, they will teach you how to be a superstar – safely.

    If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

  • 13HoodWhile the term “fake news” may be of recent vintage, the phenomenon isn’t. For decades, policymakers in North Carolina and elsewhere have trafficked in poorly understood, misleading or demonstrably false information – often unknowingly, although that’s bad enough – and made poor decisions as a result.

    A new survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics exposed one of the most egregious recent examples: the notion of the “gig economy.” For years, we’ve been told that the stable jobs our parents and grandparents once enjoyed are increasingly being replaced by short-term contracts, temp agencies and the proliferation of independent contractors, many of whom would rather not own their own businesses but are forced to do so by heartless employers and inexorable economic forces.

    This is a factual claim, although hard facts have rarely been in evidence. The just-released BLS report represents the first large-scale survey of its kind in more than a decade. It shows that contingent work and independent contracting are not up. They are down.

    In May 2017, 1.3 percent of U.S. wage and salary workers reported that they had been in their jobs for no longer than a year and expect to keep their jobs for no longer than an additional year. The latest time BLS asked this question, in 2005, 1.8 percent of respondents fit this definition of contingent workers. In 1995, the share was 2.2 percent.

    When BLS broadened the definition to include independent contractors and the self-employed, as well as wage or salary workers who’d been in their current positions for more than a year, the share of contingent workers was 3.8 percent in 2017, 4.1 percent in 2005, and 4.9 percent in 1995. As for “alternative employment arrangements” in general, as BLS defined them, there are fewer independent contractors as a share of the workforce today than in 2005, and about the same number of on-call workers, employees of temp agencies and people working for contract-services firms.

    Obviously, some professions and industries have become more likely to feature contingent workers and alternative arrangements over time, such as personal transportation. Uber drivers, usually working part time to supplement their salaries from other jobs, have displaced some full-time cab drivers. But other sectors have moved in the opposite direction, toward full-time employment.

    Progressive and populist populations have frequently cited the expansion of the gig economy, and its supposedly pernicious effects, as a justification for pet policies ranging from expanding health insurance and job-training programs to strengthening labor unions and restricting international trade.

    But it turns out that not only has there been no expansion of the gig economy in the first place, but also many of the millions of people who do work that way actually prefer their current  arrangements. Among independent contractors, for example, 79 percent said they’d rather work that way than be a traditional employee. And among temp workers, while a substantial number (46 percent) said they’d prefer a full-time job – and, of course, temp placements often lead in that direction – that’s a lower share than in 2005.

    At least in the case of poverty statistics, also fraught with misunderstandings and misinterpretations, politicians have a better excuse: the official statistics are themselves flawed.

    Is poverty lower, higher or about the same today as it was before the “War on Poverty” of the 1960s? If you go by the official measure, there hasn’t been much improvement. But the official  measure understates income, overstates inflation and leaves out public assistance programs such as Medicaid. Properly measured, the poverty rate is vastly lower today (less than 5 percent) than it was in the 1960s (30 percent).

    Whether the subject is employment, poverty, education or health care, there will never be perfection in public discourse. We are all prone to making errors or missing important details. But at the very least, we should check our sources, define terms more precisely and be particularly skeptical of gloomy claims about things being worse today than in the past. To be blunt, such claims are usually wrong.

  • 04scott pruittCome, let us now praise famous Environmental Protection Agency administrators. Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me? None other than America’s most fearless and quirkiest Protector of the Environment. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Scott Pruitt. And as the emcee almost said in “Cabaret,” “When you are finished with him, you don’t have to bring him back.” He is nonrecyclable. Unless you have been living under the lava at Leilani Estates in Hawaii, our man Scotty is probably the best-known EPA administrator in years for his many scandals.

    The president tells us he is going to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. Who better to drain the D.C. swamp than a Swamp Thing like Scotty? It takes one to know one. Thinking about Scotty draining the swamp reminded me of one of the classic movies of all times, “Swamp Thing.” The plot of “Swamp Thing” is a bit convoluted, but basically, Dr. Alec Holland is a scientist who managed to get doused in a secret formula that grows plants, is set on fire and jumps into a swamp to put out the fire. Dr. Al mutates into the Swamp Thing, who is part plant and part man.

    Dr. Al is scary on the outside but a sweetie on the inside. He falls in love with the enormously talented Adrienne Barbeau, who plays a lady scientist who has to take a bath. The Swamp Thing and Scott Pruitt are similar in looks and may have been separated at birth. Scott undoubtedly got chosen for his job as a result of his resemblance to the Swamp Thing.

    Scotty can generate more scandals in a single bound than Superman can jump over tall buildings. And yet, he persists despite all his troubles. What is so colorful as a Scotty Scandal? Let me count some of the ways: $130 fountain pens for signing orders voiding environmental regulations; first class air plane flights to keep him away from the hostile, unwashed masses yearning to breathe free and clean air; a $43,000 Maxwell Smart cone of silence telephone booth for calling in orders for pizza and selling the mineral rights in National Parks; and renting a room for $50 a night from a lobbyist.

    Next time you are in D.C., see what sort of room you can get for $50 a night. If you find such a room, bring your AK-47 and Samurai sword, as you will need them for protection from things that  go bump in the dark in a $50 room. Scotty likes to use emergency sirens on his motorcade to clear the streets of mere motorists who could get in his way to important dinner reservations at a fancy French restaurant – must not allow the Vichyssoise soup to get cold.

    Let us stop for a moment to catch our breath. At the risk of boring you with scandal after Scotty Scandal, let us look at my two favorite Scotty Scandals.

    At the top of my list of entertaining scandals, I place Chickengate. After taking office as head honcho of the EPA, Scotty got in touch with Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A, with a business proposition. Scotty wanted to hustle up a Chick-fil-A franchise for his lovely wife, Marlyn. By the time this column reaches print, the Trump/Kim summit will be in the history books. As a sop for not giving up his nuclear weapons, the rumor mill has it that Kim will allow an American fast food restaurant to open somewhere in North Korea. If it turns out that Scotty gets a fast food franchise in Pyongyang, you will know that the fix was in. As the politicians and talking heads say on TV: “When you come to the dining room table and drill down into giving Scotty a Chick-fil-A franchise in North Korea, it’s a robust, win-win situation at the end of the day.” Scotty can then move to North Korea to sell chicken, allowing the EPA to escape his grasp.

    In a very close second place to Chickengate on the Richter scale of Politicians Behaving Badly, we find Scotty’s puzzling quest to purchase a used mattress from the Trump International Hotel in D.C. For reasons known only to Scotty, he sent a federal employee paid by your tax dollars to inquire at the Trump Hotel in Washington as to how much it would cost to get a used mattress from said hotel. By now, you are probably asking yourself, “Self, why would Scotty want a used mattress from Trump Tower?”

    Scotty is not just an ordinary Joe who wants a used mattress to save money. There must be another reason. Maybe he was planning on taking the mattress with him to Pyongyang when he sets up his chicken fast food franchise. There could be a shortage of Sleep Number smart mattresses north of the 38th parallel. Maybe he has been watching “The Godfather.” Scotty may have
    imprinted on the scene where Clemenza has to scout out locations for the Coreleone family to go to the mattresses to hang out when the war starts with the Barzini and Tattaglia mafia families. Perhaps The Donald can get Scotty used mattresses wholesale. Maybe Scotty just has a thing for stained bedding like a Glorious Leader of the Western World? As the president likes to say, “We’ll see.”

    What’s it all about, Alfie? As the great singer Tom Russell once sang: “Sky above. Mud below.”

     

    PHOTO: Scott Pruitt is probably the best-known EPA administrator in years for his many scandals.

  • 03MArgA joke going around a while back held that medical science wants to study U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan as they are the only human beings able to walk upright even though they are spineless.

    Whether this joke makes you chuckle or enrages you, “spineless” is used even by Republicans to describe both members of Congress and moderates across the country who stand silent no matter what Donald Trump says or does.

    Said Richard North Patterson in The Washington Post in April, “With few exceptions, congressional Republicans are cowed by this president. They are accustomed to making excuses for him, and if they were going to stand up to him, they’ve already had plenty of chances.”

    In The Boston Globe, Patterson also weighed in with this: “So completely has the GOP become Donald Trump’s personal chorus of sycophants that their thin cries of protest over tariffs evoke the quavering voices of captives in a hostage video.”

    Writing for The Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin addressed spinelessness. “First, unlike Senate and House Republicans during Watergate, there are few genuine leaders of principle whose sense of propriety is offended by Trump. The moral and intellectual quality of the current crew of Republicans pales in comparison to the type of Republicans who finally told Richard Nixon the jig was up.”

    Even sitting U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, has used the word “cult” to describe GOP behavior in terms of Trump.

    This is not the way our government is supposed to work.

    Our Founding Fathers deliberately and carefully structured a balance of power among the three branches of government – executive, legislative and executive. Any one branch is to be kept in check by the other two branches. This requires courage and resolve, qualities not much on display these days in Washington or in the hinterlands.

    ********************

    The death of Anthony Bourdain earlier this month shocked the world. He achieved fame as a New York chef and went on to host a popular CNN series, “Parts Unknown,” in which he traveled the world sampling foods that looked wonderful and some that would curl your hair. In doing so, he introduced us to people, places and cultures we would never see firsthand. He chatted with locals from famous cities and remote corners of the world, ate whatever they recommended – some dishes were doozies by anyone’s standards – and did so with grace and kindness. Bourdain once said in an interview that when people share their food, they are sharing parts of themselves, and he did his best to try everything, including foods most Americans would never consider
    allowing past our lips.

    Along the journey, Bourdain wrote a number of cookbooks, including the wildly successful “Kitchen Confidential,” published in 2000 and which is once again atop the New York Times bestseller list. Who knew that he also wrote well-received fiction?

    A man of vast talents, Bourdain is mourned by those who loved him and people who knew him only by books and television. His intellect and love of people and adventure touched many of us.

    ********************

    Last but certainly not least, what’s up with the North Carolina General Assembly?

    In the waning days of the so-called “short” session, toxic (literally, in one case) legislation is popping up and getting traction.

    Ours is a nation that dramatically trails other developed nations in voter turnout, with voter turnout in presidential years somewhere around 55 percent and an embarrassing 40 percent in mid-year elections. The world’s leader in voting is Belgium, where an impressive 85 percent of voters bestir themselves to get to the polls. You would think our political leaders would want us to vote, but our state’s Republican leadership is pushing a bill to further limit early voting, an option used more often by minority voters than Election Day voting. You would think legislators would like more people to vote, unless, of course, they are not their kind of voters.

    Then there is a bill expected to pass that would limit how and when neighbors of hog-producing operations can sue the companies over offending odors from open-air waste lagoons and damage to property values. The bill comes in the wake of a $50 million verdict awarded in April to 10 neighbors of a hog farm, a verdict later reduced to $3.5 million, conforming to an earlier state law capping these damages. Such limits demonstrate more sympathy for business than for the people who must live with it.

    Let me describe the odor this way. Years ago, I was advised to wear only washable clothing to tour a “state-of-the-art” hog operation in Cumberland County, with about 5,000 animals packed into houses so tightly that only a handful of people were required to run the operation. The stench was overwhelming and sickening. When I arrived home, peeling clothes off as I entered the house, a visiting child took one sniff and said, “PU! Where have you been?”

    What are our elected leaders thinking?

  • 02PubPenWIDU radio personality and Fayetteville Observer columnist Troy Williams and I have journalistically crossed swords several times when it comes to perspectives on issues concerning the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. This is not a bad thing. I respect Williams and consider what we do the pure essence of free expression. The free press accentuates the American privilege of free speech.

    Williams’ article in last Saturday’s Fayetteville Observer, titled “Council does the right thing with Culliton pick,” was perceptive in identifying and acknowledging those people who want to use local government for their personal enrichment and political gain. Williams has put the Cumberland County Democratic Party and Fayetteville City Council on notice that identity politics comes
    up short on substance when talent, qualifications and capabilities are ignored.

    The city voted 6-3 to replace District 2 Councilman Tyrone Williams, who resigned after the controversy relating to him requesting $15,000 from a downtown contractor, with Cumberland County Republican Dan Culliton, a white man, over Democrat Patricia Bradley. Bradley is an African-American woman currently employed by Fayetteville State University. She previously served as assistant city attorney and was assigned to the Fayetteville Police Department during the city’s “driving while black” racial profiling controversy.

    Bradley was no doubt the darling of local Cumberland County Democrats. Despite an aggressive Democratic campaign and political pressure from some of the sitting council members, common sense won out. Despite the pressure and a barrage of criticism from local Democrats, Councilwoman Tisha Waddell and senior council member Bill Crisp held their ground and stood on principle, joining their council contemporaries in voting for what was in the best interest of District 2 and the entire Fayetteville community. For this, they should be applauded and admired.

    To quote Williams’ Observer article, “common sense and decency prevailed.”

    He said something else in his article that struck a sensitive but relevant note with me. He wrote, “Without a doubt, a good government ought to be colorblind.”

    That statement reminded me of something William T. Brown once said. Brown was a Fayetteville educator and principal during the years of desegregation in the schools and later a trustee at Fayetteville State University. In a discussion with Brown about the need to encourage and promote greater racial harmony within our community, I suggested that people needed to be more open, more tolerant and colorblind. Brown smiled as he corrected me: “Not colorblind, Bill; people need to be color intelligent.”

    His point was that we always want to recognize and respect nationality and diversity, but character is what defines a person – and everyone needs to recognize this. Intelligence and character are what made Brown an exceptional educational icon and community leader. He was principal of E.E. Smith High School the first year that white students began attending historically black high schools in Cumberland County. To Brown’s way of thinking, intelligence, common sense, hard work and achievement were the keys to success. My conversation with him was more than two decades ago, and I have never forgotten those words.

    Entitlement and identity politics have put our city and county communities in peril, and it needs to stop.

    Local Democrats, many in the black community, are angry and disgusted with Tisha Waddell and Bill Crisp because Waddell and Crisp are independent thinkers with principles and integrity. They refused to be intimidated or bought off or have their core values compromised.

    The recent 6-3 vote that chose Culliton over Bradley was a mandate and somewhat of a godsend at the same time. Bradley, after Culliton’s appointment, referred to Fayetteville City Council as “a den of wolves and thieves” in a Facebook post. Really? This begs the questions: What was the real intention and motivation for getting Bradley elected? And, who is masterminding this league of helpless and hapless lemmings? It will be apparent soon.

    Honesty and integrity will win out when initiatives like this run out of strategy or logic or both. One thing is for sure, the 6-3 vote of the council for Dan Culliton has sent a resounding message. More and more people are beginning to connect the dots. Once the dots are connected, the only message that will be tolerated and acceptable to the citizens of Fayetteville will be the one that reads: “Fayetteville First!”

    Now, that’s color intelligent! Thank you, W.T. Brown.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 05BubbleIt seems that we have become a nation consumed by protests. Far too often, any occurrence that a few people object to results in some form of protest. They run the gamut, from boycotts to marches, verbal to physical attacks and other actions too numerous to list. A major point of despair for me is that most American protests originate and are executed in a bubble.

    This bubble description can be explained by sharing a comment the 13-year-old girl who I mentor made to me. This is the young lady I mentioned in a recent column addressing rap at the Dogwood Festival. She and I are reading a book by Sean Covey titled “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.” Covey gives very thoughtful attention to the process of making sound choices. During our review of one section of the book, that 13 year old said to me, “When making decisions, I do some foreshadowing.”

    Dictionary.com defines foreshadowing as “to show or indicate beforehand; prefigure.” I think “prefigure” is the part of that definition that best reflects what this young lady is practicing. She is, within the framework of her beliefs and values, considering the likely consequences of the various decisions she might make in a given situation. That means she is looking beyond preconceived, knee-jerk, automatic responses to situations.

    If that young lady were to take this preconceived, knee-jerk, automatic response approach, she would be operating in a bubble. I contend that this is the condition of most protests in our time. Pick any protest you want that has occurred in the past 50 years, especially the most recent ones, and it will most likely fit this bubble description. Consider the rioting, looting and burning of businesses that followed the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a black male, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The protesting was immediate and followed what has become the routine in protesting. It is done in a bubble.

    I think it is disgraceful that so many who protest in our time point to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement as their model, as justification, for protesting. I hold that most current protests seek to intimidate, to bully, others into yielding to their demands. I grew up in the 1950s and ’60s, during the Civil Rights Movement. I remember participating in a civil rights march that was led by Dr. King in Atlanta. It was a peaceful march during which I believe the aim was to touch the hearts of our oppressors, and by so doing, prompt them to do what was right. My observation is confirmed by the following from an essay titled “The Political and Rhetorical Strategies of Martin Luther King,” available at https://befreedom.co/the-real-and-rhetorical-strategies-ofmartin-luther-king.

    “MLK drew deeply from many sources: black history and Christianity; the revolution in revolutionary strategy accomplished first in India; the promise of America embodied in the Declaration of Independence, and Constitution, and the many global struggles against imperialism in Africa, Asia and South America. MLK was fully engaged with both history and the world he lived in.

    “Out of this mix King fashioned a powerful political and rhetorical strategy based on a set of closely interwoven concepts and practices: non-violent civil disobedience, love, the beloved community, the America dream and a revolution of values. He relied upon his faith and African-American history to counter fear and fatalism. For King the world is a product of interdependence
    and mutuality. He urged us to be conscious of our connection with everyone and everything.”

    In light of the King strategy described above and my observations from that Atlanta march, consider what I see as a clear example of “bubble protesting” that is totally contrary to the King strategy that proved amazingly successful. Anthony Wall, a 22-year-old black man, escorted his sister to her prom. Later that evening, they went to a Waffle House in Warsaw, North Carolina. An incident took place in the restaurant that resulted in the police being called and Wall being arrested. In the process of that arrest, a white police officer appears to choke Wall, and later, slam him to the ground. Here are the titles of a few of the many videos of the event as posted on YouTube, along with the number next to each title to indicate how many times it was viewed: Officer chokes 22-year-old during Waffle House arrest captured on video (6,800); Black man choked by officer at Waffle House in Warsaw, North Carolina (117,000); Waffle House Under Fire
    After Black Man Is Choked by Cop on Video (4,800); Video Shows White Cop Choking a Black Prom-Goer Outside a North Carolina Waffle House (57,000).

    Bernice King, daughter of King Jr., responded to this incident by calling for a boycott of all Waffle Houses. The following is from an article by Abbie Bennett titled “MLK’s daughter calls for Waffle House boycott after black man choked, slammed by NC cop.”

    “In a tweet on Thursday, King wrote: “Family, let’s stay out of Waffle House until the corporate office legitimately and seriously commits to 1. discussion on racism, 2. employee training and 3.
    other plans to change; and until they start to implement changes.”

    In the same tweet, King shared the News & Observer story about Anthony Wall, 22, who was at Waffle House after taking his 16-year-old sister to prom in Warsaw, North Carolina on May 5.

    Bernice King reads a newspaper article regarding the Warsaw incident and immediately calls for a boycott of Waffle Houses. Her response is certainly joined by many of those who watched one or more of the YouTube videos. Reports indicate there are growing calls for a boycott. The question I raise is how does this response to the Warsaw incident compare with the response that Martin King’s strategy would have produced? I contend they are at opposite ends of the response spectrum. Look again at that selection from the essay that speaks to the King strategy. I see none of those elements in the response of his daughter to the Warsaw incident. Even further, those elements are clearly missing from the “bubble protesting” approach that has taken hold in America.

    More importantly, “bubble protesting” repeatedly fails to produce measurable, positive results. The problem is these protests are not clear in defining ultimate goals and gearing actions toward achieving those goals.

    Look at the actions Bernice King calls for in her tweet. What’s the goal? How do her proposed actions move toward achieving some goal or goals? Not only is there this lack of goals and thoughtful actions in pursuit of them, racial tension and other protest issues are getting worse rather than better. Bubble protesters would do well to discuss foreshadowing with that 13-year-old I mentioned in my opening.

    Finally, the automatic response, the knee-jerk approach of “bubble protesting,” hardly ever allows for gathering and examining facts. This adds to the misguidedness of these efforts. In the Warsaw Waffle House incident, every video I viewed started at some point after the white police officer begins interacting with the 22-yearold. After the thousands of views and calls for a boycott, a video surfaces at http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article211130829.html.

    This video, accompanied by an article, shows the totally verbally abusive and disrespectful conduct of Wall and his sister that led to the police being called. Watching this video sheds a very different light on what happened in that Waffle House. Sadly, bubble protesters will dismiss this piece of information in the name of combating racism.

    That 13-year-old who employs foreshadowing would not dismiss it. She would recognize and act on the need for teaching and modeling respect for authority and for others. Obviously, this concept is foreign to bubble protesters.

    America needs to recognize and address the great harm being done to our nation by “bubble protesting.”

  • 03Bill ClintonLike a bad dream or a bad penny, former President Bill Clinton’s highly inappropriate, though not criminal, relationship with Monica Lewinsky from two decades ago periodically rears its ugly head. It nearly cost him his presidency, and over the years, it has haunted him, his long-suffering wife, Hillary, and her political aspirations, not to mention the rest of us. It nigh on ruined Lewinsky’s life. Now in her mid-40s and holding a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, she has been unable to find meaningful and sustainable employment under her own notorious name. In her TED talk, she addressed “public shaming as a blood sport” and described herself as the original victim of cyber bullying beginning in the late 1990s.

    The relationship popped up again recently as Clinton embarked on a book tour of his new novel, written with thriller author James Patterson. Instead of the book, news has centered on the Clinton-Lewinsky relationship, with the former president testily acknowledging that while he has publicly apologized for the affair on several occasions, he has never actually spoken to Lewinsky herself. With the United States and much of the world focused on the #MeToo movement, Clinton’s insensitivity and preoccupation with his own victimhood – “I left the White House $16M in  debt,” has not been well received. Even he has acknowledged this stance in recent interviews “was not my finest hour.”

    Poor baby!

    While the former president’s relationship with a young woman much closer to his daughter’s age than his own was not illegal, it was stunningly inappropriate for the most powerful man in the world to use her and discard her, leaving her alone for “shaming as blood sport” for more than 20 years.

    Clinton is hardly alone, though.

    American history is littered with presidential misbehavior in the libido department. Thomas Jefferson had six children with Sally Hemings, the younger half-sister of his late wife and his own
    “property” as a slave on his Virginia plantation. Grover “Ma! Ma! Where’s My Pa? Gone to the White House! Ha! Ha! Ha” Cleveland fathered a child out of wedlock and got to the presidency  anyway. Franklin Roosevelt maintained a long-running affair with his wife’s secretary, who was with him when he died. John F. Kennedy apparently spent about as much time dating around as he did running the country, and both Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson reportedly enjoyed active social lives outside their marriages.

    Our current president may take the cake in the womanizing department, though. Donald Trump has bragged on tape about which body part he prefers to “grab.” One can Google “how many women have accused President Trump of sexual harassment/sexual assault/sexual misconduct/groping/rape” and come up with a different number in each category. Some cases have been
    settled and cash has changed hands, and others are out there for all the world to see. The latest is Stormy Daniels, who recently performed at a men’s club in Raleigh. The end to her legal dispute with the president seems nowhere in sight.

    04President Trump Official PortraitThe president and Mrs. Trump have dismissed his remarks about women as “locker room talk” and “boy talk.”

    Trump joins Clinton in crying “poor me.” The women are going after him, he says, and none – he repeats, not one – of the accusations contain a shred of truth, the groping tape notwithstanding.

    These women, apparently like Special Counsel Robert Mueller, have been sent by the Democrats and other unnamed enemies to derail his excellent presidency.

    It feels like we have been living for the last several years in the “season of men behaving badly,” with the domino-like downfalls of titans of show business, media, politics and business. Some fell with massive thunderclaps, while others eased themselves out of their important roles before their personal storms hit. In fact, though, men behaving badly has been with us since the founding of our country, and women are just now finding the power to call them on it.

    Clinton and Trump and others with great political power can point at others all they want to, but at the end of the day, the responsibility is theirs, and it is not associated with any particular party.

  • 17BMW G 310 R People in the motorcycle industry work hard to get people to buy their bikes. They work even harder to get consumers to buy into their brand and stay with it. Look at Harley-Davidson. They are geniuses at marketing. They market to every age, but the upper-tier motorcycle brands are out of reach for most first-time buyers. When I say upper-tier brands, I mean companies like Harley-Davidson, BMW, Ducati and now, Indian. Other brands have not had the commercial success of Harley-Davidson, but they have brand name recognition for other reasons, like reputation.

    A few years ago, I was at an event and was able to hear BMW’s vice president of marketing speak. He told us that BMW has an 88-year marketing plan. At the time, their concern was first-time motorcycle sales because, as an industry, those sales had been declining. They looked at various data points to decide their roadmap – average income, number of years of riding experience, and the cost of first-time bike sales. As a new rider, you have two choices: New or used. Cost is a big factor for the new rider. Traditionally, the upper-tier brands are not the first bike a person owns.

    These companies continue to work to get people into their showrooms. Harley-Davidson does a great job at community events and creating branded clothing, and most dealerships offer motorcycle riding classes.

    The folks at BMW are changing the marketplace again. This year, they have introduced the G 310 R with a starting price of $4,750, which includes antilock brake system, or ABS, brakes.

    A few weeks ago, I visited my friends at Garcia Motorsports in Raleigh, and they had just gotten in on the G 310 R. They are very accommodating and let you take a bike out for test ride. I hopped on. At first, I was blown away that you could get anything with the label BMW on it for this price. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it rode quite nicely. At 349 pounds, this bike is lightweight and nimble.

    The bike is clean, and there is no sign of a lack in quality for the price’s sake. The display features an LCD dash with a bar graph tachometer, gear indicator, shift light and trip computer. ABS is standard. This is a great feature for a new rider. When given the option, I strongly recommend getting ABS. It has saved me a number of times.

    The BMW dealership is on the outskirts of Raleigh, so it is easy to catch an Interstate, back roads and, of course, stop-and-go traffic. The bike was taller than I expected. The seat has a 30.9-inch seat height. There are different bike positions. Both sports and the cruiser are generally low. Some bikes ride high or more upright. In particular, I like being high because I can see over most cars and feel more comfortable in the upright position.

    From the stop light, it was easy to get going and get ahead of traffic. At the posted speed limits, the bike had plenty of power. If you like riding above the speed limit, then depending on your weight, you may want to add a windshield.

    BMW is also expanding the 310 line to include a 310 GS. If you are not familiar with the GS family, The GS refers to either Gelände/Straße (German: off-road/road) or Gelände Sport. The GS series of dual purpose off-road/on-road BMW motorcycles have been produced from 1980, when the R80G/S was launched, to the present day.

    Not only is BMW offering a sub $5,000 price entry bike, but so is Suzuki, Honda and KTM.

    This is also great news for people who already own a bike. Maybe you want to have a sport bike feel for a low price. If so, check out the Honda CBR300R or the Kawasaki Ninja 300. If you are looking for that naked sport bike feel, then check out the KTM 390 DUKE.

    I hope that more manufacturers follow suit and start creating lowerpriced options for first-time buyers and bikers who want the option of adding another bike to their collection for an affordable price.

    If there is a topic you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

  • 07TeachersOn Wednesday, May 16, I was privileged to witness our teachers, who rarely organize or complain, some 25,000 plus, come to our General Assembly to voice their concerns over what they perceive is the Legislature’s lack of commitment to public education.

    Their visit left me with a plethora of thoughts and emotions. These wonderful teachers truly care for our children. Yet, they are reluctantly leaving the profession. They are going to other states to work. The teachers who are staying are frustrated and are very, very tired. The vast majority of them work two or three jobs just to make ends meet. They feel unappreciated and perplexed.

    Despite their obvious concerns and presence, teachers were not dignified by some. There were those of the Republican super majority who chose not to meet with teachers and instead kept their legislative doors closed, hiding behind posters claiming how they had raised teacher salaries over the past three sessions. This was upsetting to teachers who simply wished to voice their concerns and ask questions of their elected officials.

    Their questions:

    “Why will they not speak with us?”

    “Who came up with that $50,000 average salary figure? I am not making that.” The average pay for Cumberland County teachers is $41,000, which is $10,000 less than the claimed state average.

    As I met with teachers who were literally lined up from the mall to the legislative building, I stopped and made inquiry with groups of teachers from various counties. I asked each group how many of them worked more than one full-time job to make ends meet. More than half acknowledged that they worked multiple jobs, such as working in factories, clerking at convenience stores and delivering pizza. One teacher spoke of how humiliating it was to deliver pizza to his current students.

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 16 percent of teachers nationwide have a second job. Currently, 53 percent of North Carolina teachers have a second job. This same percentage placed us as third in the nation in 2011, and there has been no improvement since that time. Once again, we are first in matters we should be last in and last in matters that we should be first in.

    Our teachers also expressed concern that our rapid accumulation of knowledge is exceeding our schools’ resources to prepare their students for such a pace. Technology will eliminate 50 percent or more of the current jobs. That is the bad news we must prepare for, as it is coming. The good news is 60 percent of our children will have an opportunity to land a job not yet invented.

    According to futurist Gerd Leonhard, our children must be able to learn quickly, think critically, be flexible and adapt as mankind’s advancements and accumulated knowledge will soon double
    every 30 days! What used to take centuries is now covered in a matter of days. Our accumulated knowledge accelerates proportionate to its advancement.

    What does this mean for the leaders of the free world? If we are honest, North Carolina is near the bottom in every major category of educational funding. There are myriad reasons why, but we
    have allowed ourselves to slip so far toward the bottom that it is considered by many to be a reasonable goal for us to achieve middle-of-the-pack status. This is being touted as excellence in education by both the Republican super majority as well as our state’s absentee superintendent of public instruction. However, the last I checked, middle of the road or middle of the pack is just what it is, mediocre. Our teachers are not buying it.

    For 12 years, we have allowed our educational system to spiral downward. Those who know, those who are in the trenches, and those who are the professionals felt compelled to assemble and do what heroes must do. They organized, marched and insisted on being heard – they raised their voices in respectful but strong unison. They are saying to us just as loud and just as bravely as they can, “Enough. The time is now to pursue excellence.”

    What does a top five education system look like? House Bill 888 (Professional Teachers & Administrators Accountability Act) is a great start.

    First, it is not just paying teachers a professional wage, a wage that is commensurate with the difficult job they do. It starts with excellent preschools, which are the trigger for young minds to read and to be curious. It emphasizes reading throughout the elementary years but specifically mastering all reading during the first three grades. It is a classroom stocked with great textbooks, labs and internet and technology resources. It is principals welltrained to lead their schools, support their teachers and have their backs. It is young teachers assigned to well-paid mentors who set high standards and demand the best from their young protégées.

    It is also a system that teaches parents to partner with their children’s schools and with their children to ensure they are receiving the knowledge and all that they will need for the jobs of the next century.

    The critics will say, “Throwing money at a problem will not fix it,” or, “We don’t need to be the best – maybe just be top of our region.” To those I say, why don’t we lift up excellence as a goal?
    Being mediocre is all but un-American; being less than mediocre is unconscionable. The price for our state to be in the top five of the nation is $100 a year for each citizen presently living in the state. An alternative way of financing this plan is to return our taxes to the 2015 levels.

    If we are reluctant to put this program into place statewide, then shame on us. We have tried everything else – charters, vouchers, special school districts, etc. What we have not tried is being the best. I am certainly open to trying this global approach in six to eight different school systems throughout the state to see if it works – but try we must. Imagine our state with the best schools in the nation!

    The next war on democracy will be waged on the battlefield of the mind. We are blessed to have so many members of our armed services here in North Carolina. Can you image sending those
    brave men and women to battle mediocrely trained and equipped? Would we dare scrimp on their resources? Like our military, our children’s education must equip them for the battle of who controls knowledge, and with it, immense power.

     

    PHOTO: Photo by Jose Moreno on Unsplash.

  • 06MemorialDayMemorial Day in this household is something to pause on for me. It’s looking at the flag that we see every day on our entertainment center and really, really looking at it.

    It’s thinking on my parents who were both killed in a military training exercise in 1981, the reason that this flag is in our house.

    It’s looking at the dog tags on it and thinking about my grandfather and his service, but also the stories he told of the ones who didn’t come home. Or the other pilot that he wondered about for years and tried to find for almost the rest of his life, only to find out this man died weeks after the last time Grandpa saw him in another fight in World War II.

    It’s thoughts of the crew at the Special Forces Association Chapter 1-18 and the stories they’ve told us around the bar there of their friends who didn’t make it home, in a mix of tears and some smiles to go with them. It’s watching my husband, Scott, try to figure out how to memorialize his friends who gave the ultimate sacrifice and then seeing him realize that he will never be able to truly do this as perfectly as he wants to.

    It’s a lot of piled emotions in one day.

    And it’s also me smiling as I put on my first dad’s Hawaii T-shirt and wear it for the day. Smirking that he wore his shirts so tight in the ’70s that in my time, I’d like to think this shirt was made more for my size. It’s Scott telling great stories of his friends that he’s eventually laughing about in the telling.

    It’s having our flag out on the front porch and a “Freedom” banner in the garden at the farm.

    We honor them all, but more importantly to me than anything else is the actual remembering. We keep talking about them all. And instead of solemnity all the time, we’re chuckling. And remembering the trueness of them in the imperfection.

    This is how we do Memorial Day, and I’m at peace completely. To me, this is fitting.

     

    PHOTO: The late Air Force Capt. Donald Fonke.

  • 05especiallyThis column is dedicated to a very special guy who works somewhere in the food service industry. I speak of Leon, an unknown folk hero who deserves recognition. I have never met Leon, but I feel I know him anyway. Leon, like Johnny Yuma, is a rebel. Leon is unafraid to buck society’s norms. He’s the kind of guy who made America great once upon a time. Leon is a rugged individualist willing to stand up against the job-killing regulations of the Deep State, which we all know stifle American ingenuity. I shall always think of Leon any time I enter a restaurant’s restroom that has been clumsily and cruelly targeted by Big Brother.

    You have seen the invasive tentacles of the Deep State yourself every time you go into a restaurant’s restroom. Ponder that dictatorial sign from the Health Department on the wall that states: “Each Employee’s Hands Must Be Washed Thoroughly, Using Soap, Warm Water and Sanitary Towel or Approved Hand-Drying Device Beginning Work and After Each Visit to the Toilet.”

    On said sign at Leon’s workplace, someone had hand-written in ink, “Especially Leon.”

    Now every time I see one of those signs, I think of Leon and laugh. The next time you enter a public restroom and see that sign, you, too, are very likely to think of Leon and laugh. But be careful; laughing in a public restroom can cause people to look at you funny if you are not talking on a blue tooth phone.

    But seriously, folks, this handwritten addendum to the Deep State’s sign is a direct attack on Leon’s ability to decide for himself whether or not to spread germs in the manner that he deems fit. Why should Leon – or anyone else – have to wash his hands if he doesn’t want to?

    Holy Typhoid Mary, the Deep State is once again interfering with our freedom. One can make the argument that Leon is facing a hostile work environment. Leon’s pain and mental anguish from this outrageous infringement on his freedom can only be eased by the application of a large money poultice, which can be secured after lengthy litigation and substantial attorney fees. I liken Leon and his heroic fight for the right to work with dirty hands to Mel Gibson in “Braveheart,” who shouts, “They may take our lives, but they can never take our freedom to handle food with germy hands!”

    Regulations are bad. They stifle competition and keep Darwinism from evicting people who want to make dangerous choices from the gene pool. If some people want to eat Tide Pods, it is their God-given right to destroy their gastrointestinal systems.

    The Deep State has no right to try to prevent the pursuit of foaming at the mouth or self-infliction of excruciating abdominal pain. The people have no Tide Pods? Let them eat at a restaurant where Leon works. The Tide Pod eaters may end up in the Saint Hubris Hospital for the Mentally and Gastronomically Challenged, but that is their right.

    Just because you can do something, means you should do it. If, for example, say a future presidential candidate were to travel to a faraway capital of a communist country, and while there, decide that he wants to enjoy a flood of entertainment by, as Putin put it, “Girls of reduced social responsibility,” if he can afford to hire such entertainers, who are we to say that would be wrong? If it can be done. It should be done. As the King of Siam once said, “So let it be written. So let it be done.”

    If we accept the proposition that the Deep State is out to ruin America by regulating such piddling things as hand washing, drilling for oil in national parks or supporting public education, then it’s time to end those things.

    All those post-apocalyptic movies and TV programs that show people murdering and eating each other after society collapses are just scare tactics from Hollywood and its evil twin the Deep State. We don’t need no stinkin’ rules. Rules are for sissies who can’t take care of themselves and have to rely on the Nanny State to impose order. As Chairman Mao once said, “Political
    power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” It’s every man for himself. That old saying about sinking ship protocol, “Women and children first,” is so yesterday.

    If The Donald wants to make the Chinese company ZTE great again by saving 75,000 Chinese jobs after his lovely daughter Ivanka gets a bunch of new trademarks from the Chinese government to sell books and various housewares in China, what of it? The Constitution’s Emoluments clause is a relic of the past. Constitutional limits preventing a President from financially benefitting from his office by doing favors for foreign interests are just the Deep State’s way of messing with the entrepreneurial spirits of Oligarchs.

    If Leon has dirty hands, he is not alone.

  • 03Roseanne barrRodney King’s plaintive words echoing across the decades are more on point than ever in the wake of our most recent national shouting match that leaves everyone sullied.

    First, comedian Roseanne Barr referred to two educated, professional African-American women who served key roles in the Obama administration as “apes.” Within hours, another comedian, Samantha Bee, called the daughter of our current president a word that cannot be printed in a community publication, if anywhere.

    How on God’s green earth did we get to this low point?

    Years ago, when I was an adolescent, I – like most young people just beginning to feel their oats – tried out a few forbidden words, including some with meanings I did not fully comprehend. At  some point in my linguistic rebellion, my mother got wind of it. A grammarian, a lover of the English language and a proper Southern mother, she was appalled and, as we say in the South, “was having none of that.”

    She and I had a sit-down on the topic of being kind and respectful to others and using the beautiful flexibility and versatility of the English language both properly and with care. I came away from our conversation understanding something I had not considered before … that unkind, uncivil, and “dirty” language reflects more on the speaker than it does on the intended target.

    Name-calling is cheap and easy, revealing a mind that either does not know or is too lazy to search for a precise and insightful word or phrase that actually means something. Referring to others as “apes” or with a four-letter expletive is not creative. It reveals minds too challenged or too lazy or both to come up not with scattershot but with words that have express meaning.

    04samantha beeBarr and Bee should be embarrassed not only for what they said about others but also by the sheer mediocrity of their choice of words.

    Clearly, our nation is as divided politically, geographically and educationally as we have ever been during my adult lifetime. I would have a difficult time scanning my circle of family, friends and acquaintances without being aware of which side they take. In other words, no one is neutral. There are next to no true “independents.” Virtually all Americans are in one camp or another. We agree with Barr or we agree with Bee, though we might not have used their cheap words, and no end to our current vitriol is in sight.

    Whatever else they may be, Barr and Bee symbolize two deeply disturbing aspects of American culture in 2018.

    An alarming percentage of us no longer value civility in our everyday lives or in other people. Courtesy matters less and less, as a trip down any roadway in the country quickly demonstrates with fist-shakers and fingerwaggers abounding. We barely notice profanity in person or in various media. Instead of shocking us as it did a generation ago, it has become the wallpaper of daily living. Barr’s and Bee’s language is so common that this column – a week or so after their utterances – may well be the last you hear about either of them.

    We also value language less. Finding and using the words that match what we want to express seems too hard for many of us, so we take the easy route – simple and overused words that have no clear meaning and “dirty” words so overused they have little meaning at all.

    In my dreams, we would all take Rodney King’s heartfelt admonishment, “Can’t we all just get along?” to heart. We can agree to disagree as we obviously do, but we do not have to speak like Barr and Bee.

    We could all learn from Winston Churchill as well. Churchill did not call names, but he was a world champion at the clever and targeted zinger. When Harry Truman remarked that Churchill’s replacement as prime minister “seems like a modest sort of fellow,” Churchill shot back, “He’s got a lot to be modest about.”

    That puts all expletives in their proper uncreative and below average place.

  • 02speakAs home to Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne Division, Fayetteville is nestled closer to thehearts of our Founding Fathers than most of America for one reason – the fine service members here who protect and defend our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They ensure that we can vote, we can dissent, we can speak our minds – even when maybe we shouldn’t.

    Yet we do.

    Just this past year, writers in Up & ComingWeekly made their voices heard regarding immigration, kneeling during the national anthem, and more recently, local politics in both Hope Mills and Fayetteville. We received pushback on all of it. And we were happy to read and print those responses, even when we didn’t agree.

    Disagreements and pettiness happen daily on a national level with presidential tweets that make headlines and talking heads and celebrities who use their positions as a platform to further their political or personal agendas. Two recent cases that come to mind are Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee. ABC canceled Barr’s TV show for inappropriate remarks she made about President Obama’s former democratic senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett. Meanwhile, on her show “Full Frontal,” Samantha Bee verbally assaulted President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka (a Republican staffer), by referring to her as a “feckless C**t.”

    Did TBS’ executives admonish Bee’s behavior? Did they cancel her comedy show? They did not. Imagine the national outrage if Bee said that about Michelle Obama, or worse, her daughters Malia and Sasha.

    Bee’s show was videotaped. This meant that TBS had the opportunity to edit out the offensive insult before it aired nationally. Those with the authority to make that decision chose not to.

    Even if the performance was a live broadcast, a standard 10-second broadcasting delay allows for bleeping out vulgarities.

    By their actions, these two companies made bold statements about where they stand. Undoubtedly, many agree with them. Others do not. But no one went to jail, mysteriously disappeared or lost their job. Because this is still America. That’s part of the glory of our country. We can speak our minds without fear of retribution from our government and with the expectation of being heard.

    As part of this military community, we have lost far too many service members through the years because they answered the call to serve and were sent to handle America’s business in faraway places on our behalf. With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror, and on the heels of heartfelt ceremonies where we honored our friends for their sacrifice and quietly vowed to look after their widows and orphans, the name-calling and hate couldn’t feel more misguided or counterproductive.

    We are lucky to be Americans, and we should definitely use our First Amendment right to voice our opinions, to disagree, to be true to ourselves. When passions run high, it is easy to forget the cost of our freedom. And that comes with consequences – for people and organizations. We both thank you for reading Up &Coming Weekly.

  • 01COVERIt’s fantastic! The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre returns after a 35-year hiatus with its inaugural performance of “The Fantasticks” under the direction of Jeanne Koonce, founder of Purple Door Productions. This romantic musical comedy premieres at the Ramada Plaza at Bordeaux July 27-29. It is being promoted and billed as “A unique theater experience.” 

    Veteran director Jeanne Koonce is no stranger to this facility. She was introduced to the original FDT, which was then known as the Bordeaux Dinner Theatre, as a young Army wife. An accomplished singer, actress and director, Koonce landed her first Fayetteville job in theater with FDT. 

    Billed as the longest-running off-Broadway show of all time, “The Fantasticks” is the perfect show for Fayetteville audiences. Playing off the talents of a strong cast, it has a clever storyline with lyrics written by Tom Jones and ageless music and songs by Harvey Schmidt. 

    Koonce sees the intimate setting of the dinner theater as providing another major strength for this production. The show is funny, romantic and intimate, and all with only eight characters. 

    “This is a musical with roots in Shakespeare, and the philosophy of young lovers and traditional family conflicts are carried forward,” Koonce said. “Under the plotline and humor, there is a deeper philosophy, depending on which character you are — the main one being, of course, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ This show needs to be right in your face, and, like in Shakespeare’s day, the focus is on the actors. It is lovely this way.” 

    The cast is composed of local and regional talent many theater enthusiasts will recognize. The Girl, Luisa, is played by Fayetteville resident Amber Jansen, a junior at Massey Hill Classical High School.

    The Boy, Matt, is played by Ryan Ransom. Ransom is a St. Pauls native and a music/theater student at UNC Pembroke. 

    El Gallo is played by Clay Rogers. He is a native of Fairmont and employed by Givens Performing Arts Center in Pembroke.

    A strong supporting cast includes Robeson County natives Matt Jacobs and Steve Chambers as the meddling fathers and Denver McCullough as Henry, the old actor. McCullough has performed in many local and regional productions at Cape Fear Regional Theatre and the former Fort Bragg Playhouse. UNCP student Dakota Hammonds plays Henry’s sidekick, Mortimer. UNCP alumni Winona Oxendine is cast as the mute and stage manager. 

    The Fayetteville Dinner Theatre is being billed as “A unique theater experience.” Defined, this means the evening will include much more than a great show performed by talented actors. 

    The evening begins a with a V.I.P. reception and wine-tasting and sale at 6 p.m. hosted by Fayetteville area newcomer Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery. The winery will showcase seven of its unique and exquisite wines. CFVW is in Elizabethtown and features fine dining and lakeside lodging. It is the Cape Fear area’s newest destination for hosting weddings and events. “We are thrilled to be a part of this production,” said Jeff Martin of Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery. “We love supporting the arts in Cumberland and its surrounding counties.”

    At 6:30 p.m., a three-course, duel-entrée dinner will be served by the Ramada Plaza staff while the theater guests are entertained by Fayetteville’s own Cross Creek Chordsmen, an award-winning chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society Choral Group. According to spokesman Joshua Gray-Heim, the group will present a repertoire of current hits as well as traditional four-part harmonies dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s. 

    The curtain will rise on “The Fantasticks” immediately following. But even then, the evening will be far from winding down. There will be plenty of prizes and surprises at intermission including a post-show meet-and-greet with the actors. The FDT and CFVW will give away a grand prize each evening worth hundreds of dollars. Prizes include a dinner for two at the winery with a complimentary bottle of wine, a flight of all seven of CFVW’s wines and a two-night stay in the cabins on the lake at CFVW.

    Proceeds from “The Fantasticks” will be donated to the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, for securing reading and educational resources for Cumberland County children. CFVW will also donate all proceeds from the wine-tasting and sale to the foundation. 

     “With an awesome show, talented actors, a V.I.P. reception, an exclusive wine-tasting, a great dinner, door prizes, entertainment by the Cross Creek Chordsmen, and all culminating with a post-show meet-and-greet and grand prize giveaway, this will truly be ‘a unique theatre experience’” said FDT producer and Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman. “It’s all about giving the audience what they pay for. Value. Fayetteville residents appreciate good theater and great entertainment, and that is what we are going to provide for them.” 

    Bowman also expressed his appreciation and thanks to the FDT supporters and sponsors: Ramada Plaza, Allegra Printing & Imaging, Five Star Entertainment and Women’s View Magazine.

    Tickets cost $75 per person with discounts for Seniors 65+ and active duty military. Show dates are July 27, 28 and 29. To make reservations or to learn more about the show, visit www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com Tickets are also available from 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at the FDT Box Office at the Ramada Plaza. Call (910) 391-3859 for more information. 

  • 09UrbanGolfFayetteville Urban Ministry presents its 22nd annual golf fundraiser Saturday, June 24, at Gates Four Golf and Country Club at 9 a.m. 

    “This will be our 22nd annual golf tournament, which is a fundraiser that we do, and we have lots of fun,” said Johnny Wilson, executive director of Fayetteville Urban Ministry. “We do a lot of raffles and have door prizes and gifts.”   

     The prizes include new golf clubs, a flat-screen TV, 50/50 cash raffle, goodie bags and first, second, third and last place team prizes. 

    “Our goal is to raise $30,000, but our dream is to go beyond that,” said Wilson. “This money goes to unrestricted use, so we get to plug it in any other areas where we need it the most.” 

    Wilson added that the purpose of the fundraiser benefits the organization and community in many ways. He said whether the money is used to keep up with the payment of salaries or provide services, it enables Urban Ministry to keep its doors open and continue serving those in need. 

    For every dollar that is donated to Fayetteville Urban Ministry, 89 cents goes right back into service in the community. Eleven cents goes to administration. 

    Fayetteville Urban Ministry offers four programs free of charge to Cumberland County residents. Those programs are Emergency Assistance, the Nehemiah Project, an Adult Literacy Program and Find-A-Friend Youth Program. Emergency Assistance houses a food pantry, clothing closet and financial assistance services for families and individuals in crisis. 

    The Nehemiah Project repairs the homes of low-income homeowners with help from volunteer groups from local churches. The Adult Literacy Program addresses the adults in Cumberland County who read at or below a fifth-grade level and assists them in the areas of reading, writing, math, general academics, job readiness, computer skills and the English language. 

    Find-A-Friend is a mentoring program that helps to modify students’ behavior positively at school, home and in the community. 

    “This is a great day to be on the greens, play some golf and get fed well,” said Wilson. “We look forward to seeing everyone participate in this event.” 

    The cost of an individual to play is $65, and a foursome is $260. Sponsorships are available. The first 32 teams to register will play.

    For more information or to register, visit www.fayurbmin.org or call (910) 483-5944. 

  • 08HisOutreach060717

    His Outreach Worldwide will host Faith and Family Fun Night alongside the Fayetteville SwampDogs on June 30 at J.P. Riddle Stadium. As the SwampDogs take on the Wilmington Sharks, fans can enjoy the game and some entertainment, too. 

    Lynne O’Quinn, founder of HOW, said there will be many family-friendly activities, such as bouncy houses and face painting, for children.

    The outreach-focused nonprofit’s mission is “to reach children of the world with the gospel and love of Jesus Christ,” according to its wesbite at hisoutreachworldwide.org. On game night, donate a new stuffed animal for children with critical health concerns at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. The donation of a stuffed animal will serve as guest’s entry payment for a raffle prize basket donated by the SwampDogs. 

    The SwampDogs will accompany a division of HOW that partners with the North Carolina Ronald McDonald Houses, His Shining Stars, to deliver the plush toys. 

    The SwampDogs began a relationship with HOW after Hurricane Matthew aligned their otherwise different and separate missions.  “This is how community helps community,” O’Quinn said. “We have remained best friends.” 

    Lost N Found, a local contemporary Christian southern rock band, is also teaming up to support HOW’s efforts by playing the pre-game show. John Kennedy, band member and manager, said they’d be performing a wide variety of songs, including songs from their album “Going Home.”  

    The band’s original music is “spiritually inspired or it is not played,” Lost N Found’s website says. “Each song has scripture backing up the content.” 

    O’Quinn said she’s excited for the band to play as their relationship extends over a decade to a time when Kennedy and Rob Greene, lead guitar, played for a secular band. 

    “Two of the members in Lost N Found were members of a southern rock band that I managed years ago,” O’Quinn said. “We just recently reconnected when they started Lost N Found (and) when we realized we were both working for the Lord.”

    Kennedy said O’Quinn was “involved in a music project with myself and the lead guitarist for Lost N Found in the 90s.” 

    “We had lost touch and then via Facebook we were reunited a few months ago,” Kennedy said. “We met with Lynne for a brief reunion and were immediately led to help her with HOW any way
    we could. It was amazing how both of us were in ministry all these years later,” Kennedy said. 

    O’Quinn said God brought her together with Lost N Found and the SwampDogs for such a time as this. 

    Doors open at 6 p.m. and the baseball game is set to begin at 7:05 p.m. 

  • 07CaribbeanFest

    The Caribbean American Connection of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a nonprofit organization that started 10 years ago. It is known for the Caribbean Festival it hosts every year. 

    This year marks the seventh annual Caribbean Festival. The festival started in local recreation centers, but over the years it has grown rapidly. The event takes place in Festival Park on June 25, from noon to 8 p.m. 

    The grounds will be filled with music, dancing and 21 vendors selling everything from food to merchandise. 

    Most participants will be representing Caribbean culture, but there will also be local groups participating. 

    For example, there will be a mobile truck providing free dental screenings. Don’t miss the Parade of Nations that will be taking place at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage in Festival Park. 

    Another highlight of the festival every year is the musicians and artists.  There is a mix of local performers and performers brought in specifically for this event. Nina George, the organization’s secretary, said this is her favorite part of the festival every year. 

    “There is music and dancing all day long. We have a live DJ who plays between performances and is in charge of the mood for the entire festival. It is what the Caribbean is known for,” George said. 

    Even coordinator Sheron Baker, however, thinks the authentic food vendors are the best part. 

    “We are a nonprofit designed to get Caribbean natives involved with their home islands while in the states,” Baker said. “There are a lot of Caribbean natives here in Fayetteville, especially because of Fort Bragg.” 

    The Caribbean American Connection of Fayetteville’s charity work expresses the duality of identity that many members feel. They do a lot of work to support the local community, but they also work to support the communities on their home Islands. 

    According to George, they have reached out and continue to reach out to the Caribbean by supporting relief efforts after the Haiti Earthquake, adopting an elementary school and sending Christmas angel gifts every year. 

    A lot of the work that the group does focuses on children. This is true of this family-friendly festival as well. 

    “There are lots of activities for kids. We play games that we play in the Caribbean; some are similar to what we play in the states like relay games and sack racing. We will give prizes after the games and this year we will have an arts and crafts project. Kids can make and then take home a flag as sort of a gift,” George said. 

    George believes that engaging children with events like this is vital. “Our group is a nonprofit, and we do a lot of social events to bring the culture here and allow children to experience their heritage,” she said. 

    While the organization is primarily focused on involving Caribbean natives, the festival and the group’s other events are open to the entire
    community. 

    Everyone is welcome to come learn about end enjoy Caribbean culture. For more information, call (910) 261-6910.

    Photo: This year marks the seventh annual Caribbean Festival.

  • 13Tori Harper Album Cover

    Christian 107.3 loves new artists. We love beefing up our playlists, keeping them as fresh as possible — adding new music weekly, peppering in independent artists, all while playing the hits you know and love. 

    Nestled among well-known artists is recently-debuted 17-year-old Tori Harper, based in Nashville,Tennessee. 

    This singer/songwriter is exceptionally wise for such a young mind, as evident in her premier single, “After Dark.” Her hauntingly sweet voice is matched with passion and vigor, pouring out wisdom beyond her years as she lovingly offers comfort and hope to a friend in need in this new tune. 

    In September of last year, Tori’s friend confided in her that his family discovered his sister was dealing with a severe eating disorder. Tori couldn’t believe it. This girl she knew was so joyful and beautiful. How could someone who seemed so happy be living under such a heavy weight?

     Then it hit her. Her friend’s pain was her pain. Tori had also been through dark times over the past couple of years, searching for acceptance and love. She had made some bad choices and found herself very hurt and in deep pain from rejection. 

    “I just felt alone, like no one saw me — but, especially, I felt like God didn’t see me,” she said. “I knew He existed, and I believed He was working in other people’s lives. I just felt like I’d come to this place where He didn’t want to have anything to do with my life.” 

    That night, Tori got out her journal and poured out her heart for her friend. She considered how we all wear masks, hiding the pain that’s right beneath the surface. Tori’s journal entry became the lyrics to “After Dark,” where she compared what God said is true to the lies her friend believed about herself. 

    Tori heard recently that her generation is one of the most stressed, anxiety-ridden, addicted generations ever seen. She believes when lies and dark places cloud God’s truth, we must speak the word of God over our lives and declare who He says we are — that He has created us uniquely in His image, and can help others to see the same in themselves. 

    Tori wrote “After Dark” to remind her friend and herself that “There is life after sadness/There is hope after madness/There is joy after a broken heart/ and there’s light after the dark.”

    Want to hear this song? Give us a call at (910) 764-1073 and make your request, or submit it online at Christian107.com. 

  • 10WingFlingThe Vision Resource Center is set to host its Second Annual “Out of Sight” Wing Fling Fundraiser and Cook-off, with 10 times more chicken wings than before. 

    The VRC, as a United Way agency in association with the Department of Social Services, provides practical skills education and advocacy for the blind and visually impaired in
    Cumberland County.

    On June 24, the center will fill Festival Park with food trucks, live music and activities from 3-8 p.m. as 10 teams compete for the best chicken wings
    in town. 

    Each team will receive 1,000 wings to impress the judges and wing-tasting participants. All farm-fresh chicken wings will be brought, as a donation, on a chilled 18-wheeler.

    “Mountaire Farms stepped up, and they are rocking it out and giving us 10,000 chicken wings for this,” said Alicia Cope, Wing Fling co-chair and VRC board member. “They are a huge sponsor and supporter of us.”  

    Admission is $5 with an additional $5 cost to be a wing taster. Due to the limited number of chicken wings, only 1,000 wing-tasting tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. 

    As an added level of blind competition, tasters will have the option to be blindfolded while tasting. 

    “This is going to be fun. If you want to truly taste it blind … you can put on the blindfolds and do that, as well,” Cope said. “We’ll have those available. They’re not required.”

    Teams will be competing to win the “Judge’s Choice” or “People’s Choice” awards. A $500 prize follows both awards. 

    The judges include Judge Tiffany Whitfield; Sheriff Ennis Wright; Joey “Porky” Newcomb, a Cape Beard member; AnneMarie Ziegler, ARRAY Magazine Publisher; and Al Florez, CFO of the Walker-Florez Consulting Group. 

    J.P. Riddle Stadium housed the 2016 Wing Fling. This year, Cope said, there’s excitement around the more central location of Festival Park. 

    Alicia Spease attended the cook-off last year with her family, including her 2-year-old son. She said the whole family enjoyed it even though the team they voted for wasn’t victorious. She said she plans to attend again this year.  

    “I do plan on going,” Spease said. “It’s on the day I get back from vacation, and I’ll be dragging my family.” 

    There will be many activities for the community, Cope said. Systel is sponsoring a $40 VIP tent, which will have access to shade, seating, drinks, a private bathroom and catered food. 

    Other activities include a kid zone with inflatables; an EyeQ zone where you can learn about the blind and visually impaired community and participate in a blindfolded obstacle course; a volunteer informational table; and a raffle where you can enter to win an Amazon Echo, two CrossFit 910 memberships and a signed Carolina Panthers football. Additionally, expect to hear music or spoken word from The Guy Unger Band, That Nation, LeJuane Bowens, DJ “Q” and Autumn Nicholas. The Black Daggers will also put on a parachute show.

    All profits will be used to support the Vision Resource Center, according to its website. “We’re a well-kept secret in Cumberland County, even though we’ve been in existence for 80 years,” Cope said. “But it’s a little part of the population that people don’t see, and they don’t see them because vision loss isolates. And so we’re trying to get them back out to be seen and to be part of our community.” 

    Terri Thomas, VRC executive director, said the center’s largest costs are for transportation and independent living skills educators. 

    Thomas said they plan outings outside the VRC walls, but some people care more about in-home support. 

    Independent living skills lessons, often the most expensive type of support, are “a way to reach those who may not be social butterflies,” Thomas said.

    You can buy tickets at the door to support the VRC or in advance at outofsightwingfling.com. 

  • 09satw

    The Givens Performing Arts Center presents “Strike at the Wind” Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, at the Givens Performing Arts Center at UNC Pembroke. Showtime for both days is 7:30 p.m.  

    “This is a legendary performance that has been performed at Pembroke since 1976,” said James Bass, executive director of Givens Performing Arts Center. “It was an outdoor amphitheater drama that went away in 1996 and came back in 1999.” 

    Bass added that ultimately, Givens has had some ups and downs and the last performance of the play was in 2007. So the performance has been dormant for about 10 years. This year the play will be performed on a stage instead of outdoors.        

    The return of the performance is a joint effort between The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Recently the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina acquired the rights to the play for three years. “Strike at the Wind” is a story about Henry Berry Lowry, who was considered to be the local Robin Hood that stole from the rich and gave back to the poor. 

    This dates back into the late 1800s toward the end of the Civil War. “The play is kind of a local legend around here, and for years everybody attended to see it,” said Bass. “It is one of those things that has been a part of Lumbee Homecoming and every year many people were committed to it and would come to see it over and over again.” 

    Bass added that the Givens director of theater, Dr. Jonathan Drahos, will direct the performance.

    In the Depression and in the 1920s, many farmers in Robeson County suffered financial damage. A number of them went to Washington, D.C. to petition for help. “One of the things that came about was the government gave the Lumbee people money to produce a historical pageant,” said Bass. “This was a venue for them to share their heritage and the history of the Lumbee Indians.”

    Bass added that there were a lot of people who believed the Lumbee Indians were descendants of Sir Walter Raleigh’s Lost Colony. This has been disputed since then. 

    In 1968, a Historical Drama Association was put together in Robeson County to present a drama or historical pageant about the history of the people. 

    In 1976 “Strike at the Wind” debuted. It was highly successful and the first summer 18,000 people attended the performance. For years, the play was performed every summer.                  

    “There is a lot of excitement about the play, and this is something that has been embraced by the community here,” said Bass. “We look forward to a huge turnout for the performance.”               

    Ticket cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For more information, call (910) 521-6361. 

  • 12CinemaPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

    Sequels are a tough business. Despite being constantly fed into the marketplace, it’s rare that they live up to the success and capture the magic of the original film on which they are based. 

    In the case of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the sequels have been fun. Or at least, that had been the case (for the most part) until now. The new film “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” lacks the fun and can’t sustain the promise of the earlier films in the franchise.

    The general plot in “Dead Men Tell No Tales” is of the search for the Trident of Poseidon. This legendary artifact bestows total control over the seas to its possessor. Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) is looking for this artifact to help his father, who is trapped in a watery grave. Henry enlists the assistance of the illustrious Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).

    Jack is being hunted by the vicious Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) in Salazar’s quest to eliminate all the pirates from the seas. This leads our heroes Henry, Jack and Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) ­­— who is under investigation for being a witch — on a high-seas adventure. Can the trio work with others to find the Trident or will they get lost at sea?

    “Lost at sea” is a good phrase for describing this film. From the opening scene, we are led on a meandering journey that should elicit joy. Instead, I felt like I was watching a franchise that had left its better days behind it. The original film, and some of the subsequent sequels, showcased a whimsical Jack Sparrow character who was fun. Instead, Depp’s portrayal here felt forced and borderline painful.

    Action sequences were swift and engaging, but lacked the punch needed to be special. At times, I felt some of the fights were about a more violent and shocking exhibition rather than the choreographed mayhem of the previous films.

    Much of the story felt forgettable, though I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention there is some plunder in a scene after the credits conclude. 

    While some scenes were definitely fun to watch on the big screen, I just couldn’t shake the feeling of a well drained of all its water. If the filmmakers intend to go any further with this franchise, the element of fun needs to be restored. Until then, I’m thinking more and more, a pirate’s life may not be for me.

    Paul’s Grade: C-

  • 09FayAfter5It’s spring. The warm weather is perfect for festivals, trips to the beach and music under the stars. That’s where Fayetteville After 5 excels — music under the stars. 

    The second Friday of the month, May through August, local bands and regional headliners hit the stage for an evening of entertainment and memory-making. The season opened on May 12 with The Tams. 

    On June 9, 120 Minutes brings best of the ’90s to Festival Park. Hailing from Raleigh, the band features covers of all the ’90s favorites including Nirvana, Gin Blossoms, Third Eye Blind, Britney Spears, The Spice Girls, Veruca Salt, Pearl Jam, Weezer, TLC, Duncan Sheik, Backstreet Boys, Aqua, Faith Hill, Santana feat. Rob Thomas, Spacehog, The Cranberries, Better Than Ezra, Smashing Pumpkins, Blur, Collective Soul, Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots, Everclear and more. 

    “I love getting to see the joy in people’s faces when we start into one of their favorite songs,” said bandmember John Booker. “Watching people sing along with us, dance, and just enjoy life. It’s always a big party, these songs are pure fun.”

    On July 14, On the Border: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band returns to Fayetteville After 5. The Charlotte-based band is a favorite in Fayetteville and performs along the east coast as far north as Boston. It’s a family-friendly show and one sure to get your feet tapping and have the midway filled with dancers.

    July 22, Country music performer Kasey Tyndall will play. Tyndall is from Eastern North Carolina. She struck out for Nashville in 2014 and by 2016 had more than 100 tour dates. Her recent EP “Everything Is Texas” has all the hallmarks of a country song, namely heartbreak. But it’s based on a true story.

    “Fayetteville After 5 is always a blast, I’ve been able to make it out to a few of them in the past, and I even played one a few years ago with my U2 tribute band,” said Booker of 120 Minutes. “We’re honored to be able to bring all these great ’90s covers to the good people of Fayetteville — to take us back to all the fun hits of the ’90s and just unwind, relax and enjoy great times and great music.”

    The gates open at 5 p.m. Music starts between 7 and 7:30 p.m. No outside food or beverages are permitted in the park. R.A. Jeffries offers beverages for sale. There is also food available for purchase. 

    Bring a blanket or a chair to sit on and your friends and family to share the experience. Find out more about Fayetteville After 5 at www.faydogwoodfestival.com or by calling (910) 323-1934.

  • 08SummerSoundsCape Fear Botanical Garden provides not only a beautiful natural oasis for relaxation; it also provides entertaining and educational events. This summer, visitors to the garden can experience a performance series called “Third Thursdays.” 

    Every third Thursday of the month from March to September, the garden is filled with different types of education and entertainment. Events range in scope from piano concerts to sustainable workshopping. The varied offerings are entirely intentional. 

    “Our Third Thursday series is a way for us to connect with a larger part of the community,” said Taryn Hughes, marketing manager at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. “We want to be able to attract different crowds, so each event is a whole new experience. We also want to give visitors the opportunity to walk the grounds after hours.”

    The second Third Thursday features a piano player, but it is not a typical piano concert. “Our next Third Thursday is Piano Pizzazz on June 15. Our hours are extended to 9 p.m., and the programming will start at 6 p.m.,” Hughes said. “It is a family-friendly event, so feel free to bring children! 

    “This will be different from a normal piano recital since Casey T. Cotton is not only a performer but also an entertainer. You’ll be able to enjoy music and laugh the night away. It’s the perfect combination. Beer and wine will be available from our cash bar and the food truck, R Burger, will be serving up their best.” 

    Casey T. Cotton was born in St. Louis and raised in California. He began playing the piano when he was just 7 years old. Music was a hobby for him during his childhood and his military career. 

    It remained a hobby until after he retired from the military and the defense contract business. Now, he focuses on his music career full time. As a professional pianist, singer and songwriter he travels and performs at venues and events across the country. In 2016, Cotton founded Blazin’ Keys Entertainment, which specializes in live dueling piano shows. 

    In addition to the incredible entertainment, Third Thursdays also offer the opportunity to see the garden from a different perspective. Third Thursday events last from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. 

    Under normal circumstances, the garden closes at 5 p.m., so attending one of these events showcases the evening beauty of the area. “We plan to have the event in our beautiful Orangery, but guests are more than welcome to walk around the garden and soak up nature in a different light,” Hughes said. 

    The next installation of Third Thursday is Garden Folk on July 20. There will be folk music and the author of “Gardening in the South,” Mark Weathington. Participants can enjoy music amongst the flowers and chat with Weathington about his work. 

    Third Thursday is specifically a summer series. Admission to Third Thursday is free with membership or paid admission to the garden. 

    The last event will be held in September, but the Cape Fear Botanical Garden has events all year-round. Find out more about them at www.capefearbg.org. 

    Photo: Casey T. Cotton will perform on June 15 for Cape Fear Botanical Garden's Piano Pizzazz night. 

  • pryor awardsLocal theater is a labor of love. It requires hard work and long hours, usually on top of commitments like holding down a job and taking care of family. It can be grueling, but passion is what drives many in the community to sacrifice their time and energy to create great art right in the heart of Fayetteville. In order to give these dedicated and talented people the recognition and appreciation they deserve, the Gilbert Theater hosts the Pryer awards.  The awards are inspired by Lynn Pryer, the founder of the Gilbert Theater and all of the work that he did in support of the local artistic community. 

    This year will be the fifth annual Pryer award celebration. Robyne Parrish the artistic director and co-education director for Gilbert Theater said, “We wanted to honor the actors and designers that give of their time and talents for very little pay. It is a time that the entire Gilbert community and the arts community at large can come together to celebrate and inspire one another.”

    This year the Pryer Awards celebration is on July 1 at 6 p.m. Tickets cast $40 per person. This fee will go to further supporting the Gilbert Theater. Parrish says the celebration will feature,”… door prizes, a full bar with beer, wine and alcohol plus soda and tea as well as an awesome silent auction and delicious food and desserts, entertainment and, of course, the awards ceremony. This year, we will be honoring Lynn Pryer with the lifetime achievement award.” Reservations or pre-purchasing a ticket is encouraged, there is expected to be 120 attendees. 

    The Glee Club and the cast of Young Frankenstein, which was the season musical, will provide entertainment. The silent auction is another highlight of the night. Guests can compete to win a number of incredible prizes. Parrish noted that “Anything and everything!” is available. She mentioned that some of the items up for auction include, “Art and sculpture, food and drink, evenings out on the town, theater tickets and spa treatments.”

    The Pryer Awards is a community-oriented event. This is truly an opportunity for the community to give feedback on the performances that they saw throughout the year. According to Parrish, “Throughout the year, the audience votes for their favorite artists from each production.  Nominees are chosen and in the end, votes are tallied and one artist gets the award.”

    This year the Gilbert continues a relatively new addition to the awards given. Last year was the very first iteration of the Lifetime Achievement Award. “It is a wonderful way to honor someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep the arts alive in our community and beyond,” Parrish said. This award is particularly special with the growing amount of pressure on the arts community. It is often the first community to suffer budget cuts; though the value of the arts is priceless. Supporting these awards through attending, voting and participating in the silent auction supports not only the Gilbert Theater but the Fayetteville artistic community as a whole.

    For more information or to purchase a ticket visit www.gilberttheater.com. 

  • After 5Good tunes, good food and good times come together as Fayetteville After 5 rolls into Festival Park on June 24. If ever there was a Friday night to offer up the very best that downtown has to offer, this is it. In conjunction with 4th Fridaywhere the galleries and shops stay open late, businesses participate in specials and the museums and libraries offer special activities, Fayetteville After 5 brings live music to soothe your soul and food trucks to tease your palate. That’s right. Food trucks, as in a dozen or so. It’s all downtown.

    Presented by Bud Light, Fayetteville After 5is a Fayetteville Dogwood Festival event. With years of experience hosting what is perhaps Fayetteville’s biggest party each year (the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival) Executive Director Carrie King knows how to throw a party and is always looking for ways to amp up the fun when people come to events. This year she decided to add food trucks to the mix. “Because the food truck events we have produced in the past have been so popular in our community, we wanted to bring a small sample of those larger events to the concert series. The June event will host 10 to 12 local and regional vendors with the selections including wings, BBQ, Philly Cheesesteaks, hibachi chicken and dumplings to donuts and sweet treats,” said King. “We do plan to have the larger — full foodie experience — at our October food truck festival,” she added. 

    The musical lineup for Fayetteville After 5 opens with local musician Chris Hurst and String Theory. Hurst’s music is rooted in the blues. He’s a regular performer at local eateries and festivals. “Chris Hurst & String Theory – Chis is a tried and true local and regional performer with a solid sound, fan base and performance,” said King.

    Zac Brown cover band 20 Ride is the main entertainment for the evening. “20 Ride has a huge following in the Raleigh and Greensboro area,” said King. “A lot of tribute bands are specific to the rock genre. You usually don’t see country tribute bands unless it is for iconic performers like Johnny Cash or Hank Williams. So to find a group that is capable of doing justice to the performer is rare. But 20 Ride does not disappoint.” 

    The gates open around 5 p.m. with music starting around 7 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on, unless of course you plan to dance the night away on the promenade. No pets or coolers, please, but friends and family are definitely welcome.

  • Black GoldSustainable Saturdays return to the Sandhills with a film series running from June through November. This isn’t the first such film series put on by the organization, which partners with Fayetteville’s PWC to bring films about environment-related issues to the community. From global economics to local agriculture, local water issues, climate change and the importance of honeybees, this series offers an opportunity to not only learn about these issues but how to take action and make a difference. Each film showing includes a presentation by a guest speaker followed by an open discussion. The first film is at the Cameo Art House Theatre on June 25. 

    The series kicks off with Black Gold, which delves into the international coffee trade. Follow Tadesse Meskela, the leader of an Ethiopian coffee cooperative as he struggles to save local farmers from bankruptcy. Blackgoldmovie.com notes that next to oil, coffee is the most valuable trading commodity in the world, yet while customers happily pay top dollar for cappuccinos, lattes and the like, coffee bean farmers face bankruptcy because buyers refuse to pay a fair price for the crop. On his journey, Meskela travels to London and Seattle to meet with coffee industry powerhouses. He faces challenges including New York commodity traders, the international coffee exchanges and the double dealings of trade ministers at the World Trade Organization.

    Larry’s Coffee Bean Roasters is set to attend the showing and will offer coffee samples.

    Other films in the series include: More than Honey; River Run: Down the Cape Fear River to the Sea; Farmland; Soylent Green; The Burden;and Community: Planet Neighborhood.Denise Bruce, the green action arm of Sustainable Sandhills, said, “We seek to have a wide array of environmental topics for the community to explore; and more importantly, we seek to provide a safe and public place for discussion and involvement.” 

    More than Honey looks at honeybee colonies in California, Switzerland, China and Australia. It delves into the current honeybee crisis with colony collapse disorder and ponders the economic, political and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honeybee. 

    River Run: Down the Cape Fear to the Sea follows the Cape Fear River from its headwaters to the ocean. History, ecology, commerce and issues facing the river’s future come in to play.

    It’s easy enough to run to the grocery store to grab some produce, people seldom consider the farmers who grow that produce. Farmland showcases the lives of 20-something-year-old farmers and ranchers and documents the challenges they take to adapt to the ever evolving methods of farming.

    Soylent Green, starring Charlton Heston, is a fictional account of the damage caused by greenhouse gasses and overpopulation. In this movie, a CEO with ties to the world’s food supply is murdered, leaving an New York Police Department detective to investigate. 

    The Burden builds a case for moving the U.S. away from using fossil fuels. It shows this relationship with fossil fuels as a threat to national security saying, “The troops are crying out,” in the words of Gen. James Mattis, ‘to unleash us from the tether of fue! But is Congress listening?”

    The final film in the series, Community: Plant Neighborhood,tackles the topic of citizens promoting change in their own communities. Balancing growth while preserving natural resources is no easy task, but this endeavor explores are variety of creative ways to transform toxic waste into a moneymaking enterprise.

    All Sustainable Saturday films start at 10:45  a.m., and take place at the Cameo Art House Theatre on the fourth Saturday of the month.

  • COVERIt has been a labor of love since 2001 when Dean Melvin left his successful job as a car salesman to manage the Omni Cinemas 8 movie theater. He took on the task of turning the bankrupt business around, never planning on one day buying the theater. Since he worked at the theater earlier in the 1990s, he knew it had potential. No stranger to the industry Melvin started working in theaters when he was a teenager. His first theater job was at Eutaw Theater. He later managed a Raleigh drive-in when he was 18.  Now, Melvin owns the entire Omni Family Entertainment Center off Sycamore Dairy Road that includes the movie theater, the family video arcade and both the indoor and outdoor mini-golf courses.

    Melvin does not credit his ability to turn around a failing business with any special entrepreneurial talents or insight. He says he simply did what he could, believing in himself and his employees to make the Omni a place where Fayetteville families can come for affordable quality entertainment.

    The theater he came back to manage was a mess, Melvin said. The building itself was in need of major repairs and updating, and the place was dirty. But the previous management team left the movie projectors, which were state-of-the-art machines at the time. He knew as long as he had those projectors, he could show Fayetteville audiences quality movies. It was a start; the rest would follow with hard work and dedication. 

    “It is a constant process of upgrading and improving,” Melvin said. “You just can’t keep doing what you’re doing to keep up.”

    He has since upgraded the Omni’s projectors to digital ones. Melvin invested in the Omni’s first digital projector to show Avatar. It cost $75,000. Ongoing systematic upgrades and improvements are his method for ensuring that the Omni keeps on pace with other area entertainment venues.

     “As a small business we save a lot of money by doing a lot ourselves – painting, pressure washing, we do things in stages,” he said. “We’re a discount theater but we are just as good as they are for picture and sound,” he said. Melvin is very proud that the Omni can rival any movie complex in town for sound and picture quality. He realizes it is more than an investment, it is a necessity. Providing the most enjoyable entertainment experience for his patrons is his highest priority. “You’re gonna have competition,” he said. “Competition keeps you on your feet.” However, he doesn’t allow competition to dictate his business model or intimidate him into making risky financial decisions. “The bottom line is: you gotta pay attention to what other guys are doing,” Melvin said, “But stay on course with what you’re doing. You get better or get beat.”

    After his success in turning the theater around, Melvin purchased it in 2003.  He then took over the entire Plaza in 2004, with tenants in some of the business space.

    “I figured I was already paying so much for the theater,” he said of the initial $6.2 million purchase. For three years, he was solely responsible for the hefty $56,000 mortgage payment due each month until he could get bank financing. With a proven track record and good credit, this financing allowed Melvin to continue expanding. “It only took one guy to believe in us.” Melvin acquired Mountasia Mini-Golf Course in 2007, then the arcade in 2011. He renovated, modernized and up-fitted both, making incremental improvements as he could afford them. He bought new games and designed and constructed a new concessions area. He added a party room and began offering party packages. He also added a clean and comfortable parent waiting area. All of Melvin’s ideas and innovations are specifically intended and designed to provide area families a fun, safe and affordable entertainment experience. Adding and improving on site amenities increases business, which increases revenue, allowing even more improvements and innovations. Last year, Melvin invested $300,000 to upgrade seating in every one of his theater auditoriums. Decades-old worn cloth seats were replaced with large roomy high-quality leather rocking chairs. In addition, by removing several rows of seating, he widened the aisles substantially, allowing for more legroom and comfort. No doubt, it has been a proven model that has paid off for Melvin’s small business. “We’re doing better every year,” he said.  “We’re trying to bring the masses in,” he added. And that means providing a clean and comfortable environment for customers to enjoy the movie experience at a low-affordable discounted price without sacrificing quality. “We charge less, but we still want you to have the same experience as a first-run theater.”

    Melvin’s obvious success doesn’t mean he’s through. Far from it. He is a visionary and sees many other potential entrepreneurial opportunities for the Omni Plaza and the 25-year-old movie theater. 

    “You better be prepared to do a lot of stuff yourself when you’re in business for yourself,” he said. “It’s still a challenge to make a profit and pay your bills.” He mentions the $7,000 monthly electric bill he pays during summer months when the theater is busiest as one of the expenses he learned to plan for as he grew his business. He had to learn about such bills and a variety of taxes throughout the years.

     “When you’re in business you have to be very aware of potential problems and how to figure things out,” he said. “With little or no education, I’ve done well with the business part. I’ve made mistakes, but I think we’ve done well.”

    Dean Melvin is a true entrepreneur. He has no business degree or formal education. He did not even finish high school. He attended the school of hard knocks when he went off to manage his first theatre in Raleigh. “That was my college, taking over that drive-in,” Melvin said. “I learned about business.” 

    He applied much of that learning when he returned to the Omni.

    “It’s been a long journey since coming back in 2001,” Melvin said of his now-successful and profitable business. His management team consists of mostly younger adults while his operation and maintenance teams are mostly older and more experienced personnel. It has proven to be a good balance, providing the younger employees with mentorship and plenty of opportunities to prove themselves capable and responsible. Melvin admits he has no grand strategy for hiring. However, he expects excellence and loyalty and he gets it. 

    Jessica Diaz, 25, is the Omni Plaza Manager. She has worked for Melvin at the Omni for more than ten years and is responsible for managing employees throughout the Plaza. She is empowered to solve problems identified by customers and make operational decisions. Dean Melvin appreciates hard work and honesty. He knows that people will work harder when their efforts are noticed and rewarded. 

    “We’re not perfect, we do make mistakes, but it’s all about serving our customers. I know how to handle different situations with customers or employees,” said Diaz. She credits Melvin’s management style for teaching her how to multi-task and preparing her to take on a management position. Another Omni Plaza manager, Jonathon Barcinas, 22, started out as an usher cleaning the theaters five years ago. He moved up to game technician at the arcade after Melvin found out he enjoyed working on cars in his spare time. Taking initiative and doing quality work got him promoted to managing the arcade. “I was offered manager pretty early,” Barcinas said. It is an experience he credits with providing him the life skills that are helping him in his college studies. “Dean delegates and rewards initiative. Working next to Dean, I’ve learned how to keep up with things … how to find a solution and fix a problem. I used to be in a little egg shell before I started working here. Now, I have people skills and customer service skills. I have learned to talk to people,” Barcinas added. 

    Investing in people is as important to Melvin as investing in his business. Providing outstanding quality customer service is the key to making the Omni Family Amusement Center a place where people want to go with their families. Undoubtedly, Melvin is a hands-on manager and he expects only the best from his employees.

  • JAZZMichelle’s Jazz & Comedy Entertainment, LLC is bringing its much anticipated Jazz Showcase to town on Saturday, June 18 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room in downtown Fayetteville.  

    “When I moved here two years ago, there was no jazz at all,” said Michelle Ingram, promoter and owner of Michelle’s Jazz & Comedy Entertainment, LLC. “I’ve been doing this for a while in California, Florida and Denver, and basically I decided that I would start bringing jazz here to see how it goes along with the city.” 

    Ingram added that this is the first show in a series consisting of two comedy shows, a Latin Jazz Explosion and a Jazzy Christmas special. 

    The showcase features Grammy Award winner Norman Connors and the Starship Orchestra, Theo Valentin, Mike Eley, Pete Everett and the Total Package Band, Sam Rucker, Willie Bradley and Kwabena Dinizulu. 

    “Norman Connors does his shows and he sings the songs that he wrote and produced for artists,” said Ingram. “He discovered Phyllis Hyman so Theo Valentin will sing most of the songs that Connors wrote for her.” 

    Ingram added that they will play all kinds of Jazz as well as instrumental music and it will be a cool show.       

    “I have classic hits that we always play which are ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’, ‘Valentine Love’, ‘This Is Your Life and You Are My Starship’,”said Connors, drummer, composer and producer. “I have 30 albums and I am celebrating my 43rd year as a recording artist.” Connors added that the audience should expect some dynamic singing from his vocalist Theo Valentin and dynamic playing from his band, The Starship Orchestra. 

    Connors has been playing music since the tender age of 3. He met Miles Davis at the age of 13. Davis treated Norman like a son. “I met all these great people before I even started recording,” said Connors. “Miles Davis is my mentor, and I used to go to his house every day.” 

    Connors added that he had a great education from a classical standpoint at Juilliard School of Music, the streets and from knowing some of the greatest musicians in the world that took a liking to him. 

    Connors has discovered and produced Jean Carne, Angela Bofill, Phyllis Hyman, Norman Brown, Glenn Jones and many others. He is currently working on an album with 16 discs, which is his 40-plus year anniversary CD. “I have been working on this album for four years and we will finish it July 18,” said Connors. “Hopefully, the album will come out in September.”       

    Tickets are $60 in advance and $65 at the door, which includes complimentary appetizers and one drink. The Metropolitan Room is located at 109 Green Street. For more information, call 302-8809.  

  • 4th fridayAs tempting as it might sound to hibernate behind closed doors after a long week, don’t make that mistake. June 24 is 4th Friday, which coincides with Fayetteville after 5. That means, in addition to art exhibits and activities downtown, there is a concert, too. And, it’s free! What’s not to love?

    If you missed the Art’s Council’s opening of the Public Works exhibit, now is the perfect time to check it out. What makes this exhibit so refreshing is that all of the artists are local, and no submission was declined. Anyone with an inkling of creativity and the gumption to submit a piece has a place on the walls of the Arts Council Gallery. Don’t take that to mean the work is subpar. The Public Works exhibit features pieces worthy of any professional gallery — along with an inspiring selection by local youth and hobbyists. More than the pieces themselves, this exhibit is a peek at the artistic spirit that inhabits this community and that deserves a look. For more information about the Arts Council and the 4th Friday exhibit, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

    Art isn’t just for grown-ups. In fact, the smallest among us are often the ones with the most creative outlooks and active imaginations. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum taps into that on a regular basis, but on 4th Friday’s,the activities are free. From 7-9 p.m., Fascinate-U invites families to enjoy an evening filled with kid-centered activities celebrating art and culture. Bubbles, hula hoops and sidewalk chalk await. Throw in a little imagination and some outdoor space and it has the makings of a perfect fun-filled summer evening.

    Most people equate libraries with books, and the local libraries do have them. But that’s just a fraction of what the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center system offers. This 4th Friday, come meet some of the areas local authors — in person. Talk to them. Ask questions. Make a connection. Readers, writers and anyone who loves a good story will find something here. It’s at Headquarters Library from 7-9 p.m. at 300 Maiden Lane.

    Local artist co-op, Cape Fear Studios opens its Annual National 2-D art exhibit on June 24. Artists from across the country compete for space on the walls of the main gallery. If art is about perspective, there is plenty here. Come see just how much perspective fits into just two dimensions. Visit www.capefearstudios.com for more information.

    Right next door to Cape Fear Studios is another gold mine. The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is brimming with artifacts and information about local history. The exhibits changed out this year, so chances are even local die-hard historians will find something they’ve not seen before. Call 433-1457 for details.

    Like a cold drink on a scorching day, a summer Friday night just begs for music on the lawn as the sun sinks in the sky. 20 Ride, a Zac Brown tribute band, headlines Fayetteville after Five in Festival Park. Gates open around 5:30 p.m., and the music starts around 7 p.m. Shake off the worries of last week and take a turn dancing on the promenade. There will be food vendors and beverages for sale. Bring your family, your friends, your neighbors (and maybe a blanket to sit on) and ease into the weekend. 

  • Jeff10This summer the Smith Lake Recreation Area has numerous outdoor activities to offer the whole family. It can provide a safe and entertaining environment that can offer a change of pace from days at home or in the office. One such activity is the Beach and Wake Zone Cable Park, which is open to the public for the season until September 5. The Beach is a relaxing place to enjoy some sun and sand without the hours spent in the car to get there. Concessions are available for purchase and the water is tested weekly to ensure a safe and pleasant beach experience. The Wake Zone Cable Park is a water skiing system that allows new and professional wakeboarders to glide across smooth waters without the need for a boat. It is a state-of-the-art system that makes water sports available for all skill levels. The general entry fee is $10.

    Movie Night Under the Stars is a free way to bring the wonder of the outdoors into summer vacation. On June 11 the movie scheduled is Big Hero 6. On August 13, it is Hotel Transylvania 2.In addition to these family-friendly movies, there will be door prize giveaways and concessions available for purchase. The gates open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Audience members are invited to bring blankets and chairs to make the viewing experience more comfortable. This event is open to the public. 

    For Department of Defense ID card holders and their guests, Smith Lake Recreation also offers an Outdoor Education Program. On June 11, Talon Tales features live birds that are native to the area. Experts explain what makes hawks and other birds of prey so incredible. July 9, the program is titled Snake Truths. Real live snakes will be available for audience members to meet and touch. August 6 is all about Skulls and Skins.  This focuses on native wildlife and the animals’ lifestyles. If you dare, check out the skulls and furs Smith Lake has on hand. There is no cost for this event and it begins at 11 a.m. These engaging and educational programs are thanks to a collaboration with the North Carolina State Parks. All of the animals presented are native to North Carolina.  

    DoD ID Card Holders and guests are also invited to Paint Night.  June 16 is Adult Paint Night. Attendees 18 and up  are invited to create their rendition of a tulip. Concessions will be available for purchase. For those 21 and over there is also beer and wine for sale. June 23 is Children Paint Night. The subject is an owl. This event is intended for children 10 years and older. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Concessions will be available for purchase. The cost of participating is $35 per person. This fee includes a 16”x20” canvas, acrylic paints, brushes and a smock. Registration is required for this event. 

    For more information on all the events and opportunities through the Smith Lake Recreation Area, visit the following website:  http://bragg.armymwr.com/us/bragg/ft-bragg-events/movie-night-under-stars?eID=466116. 

  • Weekly IssueGilbert Theater

    Now in its third decade, Gilbert Theater offers a season filled with drama, tradition and history for 2016 and 2017. 

    Artistic Director Robyne Parrish is looking forward to what the season holds. “I would say this is our best season yet! I tried to chose something for everyone, while still keeping with the Gilbert tradition and mission to bring plays that are innovative and out of the box to the Fayetteville community,” she said. “... As my fifth and final season, I look forward to this amazing line up and the directors and artists involved in making it a success.”

    The season opens with Steel Magnolias on Sept. 23. This play showcases the friendships of a small group of women in a small Louisiana town. The story is based on author Robert Harling’s experience of his sister’s death. The play will be directed by Robert Harling.

    Gilbert Theater changed up the traditional Christmas production last year. Instead of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, audiences turned out for It’s a Wonderful Lifeby James Rogers. This year, It’s a Wonderful Lifereturns Nov. 26-Dec. 18, directed by Robyne Parrish. 

    This play tells the story of George Baily. Family obligations and civic duties weigh heavily on Bailey and as he seeks escape from what he considers a mundane existence, his guardian angel visits him on Christmas Eve, giving Bailey a peek at what the world would have been like without him.

    Jan. 27- Feb. 12, August Osage County takes the stage. When the family patriarch goes missing, family converges on the homestead in Osage County, Oklahoma. Frustration and weaknesses bring the family’s disfunction bubbling to the surface as they wade through the crisis. Matt Bullock is set to direct the play.

    Secret Garden opens on March 24 and runs through April 9. Eleven-year old Mary is orphaned. She is sent to live with relatives she’s never met on a lonely estate. With the help of a young gardener, Mary blossoms, bringing new life to the estate as well as the garden and her relationships with her relatives.

    The Diary of Anne Frank closes the season. From May 26 - June 4, relive the World War II experiences of Anne Frank and her family as they struggle to escape the Nazis. The Franks and another family share tight living quarters in an attic. Constant fear of discovery and certain death make for tense living arrangements. Brian Kline is set to direct the play.

    For more information about Gilbert Theater and the other programs it offers, visit www.gilberttheater.com or by calling 678-7186.

    Cape Fear Regional Theatre

    Earlier this year, Fayetteville’s Cape Fear Regional Theatre announced its 2016-2017 Season line-up. The season begins in September and runs through next May. This next season includes award winners and a classic up for its first run at CFRT. Theater-goers can also expect to see a mermaid, a hound and even the King and The Man In Black.

    The season opens with Million Dollar Quartet, which runs from Sept. 15 – Oct. 2. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is inspired by the true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” brought together icons Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley for one unforgettable night. 

    “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,” is a familiar line from Shakespeare’s Henry V,which is scheduled to run Oct.  27 – Nov. 13. This legendary story takes center stage at CFRT for the very first time in a provocative production with contemporary resonances, said Tom Quaintance, CFRT Artistic Director. “This play has been set in many different times,” he said. “It explains why we go to war with themes of exploring the different elements of leadership and war.” In this drama, the young monarch is confronted by the ferocity of war and proves his worth as a man and king. He pursues the glories of his nation and his reign, but at a cost to his land, his subjects and his conscience. 

    The serious drama is followed by something on a lighter note as a special event performance of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson will run at CFRT from Dec. 1-18. In the Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids, who are feared by children and parents alike. The Herdmans bring mayhem, and some fun, as they collide with the Christmas story head on! The CFRT production has been a staple to Fayetteville’s holiday season for more than 25 years. 

    Disney’s The Little Mermaid will ring in 2017 with performances from Jan.  19 – Feb. 12.

    In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, a young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on the beloved Hans Christian Andersen story and the classic animated film, it is a love story for the ages. 

    Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel is a moving and intimate story that confronts race and religion. It runs March 2–9. The play is the recipient of the American Theatre Critics and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Play. In this drama, set in turn-of-the-century New York, Esther, a black seamstress, lives in a boarding house for women. Esther sews intimate apparel for clients who range from wealthy white patrons to prostitutes. Her skills and discretion are in demand. Over the years, Esther has managed to stuff money into her quilt, which she plans to use to open a beauty parlor where black women will be treated as well as white women.

    “It is one of the best scripts I’ve seen in the last 15 years,” said Quaintance. “In this story of a seamstress in New York City in 1905, the cut and color of one’s dress, not to mention color of your skin, could determine who you could marry.”

    Next, get ready for a joyful, mischievous comedy thriller when Baskerville: A Sherlock Homes Mysteryruns April 6-23. Quaintance said Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless classic will come to life in this comedy about everyone’s favorite detective solving his most notorious case. The play is from the acclaimed author of Lend Me A Tenorand The Three Musketeers.

    To finish up the 2016-2017 season, CFRT takes us back to America in 1963, surrounded by the turmoil of the JFK assassination and the Civil Rights Movement for Caroline, Or Change, which runs May 11-28. In a Jewish household in Louisiana, a fragile but beautiful friendship develops between a divorced African-American maid and the family’s 8-year-old son.

    Virtually sung-through, in styles ranging from Motown to Yiddish Klezmer, this story brings together the incredible talents of Kushner (Angels in America) and Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie) to create a multi-Tony-nomination show that is about both major issues of the nation and personal issues of the household, and how they interact. 

    To purchase season tickets or individual tickets, call 910.323.4233 or buy online at www.cfrt.org. Discounts are available for seniors, military, students or groups of five or more.

  • coverIn an All-American city like Fayetteville, there is no shortage of events to celebrate America’s birthday. Fayetteville and the surrounding communities have several family-friendly options for a fun-filled weekend. It’s time for music, fireworks, food and fun. Here are some of the ways you can join in the celebration of America’s 240th birthday:

    Fort Bragg- US Army MWR

    Every year, Fort Bragg opens its gates to the community for a 4th of July celebration like none other in the area. The afternoon kicks off with music followed by a free-fall parachute demonstration. Next up, the flag ceremony honors each state in the nation. During the flag ceremony, the crowd cheers for the colors for each state as the flags pass by. 

    Throughout the day and evening, vendors offer food and beverages for purchase. 

    The 4th of July Celebration is presented by AAFMAA and runs from 3 – 10 p.m. at the Main Post Parade Field. Come early and bring a tent or other covering to enjoy the day. All tents belong in the designated tent area. Call 396-9126 to make reservations. Space is limited. 

    Bring the kids because there is an entire section of the parade field dedicated to them. Kiddieland includes bounce houses, slides and rock climbing walls. Admission for Kiddieland is $10 per child with unlimited use. Kiddieland is open from 3 - 8 p.m.. 

    Pets, glass bottles and BBQ grills are not allowed. The event is free and open to the public. Arrive early. There will be a lot of traffic. The parade field opens at 1 p.m..  

    For more information call 396-9126. 

    N.C. Symphony Independence Day Concert

    Get a jump on the 4th of July celebrations at the N.C. Symphony Independence Day concert in Festival Park. This concert salutes all things American with well-loved favorites and classics that will have the audience singing along. It takes place on Friday, July 1 at 8 p.m. in Festival Park. Don’t miss the fireworks right after the show.

    The program begins with “The Star Spangled Banner” and features a salute to all branches of the military featuring various selections.  It is conducted by N.C. Symphony Associate Conductor David Glover. Scott MacLeod will join the orchestra to sing selections.   

    Lawn chairs are welcome.  Concert goers may bring food and beverages. Vendors will be on site as well.

    Pets are not permitted. Gates  open at 5 p.m. 

    This performance is part of the Symphony’s summer “Concerts in Your Community” free concerts presented throughout the state. 

    For more information visit www.ncsymphony.org. 

    Fayetteville Swamp Dogs

    Ahh, the Swamp. There is no place like it when it comes time to have fun. All season long, the SwampDogs entertain and amuse with great baseball as well as events the entire family can enjoy. But for America’s birthday, the team pulls out all the stops with a big game followed by an even bigger fireworks display. Come out on Sunday, July 3, and catch the game against the Wilson Tobs at 7:05 p.m. at   J. P. Riddle Stadium. Make a night of it, enjoy the fireworks and celebrate America’s 240th birthday at the swamp.

    Box seats are $9, general admission cost is $7 and military and kids for $6.  Food and beverages can be purchased at the stadium. 

    Gates open at 5 p.m. Purchase tickets ahead of time and arrive early for the game. 

    For more information call 426-5900.  

    Hope Mills

    For all the fun that comes with the 4th of July without the big-city hassle, come to Hope Mills. The Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department hosts its annual 4th of July Parade at 10 a.m. The starting lineup is at Hope Mills Middle School. 

    Later, at the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation department, the party kicks off at Municipal Park. Children’s games begin at 4 p.m. Come ready to eat. Vendors will be on site with food and drinks available for purchase. 

    Come to watch, or better yet, compete in one of the many tournaments. Choose from the frozen T-shirt contest, corn hole, horseshoes and washers. 

    The opening ceremonies and welcome take place at 6 p.m. followed by “The National Anthem” sung by Madison Bryant, who is Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Festival.  

    David Arthur and the Southern Tradition Band provide the evening’s entertainment followed by fireworks at 9:15 p.m.  

    Admission is free. For more information call 424-4555. 

    Spring Lake

    Spring Lake’ s Main Street party runs from noon to 9 p.m. This may be a small town festival but there is plenty to do — including a car, truck and bike show, a dunking booth and Kidz Zone. Come hungry. There will be food vendors. The program also includes live musical entertainment on stage. Call 497-8821 for more information.

    Firecracker 4-Miler

    Before heading to the barbeques, concerts and parties, start July 4th off with a four-mile road race. The Fayetteville Running Club’s Firecracker 4 Miler is designed to promote running as a part of a healthy lifestyle in the community. Enjoy the winding trail’s historic parks and beautiful downtown scenery. It starts at 7 a.m. Find out more or register at https://its-go-time.com/firecracker-4-miler-2016

  •     Campbellton Landing, a development along the Cape Fear River near Person Street, is changing hands.
        The family of Sol Rose, who started Campbellton Landing about four years ago, turned over the operation of the restaurant to Kevin Summers and Campbellton Landing Property, LLC on June 15. Renovation and expansion of the restaurant is currently underway. The new restaurant, containing an oyster bar, is expected to be open in mid-August by which time Summers expects to close on the sale of the balance of the 33-acre property.
        Sol Rose visualized a community gathering place “down by the river,” where local residents, young and old, could come together to eat, drink, play and enjoy nature and history steeped in local Fayetteville tradition. As Sol used to say, “bringing the people to the river and the river to the people.”
        {mosimage}Nestled between Lock’s Creek and the banks of the Cape Fear River, this beautiful and historic site offers 33 acres of pristine real estate development with convenient access to I-95 and Fayetteville’s historic city center. The Campbellton Landing site currently hosts a full-service restaurant, an outdoor recreation/fishing/game retail store and an outdoor amphitheater. It also features a convenient boat ramp for easy public access to the beautiful and swift Cape Fear River, as well as original Confederate breastworks constructed by soldiers during the Civil War to defend the landing against General Sherman and his advancing troops.
        Kevin Summers was a cofounder and owner of Rocky Top Hospitality, a company responsible for six middle- to high-end restaurants in the Triangle and the Mash House Chop House and Brewery in Fayetteville. Summers sold his ownership in Rocky Top Hospitality to his partner in March 2008 in order to pursue this exciting venture in downtown Fayetteville.
        “I am looking forward to continuing my restaurant, hospitality and development career here in Fayetteville. I have recently completed the North Carolina Real Estate Brokers criteria to fulfill my interest in commercial real estate,” noted Summers. “This multifaceted venture is an excellent way to bring all of my talent and experiences together to carry on Sol Rose’s dream of bringing people and families down to the Cape Fear River for a fun and entertaining experience.”
        Summers is currently assembling a small group of local investors. Summers and the investor group will own the property and some of the businesses at Campbellton Landing. It was extremely important to Summers to have local residents and business people involved in this project.
        “It truly is a local business endeavor designed to make Fayetteville and Cumberland County a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Summers.”
        The local investors are very excited to be a part of this historic property renewal. They, too, envision a community gathering place and popular destination point where history and nature come together to embrace the Cape Fear River. Campbellton Landing will be an exciting, fun, family entertainment complex that all of Fayetteville and Cumberland County will be proud of and embrace.
        The Campbellton Landing complex will be developed in four phases. The first phase includes the opening of Lock’s Creek Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar later this summer. Overlooking scenic Lock’s Creek, this fresh and bold concept will bring residents and visitors a unique dining experience. The outdoor amphitheater at Campbellton Landing will also be improved and will showcase a variety of musical concerts, shows and other community venues, such as outdoor movies on the river. A full schedule, with 30 shows, is expected for 2009. The boat access and Riverside Outdoor Store will continue to operate in the friendly and professional manner its regular customers have come to expect. However, a grill will be added for early morning breakfast and lunch, expanding the line of products and services, which include river tours and canoe/kayak rentals.
        “We’re glad to see something in harmony with my dad’s dreams with how he wanted the property developed,” commented Gordon Rose, board chairman of the Cumberland County Business Council. “He had big dreams for Campbellton Landing.”
        “The vision of Sol Rose and his family was extraordinary. Our mission is to continue and expand his dream by making Campbellton Landing one of eastern North Carolina’s premier family and tourist entertainment destinations,” explained Summers.

  • KidsDuring the summer, it is easy to get caught up in fun outdoor adventures, camps and other activities. However, all that summer fun often means that mental exercise is neglected. Reading is a fun and effective way to keep the mind working so that all the knowledge from the previous school year doesn’t vanish. Public libraries in the area focus on encouraging the entire family to keep reading during the summer with Summer Reading Programs. These programs have events, incentives and prizes to encourage the already rewarding activity. 

    The Cumberland County Public Library invites students to challenge themselves to read just as the Olympic athletes are challenging themselves to be their very best. Readers from birth through grade five can receive prizes for turning in their reading charts, which are filled out at home. Teens in grades 6-12 are also invited to challenge themselves to read this summer. There are also minute-to-win-it events that feature fun games like a life-sized Hungry-Hungry Hippo. There are also learning-focused activities like yoga and chess and fun prizes to win for participating. The summer fun doesn’t have to stop there. Reading is important for all ages. “This year it’s all about fitness and excercise and being active. We have a series called ‘train like’  and it looks at  how to train like different things — an athlete,  a ninja,  a soldier. We have a lot of special guests coming in the teach kids about what it’s like to do their job,” said  Selena Beckman-Harned, administrative program officer of community relations at the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center. “I think it is a great opportunity for everyone in our community to learn more about what the library has to offer than just books.”  

    The library is also offering an adult summer reading program to “exercise your mind.” For more information, visit the following site: http://cumberland.lib.nc.libguides.com/src. 

     Fort Bragg also hosts a summer reading program at the Throckmorton Library. The staff wants to help children establish a lifelong habit of reading. This year’s theme is “Read for the Win.” It is a celebration of sports and achievement. Beginning June 1 readers can win prizes for the completion of reading logs. The program also includes some awesome events. On June 15, at 11 a.m., don’t miss Team Spirit: Read for the Win Extravaganza. Wear your favorite team’s shirt and enjoy an obstacle course and fun music. June 11 and 25 it’s the 64 Squares:  Learn to Play Chess from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Ages 6 and up can learn to play chess. Scaly Survivors on June 22 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. features live reptiles presented by the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Math Pirates takes place  on Mondays at 10 a.m. Space is limited to 20 students per session, but it helps kids remember and retain math skills in a fun and exciting way. June 13 is for first graders. June 20 is for second graders. June 27 is for third graders.   Young adults from ages 13 to 18 are also invited to come to School’s Out, Now What? on Friday, June 24 at 2 p.m. This program helps students learn how to get involved in the community and offers programs to build a successful summer and a successful future. All events are free and open to the public. For more information visit:  http://bragg.armymwr.com/us/bragg/ft-bragg-events/summer-reading-program?eID=499551.

    Reading is a way to learn about any topic. It unlocks worlds of information and the libraries make it easy and affordable to find an interesting topic to explore. It is important not to let all the learning and hard work of the school year evaporate in the  summer heat. 

  • 07 acp copyIn a win for Eastern North Carolina jobs, economic development and clean energy, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a longstanding precedent allowing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross beneath the Appalachian Trail — like more than 50 other pipelines already do without disturbing its public use.

    While this is an exciting outcome, there is still some work to do in resolving several remaining project permits before construction can resume.

    “The Court’s decision is an affirmation for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and communities across our region that are depending on it for jobs, economic growth and clean energy,” said Tammy Thurman, Piedmont spokesperson. “The project will provide a much-needed source of natural gas to North Carolina, bringing with it economic opportunities in an underserved part of our state. Eastern North Carolina’s energy needs and prospects for economic success continue to be very important to us.”
     When in service, here’s what the ACP means for your region and the state:

    With access to a plentiful supply of affordable natural gas, the ACP will help to attract, compete for and win new manufacturers and industry in your counties.     
    With current infrastructure constrained, the ACP provides a direct new supply of natural gas that will bring enhanced capacity and pressure to eastern North Carolina — something industry and businesses need to operate.

     Construction of the ACP would create more than 17,000 good-paying jobs and $2.7 billion in economic activity along the pipeline’s three-state route.

    Job positions start at $20-$25 per hour and include free training, veteran’s programs and other benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans.

    The ACP will increase local spending, provide additional tax revenues and offer prospects for a better quality of life in your communities for many years to come.

    The ACP will play an important role in the transition away from coal plants to cleaner natural gas and renewables, a critical part of our comprehensive climate and net-zero emissions strategy.

    The ACP serves the strategic interests of our armed forces in North Carolina, strengthening resilient energy supplies for military readiness and national security and reducing the cost to maintain our military forces.

    The ACP will reduce price volatility for all customers when natural gas demand is high during cold winter months.

    The Supreme Court ruling is encouraging, and Piedmont Natural Gas appreciates everyone who has voiced support for the project. Eastern North Carolina’s energy needs continue to be very important to us, and the organization pledges to continue to help the region’s prospects for growth and economic success. To learn more about the project and supporters across the region, visit https://atlanticcoastpipeline.com and https://energysure.com

  • 06 01 Col Fort Bragg’s garrison commander has been relieved of his command. Col. Phillip Sounia was let go late last month because of what the Army said was a “loss of trust and confidence in his abilities to command.” Fort Bragg officials confirmed Sounia’s firing in an email in response to a media inquiry. Officials did not say why he was let go. They said no further information would be released because of “an ongoing investigation.” Sounia was appointed the garrison commander in May 2019. He previously served with the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg. The decision to relieve Sounia was made jointly by Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram, commander of Installation Management and Lt. Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, Fort Bragg’s commanding general. Sounia, a highly decorated, combat-tested West Point graduate, was one of a select group chosen to participate in the Army’s doctoral program to study planning and public policy. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Justin Mitchell, Fort Bragg’s deputy garrison commander, will serve as acting commander until a replacement is named.

    06 02 IMG 2397 3 copyDowntown circle of hope
    The inside lane of the traffic circle around the Market House downtown has been painted bright yellow and black. It has been adorned with large lettering acknowledging the struggle of African Americans in the U.S. On June 22, Fayetteville City Council agreed to the design and wording, after several weeks of discussion. What some are calling “a circle of hope” is scripted with “Black Lives Do Matter” and “End Racism Now.” This is despite a renewed effort by some to remove the landmark from the city center.

    City Council also decided to create a citizen review board to investigate police misbehavior in the wake of the killing by Minneapolis Police of George Floyd, which sparked protests across the country, including here in Fayetteville. “I can support an advisory board, but it is going to take months to figure out... what their powers are going to be,” Councilman Johnny Dawkins said.

    The creation of an agency with enforcement authority, including the right to issue subpoenas, would require legislative authorization. Council members were quick to applaud Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins, who said up to 40% of the department’s budget is dedicated to community policing. This strategy focuses on building ties and working closely with members of the community. Mayor Mitch Colvin observed that even with determination and training, a thorough review of police policies is in order. Councilmember Tisha Waddell agreed and said it is incumbent upon members of the council to learn the specifics of law enforcement procedures.                                             
     
    06 03 Jody Risacher 2Library official retires
    Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center Director Jody Risacher has retired after 22 years of service. Risacher joined the library system in April 1998 and was named director in January 2009.

    “I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had. … It has fed my soul over the years to help people develop self-confidence, comfort and strength in fulfilling their dreams,” Risacher said.

    Under her leadership, the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Services in 2012. Risacher was named library director of the Year by the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association in 2013, and in 2014, she was elected to serve as the association’s president. She also served on the North Carolina State Library Commission’s Public Library Standards Committee.

    “Jody Risacher did a wonderful job as director of the Cumberland County Public Library,” said Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Glenn Adams. Deputy library director Cotina Jones will serve as interim library director as a recruitment process for a new director begins.

    06 04 Bragg Mutual FCUBragg Mutual Federal Credit Union moves into Harnett County
    The National Credit Union Association has approved an underserved region of neighboring Harnett County as a service area for Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union. Bragg Mutual FCU services will be available to anyone who lives, works or worships in parts of Harnett County, increasing its membership potential by 61,713.

    “Many of these residents live in areas with few options when it comes to financial service providers,” said Steve Foley, president and CEO of Bragg Mutual FCU. “Our newest office located in Spout Springs on Highway 24/87 is already serving members, and we look forward to expanding into the central and eastern part of the County.”

    Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union has been serving people in Cumberland County since 1952. The credit union has assets of $83 million and is recognized as one of the fastest growing credit unions in terms of asset growth in North Carolina. The credit union is a member-owned financial cooperative.

    06 05 FTCC CorporateIndustryTrainingFTCC receives job training grant
    Fayetteville Technical Community College has received a $296,535 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to provide job training and job placement assistance for special needs individuals. Persons considered hard to employ, including those who have been previously incarcerated for nonviolent crimes, and young adults aging out of foster care, will receive counseling and will be enrolled in a 15-week FTCC course that will teach basic skills in electrical, HVAC, plumbing and carpentry trades.

    “Fayetteville Tech is delighted to receive the Golden LEAF Foundation’s support on this important project,” said FTCC President Dr. Larry Keen. “Our college is dedicated to helping students from all walks of life achieve their educational goals and to serving our community by strengthening its workforce.”

    FTCC will partner with local agencies, employers and nonprofits to identify prospective trainees, support individuals while in training and place them into employment. Participants will receive paid internships, and those who complete the course will receive job placement assistance from FTCC’s Job Center.

    06 06 Yard Sale 2Yard sales are permissible again
    The city of Fayetteville’s yard sale permitting process has been reactivated. Yard sales were suspended for several weeks because of COVID-19. The reactivation is in line with the governor’s executive order easing restrictions on travel, business operations and mass gatherings. The city code requires a permit for a yard sale. A residence is limited to three yard sales per year. This rule prevents homeowners from operating as commercial businesses. Permit applications are being accepted online at https://fayworx.com/fayworxportal. People with questions about code enforcement and inspections can call 910-433-1329.
  • 11 ITThe year 2020 has shown us that information technology jobs will not only sustain during hard times such as these but will remain in high demand. Experiencing a pandemic is something I do not think any of us would have ever thought we would see in our lifetime. Some of us hold positions that are considered essential and are thankfully able to continue to work during the shutdown. Some of us hold positions that allow us to work from home without skipping a beat. Positions in information technology are both essential and flexible enough to allow people to work from home. According to National Public Radio in an article published on May 8, about a third of the American population is now working from home due to COVID-19. Information technology specialists are needed now more than ever before to help make these transitions possible for many industries.

    There have been tons of data collected on COVID-19 and its affects across the world. This data can help scientists understand how the virus is spreading, symptoms associated with it and preventive measures to safeguard the population. Data has even helped to predict spikes and drops in the rate of infection. Because of this data, every day we can view up-to-date statistics on the virus. That data and those statistics are what decision-makers use when tough choices must be made. The world needs specialized technicians to manage this data. What we are experiencing has further illustrated the need for information technology specialists in the areas of PC support and services as well as database management.

    At Fayetteville Technical Community College, faculty and staff worked hard throughout the pandemic to continue to deliver high-quality educational experiences for our students. This was made possible by the use of technology, which allowed our faculty members to deliver online instruction and our staff to work remotely from home. Staff also worked in computer labs, the Student Learning Center and the Paul H. Thompson Library to maintain support of our students’ needs. We are proud that we have been able to continue working to serve you throughout the pandemic.

    FTCC offers programs in information technology that can lead to careers as technology and data specialists. Both careers are proven to have continuous high demand and longevity even in times of turmoil and recession. Please contact me at sobersto@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-7365 for information on earning a degree in PC support and services or database management. For information on all the programs of study available at FTCC,  visit www.faytechcc.edu. Fall classes begin Aug. 17, and registration for fall classes is going on now.  You can begin your journey to a rewarding, in-demand career in information technology at Fayetteville Technical Community College — the smart choice for education.  

  • 09 01 mitch colvin 2 copyThere are a variety of ways that police officers sometimes engage in misconduct. One way is using excessive force when interacting with the public. Whether or not force used by the police is “excessive” depends on the facts of each case. For example, if a suspect resists arrest and threatens the life of an officer that officer may be justified in using force. Sacrifices that law enforcement officers make are often overlooked and underappreciated. Police brutality should not exist, but it does because a small minority of officers abuse their privileges. In North Carolina and 22 other states, and the District of Columbia, a cop’s disciplinary history is mostly unavailable to the public. Disciplinary records are confidential under North Carolina law.

    09 02 Fort Bragg CAFayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said it’s time for reform. “The people are demanding real change,” he said. “There are a number of statutory protections, which must be changed in order for the citizens to have true oversight.”

    A police officer’s fundamental mission is to promote public safety. Sometimes officers must go “hands-on” while conducting searches or making arrests. Except in cases involving serious violent crimes, maybe officers need to go hands-off. “I believe in order for true reform to occur, we have to look at the entire system,” the mayor told Up & Coming Weekly.

    Fort Bragg may indeed change its name

    09 03 Fayetteville Florence floodingA West Coast city is considering changing its name in the wake of calls to remove Confederate monuments and statues across the United States, according to a post on the city’s Facebook page. Officials are responding to requests that the town of Fort Bragg, California, change its name to avoid connotations associated with Confederate Army general Braxton Bragg. Mayor Will Lee said City Council will discuss whether to place the question of changing the name on the ballot in November for residents to decide. Calls to rename the town came after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota, police. The protests that have followed Floyd’s death have spurred efforts to question statues, monuments or historical sites and names that have links to racial injustice. Fort Bragg is a coastal city along California’s Shoreline Highway in Mendocino County. The community was founded before the American Civil War as a military garrison nearly a century before the Army established Camp Bragg, North Carolina, as a training garrison.

    Hurricane season is upon us

    09 04 Festival Park Bldg2With the onset of hurricane season, we are reminded of the local impact of Hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. Being prepared can help families stay safe and avoid or reduce damage in the event of severe weather. Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission is ready to implement aggressive emergency plans when faced with a hurricane or other disaster. “Crews are always prepared to swing into action, just as soon as it’s safe, and work around the clock to restore your service,” a spokesman said.

    Citizen preparation recommendations include having an emergency plan, having a disaster supply kit on hand and designating a friend or family member outside the area as a contact person in the event your family gets separated in an emergency. If the power goes out, many services like ATMs may be down, so have an adequate amount of cash on hand. Always have a battery-operated radio, flashlight and batteries on hand. A car battery can be a backup charger for cellphones. Be sure to have a minimum of 1 gallon of water per person per day for three days. PWC’s Storm Central at www.faypwc.com has resources and information available.

    Chamber of Commerce offices moving

    09 05 FAST MinivanThe Greater Fayetteville Chamber is moving its offices to Festival Park Plaza. The Chamber is moving this month to a new suite of offices on Ray Avenue, according to a news release from Chamber President and CEO Christine Michaels. The change will be effective June 30. The building the Chamber has occupied for the past five years on Maxwell Street down town, is for sale.

    “The Chamber’s new location enables us to be more efficient with our space requirements under the social-distancing restrictions in place,” Michaels said. Chamber services and programs will operate as normally as possible through the move. Virtual programs will remain in place until in-person meetings are deemed safe, according to the release. The Chamber has been providing virtual committee meetings, virtual networking and “Back in Business” kits for businesses reopening since the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

    FAST now has small minivans in use

    09 06 Cheyenne Headshot highres 222x268The Fayetteville Area System of Transit is operating three new minivans, which it says will better serve paratransit service customers. The minivans are equipped with wheelchair ramps, two-way radios and mobile tablets with GPS. The FASTTRAC minivans can go where bigger vans cannot and improve access in parking lots and neighborhoods for customers who are going to medical facilities and stores. In May of this year, FASTTRAC services averaged about 760 trips per week, compared to 1,500 trips per week in May 2019, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. FAST patrons interested in paratransit services must meet criteria defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. To apply or make a reservation, call 910-433-1232. The minivans are dispatched based on current schedules and availability. All FASTTRAC services and FAST bus rides are free during the pandemic.

    FCEDC Welcomes Director of Public Relations

    The Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation has appointed Cheyenne Padgett as Director of Public Relations. With more than five years of experience in the communications industry, Padgett has worked extensively in the real estate, hospitality and lifestyle sectors. In her most recent role as senior account executive at QUINN, a Miami-based public relations firm, Padgett worked with clients including Lionheart Capital, JMH Development, Aloft Miami Aventura, Zuma Miami and Amrit Ocean Resort and Residences. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Hofstra University, Padgett garnered extensive experience as a media specialist in both New York and Miami, before moving to Fayetteville in Spring 2020.

    “As a newcomer to Cumberland County, I look forward to being an instrumental part of a team that continues to build prosperity in the region,” said Cheyenne Padgett. “Having lived in rural, suburban and urban cities across the U.S., I can attest that Fayetteville provides the best of both worlds and I am happy to call this city my new home.”

    ABOUT FCEDC: The Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) is a public-private partnership dedicated to facilitating business projects, increasing employment, supporting existing industry, and preparing sites for expedited development in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, NC. Visit www.fayedc.com to learn more.
  • 08 N2004P64022CThe demographic that has proven to be most undercounted in the United States is children under age 6. We simply forget to count our kids when we complete the census survey. This is problematic as the census is only conducted every 10 years, yet we have babies and need services for those babies (and prenatal services) every year. While we may not be able to predict where children will be born and serviced in advance, we can do a better job by the children already living in our community.

    Have you ever planned a party for 10 but have 30 people show up? This is what an undercount in the census looks like. The census, a federally mandated, population count, strives to determine how many people live in the .U.S — regardless of citizenship, race or age. This is an important part of our democratic process because it involves all persons. The census then determines how much funding will be applied to federal programs. These programs include Child and Adult Care Food Program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program, or SNAP; and Head Start — just to name a few. Then the programs disperse the monies they are given to and within states based on population.

    In a presentation I attended conducted by N.C. Child, it was said that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2018, the child population of North Carolina was 2,442,881. For a demographic or community to be considered “hard to count,” the mail-in response for 2010 had to be less than 73%. That means in North Carolina as a whole, we missed out, for the last 10 years, on a lot of money for the programs for our children. In Cumberland County, we have missed out on valuable resources such as funding to pay teachers for our Head Start programs, funding for meals for our school lunch program, as well as resources for our WIC programs. In a recent presentation I attended given by Cumberland County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Communication Lindsay Whitley, he stated that approximately 78% of Cumberland County students are receiving free/reduced lunch. That program is a part of the census funded Child Food Program.

    Please consider doing your part in Cumberland County obtaining a complete count this decennial. To do so, complete your 2020 census. You can complete the survey by completing and returning the mailer that was sent to your home. If you did not receive a mailer, or if you prefer, you can complete the survey online via https://my2020census.gov/ . Or call 1-844-330-2020. If English is not your primary language, the internet and phone options are available in 12 other languages. This process is quick, anonymous and protected by U.S. Constitution. We do not want to make the mistake of another undercount here in Cumberland County. We want our children in Cumberland County to receive the tax monies that should be appropriated to them.

  • 07 jp valery lVFoIi3SJq8 unsplashThe angel investment network VentureSouth is bringing its 14th branch to Fayetteville to offer resources to local investors.

    “Now, more than ever, we need fresh ideas from entrepreneurs,” said Marty Cayton, VentureSouth Fayetteville director. Cayton is a local angel investor and owner of Fayetteville-based TeamLogic IT of Eastern N.C.

    “In addition to a full-time team to manage the process, the attractiveness of VentureSouth’s model is that it leverages the collective expertise of 300+ angel investors who screen potential opportunities and conduct professional due diligence,” Cayton said.

    With a model that has proven to be effective in various other locations, the team at the company expects the angel investment group will help culture the perfect environment for starting and growing new businesses. VentureSouth has helped numerous companies through its other branches already and plans to make a beneficial impact on Fayetteville. Across the board, the network has over 300 members who have invested $50 million and upward of 70 companies in the Southeast, to include operations reaching throughout the Carolinas.

    In fact, the firm’s investments in high-profile companies have been key to securing substantial returns for its investors.

    As far as Managing Director Charlie Banks is concerned, now is the perfect time for VentureSouth to come to Fayetteville. He has high hopes for the good that the network will bring to the economy here. “History has proven that many of the country’s most successful companies were born during peculiar economic times,” Banks said. “Thus, given the current environment, there will be significant opportunities for investors to gain exposure to many exciting, high-growth companies. There is an obvious energy here, so Fayetteville is a perfect fit for VentureSouth. We feel as if our professional process and regional deal pipeline for investors will be a welcomed addition to the ecosystem.”

    Becoming a member offers several benefits. Members gain access to VentureSouth’s educational curriculum, get connected with experienced investors and get to learn about new technology, business models and other entrepreneurs throughout the region, not to mention being presented with investment opportunities, all by simply paying a membership fee for the year.

    Throughout the summer and fall, VentureSouth will have educational and informational sessions for people who want to know more about what the network has to offer. Visit www.venturesouth.vc/venturesouth-fayetteville to learn more about membership and the sessions. For additional information, contact Charlie Banks at 803-414-6702 or charlie@venturesouth.vc or Marty Cayton at 910-237-2640 or marty@venturesouth.vc.

  • 08 RoxiewellsCape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital is the only hospital in the region to have earned Geriatric Emergency Department accreditation by the American College of Emergency Physicians. Such certification recognizes hospitals that are focused on the highest standards of care for older adults. “Hoke Hospital has worked hard to earn this accreditation,” said Roxie Wells, M.D., Hoke Hospital President. “From our award-winning joint-replacement program to our stellar ICU unit, everything we do helps elevate the care of geriatric patients in our community.”

    Hoke Hospital is located off U.S.401 just south of the Cumberland County line.

    ACEP began accrediting geriatric emergency departments in 2018. To date, accreditation has been granted to fewer than 150 hospitals nationwide. The concept was developed by professionals in emergency medicine to ensure that older patients receive quality care because the complexity of care rises with age. Older patients are more likely to have conditions such as heart disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. “Older patients don't want to be in the hospital,” Wells noted. “They may not see or hear as well, and they are more vulnerable to infection. The COVID-19 pandemic is of concern to us,” she added.


    In the past, the tendency in emergency medicine was to admit older patients to the hospital out of an abundance of caution without regard to their special needs. Now, geriatric emergency departments incorporate specially trained staff, who assess older patients more comprehensively as they arrive in the E.R. and take steps to make the experience more comfortable and less intimidating. Everything about the E.R. experience can be challenging for older adults. Patients are often confused or disoriented. For those unsteady on their feet, navigating cramped quarters is difficult. For those who are alone without a friend or family member, it's frightening.

    Having a geriatric E.D. does not mean creating a separate space for seniors, but rather using specific processes, which include screening for geriatric syndromes such as stroke. “Over 60% of hospital admissions for patients over the age of 65 come through the emergency department," said Dr. Kevin Biese, an emergency medicine physician with University of North Carolina Hospitals, who has a focus in geriatrics.

    Clinical experts have developed the basic criteria for geriatric emergency departments and describe what patients and families should look for and expect. Patients who are on several prescribed medications might benefit from having their drug regimens trimmed.

    Geriatric emergency departments are needed to fill substantial gaps in care for older adults, said Dr. Christopher Carpenter, an associate professor of emergency medicine with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "(There is) unprecedented growth in aging demographics — with 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day — yet the health care system is not adapting to address unique geriatric needs," said Carpenter, who is also deputy editor-in-chief of Academic Emergency Medicine and associate editor of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

  • 07 jp valery lVFoIi3SJq8 unsplashThe angel investment network VentureSouth is bringing its 14th branch to Fayetteville to offer resources to local investors.

    “Now, more than ever, we need fresh ideas from entrepreneurs,” said Marty Cayton, VentureSouth Fayetteville director. Cayton is a local angel investor and owner of Fayetteville-based TeamLogic IT of Eastern N.C.

    “In addition to a full-time team to manage the process, the attractiveness of VentureSouth’s model is that it leverages the collective expertise of 300+ angel investors who screen potential opportunities and conduct professional due diligence,” Cayton said.

    With a model that has proven to be effective in various other locations, the team at the company expects the angel investment group will help culture the perfect environment for starting and growing new businesses. VentureSouth has helped numerous companies through its other branches already and plans to make a beneficial impact on Fayetteville. Across the board, the network has over 300 members who have invested $50 million and upward of 70 companies in the Southeast, to include operations reaching throughout the Carolinas.

    In fact, the firm’s investments in high-profile companies have been key to securing substantial returns for its investors.

    As far as Managing Director Charlie Banks is concerned, now is the perfect time for VentureSouth to come to Fayetteville. He has high hopes for the good that the network will bring to the economy here. “History has proven that many of the country’s most successful companies were born during peculiar economic times,” Banks said. “Thus, given the current environment, there will be significant opportunities for investors to gain exposure to many exciting, high-growth companies. There is an obvious energy here, so Fayetteville is a perfect fit for VentureSouth. We feel as if our professional process and regional deal pipeline for investors will be a welcomed addition to the ecosystem.”

    Becoming a member offers several benefits. Members gain access to VentureSouth’s educational curriculum, get connected with experienced investors and get to learn about new technology, business models and other entrepreneurs throughout the region, not to mention being presented with investment opportunities, all by simply paying a membership fee for the year.

    Throughout the summer and fall, VentureSouth will have educational and informational sessions for people who want to know more about what the network has to offer. Visit www.venturesouth.vc/venturesouth-fayetteville to learn more about membership and the sessions. For additional information, contact Charlie Banks at 803-414-6702 or charlie@venturesouth.vc or Marty Cayton at 910-237-2640 or marty@venturesouth.vc.

  • 06 01 handcuffsA Fayetteville man charged with taking part in the arson of Fayetteville’s Market House has had a pair of routine court appearances and remains in the custody of federal authorities. He was arrested following a joint local/federal investigation prompted by violence during an otherwise peaceful demonstration after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, said Robert J. Higdon Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Charles Anthony Pittman, 32, was arrested by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and charged with maliciously damaging property owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal financial assistance. A local television crew videotaped Pittman carrying a red gasoline container before pouring its contents on the floor of the second story of the Market House May 25. The historic landmark sustained charring and minor interior damage. Earlier that same day, Pittman posted a Facebook video while he drove around the Market House traffic circle. If convicted of the arson charge, Pittman would face a mandatory minimum prison term of at least seven years. The maximum penalty is 40 years and a fine of $250,000. Higdon credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Fayetteville Police Department with the investigation leading to the arrest.

    06 02 Braxton BraggRenaming certain military installations
    Defense Department officials are considering renaming 10 Army installations that are named for Confederate generals, including Fort Bragg. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper say they are open to the idea of also renaming Fort Lee, Fort Hood, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Fort Polk, Fort Pickett, Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Rucker and Camp Beauregard.

    Fort Bragg was established in 1918 as Camp Bragg and was named after Confederate general Braxton Bragg, a native North Carolinian. History has recorded that Bragg was generally considered among the worst generals of the Confederacy. Most of the battles in which he engaged ended in defeat. Bragg was unpopular with both the men and the officers of his command, who criticized him for poor battlefield strategy, a quick temper and overzealous
    discipline. McCarthy evidently believes he could unilaterally rename the installations, but there would need to be consultation with the White House, Congress, plus state and local governments.

    06 03 ColFort Bragg leadership changes

    The 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command has a new commander today. Col. Lance G. Curtis arrived at Fort Bragg from his previous assignment as deputy director of the Army’s Operations and Logistics Readiness Directorate in Washington, D.C. He succeeds Brig. Gen. James M. Smith, who led the command since October 2018, and becomes chief of transportation and commandant of the U.S. Army Transportation School at Fort Lee, Virginia. Curtis’ 28 years of service included commanding the 528th Sustainment Brigade, which supports the 1st Special Forces Command.

    Fort Bragg’s 18th Airborne Corps has a new senior noncommissioned officer. Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas “T.J.” Holland replaces Command Sgt. Maj. Charles “Chuck” Albertson this month. Albertson left Fort Bragg for the Pentagon, where he now serves as executive officer to the sergeant major of the Army. Holland’s last assignment was with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was raised in Lancaster, Ohio, and joined the Army in 1994. Holland has previously served with
    the 82nd Airborne Division and the Army’s Golden Knights.

  • 06 wedding invitesThere is no better time to invest in yourself and start working toward the career you have always wanted. Earning a degree in hospitality management can support your desire to travel, will allow you to explore your entrepreneurial spirit and may open the door to opportunities that you never envisioned.

    When I was asked in December to write about the hospitality management program and industry, I anticipated sharing the industry’s newest initiatives. At that time, I expected to be revealing new travel and tourism trends and data, social media and virtual reality marketing strategies and the disposable income tendencies that were driving growth and expansion within hospitality businesses. However, the industry landscape changed significantly with the challenges that have been experienced because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

    So, why is earning a degree in hospitality management more valuable than ever? The reality is that the hospitality industry will probably be forever changed, but with change comes opportunity. The most important and common attribute for success in the hospitality sector is impactful leadership. In what has always been an exciting and ever-changing industry, the most successful leaders ensure that they are prepared to quickly respond to changes that are often beyond control. Consider this example: A wedding was scheduled at your venue, and the bride and groom sent invitations with the incorrect time; guests begin arriving early. Another example: Due to supply chain issues, your published Valentine’s Day dinner menu items are not available. Consider these two examples and how you would respond in these situations.

    Having the knowledge and ability to quickly navigate through challenges and go beyond normal operating procedures to continue enhancing guest experiences is the key. Identifying ways to modify your organization’s day-to-day functionality, communicating and changing the expectations of your team, training staff and successfully implementing new procedures are crucial to remaining relevant and profitable. As a leader, you must constantly evaluate your business, invest in your team and be able to define and uphold your competitive advantage.

    FTCC's hospitality management degree will help you become an effective, customer-oriented, data-driven, decision-making manager, helping you excel as you progress in your career. Choose a career in hotel and lodging, food and beverage, restaurant, travel and tourism, spas or recreational segments. With coursework focusing on guest services, leadership, management principles, restaurant and lodging operations, marketing, sanitation, ethical decision-making, cost controls/loss prevention, law, and human resources, you will receive the knowledge and education to be well prepared for the workforce.

    Certificates in event planning, hotel and lodging management, and restaurant management are also available at FTCC and are offered 100% online. All courses are taught by faculty personnel who have experience working in the industry, bringing the ability to share their real-world knowledge and perspective to the classroom.

    If you enjoy working with diverse individuals in a fast-paced environment that can take you practically anywhere, hospitality management may be for you. For more information, please visit faytechcc.edu and enter “hospitality management” in the search tool. You can also contact me at goldk@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-8507. Registration for fall semester classes has begun; classes begin Aug. 17. Take the first step to an exciting new career today by signing up for fall classes at FTCC.

     

  • 05 01 cvs pharmacy drive thru testingSelf-swab testing is now available to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to age guidelines. CVS Pharmacy is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at three locations in Cumberland County. The pharmacy locations are at 3362 Bragg Blvd.; 100 Law Rd.; and 7469 Rockfish Rd. Patients are required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window, where they will be provided with test kits and given instructions. A CVS team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent lab for processing, and the results will be available in approximately three days. Testing will not take place inside any retail locations.

    “Increasing testing capacity for COVID-19 is critical in slowing the spread of the virus and we are seeing businesses around North Carolina, like CVS, step up to help increase testing,” said Cumberland County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green. Individuals interested in self-testing must register in advance at https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.

    05 02 Suspect in Custody 2Police apprehension procedure

    The killing of George Floyd in Minnesota may become the catalyst for positive change in America’s criminal justice system, some officials believe. Disproportionate deaths of black men by police underlies race relations across the country. Demonstrations a week ago in Fayetteville and elsewhere devolved into violent protests out of anger and rage. A Minneapolis police officer pinned an African American criminal suspect, George Floyd, to the pavement with his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd died. It is not a common procedure. The Fayetteville Police Department does not authorize placing a knee on a subject’s neck for any reason, according to department spokesman
    Sgt. Jeremy Glass.

    “Officers are trained to avoid the neck/throat, as well as knees to the back,” Glass told Up & Coming Weekly. “The goal is to return a resistant, violent subject to an upright position as soon as possible, because there is always a concern of positional asphyxiation for individuals that are left face down, especially with their hands behind their back.”

    05 03 Col Bradley Moses copy 3Former 3rd Special Forces Group commander’s promotion scrubbed

    The promotion of a Special Forces colonel who approved the 2017 mission in Niger in which four U.S. soldiers died has been canceled, according to news reports. Col. Bradley D. Moses was in command of Fort Bragg’s 3rd Special Forces Group in October, 2017, when troops were ambushed while on an operation in West Africa. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy notified the Senate Armed Services Committee that Moses’ nomination for brigadier general has been withdrawn, The New York Times first reported. Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, Sgt. La David T. Johnson and Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson died in the ambush. The firefight was the subject of a lengthy military investigation, which found that the small unit was ill-equipped when it came under the surprise attack from a much larger force of Islamic militants. Until now, Moses is the only person in the Special Operations chain of command involved in the ambush that went unpunished. Moses was nominated earlier this year to become a one-star general, but in March his name was temporarily removed at the request of some lawmakers, The Times reported. That removal became permanent following the Army’s action May 29, the newspaper reported.

    05 04 Cape Fear River TrailCape Fear River trail expansion

    Work is underway on the lower portion of Fayetteville’s Cape Fear River Trail. The construction project is scheduled to take a year. Barricades will be placed near mile marker five. People will not be able to access the barricaded area because construction crews need access to the site. The project will take the trail beneath a railroad bridge and will connect existing sections of the trail. When it’s completed, pedestrians and bikers will be able to travel nearly
    7 miles of path one way. The estimated cost of this project is $2.4 million in federal, state and local funds. The river trail is a 10-foot wide paved path for walkers and bicyclists. It winds through wooded areas with spectacular views of the river. In addition to wooden bridges, including one covered bridge, there is over 1,000 feet of boardwalk through the marsh and wetlands. Interpretive signs explain the wildlife and plant life. There are more than 700 species of plants and trees, and 150 species of birds.

    05 05 Deanna Jones BOE District 2 225x300New school board member

    The Cumberland County Board of Education has selected Deanna Jones as the new District 2 member. The board voted unanimously during a special virtual meeting to fill the vacancy left by Porcha McMillan who died earlier this year.

    “We congratulate Ms. Jones for becoming the newest member of this board,” said Chairwoman Alicia Chisolm. Jones is a U.S. Army veteran who retired after 27 years of service. She currently serves as president of the Cumberland County District PTA and vice president of the Seventy-First High School PTA.

    “I am deeply honored to be chosen to fill the District 2 seat on the school board, and I look forward to working alongside my fellow school board members,” said Jones. “My number one goal is to strive to make sure all children in Cumberland County have equal educational opportunities.”

    05 06 DrDr. DeSandra Washington of FTCC named a William C. Friday Fellow

    Dr. DeSandra Washington, associate vice president for academic support in the Academic and Student Services Division at Fayetteville Technical Community College, has been selected for the 2020-2022 class of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations.

    The William C. Friday Fellowship is a competitive statewide program of intensive leadership training that seeks to transform communities by improving human relations. Fewer than 30 people from across North Carolina are named to each two-year class.

    Washington has been with FTCC since 1998. A native of Fayetteville and a graduate of E.E. Smith High School, she holds a master’s degree from N.C. Central University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fayetteville State University.

    For more information about the Friday Fellowship program, visit fridayfellowship.org.

    Picture five: Deanna Jones

    Picture six: Dr. DeSandra Washington

  • America has no shortage of heroes to honor. We remember those who were killed on battlefields, but we should also reflect on those who lost their lives and are remembered as “others.” Even during peace time, helicopters crash, training exercises at times go awry and auto accidents occur. And, what about the family members, comrades and friends who remain?

    In the war against coronavirus, health care workers and first responders are the infantry. Doctors, nurses, EMTs, police officers and firefighters risk their lives by simply showing up for work. A significant number of military veterans enter second careers as first responders. Many heroes have been killed in battle, while others died in civilian life because they tried to help others.

    Henry Black is a retired Marine Corps major who lost a loved one in war. His son, Army Green Beret Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, was one of the four fallen U.S. soldiers killed during an Oct. 4, 2017, firefight in Niger by militants aligned with the Islamic State. Black lives in Washington state with his wife, a surviving son, daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. He recently penned an op-ed commentary for the Military Times and gave Up and Coming Weekly permission to reprint his remarks:

    “I admonish those that now lead our military, who are responsible for the well-being of our sons and daughters to honor the memory of those we have lost by supporting and protecting those who remain with every resource available,” he wrote, adding “never place primary blame for negative events on your subordinates, but realize that if a subordinate unit fails, it is your failure, also. Do not exonerate yourself for missions that go awry. Don’t look for fault only in your subordinates, look for faults in yourselves, also.”

    Black continued “I also remember the teammates of those lost, who were with the lost as they gave their last full measure of devotion, and who now may carry scars from what and who they lost. I am grateful for them, and ask them not to carry grief or guilt, but to live lives that honor the memories of lost friends and teammates. Black added, “… do not look simply to assign blame, for mistakes will inevitably be made, but to learn what can be improved. Do this, and everything else in your power, so that your, and our, soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen can be part of the living... and not join those whom we remember and honor for their last full measure of devotion.”

    The month of May is Military Appreciation Month as designated by Congress in 1999. Although the entire month is designated to honoring past and present military members and their families, there are several military holidays sprinkled throughout the month, in addition to Memorial Day. They include Loyalty Day, VE Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Mother’s Day and Armed Forces Day.

  • 07 01 N1005P47001CTwenty-five percent of the patients of the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and officials say two residents have died, as of May 26. Cumberland County’s Department of Public Health has confirmed 36 cases at the nursing home for veterans. It is the largest of four veterans homes in North Carolina, with 142 occupants. The State Department of Military and Veterans Affairs contracts with PruittHealth of Norcross, Georgia, to operate the facility located at 214 Cochran Ave. behind the VA Medical Center. A statement on PruittHealth’s website says the facility is in ‘Alert Code Red’ status, meaning visitors and nonessential workers are prohibited from visiting.

    “The company has continued to implement enhanced infection control protocols, including increasing cleaning frequency, postponing communal activities, ceasing visitation,” the company said.U.S. News and World Report has rated 15,000 American nursing homes for short-term and long-term care and noted, “North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has a short-term rehabilitation rating of Below Average and a long-term care rating of Average. It is a large facility with 150 beds and has state ownership. Overall Rating: 2 of 5 (Based on data from August 2019 and earlier.)”

    07 02 ClassOf2020 2Cumberland County High School graduation changes

    Cumberland County Schools has updated the local high school graduation schedule after receiving feedback from graduating seniors, parents and principals. Graduating seniors will now be able to receive their diplomas between June 12 and June 19 at their schools. “I’ve heard a consistent message — students are ready to graduate and move forward with their post-secondary plans,” said CCS Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. This revised graduation plan, which was approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the Cumberland County Public Health Director, allows graduating seniors to walk across the stage while family members look on. Graduations will be conducted in shifts with small groups of students and their guests arriving at prescheduled times. Graduates may have a maximum of four guests accompany them. Face masks or face coverings must be worn by all attendees, except children under the age of two. High school principals have shared detailed overviews of their graduation plans with families. The school district will capture students’ photos as they walk across the stage and produce a graduation video for each high school, which will include a message from each principal and senior class president, along with a photo of each graduating senior.

    07 03 CapeFearHealthMedical center announces fellowship

    Cape Fear Valley Health System and Campbell University have received accreditation to launch a fellowship training program in cardiovascular disease at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. This is Cape Fear Valley Health’s s first fellowship program. The three-year cardiology fellowship will begin in July. “This is another proud moment in the health system’s history,” said Michael Nagowski, chief executive officer for the Cape Fear Valley Health system. “Cape Fear Valley Medical Center has been nationally recognized by IBM Watson Health as a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital for 2018 and by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and Coronary Intervention
    in 2019.”

    Amol Bahekar, M.D., of Fayetteville Heart Center, has been named the fellowship program director. The fellowship program will enroll three physician residents per year, up to nine residents. Residents must complete three-year internal medicine residencies before enrollment. Now in its third-year, Cape Fear Valley Health’s physician residency program has grown to include 134 physician residents training in psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery and emergency medicine, as well as a transitional rotating internship. The program’s goal is to address the growing physician shortage in rural North Carolina.

    07 04 Cumberland County Public LibraryObtain a library book at the curb

    The Cumberland County Public Library is introducing contactless curbside pickup at all eight library branches. Curbside pickup is now available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment only. You can place orders through the library catalog or by calling 910-483-7727. Each library branch will have curbside orders bagged and ready for pickup at scheduled times.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic has required county staff to create innovative ways to continue delivering the exceptional services that Cumberland residents are accustomed to,” said library director Jody
    Risacher.

    Library patrons will go to the main entrance, show their library card or ID through the glass door and then step back 10 feet. A staff member will open the door and place the curbside order on a table at the entrance. Once the door closes, the customer is free to pick up the order. Staff will follow established procedures for returned items. A 72-hour quarantine of returned books is the safest and most effective way to disinfect them. The use of liquid disinfectants is harmful to the books and is not recommended.

    07 05 dulcey lima ye99BxZfno unsplashEagle Feather graduation honors

    Cumberland County Schools Office of Indian Education has announced that 68 graduating American Indian seniors will be honored during a unique drive-thru Eagle Feather Ceremony on Wednesday, June 17, from 8 a.m.-noon, or Thursday, June 18, from noon-3 p.m., in the parking lot of the Educational Resource Center, at 396 Elementary Dr. in Fayetteville. Each senior will receive an eagle feather in a keepsake box. According to the Office of Indian Education, the feather symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power and freedom and is revered as a sign of high honor. In Native American culture, it is believed that all things possess an inherent virtue, power and wisdom. The feather, for example, is a powerful symbol that signifies honor and a connection between the owner, the creator and the bird from which the feather came. For additional information about the Eagle Feather Ceremony, email Indian Education Coordinator Rodney Jackson at rodneyjackson@ccs.k12.nc.us.

  • For many years, a formula has been very successfully employed for controlling the thoughts and actions of far too many black Americans. Primarily, the formula focuses on fostering a victim mentality, acting in ways that appear intended to save the victims, creating tension between groups of people and an all-out attack on anyone who challenges employment of this formula. Successful working of this formula explains why Democratic candidates receive nearly total support from black voters.

    I have seen this approach used successfully over time, but a work session of the Fayetteville City Council on June 5 was my first experience seeing every element put into play in a single setting with precision and success.

    The agenda item was “Discussion Regarding the Fire Department Recruitment Process and Diversity Recruitment and Hiring Strategies.” This item was being addressed because some members of Council, especially Councilman Chalmers McDougald, have contended that there are too few black firefighters in the Fayetteville Fire Department. Fire Chief Ben Major was called on to address the issue and chose to use a PowerPoint presentation. Major started what I thought was a presentation that spoke to the agenda item. The planned presentation addressed the department’s mission, key job duties, training program, steps in the recruitment process and other elements that would set context for discussing the issue at hand. 

    A few minutes after Major started his presentation, Mayor Nat Robertson interrupted and explained that some members of Council wanted him to get to the numbers. Major moved to summarize so he could go to the statistics. The mayor cut him off and sternly repeated his direction. Given the comments that were made later in the discussion, I am confident Robertson’s interruptions were the result of pressure from one or more black members of Council. Robertson was in a “no-win” position. Being white, if he had insisted on allowing Major to continue, he would likely have been portrayed as comfortable with the current situation and, therefore, racist. In my estimation, that exchange forced by black members of Council established tension between several Council members and not only Major (who is black), but the Fire Department, along with citizens who support that department.

    The shutting down of Major also sent a message to black citizens that what might be perceived as injustice toward them was being forthrightly addressed … they were being “helped.” However, I am comfortable saying that a very different message was received by many non-blacks. That message is one of government needing to make accommodations for black citizens even when a thorough and honest assessment of a situation would likely show making that accommodation to be without foundation. Pursuing this “accommodations course” without thorough and honest examination of facts produces racial tension. That racial tension hinders the productive functioning of society and people suffer. 

    This failure, or refusal to thoughtfully and honestly examine facts, shows in how some Council members proceeded after Major shifted, as directed, to the numbers. He put up a chart that showed the results of the most recent hiring process. It tracked, by race and gender, how applicants performed: from review of applications for completeness and applicants meeting minimum requirements, to the written exam AND physical agility test and ending with those who were invited for an interview. 

    A critical factor in this process is that applicants must, online, schedule their written exam and physical agility test. The chart showed the following regarding black males: Total applicants, 130; eliminated at review, 20; failed to schedule exam, 40; no show at exam, 17; withdrew after exam, 1; failed exam, 25; did not schedule PAT, 1; did not show at PAT, 3; failed PAT, 2; successfully completed these steps, 21 (out of 163 eligible at this stage). Of this number, applicants with the top 80 test scores were invited for interviews. Six black males were interviewed and passed. No black males were selected for the first Academy class. The second Academy class begins 17 July and will include the next 12 candidates (who pass the background check) on the listing of 70 who passed the interview step. The next 12 includes seven minority candidates.

    Council’s discussion of these statistics reflected more of the formula described in the opening paragraph. Councilman Bill Crisp, who is black, wondered aloud if the written test was the problem. He was referring to the contention that standardized tests are often biased against blacks. McDougald, also black, talked about his negative test-taking experiences. Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin, black, asked about the prevalence of self-scheduling in other city departments. There was general concern regarding the amount of effort required on the part of applicants. Comments and questions from Councilman Larry Wright, the fourth black member of Council, followed the same line of thought as described here. 

    I contend that focusing, as these members did, on possible causes that place zero responsibility on black males or factors external to the Fire Department feeds the victim mentality that is promoted among black Americans. This focus also stirs up a negative emotional reaction among black citizens and contributes to the fast-growing destructive racial divide in this country.

    Honest examination of facts would require drilling down to determine why the black male numbers at every critical step in the hiring process reflect far less than acceptable or reasonably expected performance. For instance, why would 31 percent of black male applicants fail to self-schedule for the written exam? How is it that 48 percent of black males who did take it failed an exam written on a 10th grade level? The discussion among black Council members was that having applicants self-schedule might be a hindrance. Then there was this emphasis on blacks having difficulty with standardized tests. We live in a world of standardized tests. Why not give at least some attention to why blacks might have difficulty with these tests and work to fix those causes? I find it noteworthy that 23 percent of white males who took the exam failed it. That percentage seems high and likely points to causes other than test bias. No Council member expressed interest in thoroughly and honestly examining the facts.

    This lack of interest in examining facts showed in an exchange between McDougald and Major. My recent column titled “The Fire Academy: Another Reason For Hope” addressed the Cumberland County Schools Fire Academy at E.E. Smith High School. This academy is different from the Fayetteville Fire Department’s academy but prepares high school students for a career in the Fire Service. McDougald asked Major how long the academy had been in operation. The answer was it started around 2004 or 2005. Then McDougald asked how many graduates had been hired by the Fayetteville Fire Department. Major answered that none had been hired, but attempted to make a statement as to why that was the case. McDougald cut him off and indicated he did not want to hear about reasons. I heard that as “Don’t give me the facts … just let me work
    the formula.”

    In the end, the fire chief and city manager were directed by Council to go fix the problem. The mayor called for a break. As I was standing in the lobby area talking with some people, McDougald walked up and put his face within inches of mine … definitely in my personal space. He said, “I read your column and you got some things wrong.” He was referring to the column titled “Racial Diversity in the Fayetteville Fire Department: The Rest of the Story.” I asked what I got wrong and he gave a response. However, his response was not in the ballpark of what I wrote. I mentioned that I called him to get his input, but got voicemail. He did call back but missed me. I said I called him back, but got voicemail and asked that he call me again. He did not call back again. 

    As he walked away, McDougald shouted back to me in the midst of a crowded lobby, “You are a reporter. You have to get in touch with me.” That was a point of attempted further intimidation. Evidently, the councilman thinks I get paid for writing, and therefore, must chase people like him and put up with insults to earn a living. Alert: Not my situation. I am not paid to write. I am a tax-paying citizen who cares enough about people and this nation to invest time and money to address what I see as important issues. This was a case where the intimidation element of the control formula was of no consequence aside from spurring greater commitment on my part to speaking truth as I understand it.

    My hope and prayer are that black Americans will see that this control formula is alive and well. The next step is to honestly, factually and thoughtfully assess the impact it has had, and is having, on us as a people. For me, the answer is that we are being abused, exploited and devastated … not helped. 

  • 11Staycation

    We’ve done it! We have collectively crossed that imaginary line that drops us all into the summer vacation season. 

    A lot of families (and individuals, for that matter) won’t be able to truly vacation this summer, but that’s not a problem if you live in the Fayetteville area. There’s still plenty to see and do within a few minutes’ drive!

    Surely you’ve had some thoughts about what summer 2017 should hold for you by now. If not, or if you want to add a thing or two, consider making the leap beyond dreaming and into doing. Here are some fun things to do that may lead you into something new and exciting:

    Sing in Public. You do it all the time in the shower. Your neighbor told me. Make your way to one of many open mic nights in Fayetteville. Bring a guitar or friend with a flute or something. It’ll be a blast!

    Dive into Local History. Fayetteville has far more to offer than some will ever realize. Visit the Transportation Museum or The Museum of the Cape Fear.

    Discover Alternative Entertainment. The Gilbert Theater is a unique experience you’ll want to share with a friend. And be sure to check out one of the movies or music events at the Cameo Art House in downtown Fayetteville.

    Get Creative. There are several area locations that offer one-night excursions into painting, pottery and other creative arts. Walk in with a friend, and walk away with a piece of art and a sense of accomplishment. Many allow you to bring your picnic with you!

    Smell the Roses. Fayetteville Technical Community College has a beautiful rose garden. Take a camera and a friend!

    Get Fit and Have Fun. Just minutes from where you’re sitting, you could be hiking, jogging, walking, or cycling in premier spots like Raven Rock Park, Cape Fear River Trail or Linear Park. Look ‘em up! You can thank me later.

    Fayetteville is a fantastic place to call home, and if you take the time to uncover its secrets this summer, it can become a place you learn to love — for the first time, or all over again.

    Have a great summer!

    Photo caption: Take a stroll on the Cape Fear River Trail this summer.

  • 10PreporNot

    As a potential student, you might ask yourself, “Should I take a practice placement test?” The practice test is not required but can be helpful. 

    Test preparation helps sweep away the cobwebs and bring old knowledge to the forefront, preparing the test-taker for the next step — the unknown. 

    What are ways to prepare for a placement test? There are paper and online study guides, flash cards, face-to-face workshops and online videos available.Twenty years ago, a prospective college student would enroll in a prep course to prepare for the placement test. Technology now allows students to prepare not only with the comfort of using a personal home computer but also from the use of handheld devices, such as smart phones and tablets. The use of online interactive applications and software is also possible. 

    Most online practice tests are flexible and self-paced, allowing the opportunity to stop, save and review later. Many practice tests are free! FTCC recommends the online North Carolina Diagnostic Assessment and Placement Test practice test with Longsdale Publishing. 

    Workshops are available through FTCC’s College & Career Readiness program, and College Board has a web-based study app available at no cost to students. Information about these valuable resources is available via FTCC communication, flyers and face-to-face contact at FTCC.

    How long should a person prepare? The length of time to prepare for taking the test varies from one individual to another. Some students benefit from a refresher course on information learned at one time but not often used; others may benefit from enrolling in a structured workshop. A practice test allows students to experience sample questions (with no penalty for incorrect answers) similar to questions asked on the actual placement test. 

    A practice test has the added benefit of identifying strengths and weaknesses. Even when confident in academic abilities, an individual can always benefit from taking steps to improve. Participating in practice tests promotes confidence and reduces anxiety. 

    Once preparation is complete and the student feels confidently prepared, he or she can transition to the actual placement test. FTCC uses NC DAP. The design of the NC DAP determines if a student can enroll in college credit courses. 

    Students who place into pre-curriculum courses are encouraged to complete a workshop or practice test and then test again with the hope of obtaining higher scores and beginning college-level courses with the plan to graduate in two years. Some students benefit by enrolling in pre-curriculum courses and then progressing to college credit courses. Once enrolled at FTCC, a student has many resources available, including tutoring for all academic areas through the Student Learning Center.

    Registration for fall classes is currently underway. Visit FTCC campuses in Fayetteville, Spring Lake or at Fort Bragg to speak with an admissions counselor or a representative in the testing department to assist you in beginning your journey to a brighter, better future through education. 

  • 04HandgunGuns and their use is one of the topics that causes the most spirited debate in our General Assembly. Clearly it is the supreme “wedge issue” and shows us the deep divide of emotional and intense beliefs each member possesses. It also shows how this division can cause us to abandon reason, abandon the democratic process and abandon our better selves. 

    This past week, the House passed House Bill 746 and in doing so dismantled our 20-year-old Concealed Carry law. This law has served us well, balancing our Second Amendment rights to own and carry guns concealed from the public and law enforcement with the need to protect law enforcement and the general public. The Concealed Carry law required a permit from the sheriff after one receives basic training in the safe handling of the weapon, verification of criminal record and certification that one has no history of severe mental illness. It was a commonsense approach to responsible gun ownership and is endorsed by 80 percent of gun owners and law enforcement in the state of North Carolina. 

    The new law makes certain aspects of the permitting process voluntary and by doing so makes basic safety training voluntary. Essentially, it guts the permitting process — especially the mental illness and criminal review portions — to the point where one can argue it is useless. How do we assure the public they are safe from those who would carry guns with a mental illness or with no clue on how to safely use the weapon?

    The bill also expands where you may carry a concealed gun, such as private homes which do not display notice of banning such by the owner. So, if you do not want someone to conceal carry in your home, untrained, you’d best place a sign on your front porch. 

    But the gravamen of this legislation is the utter disregard it has for the training in the safe handling of a gun and ensuring that one possessing this weapon does not have a criminal record or a serious mental illness. 

    As Geary Chlebus, a former police officer and a certified weapons trainer of the safe and proper use of weapons, stated: “A gun is a serious weapon capable of killing or maiming numerous people, including the owner. We now require the hunters to have a hunter safety certification to go hunting, but not so in carrying a concealed weapon in the general public.” 

    Chlebus went on to say, “I do not know any responsible gun owner who supports this. We teach avoidance first and foremost because the financial, social and mental aspects of carelessly using a weapon, causing the loss of life, is devastating. The public and policy-makers must understand just how crucial this training is.”  

    How and why could such a complex law pass so quickly without true vetting and public input? The answers come down to the very vocal minority in the Republican party that refuses to compromise on taxes, social issues and gun rights, using its influence within the Republican caucus to demand this agenda be heard. 

    They believe the Second Amendment carries with it no restrictions, and as such, cannot be regulated at all. As I’ve heard it said repeatedly this session, “We have constantly gone too far from middle ground on far too many issues.” 

    It is essential that we elect citizens who are willing to consider both sides of an issue and balance the competing interests at hand. Both sides must be willing to work together. We did so 22 years ago, and our present law is a product of such collaboration and public input. It has served us well. 

    The old saying “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” applies here. Even in the Wild, Wild West, Marshall Dillon required cowboys to check their guns in with Miss Kitty prior to having a good time.

  • 03OfftoItaly

    Brian Hutchens is a great example of a servant leader. Recently, Brian and I sat down to talk about how Carolina College of Biblical Studies prepared him for ministry. 

    Korver:  Brian, it’s good to have you on campus today. How did you find out about CCBS?

    Hutchens:We had a neighbor who was the associate pastor at our church who also taught out here. He was teaching Old and New Testament survey … that was my very first introduction to the school.

    Korver: How did CCBS affect your life?

    Hutchens:We had a conversation once, you may not remember it. You said, “Brian, you don’t know how fortunate you are to have been raised in churches that taught sound doctrine.” That was true. What CCBS did for me was to help me better understand systematically what I already knew as sound teaching. There are a lot of believers, if you asked them, “What’s your overall theology?” They couldn’t pull it together because they’ve never sat down and worked through it. CCBS did that for me. 

    Korver: Of all the classes you took, what was your favorite?

    Hutchens: One was the “How to Study the Bible” class. That is a class that I think is very foundational. One of the biggest things that happens with misunderstanding God’s Word is that we don’t put it into its historical-cultural context. 

    Another one was “Spiritual Life.” During that class, I was involved in an accident. I had been praying about the Holy Spirit being in control of my life. Then this lady runs this red light and T-bones me. My reaction was, well, it was what it should have been. It was a concern for them. No anger. And I can attribute that to the Spirit. I got a letter from this lady later. She was so appreciative that I didn’t yell at her or rail at her. I had handled it in a very Christ-like manner. That was pretty significant in my life. 

    Korver: You’re graduating with an associate degree. How do you think CCBS will help you?

    Hutchens: I’m a missionary with Cadence International. We are headed to Vicenza, Italy to do ministry with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. I look forward to bringing examples of faith that will relate to their lives. Basically, evangelism and discipleship. 

    Korver: When you were here as a student, how did you pay for your tuition?

    Hutchens: While I was in the army, Tuition Assistance. What we found was that, by and large, CCBS is an affordable school. I paid for many classes out-of-pocket. Having an affordable school allowed us to just pay for it. I believe if God wants you to go to Bible school, He will provide a way.

    Korver: If you had to do it all over again, what would you change?

    Hutchens: If I could do it over again, I would probably look for a block of time where I could have devoted to come in a more set time. I’ve really spread this degree out! (laughing) 

    What CCBS provides is an opportunity for those who are in ministry to get the Bible studies and certifications they need at their pace. Then they can grow their education as their ministry grows. I think that is a bonus. This is a school for people who have lives, and so that opportunity was really good for me. 

    Korver: Brian, it’s really great having you on campus today. Thanks for taking time to share your story with us. Blessings to you and Kathy as you transition to Italy.

    Photo caption: Dr. Bill Korver and Brian Hutchens

  • 02PagingMichelle

    In the last five months, White House emphasis has transitioned from growing heirloom tomatoes in the backyard garden and “Get Moving” to Diet Cokes and double scoops of ice cream for dessert. This regrettable change of focus tells me yet again that votes do matter in all sorts of ways. They matter on domestic and foreign policy and on what personal examples are set for Americans to emulate.

    Only those who have been marooned in Antarctica for the last half-century are surprised by how much we Americans have “plumped up.” A new international study published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals just how shockingly fast and furious this weight gain has been.  

    Here come some numbers, so stay focused.

    In 1990, no state in America reported an obesity rate of over 15 percent. Less than 30 years later, almost 36 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, with over 6 percent of us qualifying as “extremely obese.”  

    North Carolinians are in the middle of the chubby pack, ranking 22nd of 51 states including the District of Columbia and with just over 30 percent of us weighing in as obese. The fattest state is Louisiana at more than 36 percent obesity, and the slimmest state is Colorado with only 20 percent obesity.

    What is even more astounding is that other regions of the world also have rising obesity, including places that have historically had food shortages, including Africa and Asia. The study looked at 195 nations and found that obesity rates have at least doubled in 73 of those countries. Residents of Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, get the dubious achievement award for gaining the most weight over the last three decades. 

    Perhaps scariest of all: With nearly 30 percent of the world’s population now either overweight or actually obese, not a single nation in the world has been able to reduce its obesity rate in 33 years.

    Not one.

    No finger-pointing here.  I have carried my extra 20 pounds around since the last Precious Jewel joined us, a full sofa pillow deposited by each of them, so I can hardly be holier than thou. What I can and do  wonder is how we all got this way and what, if anything, we are going to do about it.

    The new study, funded by the Gates Foundation and involving researchers from around the world, did not focus on the causes of ballooning obesity, but its authors agree that the increasing availability of cheap, processed, and nutrient-poor packaged food is likely a major reason. Think foods that come in bags or boxes that have been on store shelves for who knows how long, with chemical ingredients no one can pronounce, and which have never needed the chill of a refrigerator. You recognize them — the foods we know we are not supposed to eat but which are guilty pleasures for too many of us.

    Interestingly, researchers say the slowdown in physical activity predates our obesity epidemic and is not a major factor. In other words, being overweight is probably not our computers’ fault.

    Make no mistake, though. Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, stressed the study’s importance. “Its global implications are huge.... This is astounding given the huge health and economic costs linked with overweight and obesity.” 

    Popkin is referencing the reality that 4 million people died around the world in 2015 of weight-related conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and others. Those people, wherever they may have lived, were someone’s loved ones. They suffered with their conditions, and their treatment came at various costs, likely the highest right here at home in the United States.

    Some elements of the obesity epidemic are beyond our individual control, like the food deserts of inner cities and rural areas where fresh and nutritious foods are largely unavailable. In addition, fresh and nutrient-dense foods are more expensive than processed packaged “foods,” a word I use loosely in this context.

    It is also true that a great deal of our obesity problem can be addressed by better individual choices about what we eat and how much we move our bodies.  You know the drill — an apple instead of a bag of chips, a walk around the neighborhood instead of a sitcom rerun.

    These are small choices but they add up, one way or the other.

    Michelle Obama made healthy living her signature issue as First Lady. Melania Trump clearly takes care of her health.  

    Wonder if she has any tips for us….?

  • I attended the city of Fayetteville’s Police Chief Candidate Forum at City Hall. I wanted to see for myself what a national search for a new police chief would yield.

    The city rolled out the candidates the day before during a news conference. I watched, but I wanted to see up close and personal how interim Chief Anthony Kelly and his competition, deputy chiefs Gina Hawkins and James Hinson Jr., handled themselves in public.

    I was both impressed and disappointed. Each gave good answers to questions from moderator Stephen Strauss. He’s the city’s hired headhunter.

    There were also disappointing answers. Some were laden with ear candy catchphrases and the latest police jargon. Overall, though, they were interesting answers that gave insight on where each stood as crime fighters.

    And to be fair, some of the questions were so general it was hard to answer any other way. They each had to walk a fine line by telling citizens they would fight crime on their behalf yet treat everyone their officers encounter with respect and kid gloves.

    They were aware of nationally publicized incidents of unwarranted or excessive use of force by police and how that resonated in parts of this community. And their answers were dead-on. 

    They all said involving the community to fight crime is necessary because the police force can’t do it alone.

    The “it takes a village to fight crime,” aka community policing, is as true now as it was in the 1980s and ’90s. 

    But when it comes down to it, I’m not sure how much the police can depend on the community to help fight crime. It doesn’t matter how many dance routines or street basketball games patrol officers participate in. People don’t want to become involved unless they’ve been victims of crime. 

    As I stated on social media, I don’t know if I can be objective about my choice of a new police chief. 

    As a work colleague, I’ve seen Kelly rise in the ranks from patrol officer to a member of the chief’s staff. I left the city in 2006, so I haven’t kept up with his accomplishments. But since his appointment to interim chief I’ve had the chance to renew our acquaintance.

    City Manager Doug Hewett appointed Kelly as the interim chief after Harold Medlock unexpectedly relinquished the post last September. According to officers and people associated with the department, they say Kelly’s done a good job. Another mentioned he might spend too much time in the office.

    Well, sometimes chiefs have to spend time in the office, especially during budget preparation season. It’s what chiefs do. Besides, I too think he’s done a yeoman’s job. And he knows the community. There’s no learning curve. As he said during the forum, “I watched this city grow and I grew with this city.”

    Kelly’s chief rival — I believe — is Gina Hawkins, the deputy chief of Clayton County, Georgia. Her resume is impressive as is her poise and ability to schmoose thepublic. She has 28 years of policing experience that has served her career well.

    James Hinson Jr., the deputy chief from Greensboro, is well qualified. He has the credentials of someone who spent 26 years in a department that serves one of the largest cities in North Carolina. He is a man of faith who referenced God a few times during his answers. But he lacked the smooth rhetoric displayed by Hawkins.

    Among his novel ideas was to place stress analyzers on officers to track their stress levels. That could be a good thing for the officer and for citizens they may encounter. 

    The selection process whittled down 30 applicants. It vetted the select few during an arduous process that included psychological evaluation, interviews by a former police chief, role-playing in simulated crisis scenarios and making budget presentations. A group of “community leaders” paired with police officers from other jurisdictions scored the results. Kelly, Hawkins and Hinson came out on top.

    Who will be the next chief? It all depends on what we’re looking for and who makes the decision for the rest of us. See for yourself. Check out the video of the Police Chief Candidate Forum on the city’s website at fayettevillenc.gov/government/city-administration/police-chief-search.

  • 01LetFreedom

    Gregory Gorecki was a young boy living in Poland when the Germans invaded in 1939. Even as his country was ravaged and the unspeakable became his reality, young Gregory’s spirit yearned for freedom. By the time he was a teen, the Russians ruthlessly ruled his homeland, quelling ambitions and crushing dreams in the name of socialism. He was bright and ambitious: a trapped bird ensnared in a world void of freedom and personal choice. And freedom was all Gregory wanted, really — freedom to be the very best version of himself. 

    Gregory’s days were filled with hard work and drudgery. At night, he and his brother plotted their escape and dreamed of better days. They quietly planned for every possible scenario, vowing that one would not leave without the other. They knew their departure would mean hardship and government retribution for their loved ones and that consequences would be harsh should they be found out. The years passed, and Gregory became a physical therapist. 

    Freedom presented herself to the Gorecki brothers in 1960 at the Summer Olympics in Rome. They were approved to travel to the Olympics with the Russian competitors. Gregory and his brother were in their 40s now and well-established professionals. Without a whisper to their colleagues or even a parting message for their loved ones, they reached for Lady Liberty’s hand and never looked back. 

    The two hopped a train to Vienna and made their way to America only to learn their Soviet training and credentials were meaningless. Gregory had to start over. And he did. With great success. Only this time, it was on his terms. He built his practice to his standards and settled in the San Francisco Bay area. He not only helped those in need; he also brought jobs to his community. He traveled. His kitchen was filled with the freshest produce, the choicest cuts of meat, the finest liquors. He embraced and embodied everything great about the American dream. He came with nothing and worked hard. He never said no to an opportunity — even the exhausting and ugly ones. He faced adversity, fought the odds that were so greatly stacked against him and found success. Happiness. Freedom. 

    Gregory’s daughter is my best friend. We’ve spent countless hours pondering what makes him tick. What drove him to reject everything he knew — even success behind the Iron Curtain — in favor of chasing a dream? Why was he willing to risk everything he’d built to embrace the unknown? How could he have been so sure that freedom would taste even sweeter than he’d dreamed? 

    Gregory and millions like him remain a powerful example of the very best of this experiment we call America and all she has to offer. His passion for personal freedom and his drive to succeed and give back to the country that removed his shackles are what fuel the American Dream. He heeded the call to freedom and took seriously the responsibility that comes with it. 

    This great country is filled with people like Gregory Gorecki. As we prepare to celebrate America’s birthday, this seems the perfect time to give a nod of deep respect and appreciation to them. To the rebels, the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, the dream-chasers, the laborers, the scholars and everyone else who loves and has loved this country enough to give beyond themselves to keep the American Dream alive: Thank you.

    Photo caption: From war-torn Poland to Vienna’s 1960 Olympics to San Francisco, Gregory Gorecki chased the American Dream around the world.

  • 02CAT

    For reasons totally without merit, today we shall mangle the curious world of quantum physics.  Quantum physics is the study of how atoms, molecules and even smaller itty-bitty atomic particles react with each other. It’s a weird place down there in subatomic land. Take a moment away from your iPhone and the pictures of cats playing pianos. Come enter a land where a cat can be both alive and dead at the same time. You are now traveling through another dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is the middle ground between light and shadow; between science and superstition. You have just crossed over into the Quantum Zone. 

    Consider, if you will, the strange inhabitants of the Quantum Zone who have names that would fit comfortably in Middle Earth or among feuding families living in the deepest hollows of West Virginia. 

    You will meet six different flavors of Quarks: up, down, bottom, top, strange and charmed. If you have spent your entire life without meeting a Charmed Quark, then today is your lucky day. The Quantum Zone has a tribe of Leptons — electrons, neutrinos, muons, muon neutrinos, and tau neutrinos. 

    There is a passel of Bosons — Z Boson and Weak Boson — and eight tiny different types of Gluons. But who is the leader of the subatomic club that’s made for you and me? H-I-G-G-S  B-O-S-O-N. Forever let us hold Higgs Boson high, high, high. As Otis Redding once sang about James Brown in “Sweet Soul Music,”  “Spotlight on Higgs Boson now/ He’s the king of them all, yeah/ He’s the king of them all, y’all/ Oh yeah oh yeah.” 

    The mighty Higgs Boson wasn’t actually discovered until 2012. In theory, Higgs is what gives the universe mass. Without the Higgs Boson our universe might not exist. As Forest Gump once said, “That’s all I have to say about that.” Like Donald Trump keeps telling us, just trust me, I’ll explain it all to you very soon. The Higgs Boson is the very beautiful President of the Universe. 

    There are some other weird sisters making up the Quantum Zone who are so reclusive that they haven’t been discovered yet. Physicists think they are out there and have already named them. There is likely something called a Gravitron. The Gravitron is not the ride at the State Fair or the secret ingredient that makes gravy in Gravy Train dog food. The Graviton is a building block of our old friend gravity. As we all know, gravity is not just a good idea; it’s the law. 

    There is an undiscovered something which has been named the Magnetic Monopole. You might think that is a type of one-legged tadpole that would stick to the iron. You would be wrong. A Magnetic Monopole has something to do with magnetism. 

    Those of you of a certain age will remember Dick Tracy in the funny papers used to constantly remind us: “The nation that controls magnetism will control the universe.” I, for one, will never, ever dispute anything Dick Tracy says. If Dick Tracy says it, I believe it. And that settles it. 

    The most confusing item in the subatomic box is Schrodinger’s cat. According to Professor Schrodinger, in the Quantum Zone, an atom can exist in a bunch of different states at the same time which can lead to totally different outcomes. This is called superposition, which is not, in fact, a yoga pose. 

    The atom remains in superposition until it is observed by someone who is not a subatomic particle. After being observed, the superposition makes up its mind and takes a final form. Here is where Schrodinger’s cat comes in. Put a cat in a steel box with a Geiger counter with a tiny radioactive blob. There is an equal chance the blob will decay or not decay during an hour. If it decays, then a hammer will break a glass tube full of acid, and the cat will die. If the blob doesn’t decay, the cat lives. 

    To a normal person pondering the welfare of the cat, the cat is either alive or dead. There is no Mr. In Between. But in the Quantum Zone, the cat can be either alive or dead because the radioactive blob may or may not have been released. We won’t know if the cat has used up all its lives until we open the box. If you can understand Schrodinger’s cat illustration as to the wonders of the Quantum Zone, you may award yourself several gold stars. As the King of Siam said, “To me, it is a puzzlement.” Before you call PETA to report possible harm to Schrodinger’s cat, please understand that no cats were harmed during the writing of this column.

    Photo: Schrodinger’s cat

  • 01PubPenOn my desk, I have a complete chronicle of Troy Williams’ personal and vindictive war on the Cumberland County Health Department and its director, Buck Wilson. It is a notebook documenting Williams’ quest to call into question the loyalties, competency, management and qualifications of health department staff and leadership. 

    Shame on Troy Williams. 

    These documents, based on untruths, mean-spirited accusations, “anonymous” sources and false narratives, not only depict journalistic irresponsibility but beg the question, “Why?” What is the motivation behind these attacks? When you read and study the documents, it’s apparent that Williams’ first salvo at the health department came in a letter he addressed to Cumberland County Health Department Director Buck Wilson on March 3, 2017. In this correspondence, Williams stated his presence at a health department public board meeting was “allegedly” (his word) disparaged. Allegedly?  

    Defined: “Allegedly, adverb, used to convey that something is true or has taken place, but there is NO proof.” 

    Shame, Troy Williams. Either you were disparaged at the public board meeting or you weren’t. It was a public forum. Surely there were witnesses he could have asked if he wasn’t sure. 

    During the next 90 days, using (and abusing) his position on The Fayetteville Observer’s Community Advisory Board, Williams penned five more unsubstantiated attacks on the health department, its management team and its board, each relying on vague, ambiguous facts and “anonymous” sources. Some of these allegations reached into other North Carolina counties and dated as far back as 2010. 

    In Williams’s Fayetteville Observer article of April 9, he got so excited and carried away with his rant disparaging Wilson’s statewide and nationwide achievements that he insinuated Wilson spends too much time away from Fayetteville because of state-level obligations, wasting time and money. In the article, Williams wrote, “I don’t know whether that’s true or not, but his out-of-town travel expenses for 2016 were $9,331.” True or not?

    To make matters worse, during this same period of time, The Fayetteville Observer fed off Williams’ toxic rants and maligned agendas, contributing nine additional negative articles and editorials critical in some respect toward the health department. 

    Shame on The Fayetteville Observer for being such a poor example of the Fourth Estate. 

    Unaware, Cumberland County Commissioners, internal auditors and county attorneys only got involved after Williams orchestrated a “fake news” TV report with CBS affiliate WNCN (licensed in Goldsboro and serving the Raleigh Triangle). 

    The report brought forth three anonymous sources, all claiming to be nurses and charging that female patients who received abnormal test results from pap smears or breast exams at the health department were never informed of their results. One of the anonymous nurses interviewed was not actually a nurse and never worked in the health department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. Another one of the anonymous sources was Barbara Carraway, a former Cumberland County employee and close personal friend of Williams. 

    Of course, after much consternation, hundreds of hours of wasted time and thousands of taxpayers’ dollars needlessly spent on false allegations about how the health department failed to notify women about abnormal mammograms and pap smears, the narrative was finally debunked. 

    Shame on the Cumberland County Commissioners for being lead down a rabbit hole by Troy Williams, who never filed a formal complaint, but instead served them up a baseless charge born from anonymous sources, enhanced by over a dozen fake news articles and a staged TV news report by WNCN. And yet, to date, no one has questioned Williams’ motives. Even more shame for not standing up for your own local county health department, its board, staff and leadership team. 

    And, now, after exoneration, shame on those who will dare try to cover up and justify their actions by claiming, as I have already heard, “… the good health, safety and welfare of every patient is our responsibility.” Well, of course it is. All the more reason for prudent, well-thought-out actions by our county government done in a timely manner. 

    Shame on Pastor Troy Williams for pursuing this track of discourse. His “alleged” grievances are needlessly harming our community and disrupting our quality of life. His actions embarrass the newspaper industry and discredit those honest citizens who serve on The Fayetteville Observer’s Community Advisory Board. His actions have tainted WIDU’s airwaves and for purely personal reasons known only to him. 

    Williams seems to be dishing out harsh injustice and wrongful allegations in the same spirit of the ones he was subjected to five years ago. In 2012, he underwent a similar kind of cruel and insensitive public scrutiny when he was arrested by Fayetteville Police for prostitute solicitation on Bragg Boulevard. Though the allegations against Williams were many, the authorities were careful not to let his trial play out in the media. Williams deserved that, and he was exonerated of all the charges. 

    However, the situation he’s creating now seems to be just the opposite. He is using a willing media to vent his personal bitterness and hostility. 

    Make no mistake about it. This is all about his personal grievance against the health department and Buck Wilson. Need proof? June 13, the very day The Fayetteville Observer broke the story debunking the anonymous allegations against the health department and exonerating its management and staff, Williams filed a Public Records Request with Cumberland County, requesting Wilson’s cellphone records to question the use of Wilson’s personal phone. 

    We have a great health department here in Cumberland County that serves our residents well. We have a health facility that radiates compassion and sensitivity with precision that can't be faked or contrived. Its leader, Buck Wilson, who happens to be a middle-aged white guy, is a talented, results-driven, conscientious, professional without a blemish on his record. Demographics aside, this is the type of visionary leadership this community needs to survive.

    If a dedicated professional like Wilson leaves our community to go elsewhere, it will not be because of the likes of Troy Williams. It will be because he can’t work within a system that will not allow him to do his job and serve the people. Much is expected of our health director, and fending off baseless allegations and anonymous complaints that contribute nothing to our quality of life is a waste of his time and talent. 

    Shame on all of us if we do not protest loudly and adamantly reject this type of behavior. Only then will we stop lending credibility to those, like Troy Williams, who use the pulpit, radio waves, newspaper and our local government to endorse and underwrite their personal underhanded agendas. 

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    Photo: Troy Williams

  • 01HealthDeptCoverPublic health departments are essential to healthy communities. Unlike primary care providers, which assess and treat individuals, health departments focus on improving the health of an entire population. 

    To do this, health departments analyze the unique health needs of their community; create policies that address and advocate for those needs; and implement and evaluate health programs. They also provide a variety of health services.

    On the Cumberland County Public Health Department website, the organization lists the following qualities as central to its mission of improving the county’s health: innovation, collaboration, integrity, diversity and quality.

    INNOVATION

    The CC Health Dept. is funded by federal, state and county tax money. This funding enables the department to provide services in 23 distinct areas, such as clinics, disease control, environmental health, health education, immunization, health in jails and schools, maternity care and more.

    For innovative projects beyond this funding, the department must apply for grants — and it does. Recent grants include:

    • 2015: $3,000 for a diabetes education program 

    • 2016: $2,000 to improve children’s dental services

    • 2016: $500,000 for a family planning and teen pregnancy prevention program

    •2016: $1,500,000 for a four-county initiative (Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery and Richmond) for maternal child health 

    • 2017: $9,000 to hold a Food and Drug Administration food safety forum, print food code books and provide staff training for the NC Food Safety Defense Task Force

    Dr. Jeanette Council said the department’s Food Safety Forum, held May 23, was open to industry regulators and the public. Council is a member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and is on the Board of Health.

    The forum, she explained, provided information on how to properly handle, prepare and sell seafood. The forum is an example of the kind of perceptive problem-solving our health department regularly initiates. The department saw a unique source of illness in our community and proactively addressed it.

    COLLABORATION 

    Innovation is, in Health Dept. Director Buck Wilson’s eyes, often directly tied to collaboration. He has served as director since July 2009 and leads by example, serving in cross-organizational leadership at local, statewide and national levels.

    Wilson is Chair of the NC Healthy Start Foundation, which aims to “(eliminate) preventable infant death and illness in North Carolina.” Both previous governor Pat McCrory (in 2013) and current Gov. Roy Cooper (in 2017) appointed Wilson to the NC Child Fatality Task Force, a legislative study commission that helps create laws to keep children safe from abuse and neglect. Wilson currently co-chairs that task force. 

    In 2014 he was invited to serve on The NC Center for Public Health Quality Advisory Board. The center, according to a press release, “provides quality improvement training and technical assistance programs to public health organizations nationally.” 

    Recently, the Health Dept.’s maternity clinic collaborated with Duke University on the three-year “Baby Steps” study. The study, initiated in 2014, examined the effects a supportive text-messaging program could have on helping pregnant women quit smoking. Results of the study are currently being processed at Duke and will be released soon.

    Council said the Health Dept. and Board of Health also led the charge in requesting that all county properties become smoke-free. 

    Collaboration doesn’t just happen cross-organizationally. The Health Dept. holds a management meeting the second and fourth Friday of each month, comprised of a senior leadership team and 23 middle managers. “We do a roundtable where we talk about the work that’s being done in each of the (areas),” Wilson said. “It’s my favorite part of every meeting. I always feel so proud.”

    Wilson said the team deals with many unforeseen challenges. “Our team has a way of putting everything else aside and coming together to put the public health first,” he said. “We’ve had situations where there was a potential outbreak of a communicable disease.” Council said the team recently stopped potential Hepatitis A. and salmonella outbreaks at two different restaurants. She added that during Hurricane Matthew the Health Dept. worked in the Emergency Operations Center and all the shelters. “They are an essential part of our Emergency Management Team,” she said.   

    INTEGRITY

    “I don’t really have a hobby,” Wilson said. “My hobby is trying to do for people and help people. It sounds cliché, but I really, really like to make things better and help in some way. I don’t golf, fish or hunt. (But) when I’m helping pass a law on state level that will save the lives of children, when I’m part of a team effort that’s helping to make things better … it’s a great thing.”

    Wilson explained that in many ways the Health Dept. is a safety net for people who can’t get care or services elsewhere. “There are things we do that are people’s last resort,” he said. “If people are getting primary care or cancer screenings here, they may not be able to get it anywhere else.” The Health Dept. is also the sole provider of the world travel vaccine (essential in this military-centric city) and restaurant and public pool inspections. 

    In January of this year, the department offered free flu shots to uninsured children from six months to 18 years old. Individuals with insurance were able to receive a flu shot at no out-of-pocket cost if they had Medicare, Medicaid, North Carolina Health Choice or Blue Cross Blue Shield.

    DIVERSITY

    The value the Health Dept. places on diversity can easily be seen in the wide array of services it provides. “I am fortunate, and Cumberland County is fortunate,” Wilson said. “We have (a) tremendous staff that work(s) really hard. … We have lots of different disciplines that all have a passion for helping people. We have a leadership team that truly cares about trying to do what’s best for our community. And we have a Board of Health that’s very supportive of the work we do.”

    QUALITY

    In 2013, Buck Wilson was named NC Health Director of the Year by the NC Association of Local Health Directors. Two years later, he was elected president of the association, following 13 years with that organization and service as secretary, treasurer and vice president. He has continued to serve in a past president role due to the current president being unable to serve. 

    Wilson is not alone in his dedication. In 2012, Daniel Ortiz, the Health Dept.’s public health environmental supervisor, was appointed to serve on the Well Contractors Certification Commission. In this position, Ortiz helps to ensure clean, safe water is provided to communities statewide. Public health nurses Lynetta Allen-Geddie, Connie Owensby and Corliss Parson have served the community for over 25 years. 

    The Health Dept.’s Quality Improvement Team regularly conducts events and studies with the aim of increasing organizational effectiveness and efficiency. A recent example includes the Kaizen Event last March, which reviewed the department’s newly-implemented central registration. The QI team solved a staffing coverage issue identified during the morning peak time for central registration. The team also changed the waiting line layout to improve overall visibility for staff and patients, improving customer service. 

    Cumberland County, as Wilson said, is very lucky. “This is the community I live in; I want my community to be better,” he said. “This is the state I live in; I want my state to be better.” 

  • 12FTCC

    Fayetteville Technical Community College is an industry leader in awarding college credit for prior learning experiences including military training. 

    With over 200 military career evaluations and 250+ programs of study, FTCC offers members of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans the opportunity to pursue a higher education degree while utilizing the training they completed as part of their military career. FTCC recognizes the fact that service members train hard to achieve and maintain a standard of excellence and that their efforts deserve recognition in the civilian world. Awarding college credit for military training also serves our veterans as they make the transition from active duty to civilian life. FTCC places these students on the “fast track” to earning a degree and being prepared for a competitive work environment. 

    Whether advancing within the military or transitioning to the civilian workforce, military students and veterans will find that FTCC is committed to their success. As the leader in Credit for Prior Learning, FTCC specializes in translating military training to college-level learning and credit. 

    FTCC’s most popular and most flexible degree is the Associate in General Education, which allows students to capitalize on credits earned through military training and transfer with ease to one of FTCC’s partner institutions for an advanced degree. 

    The Associate’s in General Education degree consists of 64 total semester hours, 48 of which may be applied from other colleges and institutions as well as from military training. To earn an AGE degree at FTCC, students must take a minimum of 16 semester hours at our institution, either online or in person. Often, military students and veterans pursuing an AGE only need to complete the general education courses such as English, math and social science to complete the degree. 

    FTCC awards credit for military training based on recommendations provided by the American Council on Education, a major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities. The institution specializes in the assessment of nontraditional learning experiences. 

    In cooperation with the U.S. military, a team of expert evaluators employed by the American Council on Education conducts extensive research regarding military training and recommends credit for specific college-level courses based on the results of their findings. The evaluators at FTCC then review these recommendations and equate the ACE’s recommended courses to FTCC courses. The results of these coordinated efforts are encouraging for military students and help to ensure success in their careers and beyond. 

    On a case-by-case basis, FTCC evaluators also evaluate credits for additional training from military schools and other learning opportunities which may not have been evaluated by ACE. These credits must be approved by curriculum subject-matter-experts. This practice ensures the integrity of FTCC programs and provides the reassurance that FTCC is serving students with the highest standards.

    Students who wish to have their military training converted to college credit can submit the Joint Services Transcript to FTCC by logging in at https://jst.doded.mil and following the prompts for submitting an official transcript. Email johnsontr@faytechcc.edu or call (910) 678-0166 for more information. Students can sign up now for fall clases. 

  • God called you into ministry. You need preparation to follow that call. For some, that preparation requires biblical and theological preparation. For others, preparation involves leadership skills. 

    Many Christians have the idea that all they need is Bible study. Besides, the Holy Spirit will give me everything I need to do the work of ministry. Right? Yes and no. It is true that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide you in ministry. But that truth does not mean you should not prepare! 

    Everyone God calls into ministry should be involved in regular Bible study. This fact is a given. But a question must be asked: How do I properly study the Bible? This is where a Bible college or seminary plays an important role.

    What is a Bible college?

    Bible colleges are undergraduate programs that have a unique focus on the Bible and a biblical worldview to their general education studies. In other words, you can get an Associate degree or bachelor’s degree at a Bible college.

    While you can often major in nursing, criminal justice, etc., the major focus of most Bible colleges is studying the Bible, doctrine, and professional skills needed in ministry. Courses include Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Doctrine, Life of Christ, Greek, Hebrew and basic general education courses.

    Bible colleges serve an important role in higher education. Obviously, you get the foundational teachings in Bible, doctrine and ministry. But you also study grammar, history and philosophy from a biblical worldview. 

    Many students will attend a Bible college for their first two years (associate degree) to get a biblical foundation before transferring to a university that trains them in a field, such as engineering, medicine or biology. The advantage is that a Bible college is often significantly more affordable than a state university or private college.

    What is a seminary?

    Bible colleges and seminaries are similar yet different. They both focus on Bible, Christian ministry and doctrine. However, Bible colleges are designed as undergraduate programs (associate, bachelor’s) whereas seminaries are graduate level (master’s, doctoral).

    The other major difference is that seminaries normally focus more on leadership roles within ministry, like pastors, worship leaders and missionaries. Some students attend seminary before moving into a doctoral program to teach in biblical higher education.

    What’s the Difference Between Bible College and Seminary?

    Bible colleges require a high school diploma (or equivalent) for entry. Seminaries require a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, some students attend Bible college to go on to pursue greater studies at the seminary.When this happens, they often get credit for courses already taken.

    If you believe God has called you into ministry, then attending a Bible college and/or seminary is an important part of your preparation. While you could attend one and not the other, you may find a greater depth by attending both.

    Much of that decision depends on what is required for the job or ministry you are pursuing. To be a pastor in your denomination, does it require a degree? If so, what kind? Are you preparing for ordination and need a better foundation?

    The difference between Bible college and seminary may be summarized in one word: purpose. What’s the purpose behind your education?

    Why Should I Attend a Bible College?

    It’s been said that the foundation is key to everything. Consider a house. If the foundation is strong, the house is strong. But a weak foundation leads to issues all throughout the house. Attending Bible college is like building a solid educational foundation.

    At Carolina College of Biblical Studies, our mission is to disciple Christ-followers, through biblical higher education, for a lifetime of effective servant leadership. If we can help you reach your ministry goals, let us know.

    To learn more about Bible colleges, download our “9 Answers to Your Questions About Biblical Education” from our website at www.ccbs.edu.

  • 04FireAcademy

    While doing research for a recent column titled “Racial Diversity in the Fayetteville Fire Department: The Rest of the Story,” I gained a far more detailed understanding of the Cumberland County Schools Fire Academy. What follows is some of that detailed understanding, coupled with my profound respect and appreciation for this effort.

    The Academy is conducted at E.E. Smith High School but is open to students from high schools throughout the county. A line from the Academy Handbook’s welcome letter states the program vision with clarity: “The goal is to help our students in preparing for post-secondary education which will lead to a career in the Fire Service and produce competitive employees for the 21st-century global job market.” 

    Under “Mission,” in part, the handbook states: “The curriculum in this course of study introduces students to varied careers in the Fire Service, assists students in identifying their interests and aptitudes, and provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary for post-secondary education leading to jobs in these careers.”

    Starting in ninth grade, students spend a half-day, five days a week, engaged in course work, field trips and hands-on training that very substantially move them toward satisfying requirements for a career in firefighting. Those students who complete the first three years of the four-year program are eligible to study in a Fire Science program at Fayetteville Technical Community College during their senior year of high school and earn college credits along with additional necessary certifications required for employment in firefighting. 

    This path can lead to an associate degree from FTCC, followed by a baccalaureate degree through Fayetteville State University. All of this is made possible through a unique partnership between FTCC, FSU, Western Carolina University, The City of Fayetteville Fire Department, Cumberland County Fire Department, Fort Bragg and E.E. Smith
    High School. 

    Patricia Strahan, Director of the Cumberland County Schools Fire Academy, is a veteran of over 30 years in the Fire Service. When talking about the academy, she explained the academics and related requirements but moved with passion to another point of emphasis. She talked about leading students to see the importance of helping others and then knowing the satisfaction, the joy, which comes with helping others. 

    This is an endeavor that addresses the whole person. The “whole person” approach is reflected in having a dress code, requiring parental involvement and employing rules that are stated and enforced. Students in 10th through 12th grades are required to complete a minimum of 50 community service hours per year. There is an Advisory Board made up of educators, representatives of partner organizations, fire service professionals, Academy participants and a parent. 

    Those are some of the key details of the Academy. I find it to be a program of immense worth that provides a tremendous opportunity for students to enter and excel in a profession (firefighting) that is critical to our society. Yes, I was encouraged by the details. But I was even more encouraged and hopeful after spending time with several of the students in this program. Following is some of what I experienced that prompted this encouragement and hopefulness regarding young people and the future of
    our country.

    My first interaction with students from the academy came when I went to the Fayetteville Fire Department’s Fire Training Center on Radar Road. A group of students was learning how to exit a building through a window when fire conditions dictate such an escape. 

    I watched as these young people received instructions and, to a person, resolutely prepared to execute the maneuver that day … not at some point in the future. That same day, I talked with four young men about their reasons for being in the academy. 

    They were Ethan Bolger, Daiyvon Harvey, Elijah Beyer and Daniel Stedman. 

    A friend of Ethan’s who knew Ethan wanted to be a firefighter told him the academy would help him achieve that dream. Daiyvon always wanted to be a firefighter and was attracted by a desire to help others. Elijah will be a third-generation firefighter. Daniel said his father is a firefighter who loves what he does. Without Daniel feeling pressured, his father’s love of his profession inspired Daniel. 

    Like others in the program, commitment to and love of what they have chosen as a life work shine in these young men. Daiyvon closed our discussion by explaining that some students don’t have good family situations, but those in the academy are like a wonderful family. He said, “We have one another’s back.”

    On another day, I visited the Academy space at E.E. Smith and talked with a larger group of students. I heard much of the same excitement, a sense of having found their place, a level of commitment and pure desire for achievement that is rare in our time. 

    The conversation turned to the question of why there are so few women firefighters. Along with others, Celia Casiano and Yakira Sexton talked passionately about the importance of a right attitude for taking on and succeeding at what is difficult in life. I was amazed by the civility and thoughtfulness demonstrated in that discussion. 

    This is only an overview of what was, for me, a tremendously encouraging and hope-inspiring experience. These young people have great promise and, if they can navigate the destructive forces of our world, will help us find our way to being a far better nation and world. 

    Photo: The Academy is conducted at E.E. Smith High School but is open to students from high schools throughout the county.

  • 03MargI recently read Nashville writer Ann Patchett’s latest novel, “Commonwealth,” an elegantly rendered tale of two Greatest Generation couples whose marriages explode in midcentury suburban California. 

    The story chronicles the fallout that rains down upon the six baby boomer children shared by the four parents. It was a confusing read at the beginning with so many characters to sort out, but by the final page I knew them well and fondly, and I hated to see them go.

    At the very end of “Commonwealth,” one of the daughters, by then in her 50s, speculates about their lives. What if the parents had not divorced? What if the newly recoupled pair had not moved to Virginia? What if one of the Baby Boomers had not died as a teenager in front of the other five Boomers? 

    What if she had figured out what to do with her life instead of hiding out in Europe? What if…? What if..? What if…?

    I suspect we all have our own “what ifs.” 

    What if we had not married the person we did? 

    Maybe we would have had children, but they would not have been the same children. The ones we had in reality would not have existed. 

    What if we never married?

    So many in our community have come from other places. But what if we never left our home community and lived out our days in the same place we were born? 

    What if we never saw much of our own nation, much less any others? Conversely, what if we traveled the world but never really found a spot to
    call home?

    What if we had gone to a different college, a small one instead of a large university or vice versa? What if we attended one in a different part of the country or abroad? How would those early experiences have changed the way we lived our adult lives or would they have changed that at all?

    What if we had not gone to college? Would our lives have been appreciably better or worse or about the same?

    We all have successes and failures, joys and sadness — even traumas, in our lives. How did they affect us? Did we welcome the good times with humility and grace, and did we weather the bad times or did they flatten us? What made us the way we are today, for better or for worse?

    We have all allowed family and friends to fall from our lives for one reason or another, sometimes simply time and distance. What if we renewed those ties that once meant something to us? Is that desirable or even possible after we have gone our separate ways for so long?

    Each of us has our own “what ifs,” and ours may not be the same at all. We all control parts of our lives with our decisions, and parts of our lives are determined by events that happen around and to us. 

    I had always planned to work in a big city, either New York or Washington D.C., early in my career, but the illness and subsequent death of my mother brought me back to Fayetteville when I was 25. It was the right thing for me to do, but that particular “what if” has always haunted me.

    Truth be told, every decision we make to embrace one part of life and let go of another is both the opening and closing of different doors. Some of those can be reversed, but some cannot. 

    Our lives are rarely the result of one single decision — or in some cases no decision at all — but almost always the accumulation of thousands of small choices and some large ones coupled with forces and events beyond our control.

    I have told the Precious Jewels that no decision is a decision. If you do not take action one way or another, the decision becomes just to coast along. I have told them that decision-making does close some doors, but it opens others, and it is the only way to move forward in life.

    And, I have quoted Eleanor Roosevelt and told them that fear cannot stop you from living. “You must do the thing you think you cannot do,” she counseled, and she was right.

    I doubt I will ever live, much less work, in New York or Washington D.C. But, thankfully, I can and do visit both. And, like Ann Patchett’s collection of fictional baby boomer adults, I still wonder — “What if?”

  • 01PubPenI am encouraged by our young people today. I know we don’t hear much about the good things they do. In fact, we hear way too much about the negative things attributed to them. 

    But look around. Here in Fayetteville there is a rising tide of inspiring young men and women willing to face the challenges, responsibilities and leadership opportunities that adulthood has promised. 

    What young people need most now is willing mentors and much encouragement. Recently, I addressed a group of Fayetteville’s Young Professionals at their monthly professional development luncheon. I’ll admit, I’m not usually the nervous type when it comes to public speaking, but this group made me quiver. They would be looking at me as if I were their father — or even worse, their grandfather. 

    I panicked. It was sheer desperation that drove me to Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop (a fun retro candy and novelty store). 

    Once there, I consulted with owner Ann Sims. Being sympathetic to my cause, she readily assembled a rare assortment of retro candies that were older than I am: Necco Wafers, Mary Janes, Sugar Babies, Goo Goo Bars and more. It was a confectionery “blast from the past.” 

    I used the candy to make a point with this impressive group of young professionals. I asked them what they thought a successful and rewarding career would have in common with these popular candies that have survived five decades. 

    They were stumped! The answer is simple: Good things last! 

    I assured them that they, and they alone, are the architects of their future successes, and like the basket filled with candy, “good things last.” The message was received well. These young people get it! 

    Expect their involvement in future business, civic and governmental issues affecting their lives and the Fayetteville community. Don’t think for one moment these young people are disengaged. 

    They have vision and goals. They want the good life. They want clean and safe communities, and most of all they want to see real leadership in action — leadership that demonstrates vision and produces measurable and tangible results. 

    Young people are not impressed with terms like “revenue neutral” when taxes and fees continue to increase, the unemployment rate hovers at 6 percent and our county population is dwindling. 

    Here’s a warning to the old guard of our city and county: Don’t think you are going to shore up your old-school political ranks by using naive, enthusiastic young professionals. These upstarts have independent thoughts, dreams and aspirations of their own. More importantly, they have no political baggage and a determination to make a difference. How refreshing!

    Keep your eyes on this aggressive and talented group of young people. Like all good things, they’ll be around for a long time. 

    Photo: Learn more about Fayetteville Young Professionals by visiting www.fayyp.org.

  • 04RezoningFayetteville City Council has a unique opportunity to show how it governs in a sticky situation during a public hearing June 26.

    That Monday night, the Council decides whether to rezone property from rural residential to limited commercial. It’s the kind of hearing the Council has decided on countless times. But this rezoning hearing is different.

    For one, the property is not in the Fayetteville city limits ­— yet. Secondly, the people who are fighting the proposed rezoning are not city residents. They have not elected anyone to the governing body to represent their interests.

    Here’s how that works. A couple of commercial developers from Florida and Charlotte want Fayetteville to rezone 16 acres outside the corporate limits so they can get city water and sewer. To get sewer, the developers voluntarily annex the property into the city. As of late, there’s no requirement to be annexed for water, but sewer is another matter.

    But here’s the rub. This “high-end” retail store’s parking lot and an area designated as public space abut the backyards of homes on Windy Creek Way in Wendemere, a well-maintained subdivision whose front entrance borders the city limits.

    Plus, the developer proposes to jam this “high-end” retail store right next to Stoney Point Elementary School. It’s where King, Stoney Point, Rockfish and Lakeview roads meet.

    The developer also proposes to reopen a closed portion of King Road just before it reaches the intersection. The resulting fork on King Road would funnel traffic into the commercial property via a traffic circle. That could add to or alleviate the early morning logjam at the intersection.

    On the surface, it looks like a ridiculous location to put a commercial retail store. I dread having to go that way on weekdays mornings, especially when school is in session.

    The developers won’t say what kind of “high-end” retail store, but rumors abound that it’s a Publix or Trader Joe’s grocery store. There is no mention of what will go in the outlying parcels fronting Rockfish Road.

    There’s a Harris Teeter across the street and a Food Lion on the other side of the high school football field, part of the campus that makes up Stoney Point Elementary and Jack Britt High School. There’s also a slew of open commercial property along Rockfish Road heading toward Camden Road.

    Here’s another issue for the Council to chew on. Its own planning staff recommends not rezoning the property because the land use plan says it’s supposed to be for residential development. That usually means single-family houses. But the Rezoning Commission, made up of people appointed by City Council, voted 3-2 to recommend rezoning.

    So, it’s the classic commercial development rights of a landowner versus residential neighborhood quality-of-life rights for an entire neighborhood the Council must decide on. The Council also must consider getting a PWC water-sewer customer and taxpaying commercial property.

    Then there’s Shivani Kohut, a Wendemere resident. She galvanized the surrounding community to fight the rezoning. Last week, she and supporters packed a Stoney Point Recreation Center meeting room with residents from Wendemere and adjoining neighborhoods ­— some from within city limits — to plan a strategy to convince Council NOT to rezone the property.

    I attended the meeting, where at times participants couldn’t wrap their minds around the issues that Council is allowed consider in its deliberation. Instead, emotions ventured toward the possibility of crime festering in the parking lot and designated public areas.

    They should instead talk about quality-of-life issues: mosquitoes in a proposed retention pond next to the elementary school, flooding caused by more impervious pavement, parking lot lights illuminating people’s backyards and traffic congestion at an already congested intersection where gridlock happens often.

    But calmer minds prevailed. Shivani and a cadre of supporters organized a public information campaign. It includes passing out a flyer asking area residents to sign a petition against the rezoning. 

    The flyer also urges those affected to call or email Council members about their concerns and to donate money for a lawyer. Finally, the flyer urges people to show up at City Hall Monday, June 26, to fill the chamber. The group also published a Facebook page: Say NO To Commercial Greed.

    I contacted all Council members via email and asked them if they had visited the site, if they had an idea of how they would vote, and if they had ever deliberated over a public hearing where Council action would affect non-city residents.

    Only two responded. One — a person who I’ve always thought well of in the past — berated me for asking if he had an idea of how he would vote. Note, the question did not ask how they would vote; it asked if they had an idea of how they would vote. Perhaps the question could have been phrased better.

    But as a constituent, I have the right to ask any question regarding an issue that affects me, and I have the right not to be chastised by someone elected to represent my interests.

    Bill Crisp, whose district abuts the area, responded in his usual diplomatic manner. Crisp said he visited the site and does have an idea of how he will vote. He will keep his intentions close to the vest until he’s heard everything at the public hearing.

    The silence from the others is interesting. 

  • It’s hard not to play along when children come up with cute untruths.

    Unfortunately, many politicians have yet to grow out of the toddler phase when it comes to spotting and discarding spurious correlations. They insist matter-of-factly that without their favorite spending program or regulation, some huge chunk of the economy would cease to be or some favorable social trend would
    reverse itself.

    The most naïve and destructive behavior is to misuse the concept of the “multiplier effect.” A politician will say that for every dollar spent on such-and-such, the public will receive multiple dollars back in economic activity and thousands or even millions of jobs. In most cases, the statement isn’t just invalid. It’s idiotic.

    These politicians are citing economic impact studies that take the amount spent and run it through a model that estimates the local expenditure on labor and materials and the resulting employment implications. While such data can be useful — particularly if you are thinking about going into the business of supplying labor or materials to a particular project, firm, or industry — it doesn’t speak at all to the net economic benefits.

    Getting to the net requires that you estimate the benefit of using those dollars on some alternative expenditure. Economists call this the opportunity cost. If you spend $9 eating lunch at Jersey Mike’s (highly recommended, by the way) you can’t spend the same $9 on some other meal, or on buying socks after having skipped lunch altogether. More broadly, the resources you consumed getting to and from the sub shop, including the minutes, can’t be devoted to something else. These represent the opportunity costs of your Jersey Mike’s excursion.

    In public finance, the opportunity cost comes at two stages. Certainly the tax dollars spent on, say, highway construction can’t be spent on public schools or law enforcement. That’s the second stage of opportunity cost. But there is also an opportunity cost to converting private dollars, earned through voluntary means, into tax revenue in the first place.

    When people keep more of what they earn, that money doesn’t disappear just because it no longer shows up in the government’s balance sheet. It is devoted either to current private consumption or to private investment, both of which have economic impacts of their own. When politicians claim huge economic bonanzas from subsidizing sports stadiums, convention centers, or economic-development projects, they typically ignore this foregone private expenditure altogether.

    The only real justification for a government program is that private individuals, spending a given amount of money through voluntary exchange, wouldn’t get as high a return on that money as the government would by taxing the money away from them and devoting it to some public purpose.

    The case isn’t that hard to make when it comes to basic governmental services such as law enforcement and the courts. Beyond that, you have to argue that government policymakers are likely to know better than citizens how best to spend the citizens’ own money. There are such cases — public goods for which, for technical reasons, private individuals are not presented with the information (prices) they need to make the best decisions. But such cases are not the norm.

    Those who assert the magic of multiplier effects to justify their pet programs may be dissembling. But it is my experience that most of the time, they don’t know enough about the matter to be lying. They are just repeating what they’ve heard, or imagining spurious connections on the basis of
    limited experience.

    It’s their business if they choose, Peter Pan-like, not to grow up. But they should keep their hands out of the wallets of the grownups.

  • 03PadorasAre you tired of hearing about Russians influencing the late great presidential election? Are the White House leaks making you wish for the return of Nixon’s plumbers to plug up the gusher of troubles flooding the lawn at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.? Let’s wander down memory lane this week to figure out what is causing all the commotion in Washington, D.C. 

    Surprisingly enough, it is not the occupants of the White House who are causing our current troubles. At the risk of mimicking Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway, the current troubles are not Trump’s fault, or even the fault of the First Son-In-Law and Putin Pal, Jared Kushner. 

    Come take a walk on the wild side of Greek Mythology. Ponder our old friend Pandora, who caused troubles to begin on Earth way back in the golden days of yesteryear. 

    Once upon a time in Greek Mythology (which will soon have to be taught in schools again as a result of President Pence mandating the teaching of Christianity), there were only men. Women had not arrived. In the beginning, men were immortal and made of gold. They hung out on Mount Olympus partying down with the gods. But after a while, things started to go south. The men turned into silver but were no longer immortal. The men left Olympus and did all sorts of cool things that resulted in them becoming the Greek heroes of mythology. Nothing gold can stay, so that age ended, too. Men were condemned to work and suffer to support themselves in the age in which we now find ourselves. 

    Prometheus , who was a man, comes along and plays a trick on the gods by doing some fancy butchering of an ox. This results in the gods getting lousy cuts of meat and men getting prime rib. 

    Zeus, king of the gods, is not amused. He takes fire away from men so they can’t barbecue the steaks they stole from the gods. Prometheus, being a tricky dude, steals the fire back from the gods. He gives fire to men so the barbecuing, lying and beer drinking can resume. 

    This really hacks off Zeus. He chains Prometheus to a rock and sends an eagle to eat Prometheus’s liver each day. This is a very unpleasant experience for Prometheus. His liver grows back each night. The eagle returns for some Grecian Liver Puddin’ every day. Eventually, Hercules frees Prometheus from his role as a buffet dinner. The eagle has to go on food stamps.

    You would not like Zeus when he is angry. Now. Zeus is angry at all men. So what does Zeus do? What will cause the men misery? Easy. Zeus makes a woman. He takes a hank of hair and a piece of bone and makes a walkin’ talkin’ honeycomb named Pandora. Pandora is absolutely beautiful, being the first woman and all. Compared to lumpy Greek men, she faced a pretty low bar for beauty. 

    Pandora shows up at the door of Epimetheus, who is the brother of Prometheus. Epi was warned by Prometheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus, but Epi is smitten with Pandora’s beauty. Like Nancy Sinatra once sang, Epi and Pandora get married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout. As a wedding present, Zeus gives Pandora a real pretty box but tells her not to open it. 

    You try telling a woman she can’t open a present and see what happens. Just as Zeus planned, Pandora can’t resist opening the box. Zeus had packed the box with all sorts of evil stuff — poverty, misery, type 2 diabetes, depression, smoker’s cough, death and Dook fans. When she opens the box, all the evil escapes into the air to infest mankind forevermore. The only thing left in the box after she belatedly slams it shut is hope. Realizing that it is too late to get the troubles back into the box, Pandora opens it again and lets hope out into the world. Hope flutters out of the box and shows
    up when things are at their worst. 

    As Emily Dickinson once wrote, “Hope is the thing with feathers.” Emily may have been thinking of Pandora when she wrote that. Or Emily may have just been hungry and was wishing and hoping for Colonel Sanders to invent his delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken with its eleven secret herbs and spices. We shall never know for sure.

    Don’t blame Trump for the problems in D.C. Don’t blame it on the Bossa Nova either. It is more historically accurate to blame Pandora for the troubles you see on the “Nightly News” or read on the Fake News on the internet. Just be glad she let hope out. 

  • 02MargaretReally?

    The president of the United States called the FBI director “crazy, a real nut job?”

    A comedian posted images of herself holding what appears to be the president’s bloody,
    severed head.

    A motorist jabbed her pointed middle finger in my direction.

    Really?

    What is happening to our country?

    Americans are clearly concerned about increasing incivility in our society, describing it in words ranging from “rudeness” to “pathological.” 

    A quick peek at the Amazon book section finds nine pages of books addressing this emerging behavior in our country with titles including “Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace,” “Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct,” “Civility in the Digital Age: How Companies and People Can Triumph Over Haters,” “Trolls, Bullies and Other Jerks,” perhaps most relevantly, and “Civility: Manners, Morals and the Etiquette
    of Democracy.” 

    I vacillate between thinking of our current vile and toxic atmosphere as the decline of basic civility or the rise of bullying, but it is probably both. The good news is that Americans are aware of and worried about it. A study last year by The Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago found that we do believe our society is less civil than it was 30 years ago, particularly in politics.

     Here are some key findings:

    • Two-thirds of us think last year’s political campaigns were even more rude than the what has become the norm in rudeness.

    • A full fourth of us admit to using the F-word at least once a day.

    • Most of us agree that remarks or jokes about race, gender and sexuality should not be made in public. We are more tolerant of such remarks uttered in private.

    • A full 80 percent of us say political leaders should be held to higher standards of behavior than the rest of us.

    We can only hope.

    -------

    As the mother of two young adults with that mysterious Y chromosome — i.e., men — I am sensitive to the adage, “A son is a son until he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter all her life.” 

    I recently stumbled across a Huffington Post piece by Marlene Kern Fischer, “Six Things You Should Know About Having Grown Sons,” which will likely interest other mothers of boys and maybe the boys themselves. 

    1. He won’t communicate more. Probably true, but he still loves you. You will always be Mom.

    2. He will still make a mess. Definitely true.

    3. He will still enjoy games that involve balls. Ditto.

    4. He will still be cuddly. True. Somewhere deep in his DNA he remembers your hugs, your snuggles as you read books together and your comfort when he was sad or hurt. He is in some ways just a large little boy.

    5. You will be able to count on him.
    Definitely true for what really matters, although he will still forget to make beds and take out
    the garbage.

    6. He will bring home someone else for you to love! Yes! I am very blessed.

    -------

    I know. I said I would not, but I have one more tattoo encounter to share.

    At a recent lunch on a lovely covered patio, I noticed that several, maybe most, of the servers were wearing black bands on their arms, some at the wrist and some higher up the forearm.

    Were they protesting something? Did they have wrist or elbow troubles? Did the bands help stabilize heavy trays laden with food?

    So I asked our server, a handsome young man named Jason, whose arm appears in this photo.

    It was none of the above. The bands are required by restaurant management to cover up — you guessed it! — tattoos!

    Who knew?

  • 01FakeNewsPubPenNo one cares more about the health and welfare of Cumberland County residents than Cumberland County Commissioner Jeannette Council. Yet, as the county’s liaison to the Health Department, she and the board of directors were unaware of the alleged charges that the Health Department failed to notify patients of their cancer screening results. 

    Really? 

    And says who? 

    For weeks, I have been receiving unsolicited and concerning reports that this entire brouhaha is ill-founded and based on sloppy and irresponsible “Fake News” reporting by our local daily newspaper and non-local area TV station, WNCN. 

    This entire situation was born out of allegations from three “anonymous” sources. That’s right, anonymous. The newspaper referred to them as nurses. If we don’t know who they are, how do we know their
    credentials? 

    I doubt they are all nurses. How could something this vitally important go unnoticed by a competent Health Department staff, professional management and a conscientious board of directors? This situation reeks of ulterior motives and sinister underlying personal agendas of disgruntled former Health Department employees.

    This could be easily debunked by the slightest bit of investigative reporting by our daily newspaper. That’s not happening.

    All we can do now is hope that County Attorney Rick Moorfield’s thorough and objective investigation into this matter will exonerate the innocent and send a strong message to those individuals who think they can use Cumberland County departments, resources and assets for their own personal vendettas or advancement. 

    Shame on them and shame on The Fayetteville Observer for participating in and fostering such “bovine droppings” while supporting and endorsing WNCN’’s sloppy, unprofessional and irresponsible reporting. 

    The Cumberland County community deserves better than this. Many county residents are dismayed and disappointed at this unsubstantiated sniper attack on our Health Department. Anyone who has experienced the leadership and the dedicated and talented staff knows the truth. 

    The many advancements, achievements and accomplishments of Director Buck Wilson over the past several years speak to the high-quality care and commitment he and his staff have for the community and its citizens. It just doesn’t make any sense. 

    I implore that Cumberland County use all its resources to get to the truth. Thomas Jefferson once said, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for men of good conscience to do nothing.”  It is this newspaper’s hope that county leadership will not sit on the sidelines and watch this situation unfold, but that it will get involved and demand the truth. 

    Will Rogers said, “I only know just what I read in the (news)papers.” Few people know the rest of that famous quote, which is where the real meaning lies: “...and that is an alibi for my ignorance.” We need not allow a few malcontents and faulty/irresponsible “Fake News” media sources to define our community or quality of life. 

    I hope you agree. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 07Fayetteville ParkingFayetteville City Council’s plan to charge for on-street parking is still alive despite growing opposition from downtown merchants. The city plans to charge $1 an hour for people parking on the street downtown from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Some council members favor allowing motorists to park free for the first hour. There are about 600 parking spots on center-city streets, according to traffic engineer Lee Jernigan. He reminded City Council at a meeting June 19 that the plan adopted recently will include paid parking downtown beginning the first of next year.

    Old-fashioned parking meters will not be reinstalled. Instead, several dozen digital kiosks will be built to accept smartphone app and bank card payments as well as coins. The city is already charging $5 to park in city-owned parking lots during Fayetteville Woodpeckers baseball games.

    Electronic kiosks have become popular across the country in recent years. Many communities say they raise tens of thousands of dollars in new revenue, which is one of the reasons Fayetteville leaders are moving in that direction. Fayetteville is the only large city in North Carolina not charging for on-street parking.

    Businessman Hank Parfitt contends Fayetteville’s main thoroughfare, including the first block of Person Street and five blocks of Hay Street, is unlike other big cities. City Councilman Dan Culliton agrees. “We have a downtown that has been revitalized with small boutiques and restaurants,” he said.

    Parfitt, who owns a business and lives downtown, said the city should have waited for the effects of Segra Stadium to settle in before imposing parking fees, which have harmed small-business owners. Both men agreed officials need to promote the use of the underutilized Franklin Street parking garage.

    “We need to focus more on the parking deck, and we need to protect our businesses,” Culliton said.

    Councilman Jim Arp referred to a study conducted by McLaurin Parking Management of Raleigh and renewed his insistence that the city concentrate on promoting parking turnover.

    “I think a significant number of your parking spaces are being taken up by downtown employees, merchants or other folks,” said McLaurin CEO Jeff Wolfe, whose firm manages downtown parking for the city.

    Mayor Mitch Colvin informed business owners and others who attended the special council meeting that no action would be taken and that it was an information-gathering session. “We want to hear everybody’s point of view,” Colvin said.

    The council has not yet heard directly from downtown property owners and merchants in any of the meetings it’s held since February, when the parking issue first came up.

    Downtown merchant Bruce Arnold showed Up & Coming Weekly an online petition with more than 2,500 signatures calling for free parking. He and his wife, Molly, have put their Hay Street business, the coffee shop Rude Awakening, up for sale.

    Molly wrote in a lengthy Facebook entry that business has declined by 25% since parking lot fees were introduced in May.

  • 06SGB Image 2Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health disorder that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat. Stellate Ganglion Block is an established procedure used by anesthesiologists to relieve pain. Research suggests that SGB may also help veterans with PTSD who have not found relief via traditional treatments such as therapy and medication. CBS News highlighted the new developments during “60 Minutes” June 16.

    This month is PTSD Awareness Month. The designation is meant to help raise awareness about the various PTSD treatment options.

    Medical professionals say it’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school or spend time with people you care about. But people usually start to feel better after a few weeks or months. “60 Minutes” pointed out that many people who have PTSD often don’t get the help they need because they don’t reach out.

    SGB is emerging as a potential treatment for service members and veterans suffering from the aftereffects of warfare. The number of soldiers and veterans who have PTSD is the highest ever after 18 continuous years of war. SGB has been around for a long time. It has been used for decades to treat complex pain syndromes that affect the head, face, neck and arms. During the procedure, a doctor or other health care provider uses X-ray or ultrasound imaging to pinpoint a needle into a bundle of nerves located near the base of the neck. The provider then injects a local anesthetic into the nerve tissue like a dentist delivers numbing medicine before a dental procedure.

    The anesthetic lasts only a few hours, but the effects of the procedure can last for several weeks — or longer in some cases.

    U.S. Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer received the treatment. The Medal of Honor recipient said SGB greatly reduced his anxiety. But the experimental treatment he received is only available in a dozen of the 172 Veterans Affairs hospitals. Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc has also benefited from SGB therapy and is calling for the procedure to be made a part of all PTSD treatments. He has traveled the country helping other veterans who suffer from PTSD.

    Despite the billions of dollars the government has spent on PTSD, only about 40 percent of sufferers find any relief. Bolduc, a former Green Beret and the only senior officer to admit to having PTSD while on active duty, wants to change that. “There’s enough evidence out there that this is a valid therapy and it’s something that works,” he said.

    Bolduc said that his wife confronted him about his PTSD, and he received SGB treatment. “It was magnificent. Everything was crisper and clearer,” he said during a “60 Minutes” interview. 

    The Army is now funding the first clinical trial of SGB. “I think (SGB is) hugely important and it needs to be an intervention that’s part of every posttraumatic stress therapy,” said Bolduc.

    SGB is not a cure, and the treatment does not work for everyone. However, it is a promising option for veterans with PTSD symptoms who have not responded to other evidence-based treatments.

  • 05JerryWith a paper roadmap folded on the dashboard of a rental car, Jerry Hogge logged hundreds of miles in a three-week span up and down the East Coast to spread the word about Methodist University’s professional golf management program. That was in 1988.

    “I went from here to Portland, Maine,” he said. “I was on Long Island, in New Jersey, in Delaware and Virginia. I visited just about every kid we had that summer doing internships.”

    Since then, the program has graduated more than 1,100 students, each of whom has landed a job in the profession. Methodist alumni now lead some of the most prestigious golf courses in the world, from Baltusrol Golf Club in New York, site of the 2016 PGA Championship, to Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, site of the 2016 U.S. Open.

    After 32 years as the program’s director, Hogge, 72, is stepping aside to take on a new role for the school. Methodist’s Board of Trustees named him director emeritus.

    “The...title is awarded in gratitude for Jerry’s many years of dedicated and excellent work,” said Methodist University President Stan Wearden.

    “During his tenure, Jerry has added immeasurable value to the PGM program and the university,” said Dena Breece, interim dean and associate dean of the Reeves School of Business, who wrote the nomination.

    Emergency Medical Service earns award

    Cumberland County EMS and Hoke County EMS have received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award for 2019. The honor is for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients experiencing severe heart attacks.

    Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST-elevated myocardial infarction, the deadliest type of heart attack. They are caused by blood flow blockage to the heart and require immediate treatment. Blood flow must be restored as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

    The Mission: Lifeline Initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care based on the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines. The initiative also recognized emergency medical services for their efforts to improve care to rapidly identify suspected heart attacks and to promptly notify treating medical centers and their awaiting hospital personnel.

    “Cumberland County EMS is dedicated to providing the best emergency medical service in the country, not just the region or state,” said Mark McLaurin, Cumberland County EMS director. This is the sixth consecutive year the EMS department has been recognized. Hoke County EMS has been recognized for five consecutive years.

    Mayor launches weekly radio program

    Mayor Mitch Colvin has launched a weekly Facebook Live broadcast, entitled “Mayor’s Moment.” It airs on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. Colvin hosts the program from City Hall. He asks that residents provide input on his Mayor Colvin Facebook page about issues they would like him to address during the “Mayor’s Moment.”

    “In the interest of transparency, I want to hear citizens’ concerns,” Colvin said. “As mayor, I’ve always tried to make Fayetteville a better place, and it’s a constant goal of mine. So this broadcast helps me serve that purpose.” Citizens are encouraged to use Facebook to engage with the mayor every Monday during the broadcast.

    Visitors’ Bureau publishes Hope Mills guide

    The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is publishing a Hope Mills Visitor’s Guide to showcase the community’s variety of entertainment and shopping opportunities. The town of Hope Mills is a family-friendly town of about 16,500 residents. Its offerings include the Hope Mills Lake, Millstone Cinemas 14, a putt-putt golf course, walking trails, a brewery, farmers markets, a food truck rodeo, two waterparks, and a variety of restaurants and shopping options.

    “This is the second community-focused visitor’s guide we have produced,” said John Meroski, FACVB president and CEO. “Both the Spring Lake and Hope Mills guides showcase unique communities with plenty to offer.” The 64-page guide has a matte finish for easy note-taking.

    “Thank you for providing such a wonderful guide for Hope Mills,” said Mayor Jackie Warner. The Hope Mills Visitors Guide is available at the FACVB office on Person Street in Fayetteville, Hope Mills Town Hall, the town library at 3411 Golfview Rd. and the Chamber of Commerce office at 5546 Trade St.

    Photo: Jerry Hogge

  • 08FreedomTowerFayetteville/Cumberland County property tax rates will likely remain stable in the foreseeable future. That is primarily because new commercial business construction is picking up much of the tab.

    “The increases in values from new construction, renovations of existing properties and the natural growth in property values all are used to maintain a favorable tax rate,” said Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett. City and county government officials are holding the line on ad valorem tax rates for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

    Data provided by the Cumberland County Tax Administration office indicates that the 2018 value of commercial property in Fayetteville increased by nearly $88 million over the year before, for a total of $4.123 billion. “Large projects like Freedom Town Center and its continued expansion are a boon to both shoppers and the city alike,” Hewett added.

    There has also been significant business growth along the Skibo Road corridor between Cliffdale Road and Raeford Road. And Ramsey Street continues to yield economic growth.

    The Cumberland County Tax Administration office establishes appraised property values, also known as market value, for all taxable property within the county. Market value has been defined by the U.S. Supreme Court as the sale price of real estate as agreed upon between a willing buyer and willing seller. Real property — land and the improvements — is valued on a countywide basis by the county tax assessor every eight years. In appraising real property, the assessor must consider the elements set forth in North Carolina General Statutes as to land — location, zoning, soil quality, mineral deposits, adaptability for different uses, past and future income, etc. — and buildings or other improvements, including types of construction, age, replacement cost, cost and adaptability for use.

    Residential values also went up this past year over 2017, following property revaluation, by almost $62 million. Combined with business development, that’s a $150 million increase in the taxable value of the city’s commercial revenue base.

    “The natural growth in tax revenues and the work city council and staff do to reduce costs also help us keep the cost of government much lower than our peer cities,” Hewett said.

    Some would argue that Fayetteville has no peer cities as such. Virtually all other metropolitan areas of North Carolina rely on big business and industry for tax revenues and employment opportunities. The local Goodyear tire plant is big, employing nearly 3,000 well-paid workers. But, it stands alone. Fayetteville cannot claim a major business, bank or industry with its home office here.

    As a bedroom community for Fort Bragg, Fayetteville’s economy relies on the retail and service sectors, which provide stability. Activities associated with the service sector in addition to retail and wholesale sales include transportation and distribution, restaurants, clerical services, media, tourism, insurance, banking and health care. In the U.S., about 80% of the labor force is employed in this sector. The median property tax in North Carolina is $1,209 per year for a home value of $155,500. Counties in North Carolina collect an average of 0.78% of a property’s assessed fair market value as property tax per year.

    North Carolina has one of the lowest median property tax rates in the United States, with only 14 states collecting a lower median property tax than North Carolina.

  • 07BuildingSimulationFayetteville City Council has adopted its operating budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. It totals almost $229.7 million, which is a 6.6% increase over the current fiscal year’s budget. The property tax rate remains at 49.95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

    The FY 2020 budget includes an additional $1.5 million for the parking deck adjacent to the Prince Charles Apartments. The city had already committed $14.8 million to build the five-story garage, which is being constructed by PCH Holdings, the firm that is developing the property adjacent to Segra Stadium. It is a public facility that has been leased in part to PCH to provide parking for the apartment building and two high-rise structures.

    The developer plans to build a five-story Hyatt Place Hotel and a seven-story office building atop the garage. Jordan Jones, project manager of PCH, has said previously that construction costs have increased since the financial estimates were made. He noted the original estimate was a best guess arrived at before the projects had been fully conceived.

    Council members noted that the massive parking garage is literally the foundation for two buildings that will be built on top of it. The five-story parking deck is the foundation for what will become a 12-story structure, which will make it the tallest structure in downtown.

    That complex is part of a larger economic development undertaking of investments worth more than $100 million, including the $40 million minor league baseball stadium and 59 one- and twobedroom apartments in the Gathering at the Prince Charles.

    PCH Holdings also agreed to purchase the Festival Park Plaza office building from the city. Mayor Mitch Colvin noted that the combined projects are expected to produce more than 1,000 jobs and contribute a combined $126 million to the local economy.

    Developers have pledged to pay property taxes to the city on $45 million of tax value — even if the complex appraises for less. Colvin said he has been told the buildings should be completed in 18 months.

  • 06DrJamesAndersonFayetteville State University Chancellor James Anderson is stepping down but will remain with the university. Anderson has served as chancellor for 11 years.

    An FSU news release indicated Anderson is stepping aside for personal reasons. It did not indicate his date of departure. The news release said Anderson will take a yearlong sabbatical, during which time “he will continue to serve the military, the university and city in different roles.” Thereafter, he will be eligible to return to a faculty position in the Department of Psychology.

    University of North Carolina System Interim President Dr. Bill Roper will name an interim chancellor to lead FSU while a national search is conducted to find a successor. Academic standards, student enrollment and fundraising increased during Anderson’s tenure.

    Second marine sentenced in Green Beret death

    An elite Marine Raider has been sentenced to four years in a military prison after admitting to his role in the strangulation death of a Fort Bragg Green Beret, a fellow special operations troop he described as a friend. Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell Jr. pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, burglary, obstruction and other charges in a plea bargain to avoid more serious charges, including murder, in the June 4, 2017, death of Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar.

    The death occurred in the Malian capital city of Bamako, West Africa, where SEAL Team Six and a unit of Army special operations troops were deployed. Maxwell testified Melgar’s killing was the accidental result of a devious hazing plan — which he initially thought was merely a joke — launched over late-night drinks at local bars.

    Maxwell told the military judge, Marine Col. Glen Hines, he would never forgive himself for participating in the “ridiculous and harmful, abusive trick” against a buddy. From the witness stand, Maxwell turned to Melgar’s widow, Michelle Melgar, in the first row of the courtroom gallery, telling her that her husband was a better man than he.

    Maxwell described a tense climate among the military special operators serving in Mali, especially between Navy sailors and soldiers with Fort Bragg’s 3rd Special Forces Group. They shared a house in Bamako.

    Gun violence awareness

    America observed National Gun Violence Awareness Day earlier this month. Across the country, over 900 events took place to raise awareness. Chiefs of police from Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville and Apex, the Durham county sheriff, three legislators and Moms Demand Action gathered at Durham Police Headquarters to advocate for common-sense gun laws.

    “Today, leaders of the Triangle are taking a strong, united stand on this issue,” said C.J. Davis, Durham’s police chief, “not just today but every day.” Davis said her department is using a combination of enforcement activities and community outreach to fight violent crime, which is up 17% this year.

    Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins said her department is involved in a program called EKG, Educating Kids on Guns. Hawkins spoke of the “three elements of policing: suppression, intervention and prevention.”

    Every day in America, 100 people lose their lives to gun violence, and many more are injured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database. There are more than 38,000 deaths from gun violence in the U.S. An estimated 60% of those deaths are from suicides or accidental shootings.

    School board member resigns

    The Cumberland County Board of Education’s newest members has resigned. Peggy Hall cited personal and medical reasons for stepping down. She was elected in November of 2016 to succeed her husband, Macky Hall. He chose not to seek re-election to the seat he held for 24 years.

    “I am taking this step solely because of personal and medical issues, which have developed beyond my control in recent weeks and necessitate that my time be prioritized with my family,” she wrote in a letter to chairperson Donna Vann.

    A vote to replace Hall on the school board is likely to take place in August.

    School is out for the summer

    Many parents are considering ways to keep their children fed during the summer months because they depend on free and reduced-price meals for their children at school.

    Cumberland County Schools’ Child Nutrition Services provides free meals to children during the summer. The meals are served Monday through Friday through Aug. 2. There are no income requirements or registration. Anyone age 18 or younger can eat free.

    “The Summer Meals Program is an excellent benefit for the children and families in our community,” said Beth Maynard, CNS executive director. “The program ensures all children have continued access to nutritious meals.”

    Meals are available throughout the summer at numerous open sites and at participating local camps, church programs and organizations that are a part of the Summer Meals Program. Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations like the CNS to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer. Email summermeals@ccs.k12.nc.us for a list of locations, or call 910-678-2502.

    Photo: James Anderson

  • 07USSJohnMcCainThe Trump administration order that the Navy ship named for the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., be hidden from Trump’s view during a presidential visit to Japan provoked the Pentagon to tell the White House to stop politicizing the military. A Defense Department official said Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan is also considering sending out formal guidance to military units to avoid similar situations in the future.

    Shanahan’s spokesman, Lt. Col. Joseph Buccino, confirmed a Navy email that said the White House military office wanted the USS John Mc- Cain kept “out of sight” when Trump visited Japan two weeks ago. Buccino was the public information officer for the 82nd Airborne Division until recently. This comes on the heels of a week of scrambling and story-changing by the White House about the ship and the president.

    When The Wall Street Journal first reported the requested move, Trump took to Twitter to say this: “I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. Mc- Cain during my recent visit to Japan.”

    But then, later in the week, Trump said this: “I was not a big fan of John McCain in any shape or form. Now, somebody did it because they thought I didn’t like him, okay? And they were well-meaning.”

    When the internal Navy email came to light, it triggered a storm of outrage. Shanahan told reporters he is not planning to seek an investigation by the inspector general into the matter “because there was nothing carried out” by the Navy. He added that he still needs to gather more information about exactly what happened and what service members did.

    “How did the people receiving the information … treat it?” Shanahan asked. “That would give me an understanding on the next steps” to take. Shanahan also said he spoke with McCain’s wife, Cindy, about the incident a day or two later, but he declined to provide any details.

    The order to keep the Navy guidedmissile destroyer out of sight appeared to be an extraordinary White House effort to avoid offending the president. The McCain incident dogged Shanahan throughout a weeklong trip to Asia, even as he tried to deal with critical national security issues involving the eroding U.S. relationship with China and the continuing threat from North Korea. Shanahan, who has been serving in an acting capacity since the first of the year, has yet to be formally nominated by Trump as permanent defense chief.

    His speech to a major national security conference in Singapore was a chance to audition for the job on the international stage. A formal nomination has been expected, and members of Congress have said they believe there will be a hearing on his nomination in the next month or so. According to Department of Defense spokesman Buccino, Shanahan told his chief of staff to speak with the White House military office “and reaffirm his mandate that the department of defense will not be politicized.” Buccino said the chief of staff reported back that he delivered the message.

  • 06NoLoiteringA group of protestors turned out at Fayetteville City Council’s June work session, objecting to the council’s plans to ban the homeless from sleeping or camping on city property.

    Police Chief Gina Hawkins told Up & Coming Weekly about a man who camps out regularly at the main entrance to police headquarters. Hawkins said “Larry” used to camp next to a local church, but he had to move. He chose the spot next to the front door of the Hay Street police station. The chief said she had no objection to the homeless man staying there, adding that the homeless and others who live on the street have not created crime problems in their day-to-day living.

    A couple dozen members of Seth’s Wish, a local nonprofit, protested with large signs in front of City Hall before council’s meeting began. The group’s founder, Lindsey Wolford, described her group as an organization whose purpose is to “help the homeless and hungry in Fayetteville.” She said the organization recently opened a community center on S. Cool Spring Street and, during May, provided those in need 1,171 hot meals and gave away 731 bags full of groceries.

    Wolford said Seth’s Wish works closely with Fayetteville’s Second Harvest Food Bank and accepts donations only from private sources. She said the impoverished who live on the street are not criminals and that “the city should not criminalize them by regulating where they can live.”

    City Council heard a brief presentation during its work session from Assistant City Attorney Lisa Harper, who said five large North Carolina cities have ordinances regulating camping and sleeping on public property. She was not able to provide information about why those cities established their ordinances and whether they’ve done any good, as requested by Councilman Bill Crisp.

    City Manager Doug Hewett suggested that his office come up with a plan that “balances some regulation against no regulation,” saying that warmer weather had resulted in more people sleeping on downtown sidewalks and in alcoves — to the objection of businesspeople.

    Estimates are that about 300 homeless people have been accounted for in Fayetteville. “The county should take the lead,” said Councilwoman Tisha Waddell, noting that health and human services are responsibilities given North Carolina’s 100 counties by state law.

    Homelessness is a matter of “choice or circumstance” for most people who live on the street, she said, adding that for many, “this has become a lifestyle.” 

    “The best solution is to solve the problem,” Councilman Jim Arp said, noting that public safety issues and unsanitary conditions result from the homeless camping in public. He said city government should combine compassion with problem-solving.

    The downtown area is part of Councilman Dan Culliton’s district. He suggested that the administration study the needs of the homeless and how best to accommodate them while at the same time protecting the public. He asked in his motion that city staff come up with proposals for council’s consideration at its August work session.

  • 05LotteryNorth Carolinians participate in both major multi-state lotteries, Powerball and Mega-Millions. Charles W. Jackson Jr. of Hope Mills won the June 1 Powerball jackpot of $344.6 million.

    Powerball was established when then-Governor Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act. North Carolina has one of the nation’s youngest lottery systems, enacted in 2005. The act created a nine-member lottery commission, which oversees all aspects of the education lottery.

    The law outlines how each dollar produced by the lottery is spent. Fifty percent goes as winnings to players. Seven percent goes to retailers as commission. All lottery net proceeds go directly to benefit public education, with the current figure sitting at more than $5.5 billion since its inception.

    By law, lottery funds go to pay for school construction, need-based college financial aid, transportation, salaries for non-instructional support staff, and pre-kindergarten for at-risk 4-year-olds. The lottery has continued to generate controversy among North Carolina constituents upset with teacher layoffs who believe the lottery should have made up the difference.

    Voter photo ID election requirement public seminar

    Beginning in 2020, North Carolina voters will be required to provide photo identification when they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution, requiring voters to present photo ID at the polls. State law requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before Sept. 1, 2019.

    The Cumberland County Board of Elections will hold its seminars about photo identification requirements Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m., at the North Regional Branch Library, 855 McArthur Rd. in Fayetteville and at 6 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Dr., Fayetteville.

    The seminars are free and open to the public. Attendees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, early voting and Election Day voting. Information about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided.

    For more information, contact the Cumberland County Board of Elections at 910-678-7733 or visit boardofelections@co.cumberland.nc.us

    Cumberland County human trafficking court

    A local jurist has been selected to preside over a new human trafficking court being established in Cumberland County this month. District Court Judge Toni S. King has been chosen to spearhead the first-of-its-kind human trafficking court in North Carolina. It will seek to offer treatment to victims as well as defendants and to help achieve a common understanding of human trafficking.

    “The depth and breadth of the problem in Cumberland County and across North Carolina will be exposed,” King said in a news release.

    Dr. Sharon Cooper will conduct training for court personnel and justice system stakeholders June 28 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, 1225 Ramsey St., Fayetteville. Cooper is a nationally renowned forensic pediatrician who is an expert on sexual trauma. She lives and practices in Cumberland County.

    This all-day opportunity consists of four sessions: 1) the vulnerabilities of victims of sex trafficking; 2) the impact of trauma; 3) the offender dynamics; and 4) internet victimization and homicide. 

    Murchison Road farmers market open again for the season

    The Murchison Road Community Farmers Market is now open in Bronco Square across from Fayetteville State University. It will be open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 23.

    This neighborhood farmers market, financially supported by the Fayetteville State University Chancellor’s Office and the city of Fayetteville, was started as an initiative by four FSU students. They received permission to apply for grants and funding to start a farmers market when neighborhood grocery stores closed. When the stores closed, the Murchison Road community became a food desert since the nearest full-service grocery store is a mile-and-a-half away.

    FTCC designated Top Military Spouse Friendly School

    Fayetteville Technical Community College has earned the 2019–2020 Top Military Spouse Friendly School designation. The Military Spouse Friendly Schools list is considered a reliable resource for military spouses and sets a standard for higher education institutions to provide the best post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members. “Schools that are selected for the list are at the forefront of supporting the goals of military spouses,” said Brian Hucik, national program manager for Military Friendly.

    Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

    FTCC was established in 1961 and serves over 35,000 students annually by providing more than 280 occupational, technical, general education, college transfer and continuing education programs to meet students’ needs and desires as well as those of the community. More information about the designation can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

  • 11JohnFullerDr. John D Fuller, who recently died, leaves behind a sprawling legacy bigger than the huge church building complex and congregation he helped grow during his many years as the pastor at Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Fuller died at the age of 73, just days after his birthday on May 23.

    He was honored this past weekend with three funeral services — one in Rockingham, where he served as a pastor after his retirement from Lewis Chapel four years ago, and two in Fayetteville. 

    The Rev. Christoppher Stackhouse Sr., who became the pastor at Lewis Chapel in 2016 following Fuller’s retirement, said Fuller was like a father to many people. “I’ve never seen so many grown men cry at the loss of someone,’’ Stackhouse said.

    One of the biggest lessons Stackhouse said he learned from Fuller was that where you live doesn’t define who you are. Stackhouse said Fuller believed you didn’t have to be from New York City or Atlanta, Georgia, to have an impact on people — or the world. His philosophy was not to use where you are as an excuse to not pursue as much as you possibly can or to not do what you possibly can.

    Stackhouse said Fuller displayed a level of humility and integrity that Stackhouse has tried to model in his own life.

    “For somebody that accomplished as much as he did and was respected as much as he was, he was very humble,’’ Stackhouse said. “When he came in, he didn’t come in with a lot of fanfare and flash. You would take note of his stature, but you wouldn’t take note of him because he came in being loud and demanding attention.”

    The Rev. Cureton Johnson of First Baptist Church on Moore Street, who retired earlier this year, first crossed paths with Fuller when Johnson was a young minister starting out. Fuller invited Johnson to come to his Lewis Chapel Church and preach one Sunday morning.

    “He’s one of those folks who helped a lot of people along the way,” Johnson said. “He produced a whole lot of ministers out of his church. I wouldn’t be surprised if he produced 100 ministers over there.”

    Johnson worked with Fuller when Fuller rose to leadership positions within the Missionary Baptist Church. Fuller was president of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina at one point in his career.

    “Dr. Fuller had a lot of influence among the Baptist churches of the city, county and around the state,” Johnson said. “He just had a gift of leadership. He took Lewis Chapel when they only had a few members and took them to 3,000-4,000 members. That takes someone with a lot of charisma and giftedness.”

    People who attended Fuller’s services at Lewis Chapel, both long-term and short-term, came away impressed with his ministry.

    Billy King, a former Cumberland County commissioner, has been going to Lewis Chapel since the early 1980s. He described Fuller as a spiritual and forthright person who believed in fairness and equity. “I think he really loved the Lord,” King said. “We have a good-sized church, but I think he knew the names of almost every member.” \

    Marsha Mann Lake attended services at Lewis Chapel during a time in the mid-1990s when she was seeking a new church home. She recalled Fuller as being a mesmerizing speaker. “He was so engaging and enthralling,” she said. “He makes you feel special. He was extra special in everything he did.”

    Photo: Dr. John D. Fuller

  • 10HaymountResidents and business owners in Fayetteville’s historic Haymount community will soon see some significant improvements at the five-point intersection at the top of the Hay Street hill. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has earmarked $10,000 for preliminary engineering for a project designed to make the area safer for pedestrians and motorists, according to Eric Vitale, a planner with the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

    The city of Fayetteville has already created new crosswalks where Highland and Oakridge Avenues intersect the business district. The other three roads, Hay Street, Morganton Road and Fort Bragg Road, are state-maintained streets. The DOT will completely remake the confluence of the five roadways with new crosswalks, traffic signals and push-button pedestrian controls.

    The speed limit along Morganton and Fort Bragg Roads in the business center was reduced to 25 mph several years ago when an elderly pedestrian was struck and killed.

    In March of last year, the five-point commercial district was transformed into a pedestrian-friendly area on a Saturday afternoon as part of a Build a Better Block project. “The purpose of this project (was) to revitalize the area, test ideas for the future, increase pedestrian safety, engage the community and boost the economy,” Vitale said in a news release.

    During the event, Hay Street, Morganton Road and Fort Bragg Road were temporarily converted into a pedestrian- friendly area with narrowed traffic lanes, widened sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, benches and plazas. “Fayetteville is a perfect place for a Better Block project, especially considering that out of the 141 cities in the country with a population greater than 200,000, Fayetteville ranks last in walkability,” Vitale said.

    Much of the one-day outlook was familiar to panelists who took part in a local Urban Land Development Institute public meeting a year earlier, in April of 2017. It, too, proposed changes for Haymount Hill — in conjunction with the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center planned for Arsenal Park. A technical assistance panel presented recommendations on strategies to leverage the future of the History Center, which is expected to generate on- and offsite income of $5 million annually.

    As many as 130,000 people are projected to visit the History Center, which will become a branch of the state history museum complex. The technical assistance panel was to assess and provide advice on the challenges to create a more vibrant mixed-use Fayetteville neighborhood following the eventual opening of the History Center. The group was also supposed to address pedestrian and transportation needs. But the Urban Land Development Institute plans never came to fruition.

    City officials who may know why that is have declined to elaborate. “The group hasn’t met in more than a year,” said Deputy City Manager Kristoff Bauer.

    “The city no longer has someone on staff who is actively working the walkability study from a few years ago,” added city spokesman Kevin Arata.

    It will be up to FAMPO and the DOT to carry Haymount’s walkability development forward.

  • 07RoadsideTrashPresident Donald Trump and his Veterans Affairs secretary are claiming full credit for health care improvements that took place before they were in office. Trump said he passed a private-sector health care program known as Veterans Choice, after failed attempts by past presidents. The Choice program, which allows veterans to see doctors outside the government-run VA system was passed in 2014 under President Barack Obama.

    Trump’s recently appointed VA secretary, Robert Wilkie of Fayetteville, is also distorting the facts. He suggested it was his efforts that improved waiting times at VA medical centers. The study cited by Wilkie on wait times covers the period from 2014 to 2017 — long before he was appointed VA secretary.

    The VA “had suffered from bad leadership,” Wilkie said. “I had to make sure that as we approach our veteran population that we make sure that they are at the center, their needs are at the center of what we do... I think we’ve had it backwards at VA for many years.”

    In an interview with Fox News, Wilkie claimed that now “we have same-day mental health service.” Same-day mental health service started at the VA before Trump took office. The VA’s effort to provide same-day primary and mental health care, when medically necessary, at every VA medical center was publicized in April 2016 during the Obama administration.

    Roadside trash isn’t getting picked up

    “We’ve got a systemic problem,” Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said, moments after City Council member Bill Crisp complained that areas of Strickland Bridge Road have mattresses and box springs at the curb that haven’t been picked up since he complained about it a week earlier.

    The remarks came during a May 28 City Council dinner meeting. City Manager Doug Hewett reminded Council that the city can’t respond to issues as quickly as he would like.

    “There’s no money in the budget,” Hewett said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to flex.”

    Councilmember Kathy Jensen said the public needs to be better educated when it comes to garbage and yard debris pickup in addition to bulky items and tree limbs. Hewett noted that since 2013, residents have not been required to report special needs and so they simply put their junk at the curb.

    Deputy fire chief promoted

    Fayetteville City Manager Doug Hewett was apparently guided by local history when he named Deputy Fire Chief Mike Hill permanent chief of the Fire/ Emergency Management Department. Fayetteville fire department chief officers have been promoted from within since the agency became a full-time, paid department in 1947.

    Hill has served with the fire department for more than 25 years and was appointed acting chief when Ben Major retired earlier this year.

    “Michael Hill has the talent, experience and leadership abilities to be Fayetteville’s next fire chief,” Hewett said.

    Hill has managed or been assigned to every division of the department. As chief, Hill will lead a staff of 331 operating out of 15 fire stations in North Carolina’s second-largest city geographically. He will manage a $29 million budget for a department that is internationally accredited and has achieved a class one ISO rating. ISO is the Insurance Services Office, whose ratings determine a community’s commercial insurance rates. The ratings also position fire departments competitively among themselves. A one rating is the highest to achieve.

    Relief from the heat

    The Cumberland County Department of Social Services is the latest agency to provide relief for those suffering from the current heat wave. D.S.S. will open an auxiliary lobby to members of the public on days when the heat index reaches 100 F and a heat advisory is issued. The effort provides relief for citizens who have no other way to escape the high summer temperatures.

    The DSS building is at 1225 Ramsey St. The lobby areas will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Temperatures topped 100 F and regula

  • grilled gingerGrilled Ginger is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant nestled in a strip mall off Yadkin Road. 

    Owners Thanh Vo and his wife, Han Nguyen, were both born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States. They first moved to California, where Vo was an engineering and computer science student before deciding to become a chef. Later, they moved to Fayetteville, where their two children, now ages five and two, were born. They opened Grilled Ginger a little over five years ago, and recently celebrated their five-year anniversary in May.

    Lunch is usually more crowded than dinner, compliments of Fort Bragg, however, dinner consists usually more of families. Grilled Ginger is closed on Wednesdays for their day of rest. They prefer to have a day off in the middle of the week so they can take their children to appointments, and also because they usually get a large after church crowd on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

    The restaurant’s name comes from the main ingredient in their food  — grilled ginger. The ginger is grilled very slowly before it is cooked and then added to the food. 

    According to Vo, who is the chef for Grilled Ginger, the most popular item on the menu is their soup, which they call ‘pho.’ Pho is a popular Vietnamese noodle soup, which can either contain seafood, chicken or beef, or a combination of those. Another popular item on the menu is the eggroll or spring roll. As per Nguyen, the reason their eggrolls and spring rolls are so popular is because everything is made completely fresh.

    In addition to authentic Vietnamese cuisine, Grilled Ginger offers a selection of beer, and both red and white wines. They also serve smoothies and bubble tea. 

    Inside, the décor of Grilled Ginger exhibits the owner’s ties to Vietnam. Upon first walking in, there is an authentic Vietnamese red dress and hat on display. Adorning the walls are beautiful paintings, which were hand painted by Nguyen’s friend in Vietnam, and then shipped by boat to the United States. Two of the paintings are portraits painted of Nguyen and of her aunt. 

    The open concept of the restaurant, complimented by the warm colors of the walls and the friendly nature of the workers, creates a casual and relaxed dining atmosphere.

    A neat aspect of Grilled Ginger is that it truly is a family affair. Nguyen’s aunt, Lien Sherman, owns the strip mall off Yadkin Road where Grilled Ginger is located. Sherman immigrated to the United States before Nguyen and Vo, where she met her military husband. She then was able to sponsor Nguyen when she immigrated. They expressed the deep desire to bring as many family members from Vietnam to the United States as possible. 

    Grilled Ginger is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m. and closed on Wednesdays. 

  • MargaretI cannot get the sad story of the Stanford University rape case out of my mind.

    Maybe it is because I was part of the group that established the Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County and counseled victims of sexual assault from adolescents to senior citizens.

    Maybe it is because two decades ago, a young man of my acquaintance was accused of date rape at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was prosecuted by the state and defended at great cost to his family. The case ended in a plea arrangement, and his life continued, though hardly unscathed. I do not know the young woman involved, but I feel certain her life has changed as well.

    Perhaps it is because I am the mother of the Precious Jewels, two sons and a daughter, and adore each of them.

    Everyone with a television or internet access has heard the disturbing story. A promising student and Olympic swimming hopeful at the prestigious Stanford University was convicted of sexual assault of a young woman as she lay unconscious behind a garbage dumpster having passed out from alcohol consumption. The 20-year-old attacker was caught by two passersby, who tackled him as he ran away and turned him over to law enforcement. Compounding the already horrendous situation was the trial judge who gave the convicted felon an astounding six-month sentence, announcing in court that any more time would have “a severe impact on him.” His own father did more damage by penning an astonishing letter to the court, whining that his son’s life is now forever changed and “that is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life.” He could have received 14 years.

    The sad dad spoke on behalf of his son, but the 23-year-old victim who has not been identified spoke for herself, leaving no doubt that her life has been upended in ways equally if not more profoundly than that of her now-tarnished golden boy attacker. 

    I do not know if this incident and many others like it are more prevalent among American college students than they once were, but I do have some thoughts about what we have seen in recent years.

    Alcohol is often the fuel that ignites these assaults, but we are fools if we think we can keep it away from young adults. With all good intentions three decades ago, we required states to institute 21 as the legal age to purchase and consume alcohol. In every other way, we allow those 18 and older to be adults. They can get married, can buy a house or a car on credit, can serve and die for our nation in combat. But have a beer legally? No way, we say. We may have saved some lives on the highway, but we have turned alcohol into forbidden fruit. We have turned our young people into lawbreakers when they buy and consume it and ourselves into hypocrites for looking the other way. Our national policy has been a national failure and needs to change.

    Sexual assault is sexual assault no matter where it occurs. It should be dealt with by law enforcement and our legal system, not by college and university administrators who all too often have vested and strong interests in protecting their institutions. Baylor University is but the latest school to apologize for mishandling sexual improprieties within its football program, and it is probably not the last. These are criminal justice matters, not college pranks.

    Somehow, we as responsible adults are not communicating effectively enough with our young adults about how to conduct themselves. Drunkenness is not an attractive or desirable state of being, and it does not promote good judgment. People who are drunk do things they would never do otherwise, and drunkenness is not a legal excuse. “Beer made me do it” does not fly in a court of law, whether the offense is jaywalking or attacking an unconscious woman. By the same token, while a 23-year-old woman drinking herself silly is not a crime, it does leave her open to an attack by a sexual predator, like the Stanford swimmer.

    And, finally, respect for each other is overdue for a comeback with all of us. We live in a society that has adopted insulting each other as a sport — think Donald Trump. We give a pass to people who hurt each other’s feelings, and it is a short jump from that to hurting each other’s bodies. Many of our young adults seem to have missed the lesson on respect, and it is up to us to acquaint them with the concept.

    My favorite litmus test that I passed on to my Precious Jewels is simple.

    Do you want your family and friends to read about what you are doing on the front page of the paper and all over the internet?

    If not, don’t do it.

  • PUB PENHa! Now that I got your attention, I will confess that I am a big fan of building a baseball stadium behind the Prince Charles Hotel in downtown Fayetteville and attracting a minor league team we can call our own.

    However, the devil is in the details, and no one has better articulated this than local business owner and community activist Michael Chandler. Read his editorial “Fool Me Twice? “on page 9 in this edition, and consider yourself forewarned of the complexities and hazards in negotiating a project of      such magnitude.

    And, if Chandler’s message is not enough, let me contribute this

    addendum: It is the opinion of this writer that our community could afford to build all three of the quality-of-life amenities proposed to us during the past year: a baseball stadium; a downtown performing arts center; and a North Carolina Civil History Center - and do it without a major tax increase. 

    All we have to do is convince the Wizard of Oz to provide the elected leadership of Cumberland County and the City of Fayetteville with the heart that would enable them to empathize with our citizens, overcome traditional pettiness, see vision and embrace cooperation and fellowship for the common purpose of moving this community forward

    They would also need a brain to fiscally and strategically come up with a financial plan that would make these countywide economic game changing prospects a reality. 

    And, finally they would need the courage to step up and step out with innovative ideas and strategies that serve all the residents of Cumberland County. Yes, political courage. Unfortunately, the majority of our elected officials are only expert, adept and enthusiastic about one thing: getting elected to an office and remaining there. Historically, some have served decades with little or no contributions to the betterment of our community. 

    Hey, don’t kill the messenger. I will close with this: I proudly spent six years on the Cumberland County Civic Center Board. I was on the controversial board that built the Crown Coliseum.  Granted, the Crown remains an easy target when looking for something to complain about, and I will not dispute or defend the historic fiscal facts of its operation. However, one of the main reasons this complex did not and has not reached the expectations of Cumberland County leaders is because from the very beginning the City of Fayetteville, and consequently, its residents sat on the sidelines criticizing it, complaining about it, vilifying its mission, its management, its location and identifying it as the Bubba Dome. 

    There was never a buy in from the Fayetteville Community.  Consequently, Cumberland County Commissioners distanced themselves from the albatross, allowing a decade of $3 million-a-year losses until a private firm (Spectra) was hired to come in to stop the bleeding and initiate the turnaround. That bold, but veiled act of courage and daring leadership was actually that of County Commissioners Jimmy Keefe and Ed Melvin, who at the time served as the Coliseum’s liaison. Neither of them sought credit or received credit for that bold and unprecedented initiative. They did the right thing for the right reasons, and that resulted in saving Cumberland County taxpayers millions of dollars. 

    I digress:  Here’s my point about the  prospect we have for getting a downtown baseball stadium and a Minor League baseball team for our community. This must be a project where ALL local entities come to the table to take ownership of it: The City of Fayetteville, County of Cumberland, Chamber of Commerce, economic development organizations, Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and private investors. Celebrate it! Something this good must be good for everyone. Otherwise, without inclusion and cooperation, the stadium may still be built and the team may still come; however, like the Crown Coliseum, it will always exist with a mist of skepticism and negativism that will never disseminate. And, again, we will have paid for the privilege. 

    We have only one opportunity to get this right. So, let’s all play ball! We can do this! 

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • CoverWe all do it differently. When a loved one dies, we mourn. We grieve. We try to move on. We find ways to honor their memory and celebrate their life. For Dr. David Kishbaugh, it’s golf. That is how he honors his son Ryan’s life. Every year, at the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament, scores of friends, family and community members join David in a day of fun and friendship to celebrate Ryan and raise money to help others. This year, the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament tees off at Gates Four Country Club on Saturday, July 23.

    Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh was a leader, a sportsman, a scholar and, to those who knew him, he was so much more. He was a friend and an inspiration. In his junior year at Fayetteville Academy, Ryan seemed to have it all. He was unstoppable. He played soccer and basketball. He was at the top of this class. He was headed to Princeton. 

    But soon, things changed. The diagnosis came in October of his senior year. He had cancer. The day he found out Ryan wrote in his journal, “I have a premonition that this story will not end in me, but will carry on and will bring hope to others.” He didn’t slow down. He fought. In fact, Ryan went on to lead his school soccer team to the state championship that year. He played basketball. He graduated salutatorian of his class. Then, it happened. He died on January 3, 2003, of complications from a bone marrow transplant. 

    That could have been the end of his legacy. Instead, his family set their grief aside and turned their loss into a new chapter in Ryan’s story. They established the Carpe Diem Foundation in his honor and now work tirelessly, raising funds to make a difference for others and fulfilling Ryan’s premonition on the day that changed everything for him and his family. 

    The foundation’s mission is to:

    • Help provide college scholarship assistance to student athletes with a chronic medical condition.

    • Support other charitable organizations (such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society).

    • Promote and help fund education and research for the treatment of chronic illnesses, especially those that affect young adults.

    Since its inception, the Carpe Diem (Latin for cease the day) Foundation, has raised more than $35,000. Funds from the Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament benefit the Carpe Diem Foundation. It is open to the public. 

    Participants can sign up as teams for $400 or individually for $125. Non-golfers can support the cause by donating to the foundation.

    It is Captain’s Choice on tournament day, with prizes going to the top teams in the corporate and standard flights. There is a trophy for the corporate team with the lowest score and prizes for the longest drive and closest to the pin. Participants can look forward to contests and side events throughout the day, including a hole-in-one contest.

    The entry fee includes a bag lunch, beverages during the event and food at the awards ceremony. A commemorative bag hand-painted by the children of New Hope Children’s Home in Arequipa, Peru, and $60 in Nike bucks for use on tournament day at the Nike Mobile Pro Shop are included in the entry fee as well.

    Same day registration starts at 8 a.m. The Nike Mobile Pro Shop also opens at 8 a.m. The shotgun start is at 10:30 a.m. Visit http://www.2016rpkmemorial.com to register now or to donate to the Carpe Diem foundation.

  • NC STATE GRANGEMany people associate the N.C. State Grange with insurance, which is accurate. But there is another side to the organization that is all about community — building a strong community and fostering success within its borders. 

    On June 24, the N.C. State Grange will host its inaugural Joining Forces to Bring Veterans and Careers Together event at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

    N.C. State Grange started in 1867, and incorporated in 1875. It originally worked on issues like railroad legislation and regulation. When the Department of Agriculture formed after World War I, the Grange went to work on behalf of farmers. While its history is long, its reach is even longer. In 1929, the Grange reorganized to not only serve farmers and their families but with a focus on communities. Community spirit and tolerance were strong themes for the Grange and still are. Part of that meant providing business training, which included a co-op for Grange members. Education was another pillar of the organization and remains so to this day. Future Farmers of America and 4-H Clubs have the Grange to thank for their existence, according to the website. Through 141 years of serving North Carolina communities the Grange has always been about building strong communities — in whatever ways make sense. 

    “This is our first ever (job fair),” said N.C. State Grange President Jimmy Gentry. “Sometime ago the board said ‘We really ought to do something for veterans.’ We are a grass-roots organization and we support vets. We were thinking in terms of a day to do a presentation to honor
    veterans, but as we started looking into it, we were told the best thing
    we could do for vets is help find them jobs. So it led us to taking a
    different direction.” 

    While this is the first ever job fair hosted by the this non-profit, Gentry noted that he hopes it is not the last. “We have high hopes for this, and we are looking to have a good turnout.” 

    Vets in attendance can look for a mix of veteran-related organizations and companies that are looking to offer good jobs and are currently hiring. “Those coming are in a position to hire,” said Gentry. Some organizations scheduled to attend are Farm Credit Administration, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Lowes, the Department of Agriculture, the State Highway Patrol, Smithfield, Uber and more. “We have about 35 participants and are looking to get a few more.”

    While this job fair is about making connections, the N.C. State Grange is looking to see veterans actually walk away from this event with job offers in hand, maybe even more than one. With that in mind, it is going out of its way to provide everything an employer might need to seal a deal with a potential job candidate. “We are setting up a space at the event for employers to do on-the-spot interviews, so people should come with their resumés. We chose a venue that we think will facilitate an event that is successful for vets and businesses in attendance.” 

    The job fair is at the Embassy Suites Hotel from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www.ncgrange.com or call 624-4444 for more information.

  • MargaretOnce again, current events are too much with us. The lethal insanity in Orlando. The babbling of the endless Presidential campaign. If you are looking for a rehash of the bad news, turn the page. There is a website or a news channel waiting for you that only carries your version of reality. There is no point in trying to convince other people their politics and religion are wrong and that yours is right. It ain’t gonna happen. You won’t convince them. They won’t convince you. Ponder the words of Mark Twain who pointed out, “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” JFK may have been predicting social media when he noted, “Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” 

    This column is going to be an unintelligible mishmash of random quotes attempting to take your mind off the news. You would be better off stopping reading and taking a walk instead. However, if you insist on remaining, let us begin by pondering the wisdom of the late great Frank Zappa who wrote, “Watch out where the huskies go/And don’t you eat the yellow snow.” Your view of life will be more accurate and your breath considerably sweeter if you avoid eating the yellow snow. If you use tunnel vision to only look at one spot in the snow, you won’t be able to tell if it’s yellow or white because you have nothing to compare it to. Your favorite trusted talking head on your partisan TV network on occasion will tell you that the yellow snow is in fact white snow. Better to use a wider field of vision than your preferred social-media outlets to know where the huskies have been. 

    While the world doesn’t divide neatly into black and white, it can divide into white and yellow snow. The ever-cheery German philosopher Nietzsche explained, “There are no facts, only interpretations.” Mr. Twain explained, “Facts are stubborn, statistics are more pliable.” Your Facebook feed is full of pliable statistics. Just take a look. 

    Our old buddy, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius left us with this bit of philosophy about dealing with the yellow snow and getting past troubles. He said, “Time is sort of a river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.” No matter what happens, no matter how good or how bad, something else is coming down the road. Like George Harrison once sang, “All things must pass.” 

    A while back, a protestor was standing outside a fundamentalist church where the preacher had been coming down pretty heavily on gay people. The protestor was holding a sign that read, “Zombies are a threat, not gays.” The homicidal morons of ISIS would disagree with the protester. If you don’t want to find yourself in agreement with ISIS, perhaps you might rethink your position on gay people. Is love better than hate? 

    John Lennon once said, “All you need is love.” That seems overly optimistic when it comes time to pay the light bill but we must allow for literary license. North Carolina’s very own love guru Andy Griffin expressed these tender sentiments about our need to love one another. Ol’ Andy recited, “As sure as the vine twines round the stump/You are my darling sugar lump.” Lately it seems there has been a lot of Roundup sprayed around the stumps resulting in the vines of love being in short supply. 

    While we may currently be a bit low on love, we have no limit to simple but wrong answers for complex problems. You need to look no farther than The Donald who recently made the curious announcement, “Politicians have used you and stolen your votes. They have given you nothing. I will give you everything. I will give you what you have been looking for for 50 years. I’m the only one.” The Trumpster will give us everything? I would like to have hair on the top of my head. The Donald sounds a bit too Messianic to me. But I have to admire someone with a total lack of self-awareness who announces that he is going to bring the New Jerusalem. Fortunately, I don’t have to vote for him. 

    The Donald is selling America yellow snow. We will see if the American public has been watching out where the huskies go. 

  • Pub PenThe Wake County School Board hit a new high (which equals a new low) in political correctness earlier this month when they voted to do away with identifying the valedictorian and salutatorian of next year’s graduating class. 

    Members of the school board believe that by identifying and allowing the top ranking of seniors in a class they are creating “unhealthy competition among top-achieving students.”

    Starting in 2019, high schools would begin using a new system that recognizes seniors with Latin titles such as cum laude if they have a weighted GPA of at least 3.75.

    In an article in the Raleigh News & Observer, school board members said “The change will allow students to take more of the courses they’d like rather than just the ones that will boost their GPA and class rank.

    “We have heard from many, many schools that the competition has become very unhealthy,” school board Chairman Tom Benton said in an interview. “Students were not collaborating with each other the way that we would like them to. Their choice of courses was being guided by their GPA and not their future education plans.”

    I say this is ridiculous. Competition has always been, and will always be present among high achievers. It’s what drives them. It’s what makes them high achievers. In high school, I had two very good friends — Allison and Deidre. Both were incredibly bright and were neck and neck to be number one and number two in our class. They were best friends. They studied together. They did projects together. They knew that one would be number one and one would be number two. But it didn’t make them scheme to hurt each other or go to far extremes. Instead, they encouraged each other. And, at the end of the day when Deidre was number one and Allison was number two, they worked together to write speeches that complemented each other. They worked as a team.

    Because that is what you have to do in the real world. In the real world, which for some reason or another, people have decided that this generation is too fragile to deal with, people are not always going to succeed. Not everybody plays and not everybody wins. In the real world, you don’t get trophies for just showing up. 

    And, that’s where we have gone so far astray. Kids have got to be challenged. They have to learn how to work toward a goal. They have to learn how to stand on their own two feet and how, eventually, to leave the nest. We, as a society, have done no favors to the current generation by coddling them and creating “safe spaces.”

    There are no “safe spaces” in this world except the ones you create by yourself and maintain by your own wits. Thinking that kids are going to be permanently scarred because someone else is number one is ridiculous. Instead, knowing that number one is going to have more opportunities should drive kids to perform at a higher level.

    I’ll use my son as an example. He is an athlete, a scholar and a gentleman. But he works hard at being all of those things. He gets no quarter from my husband and I. But he isn’t stressed out. He isn’t worried. He knows that he is loved and because he is loved, he has the freedom to succeed. He challenges himself a lot more than we challenge him. Last year when he played football, he wound up with cramps during summer practice because he wasn’t used to running so much. At the beginning of this year, he started a running program on his own so that he would be prepared, so that he would not suffer the pain of cramps. A little pain went a long way.

    Students who want to achieve academically are the same way. They have goals. They know that in order to achieve those goals — attendance at a particular college, acceptance into a specific field of study, etc. — they are going to have to put in the work. And, if that means working harder than the next kid in line, that’s what they are going to do. Whether the schools recognize it or not, they are going to know, and they are going to compete.

    The decision made by the Wake County School Board does not improve the education of the students in question. Instead, it plays into the “everybody plays, everybody wins” mindset that is weakening our country every day.

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • KARLIn an atmosphere replete with allegations of discrimination regarding black victims where the evidence is questionable, now comes a case that is absolutely discrimination. In early May 2016, the Cumberland County School Board voted 6-2-1 for Vernon Aldridge to replace Leon Mack as the school system’s activities director. Aldridge is white and Mack is black. Board members Carrie Sutton and Judy Musgrave, both black, voted against Aldridge. They also voted against his appointment when it came before the personnel committee on which they serve. Alicia Chisolm, black board member, abstained from voting when the full board considered this appointment. Mack, the outgoing activities director, is retiring. 

    The possibility of discrimination shows up in the reasons given for the “no” votes by Sutton and Musgrave. Their thinking is reported by Catherine Pritchard, The Fayetteville Observerstaff writer, in an article headlined, “School board taps Vernon Aldridge as activities director amid controversy.” Pritchard writes:

    “Sutton said then she couldn’t support Aldridge’s appointment because she felt the school system should have looked harder to find a qualified minority candidate for the job. She said she believed black students, particularly young males, need to see black people in leadership positions to imagine their own future possibilities.

    Asked then if she agreed with Sutton’s position, Musgrave said she did. Later, she said she was agreeing that the school system needs more minorities in leadership position in general. She said her opposition to Aldridge was because she didn’t feel he was qualified, not because he is white.

    Given what Pritchard reports as reasons given for the actions of Sutton and Musgrave, a bit of information on identifying discrimination follows. From FindLaw under “Discrimination in the Workplace:”

    The primary federal laws that address racial discrimination in the workplace fall under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In large part, the section often referred to simply as “Title VII” prohibits employers from: 1) failing or refusing to hire an employee based on their race; 2) firing or disciplining an employee because of their race; 3) paying an employee less or providing them fewer benefits on account of their race; 4) failing to provide benefits, promotions, or opportunities, to an employee because of their race; 5) improperly classifying or segregating employees or applicants by race. 

    Examining Carrie Sutton’s explanation as to the reason for her vote in light of this quote from FindLaw, cries “discrimination.” By Sutton’s admission, her vote was based on Vernon Aldridge being white and not black. Because of his race, she voted not to hire him. Under Title VII, that is discrimination.

    As for Judy Musgrave saying her vote had nothing to do with race but with Aldridge not being qualified, she should be required to explain the reasons for that position. The explanation is needed because her comment comes in conjunction with Sutton’s discriminatory votes. I can find no evidence she has been called on to make her case. There is silence. 

    Back to Sutton and her stated reason for voting against Aldridge.  Imagine Sutton being white and Aldridge black. If the races of these two people were reversed there would be an outcry of major proportions and it would likely be led by media and organizations that claim great interest in freeing our society of discriminatory practices. Instead, with very few exceptions, there is silence across this city and county.

    Be on notice, silence in cases such as this is dangerous. People who sense the wrong, but are quiet because of fear eventually respond. That response is not necessarily violent. It could simply be packing up and moving to another area or putting their children in private schools; thereby, allowing public schools to suffer. This city and nation are crying out for leaders who are thoughtful, fair to all and have the courage of convictions to deal forthrightly with difficult issues. 

    Dealing forthrightly with difficult issues often requires individuals in positions of leadership to move beyond talking and do some hard work. What I see time and time again, is “passing the buck.” Carrie Sutton’s reason for voting “no” to the assignment of a white person to a position being vacated by a black man reflects some “buck passing.” She holds “the system should have looked harder to find a minority candidate.” What is the responsibility of blacks in positions of leadership and all black Americans when it comes to working together to prepare our own so they qualify for positions of high responsibility? Instead of doing the hard work of preparation, of lifting one another, the resounding chorus is for the “system” to handle it. Too often the “system” is expected to go against the rules and even defy common sense in order to calm opposing or demanding voices.

    On preparing our own, here is how it looks. During my teenage years, Daddy was a building contractor. He built single-family homes as well as repaired homes in and around Camilla, Georgia. When I was about 13, he started taking me to job sites, especially during the summer. I worked, but also learned a bit about building. By the end of my junior year in high school, he had left building. That summer Daddy told me he and I were going to build a house for a lady on the eastside of Camilla. 

    The first day on the job, he went to purchase building materials and left me at the house site. When Daddy returned I was sleeping in the wheelbarrow. He woke me up but as I lie in that wheelbarrow, Daddy stood near my feet, looking into my eyes. He explained that his reason for contracting to build that house was so I would have work for the summer. He never raised his voice… just gave me a brief overview of life and what it demands of a person. I got up and over the summer we built that house. I got an education on building and on living.

    I spent the next summer working tobacco fields in the state of Connecticut. After the first year of college, it was back to Camilla. I went looking for a summer job. Public housing was under construction and I went there. This was the summer of 1966. Segregation was still alive and well in Camilla. I asked the white project foreman for a job and told him I could do carpentry. He did not believe me. I said, “Let me work a couple of days and if I don’t measure up, I’ll leave with no argument.” I worked the whole summer cutting fascia boards and other lumber pieces that were then installed by a white carpenter. 

    Daddy prepared me for that job and so much more of the successes I have known in life. He had to invest in me, struggle some with me and call me to account. There were no TV cameras, no newspaper reporters telling what this black father did for his son. Except that I tell the story, nobody would know.

    I tell it now only to illustrate what I believe is needed in our time. That is, for black Americans to break free of calling on the “system” to fix all that we see as ailing us. Further, be careful not to attempt manipulation of the “system” against others as in Vernon Aldridge’s case where I hold there is discrimination. Instead, follow Daddy’s example and be about helping one another prepare to lay hold of the many available opportunities. 

  • MARGARETSchool’s OUT!

    Those words gladden the hearts of restless students and scare the daylights out of some parents who have to figure out what their children are going to do for nearly three months. The lucky ones are in family situations where parents can spend long, lazy summer days with their little darlings. The not-so-fortunate families must scramble for, piece together and finance various activities or daycare to make sure the children are occupied, happy and safe until the school bell rings again. The really unfortunate families just cross their fingers and try to get through the summer alive.

    We all know that what we once thought of as the typical American nuclear family — dad bringing home the bacon and mom keeping the home fires burning — is a fond memory. Two incomes, which means two working parents, have become both the norm and a necessity. The New York Times reported earlier this month that only about one fourth of American children now have a parent waiting for them at home after school and during the 10 or 11 weeks that children are out of school for summer vacation. Says KJ Dell’Antonia in The Times, “For the rest of us, the children are off, the parents are not. We can indulge our annual illusion of children filling joyful hours with sprinkler romps and robotics camps or we can admit the reality.”

    That reality is that our traditional school calendar no longer fits the way most families now live today and that figuring out what children do over long weeks of summer is both difficult — almost impossible in some places and with some families — and expensive. The Times’ analysis found that two summers ago, parents expected to spend an average of $958 per child for camps, childcare and other summer expenses. The Dicksons are blessed with three Precious Jewels, and even though they are long past school age, I remember the stress of summer — what are they going to do, how much will it cost, who will drive them to and fro, how much TV is too much TV? One of my favorite photographs is of a Precious Jewel in a crowd of other campers “graduating” from a week-long day camp in Mazarick Park — a line of elementary schoolers wearing paper plates on their heads secured by strips colorful yarn. As dear as that photo is, I also remember having to leave work to pick up my camper and a friend’s child from Mazarick Park and take them home.

    Keeping the Precious Jewels occupied and with luck learning something and safe during the summer months was challenging for the Dickson grownups, but we managed as do millions of other American families. The real issue, though, is that many families simply cannot.

    The Times chronicled several of those.

    A mother in Durham works in a daycare center, but she cannot afford to send her own 6-six-year-old there. Her only option for at least a portion of the summer is to leave him with his 12-year-old sister, who, naturally enough, resents having to babysit for weeks on end. Leaving children 6 to 12 alone, now termed “self-care,” rises during the summer months, and can be dangerous, even criminal. A mother in South Carolina was arrested two summers ago when she left her 9-year-old in a park while she went to work. Friends and relatives fill in for many working parents, and not always graciously, sparking family resentments. 

    There are as many childcare arrangements as there are families who need them.

    The long American summer break is a holdover from the days when school age children were needed for work on family farms, a rare situation now that most people reside in urban areas. European nations also have a summer break from school, but it is generally shorter, about six weeks. Not surprisingly, European children lose less academic ground over the summer than American children do, so that schools spend less time reviewing last year’s material when they do go back into session.

    In other words, their so called “summer slide” is shorter and less steep than is ours.

    So what to do?

    We hear periodic calls for longer school years and shorter summers. Some schools, including some in Cumberland County, operate year-round, with more, but shorter breaks, lessening the slide. But let’s be realistic — there is no groundswell of support to do away with our traditional summer. 

    What we can do is support more investment in educational summer programs, both in schools that might otherwise go unused and in other recreational programs. It is better for children who at best might just be bored and at worst might be in physical danger.

    Besides, you might really enjoy the sight of your Precious Jewel wearing a paper plate on his head.

  • PUBPEN1The editorial page writer for the Fayetteville Observer, Tim White, did little to enhance the confidence we have in our local daily newspaper, whose mission is getting to the truth or uplifting the image of the Fayetteville community. Matter of fact, what it did is confirm the speculation that White and our daily newspaper are out of touch with the citizens of the community. 

    I’m referring to White’s editorial “PWC War Is Over and All Is Well” that appeared in the Sunday, June 5, edition of the paper. Here, not only did he present a mea culpa in regards to his stance and commentary concerning our local utility, PWC, and its lawsuit with City of Fayetteville, but, he doubled down on just how badly he miscalculated the circumstances, environment and controversy that surrounded then City Manager Ted Voorhees — all of which ultimately resulted in Voorhees’ termination by the City Council. Yeah, White admitted he never saw it coming. Surprise, surprise! He continued his quest for exoneration the next day by appearing on WFNC’s morning show with Goldie for a segment of True Confessions where he was either seeking forgiveness or asking for absolution. Either way, admitting you are wrong can be a humbling experience. However, in White’s case, his arrogance has always trumped humility. 

    This being the case, it was no surprise to many of us that he went off mark siding viciously against the Mayor, our hometown utility and in assessing the intentions and competency of the former city manager. Again, no surprises here. For White to analyze our community, report on our community or pass judgement on our community, he must first know and understand our community. Pretty simple concept, yes? Fayetteville and Cumberland County are a community of revolving and evolving residents. 

    You do not have to be from Fayetteville to embrace it and love it. We are a community where everyone’s welcome. Acceptance and hospitality is our southern nature, and, it doesn’t take long for someone to know who the players are and what the community’s issues, programs, policies, initiatives and priorities are. These are essential for defining, establishing and maintaining our quality of life. This is true if you live here and take a sincere interest in the community. However, if you don’t live here, it’s extremely difficult to maintain a healthy and knowledgeable perspective. And, in this community, many people feel as I do that one loses the right to criticize or pass judgement on our community’s internal, civic, social or governmental affairs if they DON’T live here, especially, when they are employed as a journalist by the local newspaper and double if they are the editorial page editor. 

    And, that is where White miscued. He listened to the whispers of strangers. He took his information second-hand so when it came to understanding and empathizing with PWC’s plight with the City of Fayetteville, someone else made him their mouthpiece. This is also why he was caught unaware when the City Council terminated Voorhees. White was blinded by someone else’s light shining on the brilliant Ted Voorhees who also had someone whispering in his ear. Not a good journalistic testimonial when you miss the mark so conspicuously that you are compelled to admit it publically in hopes of salvaging credibility in the community you are supposed to be serving. 

    Well, there are simple explanations for all of this. Tim White is not incompetent. Simply put, he does not live here! He is not a part of the Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County community; hence, has little insight into what we are all about or what we value and hold near and dear. Why should he? How could he? White lives two counties away from here in Chatham County. Yes, that’s approximately 58 miles from Fayetteville, or, a one hour and fifteen minute drive (and that’s on a good day). This is not to say White is a bad person or that he is not a good writer. He just should not be in a position to negatively criticize and pass judgement on the community if he doesn’t live here and where the impact of his editorial influence doesn’t affect him, his family, his community or his property values 58 miles away. 

    In Chatham County White doesn’t have to be accountable to local readers, residents or face his constituents. Ninety percent of the community wouldn’t recognize him on the street. You won’t see him at a Chamber of Commerce event, 4th Friday, at a Kiwanis Club meeting, at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, a Crown Coliseum event or SwampDogs’ baseball game. You won’t see him shopping downtown or run into him at a restaurant or see him casually shopping at the Harris Teeter. 

    So, when you screw up and misread vitally important community issues like that of PWC and Voorhees it becomes pretty conspicuous he is disconnected and making headlines based mostly on second-hand information. Unfortunately for us, his sources are not only unreliable but they all have their own personal agendas not aligned with the welfare of the overall community. White is not alone. WRAL TV has fallen victim to the same journalistic malaise. They have already exposed and conveyed their true journalistic worth and sense of fairness with their sloppy and irresponsible reporting involving Cumberland County’s Clerk of Court Kim Tucker. However, we expect they will continue contributing money and sponsoring local community events in hopes of purchasing our affections and the illusion of community inclusiveness. 

    Like White, they have people whispering in their ears directing and misdirecting what’s reported to the public. Also, like White, they too do not live here. No, we should be using media resources to tell the truth, convey the facts to our citizens, uplift our community and enhance Fayetteville’s image. Can this be done under the gaze of fair and competent reporting and journalism? Sure it can. First step, the media must get engaged with the community and make its own decisions and assessments. If they feel they must take sides on an issue, then investigate it and report the facts. At least the residents will be educated on the issues that affect them. Don’t expect things to change here anytime soon. At least now you better understand why things are the way they are. See ya at Harris Teeter! Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.

  • MargaretLet me be totally honest about this.

    I have never met a potato chip, taco chip, corn chip or any such chip that I did not like. Wait! Full disclosure — that I did not actually love!! The crispiness! The saltiness! Perfection!

    Now, I love a good chocolate chip cookie with nuts, too. If I could order it, my last meal would include chips of some sort — probably Ripples or Fritos — since salt and calories would not be issues at that point.

    Most of us probably feel this way about something we should not consume, at least not often, and I guard against falling into the chip bag by not keeping them in the house. This works — most of the time.

    Thank goodness, we have outside assistance to help save us from ourselves.

    Bless its bureaucratic little heart, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just issued new guidelines about salt consumption. The agency aims to cut Americans’ average salt consumption by a third with a goal of reducing heart attacks and strokes. This goal is particularly meaningful among mature folks like me, who — as one of my friend’s doctors told her — are
    “less young.” 

    If we prepare most of our food at home and keep the saltshaker in the cabinet, salt is not so much of a problem. But if we eat a lot of prepared foods, including both packaged items and restaurant meals, salt can be the elephant in the room that no one wants to see. This statistic shocked me a bit, but the FDA says that more than 70 percent of salt in the average American diet comes from packaged and prepared foods. 

    Sadly, this includes my beloved chips, in all their glorious manifestations.

    The good news is that along with heat and humidity, summer brings us its bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables — berries, melons, tomatoes, beans, peas, corn and so much more. All colorful, all easy to eat fresh or to enjoy with minimal preparation like spreading mayonnaise on bread for a tomato sandwich and all what we should be eating and serving those near and dear.

    No need to get in a lather about this. There are not salt police peeping in our kitchen window. The FDA is simply working with the food industry to improve our health.  

    It is trying to protect us from ourselves.

    Closer to home, East Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have teamed up on a national study that has found strong support for raising the minimum legal age to buy tobacco products. This comes from the university system of the state where not so long ago, tobacco was the undisputed king of all agricultural products.

    The study is expected to give legislators across the country political cover for raising the legal age from 18 to 21. “With these findings, policy makers and public health advocates can move forward knowing that people in their states support raising the minimum age for selling tobacco products,” says Adam Goldstein of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

    Shockingly, at least to me, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids says that every day 2,500 children in the United States try their first cigarette and that another 580 of them become daily smokers.

    Raising the minimum age may be a tougher sell in North Carolina than in some other states.

    A Greeneville doctor and member of the North Carolina House of Representatives says, “I don’t know that North Carolina is necessarily ready to take it up, but it’s an issue that needs to be taken up. We are paying millions and millions in healthcare dollars because of the effects of tobacco use, and 90 percent of lifelong smokers start before the age of 18.”

    Another stab at protecting us from us.

    My favorite and probably a doomed recent protective effort comes from New Hanover County where the local school board is considering a policy regarding leggings and skinny jeans. Should they be worn only under a long shirt or a dress that covers the rear end?

    It is not entirely clear who or what is being protected here? Teenagers from pants too tight to allow ventilation or which cut off blood flow? Those around them from the sight of pants so tight nothing is left to the imagination? 

    No need to worry too much right now, though. 

    Social media erupted when a school board committee even discussed the skinny pants matter, and it is off the table for the moment. It seems that teenagers — and probably some of their parents — are loath to have limitations on fashion choices for the school day.

    My hunch, as I sit here at my computer fighting off a chip attack, is that we weak and frail human beings can always benefit from outside guidance about our various choices.

    We just don’t want anyone to take away those choices.

  • PUBPEN1Everyone who knows me knows I love baseball and would like to see a professional minor league team and a brand new stadium in our community. But, do I think it will ever happen? Frankly, no. At least not any time soon. Why? Two words: history and money. Nobody knows baseball better than retired Fayetteville Observer sports writer Thad Mumau. As a baseball lover himself, he sent us the following letter that pretty much expresses our feelings about the subject. I want to share it with you. There is no doubt that we will both be there in the stands if the powers-that-be can make this a reality. What do you think? Our special thanks to Thad and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    Bill, it is amusing to me that whenever the subject of minor league baseball in Fayetteville comes up folks’ memories go haywire. Of course, I realize that is always the way... we remember what/how we want to remember. There probably is not a more avid baseball fan in this area than I, but my memory is not warped when it comes to local support thereof. I was here in 1956 -- the last summer of the old Highlanders -- when Fayetteville won the Carolina League championship and fans were treated to the likes of Curt Flood, Leon Wagner and Willie McCovey (when High Point and Danville came to town). Yet, a paltry 200 or so fannies were in the seats at Pittman Stadium when the Highlanders were winning the playoffs.

    My dad took me to every single home game out there (up until the last one when I missed after having my tonsils taken out).

    When you talk to anyone about that era, they say, “Yeah, the crowds were great... ballpark was full of people.” Similar responses are evoked about the more recent Fayetteville Generals. Before anyone erects a girder out Murchison Road way, someone else had better sell some season and half-season tickets

    The foundation necessary for success will not be the one at the proposed stadium site. It will be the one built at the box office. As I imagine you know -- but not many others think about this -- the selling point of a minor league baseball team is having the opportunity to watch players you may see on Saturday afternoon. To do that, a person needs to attend several games... not just the season opener or the July 4 fireworks game. Seeing a bunch of games gives a person the chance to see many players, including opposing ones, some of whose names will be recalled in a few years while sitting in front of the TV.

    I feel the city’s approach is not a good one. Instead of flushing money down the toilet to make themselves feel like they are doing something, council or baseball committee members should round up some high school kids, order some snazzy FAY BASEBALL caps for them to wear and put them at prominent locations handing out fliers that encourage buying season and half-season tickets. Maybe even have folks sign a petition pledging their willingness to do so... means nothing, of course, but might promote some enthusiasm and future commitment to purchase those tickets.

    I emailed these ideas to the Mayer months ago, and his reply was “Yeah, yeah great stuff,” and that was that.

    I am not looking for attention or credit. At nearly 70 I’m past that. I just recall from personal experience that neither the Highlanders nor the Generals drew well (despite what people remember or say they do) and that all the rah-rahing today will mean nothing after a losing streak leaves that shiny new stadium practically empty on a weeknight in July.

    Respectfully, Thad Mumau.

  • 06302010redlight.jpgThe Cumberland County crackdown on red light and stop sign violators has proven very successful. Congratulations. But why stop now?

    Enforcing our laws against this very dangerous and epidemic problem in our community should be the highest priority. Sure, the two week crackdown was successful in terms of netting 262 tickets issued, however, this served to accentuate the seriousness of the problem. Unfortunately, in broadcasting the success of the crackdown we may have also telegraphed (unintentionally) to thousands of irresponsible vehicle operators that we do not intend to pay much attention to these violations in the future.

    Matter of fact, the Fayetteville Observer reported in last Saturday’s newspaper, front page below the fold, that Cumberland County spokeswoman Debbie Tanna said, “Hopefully, we can make this an annual campaign.”

    What? Hopefully? Annual campaign? Hmmmm? Does this mean we are assuming in Fayetteville and Cumberland County that these violators and perpetrators of death, carnage and property damage will be on holiday during the next 50 weeks?

    I hope this doesn’t mean that our law enforcement officials have checked this box off on their annual “to do” list and now are moving on to other tasks. This may not be the intent, however, in tough economic times Cumberland County residents (aka taxpayers) are looking for not only good common sense but good value, as well. Doing anything just “one time” is not going to affect or change any situation or habit. Even a child knows when a parent isn’t serious about a rule or command (i.e., you are 200 miles away from home on vacation with the family when you say: “If you kids don’t behave I’ll turn this car around and we’ll all go home.”).

    Go home? Yeah, right! No validity here.

    Catching traffic violators for only two weeks during the year will have the same impact. Especially in a diverse and transient community like ours that sees a turnover in our population on a weekly basis.

    Our law enforcement officials need to start enforcing these traffic laws on a consistent basis, prosecuting violators and establishing our community as one that puts a high value on human lives and public safety and these laws demand respect and adherence. Enforcement should be our highest priority and can only be accomplished through repetition and consistency. In the long run it would reduce our law-enforcement costs.

    Other towns accomplish this.

    When traveling to Tampa, Fla., on Hwy. 301 South, east of Jacksonville, Fla., I travel through the small towns of Lawtey, Waldo and Starke before I get to Gainesville, Fla. All have a stellar reputation for being extremely serious about traffic laws and public safety and have zero tolerance for violators. I have never seen an accident in these area, but what I always see is a constant flow of traffic obeying the speed limit and law-enforcement vehicles in strategic and highly visible locations — usually with blue lights flashing.

    They are serious about their traffic laws. I have since found out that all three towns have a statewide reputation for compliance. Not a bad thing.

    I know there are a lot of important issues we could be writing about in this space. However, in my opinion, none are more important than this issue. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Scary. Violation of red lights and stop signs is epidemic in Cumberland County and it needs to be addressed and it needs to be stopped. I am glad all the major law-enforcement agencies cooperated and participated in this exercise. We can only hope this crackdown becomes routine so we too can begin to develop a reputation for being a community of safe streets and thoroughfares and one that respects the law. Of course, we appreciate the men and women who have dedicated their careers and lives to law enforcement and making our community a safe place to live, work and play.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It

    Recently I came across a photograph of myself with several of my friends when we were young mothers.

    06-05-13-margaret.gifWe are standing together in someone’s backyard with our various children, knee babies and pre-schoolers all. Each of us has at least one child, and some of us have two. Each of us is also in some stage of another pregnancy, some of us bigger than others.

    And each of us is wearing, to put it charitably, a muumuu of some description. In case you missed the ‘60s and ‘70s, a muumuu is a brightly colored garment of Hawaiian origin, often with a floral motif, that is big and baggy and reveals few details about the wearer’s figure.

    To put it bluntly, they are shapeless.

    The photograph brought back warm memories of raising children in a neighborhood filled with friends and lots of their children.

    It also triggered a more recent memory of attending a formal dinner dance during the holidays where a fellow guest, a generation younger than I, was attired in what appeared to be a sequin-encrusted black spandex evening gown which clearly defined her growing belly, what we now call her “baby bump.”

    That dress was about as far from a muumuu as one could get.

    More recently still was an article in The New York Times, entitled “Pregnancy Takes a Turn on the Red Carpet.” The article highlighted an outfit worn by famous-for-being-famous Kim Kardashian who wore a muumuu patterned floral garment to a New York gala, only hers was cut close to the body and showed off a signifi cant baby bump. Critics panned the outfit and a doctored photo of Kardashian plopped on a chintz sofa from which she was virtually indistinguishable circulated on social media. The matching heels and gloves probably did not help.

    In addition to the floral disaster, the article features photographs of other celebrities in late stages of pregnancy, several of whom are dressed up for possible acceptance speeches. These include Beyonce in brilliant red, Cate Blanchett and Catherine Zeta-Jones both swathed in yards of fine material, and Eva Marie Saint wearing a “skirt suit” to accept an Academy Award in 1955, two days before her baby arrived. Currently encinta Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is also featured in a demure spring ensemble including a coat with her baby bump apparent but hardly spotlighted.

    Also included and still sensational is Demi Moore’s cover shot for a 1991 issue of Vanity Fair, very pregnant and very naked, wearing nothing but a pixie haircut and large diamond jewelry.

    That photograph blew the door off the pregnancy closet.

    At the other end of the spectrum is something my father, a courtly Southerner of the old school, told me many years ago. Not that he had any first hand experience, of course, but he spoke with authority when he said that proper Victorian ladies had quite the opposite reaction to being in a family way or, as he put it, “being in a delicate condition.” When their baby bumps appeared, instead of wrapping themselves in spandex or wearing a bulging birthday suit on a magazine cover, they simply retired to their homes for the duration. They emerged several months later with a babe in arms and a fi rmly corseted belly.

    I have been trying to make sense of all this without too much success.

    Clearly, the Victorian model seeks to tamp down any thoughts about how that baby bump might have gotten there in the fi rst place, but there may be other reasons to cover up if not actually staying at home for months on end. Some women might worry about obvious weight gain, and others might be concerned that pregnancy could affect their jobs or professional aspirations, both illegal but still operative in some cases. In years past, women might have worried about an unwed pregnancy, but that is hardly a concern these days.

    And what to make of pregnancies advertised by clingy clothing?

    In an essay entitled “The Baby Bump is the New Birkin” last year, Drake University Associate Professor Renee Ann Cramer compared baby bumps to very fancy, very pricey, high-status pocketbooks as a must-have accessory for celebrities. Maybe so, but I see equally advertised baby bumps on mere mortals wearing humble T-shirts with downward pointing arrows and the word “BABY” emblazoned on the bulge.

    I am not saying that the muumuus of my era were the perfect maternity get-up. Some of them were hideous, their only saving grace being comfort. I am suggesting, though, that there may be a happy middle ground between staying home in a circus tent and wearing clothes so tight one’s belly button pokes out.

    A final word to mothers-to-be.

    My experience tells me that no matter how much you like your baby bump, you are going to really, really love your baby!

    Photo: What is considered fashionable for pregnancy has changed over the years.

  • 06-06-12-margaret.jpg

    Getting It

    When I was in my early twenties, I turned down a free trip to England. Several factors played into this now incomprehensible decision, but the main one was the simple and silly fact that I did not know most of the other people who were planning to go.

    What was I thinking?

    Since then, a more mature and — I hope — wiser Margaret has taken to travel with a vengeance, not only willing but eager to visit places I have never been and to check back in on some I have. I have travelled with people I know and love and with some I met at the airport gate. Some trips were more enjoyable and/or enlightening than others, of course, but I have learned something from all of them and do not regret any.

    Travel, like education, is something no one can take away from you.

    Two notches on my travel belt are trips to India. The fi rst was to the wedding of a young man I have known since the day he arrived on earth to a lovely young woman from northern India. The second was earlier this year “just because.”

    India is everything you have ever heard about it and more. It is a riot of color, sounds, and scents and a mass of humanity so thick it is virtually impossible to fi nd yourself alone. Its culture, among the most ancient on earth with layers few Westerners will ever really take in, intrigues at every turn and lingers when one is safely back at home.

    A sense of beckoning is no doubt one of the reasons I have been waiting for months to see the newly-released movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which I saw with two fellow India travelers recently in Knoxville, Tennessee.

    It was a treat.

    The movie is the tale of a group of British retirees, thrown together in a run-down hotel for senior citizens in Jaipur because for various reasons — widowhood and poor investments among them — they cannot afford to stay in England. The young and charming proprietor of the hotel tries hard but has no idea how to run a business, and adventures and misadventures unfold from there. The superb cast, including Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, make Marigold Hotel a big screen pleasure to savor.

    That, though, is not what I will remember most about this movie.

    What I will remember is who was there.

    My friends and I arrived at what they said is the local art house fi lm theater — think the Cameo but bigger — to find a line worthy of a Harry Potter opening snaking around the side of the building. My Knoxville resident friends insisted they had never seen anything like it, and neither had I.

    If there was a single human being in that line under 60, I will eat my hat.

    Waiting to buy a movie ticket on a hot Memorial Day afternoon were not adolescents wearing round black glasses and with books in hand but — shall we say mature — Tennesseans wearing baggy shorts and tees and sensible shoes of all stripes — Birkenstocks and Crocs with socks, lace up athletic versions in both white and black, and the occasional orthopedic model. Several moviegoers negotiated the line with the aid of a cane, and I think I noted a walker or two. Everyone seemed in fine humor, and there was much chatting while we waited whether we knew our neighbors in line or not.

    As we stood there, an earlier showing of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotellet out, and more folks just like the ones waiting to go in poured out. More comfy weekend clothes and more sensible shoes. The only people I saw under 60 were two sleepy-looking teenage girls who had clearly been taken to this movie by their accompanying grandparents.

    Clearly, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotelappeals to a specific demographic and well it should.

    This movie is a tale of remaining open to life and to new experiences no matter what one’s age or situation. It is about making lemonade out of life’s lemons and keeping on keeping on until our fi nal breath, as one character memorably does. Its loose ends may be tied up a little too neatly before the closing credits roll, but no one, including sleepy teenagers, can miss the lesson that life is a gift to be explored — and enjoyed every step — all the way to its inevitable conclusion.

    As for me, this Baby Boomer is planning and looking forward to two trips later this year with several people I know well and hold dear and some I count as acquaintances

    .I will fly off into the sky having been reminded and grateful that life is indeed a journey, not a destination.

    Photo: The Best Marigold Hotel is a tale of remaining open to life and to new experiences.

  • The Chernobyl Diaries (Rated R)  4 STARS06-13-12-movie.jpg

    While not filmed entirely in shaky cam, The Chernobyl Diaries (86 minutes) still owes a fair bit to films such as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, no surprise considering its pedigree. Oren Peli produced, and he is the guy who started the resurgence of the low-budget shaky cam film with Paranormal Activity, for which I both love and loathe him. On the one hand, that film was both original and scary. On the other hand, shaky cam, much like 3D is utterly migraine inducing. The concept behind the Chernobyl Diaries is pretty good, but repeated viewings are not worth the headache.

    In what is obviously a new trend, some American tourists go to Russia and their trip gets messed up (see The Darkest Hour). Chris (a Beiber-esque Jesse McCartney) and his girlfriend Natalie (Olivia Dudley) travel around Europe with apparently limitless funds. The film begins with the two taking Natalie’s friend Amanda (Devin Kelley) to visit Chris’s brother Paul (Jonathan Sadowski) in Russia. While it is never explained how Paul and Chris manage their amazing lifestyle in today’s tough economic times, I like to think that one or both of them was brain damaged at some point and are now living off the funds of their successful lawsuit because I would hate to think that the youth of America is this needlessly stupid without some sort of traumatic brain injury.

    Paul comes up with the brilliant idea of visiting the remains of the factory town Prypiat that was evacuated following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Speaking as a child of the 80s, (a) Chernobyl was scary and (b) I feel really old knowing that Chernobyl was scary since the filmmakers apparently decided their nice youthful audience would need that explained. Naturally, they all disregard the complete idiocy of treating a fully irradiated town as a vacation spot and agree that traveling two hours into the middle of nowhere in a van with a shady Russian ex-milita type (Dimitri Diatchenko) is a fabulous way to spend the day. And when said ex-militia type is turned back at a checkpoint they think it is an even better idea to sneak in the back way, despite the lovely Kalashnikovs carried by the checkpoint guards.

    You know what? If these were all real people we could definitely start handing out Darwin Awards at this point in the film. The group, which includes a couple of vaguely European backpackers (Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Nathan Phillips), finally makes it into the abandoned town where they sing and dance on the grave of this once thriving area. As you do when walking through the lost hopes and dreams of a few thousand people, they take lots of pictures.

    The tourists finally get ready to leave, only to find out that important engine parts are not working. They spend quite a bit of time arguing about whose fault that is, then start hearing things. Uri, in a brilliant bit of strategy, grabs a gun and heads out into the dark in search of the source of the ruckus despite knowing that wild animals frequent the town by night. Chris decides to tag along and make a lot of noise. When that plan does not work out in his favor, most of the group decides to hike out and bring back help. They even promise to be right back!

    The main cast is slowly whittled down, a process made faster by the number of times they decide to go looking for people who disappear as well as their habit of screaming the names of the missing people loudly and repeatedly. But who is behind the mysterious goings on? While some questions are eventually answered, nothing is too well explained. That is not necessarily a bad thing, since you don’t want to mess up a perfectly good horror movie by weighing it down with lengthy exposition. Overall, this is definitely worth a look-and-see, provided you have plenty of Tylenol.
    Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.
     

  • Snow White and the Huntsman(Rated PG-13) 4 STARS06-20-12-movie.jpg

    There are several minor problems and one major flaw with Snow White and the Huntsman (127 minutes). First, the romantic subplot falls flat. There is an attempt to introduce a love triangle but it isn’t well done and none of the lead actors had any chemistry. Second, the backstory of the evil queen isn’t as fleshed out as it needed to be. Third, it’s way too long. Fourth, did the dwarves need to be a part of the story? And, if they did indeed need to be part of the story, were there no actual little people looking for work? Peter Dinklage is probably a bit busy with Game of Thrones, but I don’t think that Warwick Davis had any post-Harry Potter roles lined up. Last but not least, in a scene that comes off as just a wee bit forced, the heroes travel to freaking fairyland.

    Finally, in a major misstep, the filmmakers try to sell the audience on the idea that Kristen Stewart is fairer than Charlize Theron. In what twisted fairytale version of reality are you operating that you look at those two women and Kristen Stewart comes out ahead in any way? Inconceivable. Well, at least it was more watchable than Mirror, Mirror. Be warned though … that was a pretty easy contest to win.

    Chris Hemsworth starts us off with a voiceover narration of the story of Snow White. The not-evil Queen has her spawn and then dies in the name of plot convenience. The King (Noah Huntley) is a bit upset, but he gets over his loss quickly enough when he sees Ravenna (Theron). Things go pear-shaped on their wedding night and the new Queen takes over and imprisons the princess.

    After years of Ravenna’s rule, the realm descends into a major economic depression caused by a sharp decrease in arable land and a consequent reduction in agricultural production. As boring as that last sentence was, it still does not demonstrate how bored I was during the early part of this film. Things pick up a bit once the now-grown Snow White (Stewart) decides to let the birds lead her in a daring escape. Yes, the birds. All the little forest creatures just love Snow White, though why they waited eight years or so to get into the act is left a mystery for the audience to ponder.

    She flees on a MacGuffin in the shape of a pretty white horse, which she leaves for dead the moment it becomes an inconvenience. While running in the Dark Forest she is exposed to some psychedelic mushrooms and she passes out just inside the forest in the midst of a bad trip. Meanwhile, her pursuers, failing to realize she is literally a few steps inside the forest, get all freaked out and head back to the castle. There, the Queen demands they find someone to guide them through the forest.

    Finally, the Huntsman (Hemsworth) appears. His poorly explained backstory allows the Queen to manipulate him into going after her escaped prisoner in the company of the Queen’s brother (Sam Spruell). Of course, he switches sides and leads the princess deeper into the forest where they encounter some adventures, finally meeting the eight dwarves. Hmm … eight Dwarves? But doesn’t the Disney version mention only seven? I wonder if something will happen to one of those dwarves?

    Anyway, even though the dwarves are totally played by awesome actors shrunk down Lord of the Rings Hobbit-style, I could have done without. And honestly, there was something distasteful about the fact that the dwarves weren’t played by actual little people, as well as the way the characters were used primarily for comic relief. Overall, the film is more or less family friendly and seems to have wide appeal, it just didn’t appeal to me.

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

  • Pews to Polls? Not on Sunday06-27-12-pub-notes.jpg

    Voting on Sunday? You’ve got to be kidding me! I can’t wait to see the position our North Carolina Legislature takes on this issue. Wow!

    Hatching ideas like this it’s no wonder Cumberland County gets little respect from our peers in Raleigh. After all, with voter turnout during local, state and national elections reaching all –time highs in new lows, the notion that residents in Fayetteville and Cumberland County need an extra day or two to get to the polls defies logic.Despite ardent declarations and assurances from some community leaders, like NAACP President Jimmy Buxton, that this request is not just a cheap political maneuver, reeks of the contrary.

    No intelligent, responsible citizen is buying this “pews-to-polls” initiative does not have political undertones. One would have to be blind not to see how this maneuver would, and could artifi cially manipulate the outcomes of local elections. Even though the Cumberland County Board of Elections voted two to one to approve this recommendation, the notion still defi es basic logic from a practical point of view. Practical –not religious point of view as Republican board member Ralph Reagan suggested.

    Reagan was the one dissenting vote. When common sense logic is applied the notion just can’t stand up to scrutiny.

    Case in point: If you are under 40 years old, you probably do not remember when “blue laws” were in effect and pretty much the law of the land in America – especially here in North Carolina and the South. Believe it or not there was a time when the Sabbath was recognized and respected as a holy day. God’s day. A day of rest. It was a time when churches were opened on Sunday and businesses were closed. Americans could choose to take a “time out” from their jobs and everyday routines and worship with family and friends. Ahhh, the good ole days!

    Now, fast forward to present day when blue laws have pretty much disappeared across the American landscape, with the exception of government offices and Chick-fil-A. I see little evidence of America returning to the days when the secular population yields and respects the holy day.

    My point is this: The reason blue laws became extinct is because the people, by their actions, demonstrated that they wanted to have the option to work, shop and do what they wanted to do on Sunday. This being said, there has been absolutely no demonstration by residents for the need to vote on Sunday – only from political activists. More importantly, and most disturbing, is the fact that this proposed option would be fiscally irresponsible, costing Cumberland County taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

    With Cumberland County in a recession and unemployment at more than 9 percent, reckless spending of taxpayer’s money on a whim of convenience is totally irresponsible. I’m convinced Sunday voting would be a waste of time and money. Below, I have listed comments solicited from local community residents on the topic. You be the judge.

    • Current voting times are fair and equal for all citizens.

    • Early voting times are fair and equal for all citizens. Everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to vote.

    • Sunday voting would prove to be designed and utilized by only a small segment of our community.

    • Sunday voting intrudes on and disrespects the rights of Cumberland County employees and election officials.

    • There is no documented need for Sunday voting except from self-serving political activists.

    • Asking Cumberland County employees, who are paid to serve all Cumberland County residents, to give up their private time and work for the convenience of a few is irresponsible and discriminatory.

    • Opening the Board of Election offi ces on Sunday will be expensive, costing Cumberland County taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars needlessly.

    There you have it. Again, you can be the judge. However, if Cumberland County officials endorse Sunday voting it will show a conspicuous hypocrisy toward fiscal responsibility. Leadership? That’s always been a problem here. We’ll see.

    In the meantime, thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly and don’t forget to VOTE for Best of Fayetteville. Now online.

  • Shopping and Selling Easy as 1 2 3

    Downtown Fayetteville is filled with dynamic establishments run by passionate risk-takers who are devoted to the community. Our View from the Market House showcases the businesses and entrepreneurs that make downtown shine.

    The Shops at 123 Hay Street boasts a wide variety of goods ranging from décor and furniture to kids’ toys and baby goods. The consignment store helps vendors set up individualized spaces inside to sell unique products without the hassle of owning a business themselves. The Shops at 123 Hay Street is the perfect complement to anyone’s shopping experience in Downtown Fayetteville.

    Joy Powell, owner of the store, has maintained the business for two years now. Despite the difficulties that come with owning a retail shop, Powell continues to make great strides in growing her business and focusing on the consumer.

    The store’s original location across the street was relocated after Powell saw an opportunity to buy its current location. “There’s a lot more room, it doubled the size,” she said. “I’ve been very pleased.” Powell has taken full advantage of the new space by allowing more vendors to utilize her service. This allows Shops at 123 Hay Street to carry many products shoppers would otherwise be unable to find elsewhere.

    What lured Powell to her store’s current location was the constant activity seen in the downtown area. Festivals, parades and celebrations splash the calendar with events for the entire family. “We participate in 4th Friday and we’ve always loved downtown,” Powell said. “Anytime we get a large crowd (from events) it helps business.”

    Despite the festivities, Powell is looking forward to wa06-19-13-our-view.giftching her business and downtown continue to grow and prosper. With events like Fayetteville After 5 and 4th Friday, there are plenty of opportunities for both shoppers and businesses to make connections.

    Powell feels that she has a lot of great support in the downtown area from local alliances and other businesses. She believes it’s a collaborative effort to bring consumers to the area and local businesses thrive off the success of one another.

    Consignment stores especially rely on a close relationship with the vendors they support, this is something Powell is proud of with her own business.

    The advantage of consignment is the variety of goods made available to consumers. The Shops at 123 Hay Street has one of largest collections of items in the downtown area. From the wild to the tame, there’s something for everyone.

    “A celebration of the home, The Shops at 123 Hay Street is a place for the quality and style conscious consumer, providing unique, one of a kind merchandise,” Powell wrote on her Facebook page, “You never know what kind of treasures you will find, our inventory changes often.”

    Businesses like The Shops at 123 Hay Street create the ideal medium between vendors and consumers. Entrepreneurs like Powell are the driving force in small businesses in downtown. Whether a consumer or a small shop owner, her business has a space, or a product, just for you.

    Photo: Joy Powell, owner of Moonstone Jewelry.

  • Professional Management: The Crowning Touch

    Last week the community heard, with no great surprise, the results of the benchmark study on the Crown Coliseum. The study compared the Crown to the operations of eight other entertainment facilities somewhat similar to the Crown. The conclusions were no surprise. Actually, almost every aspect of the operation detailed in the report was common knowledge and documented in one form or another over the past several years. Now, it is offi cial.

    A $35, 000 study paid for by Cumberland County taxpayers is what our county officials wanted and needed in order to move the Crown Coliseum forward to greater prosperity and distance themselves further away from the $3 million per year defi cit it has become. So, what was in the report? No new news for sure. Revenues down, expenses up, management weak, not enough events/shows, staff too big and a sales and marketing team that completely misses the mark when it comes to doing their job and understanding the community they live in. This being the case, is there any reason why the Crown Board of Directors and the Cumberland County Commissioners would not consider bringing in an outside professional management company to stop the bleeding? Of course not. Besides, outsourcing is a common business strategy for increasing effi ciency and lowering operating costs.

    Good thinking. So far, so good.06-26-13-crown.gif

    Now comes the difficult and challenging part for getting the Crown back on track. Three companies have responded to a request for proposal for the opportunity to manage the Crown. Not profitably, but, professionally. After all, with 10 years of failed operations and millions of dollars in losses what does Cumberland County have to lose? Absolutely nothing.

    During the next several days these three proposals will be reviewed, scrutinized and evaluated. If this process can be executed fairly and flawlessly and in the best interest of the Crown, Cumberland County and its residents, the project will be deemed a huge success. However, many sources familiar with the way the county has historically done business are skeptical. Many profess that “Cumberland County never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Meaning, historically, in too many cases, we just don’t do the right things for the right reasons. Good point. Think about it. How did the Crown get in this situation in the first place? How did it stay that way for 10 years?

    The mere fact that the Crown and the county have gotten this far indicates the forces of good are overpowering the forces of negligence. Choosing the right company will be a major step in the right direction. A correct choice here is imperative, and will hold the formula for the future success of the Crown.

    My assessment is that so far, things are looking pretty good for the Crown. Making the decision on who will be the management team will ultimately be that of the Crown’s Board of Directors lead by Chairman George Turner. County Commissioner Ed Melvin is advising as the board’s county liaison. The decision will ultimately have to be approved by the county commissioners.

    Everyone needs to keep their fingers crossed. The right decision here could provide the leadership needed to spur the economic development needed to get the most out of our $60 million facility.

    I applaud everyone’s hard work and dedication to this tedious project. I promise to be fi rst in line to purchase a ticket to this command performance. Hope to see you there.

    Thank you, for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    Photo; right: Hopefully, the Crown Coliseum may see new private management by the end of the year.

  • 11first stepThe first day of summer has rolled around once again, and in light of the current hot temperatures with accompanying high humidity, many are probably dreaming about escaping to the ocean with a nice, flowing breeze and just taking it easy for a while. But this time of year is also time to prepare for attending college. Fayetteville Technical Community College is registering students for fall 2018, and the sooner students begin the process, the better.

    Students should complete the FTCC application and the free financial aid application now to ensure that all the paperwork is in place in time to begin fall classes Aug. 20. Do everything as early as possible to get the best choices for desired classes. Early completion and submission of paperwork when applying for financial aid is wise, too. Sometimes the financial aid process can take a while, so getting started now helps to ensure that aid is in place.

    To get started, visit FTCC’s website, www.faytechcc.edu, and click “Apply” when the pop-up box appears on the home page. Or, click “Admissions Info” from the dropdown menu at the top of  the home page to learn a great deal of information about applying to FTCC. The FTCC Financial Aid webpage shares a direct link to the free, online College Foundation of North Carolina application used by FTCC. Students can also view videos and helpful information about available financial aid opportunities.

    Once a student has completed and submitted the application, FTCC sends an email to the student’s email address used in the application. FTCC also sends a hard-copy letter to the physical address recorded on the CFNC application. The email outlines the steps for admissions and provides links to forms to request a transcript from high school or other colleges, links to financial aid, the assessment and placement office and links to connect with an FTCC admissions counselor. The email also contains links to Veteran’s Services and military websites, a health programs admissions counselor and counselors at FTCC’s Spring Lake Campus and Fort Bragg Education and Training Center.

    Students will also receive a letter from FTCC providing login and password set-up information for student email and WebAdvisor accounts. This occurs early on, prior to class registration. It is important for new students to check student email and WebAdvisor accounts regularly, as these are the primary methods of communication. WebAdvisor allows applicants and students to manage financial aid, register for classes, contact an advisor, view grades, request transcripts and set up an interest-free payment plan (for students who pay tuition out of pocket).

    Once the FTCC application is complete, students should visit www.FAFSA.gov. Services provided through FAFSA.gov are provided free of charge. Any website that charges fees for services related to financial aid assistance for education is not the right website. Apply for the academic year 2018/2019. Be prepared with tax documents. Most students who live at home will use their parents’ income information, but extenuating circumstances may change that. Visit the Tony Rand Student Center at the Fayetteville campus for help in answering questions about financial aid.

    FTCC is proud to offer face-to-face, personal assistance. Visit the Tony Rand Student Center to begin the first step for fall classes – and to a brighter future through education at FTCC.

  • 08I 295 FutureRoad building takes a long time. Politics, money and regional competition often come into play. Planning for Fayetteville’s Outer Loop began in the 1980s. The first phase of the project from I-95 north of Fayetteville to U.S. 401/Ramsey Street opened 20 years later, in 2005. The final local sections of the future interstate will be completed in less than three years. By 2022, the roadway will extend through southern Cumberland County into Robeson County near St. Pauls. When finished, the 39-mile project will have cost $1 billion, according to North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesman Andrew Barksdale.

    The 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 hastened construction of the Outer Loop in two ways. Military authorities asked the state department of transportation to accelerate the local project. Military officials had asked for years that the state provide Fort Bragg direct access to I-95 for the orderly movement of troops and equipment in response to world events requiring the 82nd Airborne Division to respond.

    The DOT diverted funds initially set aside for a highway project in Charlotte for the Fayetteville Outer Loop, now designated as future I-295. The loop will provide unprecedented interstate connectivity for the region and already provides Fort Bragg a direct connection to I-95. Completion of the segment from Bragg Boulevard to Ramsey Street was a key factor in the Army post’s plan to close Bragg Boulevard through the post.

    Work on the section from Ramsey Street to the All American Expressway was completed in three stages: from Ramsey Street to Murchison Road, which was completed in August 2016; from Murchison Road to Bragg Boulevard, which was completed in August 2014; and from Bragg Boulevard to the All American Expressway, which was completed in December 2016.

    DOT said the Fayetteville Outer Loop is critical for the region in that it will not only support the military, it will also promote continued economic growth and strengthen North Carolina’s ability to attract and retain business and industry. DOT said other benefits include reducing the volume of traffic on portions of the local street network; connecting major routes in the south, west and north portions of Fayetteville; and providing an additional crossing of the Cape Fear River.

    The next section of the roadway from the All American Expressway to Cliffdale Road is under construction now and is expected to open to traffic in October of this year. Then comes construction of the segment from Cliffdale Road to Raeford Road. NCDOT awarded an $85.2 million design-build contract in June 2016 for that 3.1-mile stretch.

    Design-build allows all aspects of a project from design through construction to be completed under a single contract. Work also includes replacing the Lake Rim bridge on Old Raeford Road over Bones Creek. It should be completed by May of 2021, according to DOT.

    Remaining segments of future I-295 south of Fayetteville will not be finished until 2022. But for practical purposes, the Outer Loop will provide local residents easy access from I-95 North all the way to Raeford Road, which is precisely what major city highway loops are designed for.

  • 07Fayetteville VA Med CtrWith an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent, U.S. officials say there are more jobs available than workers. Historically, a 4 percent rate is considered full employment. Thousands of jobs at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals across the country remain vacant because VA leaders contend they can’t find qualified candidates who want them, according to an internal report out this month.

    Directors for 140 VA hospitals, including the Fayetteville VA, reported a total of 3,068 staff vacancies, indicated an annual VA Office of Inspector General report.

    For the first time, the report included a breakdown of shortages for each hospital. The numbers don’t include all vacancies, but rather the ones the hospitals can’t fill. The report indicated the Fayetteville VA Medical Center had 43 clinical and non-clinical vacancies. The Durham VA had 51 shortages.

    A lack of qualified candidates is not the only reason that VA directors can’t fill some of their open positions. Noncompetitive salaries, undesirable hours and inflexible work schedules result in high turnover for about half of the hospitals. “(One) facility stated that when a position had high turnover, it resulted in significant overtime, which resulted in even more turnover,” the report reads.

    Mental health providers topped the list for the most-needed occupation. Of the 140 hospitals, 98 reported a shortage of psychiatrists, and 58 hospitals needed more psychologists. Congress passed legislation in August last year requiring the inspector general to report the shortages for each hospital. Each facility director provided the number of shortages as of the beginning of 2018.

    The VA has hired 467 new mental health providers so far this year, and it’s aiming for a net increase of 1,000 providers by 2019, officials said.

    “There’s no question VA needs to look at its hiring and retention programs nationwide, which is exactly why the committee required this OIG report,” said Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “Clinician(s) and other medical facility staff shortages are not unique to VA, but the committee is continuing to look for opportunities to improve the department’s hiring and retention programs.”

    “Appropriate staffing allows a medical facility to function at its full potential,” IG official Nathan McClafferty said in a statement. “It is critically important that VA medical facilities are properly staffed to ensure veterans are provided the best possible health care.”

    A House subcommittee met June 21 to discuss the IG report and VA job vacancies in general. “This report should prompt meaningful discussions at both the local and national level about how to implement, support and oversee staffing in VA medical centers that will result in the highest possible quality of veteran care,” VA Inspector General Michael Missal said in a prepared statement.

    President Trump has named Fayetteville native Robert Wilkie to be the nation’s next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He has been acting VA secretary since late March. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

    The VA is the second-largest federal agency, with more than 360,000 employees.

  • 06Splash Pad 2 Seeking reprieve from the summer heat wave

    The Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation Department has taken steps to provide comfort zones during the summer heat wave. Splash pads now remain open daily until 8 p.m. Splash pads are located at Kiwanis, Massey Hill and Myers Park recreation centers. The Splash pad at J.S. Spivey Recreation Center is closed for repairs and will re-open when the maintenance is completed. Public swimming pools on Langdon Street, at College Lakes Recreation Center and Westover Recreation Center are open Tuesday-Sunday.

    Recreation centers also provide reprieve from the heat with air conditioned, public facilities.

    Local government takes time off

    Fayetteville City Council takes July off each year, primarily so members and administrators can take vacations. City spokesman Kevin Arata said the specifics are privileged for security reasons. When City Manager Doug Hewett takes time off, an assistant manager fills in.

    “Someone is always designated to be in charge,” said Arata. “And even when Doug’s out, he’s still usually checking email, and council members still call.”

    Cumberland County Commissioners also cancel monthly meetings in July.

    “Members of the management team try to schedule leave during July when the commissioners are not meeting,” said Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt. “This leave is coordinated so that either the county manager or one of the assistant county managers is always in the office.” When the county manager is out of the office, she assigns an assistant county manager to be in charge, Shutt added.

    Animal control department

    Cumberland County has a new animal control director. County Manager Amy Cannon has appointed Elaine B. Smith to succeed Dr. John Lauby, who left the department in April. Smith was selected for the position after a recruitment process that attracted applicants from across the country. She has served as the county’s animal control enforcement supervisor in charge of 21 animal control officers.

    “We welcome Mrs. Smith to our leadership team and look forward to working closely with her as we tackle new and existing challenges in animal care and control here in Cumberland County,” said Tracy Jackson, assistant county manager.

    Smith’s professional experience includes working for the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the nonprofit Fayetteville Animal Protection Society. She is a graduate of North Carolina State University.

    A proud military family

    Army 2nd Lt. Austin Miller is a new platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He is shown with his family, which includes President Trump’s choice to lead American and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Army Lt. Gen. Austin “Scott” Miller said American troops were needed in Afghanistan to ensure major terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State, remain unable to launch major attacks against the United States from that country.

    He said a revamped war strategy has made progress, but he doesn’t see an end to the 17-year conflict any time soon. Miller’s last assignment was as chief of Joint Special Operations Command. “I can’t guarantee you any timeline or an end date,” Miller told the Senate Armed Services Committee in a hearing to consider his appointment and nomination to four-star general.

    Army Gen. John Nicholson, a former 82nd Airborne Division commander, has led troops in Afghanistan since March 2016. Miller is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks and take command in August or September, officials said.

    A tribute to a great American

    The WashingtonPost recently ran an article by Steve Hendrix titled “Bob Dole’s final mission.” It’s about former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and what the patriot’s life is like at age 94.

    “Each Saturday, before Bob Dole sets off on his latest vocation, he has cornflakes, a little sugar on top, and a bottle of chocolate Boost. It takes less time to get dressed now that the former Republican presidential candidate allows a nurse to help him. But it remains a rough half-hour for a body racked by war injuries and age. Then comes the 20-minute drive to a monument the former senator all but built himself,” wrote Hendrix, who spent a day with Dole.

    Hendrix also wrote in his piece that “There, from a handicapped parking spot, Dole eases into a wheelchair as the greetings begin — ‘Oh my gosh, Bob Dole!’– finally rolling into his place in the shade just outside the main entrance to the National World War II Memorial. And then they come, bus after bus, wheelchair after wheelchair, battalions of his bent brothers, stooped with years but steeped in pride.”

    North Carolinians came to appreciate Sen. Dole for a couple of reasons: his military and government service and his wife Elizabeth’s service as a U.S. senator from the Tar Heel State. She is a Salisbury, North Carolina, native.

    “Bob Dole has been coming for years to greet these groups of aging veterans, brought at no cost from throughout the country by the nonprofit Honor Flight Network. As Sen. Dole’s mission- driven life has faded into history — combat hero, champion for the disabled, Senate majority leader, 1996 Republican presidential candidate — this final calling has remained, sometimes derailed by the doctors, but still a duty to be fulfilled,” Hendrix observed.

    “He has watched the number of World War II veterans decline over the years, from half the bus to just a few per group, the sun setting on the ‘greatest generation’ that saved the world. ‘I just met a fellow who was 103 years old, he (Dole) says. ‘Sometimes I’m the kid.’ Maybe it keeps him young,” Hendrix wrote.

    Dole’s wife told The Washington Post reporter that her husband is wired to serve. “She joins him frequently on the Saturday outings, helping to direct the receiving line, doubling the number of Senator Doles in the pictures and stories visitors take home. ‘It’s great, all these tremendous men and women,’ she says. ‘Bob has a goal. He wants to make a positive difference in one person’s life every day.’”

  • 07dan cullitonA lot has been written about the diversity of Fayetteville City Council District 2. Another freshman politician has been chosen to succeed former Councilman Tyrone Williams. Williams resigned in May after being accused of attempting to bribe PCH Holdings’ Jordan Jones. The FBI’s Public Corruption Unit has been looking into the allegation.

    Local Chiropractor and construction contractor Dan Culliton was appointed by council to succeed Williams last week. “District 2 is traditionally not as apt to choose someone like me,” said
    Culliton, who is white.

    District 2 is one of four predominantly African-American districts created by the 2010 census to provide for the likely election of minority candidates. However, two other white men have been elected in recent years. Kirk deViere most recently served the district before deciding to seek higher office, paving the way for Williams. In the mid-2000s, businessman Paul Williams was the District 2 council representative.

    Culliton, 48, will be sworn in June 25. He finished runner-up to Tyrone Williams in last year’s general election and will serve the remainder of Williams’ term.

    Culliton told Up & Coming Weekly he isn’t sure if he will seek election next year. He said it will depend on the will of the people.

    “I’m going to be a strong voice for the district,” he said. Of his selection by city council, Culliton said, “They did the right thing; I’ve been engaged in the district for a long time.”

    The district is shaped like a fan with five blades. It also includes a satellite residential area near Fayetteville Regional Airport. Its population is 57 percent African-American.

    The Cumberland County Board of Elections says there are 16,740 registered voters in District 2, an impressive percentage of its 22,000 residents. Of that number, 9,498 voters are African-American. There are 5,039 white voters. But, only 2,600 voters turned out in the general election last November. Williams received a 56 percent majority.

    District 2 is thought of as primarily serving the downtown area and East Fayetteville. There are portions of 21 voting precincts in the district. It also covers a significant part of Haymount north of  Hay Street over to Westmont Drive. On the northside, it includes areas along Ramsey Street as far north as Tokay and Country Club Drives. To the west, the district blankets areas north of and along Bragg Boulevard to Cain Road, where it butts up to District 4. And, east of the river, District 2 encompasses mostly residential neighborhoods from Person Street to Cedar Creek Road out to I-95, exit 49. It goes south along Southern Avenue and Legion Road and on Owen Drive to Village Drive.

     

    PHOTO: Dan Culliton

  • 06Tommy GriffinGeorge T. “Tommy” Griffin was known as an innovator to colleagues. The courthouse crowd also knew Griffin as a fun-filled prankster. He was dedicated to the staff of the Cumberland County Superior Court Clerk’s office. Griffin was buried last week following his death from a long illness. He was 77 years old and served as clerk of court for nearly 30 years.

    Griffin was appointed in 1972, four years after what was then called “the new courthouse” was opened. He won election every four years after that without opposition. Griffin surprised a lot of people when he decided to run for sheriff in 2001. He lost the democratic primary to Earl “Moose” Butler in the 2002 Democratic primary election.

    In the early 1960s, he paid his way through college at what was then Pembroke State University. Soon thereafter, Griffin became involved with the state’s Administrative Office of the Courts in Raleigh. He was a leader in creating a unified state court system after Tar Heel residents passed a constitutional amendment. Under this uniform judicial system, administration and budgeting were centralized. All court personnel are now paid by the state, and the Administrative Office of the Courts is responsible for developing a single budget for the entire judicial system.

    North Carolina Superior Court clerks serve as probate judges. Domestic relations cases involving alimony, child support, child custody, divorce, equitable distribution and juvenile matters are also heard in this court. The clerks also maintain criminal court, civil court and juvenile court records as well as estate records. They provide courtroom clerks for all sessions of court in their respective counties.

    Colleagues were impressed with Gifford’s forward thinking when he became superior court clerk in 1972. As new computer database and record-keeping technologies became available, he implemented them as budgets would allow. Cumberland County began pilot programs that soon went statewide.

    Tommy Griffin was especially keen on his responsibility to the public, providing citizens access to all public court records.

    He also collected fines and court fees and doled out child support payments.

    Former Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Coy Brewer said Griffin was the driving force behind a pretrial release program that Cumberland County implemented to reduce overcrowding at
    the jail.

    Griffin’s senior assistant clerk, Linda Priest, took over for him when he retired in 2001. “He loved a good time” and was quite a jokester, she said.

    Chief District Court Judge Robert Stiehl noted Griffin’s ability to hire hardworking, smart people. Griffin’s survivors include his wife, Pamela, and two sons.

     

    PHOTO: George T. “Tommy” Griffin served as clerk of court for nearly 30 years.

  • 05NewsDigestSection of Cliffdale Road closed to traffic

    The Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad grade crossing on Skibo Road will likely remain under construction a few more days. It has disrupted local traffic since June 18. The North Carolina Department of Transportation closed Skibo Road (U.S. 401 Bypass) in both directions between Cliffdale Road and Chason Ridge Drive. It provides access to Best Buy, Target and other nearby shopping areas.

    The busy corridor is scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m. Friday, June 22. Local motorists will likely use Glensford Drive, which runs parallel to Skibo as a detour.

    Railroad workers are replacing the rubber-type crossing with more durable concrete panels. Aberdeen & Rockfish completed the same type of improvement last year at Raeford and South McPherson Church Roads. After the rail improvements are made, NCDOT will repave the crossing to make a smooth driving transition.

     

    Cumberland County Schools funding boost

    The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners is increasing school funding by several million dollars for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The county is providing $80,150,000 to Cumberland
    County Schools for current expense funding.

    The amount is an increase of $686,891 above the current fiscal year. The school board and county commissioners settled a funding dispute during a mediation June 11.

    County commissioners also agreed to pay the schools 25 percent of tax revenues collected above the budgeted revenues for Fiscal Year 2018. Significantly, the county is also providing $1,315,299 for school nurses; $2,422,025 for School Resource Officers; and $865,093 for Crossing Guards, for a total of $84,752,417 of local county dollars for current expenses next fiscal year.

    “It is our hope that both boards will once again develop a multi-year funding agreement, and we look forward to having those conversations with our new school superintendent,” said Board of
    Commissioners Chairman Larry Lancaster.

    Downtown bridge repair delays

    Reconstruction of the North Cool Spring Street Bridge connecting Grove Street to Person Street will be delayed for several weeks. The city says repairs began in November 2017 and were expected to be completed by now. But problems that had not been found initially have added to the time schedule. This includes repairs to water and sewer mains, bank stabilization, storm drainage, curb and gutter and the sidewalk.

    A portion of North Cool Spring Street was washed away by flood waters from Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Two other downtown bridges over Cross Creek are still closed, one of them – the Ann Street bridge – because of damage three years ago.

    Unattended cooking fires

    Fire officials say walking away from the range while cooking results in one of the most common causes of house fires. There have been at least two instances in Fayetteville of unattended cooking resulting in fires this month.

    The most recent was at a home on McMillan Street off Campbell Avenue downtown. The first arriving fire engine “found a single story, residential structure with fire showing from the front of the
    building,” said Deputy Fire Chief Hieu Sifford.

    Firefighters were able to quickly find the origin of the fire and extinguish the blaze. The lone occupant of the house was not hurt. Sifford said the fire was contained mostly to the kitchen, resulting in an estimated $8,000 in damage.

    The same day, fire crews said unattended cooking resulted in a kitchen fire in Windsor Terrace off Hillsboro Street. The occupant left his cooking on the stove and laid down to take a cap. Chief Sifford said a smoke alarm woke him up to discover the fire. He was not hurt.

    Recycling is up in Fayetteville

    North Carolina’s Recycling and Materials Management Section has released recycling numbers for all 100 counties showing a 5.3 percent increase in paper and container recycling compared to the previous year. Local recycling programs collected more than 1.7 million tons of traditional and nontraditional materials last year.

    “Recycling collection in North Carolina has expanded alongside increasing demand for recyclable material by in-state manufacturers,” said Wendy Worley, Recycling and Materials Management section chief. “Counties and municipalities are targeting much more than paper, cans and plastics. There are so many more materials that can be recycled, like construction debris, wood and electronics, and kept from going into the landfill.”

    North Carolina recovered almost 27,000 more tons of paper than the previous year and 8,000 more tons of metal. Plastics and glass tonnages remained essentially unchanged.

    The state says Cumberland County’s population has grown by 100,000 people since the 1991-92 fiscal year, but recycling here has increased by 32 percent since then. The city of Fayetteville was among the first to make curbside recycling available.

  • 01coverUAC0062018001Local farmers markets are more than just fun, they’re a homegrown solution to food deserts, which are (usually low-income) urban areas where residents must travel long distances to purchase fresh, nutritious food at an affordable price. Food deserts exist across the county, state and country.

    If you do have access to fresh food, shopping at farmers markets is still a smart choice, as the produce will likely be fresher than what you could purchase at a typical grocery store. Supporting farmers markets also reduces the use of fossil fuels needed to transport supermarket produce around the world, and it’s a way to directly invest in the local economy.

    More than just investing dollars, farmers markets offer the unique opportunity to invest in community – to get to know the people growing the food you purchase. You can ask about their growing methods and learn about why they might choose to go 100 percent organic versus simply pesticide- and herbicide-free. You can even ask to visit the grower’s farm, and in many cases, you’ll get a yes.

    Here is a brief list of some of the many farmers markets in the area to get you started.

    Murchison Road Community Farmers Market

    • 1047 Murchison Rd. (North section of BroncoSquare parking lot, in front of Fayetteville StateUniversity Bookstore)

    • Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through October

    • 910-672-2413

    This market was established in 2014 by four Fayetteville State University Business School students. These students applied for and received grants to start a farmers market when  neighborhood markets in the Murchison Road area closed, creating a food desert. Grants came from the Ford Motor Company via the Ford HBCU Community Challenge (Start-up Award), the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program and the city of Fayetteville. SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is accepted at this market.

    The second Wednesday of each month (July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 and Oct. 10) is Healthy Wednesday. Community and service organizations are invited to share information about healthy lifestyle choices. Simple but important screenings, like testing blood pressure and blood sugar levels, are provided free that day. Participating organizations include Cumberland County Department of Social Services, CC Department of Public Health, Cape Fear Valley Health System, FSU Student Health Services, Community Health Interventions and Miller-Motte College.

    Local chefs also visit on Healthy Wednesdays and provide cooking demonstrations using the produce that is available that day from the market.

    Other agencies that offer services to improve lifestyle are also invited to Healthy Wednesdays: Legal Aid of North Carolina, Fayetteville Technical Community College, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and Fayetteville Police Crime Prevention and the Fayetteville Fire Department.

    Participating vendors selling goods include:

    • Spence Family Farm, Spring Lake. Fresh farm in-season produce.

    • Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville. Garden-grown vegetables and potted plants.

    • John Parker, Parker’s Ten Acre Farms, Cedar Creek. Pork products, chicken, eggs from open range chickens.

    • Ms. Cherry’s Baked Goods, Hope Mills. Baked items, like cakes, brownies and cookies.

    • 3BrotherLemonade Stand, Fayetteville. Fresh, made-from-scratch lemonade.

    • Rhonda Jackson, Cumberland County. Homemade soaps.

    City Market at the Museum

    • 325 Franklin St., outside the Fayetteville AreaTransportation and Local History Museum

    • Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round

    • 910-433-1944

    Founded in 2012, City Market at the Museum is a treasure in the heart of downtown Fayetteville. Vendors sell not just local produce, but also local honey and the work of local artisans – blended teas, handmade pottery, soaps, soy candles, jewelry, handblown glass, clothing, baked goods, specialty coffee and much more.

    Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market

    • 5423 Corporation Dr.

    • Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., through October

    • 910-426-2537

    Grab a cold beer from the Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, then stroll and browse options that include fresh produce, local honey, craft kombucha, pasture-raised meats, eggs, fresh-caught fish and shrimp, clothes, flowers, beverages, coffee and even homemade popsicles and ice cream.

    The market is dog-friendly and is next to a dog park, so bring your lawn chair and enjoy the family atmosphere on Sunday afternoons.

    This market was born out of a desire for Dirtbag Ales and Sustainable Sandhills to work together and show off the bounty of the Sandhills. Sustainable Sandhills is the acting market manager; its mission is to save the planet while preserving the environment through education, demonstration and collaboration.

    Gillis Hill Farm Produce

    • 2899 Gillis Hill Rd.

    • Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., through January

    • 910-308-9342 or 910-867-2350

    For the past 200 years, the Gillis family has owned and operated this farm. They have a roadside mart that provides, depending on the season, apple butter, apple cider, apples, beans,  blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, greens, herbs, honey, Indian corn, grapes, Muscadine grapes, nectarines, onions, peaches, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini, pecans, jams and jellies.

    There are also seasonal Christmas trees, wreaths, vegetable plants, boiled peanuts, mums, strawberry picking, corn mazes and hay rides.

  • 12FTCC militaryFayetteville Technical Community College is an industry leader in awarding college credit for prior learning experiences to include military training. With over 200 military career evaluations and more than 250 programs of study, FTCC offers members of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans the opportunity to pursue a higher education degree while utilizing the training they have completed as a part of their military career.

    Whether advancing within the military or transitioning to the civilian workforce, military students and veterans will find that FTCC is committed to their success. As the leader in credit for prior learning, FTCC specializes in translating military training to college-level learning and credit.

    FTCC is committed to offering service members and veterans the opportunity to complete programs of the highest quality and integrity as they pursue personal and professional success goals.  FTCC’s most popular and most flexible degree is the associate in general education, which allows students to capitalize on credits earned through military training and transfer with ease to one of FTCC’s partner institutions for an advanced degree.

    The associate in general education degree consists of 64 total semester hours, 48 of which may be applied from other colleges and institutions as well as from military training. To earn this degree at Fayetteville Tech, a minimum of 16 semester hours must be taken with our institution, either online or face to face. Often, many military students and veterans pursuing this degree only need to complete the general education courses, such as English, math and social science, to complete the degree.

    In addition to offering the associate in general education, FTCC offers several certificate and diploma programs. FTCC is committed to providing in-demand educational opportunities that will benefit students in the professional environment, giving them an edge on the competition when seeking employment on the civilian market. Several certificate programs in the criminal justice technology and supply chain management fields have been added recently. Many of the courses necessary for the certificates may be awarded through the training military service members and veterans have already received in their careers. Most of these certificates are completed within two semesters.

    FTCC recognizes the fact that service members train hard to achieve and maintain a standard of excellence and that their efforts deserve to be recognized in the civilian world. Awarding college
    credit for military training also serves our veterans as they make the transition from active duty to civilian life. Fayetteville Tech places these students on the fast track to earning educational
    credentials and being prepared for a competitive work environment.

    Students who wish to have their military training converted to college credit will simply need to submit the joint services transcript to FTCC by logging in at https://jst.doded.mil and following the
    prompts for submitting an official transcript.

    Email johnsontr@faytechcc.edu or call 910-678-0166 to answer any questions. Students can sign up now for fall classes.

     

    PHOTO: Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash.

  • 11ToyDriveAs a community, Cumberland County has many organizations that try to look after children and make the holidays a special time. The need is great, and budgets are often small. But a little creativity and generosity from those who are willing to give make a big difference. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office presents “5 Days of Christmas in July Toy Drive” Monday, July 23, to Friday, July 27.

    “For the last 21 years, the Sheriff’s Office has been doing shop with the sheriff where we assist deserving, less than fortunate families that come from the Cumberland County Schools and are recommended by the school social workers,” said Shawna Leake, lieutenant of community policing for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. “I was getting inundated with calls from people asking how they can get on the list, and I found myself referring those families to The Salvation Army and Fayetteville Urban Ministry.”

    Leake added that she approached the Sheriff and asked if there was any way they could assist those agencies that they were referring people to. This is how “5 Days of Christmas in July” was established.

    The toys will be donated to the Salvation Army and Fayetteville Urban Ministry. The event organizers are asking for appropriate toys for school-aged children.

    “Please steer away from purchasing toy guns and other items of violence,” said Leake.

    Unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the following locations: July 23 at the Walmart at 2820 Gillespie St. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; July 24 at J. P. Riddle Stadium from 5-10 p.m.; July 25 at the Sheriff’s Office at 131 Dick St. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; July 26 at the Walmart at 4601 Ramsey St. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and July 27 at Fourth Friday at 311 Hay St. from 5-9 p.m. Bring an unwrapped toy to the baseball game on July 24 and receive $2 off the price of admission.

    “We appreciate the support of the community for this cause, and we want it to be a huge success so we can give toys to children,” said Leake. “Our goal is to help these agencies out in any way possible.” For more information, contact Lt. Leake at 910-824-4146 or sleake@ccsonc.org.

  • 07recall petitionFayetteville City Council is considering asking the legislature for authority to give citizens the right to recall elected officials who misbehave in office. It’s an outgrowth of the attempted bribery case involving former District 2 Councilman Tyrone Williams. City attorney Karen McDonald told council several North Carolina cities have recall provisions in their charters. But, she said, there is no consistent pattern to the various arrangements.

    McDonald offered ideas that council members can consider, such as a method by which citizens could circulate a petition of grievances. It would require a predetermined percentage of registered voters’ signatures, which would be submitted to the Cumberland County Board of Elections. Once certified, the elected official would have five days to resign or face a recall election.

    Because council members are elected from districts, one question that remained unanswered is whether the vote would be in the district where the member was elected or citywide. “Whatever we do wrong impacts the entire city,” said Councilman Bill Crisp.

    “If city taxpayers pay for the recall election, city taxpayers should vote,” agreed Councilman Jim Arp.

    City Manager Doug Hewett cautioned that city council must take care in developing criteria for having members removed from office. “This is something that is extraordinary; an avenue of last resort,” he said.

    North Carolina does not provide for statewide recall elections. Virginia’s law states that recalls can be held when “neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of the office.”

    Council is also considering a plan to do away with primary elections and extending terms of office from two to four years. Mayor Mitch Colvin said any such changes would be put to a vote of the people.

    “Primaries cost a lot of money and serve no purpose,” Crisp said. He said primaries cost the city $100,000 and that he wants to save the money.

    Councilwoman Kathy Jensen voted against the Crisp plan to cancel primaries. She thinks they help ensure the ultimate winners of the general election have clear support of the voters.

    Crisp also wants to raise the filing fees for city council candidates to one percent of the annual salary.

    Councilwoman Tisha Waddell objected, saying, “There are people who may not have a lot of money but have a lot to offer.”

    Crisp contended that candidates who have popular support could easily raise the money to pay the higher filing fees.

    City council took no action on any of the proposals but agreed to further discuss conditions that would justify including recall elections in the city charter.

  • 06I 95I-95 widening funded by federal government

    U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis have announced that Interstate 95 will be widened to eight lanes north and south of Fayetteville. A $147 million federal infrastructure grant has been earmarked for the project.

    The announcement said the project will provide for widening from exit 56 in Eastover to exit 71 in Dunn and between Fayetteville and Lumberton.

    The state Department Of Transportation also plans to widen the interstate from Dunn to Benson, where it intersects with Interstate 40. Little more has been said about the project, but Gov. Roy Cooper’s office released a statement that described the importance of the widening to military transportation and commerce.

    The state DOT indicated earlier that I-95 widening projects wouldn’t begin until 2026, but the $147 million federal grant could accelerate the project.

    Cliffdale Road widening opposed

    Fayetteville city officials hope to convince the NC DOT not to go through with a plan to widen a residential section of Cliffdale Road. Council adopted a resolution expressing opposition to a proposed $16 million project to widen the neighborhood stretch of roadway from two to four lanes with a center median.

    The roadway in question is the original onemile stretch of Cliffdale between Morganton and McPherson Church Roads. It is considered a state street over which DOT has jurisdiction. Residents
    of the area are opposed to the project. They fear a widened road would result in heavier traffic and a reduction of property values.

    County Government adopts new budget

    The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has adopted its Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget. The ad valorem property tax rate remains at 79.9 cents per $100 of valuation. The budget, which must be balanced by state law, includes $478 million in total expenditures, with a general fund total of $316 million. That represents savings of about $7 million less than the FY2018 adopted budget. The decrease was attributed to the implementation of child care subsidies being paid directly from the state and no longer through county budgets.

    “We thought we had a pretty solid budget, and in the spirit of cooperation, we were able to come together and approve it unanimously,” said Chairman Larry Lancaster.

    County employees will receive a three percent pay increase. Funding for Cumberland County Schools totals $79,463,109. An additional $398,937 is budgeted for seven school nurses. In addition to the new nurses, the budget includes 11 new full-time and two part-time positions in the general fund and abolishes one full-time Animal Control administrative support specialist position. The new positions include two full-time and two part-time animal shelter attendants, plus a full-time veterinarian. Two telecommunicator positions will be added to Emergency Services for Animal Control dispatch.

    Festival Park Plaza leased

    A leading Fayetteville realtor is moving its offices to downtown Fayetteville to “better position itself in the marketplace,” said Denise Strother, CEO of ERA Strother Real Estate. She said as many as 100 employees will occupy the second floor of the Festival Park Plaza building at 225 Ray Ave.

    Developer Jordan Jones bought the building recently from the city of Fayetteville, which has signed a long-term lease for use of the first floor. The third floor is also leased.

    Strother says the 15,000 square feet on the second floor will house Strother Real Estate, SPM Property Management and Lendello Mortgage Co. as well as corporate offices. Jones has agreed to add 132 spaces to an extended parking lot at the rear of the building, according to Strother. She says the company plans to move into the building the first of the year once some upfitting is completed.

    Fayetteville businessman John Malzone said, “This is a great addition to our downtown workforce. Having a large, successful company relocate to our central city shows where the future of Fayetteville is. The future is downtown.”

  • 02PubPenchildhood cancerPublisher Bill Bowman is on vacationthis week and yields this space to Rep. RichardHudson for an update.


    As the saying goes, “A little progress each day adds up to big results.” Just as longterm pressure creates diamonds or water in a river eventually smooths stone, dedicated and persistent efforts often yield big results. As we mark the first 500 days of the Trump administration, our continuous efforts in the House of Representatives have added up to some impressive wins for the
    American people. Make no mistake, there’s still much more work to do, but we are getting our nation back on the right track and making a real difference in people’s lives.

    This Congress, we’ve taken the lead on keeping our promises to the American people. So far, we’ve passed 695 bills out of the House, with 175 of them being signed into law by President Donald Trump.

    What are those bills we’ve passed? How about tax cuts that have led to more jobs and more take-home pay for working families across the country. How about bipartisan legislation to reduce the flow of fentanyl and synthetic opioids across our borders and to get these dangerous drugs off our streets. How about bipartisan legislation to give critically ill patients the ability to try innovative and potentially lifesaving medications. All of these and more have already been signed into law.

    This week, we also added two more major accomplishments to that growing list. Trump signed the bipartisan Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act, the most significant pediatric cancer research bill ever passed by Congress. As the co-chair of the Pediatric Trauma Caucus and a proud father, I recognize how critical it is to care for our children, and this is another important step to help deliver hope and cures to children and their families.

    Another piece of legislation that was signed into law this week was the VA MISSION Act. This bipartisan bill seeks to make good on one of our most sacred promises – to take care of our men and women in uniform both before and after their service. By condensing all the various community care programs at the VA into one single program, we can empower veterans to more easily access a doctor who suits their unique needs. This bill follows the same principles of my bill, the Care Veterans Deserve Act, to make sure veterans can access private health care if they want.

    While we celebrate these accomplishments, I know there is still a lot of work to be done. Unfortunately, there are still more than 500 House-passed bills that are collecting dust waiting on action in the Senate. These are not meaningless bills either – they are critical initiatives like improving job opportunities for veterans and helping to end human trafficking.

    This Congress, Washington continues to be plagued by historic obstructionism. However, I know there is too much at stake to give up. As your voice in Congress, I’ll continue to push for our shared values. We must continue to fight every day, and I won’t give up until the job is done. There’s too much at stake.

  • 01coverUAC0061318001In general, we think we know history, or at least have working knowledge of it. Finding out differently can be enlightening and even jarring, but knowing the truth, in context, is freeing – for everyone. Tuesday, June 19, the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center presents Hari Jones, an expert on the role of African-Americans in the Civil War. Jones’ speech “How the Civil War Made America Great” begins at 7 p.m. and will take place at Fayetteville State University in the Rudolph Jones Student Center.

    Jones has shared his extensive knowledge of African-American history on programs and documentaries aired on CSPAN, Fox News, NBC, PBS, BBC, the American Heroes Channel, the History Channel, the Smithsonian Channel and many local outlets. He was a content developer for the National Park Service museum at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Tuskegee, Alabama, a content adviser for the American Civil War Center exhibit “Take Our Stand” and a content adviser for the National Archives and Records Administration exhibit “Discovering the Civil War.” He also curated the exhibit “Clearing a Path for Democracy: Citizen Soldiers of the Fighting Eighth in World War I” at the DuSable Museum of African-American History in Chicago.

    Jones credits his grandmother and great-grandmother with fostering his passion for history. “I was a curious child,” he said. “I was really interested in the military, so they directed me to books written by African-American authors like William Nell, whose book ‘The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution’ was published in 1852.” Jones read extensively about the African-American experience throughout our nation’s history, specifically seeking out sources written by African-Americans so he could learn about their viewpoints.

    Jones continued to study the military and history, eventually joining the Marine Corps where he served as an infantryman, an artillery officer and an intelligence officer. As an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, Jones had an experience that focused his passion for American history, specifically from the African-American perspective.

    “I taught Marine Corps practicum,” Jones said. “I asked one of my peers why there were no African-American teachings on American war, and he said, ‘because they didn’t write anything.’ I knew that was false, so I realized this was a need even in our military academies. So, when I retired, I went to the Library of Congress.”

    Jones spent almost every day there for about three years. During that time, he read books from the perspective of African-Americans. But when he wanted to study what he called “the big picture” and strategy, he found that the African-American voice was missing. “It was annoying because it was like telling the story of the NBA finals and making it appear there were no African-Americans on the court,” Jones said. “So, I started working more on finding primary sources. Once I was conversant, I wanted to share what I knew.”

    And he’s been doing that ever since. He said it’s not always easy, though, because Americans have certain perspectives ingrained in the collective psyche. And these perspectives are often factually incorrect and even destructive.

    “One of the biggest challenges in telling history accurately is that we have so many people invested in false narratives and who are even victims of false narratives,” Jones said. “Often, they’ve been successful and have even built their career on it. Think about it this way: If you go to the doctor and tell him lies about your family’s medical history, he can’t help you as he could if you told him the truth. America as a country cannot heal what ails us if we don’t face our truth.”

    When the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center was in the early planning stages, senior consultant David Winslow took a group of leaders from Fayetteville to look at museums in Washington, D.C. The team visited the African American Civil War Museum. That’s where they first heard Hari Jones; he was giving a talk on the Civil War from the African-American perspective. “It was an eye-opening experience,” Winslow said. “This is an important part of the American story. We invited him to Fayetteville in 2012, and he gave a talk at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. It was filled to the rafters with more than 400 people. We knew we wanted to have him back, and this seemed like the perfect time. Where he is coming from is different (than) where others come from.”

    The presentation scheduled for June 19 focuses on the perspective that there were no losers – North or South, Union or Confederate – because the war effectively formed a more perfect union and secured liberty for millions of Americans who had not known such freedom before. In his talk about how the Civil War made America great, Jones stresses that the Civil War story “belongs to all of us. It is the story of how we got rid of that which made us less than great.”

    One way that Jones approaches the topic is his stance that in being honest about who we are as a country, we need to tell history not based on which side our ancestors fought on.

    “All of us who are Americans should be pleased with the outcome,” he said. “I hope this takes us to (a place) where, when we talk about this subject, we talk about it as Americans. I hope I
    can work in telling the story in such a way that people are not making it a race discussion but a discussion of how America became great. I want America to appreciate this chapter in our history as an American story – because it is an American story.”

    The lecture, which is free and open to the public, comes on Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery
    in Texas. It has also come to commemorate more generally the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans throughout the former Confederacy.

    For more information, call the NC Civil War & Reconstruction History Center at 910-491-0602 or visit www.nccivilwarcenter.com.

    .

  • 10ElectionFayetteville City Council elections have been non-partisan since the council-manager form of government was established in 1948. Regardless of the structure of local government, candidates for office are not identified by their political party affiliations. It’s common among municipal governments in North Carolina.

    State law allows four different types of municipal election methods. These four methods are outlined by the North Carolina Legislature in Chapter 163, Article 24 of the state’s general statutes. A municipality’s chosen method of election is codified in its charter. The Fayetteville city charter provides that all nine members of council and the mayor be elected every two years.

    The mayor is elected citywide. Council members are chosen in nine separate districts, which are comparable in size. At-large elections were eliminated in 2000 when a blue-ribbon commission recommended the current election method.

    If there are more than two candidates for each district seat, there will be a primary election. The primary will trim the number of candidates to two per district, and they would advance to the general election in November. If needed, the primary would occur in October.

    Some city council members want to change the terms of office to four years. Others do not. As a group, the body has done little to promote the proposition publicly. They scheduled a public hearing during the last meeting and only three people spoke. One speaker pointed out that two-year terms are the most constitutionally sound form of government.

    Members of the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives serve two-year terms. U.S congressmen also serve for two years. Critics of longer terms of office contend that voters have
    short memories.

    City council took no action when reminded by city attorney Karen McDonald that the agenda called only for a public hearing.

    The mayor and city council are the “board of directors” for the municipal corporation. As such, they set policy, approve the financing of all city operations and enact ordinances, resolutions and
    orders. Their responsibilities also include appointing the city manager, city attorney and members of various boards and commissions.

    The city manager functions as the chief operating officer, administers the policy and decisions made by city council and oversees the day-to-day operations of city government. It is the city manager’s responsibility to ensure that all city services are delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner and to provide vision and leadership to the city organization.

    Members promoting a change propose that half the members serve four-year staggered terms with the others elected in opposite cycles two years later.

    The cities of Durham and Wilmington have an interesting election pattern. Council members serve four-year terms. The mayor is elected every other year. Of the state’s largest cities, only Charlotte’s city council is politicly partisan, holding democratic and republican primaries with the winners meeting in the fall. Asheville, Greensboro and Winston-Salem elect their council members to four-year terms. Some are staggered. Durham voters hold all their members politically accountable at the same time.

    Most municipal elections are held in odd years. A few municipalities elect their officials in evennumbered years. Although municipal elections are conducted by county boards of election, only
    residents of the municipality are qualified to vote in city elections. These voters must have resided in the municipality for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election.

  • 09transitFayetteville bus fares will not be going up in the next fiscal year. City council denied a request by the Fayetteville Area System of Transit and its citizen advisory committee, which recommended across-the-board increases for all fare schedules. Transit Director Randy Hume had proposed a single trip fare increase from $1.25 to $1.50. The popular day pass would have gone up from $3 to $4. Mayor Mitch Colvin noted the increases would have resulted in local fares being higher than other cities.

    Hume said the fare increases would have generated $133,000, which the advisory committee indicated would have been applied to pay raises for bus operators. Officials said new bus operators earn $13 an hour. After six months, the hourly rate goes to $13.75. Hume told council that employee turnover, especially among bus drivers, is about 15 percent.

    Council members Jim Arp and Tisha Waddell said FAST should find creative ways to market the transit system to increase ridership. “We need to get on the bus,” Waddell said. She said an “active and aggressive marketing campaign” is needed to encourage more people to ride the bus.

    Councilwoman Kathy Jensen said her experience was that modern FAST buses are clean and safe. Several members pointed to the recent opening of the downtown transit center as a point of pride for the community.

    Finding the new District 2 council member

    City council heard from the nine citizens who would like to succeed Tyrone Williams as the District 2 council member. Williams resigned after being accused of attempted bribery in a local
    downtown business venture. Council asked the candidates to make five-minute presentations during a May 29 televised council meeting. Candidates appeared in alphabetical order.

    Former Fayetteville Police attorney Patricia Bradley told how she was raised in a poor neighborhood but won scholarships and grants and put herself through law school. “I am a fierce advocate
    for under-resourced communities” she said. Bradley lives in Haymount, having practiced law for 23 years. A portion of Haymount is in District 2, which stretches from Cain Road near Eutaw Village through downtown to east Fayetteville.

    Business owner Len Brown said he’s lived in the district since 1952. “I know District 2,” he said. He added that the community needs a full-time representative and claimed he could create more jobs than any of the candidates.

    Vernell Cruz is an advocate for the disabled and said she has lived in Fayetteville only 6 years or so. She told council she didn’t expect to be appointed but appreciated the opportunity to appear.

    Dan Culletin also lives in Haymount and is a known political entity in the district. He ran for the council seat in November and came in second. He applauded council for the way it handled the Williams situation. “Citizen engagement is the cornerstone of democracy,” he told council. He noted he is the only person running for the post who has already curried favor of District 2 residents.

    Mary “Bunny” English lives on Hillsboro Street near downtown. She said she is a former broadcaster and a lifelong resident of Fayetteville.

    William Gothard is a retired Army officer who manages a program at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He, too, is a Haymount resident and has served on the city’s Historic Resources Commission and Zoning Commission.

    Phillip McCorquodale is vice president of operations for Phillips Towing Service and a former chairman of the Cumberland County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

    George Mitchell is an Army veteran who is licensed in real estate and insurance.

    Sharon Moyer is the community engagement manager for Partnership for Children and is a former executive director of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival.

    Real estate broker George Turner has also volunteered and has served on various city and county awards.

  • The “No Tax Manifesto”

    Everyone who is familiar with the story of the Pied Piper remembers the greedy, ill prepared bureaucrats and uninformed villagers (citizens) who slighted and deceived a mystical musician who had done them a great deed by playing a magical tune on his ̀ute to rid their village of a terrible and rabid rat infestation. This act saved the village and their lives. In response, the bureaucrats and uninformed villagers slighted the piper (he wasn’t paid). In response, the Pied Piper once again played his magical tune. Only this time, all the children of the village began to dance and sing while gleefully following him directly into a mountain where they were never seen or heard of again. So, the moral of the story? Sooner or later the people of the village had to “pay the piper.” And, so it will go if this community blindly accepts a tax increase of any size before we have all the facts about how our tax dollars are currently being spent and managed — or mismanaged.

    06-04-14-pub-notes.gifThe “No Tax Manifesto”has been created from comments and criticisms heard from many Fayetteville citizens who do not feel that our City Manager and City Council are looking closely enough for ways to avoid what some people already think is a done deal — an inevitable 4.2- or 3.8-cent tax increase.

    What difference does it make? Well, it makes a lot of difference to many citizens who think the increase is not needed and that there is not enough being done to maximize or conserve our current tax resources. They do not think that prudent decisions are being made on how to spend and allocate our tax dollars. Of course, this is hard work. So the City Council should insist that the City Manager get to work and take on this responsibility to produce an accurate assessment of our community needs and resources. The City Council should investigate all the needs brought forth to them and resist listening and marching to the music of a “Pied Piper” without proper due diligence. Fayetteville citizens ultimately know best. Here are comments and questions heard echoing throughout the community. Once compiled, these comments made the perfect “No Tax Manifesto.”Enjoy!

    Residents would appreciate and respect being provided straight and honest answers to all questions referred to City Manager and Council members. i.e.

    • What specifically are the reductions taken by city departments?

    • What outsourcing opportunities have been identified that could save the City money and reduce the operating budget?

    • How many budgeted unfilled positions does the city have open and how long have they been vacant?

    • How many budgeted positions have been vacant for more than thirty months? $$$ Value?

    • Why have these positions not been eliminated?

    • If the positions are unfilled and have not been eliminated, what is the budgeted money being spent on?

    • No doubt city residents are willing to fund and sacrifice for the funding of more police officers and staff. That being said, then what is the justification for proposing 4-10 percent salary increases for city management?

    • Enlighten the residents about what we are paying our top city management. Residents should know how much of the proposed tax increase is going to increasing the iǹated salaries of the City Manager and City Management. Could this be an example of income inequality?

    • Articulate in detail some of the potential savings from merging PWC and city departments.

    • Discontinue ambiguous statements like the city “is lean” or “we just can’t cut anymore.” Talk in specifics about these situations

    .• Provide specific assurances that all city departments are being managed and operated efficiently. Address areas that are not. Again, specifically.

    • Specifically describe efficiencies and budget-saving measures found in all departments.

    • Disclose and define what discretionary funding is. How will the City Manager use this money in the future? Why is it discretionary?

    • It should be considered that only the loyal, hardworking rank-and-file workers of the City receive a 2.5 percent salary increase. All other city management, including the Mayor and City Council, should forego any salary rate increases.

    • Assure Fayetteville residents that the budget proposed is specifically for funding police, reducing crime and providing essential city services to our residents and not for building bureaucracies like economic development or allocating funding to iǹate the salaries of upper management and hire more staff.

    • Emphatically, fund the police department first. Then fund everything else.

    • New revenue and funding sources. What are they? Who is coming up with innovative ideas?

    •Transparency is a must. The taxpayers need to know what part of the tax increase is going to city management salary increases. Also, make sure all City Councilmen knowingly admit that they understand this. This way they cannot claim after the fact they were not aware of the process.

    •Share with the residents how big the city staff has grown over the past three years compared to private industry in Fayetteville.

    • Get a consensus from the Mayor and City Council: Ask the question, “Should the city government be iǹating itself at a time when the cost will be born largely by Fayetteville’s working middle class, seniors, retirees and our low income families — all of which cannot afford it?”

    In conclusion, time is not on the citizens’ side. This is coming down to the wire and a rush vote with an unfortunate tone of “Oh well, a 3.8-cent increase is better than a 4.2-cent increase.” Then everyone votes for the compromise. No. This is NOT the way it should be done. Everyone must be held accountable. At this point, there are way too many unanswered questions and uninformed city councilmen who are not leading but being led. It is here that courage and backbone are essential. Step one: Get the facts. Step two: Stand up, take a position and be prepared to defend it with specifics. Not generalizations. This is real leadership. Within the week, we’ll see who has it.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

    Photo: Before raising taxes, find out what the Fayetteville residents have to say.

  • 08SwimmingWill indoor public pools become year-round facilities?

    With a fourth public swimming pool in the offing, it may be that Fayetteville’s two newest pools will soon become year-round facilities. City council is considering purchasing portable enclosures for the pools at Westover and College Lakes Recreation Centers.

    Parks and Recreation Director Michael Gibson said both pools were designed to accommodate tent-like inflatable domes supported by lightweight crossbars. Once installed, they could be raised and lowered with little effort to enclose the pools, making them useable in cold weather.

    The city administration is developing guidelines and procedures to accommodate high school swim teams and other aquatic clubs that have expressed interest in utilizing the pools. Swim club supporters note that the only local indoor pool of adequate size is located at Fayetteville State University.

    The hope is that Cumberland County Schools will be interested in joining with the city to finance the enclosures. Gibson estimates they would cost as much as $65,000 each. Additional annual operating expenses are estimated at $20,000 a year. The pools currently are open four months out of the year.

    Career criminals imprisoned

    Two Fayetteville men have been given lengthy federal prison terms as violent, repeat offenders. Dontrell Wright, 24, and Calvin Spearman, 23, both of Fayetteville, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan.

    Wright will spend 19 years in prison. Spearman was sentenced to 14.5 years. Both men will also spend 5 years of supervised release.

    Eastern North Carolina U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon Jr. said the defendants were named in a seven-count indictment in September of last year for robbing two local Subway restaurants and a
    Pizza Hut in January 2017.

    Wright and Spearman pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting. The U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the Take Back North Carolina Initiative. The program emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with local law enforcement and district attorney’s offices to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking and crimes against law enforcement.

    The investigation of this case was conducted by the Hope Mills Police Department, the Fayetteville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Fayetteville man named VA Secretary

    President Trump has named Robert Wilkie to be the nation’s next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Wilkie, a Fayetteville native, has been acting VA secretary since late March.

    His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Wilkie has also been serving in the Department of Defense as undersecretary for personnel and readiness. Prior to that, Wilkie was senior
    advisor to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, and held numerous roles during the administration of President George W. Bush.

    “Robert is one of the most honorable and decent human beings I’ve ever worked with,” said Tillis. “Anyone who knows him has seen his drive to serve his country and his passion for honoring our nation’s veterans and service members, qualities that will be tremendous assets at the VA.”

    Wilkie replaces the previous VA secretary, David Shulkin.

    The VA is the nation’s second-largest government agency, charged with caring for 9 million veterans and more than 1,700 government-run health care facilities.

  • Vote Yes for Truth, Transparency and Due Diligence

    As you read this article, please note it was written last week so I have no idea where we stand on the great Fayetteville City Council budget debate on how much of a tax increase Fayetteville citizens will shoulder. However, I was pleased they agreed to hold two more meetings to discuss the options.

    Ahhhh, the art of compromise!

    Hey, after all, devising a $200+ million spending plan takes time and consideration one would think. So, what do we citizens know for sure? Maybe four things:

    One: Crime is our #1 concern.

    Two: Citizens are willing to pay for more officers, security and safety.

    Three: Citizens are not at all sure of anything else.

    Four: City Manager Ted Voorhees’ proposed budget has an extreme amount of non essential fat in it that he defends vigorously.

    It was encouraging to me that two of the four freshmen councilmen, Kathy Jensen and Mitch Colvin, agreed to a smaller increase if the money went to hiring more police officers. I admire that, but, why have any increase at all?

    Also puzzling to many is why the other two council newbies, Chalmers McDougald and Larry Wright, resist the history, logic and experience of respected and seasoned council members like Ted Mohn, Bill Crisp and Jim Arp.

    Another major puzzlement is the obvious lack of transparency in the creation and presentation of the proposed budget.

    From where I am standing, Fayetteville citizens just don’t have the facts about how their tax dollars are being spent and the state of the city’s finances. If they did, they would know that an $8 storm water and solid waste fee is actually a “tax.”

    More importantly, they would ask where the city has spent the $2 million plus each year that was earmarked for 48 unfilled city positions. Yes, transparency is a major concern.

    Why else would local residents form a political action committee (Independent Voters Coalition) and launch a last minute telephone campaign in an effort to inform the public that unless their council representative (Bobby Hurst) has done his due diligence on Voorhees’ budget proposal they could very well be voting in a tax increase that is unwarranted, unjustified and ill conceived.

    Yes, this could happen, and, it would be irreversible.

    Of course, Voorhees initial reaction to the PAC’s fiscal S.O.S., as reported in the Fayetteville Observer, was to call them all liars. Hmmmm? Not a very good strategy for building consensus.

    Well, we’ll see.

    Here’s what I know for sure: Crime prevention is the number one priority. Fund it. City employees (except management) deserve a pay increase. Fund it. Any other needs in the proposed budget — PROVE IT!

    A special thanks to Mike Chandler and the Independent Voters Coalition for attempting to enlighten Fayetteville citizens on the facts and the issues.

    Transparency.

    Nothing to fear here, but the unknown.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • Some Good News About Today’s Youth

    Some people call them Generation Y and others call them Generation Me. I’m referring to the people who are populating our middle and high schools right now. They are the last of their generation, which began around 1984 and ended with those born in 2004.

    Much ink has been given to their predicted contributions to society. Author Jean Twenge wrote Generation Me, and, considers them to have the traits of confidence and tolerance, but also identifies a sense of entitlement and narcissism based on personality surveys that showed increasing narcissism among Millennials compared to preceding generations. This lack of caring seen in today’s teens has many wringing their hands and shaking their heads in despair.

    Stop already.

    06-25-14-pub-notes-1.gifToday’s youth are no different than those who have come in the past. They are just dealing with more stuff at a faster rate than any other generation has had to. Technology has brought the world to the door steps in all its goodness and badness. But even with that, their are still amazing students out there who do amazing things every day.

    So, this week, Bill Bowman gave me his space so I can bring you some good news about the Me Generation.

    Myself and Jerred Sanders, the operations officer of Up & Coming Weekly, spent all of last week with about 45 members of the Me Generation. (Thanks Bill for your support!)

    These students spent all of last week, in its grueling heat and humidity, working to help others. And, no, they were not in trouble and they were not forced to do it. They did it because it mattered. They did it because reaching out to people who need help was important. They did it because one small group of kids decided that it wasn’t about them. 06-25-14-pub-notes-2.gif

    And, that’s the good news. Today’s generation isn’t all about themselves. They look around them and they see a world in need. They see people hurting. They see people who need cared for and they want to help.

    A lot of us do as well. But we never take that step. These young adults did. Instead of opting to take a trip to a camp or the beach, they asked where can we help, who can we help and who will help us?

    The students with the spark came from Green Springs Baptist Church’s Undone Student Ministry. They invited their friends from Cape Fear Baptist and Mount Pisgah to join in. And, then, they spent five days working. They cleaned yards and raked pine straw. They hauled away years06-25-14-pub-notes-3.gifof trash and debris. They went in places that most adults wouldn’t step foot in to lend a hand to those in need. The princesses with perfect hair and makeup were so much more beautiful with sweat running day their faces, hair bunched in a ponytail and dirty hands reaching out in love to their fellow man.

    They helped to feed the hungry by giving a day at the Second Harvest Food Bank, doing more in one day than food bank officials say most groups do in three. They went to the Red Springs Mission Camp and again, worked themsleves out of a job completing eight projects, when camp officials thought they would only finish half of them. They went to the Baptist Children’s Home in Pembroke and brought such love and kindness to the children there, that leaders at the home drove back to Cumberland County to let their children spend the evening with the students.

    You can tell me today’s youth are going to hell in a handbasket. And I can tell you they are not. For I have seen their hearts and I have seen their faith — and I’ve seen them put both on the line to help those in need. Have you done the same?

  • We Will Do It Our Way: Farmers Market Hits the Deck

    ...Parking deck that is. Honestly, when I first heard we had hired a consulting firm to help city and county officials determine an adequate location for a Fayetteville Farmers Market, I knew another dual governmental fiasco was about to begin.

    06-18-14-pub-notes.gifWhy?

    Well, first of all, both the city and county have a long history of spending taxpayers money on surveys, consultants and studies that end up being either totally ignored or rejected. Why? Because the stated results did not confirm, support or justify their predetermined outcome or they just wanted to create the illusion and appearance of executing proper due diligence.

    Two examples come to mind: In Fayetteville there was the Multi-Modal Transit Center. A firm from Charlotte, headed up by former politico Harry Gantt recommended three sites from the many proposed by the city. After a presentation outlining the reasons behind their selection, the city council chose none of them as an option. As a result, it will be built in a highly protested area between Robeson, Russell, Franklin and Winslow streets. The small site will not allow for growth or for the construction proposed by the consultants. Many in the community, including those whose businesses were and will be impacted believe it is an inappropriate site.

    Last year, Cumberland County residents in the Cedar Creek area insisted they needed transportation service to downtown Fayetteville. Despite studies and indications that supported otherwise, the county commissioner’s spent $14,000 to prove their point and appease their constituents. It was a needless expenditure. See the point?

    Most recently, the county spent $24,000 on a search for a new county manager to replace retiring manager James Martin. Why?

    In a matter of weeks, after the money was spent, the commissioners voted unanimously to award the job to Deputy County Manager Amy Cannon who was actively serving as interim county manager. Cannon’s reputation, work ethic and competence has served Cumberland County with distinction for well over two decades making her the obvious choice. I guess a $24,000 CYA is a good deal when your spending other people’s money.

    However, I digress. Personally, I was never a fan of locating the Farmers Market in the parking deck. But, then again, I feel its current location at the Transportation Museum is appropriate and complements our downtown community. However, location is only one deterrent to the success of a downtown Farmers Market; a new location will not solve the problem.

    For some unknown reason the city and county are trying much too hard to artificially force the success of a Farmers Market on the community while ignoring at least six important points of consideration and reality. Actual need, demand, competition, marketing, advertising and promotion. Six strikes and you’re out! Twice!

    In any case, let’s get on with it. We already have more than a dozen “fruit and vegetable” stands effectively serving our community. Half of them are known as “farmer’s markets.” What will distinguish our Farmers Market from the rest is the ability to develop, market, advertise and promote it as a destination point. Otherwise, another great opportunity to enhance our community will be lost. Honestly, this shouldn’t be that hard.

    Stay tuned and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • If you haven’t seen this wonderful video I suggest you do so immediately. Go to Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/All-America-City-Awards/277887828621?sk=app_2392950137 ) and take a peek back at our history.

    This video was produced as Fayetteville’s entry into the video contest as one of the requirements for competing for the recognition as an All America City. Fayetteville, along with 26 other communities across the country, is in competition for this recognition and is attempting to become a “three-peat” winner of the prestigious All America City award being presented this week in Kansas City by the National Civic League.

    06-15-11-pub-notes.jpg

    This 1:27 minute video is extremely impressive, meaningful and impactful. Hopefully, it won enough votes during the competition to complement our victory as one of the Top 10 All America Cities in the nation. This masterpiece was produced by Moonlight Communications specifi cally for the competition and it so eloquently describes, through sight and sound, how our Vietnam-era community transitioned and rose, like a phoenix from the ashes, to become the prominent and respected community we are today.

    It has an even more special and compelling meaning for those of us who were actually living here during the turbulent ‘70s and transitional ‘80s. Only those who actually lived here during this time can really appreciate the sense of transition, achievement and accomplishment that we know and enjoy today. Without a doubt, this history and heritage serves only to enhance the sense of pride we have when calling Fayetteville home.

    We were here. We walked the streets, ate in the restaurants, shopped in the stores and enjoyed the venues that were Fayetteville then. Fayetteville was not a horrible place. This community wasn’t all about all drugs, naked pole dancers and rough and tumble, bar-hopping roughnecks looking for a dare. It was the ‘70s for heaven’s sake and Fayetteville, not unlike other communities across the nation, was just trying to cope with the horror of war and the many other turbulent social issues cast upon our society.

    It was the decade of Easy Rider, bell-bottom pants, Woodstock, miniskirts and go-go boots, wild parties and Cold Duck! Locally, residents remember (because they were there) Steve’s Tower in the Sky, the Royal Box at the St. James Inn, The Skyline Night Club at the top floor of what is now the Systel Building, the Pink Pussy Cat, A.J.’s Philadelphia Subs and Sir William’s. There were also great eating places like the Lobster House, the Grecian Garden on Village Drive or Bragg Boulevard’s legendary line up of Dino’s, the Empire Steak House, The Barn and even Fayetteville’s fi rst the 24-hour Dunkin’ Donuts when it was located where Jim’s restaurant is today across from Eutaw Shopping Center.

    In the ‘70s and ‘80s we had the Fort Bragg Playhouse, Fayetteville Little Theatre, a brand new Headquarters Library, the Fayetteville Museum of Art and a “little” church called Village Baptist.

    As a teenage solider returning from Vietnam in the late ‘60s, I came to Fayetteville for the first time and like many, never returned home. Fayetteville became my home. I celebrated my 21st birthday while at Fort Bragg and I can speak to the fact that one thing has not changed, the people. The people who make up the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community are warm, sensitive and caring residents. They are the one constant factor that makes us unique and defi nes who we are as a community. I, like thousands of others, have personally experienced this sincere southern hospitality and it was the deciding and defining factor not only on why I stayed here, but why I created a community newspaper that would accentuate and celebrate the “quality of life” values that shape and defi ne our community. I have no idea what the criteria was for winning the 1985 All America City award, but, I assure you, it had everything to do with the people who live here.

    Well, at this writing, the official designation of the All America City for 2011 is fi ve days away. So, with that being the case, and even though you may be reading this online Tuesday afternoon or in the actual newspaper on Wednesday, we want to be the fi rst to congratulate Fayetteville on its third All America City designation. I have no doubt we will win based on the heart and soul of our residents and the dedication, hard work and perseverance of our civic and governmental leadership. Talented and progressive leadership has gotten us where we are today. Our vision is strong and our future looks bright. Yes, we are truly the All America City.

    Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 06-29-11-every-day-is-july-4.jpgIn 1941 Congress declared July 4th a national holiday. We can’t be sure what Congress had in mind, but today, communities across the country celebrate with parades and picnics, fi reworks and barbecues. Growing up, my family went to our uncle’s cabin on the lake in Southwick, Mass. We enjoyed watermelon, water skiing, hot dogs and hamburgers and of course the burnt marshmallows on a stick after the coals were smoldering out. The adults gathered in their areas while the cousins swam, played chase or fought to be the driver of the boat. Darkness came and we sat back as we watched the fi reworks in the sky. As we age into teenagers and adults, our memories fade and new ones are created.

    Seventy years after the fi rst July 4th national holiday, I celebrate America’s Independence in Fayetteville, N.C., with the men and women who defend the freedoms we enjoy in the community where N.C., ratifi ed the Constitution. In 2010, Fox News said Fort Bragg’s fi reworks are among the nation’s best. Fort Bragg has achieved the Army’s Excellence Award and now the National Civic league awards Fayetteville an All-America City designation.

    Coming home from Kansas City, where Fayetteville received the All-America City award, my taxi driver, who was from Albania but had lived in Kansas City for the last 15 years, was telling me the story of living in a communist country through the 1990s. He worked a government job, drove a government car and lived in a government housing development. Today, smiling, he has built a successful transportation company and other ventures and says he is living the American dream. I listened in awe as the appreciation of the United States of America was further ingrained in mind, body and soul.

    From July 1-4, Cumberland County has a plethora of Americana activities to satisfy any taste or budget. Please utilize the wonderful resources available at www.VisitFayettevilleNC.com. You can check out the calendar of events or use any of our planning tools to customize a weekend for you and your friends or family. Remember, we have 6,000 rooms, so you can let the community entertain you and the hotels house your guests. No mess no fuss.

    While online, take a second to “like” the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Face Book page to keep up with community happenings. Better yet, get involved with our sister projects of the Army’s Army.com or FayettevilleWantsYou.com.

    Get F.I.T. without dieting by being a friend in tourism or a watcher in the group organized to show the world why we are America’s First Military Sanctuary and are committed to watching over those who watch over us.

    In the near future, our community will host the Heroes Crusade — an athlete’s campaign. This three-day event includes a rugby tournament, a golf tournament and a walk, bike or run event and leads into the activities of Heroes Homecoming. During the 10 days of Heroes Homecoming, Cumberland County will celebrate the Vietnamese culture and present a Veterans Day weekend that honors the nation’s Vietnam Veterans.

    As we look into the future, we can see that Cumberland County is all American. Spring Lake EDC is working hard to provide a plan that furthers their efforts and helps that city achieve its American Dream. Hope Mills is growing fast and adding many beautiful homes, restaurants and a new movie theater. At 10 a.m. on the 4th of July, Hope Mills will host a fun celebration. I look forward to the day when their lake is restored, and I am laying back, watching their fireworks. Life will have come full circle.

    In the meantime, help us to help you. Learn about the community’s attributes and invite people to visit. Last year, our residents saved $93 in their tax bills because of visitor tax generation. We all win if United We Stand.

    May God Bless you and yours for a safe and fruitful summer.

  •     In my last article I made a mistake... ouch. I said that the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway is Mount Mitchell. Actually, Mount Mitchell is north of Asheville and is the highest point east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet near Burnsville. The highest point on the Blue Ridge is Richland Balsam Overlook at milepost 431 and is 6,047 feet. So, having gotten a little wet with that mistake, I though I’d tackle what you need when it really is raining outside.
        If you ride you will eventually get wet. Riding in the rain brings a new perspective to your riding experience. The better prepared for rain you are, the better off you will be. Finding the right gear is a very personal endeavor. I will tell you from experience that I have found a nice setup, but it was from trial and error. So let’s break it down from top to bottom.
        The helmet. Some helmets are better than others in the rain. Obviously, an opened face helmet will do nothing for you in the rain. Every drop of water feels like a bee sting until your face becomes numb. First option for the open face helmet is to carry a face shield for your helmet. Full-face helmets are the safest; however, they may leak. They usually leak through the vents or around the shield but they will protect your face. Fog is another problem with full face helmets so make sure you have good vents. There are helmets that do not leak or fog up but you have to do some research.
        Next is the face. Of course if you do not have a face shield you should always have eye protection. A bandana or scarf will help cut down the stinging of the rain as it hits your face.
        The jacket. I have three different jackets for different seasons. All have elbow, shoulder and back padding for additional safety in the event of an accident. One is fully waterproof and the other two, not so much. For them I carry a yellow rain jacket. I choose yellow to increase my visibility. You should also make sure your jacket has a reflector. When you get a jacket you might want to get one with a hood. This is handy in the event of a heavy rain. Put the hood on under your helmet to prevent the rain from running down your back.
        Gloves. I have several pairs of gloves for different seasons and some are waterproof and others not. Make sure that your gloves are waterproof by reading the tag.
        Pants. The most protection is from a pair of waterproof pants with pads in them. If you don’t have them you will want to have a pair of waterproof pants that will slip over your pants. Make sure the pants go down far enough to cover your boots.
        Boots. It is hard to find a pair of riding boots. I have not found the perfect pair that is waterproof, comfortable for walking and stylish. Be sure to get a boot that will cover your ankles and fit under your rain pants. Also, make sure the soles have the traction to hold you and your bike up at stops. Nothing is worse than putting your foot down and dropping your bike because the pavement is slick. Remember that at red lights or at the check points at the base, those areas are especially slippery because of cars dripping oil.
        I think the hardest part about rain gear is storage. If space is a problem consider getting some compression bags to shrink the gear as small as possible. Even on a summer day being wet plus wind will turn a pleasant drive into survival trip. If you get caught in the rain with no rain gear, just pull over under an overpass or at a safe space for cover. Most heavy downpours will pass within 20 minutes. So stay dry and stay safe.

    Contact Jim Jones at editor@upandcomingweekly.com 

  • What is the best thing to do when it’s 95 degrees in Fayetteville? Go upstairs, set the air conditioner on stun and sob quietly until the fi rst week of November when it finally cools off? Nope, that’s for sissies. Our Kiwanis group hopped on Amtrak and headed to sunny Charleston, S.C.: The land of shrimp and grits. The land of batchelorettes frolicking in roof-top pools. Charleston has it all.

    It’s an easy three-hour train ride to Charleston. Amtrak stars a bar car providing adult beverages and pretzels. Trains are far superior to airplanes. No cranky TSA workers personally groping or irradiating the passengers. You keep your shoes on. The seats are comfortable and suitable to the human body. Unlike an airplane, two people can actually pass each other in the train’s aisle without exchanging bodily fluids.

    We stayed in downtown Charleston at a quaint little bed and breakfast converted from a motel. I highly recommend the Bates Pondside Inn on Meeting Street. The proprietor is a delightful chap named Norman Bates. Norman, as he insisted we call him, is extremely knowledgeable on local attractions. He is so kind he wouldn’t hurt a fly. Norman is an exceptionally devoted son. He spoke frequently and lovingly about his mother, Mrs. Norma Bates. Unfortunately, we never actually got to meet Mrs. Bates. From w06-15-11-pit-dickey.jpghat Norman told us, she is a lovely woman and a genteel daughter of the South.

    In addition to being a congenial host, Norman is also an accomplished taxidermist. He is deservedly proud of his fascinating collection of stuffed dead animals. Norman gave us excellent personal attention. We were the only guests staying at Bates Pondside Inn except for one lady who we never saw during our entire stay. We saw her name on the guest register when we checked in, a Ms. Marion Crane. Ms. Crane came down to do some banking business and spent very little time at the motel. Curiously, Ms. Crane parked her car in the nearby pond in water that came up to the roof. Parking in the pond allowed Ms. Crane to stroll through the elegance of Charleston without the hassle of street parking. Norman explained that Ms. Crane was from Boston and followed a New England tradition of leaving her car in a pond to keep the engine lubricated. Those madcap Yankees, what will they think of next?

    Our room was a timeless triumph of understated Victorian serenity. The Bates Pondside Inn was built before air conditioning. It has a unique ventilation system consisting of holes drilled into the walls concealed behind paintings. These hidden holes allow a cooling cross circulation of the breeze from the Cooper River. The design of the ventilation system is so subtle we didn’t know the holes were there until we spotted light coming from behind a picture in the bathroom on our second night. We pulled the picture aside to see the source of the light. Much to our delight, we saw Norman’s eye peering back from the adjoining room. He explained that he was setting up an arrangement of gardenias next door so that the sweet aroma of summer fl owers would drift into our room through the ventilation holes. That’s the kind of personal service you just don’t get anymore. What a thoughtful host!

    The only minor problem that we encountered during our stay at the Bates Pondside was quickly resolved. Our bathroom did not have a shower curtain and the shower’s drain was clotted. A quick call to Norman and he fi xed the shower in a jiffy. He explained the previous guest had very long hair which had blocked the drain. He was so concerned we enjoy our stay that he even brought over some very expensive scented bath soaps to encourage us to shower frequently to enter the magical world that is the Bates Pondside Inn.

    In a world troubled by Congressman Anthony Weiner’s underwear tweets from the darkside; John Edwards’ indictment for payments to his baby momma; and Sarah Palin’s revision of Paul Revere’s ride, it is gratifying to know that the unique hospitality of the Bates Pondside Inn offers a respite from our harried work-a-day world.

    The mission statement of the Bates Pondside Inn says it all, “Check into the Bates, and you’ll never check out.”

  • Super 8 (Rated PG-13)  4 Stars06-29-11-super-8.jpg

    J.J. Abrams nostalgic look at the 1970’s owes much to the early science fiction/fantasy work of Steven Spielberg. Super 8 (112 minutes) mostly succeeds in what it sets out to do, even if some of the younger actors are a bit precocious. If the film has a single major flaw, it is in the tendency to try wringing emo-tional depth out of smaltziness. On the other hand, as you would expect from the man behind the plane crash on Lost, the train crash that drives the first half of the film is rendered in spectacular detail.

    In the early part of 1979 Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) loses his mother. There is something unresolved about his mother’s death, but the audience is left to ponder it as the movie advances four months in time to the end of school year.

    Joe hangs out with a little Aryan youth gang, Charles (Riley Griffiths, who I bet we’re going to see more of), Preston (Zach Mills), Martin (Gabriel Basso) and Cary (Ryan Lee). Charles is making a low-budget zombie film to enter into a film festival, and he has managed to get The Girl from the Wrong Side of the Tracks, Alice (Elle Fanning), to help them out. Not only is she going to steal her dad’s (Ron Eldard…HEY! He played the romantic lead in an obscure Phoebe Cates movie called Drop Dead Fred! AND a doomed astronaut in Deep Impact!) car, and drive them to their shooting location, she also agrees to play a character in the movie.

    While filming the rehearsal, all the boys develop a crush on Alice, but they are distracted by the impending train explosion, which takes approximately 30 minutes to finish. And is shown from about a million angles. And does not dis-able their unfortunately parked stolen car, despite the fact that the car was clearly in the path of the derailing train, and despite the fact that it is clearly shown being showered with fiery twisted metal. In fact, they are able to pop into the car and drive off without any of the Air Force guys stopping them or shooting their tires out, even though the kids take their time rummaging through the crash site and picking up interesting metal cubes.

    Despite their luck at getting away unharmed, Colonel Nelec (Noah Emmerich) has his men take plaster casts of the tire tracks, and finds the empty film boxes. Luckily for the kids, he is a stupid colonel and makes all kinds of assumptions about the people who saw the crash, which buys them some time.

    People, pets, microwaves, and car engines start disappear-ing. Joe’s dad (Kyle Chandler) practices being a terrible parent in between attempting to fill the shoes of the missing Sheriff while poking at the Air Force guys every chance he gets. Really, Mr. Lamb, you should trust the shady government dudes on a secret mission in your town.

    The kids continue to film their movie, incorporating the Air Force presence into the film to raise production values, al-though how they managed to get their hands on a child-sized version of the Air Force uniform, including blue beret, remains an off-screen secret. After a little poking around, the kids, lack-ing only a Mystery Machine, easily discover the source of all the spooky goings on. Too bad the Air Force discovers them! Not that it matters, be-cause in order for the plot to advance the kids need to get away from the military.

    Which they do, amidst some nicely framed shots of tanks rolling though playgrounds and military guys firing automatic weapons in the suburbs. Despite the push to declare Super 8 a next generation E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial, it’s not quite there. At least we get to see the final version of the kid’s zombie film over the closing credits.

  • 09ErinnFoote

    Erinn Foote, a Fayetteville native, cannot be accused of sitting on the couch this summer — not while she’s at Running Start’s 11th annual Young Women’s Political Leadership Program, which runs from June 19 to June 24. 

    According to a press release, “Running Start is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. that encourages young women to run for office early so that they can establish the tenure necessary to rise to political leadership positions.” 

    The press release continued to say that the Young Women’s Political Leadership Program gives women in high school the “encouragement, support, knowledge and inspiration” they need to be leaders where they are now and in the future. 

    Foote is 17 years old and is a rising senior at South View High School. She’s one of 65 young women from a national pool to be accepted into Running Start’s program this year. 

    She was in French class when she got the good news and said she couldn’t contain her excitement.

    “I applied Jan. 31 just for fun,” she said. “But I only found out I was accepted March 28. When I found I was accepted I called my mom in the middle of class.” 

    She said she kept the information mostly to herself until she knew for sure she was going, but when her dad found out, he began calling her “Madame Congresswoman,” and her mom made “a billion Facebook posts.” 

    Melody Foote, Erinn’s mother, said she’s excited and proud of her daughter for applying entirely on her own and being accepted into the program. 

    “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for her to actually explore and see if this is a field she... wants to go in,” Melody said. “As her mom, you just can’t pass up that experience.”

    All of this excitement called for a celebratory dinner with Rudino’s pizza, Erinn said. 

    According to the Running Start website, the program will include a week of political training, a trip to the White House and one-on-one meetings with Congress members. 

    The one event Erinn said she looks forward to most is meeting her favorite congresswoman, House Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who represents the 2nd District of Hawaii. 

    Erinn said she’s nervous but wants to tell her how much respect she has for her and “hopefully get a selfie or two.” 

    “She stays very true to her beliefs and her promises,” Erinn said. “She left her position in the (Democratic National Committee) so she could verbally support her candidate during the election.” 

    Susannah Wellford, president and founder of Running Start, said every one of the 65 young women was chosen based on their “passion to make a difference in people’s lives and (their) work to give back to (their) community.” 

    “These young women are the political leaders of tomorrow,” Wellford said. “They give me great hope for the future of our country.” 

    Erinn was given the highest allotted amount in scholarship, which will cover half of her expenses for the program. 

    She wants to study political science and psychology at Duke University leading up to a master’s degree in law, and wants other students to know that “hard work will always pan out.” 

    Photo caption: Erinn Foote with Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.)

  • 08Cathy BellImagine touching the lives of literally hundreds of members of a family over the course of a lifetime. 

    Cathy Bell’s unofficial extended family was the Fayetteville Police Department. She served as an office assistant at the Police Training Center off N. Eastern Boulevard for 23 years. 

    Carolyn “Cathy” Bigford Bell died earlier this month shortly after her 65th birthday. Officials said hers was the first civilian FPD death to be honored by officers who wore mourning bands on their badges. She was the first person virtually all police recruits became acquainted with as they launched their careers. “Cathy treated everyone as family and had a special place in her heart for you, and you knew it every time she spoke to you,” said Police Lt. Todd Joyce. “Cathy was a welcoming face to everyone who came for an interview,” he added.

    When Bell first received her cancer diagnosis, she continued to work, sometimes from home, and kept her phone with her.  Joyce said when someone called the main number at the training center, they forwarded it to her cellphone with the ever-cheerful greeting, “Police Training, this
    is Cathy.”  

    Interim Police Chief Anthony Kelly presented Bell with the inaugural “Career of Excellence” award at her home. At the FPD Awards Ceremony that followed, the department showed a video of that presentation. “The ‘Civilian of the Year’ award will be named in honor of Cathy Bell,” said Kelly. 

    The department has about 180 civilian employees and 433 sworn officers. Bell is survived by her husband, three children and their extended family.

    Photo caption: Cathy Bell

  • 07LocalClinics

    Cumberland County patients dependent on inexpensive basic healthcare will soon be deprived of services that have been available for more than 25 years. 

    County Commissioners are closing the county’s Adult Health Clinic and Dental Clinic, located at 1235 Ramsey Street. Services are being discontinued because of budget cuts. These clinics are typically utilized by uninsured, low-income residents who receive treatment for as little as $10 a visit. 

    “In many ways, the health department is a safety net for people who can’t get care or services elsewhere,” said Public Health Director Buck Wilson. “The people who are getting primary care or cancer screenings here may not be able to get it anywhere else,” he added. A county spokesperson said, “Patients will need to find another physician or medical practice.” Wilson resigned effective July 7. He didn’t give a reason.

    The care typically provided at the county health center includes diabetes management with hemoglobin A1C point-of-care testing; PSA for prostate health; care of hepatitis C to include genotype if needed; asthma management to include breathing treatment; and pap smears and breast exams, in accordance with American College of Gynecology recommendations. Lab services provided include monitoring and managing diabetes, hypertension, HIV and blood clotting disorders, as well as labs for seizure disorders. These are just some of the healthcare services hundreds of patients will likely do without.

    State law requires that the county give patients 30-days-notice that the clinic is being closed. Consequently, the county must continue to provide care to current patients through July 20. The dental clinic will discontinue services July 1. Patients who have appointments will be seen through July 20. Longtime County Commissioner Jeanette Council, who serves on the Board of Health and has advocated for the agency, was among the slim majority that voted to adopt the budget that cut the funding.

  • 06TaxCumberland County Commissioners and Fayetteville City Council have adopted their respective operating budget ordinances for the new
    fiscal year. 

    The FY2018 county budget includes a general fund of $323,622,861, which is a $3.7 million reduction over the current fiscal year. In a split vote, Commissioners Glenn Adams, Larry Lancaster, Jeannette Council and Charles Evans voted for the budget. Commissioners Marshall Faircloth, Jimmy Keefe and Michael Boose voted against it. The plan includes a property tax rate increase of 5.9 cents, which is 1.7 cents above the revenue neutral rate of 78.2 cents. Coupled with that is another 15 cents for fire protection and recreation in unincorporated areas of the county. There will also be an eight-dollar countywide increase in the annual solid waste fee, from $48 to $56. A majority of Cumberland County residential property lost value this year during a revaluation. The revenue-neutral tax rate is supposed to produce funds equal to the amount collected in the previous fiscal year, plus natural growth. 

    A 2 percent pay raise for county employees will go into effect Jan. 1. Millions of dollars in cuts required the elimination of 41 full-time and 49 part-time government positions. Thirty-seven of those positions are vacant. Cumberland County Schools will receive $80,362,412 in FY18. Funding in the new year for Fayetteville Technical Community College is $12,101,992. 

    Both budgets rely principally on state and federal funds. Some of the so-called outside private agencies had their funding reduced by 15 percent. Others — such as the Boys and Girls Club, Child Advocacy Center, Cumberland County Coordinating Council on Older Adults, Cumberland Veterans Council, Southeast North Carolina Radio Reading, Vision Resource Center and the 2-1-1 information referral system sponsored by United Way — were renewed at current levels. 

    Fayetteville Holds the Line on Property Taxes

    Meanwhile, City Council avoided raising the municipal property tax rate of 49.95 cents per hundred dollars of valuation by making significant cuts in operations. The general fund of nearly $231 million has previously included an $8 million subsidy to augment the city’s sanitation service. It was cut in half for the coming fiscal year, but the annual solid waste fee will go up from 44 cents to $1.08. The stormwater fee will be increased six dollars annually to $51. The fees are tacked on to annual tax bills. 

    Commercial businesses are net gainers at the expense of homeowners. They all pay the same tax rate. But, businesses don’t use city sanitation service and will not be assessed the much higher $1.08 solid waste fee. They hire private garbage haulers. 

    City Council had been divided 5-5 until last week when Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin proposed holding the line on taxes while increasing enterprise fund fees. His motion passed 9–1. Mayor Nat Robertson dissented. He’s seeking re-election in the fall. Public Safety step pay plans for police, fire and 911 employees were approved. All other city employees will get a 2 percent pay raise. 

    The only new initiative in the coming year is Sunday bus service. Ten of the most popular bus routes will run from 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sundays. Full service won’t get underway until well into the new fiscal year. Officials say it will take four-and-a-half months of preparation. 

    “Additional operators, supervisor time and maintenance staff” would be required, said Assistant Transit Director Kelly Blazey. “We will need time to get through the hiring process, provide training, update our printed materials, hold any necessary public meetings regarding the changes, advertise the changes, etc.,” she added. Fayetteville is the last major city in North Carolina to provide bus service on the Sabbath. 

  • 05NewsDigestViolent Deaths Down in Fayetteville

    A near record-setting two-month period of no homicide investigations has significantly cut into the usual pattern of violent deaths in Fayetteville. The city was murder-free for eight weeks, officials said. The peaceful period was broken with the death of a woman June 18 at a home on Lamon Street near downtown. Her death was the ninth homicide of the year, compared to 16 murders recorded during the same period in 2016, said Lt. Todd Joyce. Last year, police had to deal with an all-time high record of 31 homicides.

    Ballpark Design OK’d 

    Design work for Fayetteville’s minor league baseball stadium has received final approval from city council. “Its unique features will make this one of the best ballparks in the country,” said Mike Sabatini, senior architect for Populous. Populous is a global sports architecture firm which designed the $33 million downtown Fayetteville stadium. 

    The ballpark will be a multipurpose facility to accommodate football and soccer as well as baseball. It will also be used as an entertainment venue for live concerts. 

    Main access will be from Hay Street between the Prince Charles building, which will be converted into affordable apartments, and a new eight-story hotel and parking deck where the off-street train station parking lot is now. 

    Construction is expected to begin in mid-August and will take about 18 months to complete. The Advanced Single-A Houston Astros farm team will begin playing during the 2019 spring season. 

    Can Haymount Be Pedestrian-Friendly?

    Fayetteville urban planners say the Haymount five points commercial center is a busy auto-dominated area that could be transformed into an active people place. The idea is to make the area at the top of the hill more pedestrian-friendly. 

    Longleaf Pine Realtors, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and others have applied for a Smart Growth Grant for a “Build a Better Block” event from the National Association of Realtors. The idea is to demonstrate how automobile-dominated streets can be transformed into places where cars, pedestrians and cyclists can coexist. The City of Richmond, Virginia, is among communities already developing such a plan. A YouTube video demonstrates the project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCIJXZb-POs. 

    A preliminary Haymount “Build a Better Block” Meeting was held last week to illustrate how local residents can co-exist in the commercial center of Haymount. “It will take three months to plan and implement the project,” said City of Fayetteville Urban Designer Eloise Sahlstrom. 

    Former City Councilman to Run Again

    Former City Council member Johnny Dawkins said he will file to succeed Bobby Hurst as Fayetteville’s District five councilman. 

    “Fayetteville is once again at a crossroads. Will we begin to grow again and improve our quality of life, or will we continue to muddle along and accept the status quo?” Dawkins asked in a news release. “The simple answer is more jobs must be created. How do we create more jobs, grow our economy and produce a city in which our children and grandchildren will want to live, work and raise their children? The City Council must create an environment in which new businesses will start up and create an environment in which existing businesses will take risks, hire more workers and expand,” Dawkins added. “As a former City Council member and successful business owner for over 35 years, right here in Fayetteville, I have the leadership experience, vision, and job creation experience to serve as your Voice on the Fayetteville City Council,” Dawkins concluded. 

    No. 2 at FAST Is Moving to the Triangle

    The Fayetteville Area System of Transit is losing a valuable employee to the Cary Transit system. Assistant Transit Director Kelly Blazey has notified friends and colleagues at FAST that she will be resigning at the end of the month to take a post with the Town of Cary as the Transit Services Administrator beginning July 3. 

    Blazey has been with the City of Fayetteville for several years, the last half dozen with FAST. Before that, she was in the finance department.                                             

  • 05Maurice BraswellThe Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously this month to name the County Courthouse in honor of retired North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge E. Maurice Braswell. He died Jan. 30 after serving more than 50 years in the legal profession. He was 94. Braswell began his career in Fayetteville as an assistant district attorney and served after that as district attorney, superior court judge and judge of the
    court of appeals.

    Senior Resident Superior Judge James Ammons Jr. and Cumberland County Register of Deeds Lee Warren presented a petition to County Commissioners asking that the courthouse bear Braswell’s name. Commissioners ordered that his name be installed above the Cumberland County Courthouse lettering on the front of the building at 117 Dick St. in downtown Fayetteville. A brass plaque will be placed in the interior of the courthouse. 

    Judge Braswell wrote more than 800 judicial opinions. He was a former President of the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges and North Carolina District Attorney’s Association. 

    Braswell was a decorated World War II veteran. He earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and opened his legal practice in Fayetteville in 1950. 

    “Naming the Cumberland County Courthouse after Judge Braswell is a wonderful way to honor a man who had such a significant impact on this community and our court system,” said Chairman Glenn B. Adams. 

    “His name emblazoned on our Courthouse will serve as a reminder of his legacy and all he did for Cumberland County,” he added. Only two other courthouses in North Carolina are named for someone, according to Judge Ammons. “He was a man of impeccable character and a public servant for 50 years,” Ammons said. 

    Braswell was instrumental in the construction of the Courthouse, which opened in 1978. He recognized the need for more space for the effective administration of justice 10 years earlier and presented a pamphlet to the Board of Commissioners explaining the need for a new courthouse. The building proposal was approved in 1975.

    Braswell was born in 1922 in Rocky Mount. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 19. He served honorably during World War II as a tail-gunner on a B-17 bomber. His aircraft, named “Flaming Arrow,” recorded 41 combat missions over Europe when it was shot down. Braswell and crew were held as prisoners of war in Bucharest, Romania, for several months. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and left the Army with an Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, a Purple Heart, a presidential citation and 11 campaign and battle Bronze Stars. 

    At the urging of his children, he reluctantly wrote of his experiences in a book titled “Flaming Arrow: WWII as seen from a B-17.” “I don’t consider war romantic,’’ he said in an interview published in The Fayetteville Observerin 2003. “Other people, people who haven’t been in war, consider it an extended adventure. But war is terrible. The consequences of it are terrible.’’ 

    Photo: E. Maurice Braswell

  • 04City Budget

    With less than two weeks remaining in the fiscal year, Fayetteville City Council has yet to adopt an operating budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. Members continue to work on several options this week. As of this writing, a hung council is divided 5-5 on City Manager Doug Hewett’s proposal to raise taxes to achieve revenue neutrality in the wake of a $5.5 million decrease in property values.

    The most recent budget work sessions have been acrimonious, prompting Mayor Nat Robertson to ask members to be agreeable and behave with civility and respect towards each other.

    At issue is whether to raise the tax rate or the City’s household solid waste fee, or both. One proposal is to raise the fee from $44 per year to $108. That would allow budget writers to eliminate an $8 million supplemental sanitation allocation from the general fund. 

    DeViere and McDougald argued that fees are regressive and hurt low-income households while favoring the wealthy. Jensen noted that commercial businesses don’t pay the annual solid waste fee because they depend on private trash companies. She said they would be hurt if the property tax is raised. Jensen is a small-business owner. Council member Jim Arp agreed. “We need more businesses paying lower taxes, not fewer businesses paying larger taxes,” he said. 

    Councilman Ted Mohn used a white board to record the ideas his colleagues offered on whether to raise the property tax or increase the solid waste fee. He favors a combination of both as proposed by the city manager. The others who favor an increase are deViere, McDougald, Mohn, Bobby Hurst and Larry Wright. 

    Mayor Robertson, Jensen and Arp say they are unequivocally opposed to any increase. Bill Crisp and Mitch Colvin are also opposed. Colvin said any increase in the tax rate would be seen as taxing residents to pay for the $33-million baseball stadium planned for downtown. “We owe it to those folks to keep our word” and not raise taxes, he said.

    County Budget Adopted with Tax Increase

    Cumberland County Commissioners found themselves in a more difficult budget-balancing situation. They approved raising the property tax rate from 74 cents to 79.9 cents per hundred dollars of valuation. 

    That barely brings FY18 spending to a countywide revenue neutral position and will require cuts in government services. Cumberland County residential property values declined this year. 

    Commercial values went up, so the tax increase will negatively affect businesses. When coupled with the county’s fire district and recreation taxes, the total ad valorem tax rate in unincorporated areas of the county will be 96.15 cents. That doesn’t include storm water, solid waste, refuse and recycling fees or auto privilege taxes. 

    Chairman Glenn Adams, Vice Chairman Charles Evans, and commissioners Jeannette Council, Marshall Faircloth and Larry Lancaster voted in favor of the budget. Commissioners Michael Boose and Jimmy Keefe were opposed.

    Photo: As of this writing, a hung council is divided 5-5 on City Manager Doug Hewett’s proposal to raise taxes.

  • 03NewsDigestDr. Frank Till Jr. Is Out

    The Cumberland County Board of Education voted unanimously to buy out Superintendent Dr. Frank Till Jr.’s contract, effective immediately. “He had indicated that he wasn’t coming back at the end of 2018, next June, and the board didn’t want to wait … and be in limbo for a year,” school board chairman Greg West said in an interview. Associate Superintendent Tim Kinlaw will serve as the interim superintendent. Till will be paid his annual $271,000, West said. Till served as superintendent since 2009. A search for a successor will begin at once, said West. 

    The Cumberland County school system is the fifth largest in North Carolina. It operates 87 schools and serves 51,480 students in grades K-12. 

    Tokay Center Opening Soon

    The City of Fayetteville now says the popular Tokay Senior Fitness Center operated by the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department will reopen within 30 days. 

    It’s been closed since March 27 when the building sustained extensive smoke damage during an electrical fire. 

    District One City Councilwoman Kathy Jensen said she has been assured the senior center is scheduled to reopen next month. The City said in May, “there are too many variables to predict a reopening date.” The popular older adult fitness center has workout equipment including treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical machines and Nautilus equipment. Seniors use the facility for physical rehabilitation and regular fitness regimens often as prescribed by physicians. 

    Modern Gateway Signs Go Up

    New Fayetteville gateway signs are going up along the city’s main corridors. They’re designed to give motorists a fresher look of the city and provide consistent branding. 

    New signs have already been installed on Raeford Road at Hoke Loop Road, Ramsey Street near I-295, Bragg Boulevard at I-295 and Murchison Road near I-295. “We want our city to feel welcoming to residents and others who are visiting,” said Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin. “This is just the first of many more visible steps we’ve made to improve our gateways,” he added. All locations will also be landscaped with lighting. 

    Hospital Wins Reaccreditation

    Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects the organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. 

    “Womack is pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” said Col. Lance Raney, Medical Center Commander. 

    Womack underwent a thorough, unannounced on-site survey March 13 through 17. The team of Joint Commission auditors evaluated compliance with hospital standards related to several areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management. 

    New Off-Post Exchange

    The Linden Oaks Community of Spout Springs north of Spring Lake in Harnett County continues to take on the identity of a growing town. Linden Oaks is a unique Fort Bragg satellite residential neighborhood. 

    It’s home to about 6,000 soldiers and their families. Now it has its own post exchange. Business is booming along the two-mile stretch of NC 24/87 where restaurants, stores, auto parts businesses, medical offices and a Wal-Mart have developed. The most recent addition is a Post Exchange Express, located at 513 Hilltopper St. “We are very happy that we can offer our services now in Linden Oaks,” said Alex Dewberry, supervisor of the Fort Bragg Exchange. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. 

    Replacement Bridges Planned

    The State DOT continues to replace old bridges in rural North Carolina. Bridges in Cumberland, Harnett and Columbus counties are scheduled to be replaced as the result of a contract awarded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. 

    In Cumberland County, the bridge on Polly Island Road over the South River near Autryville is among them. The existing bridge has weight restrictions limiting the kind of vehicles that can use it. 

    DOT will also replace the bridge on Marshbanks Street over the East Buies Creek northeast of Lillington. In Columbus County, the bridge on North Carolina 214 over Green Swamp is being replaced. Work on the $5.4 million contract is expected to begin in mid-July and to wrap up by November. 

  • 08NewChief

    City Manager Doug Hewett hopes to name Fayetteville’s eighth Chief of Police at the June 26 City Council meeting. Hewett whittled a field of more than 30 candidates to succeed retired Chief Harold Medlock to six and then to three finalists. They are Interim Fayetteville Police Chief Anthony Kelly; Clayton County, Georgia Deputy Chief Gina Hawkins; and Greensboro Deputy Police Chief James Hinson Jr. 

    “We have conducted a very thorough search process to identify the best person to be our next police chief in Fayetteville, and I believe the three finalists we have selected are all highly qualified and capable of leading our police department,” Hewett said. 

    Kelly, who has served as Fayetteville’s interim chief since October 2016, is a Fayetteville native. Former Chief Medlock appointed Kelly as Assistant Chief of Police. Kelly grew up off Strickland Bridge Road in 71st Township. He is a 22-year veteran of the department and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Fayetteville State University. He graduated from the West Point Leadership Program at Methodist University and the FBI National Academy. 

    Hawkins supervises the Field Operations and Support Services Commands of the Clayton County, Georgia, Police Department. Hewett described her as a multifaceted criminal justice professional with 28 years of experience. Hawkins reports directly to the Police Chief and assists in planning, organizing, directing and overseeing all operations of the Police Department. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Georgia State University and a Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University. She too is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. 

    Hinson serves as the Greensboro Police Department’s Patrol Bureau Commander, having joined Greensboro PD in 1991. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from North Carolina A&T University and a Master’s from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University.

    “These candidates have been put through the wringer,” said Hewett of the evaluation process. They withstood numerous interviews plus a rigorous assessment center as recently as last month. The FPD’s annual budget is $52 million in support of 433 sworn officers and approximately 180 civilian employees. It serves a city of 210,000 residents and a geographic area of 148 square miles, larger than the cities of Durham, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Fayetteville is the sixth largest city in North Carolina.

    Hewett decided to launch a national search for a successor to Medlock three months ago, and retained a firm specializing in law enforcement career development in February.

    Photo, from left to right: Interim Fayetteville Police Chief Anthony Kelly; Clayton County, Georgia Deputy Chief Gina Hawkins; and Greensboro Deputy Police Chief James Hinson Jr.

  • 07FireDept

    At the suggestion of City Councilman Chalmers McDougald, the City of Fayetteville is asking the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to examine the fire department’s hiring practices. City Manager Doug Hewett told City Council he has asked the Raleigh office of the EEOC to look into concerns that the department has been unable to attract, recruit and hire minority firefighters. 

    McDougald took the lead among African-American council members in determining why only a few of the city’s 300 firefighters are black or another minority. “If there’s something we can do better, we will do it,” Hewett told Council during a work session that attracted several dozen minority residents.

    This is the first time the EEOC has been asked to intervene in city minority hiring practices since a similar examination of the police department was undertaken 20 years ago. Little has changed in the diversity of either public safety department in the two decades since. 

    Of the city’s 433 police officers, only 80, or 19 percent, are black, according to Acting Chief Anthony Kelley. There are fewer than a dozen African-American members of the fire department. Ironically, the chiefs of both departments are black. 

    Hewett received City Council’s permission to make an exception in state law allowing him to release personnel information that is normally kept private. In the most recent hiring process, 693 applications were received. Four hundred sixteen were white males. One hundred thirty were African-American men. For the convenience of applicants, they were told to schedule themselves to take the initial written exam. 

    Only 70 of the black applicants made appointments, according to information provided by Fire Chief Ben Major. Of that number, 53 showed up to take the test; 27 of them passed the exam and qualified for the physical exam. 

    In response to questions from Council members, Chief Major said the written test is fair and measures math and reading comprehension at a 10th-grade level. About the same percentage of white applicants took the initial test; 141 of the 416 applicants passed the written test. But a significantly larger number of white applicants advanced to take the
    PT test.  

    Speaking on the lack of diversity, “We know we are nowhere where we want to be,” Major said. Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin wanted to know when he could expect to see some results of EEOC findings designed to increase minority participation. Hewett said if the EEOC declines to do a review, the city will hire a consultant specializing in the field to do a similar probe. 

    For his part, Councilman McDougald said he was glad the city would seek an independent review. “That means we are taking constructive action on our own to make this right,” McDougald said. He said he decided to back off from his initial determination to take the administration to task. 

    He’s one of two church pastors on Council. All four black members of council, including Bill Crisp and Larry Wright, made comments during the hour-long meeting.                        

  • 06NewsDigest

    Hundreds of New Jobs Possible Locally

    Fayetteville is being considered by a well-known direct-to-consumer distribution firm as the location for a large distribution center to handle internet orders. The un-named e-commerce center would hire hundreds of full-time and permanent part-time workers. “They would also need hundreds of additional full- and part-time seasonal workers each year,” said Robert Van Geons, CEO of the Fayetteville/Cumberland Economic Development Corporation. 

    The building would be fully air-conditioned and use modern material handling technology. A variety of shifts and work schedules would be offered, providing employees with a flexible work environment. “We are asking that everyone who might be interested in employment with this company complete an online survey,” Van Geons said. The survey is available at www.fayettevilleworks.com. The company will pay competitive wages if Fayetteville is selected. 

    Racial Gerrymandering Struck Down

    Years of court battles resulting from Republican redistricting of the state legislature in 2011 came to an end this month when The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court finding that 28 of North Carolina’s statehouse and Senate districts were illegally gerrymandered based on the race of their voters. 

    In August 2016, a panel of three federal judges found the districts in question were unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. State lawmakers appealed the decision in late 2016. While upholding the lower court’s ruling, the Supreme Court was critical of the way it came to its decision to require new district maps and special elections. 

    The high court said it’s up to the lower court to decide on new elections. Cumberland County Senate District 19, held by Republican Wesley Meredith, will likely be changed. Cumberland County House Districts 42 and 43, held by Democrats, will likely be changed. House districts represented by Elmer Floyd and Marvin Lucas will be redrawn, and will likely affect District 41, held by Democrat Billy Richardson, and District 45, held by Republican John Szoka.

    Fayetteville Fire Department Promotions

    Fayetteville Fire Chief Ben Major has filled two command staff vacancies created by the recent retirement of Assistant Fire Chiefs Richard Bradshaw and Nixon Spell. 

    Moisbiell Alvarez has been promoted to Assistant Chief of Logistics and Strategic Planning. Ronnie Willet is Assistant Chief of Training and Professional
    Development. 

    Alvarez is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and joined the Fayetteville Fire Department in 1995 following a career in the U.S. Coast Guard. He is an alumnus of Western Carolina University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Management. Alvarez is studying to complete his Masters’ Degree. Chief Willet is a 19-year veteran of the Fayetteville Fire Department. He holds an Associate Degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Fayetteville State University. Willet earned an MBA in Public Administration from American Military University. He has been active in nearly every phase of fire service administration.

    Tyson Announces Candidacy for Fayetteville City Council District 5 Open Seat

    Henry C. Tyson, a local businessman and Fayetteville native, announced his candidacy to seek the open District 5 Seat on Fayetteville City Council Wednesday. Tyson will appear on ballots for the primary election, scheduled for October 10, with municipal general elections scheduled for November 7. 

    “Fayetteville is the city that has given me and my family immense opportunity, and it is a place with unlimited potential that is rapidly growing,” Tyson said. “After careful thought, prayer and discussion with family and friends, I’ve decided I want to play a bigger role in addressing the challenges Fayetteville faces, and securing a better future for our city.”

    “I want to thank our current Fayetteville City Councilman for District 5, Mr. Bobby Hurst for his service to the community and the citizens of Fayetteville.”

    Tyson, a lifelong Fayetteville resident, graduated from Campbell University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government.

    He was named in July, 2016 by Mayor Nat Robertson and the Fayetteville City Council to serve on the city’s joint sign ordinance review task force, which successfully revised the city’s sign ordinances for the first time in 19 years. He is also a member of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club and the city’s Historic Resources Commission, which helps guide the architectural character of Historic Downtown Fayetteville.

    Tyson currently serves as a commercial real estate broker and co-owner of Tyson Commercial Properties in downtown Fayetteville.

    More Storm Relief for Local Homeowners

    Local government and two nonprofit agencies have been awarded state community development grants to assist homeowners in their recovery from Hurricane Matthew. Cumberland County and City of Fayetteville Community Development Departments each received $150,000 from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. Also receiving $150,000 each were Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and the N.C. Conference, United Methodist Church. 

    Rep. John Szoka (R-Cumberland) presented the checks. The money will help with the rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes. In December, the General Assembly appropriated $20 million to the Housing Trust Fund as part of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016. Homeowners receive the assistance as interest-free, forgivable loans up to a maximum of $40,000, depending on the scope of work necessary.

    Public Health Award Winner

    Cumberland County Health Department educator Phyllis McLymore received the 2017 Caressa White Education and Program Development Award at the annual Red Ribbon Community Service Awards ceremony in Durham. 

    The Caressa White award recognizes individuals who educate the community on HIV/AIDS awareness. The Red Ribbon Community Service Awards recognize work by people committed to helping those in the HIV/AIDS community in North Carolina. 

    McLymore plans, organizes, implements and evaluates education programs for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in Cumberland County. She has served as chairperson of the Cumberland County HIV Task Force Executive Board and has been recognized for her efforts
    to serve high-risk populations including the homeless.        

  • 05legally speaking

    President Trump has released his budget plan for the Veteran Affairs. While it does propose a significant overall budget increase, there are quite a few changes individual veterans need to be aware of. One significant change will affect veterans currently receiving benefits under the Individual Unemployability Program.  

    The IUP is part of the Veterans Affairs’s disability compensation program. It allows certain veterans to be compensated at a 100 percent disability rate, even if their Veterans Affairs disability rating is lower than 100 percent. 

    To qualify for this program, a veteran must have a disability rating of at least 60 percent or a combined rating of at least 70 percent. These disabilities must prevent the veteran from obtaining full-time work above the poverty level. Once a veteran enrolls in this program, they are compensated by
    the Veterans Affairs at 100 percent disability. 

    Under the new Veterans Affairs budget, this program will no longer exist. This means approximately 225,000 veterans who currently use the program will need to transition to either Social Security benefits or find another way to compensate for this loss of income. 

    The policy argument behind the transition is that by doing this, the Veterans Affairs will save $20 million in Fiscal Year 2018 and the harm to veterans is minor given that veterans can apply for Social Security benefits. The practicalities of this transition, however, are a different story. 

    While veterans can apply for Social Security benefits, it is unlikely that all veterans enrolled in the unemployability program will actually qualify for Social Security. The qualifications for the programs are very different, with the Veterans Affairs program having less stringent qualifications. 

    The good news is that for totally disabled veterans, the average success rate of a Social Security claim is higher than the general population. 

    The issue will be the gap between what the Veterans Affairs program rated 100 percent and what Social Security will consider rated disability. The truth is, we won’t know the reality of this impact until we see whether these veterans are actually getting Social Security. 

    If you are a veteran currently receiving benefits under the IUP, seek out a veterans law or disability lawyer to help you file a claim. Your Veterans Affairs benefits may be on a
    short timeline.

  • 10BBQThe world of competitive barbecue is a fierce one. It takes skill, patience nerves of steel — and an awesome recipe. It’s where Mac’s Speed Shop Head Chef Kevin Kuruc thrives. 

    Fresh off a win at the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival in Charlotte, Kuruc headed to the renowned Memphis in May barbecue championship. The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking contest is not for the faint of heart. Kuruc came out on top, though, placing second in the Whole Hog category. 

    “Whole hog and shoulder are hotly contested because those are the categories where a team typically takes home the Grand Prize. That’s why we are so thrilled with our 2nd Place in Whole Hog,” says Kuruc. “Many competitors focus totally on competing. The fact that we compete, place and have multiple restaurants in multiple markets makes our Whole Hog victory particularly sweet.”

    With 236 teams participating, the competition was fierce. Kuruc went head to head with some familiar competitors. The Big Bob Gibson’s team made Memphis in May barbecue history when it took home its fifth grand champion trophy. 

    Melissa Cookston’s Yazoo’s Delta Q took home its fifth first place in Whole Hog, and 10 Bones BBQ repeated its first place win from last year in Ribs. Big Bob’s win in Shoulder was its remarkable 10th category victory.

    With a recipe this good, it’s no wonder Mac’s is thriving. There are currently locations in Charlotte’s Steele Creek area, Lake Norman, Matthews, and in Greensboro, Greenville, S.C., and right here in Fayetteville. Serving up ice-cold brews alongside mouthwatering menu items like barbecue (of course), gourmet burgers, homestyle sides, filling salads and hearty appetizers, Mac’s is known for its friendly atmosphere and great-tasting fare.

    What started in an old transmission shop in the South End neighborhood of Charlotte is now serving up award-winning goodness across the state. 

    Locally, Mac’s is a boon to the community in more ways than one. This local watering hole sponsors events like Hogs & Rags, which not only puts on a great ride but also donates thousands of dollars each year to worthy organizations in the community. The military-friendly venue routinely hosts events for local units. As a live music venue, Mac’s consistently books local talent. The Fayetteville restaurant has also undergone renovations and warmly welcomes anyone who is looking for a good meal in a friendly atmosphere.

    Find out more about Mac’s at MacSpeedShop.com.

    Photo: Mac’s Speed Shop took second place in the Whole Hog category at the Memphis in May World Barbecue Cooking Contest on May 13.

  • 07AgenciesPrivate and non-profit agencies that provide valuable services to the community are often referred to by local governments as “outside agencies.” 

    They offer services that are aligned with city and county strategic plans but are not part of the government. Over time, these offices have become at least partially dependent on some government funding. Many of them also receive funds from the Cumberland County United Way. 

    The annual budget process can be disappointing for the outsiders as city and county governing boards deal with revenue deficits and downturns in tax receipts. Cumberland County Manager Amy Cannon has proposed 15 percent cuts in current fiscal year appropriations for the 21 agencies receiving support from the county. 

    Fayetteville’s Airborne & Special Operations Museum, which is owned by the U.S. Army but funded by a private foundation, received $200,000 from the county this year. The contribution would be reduced to $170,000 if county commissioners approve the community funding budget as submitted. Smaller offices, like the Contact telephone crisis hotline, would lose $1,000 of its $6,874 budget. The Cumberland County Veterans Council received $7,000 this year and would lose $1,050 next year. The Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, would lose $1,600 in the year ahead.

    In all, county government provides nearly $789,000 to local agencies which would be cut by $117,500 in FY18. The City of Fayetteville is not proposing any budget cuts for the outsiders.

  • 06Scholarship ImageCumberland Community Foundation is awarding nearly $180,000 in scholarships to local high school students. Ninety-three of the grants totaling $179,400 were selected by the Cumberland Community Foundation Scholarship Advisory Group. 

    Most of the awards were based on financial need, academic excellence and citizenship. A few other scholarships were based on a special skill or area of interest, such as chemistry, fire science or elementary education.  

    Foundation Board Member Gail Riddle said she got a lot out of reading the scholarship applications. “It has renewed my faith in our future,” Riddle said as the scholarships were announced. “To the parents, I want to thank you for raising your students to be the best that they can be,” she added. 

    Cumberland Community Foundation was established in 1980 with a gift of $576,840 from Dr. Lucile Hutaff.  She had a vision of the community coming together to make life better. Today the Foundation is regarded as one of the most successful community foundations in the country. 

    It is supported by thousands of people from all walks of life and varied charitable interests. “The Foundation manages over 500 individual charitable funds totaling over $76 million,” said Executive Director Mary Holmes. 

    This year’s scholarships ranged from $500 to $10,000. The Dr. Lu, Sylvia and Daniel Kiang Scholarship for Chinese Students Fund awarded Yi Dong, Shuang Wu, Chung Lam Lau (renewal) and Yu Diyang Zhang (renewal) scholarships of $10,000 each. Wu will attend North Carolina State University. The others are attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

    Sixteen local students each received $3,000 Ella Smith Downing scholarships totaling $53,000. A 17th student was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the same fund. 

    Alexandra M. Thomas received a smaller but equally significant $500 scholarship from the Leonard G. McLeod Theatre Scholarship Fund. Le Feng also received a $500 award from the Robert N. Shuller SfL+a Architects Scholarship.

    Cumberland Community Foundation also awards an additional $500,000 in scholarships annually through the Robert H. Short/Cumberland Community Foundation Scholars Program.  

    For the last five years, these scholarships were reserved for Cumberland County high school graduates who elected to attend Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville State University or Methodist University. 

    Selection was administered by the colleges with emphasis on filling the gaps in funding for each applicant student based on their unique financial needs. These awards ranged from $300 to $12,000 per year. In the last five years, the Robert H. Short Scholars Program has awarded $2,377,000 to the three local colleges.

    Excerpts From an Epitaph by Mary Lynn Bryan on Behalf of Her Friend, Dr. Lucile Hutaff

    Dr. Lucile West Hutaff, a Fayetteville native, graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1929. She attended Women’s College in Greensboro for two years and received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. 

    Dr. Hutaff returned to Fayetteville in 1972 upon her retirement as a professor at Bowman-Gray Medical School in Winston-Salem. She started Cumberland Community Foundation in July 1980 with an unrestricted gift of over $575,000. Cumberland County will be forever grateful for the vision and dedication of Dr. Lucile Hutaff for her gift of the Cumberland Community Foundation, and for leading the way by example.

  • 05NewsDigestFayetteville Competes With the Biggest and Ranks Among the Best

    Governingmagazine has announced the top-ranking cities of its first-ever national survey framework of seven essential elements that define high-performance government and empower innovation. The survey found Fayetteville ranks among the biggest and best. 

    The periodical is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education. Based on the results of its inaugural survey and analysis, the city of Phoenix, Arizona, was named the Top Performing City Overall. 

    Cities across the country participated in the survey, which assessed capacity and competence in seven key areas. In recognition of their innovative and effective practices in city management and citizen service delivery, the top 10 performers overall aside from Phoenix are: El Paso, Texas; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Las Vegas, Nevada; Louisville, Kentucky; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Riverside, California; San Diego, California; San Jose, California and San Antonio, Texas. “People are increasingly looking to local government for solutions that address the nation’s biggest challenges,” said Steven Bosacker, an official with a subsidiary of Governing

    “City leaders across the country are proving how dedicated they are to establishing high-performing administrations that respond to the needs of their communities,” he concluded.

    Blackwell Responds to Tucker’s Decision Not to Seek Re-election

    Since former Chief Assistant Court Clerk Cindy Blackwell announced her candidacy for Cumberland County Clerk of Superior Court, incumbent Clerk Kimberly Tucker has said she would not seek re-election. Judge Jim Ammons passed over Blackwell four years ago when he appointed Tucker to the top post. 

    Announcing her candidacy last month, Blackwell said, “The clerk is not just an elected office. It’s a job with real work to be done, and the people deserve a clerk that wants to work. I will show up for work and make sure the citizens have an advocate for them in the courthouse.” The clerk was accused in a WRAL-TV Investigation of spending a lot of time at home and not going into the office regularly, an allegation Tucker denied. 

    Another Accused Pedophile Jailed

    Joe Caldwell Jr. will likely spend the next few months in jail as he awaits trial on numerous charges of sexually abusing children. 

    His bond is set at $2.3 million. Caldwell, 34, was arrested by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Squad at an apartment in the Topeka Heights complex. “He is charged with 23 counts of sexual offenses against children,” said Captain Bobby Reyes, assistant chief of detectives with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office. Reyes would not comment on how many children may have been involved. He said no further information could be disclosed because the investigation is on-going. 

    All Gave Some; Some Gave All

    Former Fayetteville City Councilman and longtime civic leader Don Talbot admonished the hundreds in attendance at this year’s Memorial Day ceremony to remember those who “wrote a blank check to the United States with a value up to and including
    their life.”

    Talbot almost single-handedly founded Fayetteville’s Freedom Memorial Park on Bragg Boulevard to honor veterans who gave their all in wars past and present. 

    “This remains a day of appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed for us,” Talbot said. Freedom Memorial Park is an anchor for what has become a local focal point of Fayetteville’s living association with the military. 

    The Army’s Airborne and Special Operations Museum across the street and the North Carolina State Veterans Park also anchor the ceremonial corridor.

                                 

  • Dear EarthTalk: The 2008 Summer Olympics in China are drawing a lot of attention right now for political reasons. I’ve heard, though, that one ray of light is China’s effort to make the event as green as possible. What’s going on in that regard?       
                                                                                              — Josh Rogers, Concord, NH


       {mosimage} It’s true that China is using the upcoming Beijing Olympics as a sustainability showcase, going so far as to dub the event the “Green Olympics.” Through a partnership with the U.S. government and the Maryland-based International Center for Sustainable Development, China is giving Beijing a green makeover to make the city a model for net zero pollution, green building generate some 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide, in large part because of the flying the world’s athletes will do to get to and from the games. To offset these potent greenhouse gases, China will take a series of measures, Wan says, including planting trees, closing 1,000 small coal mines before and during the games and banning up to 1 million cars from city streets.
        Beijing’s Olympic Village, where the Chinese government has been busy erecting dozens of stadiums and other structures according to rigorous green standards, is emerging as quite an example of sustainable community development. The steel-looped Beijing National Stadium, for instance, includes a rainwater collection arrangement, a natural ventilation system and a clear roof with inflatable cushions made from ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene), a kind of plastic that increases light and heat penetration.
        Another example is the “Water Cube,” a spectacular-looking structure that looks like a building made of bubble-wrap. Officially known as the National Aquatics Center, it is completely surrounded with ETFE pillows and is expected to cut energy use by 30 percent. And when it has finished serving its purpose as an Olympic venue, it has been built to be converted to a shopping area and leisure center with tennis courts, retail outlets, nightclubs and restaurants.
        All seven main Olympic stadiums are equipped with solar generators capable of outputting 480 kilowatts of energy at any given moment. Ninety percent of the lighting outside the stadiums, as well as the entire hot water supply for the Olympic Village, will be powered by solar energy. Also, the main stadiums will receive power from Beijing’s first wind farm.
        While the Olympic Games will only last for two weeks, environmentalists hope the greening of Beijing will indeed continue beyond the summer of ‘08. Some proposals include building 14 wastewater treatment facilities to achieve a 90 percent treatment rate in Beijing, and extending potable water to the entire city.
        Also, the municipal government of Beijing has invested in expensive energy-efficient heating and transportation equipment that will greatly improve environmental quality for decades hence. Beijing, where 1,000 new cars roll onto the streets every day, also plans to source clean energy from other parts of China and through the purchase of pollution offsets on a quickly expanding international market.

    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. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
  •     Lou Reed once musically urged people to take a walk on the wild side. I have taken the portion of his advice about walking. On my walks to Barnes & Nobles I sporadically have what for me passes as profound thoughts. (For other people these thoughts would prove mundane at best.) Walking the three plus miles of Morganton Road provides the opportunity to ponder the mysteries of the universe — and the crushed Bud Light cans on the sidewalk.
        The light and airy months of spring have morphed into the raging beast that is Fayetteville’s annual summer festival of heat and humidity. I expect to have even more profound thoughts as solar energy intensifies. In Biblical times, prophets would go into the desert to dream dreams and see visions. Lacking a desert in Fayetteville, the Morganton Road sidewalk substitutes to trigger cosmic revelations.
        Personal Theory of Life #602 holds that life is a constant battle against gravity. Gravity struggles each day to pull you down. You struggle each day to stand up. Most days you will win and remain standing. Eventually, gravity will win. You will fall down and you will not be able to get up. Visit a hospice if you doubt this theory. In order to delay the day that gravity inevitably wins, it is important to exercise. The stronger your body is, the longer you can fend off Mr. Gravity. That’s why I walk, to delay gravity’s final victory. That’s the reason some people go to the gym, do yoga or run. Other people who do not subscribe to Theory of Life #602 supersize their french fries with extra cheese and bacon bits. Mr. Gravity usually wins against these people sooner than their more active brothers and sisters.
        Walking the same route repeatedly is not boring. Obsessive compulsive maybe, but not boring. As Casey Stengel would say, you can see a lot just by looking. There are a number of interesting sights on Morganton Road. Did you know that Fred the Dead Rabbit is lying in the road close to the Fayetteville Academy? Fred has been ripening in the sun for a few weeks. He is silent but wise. Dead rabbits are natural teachers. Fred has taught me how to hold my breath when I walk past him. Fred has reinforced my concept of the difference between upwind and downwind. There is also an odd picture of a woman’s face on a telephone pole sign that cautions about being buried. The Indy 500 nature of cars going 70 mph two feet away on Morganton Road generates copious adrenalin.
         walking next to Fred the Rabbit, I pondered what Hillary Clinton wants. Obama now has the delegates to be the Democratic nominee. Hillary refuses to concede defeat. She is the dinner guest who doesn’t know when it’s time to leave the party. The hosts are yawning and want to go to bed. Hillary refuses to leave. Apparently she’s willing to pick Obama to be president as long as she gets to be vice president. My guess is that Michelle Obama may not want Hillary as VEEP. As a wise man once said, “If Mamma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy.” The White House would not be a happy place with a cranky Michelle coupled with Hillary and Bill trying to be president.
        A number of Hillary’s supporters are peeved at what they perceive as the unfair treatment of Hillary by the Democratic Party and Big Media. They are threatening to go vote for McCain who favors appointing more Supreme Court justices like Scalia and Thomas who will vote to abolish Roe v. Wade and do other colorful things to the Constitution that you might think Hillary voters would oppose. Heck hath no fury like a Hillary supporter scorned. Like the Shiites flagellating themselves, Hillaryites are willing to cut off their noses to spite Obama’s face.  
        What is Hillary to do? Simple, she calls up John McCain and chooses him as her presidential running mate. She’ll become McCain’s vice president. A McCain-Hillary ticket would get John, Hillary and Bill into the White House. Her voters could smite Obama and the Constitution by casting their ballot for McCain-Clinton-Clinton. It’s a political menage a trois made in heaven. It’s coming soon to a ballot box near you. Let the presidential rumpus begin!

  • Education's Bottom Line

    Several weekends ago, I watched with much delight as some Dickson neighbors hosted an evening p06-15-11-margaret.jpgicnic in honor of their twin granddaughters who are graduating from high school and heading for one of our outstanding and nationally regarded University of North Carolina campuses. Like thousands of other families, this one has a long tradition of valuing excellence in education and of understanding its importance in both individual lives and in the ongoing prosperity of our state. The twins will be the third generation of this family to bleed purple and gold, if you get my drift. 

    That summer evening was fi lled with the whoops and hollers of happy teenagers as they cooked on grills and played various games in the front yard. The young people were clearly proud and pleased to have finished high school and looking forward to their own next chapters, whatever they may be. I suspect most of these partygoers are heading to colleges, universities and community colleges of which North Carolina is blessed with an abundance of excellent options. The evening projected an atmosphere of hope and promise.

    Like many North Carolinians, I have followed this year’s budget debates in the General Assembly which have been highly partisan and classic examples of the fundamental differences between Democrats and Republicans. Painting with a broad brush, Democrats generally support issues they perceive constitute the greater common good, and Republicans generally support what they perceive as benefi ting the individual.

    No where have these differences in political philosophy been more focused than in budget debates, and because education spending makes up nearly 60 percent of North Carolina’s spending, conversations over to spend or not to spend are necessarily concentrated on those areas. In these tight  nancial times, the basic question for the N.C. General Assembly has been this — do we cut education spending to save tax dollars or do we continue our state’s century long emphasis on public education as the driver of economic health?

    As is always the case in partisan and highly-charged debates, the party in control will win the argument, and in North Carolina right now, that is the Republican Party and point of view.

    Spending cuts are underway across state government, including in education, but what will that mean? No one, neither Republican nor Democrat, knows the exact answers to that question for a number of reasons.

    N.C.’s multi-billion dollar budget is diffi cult to digest. Even more than its imposing size, though, is the fact that many of the spending cuts have been pushed down to local school systems to decide what or who goes and what or who is kept. Cumberland County Schools are different than those in Wake or New Hanover counties, and Cumberland County School Board members and administrators will make different decisions than their counterparts.

    No one really knows how all of this will shake out in coming months or what it means for individuals working in school systems and for taxpayers who support those systems. Depending on our political inclinations, we will see whatever does transpire in different lights. Some of us will find the changes positive and some of us will be horrifi ed. My concern, though, is for students now.

    The Dickson Precious Jewels have completed their educations, or at least the latest stages of them, but since the wrangling in Raleigh began earlier this year, parents have expressed their relief to me that their children, like mine, are nearing the end or finished, just as our neighbors’ granddaughters are celebrating their graduations from a Cumberland County high school. They will not be affected if there are fewer teaching assistants in local classrooms, nor will they be around in school hallways now missing an assistant principal.

    But other students will be in those classrooms and hallways. The twins may well be affected, however, if they cannot get into classes they need because fewer teachers are around to teach as many. Maybe they will have to attend an extra semester or so to accomplish graduation. The state may have saved money, but students and their families have not. The same may be true for their friends who find themselves at Fayetteville Technical Community College and others across the state.

    The reality is that while the arguments may be partisan and philosophical, the consequences of subsequent decisions are very real and very lasting. Decisions can be changed, of course, but their effect on students can last a lifetime.

  • 06-29-11-hood.jpgAn agency of the state of North Carolina recently held a ludicrous meeting.

    Yes, I know that’s not particularly news-worthy. It’s a safe bet that on every week-day, and more than a few weekends, state government convenes or hosts at least one meeting that wastes the time of its partici-pants and the money of the taxpayers.

    But the meeting to which I refer, a state regulatory hearing about potential hospital expansion in Wake County, is a particularly egregious case. The hearing, just outside the state capitol in the Garner Historic Auditorium, featured a series of hospital lobbyists and executives trying to obtain state permission to open or expand hospitals in fast-growing areas of the county.

    WakeMed, a private nonprofit that used to be a county-owned hospital, is one of the bidders. Rex Hospital, which used to be a private nonprofit but is now owned by the state, is another bidder. Novant Health, a Winston-Salem nonprofit that owns 13 hospitals across four states, is the third bidder.

    Why can’t these competing institutions simply make their own decision about where to invest in new hospital capacity, weighing the costs and benefits according to their own projections and business strategies? Because the state of North Carolina won’t let them. North Carolina still utilizes a certificate-of-need system to authorize new hospital beds and other medical services.

    Rather like Bulgarian shoe companies and Romanian food processors once had to do, North Carolina’s hospitals have to submit their ideas to gov-ernment officials, who then get to decide whether those ideas are consistent with a central plan.

    In this case, reports the Raleigh News & Observer, the state has “determined that Wake County needs 101 new hospital beds over the next several years to keep up with increasing demand and the growing population.”

    Really? How can the state’s hospital commissars be sure that the true need isn’t 104 beds or 97 beds? And if they predict incorrectly, who pays the price?

    I suppose I could write a lengthy ex-planation of why central planning is a poor way of making medical decisions. I could point out that states without certificate-of-need laws do just fine, and that there is no empirical support for the assertion that certificate-of-need regulation improves the quality or reduces the cost of medical services.

    I could — but that would be redundant. My JLF colleagues Roy Cordato and Joe Coletti have already explored these is-sues in great depth.

    So I’ll just say this: If you think that the best way to decide who should build new hospitals, and where, is to entrust the decision to a heavily lob-bied state agency rather than competitive markets, you and I live in very different worlds.

    In mine, it is the year 2011 and Soviet-style central plan-ning is on the outs. In what world do you reside?

    Photo: North Carolina still utilizes a certificate-of-need system to authorize new hos-pital beds and other medical services. 

  •     The national organization ALIPAC (Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee) is launching a special effort in North Carolina to get state legislators to cut off all taxpayer resources from illegal aliens in this year’s budget negotiations with the exception of emergency medical care and vaccinations.
        {mosimage}The group, established in 2004, is known for many national and state level successes fighting illegal immigration. In North Carolina, ALIPAC played a key role in defeating in-state tuition for illegals in 2005 and helped pass state laws that cracked down on illegal immigration in 2006 and 2007.
        “We have an illegal immigration emergency in North Carolina and must cut off all incentives for illegal aliens immediately,” said William Gheen of ALIPAC. “North Carolina is still one of the top destinations in America for illegal aliens and we have larger numbers inbound because Georgia and South Carolina have cracked down. We must take emergency action in North Carolina.”
        The group says there is a mass exodus of illegal aliens from Georgia and that many are headed for North Carolina, which is perceived as welcoming to illegal aliens. South Carolina is on the verge of passing similar legislation.
        Despite multiple polls showing approximately 80 percent of North Carolinians oppose taxpayer resources, including college access and licenses for illegal aliens, several Democrat lawmakers announced a push for college access for illegal aliens this week.
        “We hope to thwart the radical pro illegal alien agenda of Democrats once again as we have before,” said William Gheen. “We need to get North Carolina lawmakers of both parties moving toward enforcement like the majority of other states are doing.”
        ALIPAC will work with other state and national groups such as N.C. Listen on this project and will release more details soon.

  •     Earlier this year, Fortune magazine published a long — and I thought — remarkable profile of Melinda Gates.
        There is a bit of jockeying for the world’s richest person position, but her husband, Bill, is always in the Top Five, which is to say, as F. Scott Fitzgerald did, that “the rich are not like you and me.” If Fortune is right though, Melinda Gates has her own feet anchored firmly on the ground.
        Bill Gates’ story is well-known. He grew up an all-American nerd in a privileged family in Seattle, became Harvard’s most famous dropout, founded Microsoft and the rest is history. Melinda French grew up in Dallas, one of four children of a hardworking engineer father and a stay-at-home mother. At her all-girls Catholic high school, she realized that getting ahead meant being tops in her class. She emerged as a valedictorian fascinated by computers and earned both a B.A. and an M.B.A. in five years at Duke University.
        {mosimage}Melinda French, 22, and still into computers, went to work at a fledgling young company, Microsoft, where she met and eventually married the driven and still nerdy CEO. She moved, albeit reluctantly, into his gigantic techno-mansion where they are raising their three children under as “normal” circumstances as possible.
        And in the strangest twist of fate life has tossed Melinda French Gates’ way — she now presides alongside her husband over the world’s largest philanthropic foundation with assets of more than $37 billion. Together, the Gates plan to give away 95 percent of their wealth during their lifetimes.
        All this from a Texas girl who nearly two decades ago as a high school student set one goal for herself — one goal each and every day.
        Gates seemed to pooh-pooh her goal-setting, telling Fortune her targets were modest, “The goals were run a mile, learn a new word, that sort of thing.”
        I am fascinated by the concept.
        Many of us do this every day without really thinking about it. We tell ourselves, “Today I will be at work on time, go to the grocery store, make sure the children do all their homework.” These too are goals, and we may feel disappointed in ourselves if we do not achieve them, however mundane they may be.
        But to set a daily goal for conscious self-improvement is another thing altogether. It is promising oneself that whatever we may accomplish today — do our jobs, run our households, raise our children — we will also do one thing to make ourselves better in our own eyes. Melinda French’s seemingly modest goals as a high school girl — run a mile and learn a new word — surely helped mold her into the woman whose focus and determination are exerting profound and positive effects on the world’s most basic and most troubling issues, including education and Third World human health.
    What seems most remarkable to me is that this clearly smart and thoughtful woman is partnering with her husband to devote most of their time and talents to helping people far less fortunate than they all over the world. What apparently began as a self-driven, self-imposed self-improvement plan has exploded into a global improvement plan.
        The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has tackled such intransigent world health issues as malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis in the globe’s poorest countries. They offer small or “micro” loans and insurance to people who could never start a business or operate a farm without them. They fund green projects in places where subsistence is far more important than conservation. They invest in the issues that dog our nation’s public schools. Their funding handiwork can be seen in our own community at the Fuller Performance Learning Center. Here, students who have dropped out of high school for whatever reason are back in school online, fulfilling their course requirements and earning their high school diplomas.
    Melinda Gates told Fortune that her youthful goal-setting was modest, but her mind was clearly already on a much larger picture. In her valedictory address, she told her fellow graduates this: “If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you an idea that started you in the right direction. Remember also that you are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.”
        None of us can do what the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is doing around the world, and doing so well; in fact, mega-investor Warren Buffett is giving the foundation controlled by the Gates the bulk of his fortune for philanthropic purposes as well. What we can do though, is be mindful of what we want to accomplish in our lives for ourselves and for others. A life lived without thought and direction cannot possibly have as much meaning as one lived with goals and with generosity of both money and spirit.
    The lesson of Melinda French Gates is to set goals, however modest or private, and to go for them.
        One a day.

       
  •     We Americans, whatever our partisan inclinations and affiliations, have endured and resolved another long and bruising presidential primary season.
        Both Democrats and Republicans have settled upon candidates for president. Both John McCain and Barack Obama are now pondering and vetting various vice-presidential possibilities.
        In every way, 2008 is shaping up as the year of historic political firsts: The first woman to run a viable campaign for president.
        The first person of color to win his party’s nomination for president.
        The first person over the age of 70 to win his party’s nomination for president.
        One of these "firsts" will be our next president, and we now know it will not be the first woman. Hillary Clinton ran a competitive campaign but bowed out because she did not have the numbers.
        Do you see the next woman coming who will be both willing and able to mount and sustain a campaign for president? Where, oh where, can she be?
        Perhaps she is in Congress or will be. But the Congressional women who have achieved national name recognition, Senators Dianne Feinstein, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Patty Murray and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, are more toward the ends of their careers than the beginnings. Maybe she is in Congress, and we do not know her yet. The numbers are not huge, 16 percent of the House members are women and 16 of 100 Senators, but maybe she is among the younger ranks of these women. The reality is, though, that more of our presidents have come from state offices rather than from Congress, so perhaps she is serving in a state office.
        {mosimage}A recent piece in the New York Times by Kate Zernike notes that women currently make up about a quarter of state legislators and statewide elected officials. Look at our own state’s slate of candidates this year. A woman has an excellent chance of becoming our next governor, and we will absolutely elect a woman to the United States Senate as both parties’ nominees are women. Perhaps she is one of my colleagues now.
        A significant number of our presidents have, in fact, been governors, so maybe she is among those ranks or will be. Names that are being bandied about now include Governors Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, and Sarah Palin of Alaska.
        Or perhaps we haven’t heard of her yet. Perhaps our first woman president is so far into our nation’s future that she has not been born. Even though we do not see her face yet, or perhaps because we do not, speculation abounds, both published and over water coolers throughout the nation.
        Here is how Zernike of the Times put it.
    "That woman will come from the South, or west of the Mississippi. She will be a Democrat who has won in a red state, or a Republican who has emerged from the private sector to run for governor. She will have executive experience, and have served in a job like attorney general, where she will have proven herself to be 'a fighter' (a caring one, of course).
        "She will be young enough to qualify as post feminist (in the way Senator Barack Obama has come off as post racial), unencumbered by the battles of the past. She will be married with children, but not young children. She will be emphasizing her experience, and, yes, wearing pantsuits."
        I certainly have never read any speculation like that about a male candidate for any office, which brings up another topic.
        Because she was first, Hillary Clinton was on the receiving end of media unlike that of her male counterparts. Remember when she teared up on the campaign trail? That was reported time and time again as showing her "feminine side," her "humanity," a "tender Hillary." Do you know any human being, man or woman, who has never wept over something?
        Then there were the jokes, some truly cruel. That Hillary Clinton would never get the male vote because men look at her and see their ex-wives — and then there was David Letterman’s wisecrack that when Clinton needed to raise more campaign funds she should enter a "wet pantsuit" contest.
        Did you hear that kind of thing about any other presidential candidate?
        Our first woman president may or may not be out there somewhere in America listening to all of this, and if she is, it may or may not give her pause in her own political ambitions.
        I think when the dust settles on the 2008 presidential race with all its "firsts," we are going to see and acknowledge that for whatever reasons, female candidates at the highest level are still treated and viewed differently than male candidates of whatever race, even though that may not be the case in state and local races.
        I do not see our first woman president coming yet, and she may not arrive during my lifetime. But please let me know if you get a glimpse of her striding across America toward the White House.

       
  •     Lee Greenwood is even prouder to be an American today thanks to New York Congressman Anthony Weiner. Hat’s off to Tony Weiner for introducing a bill which will increase the number of free-range international super models roaming our fruited plains. Weiner bravely confronted America’s most pressing international crisis — the looming shortage of foreign-born super models moon walking across the fashion runways of New York. Forget the middling issues facing America today — $5 a gallon gas, a collapsing real estate market, an endless war in the Middle East and the inability of the L.A. Dodgers to get above .500. “Piffle” says Congressman Weiner. Why worry about war, peace, inflation, recession and other such trifles when America needs more super models?
        I could not agree with Tony more on America’s tragic shortage of super models. Wars and rumors of war abound. Polls report that the vast majority of Americans think the USA is on the wrong path. The country is hip deep in the big muddy of malaise. What will once again make America a shining city on a hill? The shining hills of more super models that’s what! America needs more 6-feet-tall, 90-pound women with the facial expression of a red ant to cheer us up. To heck with balancing the budget, bring on the super models.{mosimage}
        Through some horrible bureaucratic snafu, foreign-born super models and foreign-born computer geeks are tossed into the same immigration category called H-1B visas. These visas are issued to “highly skilled workers.” Only about 85,000 H-1B visas are available each year. Computer geeks are hogging most of these visas. A mere 350 H-1B visas are granted annually to the anorexic angels of fashion. To rectify this horrible injustice, Congressman Weiner has introduced HR 4080 entitled “To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a separate nonimmigrant classification for fashion models.” This is a law all Americans should get behind and offer their unflinching support to foreign super models. Tony’s Law will create a new Fashion Model visa category for 1,000 — count ‘em 1,000 — super models to come to the U.S. of A. to strut their stuff. If that doesn’t raise the spirits of American men what will?
        Right now you are probably asking yourself, who qualifies as a super model under Tony’s Law and how can I get me one of those super models? To quote from the bill, a super model is “a fashion model who is of distinguished merit and ability and who is seeking to enter the United States temporarily to perform fashion modeling services that involve events or productions which have a distinguished reputation or that are performed for an organization or establishment that has a distinguished reputation for, or a record of, utilizing prominent modeling talent.” Tony’s Law is a paragon of legislative classiness. The definition of super model uses the term “distinguished” three times in the same sentence while avoiding using the terms hooters, mindless and vapid. The definition is a hat trick of politics and pulchritude. Donald Trump could not have written it better.
        Who is a distinguished model? Distinguished is in the eye of the beholder. What are the objective standards for being a distinguished fashion model you might ask? As Justice Potter Stewart explained regarding pornography: “I can’t define pornography, but I know it when I see it.” Identifying a distinguished fashion model can be done the same way. You’ll know a distinguished super model when you see one.
        If you want to obtain your own super model under Tony’s Law, you too have to be distinguished. That means finally installing the underpinning under the old double wide and chaining the Rottweiler to the pump in the backyard instead of the white, painted tire garden out front. Get your pickup truck detailed so you don’t embarrass yourself when the next load of super models gets dropped off at the Greyhound station. If beauty is only skin deep, distinguished is just a coat of Turtle Wax away.
        Keep America beautiful. Write your Congress people and tell them to support Tony’s Law. You’ll be glad you did.



  • Be Prepared for Disasters

    Due to the significant number of tornadoes and severe thunder storms in the country this Spring, we feel compelled to run our “Emergency Preparedness” article again.

    Please read it and consider getting your family ready should a situation develop in your neighborhood.

    This time of year in eastern North Carolina, the weather is dominated by potential tropical storms developing into hurricanes. Over the years, our state has been devastated by the impact these storms have had not only on property but the toll it takes on our citizens and communities. Preparing for natural disasters should be a priority for all families living in North Carolina. Predicting the path of these tropical storms, hurricanes or any natural disaster is not an exact science and every precaution should be taken to ensure the safety and well being of our loved ones.

    During an emergency or crisis — natural or man-made — hospital emergency departments rapidly fi ll up with seniors. Floods, fi res, power outages, pandemics, not to mention hot humid summers with extreme heat waves, are all potentially dangerous scenarios for seniors. They are especially dangerous if the senior lives alone.

    Of course, it’s critical during emergencies that agencies work together. This includes police and fi re departments, Emergency Management Services (EMS), public health units, paramedics, and hospitals. The idea is that with coordinated care and community support, seniors can live in their own homes safely and avoid hospitalization. This includes during a crisis or emergency situation.

    Home Instead Senior Care has devised a 10-point check list to help seniors prepare for disasters:

    1. Contact the local emergency management offi ce to learn about the most likely natural disasters to strike your area.

    2. Do a personal assessment. Seniors should know what they can or can’t do before, during and after a disaster. Make a list of those needs and the resources that can meet them.

    3. Schedule a family meeting to assess your needs in an emergency and develop a plan of action. Include in your plan neighbors, friends, relatives and professional caregivers who could help.

    4. Assemble a portable disaster kit with essential supplies, as well as photocopies of key identifi cation, a health card, and legal documents. The kit should have three days of non-perishable food and water, plus an additional four days of food and water readily accessible at home.

    5. Label every piece of equipment or personal item in your kit.

    6. Have at least two escape routes – one out of the home in case of fire when you must get out quickly, and one out of the area in case you must evacuate the local community. Designate a place to meet other relatives or key support network people outside the home.

    7. Know when to go to a safer place or to stay where you are, and how to make the decision. In the case of evacuation, older adults should go sooner rather than later.

    8. Know where to get information during an emergency, either through TV or radio. Have a battery-operated radio on hand. Special alarms are available for people with medical conditions, such as a strobe alarm for the hearing-impaired.

    9. Make a list of key phone numbers that includes people on your support network, as well as doctors and other health-care professionals.

    10. Call a professional caregiver if you need assistance.

    06-08-11-senior-corner.jpg“Family caregivers play a critical role,” says Susan Guy. “But seniors who have no family locally can also be assisted by caregivers from an organization like ours. The most important consideration is to put a plan in place, assess what the senior needs in the event of a disaster, and implement the plan.”

    As part of Safety Awareness Month we have “Senior Care Resources” on www.homeinstead.com/647 and FACEBOOK!

    Photo: Make a list of key phone numbers in case disaster strikes

  • I wanted to share something with everyone that is really bothering me. Trash! It takes no time going down the interstate and you see trash on the road. All of this is gravely dangerous to motorcyclist.

    A few weeks ago I was speaking to a man who was riding a trike motorcycle. He said he had just bought it a few months ago because he had a wreck on I-95. Plastic had come off the back of a truck and wrapped around his face. Blinded, he had no time to react. He tried to get off the highway but laid his bike down while trying to negotiate two lanes of high speed traffic. Before he could bring his bike to a safe stop he laid it down and broke his back.

    On a recent ride to Raleigh I could not count the number of dead animals, trash or busted rethread tires on the highway and on the sides of the road. I couldn’t go more than 10 miles without seeing retreads on the side of road.

    I love America. America’s greatness comes from our ability to manufacture goods and services. Those goods and service are moved by millions of truckers every day. I understand that those big rigs are expensive to maintain and operate. Independent truckers and trucking companies do their best to keep the vehicles running, safe and to keep their prices down in order to make a profit. One way they keep their op-erating prices down is to use retreaded tires.

    There are more than 450 tire manufactures in business today and they produce over a billion tires a year. Both new and rethreaded tires will fail if abused or the proper tire pressure is not maintained. With so many tires on the road makes me wonder what is going on with them.06-22-11-.jim jonesjpg.jpg

    Is it the government’s budget cuts that keep road crews from pick-ing up trash? It has to be expensive. They have pay for the labor, the trucks, and the disposal of all of that junk. I really don’t know but there is something going on. Since my main reason for writing these articles is to help keep us all safer I won’t spend my time doing investigative work on why the roads are cluttered, but I will let you know they are getting more dangerous because of the clutter.

    As a guy that puts a lot of miles on a bike, I will tell you that any-thing can happen on the road. The only thing you can do to protect yourself on a highway is keep your space.

    Distance affords you the ability to anticipate disaster. Keeping space provides you the field of vision and prevents you from overdriving your bike in harm’s way. If you get to close to a vehicle you can’t see what they might be running over or dropping off their vehicle.

    A car or truck can usually withstand hitting a trash on the highway but if a motorcycle hits anything, it will hurt.

    Please watch the road and drive safe out there!

    Photo: Independent truckers and trucking companies do their best to keep the vehicles running, safe and to keep their prices down in order to make a profit. One way they keep their op-erating prices down is to use retreaded tires. 

  • What is North Carolina’s most widely available summer pleasure that we often pass by without partaking?

    It is the bounty of delicious fresh foods that are available throughout the state all summer long.

    I have been spoiled by the year-round availability and wide selection of fruits and vegetables at our grocery stores. So I sometimes forget how much better foods are when they are fresh from the field, tree or vine.

    Then somebody shares a fresh-picked ripe strawberry, peach or tomato.06-29-11-dg-martin.jpg

    And I remember joyously the pleasures of in-season eating.

    This year I have help. It comes from four new books from food experts who celebrate the value of farm-fresh eating. Each author takes a little bit different approach to getting the food from farm to table.

    Award winning chef Andrea Reusing organizes her recipes and advice by seasons of the year. Sara Foster catalogues her fa-vorite recipes and stories by types of dishes, from hors d’oeuvres to sweets. Watauga County native Sheri Castle puts her collec-tion of recipes in separate chapters for about 40 vegetables and fruits. They are in A to Z order from apples to zucchini. Finally, travel writer Diane Daniel organizes by geographical location the farms, markets, restaurants and other places where we can find and buy in-season fresh vegetables and fruit.

    We will take up the Reusing’s and Foster’s books in this column and follow up next week with a discussion of those by Castle and Daniel.

    Andrea Reusing owns the acclaimed Chapel Hill restaurant Lantern, one of the former Gourmet Magazine’s Top Fifty restaurants. Her Cooking In The Moment: A Year of Seasonal Recipes takes its readers through every season, showing how to shop for and prepare the variety of local foods that are avail-able in North Carolina during different times of the year. Reusing’s restaurant is known for its complex Asian-inspired flavors. There is some of that influence in the recipes in her book.

    But, for the most part, the foods and the directions are simple and designed to take advantage of what is fresh and available. I loved her great advice about my favorite food, the tomato: “The secret to eating great tomatoes all summer long lies not in which variety — but in watching them — making space for them to lie flat someplace cool near the kitchen, checking them daily, eating the ones that need eating and continuously making plans for the ones that are getting there. Even tomatoes that are picked ripe need a little time out at room temperature to reach their peak flavor. It is shocking how long it can take even a just slightly firm tomato to get there … and how fast a perfect one rots.”

    Many folks in the Research Triangle area know Sara Foster for the wonderful food and fellowship at Foster’s Market in Durham and Chapel Hill. Fans throughout the country admire her as a communicator about southern foods, wonderful teacher, and author of lovely and understandable cooking books.

    She grew up in Tennessee in the country surrounded by family and other rural and small-town characters and family. Her recipes reflect southern-cooking traditions familiar to North Carolinians.

    Foster also worked for and with Martha Stewart. The elegant photography to illustrate the recipes, the photos and stories about old-time, home-cooking restaurants throughout the South, and the overall presentation of the book show that Foster knows how to produce a product Martha Stewart-style. As a result, when you have finished look-ing through her book, you will want to stand up and give an ovation for the production.

  •     During the last several weeks, millions of young people have graduated from America’s high schools, some facing the world of work and some going on to higher educations. Thousands have also graduated from our nation’s colleges, and most of those are indeed facing the reality of life in the working world, if they can find a job.
        Particularly one that suits them.
        I finished college and found myself in one of the most competitive job markets in American history. Other baby boomers and I descended on the American workplace just like we had descended on public schools, then on colleges — in droves. My wave came at a time when our national economy was taking a bit of a dip, not unlike today, and most of us took what jobs we could land and started working our way up.
        I started my first post-college job as the “traffic girl” at a radio station in Winston-Salem, a lowly typing job if ever there was one. Today’s graduates, the children of my baby boom generation, seem to have a somewhat different outlook. I had begun to notice this, so it was no wonder that a recent piece in the New York Times by Lisa Belkin caught my eye. She has noticed it as well.
        My generation’s children — many of them loved, pampered, nurtured and highly educated by their parents, are looking not just for any job, but for one that fulfills and challenges them, one that is both meaningful and an adventure, one that uses their intellect and skills and does good for others. Whew! I hope each and every one of these job seekers achieves that goal, but I certainly never felt that way about my traffic job.
        The Timesarticle did get me thinking, though, about where this attitude originates, and I think it came from us, their parents. We are the folks who worried about their self-esteem to the point that everyone on the elementary-age soccer team got a trophy and everyone in the baby class at the horse show got a blue ribbon. Same for field day. We have talked to them about having passion for their work and of leaving the world a better place than it was when they started, even if none of this was true for us in our workplaces. We have told them it is all about them. We have made them very, very special.
        The danger in all this, of course, is that we have so elevated their expectations that they will inevitably be disappointed, because employers are almost always more interested in providing their product or service than they are in fulfilling the career expectations of their employees. To be fair, the children of we baby boomers are likely to be more in demand than we were for the simple reason that there are far fewer of them than there were of us, so employers may very well value them more and cater to them in some ways. But my guess is they will still have some adjusting to do as they settle into the working world.
        I spent most of my working career in radio broadcasting, a wonderful and creative industry. It was a third generation family business, and working with my family for our mutual benefit was a fun, sometimes character-building experience. But I was not fulfilled every day. Serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives is a profound honor and a daily challenge, where compromise — not individuality, is the operative word. I think, though, that an early job during college summers probably laid the foundation of work for me.
        Waiting tables at a swanky private club in New England let me know without a doubt that there is value in doing a job — any job — well, and that going home at the end of the day knowing you did so is a great satisfaction. It taught me that the customer is almost always right, even when he is wrong, and that a good, understanding boss makes the difference in any job. The chance of getting that waiting job in that particular part of the world taught me that in some cases finding work is less a plan than an accident, more a matter of persistence than of talent, and that sometimes you just have to go with it. Most importantly, though, it taught me that I could support myself — keep a roof over my head and food in the fridge, and still aspire to a higher standard of work and of living in the future. 
        As I look at the young adults I know, part of me is envious of all they have ahead, and part of me quakes for all they must learn as they move along the often scary path of adulthood. And I am certain of two truths. We baby boomers desperately want them to find work that does challenge and fulfill them and which leaves the world a better place for their having done it.We also want them to be able to pay the rent.

    {mosimage} 

    Contact Margaret Dickson at margaretd@ncleg.net



  •     John McCormick’s name never made the headlines. He wasn’t a mover and shaker. However, if you ever met John, you would never forget him. McCormick was a man who lived and breathed integrity and possessed an enthusiasm for life. He was a man who was committed to doing and being the best at his job, no matter what that job might be. In the process, he made many friends and provided them a worthy example. Last Friday, our community lost a man, who in his humility, walked head and shoulders above his peers. And when a man of his caliber is lost, he should be mourned.
    For the past five years, John has been one of Up & Coming Weekly’s brightest faces in the community. He directed the distribution and delivery of all three of our publications while attending to his own weekly route. He loved it! In addition, he handled a multitude of other important responsibilities at our office. We never had to tell him what to do — he took responsibility for his job and jobs that were not his. He loved being at Up & Coming Weekly, and that love was reciprocated by our entire staff. He will be missed.
    In his own quiet, unassuming way, John changed all of us for the better. General Manager Jean Bolton hired John. “John wasn’t my employee he was my friend, I loved him, and I miss him,” she said. “He loved talking about the Lord and he loved teasing me about taking a drink. John often freely gave money to people wanting to make their lives just a little better. John was a very good man, not one to be soon forgotten. If you asked him how he was, he would say ‘I’ll be all right.’ I’m sure he is all right now.”
        Sydney Darden, of Kidsville News! started at our company fresh out of college. John was one of the first people she met. She recalled how he always greeted her with a word of kindness and encouragement. “John was extremely special to me. As I made my entrance into the working world, John was there every day with kind words,” recalled Darden. “I can’t express how much it means to have a little extra support every day when you go to work. He also was a constant source of inspiration in his dedication to Up & Coming Weekly. Rain or shine, he was there with a smile and determination to do his best.”
        National Kidsville News! Editor Joy Kirkpatrick quoted Henry van Dyke when speaking of John. “Heaven is blessed with perfect rest but the blessing of earth is toil.”
        “John McCormick wasn’t afraid of hard work. He had a strong work ethic and took on all tasks with his own special joy and charisma. When you weren’t sure who else you could depend on, you knew you could count on John,” she said.
        Up & Coming Weekly’s Sales Manager, Sam Lum, recalled one of John’s favorite sayings, “From the date of your birth… ‘til you ride in the hearse… things are gonna be bad… but they could always be worse.” Associate Publisher Janice Burton noted that there are a thousand things she could say about John McCormick — but believes the way he lived his life was a sermon in itself. One of the first conversations she had with John was about his church. The next conversation she had with him was about his faith, and the next, and the next and the next. “John was a man of great faith, he lived it, and more importantly, he wasn’t afraid to share it,” she said. “When I heard the news of John’s death, the only thing I could think of was John dancing down golden streets and the light on his face when he greeted the God he longed to know. It’s right to mourn a good man when he passes, but it’s easier to celebrate when you know he’s gone home.”
        We could all go on and on about our wonderful friend. We will all miss John — his smiling face, his warm, embracing philosophies, the loving way he referenced his church and family, especially his loving wife, Barbara. He loved being a part of the Up & Coming Weekly family. Week after week, he proudly delivered the “good news” to this community; now, the “good news” is….he has been delivered. John would be the first to tell you “it doesn’t get any ‘gooder’ than that.”

  •     When individuals speak against accepted truths, they often find themselves in hot water. Folks in Europe thought Columbus was pretty crazy when he said the world was round. Councilwoman Val Applewhite drew the ire of local leaders recently when she suggested that there was more to Fayetteville than downtown. GASP! Heresy! But, I, along with a lot of people, happen to agree with her.
        {mosimage}Fayetteville’s downtown is a wonderful asset to our city. I have noted numerous times in this very space how much my family and I enjoy our afternoons in the city center. But we enjoy a lot of our time in other areas of the city as well. We love Lake Rim Park. Yeah, I know those of you who think the city drops off at the end of the city center, are asking yourselves, “Lake Rim Park? I thought the only park we had was Festival Park.” But it’s not. We enjoy shopping at the mall (don’t start your bonfire yet), just as we enjoy the shops downtown. Over the years, we’ve found some unique restaurants all over the city — that doesn’t take away from the joy we have in dining downtown. It just is.
        And Applewhite, one of the newbies on the council, has yet to learn that you don’t go around yelling “the emperor has no clothes.” She has taken to heart her charge to represent the people who elected her. And they don’t live and breathe and have their being downtown. They live in west Fayetteville.
        You know, the folks who came kicking and screaming into the city limits. They are the folks who are paying for services they don’t get — for water and sewer that won’t be their way for a number of years, for buses that come nowhere near their neighborhoods. You remember those people, don’t you?
        So when Applewhite spoke in opposition to the hiring of a downtown manager, she wasn’t doing it because she didn’t understand how important the downtown is to economic development — she did it because she saw the need in her district. She saw a sector of the city that’s getting left in the cold, but asked to pay the heating bill. And she stood up.
        Local businessman John Malzone recently took her to task for her comments at the city council public forum. Malzone is a champion of downtown, and we salute him for that. But Applewhite is a champion for the people and that carries a lot of weight. She wasn’t, and we aren’t, suggesting the city abandon downtown or investigate its needs. But what she was saying, and we can agree with, is that if our community is to grow and prosper, then all areas of the community must grow and prosper.
        She understands that if the emperor has new clothes, but the rest of the city is shoeless and in rags, we haven’t really achieved anything.

  •     We Americans love our lists, and we love to keep track of all sorts of things.
        Recently, I have seen rankings of the latest top grossing movies, the most successful movies of all time, vehicles which use the most gas, vehicles which use the least gas, communities with the highest foreclosure rates and those with the  cheapest, 10 things to do to vacation in one’s own home and our nation’s colleges and universities with the toughest admission standards.
        I am sure I have seen others as well, but those came readily to mind.
        We also love anniversaries of all sorts, and 2008 has a wealth of them. Because 1968 was such a pivotal year in American history and American culture, we have already commemorated the lives and deaths of American icons Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy along with cultural markers like the Broadway musical Hair and the marriage of Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis.{mosimage}
        All of which got me thinking of a sad anniversary looming in the Dickson household.
        We lost our almost 15-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Nicky, last July, and I know I will be thinking of him often over the next several weeks. Nicky was a smart, independent and feisty little dog who generally got his own way and who, unfortunately and embarrassingly, bit several of our friends. In his old age with his sight and hearing fading, he mellowed into the sweetest fellow, loved by everyone in the household and beyond, at least among folks who had not suffered his snapping displeasure.
        Thinking about Nicky inspired me to do the natural American thing — I made a list of all the dogs in my life since my sister and I were little girls growing up in the Fayetteville of the 1950s and 60s.
    Sam.
        Sam was a gun shy Weimaraner, given to our father by a friend who hunted and who had no use for a dog terrified of loud noises. Sam was wonderful with children, though, standing patiently while my sister and I and our neighborhood friends tried to ride him like a horse. I remember him sleeping in the backyard shrubbery in his old age.
        Angel.
        Angel was a present on my ninth birthday. He was a Pekingese, who had no idea he was not a German Shepherd. In the days before leash laws, Angel, his pale hair dirty and sometimes matted as my mother let me learn the responsibility of dog ownership, led the pack of neighborhood pets including Sam and another Weimaraner named Blitz, a black German shepherd named Mr. Henry, a Dalmatian named, yes, Domino, and assorted others. I think my father took considerable ribbing from his friends about Angel.
        Joshua.
        Josh was a bouncy and none too bright terrier who often escaped from the fence installed in our back yard to contain him. My father spent a good bit of time chasing him or searching for him, until one day Josh bounced out of our lives altogether.
        Toto.
        Toto was my mother’s West Highland Terrier, whom she adopted when his first family could no longer care for him. Large for his breed, Toto was originally named Hoss after one of the Cartwright brothers on the then-hit television program Bonanza. I inherited Toto after my mother’s death, and he lived out his years in relative quiet with only one major incident. He bit our first child in the face when the baby crawled over to the snoozing old critter.
        There have been others, as well.
        Fanny, the high-strung Schnauzer who once ate half a buttery pound cake and suffered for it as did we. Brownie, the chocolate Lab who will forever be remembered in our family as the Best Dog Ever. She defined our children’s young lives, and her ashes are in our living room today. Maggie, the faux Lab we adopted after Brownie’s death, whose hips were those of a Greyhound and whose astonishing speed took her through the electric fence one day, never to be seen again.
        And now, Lilly, a yellow Lab whose sweetness and enthusiasm for life may give Brownie a run for her title as Best Dog         Ever.
        In true American fashion, I have also made a list of some of my favorite quotations about dogs,
        In no particular order, here goes.
        “The average dog is nicer than the average person.” Andy Rooney.
        “No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.” Christopher Morley.
        “There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.” Ben Williams.
        “Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” Ann Landers.
        “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you, that is the principle difference between a dog and man.” Mark Twain.
        Aldous Huxley really nailed it, though.
        Said Huxley, “To his dog, every man is Napoleon, hence the constant popularity of dogs.”

       

  • Here is my list, compiled about 10 years ago of the most important events in 20th Century North Carolina. It is a good time to reassess, but I am sticking with what I wrote back then.

    The election of 1900. The white supremacy Democratic Party returned to power and Charles Brantley Aycock be-came governor. The adoption of a literacy requirement for voting (with a “grandfather clause” to protect illiterate whites) assured the Democrats’ victory, effectively froze most blacks out of North Carolina political life for most of the century, and made us a solid one-party state.

    The Wright brothers flight in 1903. Maybe the Wright brothers came from Ohio. But they came here. As a result we define ourselves as “first in-flight.”

    The creation of the State Highway Commission in 1921 under “Good Roads” Governor Cameron Morrison.

    The establishment of the Duke Endowment in 1924. The philanthropy of James Buchanan Duke assured the national prominence of Duke University and set the pattern for a rich philanthropic tradition in North Carolina.

    The textile strikes in Gastonia in 1929.06-08-11-d.g.martin.jpg

    The publication of Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward Angel in 1929.

    The 1931 consolidation of the campuses of North Carolina State, Women’s College, and the University of North Carolina under one governing board and presi-dent, leading ultimately to the unified administration of all public higher education under the UNC system beginning in 1971.

    The founding of the Institute of Government in Chapel Hill in 1931. Later a model for similar institutions in other states, it fostered a tradition of professional-ism and integrity for public officials.

    The state’s assumption of primary responsibility for the funding of public schools in the early 1930’s.

    The development of outdoor drama by Paul Green, beginning with The Lost Colony in Manteo in 1937. Thousands of North Carolinians learned their most re-membered history lessons in outdoor theatres in places like Manteo, Cherokee, and Boone

    .The rise of Billy Graham in 1949. After his successful crusade in Los Angeles, North Carolina made Graham its “patron saint.”

    The Willis Smith-Frank Graham U.S. Senate race in 1950. Political leaders representing many different traditions cut their teeth and defined their viewpoints and their commitments to participation in public life. Terry Sanford, Jesse Helms, Robert Morgan, I. Beverly Lake, Sr., John Sanders, and many other important figures in North Carolina political life took im-portant roles in this campaign.

    The creation of the Community College System in 1957. The January 1958 rout of the Ku Klux Klan by the Lumbee Indians. This event marked the beginning of the end for the Klan as a serious participant in North Carolina public life.

    The founding of the Research Triangle Park in about 1959.

    The Greensboro sit-ins at Woolworth’s in February 1960.

    The election of Governor Terry Sanford in 1960.

    The end of the Dixie Classic basketball tournament in 1961.

    The 1963 Speaker Ban Law.

    The Charlotte busing decision (Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education) upheld by the Supreme Court in 1971.

    The 1972 elections. The election of Jesse Helms to the U.S Senate and of Jim Holshouser as the first Republican governor in the 20th Century ended 70 years of almost total Democratic political dominance. But it also began the era of Democrat Jim Hunt, who was elected Lt. Governor.

    The 1984 Senate race between Jim Hunt and Jesse Helms.

    The 1989 “coup d’etat” led by Joseph Mavretic in the North Carolina House Representatives, ending the speakership of Liston Ramsey.

    The selection of Dan Blue as the first African American speaker of the House of Representatives in 1991.

    The merger of NationsBank and Bank of America in 1998. Bank of America’s (and, for a time, Wachovia/First Union’s) home offices in Charlotte made the state one of the country’s largest banking centers.

  • 06-22-11-importance-of-entrepreneurship.jpgPresident Obama’s Start-Up America Initiative has brought a lot of attention to the need for en-trepreneurship in our country as a means of revitalizing the economy and creating needed jobs in local communities. Fayetteville Technical Community College has an active en-trepreneurial program which teaches students how and where to find ideas, how to plan for a new business and where to find the money neces-sary to start these ventures. Once the program is completed, a student not only understands what entrepre-neurship is, but also has the tools and knowledge necessary to become a successful entrepreneur. Students also become familiar with community resources available including FTCC’s Small Business Center, which pro-vides a wealth of information for anyone planning to start a business or currently operating one

    .FTCC has several options for those who want to learn more about this opportunity. There are three certificates available including Entrepreneurship I, Entrepreneurial Innovations and Entrepreneurial Applications. These programs can be studied as complete programs or as part of the associate degree program in business administration. Each certificate has a different focus ranging from basic entrepreneurship to idea creation and start-up; however, each certificate provides the student with a comprehensive understanding of the entrepreneurial process.

    The entrepreneurial program also has a global element; FTCC recently participated in the Prime Minister’s Initiative for Entrepreneurship, which was a part-nership between U. S. Colleges and Colleges in the United Kingdom. This initiative resulted in a tool called an Entrepreneurial Passport, which will be used in both countries to promote collaboration between students in each country. This tool is an instruction manual for en-trepreneurs and allows students to explore ideas to determine their validity while getting feedback from other students in different locations. The partnership merged best prac-tices from two different countries, expanding the student’s under-standing of a global marketplace. Entrepreneurship is important to the American economy, and FTCC has education and support in place to enhance the process. Learn more about the many programs offered at FTCC by visiting www.faytechcc.edu.

    Photo: Fayetteville Technical Community College has an active entrepreneurial program which teaches students how and where to find ideas, how to plan for a new business, and where to find the money necessary to start these ventures.

  • The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Dodger nine that day. The divorce score stood four to two with but one more inning to play.

    Is there anything sadder than having the storied LA Dodgers baseball team sent to foster care because its parents and owners, Frank and Jamie McCourt are grinding through a bitter divorce?

    06-29-11-pitt-dickey.jpgThe team that once starred Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax and Kirk Gibson is up for adoption. Daddy Frank McCourt may not be able to make the end of June payroll for the Dodgers. If Frank doesn’t pay the players, then the Lord High Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has indicated he will seize the Dodgers, put them in foster care with Major League Baseball and sell the team to the highest bidder. Oh, the humanity.

    The McCourts enjoyed a life style of the rich and famous by sucking the Dodgers’ financial well dry to support their oh so tasteful but expensive habits.

    As the Dodgers’ money ran out and their love ran away, they were no longer the fun couple they used to be. Frank and Jamie are fussing over who owns the Dodgers just like normal divorcing folks might fuss over who gets the dog in property settlement. You may not have noticed, but sometimes people going through a divorce can become cranky and dance upon the far shores of unreasonable behavior.

    Frank has to pay an $8.3 million dollar deferred compensation payment due at the end of June to former Dodger Manny Ramirez in addition to the regular Dodger payroll. Things are a little tight fi nancially in Dodgertown. Manny may be out picking up bottles on the side of the road if Frank can’t make that payment. Frank had worked out a scheme with Fox TV that had Fox paying $385 million in up-front payments which Frank, Jamie and their lawyers would have split $173 million with the rest going to the team. Commissioner Selig nixed the Fox deal because he wasn’t sure that paying $173 million to the Marvelous McCourts was going to help out the Dodgers team. Picky, picky, picky.

    My law partner Ritchie Smith has handled more divorce cases than any sentient human being should ever have to endure. In one memorable case, Ritchie almost had a particularly acrimonious divorce case settled. All the bank accounts and real estate had been divided between the combatants. The only remaining item at issue was an electric can opener.

    The fight to decide which spouse would walk away with the can opener threatened to bring the entire agreement crashing down onto the former love birds like Sampson pulling the temple of Dagon down on the Philistines.

    In a burst of inspiration, Ritchie went out and bought a new electric can opener and thus presented a can opener to both parties. The case settled. Is there no one out there in baseball land who can buy a really nice can opener for the McCourts so they can go away into that good night?

    Well, you can help by contributing to the Save the Dodgers Fund. Or you can turn the page. The Dodger Fund allows you to adopt a Dodger player by combining with other Dodger fans and paying his salary for the rest of the season. Your contribution to the Dodger Fund will allow baseball players to continue to be able to afford performance enhancing ointments, Corvettes and bling.

    For example, there are 9.5 million North Carolina residents according to the 2010 census. If each N.C. resident just gave 87 cents to the Dodgers Fund we could pay all of Manny Ramirez’s deferred compensation in June. The entire Dodgers payroll for 2011 is estimated at a mere $113 million. The U.S. population is about 308 million people. If every American gave only 36 cents to the Save the Dodgers Fund, Frank could meet his entire payroll and the Dodgers wouldn’t have to go into foster care.

    Won’t you give so that the McCourts can live the life style to which they have become accustomed?

    “The sneer is gone from McCourt’s lips, his teeth are clenched in hate/He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the Dodgers plate/And now Fox TV holds the billions, and now it lets it go/And now the air is shattered by the force of McCourt’s blow.

    Oh somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright/The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light/And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout/But there is no joy in LA — mighty McCourt has struck out.”

  • news6Are airborne troops still needed in modern warfare? The question arises in military circles from time to time.  Some consider airborne impractical in modern warfare - and expensive. Combat jumps have been few and far between since World War II. Army paratroopers are most visible in the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg community. Rotating brigades of the 82nd Airborne Division comprise our nation’s Global Reaction Force (GRF). The GRF is designed to rapidly deploy in an emergency with wheels up in 18 hours.

    Military scholar Marc DeVore’s 2015 study “When Failure Thrives” shocked the airborne community. DeVore argues that the airborne still exists because of “institutionalization and military culture.”  He suggests that U.S. airborne forces are more a product of the airborne community’s lobbying efforts rather than logical calculations. He concludes that technology advances have all but removed airborne soldiers from the modern battlefield. “We’ve gone 38 years with it being tough to say any given airborne operation was necessary to accomplish the overall objective of a given operation,” DeVore said in an Army Times interview. 

    Pentagon leaders don’t buy the assertion. They acknowledge that a major airborne air assault is a low-probability option, but that it remains a vital capability and deterrent. “It’s not an Army requirement. It’s a national security requirement,” says Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of XVIII Airborne Corps. Most of the Army’s top leaders have airborne backgrounds:  Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Vice Chief Gen. Daniel Allyn, U.S. Special Operations Commander Gen. Joseph Votel and acting Army Secretary Patrick Murphy all served at Fort Bragg. Nine of the Army’s 13 four-star generals have led or served in the 82nd or XVIII Airborne Corps.

    Airborne also offers training, morale, retention and recruiting perks and a pay bonus. Soldiers who are required to jump out of airplanes as part of their military duties are entitled to “Jump Pay” or “Parachute Duty Pay.” There are two rates of Jump Pay, regular and HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening). Regular jump pay is $150 per month. HALO parachutists receive $225 per month. And there’s prestige. Members of the 82nd Airborne consider themselves the Army’s elite. They wear distinctive headgear setting them apart from regular forces. 

    No one suggests parachuting is obsolete; Special Forces and the 75th Ranger Regiment frequently jump into enemy territory. But does the Army need five-plus brigades -- three of them at Fort Bragg -- with ever-tightening budget restraints? Former XVII Airborne Corp Commander Lt. Gen. Joe Anderson said airborne brigades cost about 10 percent more in maintenance than standard light infantry, but roughly a third as much as an armored unit. 

    Over the last 15 years, members of the 82nd have seen more than their fair share of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan — but they were not involved in combat jumps. Army leaders note an air drop is the only way to get a substantial force into a conflict quickly when there’s no airstrip handy. “Today the application of a large-scale airborne assault is low probability, but it’s high consequence if we’re not absolutely prepared to do it,” said Brig. Gen. Brian Winski, deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. 

  • news5Naloxone is a medication used to counter the effects of opioid overdose. Morphine, Percocet and heroin are in that class of drugs.   Naloxone is used to counteract life-threatening situations by allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. It’s a non-addictive medication now available without prescription in North Carolina. Governor McCrory recently signed legislation making naloxone more accessible. “It has already saved the lives of 3,300 North Carolinians,” he said.  North Carolina is the third state in the country to issue a standing prescription order statewide for naloxone. 

    Naloxone is traditionally administered by emergency response personnel. Fayetteville police were first equipped with it just over a year ago, according to police Captain Lars Paul. All patrol officers and narcotics detectives carry it. Paul says a company that makes the drug provided the department with several hundred does of Naloxone. EVZIO is a hand-held, single-use naloxone auto-injector developed by Kaleo Pharma of Richmond, Virginia. EVZIO should be given right away and does not take the place of emergency medical care. “EVZIO kits of two injectors and audio instructions are expensive, costing nearly a thousand dollars,” Paul said. Now however, an inexpensive Naloxone nasal spray is on the market and available over the counter for about $12. Improperly used prescription pain medications like Percocet and oxycodone are still the number one cause of opiate overdoses. But, stricter federal regulations governing them are making them harder to get and more expensive. Paul says “people start off using legitimate prescription pain killers and then turn to heroin as a cheaper option.”

    Dr. Steven Stack, the 170th president of the American Medical Association, recently issued an open letter to America’s physicians on the opioid epidemic. It read in part “The medical profession must play a lead role in reversing the opioid epidemic that, far too often, has started from a prescription pad. For the past 20 years, public policies — well-intended but now known to be flawed — compelled doctors to treat pain more aggressively for the comfort of our patients. But today’s crisis plainly tells us we must be much more cautious with how we prescribe opioid. Tens of thousands of Americans are dying every year and more still will die because of a tragic resurgence in the use of heroin.”

    Alternative forms of pain management may reduce the use of addictive drugs. Experts agree that medication is a necessary and sometimes lifesaving part of the pain-management equation. The latest trend, said Steven Stanos, D.O., medical director of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Center for Pain Management, is to take a more comprehensive approach to treating chronic pain, a “bio-psycho-social approach.” The “bio,” or biological, part means treating the physical or underlying root causes. The “psycho,” or psychological, part addresses the depression, fear and anxiety that can accompany chronic pain. The “social” part pertains to a patient’s ability to function in society. Very few doctors have specialized training in pain management. In fact, only three percent of U.S. medical schools offer courses in it. In Fayetteville, there are 15 doctors who specialize in chronic pain management ranging from acupuncture to therapeutic         laser treatment.

  • stadiumThere appears to be growing interest in bringing minor league baseball back to Fayetteville. An informal study of stadiums conducted by Up & Coming Weekly reveals that a ballpark proposed for downtown Fayetteville, if approved, would be the Taj Mahal of Single-A stadiums on the east coast. Barrett Sports Group (BSG) has proposed a nearly $47 million facility to Fayetteville City Council. That would make a ballpark adjacent to the Prince Charles Hotel the most expensive stadium in Single A baseball by far. 

    The existing stadium that comes the closest in cost is Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. It was built in 2012 at a cost of $36 million, or $37.8 million in 2016 dollars, according to the U.S. Inflation Calculator. The Sugar Land team plays in an unaffiliated league on the caliber of Triple-A baseball. The stadium seats 7,500. It was the result of many years of effort by the city of Sugar Land, its citizens and a public/private partnership. No general fund dollars were spent to build the stadium. It was funded with a portion of sales tax revenues made available only for economic development purposes. Expenditures by visitors to the stadium generate sales, as do hotel occupancy taxes that benefit the city and Sugar Land residents. Similar revenue sources would not be immediately available to the City of Fayetteville and would require the cooperation of the state legislature and County of Cumberland to accomplish over time. County Commission Chairman Marshall Faircloth has said the county has no interest in helping to fund the ballpark.

    Up & Coming Weekly reviewed construction costs of typical Single-A minor league ballparks built on the east coast of the United States.  Pensacola, Fla., Bayfront Stadium opened in 2012 with a seating capacity of 5,000. Construction cost was $18 million or $19.2 million in 2016 dollars. The stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., was built in 2008 at a cost of $28 million or $31.2 million in today’s dollars. Whitaker Bank Ball Park in Lexington, Ky., opened in 2001 and seats 7,000. It’s a Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, the same team interested in Fayetteville. It cost $13.5 million in 2000 or $18 million today. The State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Ga., was built at a cost of $15 million in 2001 to seat 5,100. That cost today would be $18 million. 

    While BSG Consultants have recommended a $47 million stadium for Fayetteville, Mayor Nat Robertson tells Up & Coming Weekly he believes the city can build a park for about $30 million in what he calls “non-traditional, out-of-the-box financing” without a bond referendum or tax increase. He is recommending to city council’s newly-appointed stadium subcommittee that it designate the $6 million economic development pledge from PWC for the stadium. He believes the city-owned Festival Park Plaza Building and Robert Williams Business Center, both of which the city owns, could be liquidated for $9 million. He would like the city to request $10 million dollars from the general assembly for economic development. Finally, Robertson suggests that the city set aside $1 million a year for five years in general fund revenues for the stadium. The Houston Astros ownership has asked the city for a commitment by mid-August. 

  • News1A Hope Mills man was jailed on incest charges growing out of an investigation of a runaway juvenile. Oliver Bragg’s daughter ran away from her Round Grove Place home in Hope Mills. Now Bragg, 42, is charged with first degree statutory sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with his own child. Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Sean Swain says a routine runaway child report filed with the sheriff’s office in early April became something much more. Three days later, the Cumberland County Department of Social Services notified the sheriff that an uncle of the child, Timothy Brock, had reported that her father had been engaging in sexual intercourse with her since she was in the 7th grade. Brunswick County social worker Carrie Nelson disclosed details of the allegations, which began when she was 12 years old.  During a medical exam of the child on April 28, she again stated that Bragg made her preform sex acts. Bragg is being held in the Cumberland County Jail on $100,000 secured bond.

     

    news2Sunday Bus Service Planned for Fayetteville     

    Sunday bus service is provided in Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro and Wilmington. It’s not available in Fayetteville, but may be in the not too distant future. Fayetteville Area System of Transit Director Randy Hume told his citizen advisory committee he hopes to recommend initial Sabbath service in Fiscal Year 2018. His plan is to initially make it available on the eight busiest bus routes. The anticipated annual cost is $360,000. “Typically ridership on Sunday is about 20% of weekday usage,” said Hume. In Durham, he says, it’s higher at 26%. Sunday transit service has been a part of FAST’s Transit Development Plan for several years. As planned a year from now, and if approved by city council, Sunday buses would run on Routes 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 15, 18 and 19. Door to door FASTtrac service for the disabled would parallel fixed route service.

     

    news3If You See Something Say Something                     

    Fayetteville Police are again reminding residents to report suspicious activity to 911 in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign. The request comes in the wake of the June 11 massacre at the Orlando night club. “We have not received notification of any local threats here in Fayetteville and we do not believe there is any immediate threat to our community,” said Police spokesman, Lt. David McLaurin. But “we need our citizens to be vigilant,” he added.  “If You See Something, Say Something” engages the public in protecting the homeland through greater awareness. To report suspicious activity, police ask that residents contact local law enforcement and describe specifically what was observed. That would include who or what was seen, when and where it was seen and why it was suspicious. If it’s an emergency, call 911 immediately. Suspicious activity could be unusual items or situations. For example, a vehicle parked in an odd location or a package left unattended. A person questioning individuals at a level beyond curiosity would be considered suspicious as would someone paying unusual attention to facilities or buildings beyond a casual interest. 

     

    news4New Fort Bragg Green Beret Commander      

    (photo of Col Moses was not available)

    Col. Bradley D. Moses has assumed command of 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg. He takes over for Col. Robert Wilson whose next assignment is at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Moses previously served as commander of the group’s 3rd Battalion. The 3rd Group is one of five active duty Special Forces Groups in the Army. It’s now responsible for special operations assignments in Africa. For the last 13 years, Special Forces soldiers from 3rd Group have deployed almost always to Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Iraq. “The group’s transition is the result of an overarching look at how special operations forces were being allocated,” Wilson said. From ISIS to Boko Haram and al-Qaida, the 3rd Special Forces Group has been called on for numerous deployments in recent years. Those deployments have been costly. Forty-nine stone pavers on the 3rd Special Forces Group Memorial Walk honor the soldiers who died in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001.

  • Jeff7For retired Fayetteville Fire Chief Benny Nichols, December 7, 1995, was a turning point in his long career. It was the day former 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper James Burmeister, 21, killed Jackie Burden and Michael James near downtown Fayetteville. He was identified as a Neo-Nazi skinhead with a hatred for African Americans. His objective that night was to kill a couple of African-Americans.

    The cold-blooded killings bothered Nichols. He wondered how he might help bring the community out of several dark years of racial discontent. Forums were organized to bring people together to discuss racial issues. “The realization back in the late ‘90s was that I could do something as an individual,” Nichols said. He was an assistant chief at the time and thought maybe he could change the relationship of the fire department with Fayetteville’s minorities. 

    Nichols persuaded City Council that it was long past time to build a fire station in the inner city to replace one that had been closed 20 years earlier. Fayetteville’s first black mayor, Marshall Pitts, helped cut the ribbon on the Langdon Street station two years later. Nichols called Fire Station 14 an investment in the community because it was more than a fire house. Fayetteville State University donated the property, and in return the larger-than-usual station became a community center. 

    As chief, Nichols made the recruitment of minorities a priority for the fire department. His vision was a course of study at E.E. Smith High School that would encourage young African-Americans to consider a career in the
    fire service. Then Smith Principal Rene Corders was one of Nichols’ enthusiastic supporters. The program took hold also at Fayetteville Technical Community College and Fayetteville State University. The objective was a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science. 

    Fire Station 14 was also an extension of academia, or would have been had the concept succeeded. It was built with coed dormitories and classrooms for interns who could actually live the life of firefighters as they studied. But with the turn of the decade and the advent of Internet studies, that portion of the concept fizzled. And because more recently the city administration decided to revitalize city hall to make more room for offices, the fire chief and his senior staff were moved to station 14. The classrooms and dormitory were converted into offices and the fire station lost its identity as a community center. 

    The joint fire academy is ongoing; however, with online studies being an integral part of the curriculum at several Cumberland County high schools. Did Nichols’ concept invigorate the recruitment of young African Americans? No, but it wasn’t because the fire department didn’t give it a try. So why aren’t minority students interested in becoming firefighters? “I wish I had the answer to that,” Nichols said. Fire Chief Ben Major echoes Nichols’ frustration. “It’s easy not to be interested in what you don’t know much about,” said Major. He tells Up & Coming Weeklythat he makes it a point to be seen at events in the black community. “They need to see me,” he noted. Major is one of only a dozen or so African-Americans among the city’s 331 firefighters. The department doesn’t have a full-time recruiter like the police department does. Major has asked for one over the last couple of years, but has been denied by City Council. 

    For his efforts, the Nancy Susan Reynolds Foundation awarded Nichols a $25,000 grant to begin a scholarship for students interested in fire service studies. The Cumberland Community Foundation administers the scholarship, which has grown to a fund of $30,000. It’s up to school administrators and guidance counselors to make pupils aware of the fund. Unlike the police department, turnover isn’t a problem for the FFD. Remarkably there are no vacancies on the department. There’s a generational kinship among fathers and sons, and that too impacts efforts to diversify the department, and not just in Fayetteville.  It’s “become a major conversation among fire chiefs everywhere,” Major said.

  •     It seems somewhat ironic to me that a men’s magazine based in New York City would run an article about the “Best Places to Raise a Family.” The irony comes in the fact that New Yorkers have the longest commute of anyone in the country. The unemployment and violent crime rate in New York is through the roof and the city has consistently been at the top of “Most Stressful Places to Live” list. I seem to remember someone somewhere saying something about people in glass houses.{mosimage}
    But I digress. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Fayetteville was recently named one of the    “Worse Places to Raise a Family” by Best Life, a New York-based men’s magazine. This comes as news to those of us who are raising children in the community, and probably to those who have already raised their children here and are watching their children raise their children here. Of course, who are we to question the wisdom of the big city journalist (who probably has never stepped foot in our city or any of the cities they dubbed as losers).
        The list was put together by pulling statistics on things that are important in family life: safety, schools, teacher to student ratio, above average test scores, museums, parks, pediatricians on the good side and multi-hour commutes, expensive houses and divorce rates on the negative side. The magazine pulled statistics about 257 cities in the United States from a variety of sources and based solely on the numbers created their list. And, as someone once said about statistics — Lies, damn lies and statistics.
        Are the publishers of Best Life asking us to believe that Los Angeles, which is home to gridlock traffic, poor air quality, a teeming homeless population and all out gang warfare really a better place to raise a family than Fayetteville, N.C.? Really?
        Fayetteville and Cumberland County have its share of problems. Yes, we do not spend as much per student on education as do some bigger cities. Why? We don’t have the tax base to do it. And yes, we have a high divorce rate. We also have families who are living in pressure cookers faced with deployment, after deployment, after deployment. Do we have a shortage of pediatricians? It wouldn’t surprise me. North Carolina as a whole has long had a shortage of physicians. But our community and its people are more than what we aren’t.
        We are a community of neighbors. Yes, we know the guy who lives next door and across the street and two houses down. We borrow tools from each other and our kids play together. And at our churches, our children don’t have just one parent — every adult in the church claims them as their own. Our teachers know our children by name. They aren’t just the kid in the third row. When my husband deploys, my son’s teachers hang his picture on the wall so my son can have that piece of him. When my son was struggling with reading, it was his teacher who fought alongside me to get him the help he needed. She was the one who started her day praying for my child.
        We’re still a town where people take food to their neighbors who are sick. We grill out on the Fourth of July and invite everybody over. We still have Veteran’s Day Parades and festivals in our parks. We are a community where art lives. You want a museum — just turn a corner and there’s one right there. Look at our library system and see how it thrives. Fayetteville is a community that embraces learning in all of its different facets. There are three centers of higher learning within our city’s boundaries. No, I don’t think Fayetteville is that bad of a place at all.
        We are a city that is gracious — even to big city journalists who wouldn’t know a community with heart if it opened its doors and invited him in.

    Contact Janice Burton at editor@upandcomingweekly.com 

  • Jeff6“If we don’t do this, we will commit ourselves to mediocrity for a long time,” declared former state senator Tony Rand. He spoke out at a public meeting hosted by the North Carolina Civil War History Center Board of Directors. President Mac Healy brought Fayetteville City Council and a few County Commissioners together to ask for their financial support. No state has ever presented a comprehensive view of the effect of those times on all of its people … until now. Board member Mary Lynn Bryan emphasized that the educational center would focus on antebellum North Carolina, the War Between the States itself and reconstruction, virtually most of the 19th century. North Carolina people, not battles, would be the overarching presentation.

    Healy told a full house at the Arts Council downtown that development of ideas for the center has been underway for eight years. Officials are at the point now of soliciting $7.5 million commitments from the city and county. Total projected cost of the 60,000-square-foot facility is $65 million. Here’s the breakdown: $7.5 million in local private donations, $7.5 million in statewide private donations, $15 million in city and county grants, $30 million in State of North Carolina grants and $5 million in state in-kind contributions. Healy said the state wants a local commitment to show that Fayetteville is serious about what would become a division of the North Carolina Museum of History. But, he added that if the state doesn’t commit, local government would not be held to their pledges.

    The center would provide “an opportunity to teach people; to make people think,” Bryan said. “It takes Fayetteville statewide as a tourist destination,” said Dr. James Anderson, Chancellor of Fayetteville State University. In answer to questions from Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin and Councilman Larry Wright, Board of Advisors Chair Dr. James Leutze assured all present that a motivating objective was to be sure the center told the multi-cultural history of the era. 

    Healy said ground breaking is tentatively set for 2020. The history center, once built, would be operated by the state according to Healy. Annual operating cost is estimated to be about what it now costs to run the Museum of the Cape Fear which it would replace. The Civil War History Center would be built on the grounds of the 19th Century Fayetteville Arsenal and would incorporate the ruins of the arsenal. The entrance to the grounds and parking, would be where the museum is now. A covered walkway would traverse the highway below. 

  •     Dear EarthTalk: Recent NASA photos showed the opening of the Northwest Passage and that a third of the Arctic’s sea ice has melted in recent years. Are sea levels already starting to rise accordingly, and if so what effects is this having?                
    — Dudley Robinson, Ireland


        Researchers were astounded when, in the fall of 2007, they discovered that the year-round ice pack in the Arctic Ocean had lost some 20 percent of its mass in just two years, setting a new record low since satellite imagery began documenting the terrain in 1978. Without action to stave off climate change, some scientists believe that, at that rate, all of the year-round ice in the Arctic could be gone by as early as 2030.
        This massive reduction has allowed an ice-free shipping lane to open through the fabled Northwest Passage along northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland. While the shipping industry — which now has easy northern access between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — may be cheering this “natural” development, scientists worry about the impact of the resulting rise in sea levels around the world.
        {mosimage}With about a third of the world’s population — and 25 percent of Americans — living within 300 feet of an ocean coastline, sea level rise is a big deal. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, made up of leading climate scientists, sea levels have risen some 3.1 millimeters per year since 1993.
        The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that low-lying island nations, especially in equatorial regions, have been hardest hit by this phenomenon, and some are threatened with total disappearance. Rising seas have already swallowed up two uninhabited islands in the Central Pacific. On Samoa, thousands of residents have moved to higher ground as shorelines have retreated by as much as 160 feet. And islanders on Tuvalu are scrambling to find new homes as salt water intrusion has made their groundwater undrinkable while increasingly strong hurricanes and ocean swells have devastated shoreline structures.
        WWF says that rising seas throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world have inundated coastal ecosystems, decimating local plant and wildlife populations. In Bangladesh and Thailand, coastal mangrove forests — important buffers against storms and tidal waves — are giving way to ocean water.
        Unfortunately, even if we curb global warming emissions today, these problems are likely to get worse before they get better. According to marine geophysicist Robin Bell of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, sea levels rise by about 1/16” for every 150 cubic miles of ice that melts off one of the poles.
        “That may not sound like a lot, but consider the volume of ice now locked up in the planet’s three greatest ice sheets,” she writes in a recent issue of Scientific American. “If the West Antarctic ice sheet were to disappear, sea level would rise almost 19 feet; the ice in the Greenland ice sheet could add 24 feet to that; and the East Antarctic ice sheet could add yet another 170 feet to the level of the world’s oceans: more than 213 feet in all.” Bell underscores the severity of the situation by pointing out that the 150-foot tall Statue of Liberty could be completely submerged within a matter of decades.

        CONTACTS: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), www.ipcc.ch; WWF, www.panda.org; Earth Institute at Columbia University, www.earth.columbia.edu.

        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. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
  • Jeff5The City of Fayetteville and its Public Works Commission have come to an agreement which very likely ends more than two years of squabbling between the public bodies. They have adopted a joint resolution asking the North Carolina General Assembly to make only minor changes to House Bill 392 which is pending in the legislature. The bill establishes PWC as “an independent public authority” thereby giving its governing body virtually total operational control. “This agreement brings clarity to both bodies,” said PWC Chairman Darsweill Rogers. “It’s a sensible solution to a decades old problem,” said PWC’s immediate past Chairman Mike Lallier. More importantly, Rogers says it’s understood that the city will not appeal the judge’s ruling. 

    Action by the general assembly and a law suit filed by PWC resulted from former city manager Ted Voorhees persuading a thin majority of city council to challenge PWC’s independence. The flare-up that resulted is part of what cost Voorhees his job earlier this year. City Council has been meeting behind closed doors on numerous occasions in recent weeks to hammer out the agreement. City Attorney Karen McDonald tells Up & Coming Weekly that council agreed to the resolution in executive session a week ago. But, council did not make its decision public until this week.

    The changes being asked of the legislature are in keeping with the declaratory judgment issued by a superior court judge in May. In a significant gesture of support, the Public Works Commission agreed to give the city $1.2 million dollars a year for the next five years for spending on economic development. Rogers says that’s in addition to the utility’s annual $9 million payments to the city in lieu of taxes.  He says the utility is able to make the contribution thanks to unanticipated revenues that have come its way. Rogers says the agreement between the city and the utility bring an end to misunderstandings between the bodies. 

  •     Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that the DEET used in most mosquito repellents is toxic? If so what problems does it cause? And what are some non-toxic alternatives for keeping mosquitoes at bay?     
    — Tom Pollack, Oakland, Calif.


        DEET is commonly known as the king of mosquito repellents, though not everyone is keen to slather it on their skin. A study conducted in the late 1980s on Everglades National Park employees to determine the effects of DEET found that a full one-quarter of the subjects studied experienced negative health effects that they blamed on exposure to the chemical. Effects included rashes, skin irritation, numb or burning lips, nausea, headaches, dizziness and difficulty concentrating.
        Duke University pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia, in studies on rats, found that frequent and prolonged DEET exposure led to diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes, and concluded that humans should stay away from products containing it. But other studies have shown that while a few people have sensitivity to DEET applications, most are unaffected when they use DEET products on a sporadic basis according to the instructions on the label.
        The upside of DEET is that it is very effective. A 2002 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that DEET-based repellents provided the most complete and longest lasting protection against mosquitoes. Researchers found that a formulation containing 23.8 percent DEET completely protected study participants for upwards of 300 minutes, while a soybean-oil-based product only worked for 95 minutes. The effectiveness of several other botanical-based repellents lasted less than 20 minutes.
        {mosimage}But a number of new concentrations of botanical repellents that have hit the market since are reportedly better than ever. In 2005, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) granted approval to two healthier alternatives to DEET — picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus — for protection from mosquitoes. Picaridin, long used to repel mosquitoes in other parts of the world, is now available in the U.S. under the Cutter Advanced brand name. Oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is derived from eucalyptus leaves and is the only plant-based active ingredient for insect repellents approved by the CDC, is available in several different forms, including Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, OFF! Botanicals, and Fight Bite Plant-Based Insect Repellent.
        Some other good choices, according to the nonprofit National Coalition against the Misuse of Pesticides, include products containing geraniol (MosquitoGuard or Bite Stop), citronella (Natrapel), herbal extracts (Beat It Bug Buster) or essential oils (All Terrain). The group also gives high marks to oil of lemon eucalyptus, such as that found in Repel’s Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent.
        Another leading nonprofit, Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA), likes Herbal Armor, Buzz Away and Green Ban, each containing citronella and peppermint as well as various essential oils (cedar wood, lemongrass, etc.). PANNA also lauds Bite Blocker, a blend of soybeans and coconut oils that provides four to eight hours of protection and, unlike many other brands, is safe to use on kids.

        CONTACTS: “Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents against Mosquito Bites,” http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/347/1/13; National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP), www.beyondpesticides.org; Pesticide Action Network North America, www.panna.org.

        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. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
  • Jeff1A Fayetteville man with a history of domestic violence was jailed on charges of murdering his parents. Delilah Harris Miles, 62, and her husband, John Oalton Miles, 66, were found shot to death at their home in the Cottonade subdivision off Yadkin Road. John Oalton Miles Jr., 32, is charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of armed robbery. He lived with his parents at 6301 Cool Shade Drive. 

    Fayetteville detectives learned that Miles Jr. had stolen the family car and fled to Miami Beach, Florida.  Police there located Miles and took him into custody without incident, according to Fayetteville Police spokesman, Lt. David McLaurin. He was charged initially with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon, ostensibly the gun used to kill his parents. Miles is awaiting extradition to Fayetteville. The Miles’ murders were the city’s 15th and 16th homicides of 2016.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jeff2Second Fayetteville Youth Sentenced in Murder

    A local youth charged with helping a friend dispose of 15-year-old Danielle Locklear’s body in a river will spend the next six to eight years in prison. Dominic Lock, who was 18 at the time, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons. He pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact of murder for his role in the 2014 death of the South View High School freshman. Lock’s lawyer and District Attorney Billy West agreed to a plea bargain after Locke was initially charged with second-degree murder by Hope Mills Police.  

    Locklear was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Je’Michael Malloy of Autryville. He pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 to 31 years in prison. West said Malloy strangled Locklear in Hope Mills on the night of March 11, 2014. He said Lock helped Malloy dispose of the body in the South River on the Cumberland/Sampson County Line. Cinder blocks had been tied to her ankles and around her waist.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jeff3Cumberland County Taxes Remain Stable   

    Cumberland County Commissioners have approved their  FY17 annual budget. The $430 million spending plan goes into effect July 1.  A large chunk of the budget — $327 million — is supported by ad valorem taxes. There will be no tax increase. The property tax rate remains 74 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. “The commissioners are pleased with the budget. It holds the line on taxes and provides for limited growth,” said Chairman Marshall Faircloth. 

    With the budget, 2,300 county employees are not getting pay raises, but most will receive one-time $800 stipends to help offset the higher cost of health benefits. The budget includes $78.7 million for Cumberland County Schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College will receive $10.6 million for current expenses as well as $945,000 for capital expenses. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jeff4Fayetteville/Cumberland Youth Council  

    A local student epitomizes the reason Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson thought it would be a good idea a couple of years ago to resurrect a local youth council. It had been dormant for many years. Jordan Burstion was valedictorian of her senior class at Jack Britt High School. During her junior year, she attended the Governor’s School of North Carolina, a summer residential program for academically gifted high school students. Jordan is described by City Councilwoman Kathy Jensen as “shy.” But as Chairperson of the Fayetteville/Cumberland Youth Council, Burstion addressed City Council eloquently, thanking the city for acknowledging statewide awards. She will attend Duke University on scholarship. 

    “We’ve changed a lot of young lives,” Jensen noted when reflecting on her involvement with the youth council.

  •     I love the Fayetteville Museum of Art’s Fayetteville After Five concert series and, as one of the original sponsors, I know the recipe being used to nurture its success. However, this past event which featured the local and talented musical group DL Token and legendary national artists Nantucket fell flat as if someone or something was left out of the “original” recipe.
        Something was left out. Matter of fact, two somethings were left out. Intimacy and a relevant venue. Let me explain. The FMA not actually having a facility at Festival Park strips this event of its personality and excitement. After all, it was created as an “art” venue. Even though it was well attended, the people were spread out over the vast, treeless greenscape making it nearly impossible to socialize and get that traditional contagious “party” feeling.
        {mosimage}Now, concerning lack of relevant venue, consider the following: What would Fourth Friday be without the Arts Council; the Singing Christmas Tree without Snyder Memorial Baptist Church; Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s River Show without the river; or Dickens’ Holiday without downtown Fayetteville? The reality is that without the Museum of Art actually being on site in Festival Park the event falls flat. As wonderful as it is, Festival Park is not the “be all” and “end all” of downtown Fayetteville and Cumberland County entertainment. This was evident with the Dogwood Festival and the International Folk Festival.
        The FMA is the venue and destination point. So what Fayetteville After Five and Festival Park need is a “new” $15 million dollar Fayetteville Museum of Art. This will breathe life and excitement into its grassy knolls and bring relevance and pride to every event held there.
        With no intention of criticizing Councilman Ted Mohn’s position on the park or our municipal leadership and their positions or opinions on where the FMA should be built, I have to ask, why do these civil servants think they know more than the industry experts we hire and pay to do the job? And, to what end? Let’s review some past decisions on building locations our city and county officials passed judgment on:
    Crown Coliseum? Wrong place.
    J.P. Riddle Stadium? Wrong place.
    Cumberland County Jail? Wrong place.
    Festival Park Building? Not only is it in the wrong place, it serves as a visible and blatant obstruction to Festival Park.
    Parking Deck? Pending with 50/50 change of it being built in the … you guessed it, wrong place. Note: There is a very “right” place but may be too conspicuously correct.
        Festival Park is not a Regency Park of Cary, nor will it ever be. It is what it is. And, it needs the $15 million dollar Fayetteville Museum of Art to secure and anchor its success. Up & Coming Weekly recognizes Festival Park as the newest jewel of our community, and we support it. We also support it as the new home of Fayetteville Museum of Art. This structure will bring meaning, art, culture and vitality to our community and be a very important gateway into the city.
        Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Also check us out online. If you have something to say concerning this or any other issues, pro or con, send them to editor@upandcomingweekly.com. We welcome all opinions and points of view. I can be reached at bill@upandcomingweekly.com.


  • JUDGECumberland County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons will step down and another judge will hear the cases of four convicted murderers. 

    Quintel Augustine, Tilmon Golphin, Marcus Robinson and Christina Walters were the only convicts in North Carolina to have their death sentences commuted under the Racial Justice Act. The four inmates were removed from death row by former Superior Court Judge Greg Weeks and resentenced to life in prison without parole. They persuaded Weeks that their prosecutors illegally blocked African-Americans from serving on their juries, thereby invoking the now defunct Racial Justice Act. 

    Cumberland County Assistant District Attorney Rob Thompson is asking that the four defendants remain on death row. He argues that a 2013 act that repealed the controversial law no longer provides them a shield. The North Carolina Supreme Court decided in December that Weeks made errors that biased the cases against the prosecutors who were trying to keep the four defendants on death row. The Supreme court also said Judge Weeks should not have allowed Augustine, Golphin and Walters to present their claims as a group. The high court said their cases should have been conducted separately. Weeks decisions were remanded to Cumberland County Superior Court where Judge Ammons would normally have heard the case. 

    Robinson, Augustine and Walters were in the courtroom for the hearing. Golphin chose not to appear, but his lawyers were there on his behalf. The lawyers alleged that Ammons would be unfair to their clients. They pointed out that Ammons has a close relationship with law enforcement, including the fact that his brother-in-law used to be the head of the N.C. Highway Patrol. 

    “I have sworn to administer judgment without favoritism to anyone or to the state. I will not violate those oaths for anyone or anything,” Ammons said.  

    But he volunteered to let another judge decide the case. Defense lawyers Jay Ferguson, Malcolm Hunter and Ken Rose insisted it was illegal for the state to put their clients back on death row, calling it a form of unconstitutional double-jeopardy but they were put back on death row at Central Prison.

    The defendants were all involved in notorious local murders. Golphin and his younger brother, Kevin Golphin, shot and killed Cumberland County Deputy Sheriff David Hathcock and State Trooper Ed Lowry during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in 1997. Quintel Augustine was convicted of murdering Fayetteville Police Officer Roy Turner Jr. on a street corner near downtown in 2001. Robinson and an accomplice kidnapped, robbed and murdered teenager Erik Tornblom in 1991. Christina Walters led a gang that kidnapped three women and shot them execution-style in a gang-related initiation. Tracy Lambert and Susan Moore died. The third victim, who was dumped on the Fort Bragg Reservation survived. 

    Ammons did not prosecute or preside over the trials in any of the cases.

  • JEFF2Local law enforcement agencies are conducting sobriety checkpoints on average of once a month. The check points are “dedicated to promoting highway safety awareness to reduce the number of traffic crashes and fatalities,” Police Lt. Stacey Smith told Up & Coming Weekly. Smith commands the police traffic enforcement division. On Friday, June 10, an estimated 50 police officers from Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Spring Lake and N.C. Highway Patrolmen joined forces for the most recent Booze It and Lose It campaign. The sobriety checkpoint was conducted on Hope Mills Road near Queensdale Drive, a straight stretch of roadway that gave police an unobstructed view of traffic. 

    The Governor’s Highway Safety Program sponsors the Booze it and Lose Itprogram. According to a news release from the Governor’s office, “the goal of the checkpoints is to educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving and to reduce the amount of impaired drivers on the roadway.” The recent local roadblock was a five-hour event from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Traffic along Hope Mills Road was reduced to one lane in each direction as dozens of officers coordinated speaking with motorists as they drove into the cordon of orange traffic cones. During a one-hour period, an average of 10 cars a minute passed through the check point, according to calculations made by Up & Coming Weekly on the scene. That translates into about 600 cars an hour during the first couple of hours. Traffic is lighter after midnight, but the chance of stopping drunk drivers is greater then.

    City police say that, on average, fewer than a dozen drivers are charged with DWI during the check points. 

    “I’m thrilled to death that the checkpoints don’t result in more arrests than they do,” said Police Chief Harold Medlock. 

    He believes educating motorists about the dangers and liability of driving while impaired has paid off. 

    “Typically we make dozens of arrests for no operators’ licenses, revoked licenses and suspensions,” Smith said. According to the Booze It & Lose It brochure prepared by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, a drunk driver kills someone every 45 minutes on average. One out of every three car accident deaths involving teenagers is related to alcohol. And automobile accidents are the number one cause of death among teens.

    These frightening statistics underscore the importance of being sober while driving. Those who drive drunk and hurt or kill others can be charged with murder in some circumstances. They can also be sued by those who were injured or by surviving family members. The Booze It & Lose It campaign brochure also explains some of the risks of being arrested for DWI. Even for a first conviction, a driver can have his driver’s license revoked for a year, be fined between $200 and $4,000 and spend between one day and 24 months in jail.

  • JEFF1Valor, honor, integrity — even a soldier’s rank — came into play during consideration of awarding the Medal of Honor to Staff Sgt. Earl D. Plumlee.

    In August 2013, Taliban insurgents launched a fierce attack on a coalition forward operating base in Afghanistan. A 400-pound car bomb breached a wall and 10 enemy attackers armed with suicide vests, rifle hand grenades and grenade launchers poured through the wall. Then a Staff Sgt., Plumlee, a Green Beret with the Army’s 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), was among those who engaged the Taliban fighters. Enemy attackers were no more than 20 feet away during portions of the battle, according to military documents describing the event. Plumlee was credited with killing several attackers at point-blank range, using both small arms and hand grenades.

    Several soldiers earned awards after the battle. But it’s the award that was denied to Plumlee — the Medal of Honor — that drew the attention of the Defense Department Inspector General’s office. Even though Plumlee was recommended for the Medal of Honor by the head of a Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan, he didn’t receive the nation’s highest military honor for heroism. Last month, Plumlee instead was awarded the Silver Star Medal, which is two notches below the Medal of Honor. 

    While under consideration for the Medal of Honor, the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command looked into an allegation that Plumlee illegally tried to sell a rifle scope online. The allegation was not substantiated. The Washington Post, which first reported this story, suggested that service leaders only want squeaky-clean soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor. The Inspector General’s findings provide a unique glimpse into just how subjective decisions surrounding awards for valor can be. The Inspector General concluded there was no evidence that anyone used the CID investigation to downgrade the Medal of Honor recommendation. The report provided new details about how the decision was reached. In Afghanistan, the Medal of Honor recommendation received approval from senior generals including Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford who is now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Army Gen. Mark Milley who later became Commanding General, Forces Command at Fort Bragg and is now Army Chief of Staff.  

    The issue was taken up by the service’s Senior Army Decorations Board with two three-star generals and the top enlisted soldier in the service (the Sergeant Major of the Army) serving as voting members. Two of the board members recommended the Silver Star Medal, while another recommended the Distinguished Service Cross, one notch below the Medal of Honor, as more appropriate. One of the voting members said his decision not to recommend the Medal of Honor came down in large part to one thing: Plumlee’s rank. A then-staff sergeant,  Plumlee was expected to perform as a leader rather than “a private who would be seized by the moment and take extremely valorous and courageous action,” one board member said, according to the report. The awarding of the Silver Star Medal was eventually agreed upon by the board and received a positive recommendation from Gen. Raymond Odierno who was Chief of Staff of the Army. Army Secretary John McHugh approved the recommendation. Sgt. 1st Class Plumlee received the Silver Star Medal on May 1. 

  • STAFF1June is the month for local high school graduation ceremonies. Cumberland County Sheriff Earl “Moose” Butler and Commissioner Larry Lancaster announce yet another commencement. The Cumberland County Detention Center has produced its first High School Equivalency Program graduates. The sheriff didn’t say how many inmates participated. A year ago, the sheriff’s office proposed to County Commissioners that an educational program be funded for jail inmates who were interested in working toward earning high school equivalency certificates. 

    They approved the project and Global Learning Center won the contract to teach the school three times a year. Cumberland County School Board member and career educator Donna Vann spearheaded the project, according to Lancaster. The concept of an educational program in the jail is to educate the inmates “to make them more marketable in the workforce, lessening the likelihood of repeating criminal activity,” said Sheriff Butler. Inmates were pre-tested and those who were accepted attended classes twice a day for 10 weeks. The students took tests along the way to assure that they retained the material and were prepared for the state exam. At the conclusion of the course of study, a test administrator and a proctor from Fayetteville Technical Community College administered the final exam. The first four jail inmates-turned-students passed the exam. “While other students are in the program and working toward completion of the equivalency program, this is a wonderful start to a good program,” Chief Deputy Ennis Wright said.   

     

    STAFF2Reserve Officer Charged With Hate Crimes 

    A reserve U.S. Army Officer is in the custody of the Army Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Bragg after being charged with hate crimes in Hoke County. Maj. Russell Thomas Langford, 36, of Fayetteville, posted a $60,000 bond and was turned over to the CID.  A Raeford native, Langford earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Appalachian State University in 2002 before joining the Army Reserve. He has been a full-time reservist since 2008.

    Langford allegedly left bacon at a Hoke County mosque and brandished a handgun. Pork products are sometimes used to insult Muslims, whose faith prohibits eating pork. According to detectives in Hoke County, he threatened to kill Muslims. Members of Masjid Al Madina told authorities Langf ord made death threats to at least one parishioner. “He told people at the mosque that he would kill them and bury them behind the mosque,” said Capt. John Kivett of the Sheriff’s Office. “He brandished a weapon while he was on the property.” Later one of the members was followed home, but was not harmed. 

    Langford’s mugshot shows him wearing a green military style t-shirt with the likeness of an assault rifle on it.  Authorities found three loaded hand guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and some knives in his vehicle, Kivett said. The soldier was charged with ethnic intimidation, assault with a deadly weapon, going armed to the terror of the public, communicating threats, stalking and disorderly conduct. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said the act constituted a desecration of a place of worship. The Council said the man Langford followed home is a Muslim Army chaplain at Fort Bragg. 

     

    STAFF3City Recommits to Urban Ministry     

    Since 1993, the Fayetteville Urban Ministry has helped an estimated 4,000 low-income residents repair their homes. They call it the Nehemiah Project named after the Hebrew leader of the fifth century B.C. who lead the rebuilding of Jerusalem after Babylonian captivity. Urban Ministry’s mission is “to show God’s compassion for our neighbors in need, and thus build our community together,” according to its website. Individual projects typically range from replacing roofs and exterior painting to fixing steps and handrails. In 1994, the program assumed the Emergency Home Repair Program from the City of Fayetteville’s Community Development Department. Nehemiah partners with local contractors, the Re-Store Warehouse and dozens of volunteers from local churches to work on behalf of this community’s elderly and low-income population. The Nehemiah program is one of Urban Ministry’s four areas of concentration.

    Fayetteville City Council split in support of funding the project at $300,000 in the coming fiscal year. Some council members had proposed cutting the budget by $100,000 in favor of other programs. Voting to provide full funding were Chalmers McDougald, Ted Mohn, Larry Wright, Bill Crisp, Jim Arp and Bobby Hurst. Mayor Nat Robertson, Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin and councilmembers Kirk deViere and Kathy Jensen opposed.

     

    STAFF4Opioid Awareness Task Force    

    Sixteen local agencies have joined forces to bring attention to the abuse of opioids in Cumberland County. “This is a public health epidemic and one that is uniquely American,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent. Opiates include Demerol, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Morphine, Oxycodone and Heroin. In Fayetteville, Mayor Nat Robertson and Director Elizabeth Goolsby of the VA Medical Center, are bringing together local and state leaders in an Opioid Abuse and Awareness Task Force. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration describes prescription opioids as “powerful pain-reducing medications … that have both benefits as well as potentially serious risks.” The FDA adds “… these medications can help manage pain when prescribed for the right condition and when used properly. But when misused they can cause serious harm, including addiction, overdose and death.” The local group’s focus is to reduce opioid overdoses, educate physicians who prescribe opioids and bring public awareness to opioid addiction. “Opioid use and its consequences is a community problem that will take a community response to address,” said Mayor Robertson. 

     

     

     

    STAFF5Reducing Teen Pregnancy         

    The Cumberland County Department of Public Health hopes to reduce the county’s teen pregnancy rate with the employment of two additional health educator positions. It’s part of the North Carolina Youth Connected Project to address teen pregnancy in Cumberland and Onslow counties. Over the next five year, $508,000 will cover the salaries and benefits of the two educators. The goal is to cut teen pregnancy rates in half by 2020. The program seeks to replicates the success of the same program in Gaston County where the teen pregnancy rate decreased by 40 percent. 

    The Cumberland County Health Department will receive coaching on best practices in adolescent medicine and funding to become a pregnancy prevention hub in the community. Cumberland County ranks 18th in the state and Onslow County ranks second in the number of reported teen pregnancies in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available. N.C. Youth Connected is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health. 

  • Jeff8Three summers ago in Fayetteville, the Special Operations Forces (SOF) K-9 Memorial Foundation unveiled a bronze life-sized likeness of a Belgian Malinois, dressed in full combat gear. The memorial is believed to be the only one of its kind dedicated to special operations K-9s in the world. It’s on the parade field of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Fifty-eight stone pavers created from North Carolina granite bear the names, countries of origin and years the dogs died. The Belgian Malinois, like the German shepherd, is a popular working dog in military and police service. It’s a bit smaller, has shorter hair and has greater endurance than shepherds. The Belgian Malinois exhibits energy levels that are among the highest of all dog breeds. “Like their human counter-parts, special operations multi-purpose canines are specially selected, trained and equipped to serve in roles not expected of the traditional military working dog,” said Chuck Yerry, President of the SOF K-9 Memorial Foundation. The Foundation honors the canines each year on Memorial Day. They share the same risks as the troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. “They’ve given their lives for their country and we are grateful to be able to honor them,” said Paul Galloway, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation’s executive director. Crystal Blasjo and her son, Talon, attended this year’s Memorial Day ceremony. Blasjo’s husband, Aaron, and his dog, Hunter, were killed in action on May 29, 2011. She and her son placed flags for Aaron and Hunter. 

    Throughout the course of the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, coalition troops relied on military working dogs to help keep them safe. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but they also serve as therapy dogs and service dogs. Not much is known about the Navy SEALs who stormed Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, but a few details are coming out about one of them. He has four legs and a highly trained nose. According to The New York Times, one member of the commando team that killed bin Laden was “what may be the nation’s most courageous dog.” Almost nothing is known about the animal, and even military sources weren’t clear about its breed, telling the Times it was probably either a German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois. The Guardian reports that “the unidentified canine was lowered into the compound from a helicopter while strapped to a human member of the team.”  A dog would have been essential in the raid to protect soldiers from explosive devices. According to the Times, dogs “have proved far better than people or machines at quickly finding bombs,” including improvised explosive devices, which were responsible for two-thirds of all casualties in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. 

  • Jeff7Some municipalities provide seasonal curbside loose-leaf collection. Fayetteville does. Leaves not only pose a problem for the storm drainage system. They also harm the water quality of local rivers and streams. Decomposing leaves release nutrients that can cause harmful algae to grow and bloom, which lead to fish kills by robbing the water of oxygen.

    Fayetteville is among the communities in North Carolina recognized as ‘tree cities’ by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The trees produce a lot of leaves and pine needles. Managing falling leaves is a year-round effort for the City of Fayetteville. “Most people bag or containerize their leaves, but during leaf season we expand our routes from 10 to 12,” said Environmental Services Director Jerry Dietzen. His agency picks up bagged leaves. Recreation and Parks, on the other hand, is responsible for loose-leaf collection in the fall and winter.  The actual leaf season depends on the weather and climate based on when the leaves fall, but typically it runs from late October through mid-February. The Parks Department operates five one-man vacuum trucks and assigns them to the 148-square mile city according to postal zip codes. Budget cuts have reduced the city’s ability to vacuum the leaves to only once during the season and that’s the way it’s going to remain. City Council has decided to add two more vacuum trucks and crews this year. The loose leaf collection season will likely be shorted by a few weeks, and apparently won’t begin until early December, ending in mid-February. 

    Residents are asked to place leaves and pine straw on or behind the curb away from storm drains and out of the road. Leaves left in the street can cause storm water pollution and may obstruct the storm drainage system, resulting in flooding. Understanding the rules is more challenging for local residents than in some cities because Fayetteville is a transient community. Half the homes are rentals, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and tenants don’t always know the proper way to dispose of yard debris. 

    “The transient turnover is always a problem,” said Dietzen. 

    Except during leaf collection season, leaves and pine straw must be bagged or containerized for pickup. They’re picked up weekly. If loose leaves are left at the street out of season, offending residents will be notified and given 10 days to bag them. Then, they’ll be charged $75, and the city will gather up the leaves. “Free trash bags are made available year round at city fire stations and recreation centers” according to Recreations and Parks Director Michael Gibson. Brown roll-out carts designed for yard trash can be purchased from the city for $53. The carts become the property of the residents and have a 10-year warranty.

    In Fayetteville, it’s illegal to rake or blow leaves into the street.     

  • Jeff1Police body cameras “increase officer safety and reduce department liability,” according to Law & Order Magazine.The Fayetteville Police Department’s 300 uniformed patrol officers wear them, as do Hope Mills and Spring Lake officers. Cumberland County Sheriff Earl “Moose” Butler does not plan on equipping his patrol deputies with body cameras. The sheriff notes that body-worn cameras remove officers from the videos whereas car-mounted cameras do not. “No need for a body camera. It only shows one perspective,” said Butler’s spokesman Sgt. Sean Swain. “All of our marked cars have cameras and we are not looking to go to body cameras.” Body cameras have been embraced by some law enforcement agencies following controversial interactions between officers and suspects. Fayetteville police cruisers and State Highway Patrol cars are also equipped with dash cams. The Fayetteville Police Department has spent more than a million dollars on body cameras, most of it grant money. The cameras are worn on officers’ glasses or uniform collars. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jeff2New Secretary of the Army              

    Eric K. Fanning was appointed Secretary of the Army by President Obama on May 18, making him the highest-ranking openly gay official ever at the Pentagon. As Secretary of the Army, he has statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and equipment acquisition, communications and financial management. President Obama designated Fanning Acting Secretary of the Army in November 2015. In the Senate, a voice vote ended a confirmation process that had been delayed for months by a Republican who wanted assurances that detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would not be sent to his state. Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas said his concerns had been resolved. Fanning, 47, has held high-ranking posts across the armed services, including as Air Force under-secretary and deputy under-secretary of the Navy. He has also served as Chief of Staff to Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

     

     

     

     

     

    Jeff3Business School Educator Honored         

    Methodist University has named its Reeves School of Business Professor of the Year. He is Bob Bruns, associate director of the Golf Management Program at Methodist. Dr. Kimberly Scruton, dean of the business school, made the announcement. All 26 faculty members are eligible for the award, which was established in 2015. It’s intended “to honor an outstanding professor who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to teaching,” said Scruton. The award includes a plaque with the honoree’s name inscribed on a perpetual plaque housed in the business school. “His students are very supportive of his teaching; he’s one who requires a very high standard of all of his students,” according to those who nominated Bruns. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jeff4Multi-County Public Health Grant   

    A collaborative partnership between the public health departments of Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery and Richmond counties has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will fund implementation of strategies to lower infant mortality and improve birth outcomes. The four-county partnership will receive $500,000 each year from June 2016 through May 2019. Cumberland County’s infant mortality rate of 9 per 1,000 births is well above the state average of 7.2 per 1,000 births. 

    The health departments will use the Ten Steps for Successful Breastfeeding strategy to combat infant mortality.  Improved birth outcomes will see the expansion of the Long Active Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) program, which is already in place at the health departments. Parental smoking cessation and reducing secondhand smoke exposure will be emphasized to improve the health of children ages one to five. 

    “We are excited about this opportunity to collaborate with Hoke, Montgomery and Richmond to implement evidence-based strategies across our communities,” said Buck Wilson, Cumberland County Public Health Director. 

     

     

     

    Jeff5Cyber Sex and Children

    Detectives pursuing a tip found that a juvenile had been duped into sending compromising photos with a hand held device to a person he believed to be a young woman. The youth traded pictures with the sender. Then, he was told to release his Instagram password or the photos would be sent to his classmates and parents. The sheriff’s office got the tip three months ago, and its Internet Crimes against Children Task Force began investigating.

    “Forensic extraction of data on the victim’s device... led detectives to a classmate at Freedom Christian Academy,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Sean Swain. Detectives executed a search warrant on May 20 at the suspect’s home on Chestnut Street off East Russell Street near downtown Fayetteville. Deputies seized a computer and other electronic devices believed to have been used by the suspect. They found other young people had also been victimized. Sixteen-year-old William Alan Buie was arrested and charged with 45 counts of sexual exploitation and extortion. His bond was set at $215,000. 

     

     

     

     

     

    Jeff6Sprint Voyager Refurbished                  

    A Fayetteville cell phone tower, unique for its clever disguise, has gotten a makeover. The award-winning ‘Sprint Voyager’ tower has a new paint job for the first time in the structure’s 14 years of existence. The Voyager sculpture itself tops the tower which overlooks the Rowan Street bridge downtown. It will be even more prominent when a new overpass replaces the bridge in a couple of years. People new to our area have likely wondered about the unique aeronautical looking structure that tops the colorful pole. Art intersected with functionality when former Fayetteville artist Tom Grubb unveiled his sculpture. At the dedication, Grubb sky-walked to the tip of the 128-foot tower to affix his 1,000-pound rotating sculpture while suspended from a hoisting device. “It was the first tower with public art required as a condition” of its construction, said former City Manager Roger Stancil at the unveiling in October, 2002.    

    Up & Coming Weeklylooked into the history of the tower and found that Sprint hasn’t owned it for many years which likely explains why it had been neglected. The new owners are Crown Castle of Houston, Texas. The company confirmed its obligation, and committed to paint the tower. Crown Castle owns more than 40,000 towers in the United States. It’s the leader in the shared wireless infrastructure industry.

     

     

     

    CORRECTION

    Last week’s News Digest article on the promotion of Captain Tandra Adams to Chief  Jailer in the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office should have read that she is “the first African-American woman to serve as Chief  Jailer.” 

  • Jeff9Most communities have resigned themselves to professional panhandling as a way of life for some of their citizens. Ordinances governing panhandling are not always the answer to the problem. “Most researchers and practitioners seem to agree that the enforcement of laws prohibiting panhandling plays only a part in controlling the problem,” according to the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock agrees with Brandt J. Goldstein’s (1993) study of panhandling in New Haven, Conn., that “public education to discourage people from giving money to panhandlers and adequate social services for panhandlers are the other essential components of an effective and comprehensive response.”

    First and foremost, people must stop enabling beggars. “Panhandling is not the fault of the police or court system … it’s caused by people who give them money,” Medlock says. Fayetteville city ordinances ban panhandling after dark and near certain establishments. Panhandlers are not supposed to stand on roadway medians or shoulders. And the practice is banned altogether in the downtown area. Last year, the Downtown Alliance launched a drop=box program asking that people who are inclined to give money to the homeless do so by dropping their change in one of the boxes. The money is turned over to agencies which assist the homeless. Not all panhandlers are homeless. Some are professionals capable of earning “several hundred dollars a week,” according to Chief Medlock. 

    Police must place dealing with panhandlers in perspective with all the other things cops do every day. Warning panhandlers and ordering them to “move along” are perhaps the most common police responses to panhandling. Again, according to the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, “many police officers develop working relationships with regular panhandlers. They generally do not view panhandling as a serious matter, and are reluctant to devote the time necessary to arrest and book offenders. Moreover, most officers realize that panhandlers are unlikely to either appear in court or pay a fine. 

    Prosecutors and judges are unlikely to view isolated panhandling cases as serious matters. 

    “I do not recall seeing many of those cases in our District Courts, but we do see some. In cases where homeless people are arrested and are in jail, they will often plead guilty and be sentenced to time served by the Judge,” District Attorney Billy West told Up & Coming Weekly.  

     

  • After Republican House and Senate leaders announced a state budget deal May 31, Gov. Beverly Perdue again began to huff and puff about what she saw as numer-ous flaws with the measure, which reorganizes state government, cuts taxes, limits regulation and authorizes $19.7 billion for next year’s general fund.

    Will the legislative structure that House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate Leader Phil Berger built stand up to an expected gust of veto wind? It all depends on their choice of building materials — the promised support of the five Democrats needed to override Perdue’s veto of the measure in the house.

    If the political promises of Reps. Jim Crawford, Bill Owens, Dewey Hill, Bill Brisson, and Tim Spear prove to be made of brick, the budget deal will stand.

    There’s solid evidence for the brick theory. Gov. Perdue’s closest ally among the five, Owens, told the Associated Press that Republican leaders kept their promises in the new budget plan and so he’s support it. To go back on their word now, after conducting lengthy negotiations with House leaders, would reflect bad faith. Owens and his fellow conservative Democrats would take a big credibility hit.

    On the other hand, Perdue and liberal activists weren’t a bit mollified by the latest version of the GOP budget, which includes more education spending and fewer controversial cuts than previous versions. They still describe it in apocalyp-tic terms, presumably for political effect (though some may actually believe their hy-perbolic claims). Their hope is the Owens and company have made pledges of straw that the governor can blow in with a few more huffs and puffs.

    The truth is that the new budget deal deserves neither strident denunciation nor enthusiastic celebration. It is simply a compromise between the two starting positions. When Gov. Perdue released her budget plan earlier this year, it called for $19.9 billion in general fund spending next year. The house and senate offered a counterproposal of between $19.1 billion and $19.2 billion (not counting some $200 million that was only shifted from the highway fund to the general fund in the two legislative plans, and thus shouldn’t be included in any comparison to the Perdue budget).

    Compared against the original general fund baseline of $20.8 billion for FY 2011-12, Perdue’s proposal was an average cut of about 4 percent. The Republicans proposed an 8 percent cut. The new deal works out to about 6 percent.

    Yes, you are reading that right. The debate will now be over 2 percent of the General Fund, which is itself only a part of a total state budget for the coming fiscal year of about $50 billion, when transportation, federal, and other funds are taken into account. Apocalypse Now? Try Apocalypse Not.

    Are there provisions in the new budget that Democrats don’t like? Of course there are. It’s a state budget drawn up by Republican majorities for the first time in more than a century. Did anyone really expect a different outcome?

    Try as they might, Democrats aren’t going to be able to undo the results of last fall’s election through gubernato-rial vetoes. If Perdue somehow manages to blow the North Carolina House down over this budget deal, there’s a very real possibility of disruption in state operations, employment, and contracts after the fiscal year ends on June 30.

    She’s fooling herself if she thinks such a res06-08-11-john-hood.jpgult will im-prove her political standing. This is not a Raleigh replay of the Washington shutdown drama of 1995-96, when Bill Clinton was able to reverse an initial slide in his popularity after the federal shutdown by shifting the blame to Newt Gingrich. Bev Perdue is no Bill Clinton, and Thom Tillis and Phil Berger bear no resemblance to Gingrich. They won’t be con-venient foils for her. They are largely unknown to the general public.

    The Republicans know this. So do Bill Owens, Jim Crawford, and their colleagues. I suppose some-one on Gov. Perdue’s staff knows it, too, but have neglected to tell her yet.

    Photo: The new budget deal deserves neither strident denunciation nor enthusiastic celebration. It is simply a compromise between the two starting positions.

  • Mr. Weiner! Oh, My Word!06-22-11-margaret.jpg

    I first heard of “sexting” in the context of teenage girls who had snapped — shall we say “sophisticated?”— pictures of themselves or parts of themselves and dispatched them to boys electronically.

    Images exist forever in the cyber world.

    The next chapter of these sexting stories was almost always a weepy and humiliated girl whose parents are stunned that she did what she did, embarrassed for her and for themselves, and worried that they cannot fix this error of juvenile judgment which will be floating around “out there” long after everyone involved is gone.

    But grown men?

    Members of the United States Congress? Where are their supposedly more mature brains?

    United States Representative Anthony Weiner, with his breathtakingly unfortunate surname, is only the latest member of Congress to have been caught using technology inappropriately, but his flameout has been so spectacular and with so many unbelievable permutations, I hardly know what to say. So I will just start with the facts as I know them.

    Weiner, 46, an up and coming House member from New York, is a newlywed, married last July in a ceremony performed by former President Bill Clinton. His bride, Huma Abedin, 35, a lovely, highly educated, and accomplished younger woman who works for and is close to former First Lady Hillary Clinton, is expecting the couple’s first child. Weiner and Abedin were considered rising stars in Washington’s world of politics, a couple with a rich, fascinating, cosmopolitan, diverse and possibly “the sky’s the limit” future.

    So what did Mr. Weiner do?

    For reasons no one has acknowledged understanding, the Congressman blasted off into God only knows where pictures of himself and several of his body parts to various women, several of them embarrassingly young and none of them named Huma Abedin.

    Perhaps it is the mother in me, but my first thought about this riveting story — after “What was that man thinking?!?!” — was about Hillary and Huma who have worked together for 15 years and who, age-wise, could be mother and daughter. During the news firestorm, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her staff, including Huma Abedin, were away on an international mission. Did Hillary, who has expertise in many areas including Men Behaving Badly, comfort and advise Huma, or did she say, “Honey, this, too, shall pass?”

    I started reading what others think and there is plenty of it out there.

    The ever clever New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, in her piece entitled “Your Tweetin’Heart,” notes that “Tweetin’ ain’t cheating,” at least in the traditional sense. It does spare the Tweeter the risk of disease or the necessity to utter the words, “I did not have sex with that woman,” as Bill Clinton did. But it certainly leaves one open to worldwide ridicule, the implosion of one’s formerly impressive life, and the new phenomenon of sexting rehab, as Anthony Weiner has found out in what must be the hardest way possible.

    It does take two to tango, of course, but the Weiner scandal once again raises the question of why men in politics — and there is a long list of them of both political persuasions — sext and more while women offi ce holders tend to steer clear of such behavior. Writing in the New York Times, Sheryl Gay Stolberg offers several explanations — genetic hard-wiring differences, high-profi le working women are simply too busy, and because there are fewer women in politics, they feel the spotlight more acutely. All of that may play into who misbehaves and who does not, and it may also be true, as Stolberg puts it, that while “powerful men attract women, powerful women repel men.”

    Then, there is the mysterious question of how and why some Tweetin’ and cheatin’ members of Congress survive sex scandals and some do not.

    Prior generations of Americans, including journalists, tended to view such behavior as private, between the offenders and their families and perhaps their constituents (John Kennedy), unless it was so fl agrant that no one could ignore it (Wilbur Mills and Wayne Hayes). We are much less tolerant today, especially if young people are involved (Mark Foley), even though we seem to cut our pols a little slack when it comes to prostitution (David Vitter and Eliot Spitzer, who is currently being rehabilitated by CNN and, in a stranger than fiction turn of events, actually covering the Weiner story.)

    It helps if the wife stands by her man, (Hillary Clinton and Silda Spitzer did but Jenny Sanford did not). Ditto for the offenders’ Congressional colleagues. The biggest help of all, though, is probably a distracted media or a bigger story somewhere else in the world.

    Those advantages have eluded Anthony Weiner.

    Huma was travelling with Hillary, his colleagues cut him loose and the media coverage has been, in the words of political strategist Kevin Madden, “…like burning an ant with a magnifying glass on the hottest day of the year.”

    The lesson here?

    No matter how cute you think you are, do not take photos of yourself and certainly not your parts and blast them into cyberspace.

  • The United States is in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and there does not seem to be much light at tunnel’s end. Every American family is adversely affected by this situation and will continue to be for many years.

    Well, maybe not all. 06-29-11-dsve-wilson.jpg

    An elite cadre of Wall Street bankers, hedge-fund managers and brokerage executives are still enjoying an extraordinary high life. Last year Wall Street bonuses exceeded $100 billion. Whose money was that and just how much perspiration was produced by the recipients to entitle them to such over-the-top compensation?

    How it happened is really not all that complicated. The nation’s fi nancial troubles became a crisis with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a highly regarded and respected investment banking and fi nancial services institution which declared bankruptcy in September 15, 2008. The collapse of that 150-year-old business was caused by greed, gullibility, poor management and some level of fraudulent behavior by Lehman management. The problem began some years earlier when applications for residential mortgages were accepted and approved without investigation into the borrower’s ability to repay. The fundamental concept of credit is that the borrower can and will repay. But this was not a concern with sub-prime mortgage lenders.

    The thinking in Washington was that everyone had the right to own their own home and no one should be excluded from this privilege just because they were already burdened with debt or had a low income or no income. Such borrowers were offered what became known as sub-prime mortgages. These loans involved higher interest rates because the risk of repayment default was greater. But the completely fl awed rationale was that residential property would always increase in value so a foreclosed mortgage really posed no serious risk to the lender.

    How wrong this was.

    Most of these sub-prime loans were bundled together by investment banking fi rms and were sold globally. Millions of these mortgages became toxic assets when the loans went into default. Lehman sold these bundled mortgages but also retained very signifi cant quantities because the yield was extraordinarily high. But that yield was dependent on timely repayment which was not happening. In spite of outrageous end-of-quarter manipulations to deceive analysts Lehman’s balance sheet became obviously and seriously negative.

    The price of their stock fell to the fl oor and their board sought federal relief which was denied. In the midst all of this, Lehman executive George Herbert Walker IV (and cousin to George Walker Bush) had the audacity to not eschew millions in bonuses for himself and his team because they were entitled to them. What a self-serving arrogant jerk is George Herbert Walker IV. These Lehman executives and many others with financial services firms were responsible for the loss of millions of American jobs and hundreds of thousands of families being turned out of their homes. And for this they felt they were entitled to millions in bonuses? What are we missing here?

    So it leaves a most obvious question on the table. How could these super intelligent, highly educated and trained bankers, investment brokers and hedge-fund managers have been so stupid?

    The answer is that they were not and they are not. Well, for the most part, at least.

    There really is no explaining Bank of America’s acquisition of Countrywide Financial if Bank of America conducted appropriate due diligence. But Bank of America Chairman Ken Lewis was entranced by a 7 percent+ return on Countrywide’s assets so they did the deal. Then they reluctantly agreed to acquire Merrill Lynch, which was within hours of collapse, only to fi nd out later how desperate the esteemed brokerage house’s condition was.

    Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other lenders then began frantic foreclosures on the properties in default with absolutely no regard for the borrower’s rights. People were ushered out of their homes after part-time paper signers executed foreclosure documents without concern for proper foreclosure protocols. This was done with the full knowledge of the CEOs and boards of these banks, which now use institutional advertising to promote a “good guy” image.

    That is arrogance personified.

    Now comes the question of who pays. Our country pays. The world pays. Every man, woman and child, except the few select from Wall Street are paying and will continue to pay for many, many years.

    FDR realized that the way out of the Great Depression was to get some money in people’s pockets. The banks had to start lending and the government had to lead the way with job creation.

    It worked.

    Today banks are not lending. The very institutions that created the crisis are refusing to provide credit — which is the means for businesses to start, construction to begin and American citizens to do business with each other in a traditional and time-tested manner.

    So the next time you walk into your local bank branch and you are offered a cup of lemonade and a cookie, just politely decline. Instead say, Brother, can you spare me a dime?”

  • arts-council-exhibit.jpg

    If you are looking for something to do on June 26, head downtown to 4th Friday. Businesses and galleries are open late, there are a variety of activities to enjoy and  there are new exhibits and performances to take in — the entire family will find something to enjoy. 

    Every year, the Arts Council hosts an exhibit called Public Works. It is a celebration of local art and local artists. The exhibit opened in May and is on display through July 18. Don’t miss the Arts Council’s reception from 5-9 p.m. From 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. visitors can catch a performance by the Army Ground Forces Band as well.

    After stopping at the Arts Council, art aficionados can head to Cape Fear Studios at 148 Maxwell St. for the opening of the 2015 National 2D Competition. The national juried competition and exhibit featuring 2D artists throughout the United States is a local favorite and features interesting pieces from around the country showcased in the main gallery. Visit the member artists’ studios and check out Fayetteville’s local talent, too. The 2015 National 2D Competition is on display through July 20. Find out more at www.capefearstudios.com.

    Fayetteville After Five joins the 4th Friday festivities this year with concerts in Festival Park. It is a great way to wind down from a busy week and kick off the weekend. This month, the featured headliners are The Stranger, a Billy Joel tribute band and  Dealing Stan, a tribute to Steely Dan. Gate opens at 5 p.m.  Acts begin at 7 p.m. 

    The Headquarters Library invites readers, authors and aspiring authors to visit the Local Authors Showcase. Meet the authors, check out their work and ask questions. Have you ever wanted to know what inspires an author or how hard it is to get published? Find out at the showcase. The event, which lasts from 7-9 p.m., features writers from the Sandhills region and is sponsored  by the Friends of the Library.

    Kids love Fascinate-U Children’s Museum — and for good reason. There is plenty of kid-sized fun all in one building. Admission is free on 4th Friday, so the little ones can enjoy miniature grocery store, post office and other hands-on learning centers and take home a craft, too. Local author Catherine Poole hosts a story time and then the children will make their own colorful bookmarks to take home. Storytime is at 7:30 p.m. Free play is from 7-9 p.m. Fascinate-U is located at 116 Green St. 

    The Fayetteville Area Transportation & Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. features artifact-filled exhibits, including a model train room that tells the story of transportation from pre-history through the early 20th century. The museum  is open from 6-9 p.m.  on 4th Friday

    Don’t miss the exhibit in collaboration with Fayetteville State University celebrating the life of Dr. E.E. Smith, the beloved Baptist minister, patriotic militia officer, successful businessman, generous philanthropist, accomplished statesman and distinguished and dedicated educator.

    The Market House showcases the educational exhibit Local Artistsupstairs. It is open from 6-10 p.m. This exhibit is in addition to the permanent exhibit, A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville.

    Hay Street United Methodist Church at 320 Hay St. is taking part in the action and will feature fun beach activities including face painting and creating sand art necklaces  from 6-8 p.m.

  • author-showcase.jpg

    Libraries can be so much more than a building where people check out books. They can be centers for learning of all kinds as well as places for community growth. Thanks to the dedication and creativity of many staff members, the Headquarters Library is an incredible addition to the city, hosting cultural and educational events year round. 

    One of the many programs that the library offers is a Local Author Showcase. The library invites local authors and citizens to come together to learn from each other at this entertaining and  engaging event. The next Local Author Showcase is set for June 26.

    The Showcase has been happening
    for years, and according to Erika Earp, the Information Services Manager at
    the Headquarters Library, it has grown over time.

    “Last year we had 40 authors participate.” she said. Despite this success, there are some challenges in organizing this event. “My biggest challenge has been finding enough staff members to volunteer to help out, which, really, is not a bad challenge to have,” Earp explains. 

    For those who have never been to a past Local Author Showcase, Earp advises, “Expect a wide variety of books. Also expect authors who are really happy to talk to people about what they do and what their experiences have been with getting books published.” 

    This event does double duty in supporting the growth of the community, which is a primary focus of the event. 

    “It’s important to support the community and the people who live here. Coming to the showcase and talking to the authors is a good way to support them, even if you don’t buy one of their books,” she explains. 

    It provides aspiring authors and amateur writers with an opportunity to meet and seek advice from published authors and it provides a platform for local authors to share their works with a wider audience. Additionally, for people who have read and enjoyed the works of these authors, they have the opportunity to talk to the writers. 

    “I think it gives people an understanding of where the authors were coming from when they wrote their works,” Earp said 

    It may seem intimidating to meet a successful published author, but it is important to remember that these are local people excited to share their ideas and success with the community. According to Earp there is absolutely no reason to be nervous about meeting and talking with these local treasures, in fact it is her favorite part of the event. 

    “I really like meeting all the different authors. They’re all very nice and fun to talk to,” she says. 

    The Local Author Showcase is on June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Headquarters Library. The Headquarters Library is located at 300 Maiden Lane. Books are for sale and Earp reminds attendees that, “If you plan on buying books, please bring cash; not everyone will have the ability to accept plastic.” 

    For more information visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite/content/author-visits-2015 or call 910-483-7727. 


  •     I was reminded last week of the importance of scripts in public life. Much of what passes for political discourse these days turns out, upon reflection, to be little more than dramatic (or comedic) set-pieces in which political actors dutifully mouth some familiar lines and lazily follow the stage directions of productions that closed years or decades ago. We watch it (or perform ourselves). We feel comfortable and validated. We clap. Then we leave the theater for a while to get refreshments or relieve ourselves before taking in another pointless, predictable show.{mosimage}
        Last week’s occasion to witness political scripting came when I debated someone representing the University of North Carolina on the issue of taxpayer funding for public broadcasting. Without public TV, my adversary intoned solemnly, viewers could not possibly find high-quality programming on history, culture and the arts. Children wouldn’t see Big Bird. Citizens wouldn’t get the respected news coverage they craved. Survivor and Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers would be shown 24 hours a day on a continuous loop on every channel.
        OK, maybe I’m not remembering that last one verbatim, but you get the point. He was making the same arguments that defenders of public-broadcasting subsidies were making 10, 20 or 30 years ago. If ever valid, they certainly lack little relevance to the debate today, which is occurring at a time when most American households have cable or satellite television and high-quality programming, both fiction and nonfiction, has never been more available to more people.
        Another example of just following the script has been the way that UNC-Chapel Hill officials have responded to controversies about a freshman reading assignment begun several years ago. Chancellor James Moeser and others are bound and determined to make the dispute into some kind of book-burning episode involving Joe McCarthy, returned from the dead by a bizarre religious rite performed by Taliban-like Christian evangelicals. They view any criticism of their judgment as an attack on their “academic freedom,” and pretend that it is they who are interested in exposing students to a wide variety of people and ideas.
        So, for example, Moeser told the Herald-Sun recently that he expects protests and controversy to come from the school’s 2005 selection of a book by Timothy Tyson called Blood Done Sign My Name. It deals with a racially motivated murder in Oxford, and the violent response of the black community there. “The book may rip scabs off of wounds people may think healed long ago,” Moeser said. He apparently believes that incoming freshmen at what he often calls the finest public university in the nation are unfamiliar with the troubled racial history of the South, and that politicians and conservatives outside of Chapel Hill don’t want students to find out about it.
        It’s past time for UNC officials to, well, grow up. I don’t know any other way to put it. It is they who are living in a fantasy world, who brook little dissent or real intellectual diversity, and whose perceptions are shaped by their lack of experience with people who don’t think the way they do. The 2002 and 2003 controversies about the UNC reading assignment centered on the choice of the book, not the subject matter. It made sense for students after 9/11 to learn more about Islam and how it informs the war on terrorism. But the book UNC selected carefully left out the passages of the Qur’an that the Islamofascists distort into their divine commandment to kill, so it was unsuitable to the educational goal (though compatible with less praiseworthy ones). And in 2003, the problem wasn’t that students were examining poverty in America, but that the choice of book was a one-sided, socialist screed that provided little real insight into why poverty persists and what policymakers might do to alleviate it.
        I have no problem at all with Tyson’s book, or more generally with students learning about North Carolina’s sordid racist past. I also don’t expect it to come as a major shock to incoming UNC freshmen that segregation existed, that racism had real and tragic victims and that its legacy remains.
        Ladies and gentlemen, how about less reading from the script, more independent thought, and, most important of all, more listening.


  •     Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that there are plans to build a large repository for nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain in Nevada, but that plans have been slow and are very controversial. Where is our nuclear waste kept now and what dangers does it pose?              — Miriam Clark, Reno, Nev.

        Plans to store the majority of our nation’s spent nuclear fuel and other highly radioactive waste at a central repository underneath Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert 80 miles from Las Vegas were first hatched in the mid-1980s. But the project has languished primarily due to opposition from Nevadans who don’t want to import such dangerous materials into their backyard. Critics of the plan also point out that various natural forces such as erosion and earthquakes could render the site unstable and thus unsuitable to store nuclear isotopes that can remain hazardous to humans for hundreds of thousands of years to come.
        But the Bush administration is keen to jump-start the project and recently submitted a construction license application to develop the facility — which when completed could hold up to 300 million pounds of nuclear waste — with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In announcing the filing, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said that the facility being proposed can “stand up to any challenge anywhere,” adding that issues of health safety have been a primary concern during the planning process.
        {mosimage}But the administration has still not submitted a crucial document declaring how protective the facility will be with regard to radiation leakage. Bush’s Environmental Protection Agency concluded that the facility needs to prevent radiation leakage for up to 10,000 years. But a federal judge ruled that to be inadequate and ordered the administration to require protection for up to 1 million years. The White House argues that the NRC should press on with its review process and that the standard can be settled on later.
        Currently, without any central repository, nuclear waste generated in the U.S. is stored at or near one of the 121 facilities across the country where it is generated. Nevadans like Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, who has doggedly opposed the Yucca Mountain repository, say it makes more sense to leave such waste where it is than to risk transporting it across the nation’s public highways and rail system, during which accidents or even terrorist attacks could expose untold numbers of Americans to radioactivity.
        But others say that the current system, or lack thereof, leaves Americans at great risk of radioactive exposure. The nonprofit Nuclear Information and Resource Service concluded in a 2007 report that tons of radioactive waste were ending up in landfills and in some cases in consumer products, thanks to loopholes in a 2000 federal ban on recycling metal that had been exposed to radioactivity.
        As with all issues surrounding nuclear technology, where and how to dispose of the wastes is complicated. While some environmental leaders now cautiously support development of more nuclear reactors (which are free of fossil fuels) to help stave off climate change, others remain concerned that the risks to human health and the environment are still too high to go down that road. Whether or not the NRC approves plans for Yucca Mountain won’t resolve the larger debate, of course, but perhaps the greenlighting of other promising alternative energy sources could ultimately make nuclear power unnecessary altogether.
        CONTACTS: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, www.nrc.gov; Nuclear Information and Resource Service, www.nirs.org.
        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. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
  • Beauty Does Not Last, Stupid Does 06-08-11-margaret.jpg

    Several years ago, I was enthralled by Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Blink, which deals with how we make most of our decisions both small and momentous — usually very quickly and instinctively.

    Now I am captivated by Lisa Bloom’s Think, which makes the case that too many Americans, almost exclusively young women, are so taken in by our society’s celebrity culture that we are experiencing an intellectual decline bordering in some instances on actual ignorance. Bloom, an attorney and television reporter, clearly knows of what she speaks.

    As a longtime advocate for young women and the mother of one, I have long been distressed about the shallowness of this aspect of our culture; a culture in which many young women and some older ones as well are more interested in how their jeans fi t across their backsides than in their educations.

    A recent Oxygen Media survey found that 25 percent of young American women would rather be named America’s Next Top Model than be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and 23 percent would rather lose their ability to read than lose their figures.

    I was recently so appalled by a television clip of two American charmers, neither of whom could identify any of the three branches of our government or knew in which city more than 100 people had died during a tornado the week before, that I knew I had to see what Bloom had to say.

    She makes a compelling case that this is not funny, that this is a real problem. She laments the situation, and then offers some advice on how to get our brains back on track.

    First, let’s take a look at the issue for American women as Bloom describes it:

    “We are excelling in education at every level but likewise obsessing over celebrity lifestyles and tabloid media, leaving many of us unable to name a single branch of government — but nearly all of us can name at least one Kardashian.

    “We are outperforming our male counterparts in employment in urban areas for the first time in history, yet spending more time and money on our appearances, including electing life-endangering plastic surgery in record breaking numbers.

    “In a culture that continually rewards beauty over brains, it’s no wonder that straight-A high school girls believe ‘It’s more important to be hot than smart’ as they giggle into television cameras that they don’t know how many sides a triangle has, nor in which country Mexico City is located.”

    Bloom explores the issue in all its stiletto, spray-tanned, Brangelina detail, and then she offers solutions beginning in a well-titled chapter, “Reclaiming the Brains God Gave Ya.”

    It is full of common sense tidbits for getting control of your life such as giving yourself some free time just for yourself and allowing your children to be bored or unhappy from time to time. As for fashion, she notes that plaids will always be in style in the fall and sundresses always work in the summer, so no need to read every publication dealing with such matters.

    Most importantly to me, Bloom says read constantly, widely and well, quoting the Chinese proverb, “Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot.”
    Like Oprah, but even better, Bloom gives us a reading list beginning with Half the Sky, a Pulitzer Prize winner which details the lives of women all over the world who struggle daily for food for themselves and their families and for the basic human rights American women cannot imagine not having. These women would be flabbergasted that high heels might be more interesting to anyone than voting.

    Bloom’s reading suggestions reflect her mandate of reading widely and well and include serious non-fiction works, novels both light and weighty, and just for fun reads. She also recommends quality time with friends and family and building a strong network of women friends who become one’s safety net. This has certainly been true in my own life.

    Think puts into words what the lives of many American women of our time have become, and readable as it is, it is an important work. If I could, I would put this book into the hands of every young woman I could find.

    Jill Conner Browne, the Jackson, Mississippi Southern Belle who wrote the Sweet Potato Queen series, recognized this issue with American women as well, and I paraphrase her pithy assessment.

    Beauty, lovely as it may be, does not last. Stupid does. Fortunately, so does smart.

    Photo: Author Lisa Bloom says the obsession over celebrity lifestyles leaves many unable to name a branch of government, but at least one of the Kardashians.

  • civil-war.jpg

    The Civil War, even after so many years, has an eternal grip on the American psyche. James Greathouse, the senior museum specialist at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, explains the fascination by saying, “In many ways it was our last ‘Napoleonic Style’ war.  Colorful uniforms, regimental bands and all that pomp and ceremony. From the dashing cavalry trooper riding off to glory and honor to the lines of soldiers marching shoulder-to-shoulder braving shot and shell, the Civil War reminds us of an age of chivalry. “

    To further explore this era, the museum organized a Civil War Bus Tour with Greathouse as the tour guide. The tour explores three different towns that have deep, though perhaps unexpected connections, to the Civil War. 

    “For the Averasboro portion of the tour we will stop at several places along the battlefield to explain how the battle developed and hear some personal accounts,” said Greathouse. “At the museum, tour members will have time to explore the exhibits and check out the gift shop. At Bentonville, we will go over the details of the battle, but will not venture too far into the battlefield area. The bus tour guide will provide background information on the Carolinas’ Campaign and the visitor’s center displays will allow the group to get a greater understanding of how the battle unfolded.” 

    In Fayetteville, Averasboro and Bentonville, the tour will highlight personal accounts by the soldiers and civilians that witnessed the battles.

    For Greathouse the single best moment of the tour is the hospital 

    at Bentonville. 

    “It is an unbroken reminder of the brutality of warfare. This nice home was thrown into the midst of war and I really do not think that life there was ever the same there after the battle,” he said.

     The entire tour is riveting for both the experienced Civil War enthusiast and the less experienced. The route itself is hauntingly beautiful, so beautiful that Greathouse says it is a struggle to imagine the brutality that took place, noting that these events are still very pertinent.  

    The Civil War was a very human and personal affair for those who served, and having an honest retelling is vital to understanding America today. 

    “To understand the Civil War and what it means to America today, we need to look at the war from all sides,” Greathouse says. “For me, it is the stories of the common soldiers and civilians just trying to survive the war that holds my attention. It is these stories that truly show us the best and worst of what the Civil War was about. These personal stories are where we can learn something worth remembering.”

      

    The Cumberland County History Bus Tour is on June 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required as space is limited. There is also a $5 fee per person, and moderate walking may be involved. For more information visitwww.fcpr.us/transportation_museum.aspx or call 910-433-1457. 

     

  •     I would like to take you on a trip to one of North Carolina’s too often overlooked charming little mountain towns, Saluda. It’s a few miles south of Asheville, just off I-26 and not far from the South Carolina line.{mosimage}
    Even if you live a long way from the mountains, you can still go with me, thanks to UNC-TV’s Our State program that premiered on Thursday, June 5 at 8 p.m., (with repeats at various times during the month).
        Maybe I shouldn’t tell you about why I first came to visit Saluda. Politics. I was running for statewide office. My friend George Couch was determined to help me win his home county, Polk, where Saluda is located. He arranged a campaign stop in Saluda with an overnight at the Orchard Inn. The innkeepers, it turned out, were old friends, Kathy and Bob Thompson. They took such good care of me, and the folks in Saluda were so nice that I kept coming back there to campaign, even though only a few hundred voters live there.
        By the way, although I lost the statewide election big-time, I won in Polk County by a comfortable margin.
        I returned to Saluda a few years later in search of a “home-cooking” restaurant to include in Interstate Eateries, my book about family-owned eating-places near the interstate highways. I found Ward’s Grill, which was part of a family business that had been on Saluda’s Main Street from the early 1900s. The breakfast sausages and the lunchtime hamburgers were extra tasty because they came fresh from the adjoining meat market and general store owned by the same man, Charlie Ward.
        As I learned on my recent visit with UNC-TV, Ward recently sold his business to Larry and Debra Jackson, who maintain the tradition. Larry told me, “People come in and ask for Charlie’s Sausage. I have to tell them that it is Larry’s Sausage made with Charlie’s recipe.”
        Just up Main Street from Ward’s is the M.A. Pace store. It, too, has been operating for 100 years at the same location. The Paces have been in the Saluda area since the 1700s. In fact, the Saluda community was first known as Pace’s Gap. Robert Pace has owned this store for as long as anybody can remember. He runs it much the same way his father did for many years before. The result is the opportunity for visitors to go back in time to the early 1900s and experience a general store like the one where their great-grandparents traded.
        There is a problem, though. Mr. Pace sells all kinds of hardware, groceries and local handmade items that his modern customers need. But you cannot buy some of the stock he has on display, like shoes from the 1920s or corsets from an even earlier time. “I’ve got a lot of things in here that I don’t sell,” Mr. Pace told me, “and maybe more than what I have for sale.”
        Main Street is only a few blocks long, but it is packed with local shops and good places to eat. All around are reminders of the railroad boom times in the early part of the last century. Saluda sits at the high point of the steepest railroad grade in the eastern part of the country. As a result, it was the first stopping point for trains coming from the south. Lots of visitors from South Carolina decided to spend every summer in the area.
        The railroad tracks still run through the middle of town along Main Street, and even though the trains stopped running a few years ago, some Saluda old timers still look down the tracks towards the steep grade, remembering fondly the huffing and puffing of the two engines it took to push the loaded cars up to and through their treasured town.
        They would not mind a bit if you joined them.
  •     Today I went grocery shopping and got to watch quite a few families go by with their grocery carts or checking out in front of me. Let me tell you — not only was I stunned at the reality of the “standard American diet” (SAD for an ironic acronym), but just how dangerous our stores have become — simply by carrying foods designed to kill us.
        The scenario — not uncommon at all as most everyone I saw here shops the same way, unfolds with a family and their two children checking out in front of me. All of them had some measure of dangerous weight problems but the cart was laden with frozen foods, sweets, soda and two giant bottles of Hawaiian Punch. The only real food was a small bunch of bananas. Everything was full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats! All addictive and all poison to our body.{mosimage}
        Summer is probably one of the most crucial seasons for healthy eating. Why you might ask? Well, for starters, we are finally out of the multiple holiday seasons that bombard us with sugars and fats. We are all thinking about the pool or beach as well as swim suits and have more skin exposed (making us self-conscious).
        This means that with the increased activity — and increased heat — our body is going to demand more water and good fuel to make it through the day. If we don’t give it that, we are making our bodies work on nothing but sugar and bad fats — we are actually starting to force it to break down.
        A great way to face this is just like our finances. What we are really doing is writing checks our body can’t cash (yes, I remember the old saying). We’re going into health bankruptcy. The difference is there’s no starting over — you HAVE to make changes or ultimately the body breaks down to a point of no return. As our state of health declines, we go further into debt — sometimes even financially as now we have to pay for medications.
        So to start reversing this, we need to look at two things: exercise and nutrition. Let’s start with exercise. JUST START MOVING! It’s that simple when you are starting out. All you need to do is carve out two 20-minute periods during the week where you make yourself move. In the beginning, it might be simply walking, which is fine until it becomes easy (once it’s easy, walking is no longer an exercise. Sorry, but it’s true). However, what you must add to your walk is some body weight squatting (I’ll have an article on that soon), push-ups and shoulder presses. Let’s make our workouts improve our lives, not just work up a sweat in some air conditioned gym. By that, it needs to be functional and those exercises will improve every aspect of your physical activity. Mix them up — walk for two minutes and then do 10 repetitions of each exercise. Do that repeatedly until 10 to 20 minutes are up. For many of us, that’s more than we’ve ever done before.
        Nutrition? CrossFit founder Greg Glassman, recommends meat (protein), vegetables (low-glycemic carbs), nuts and seeds (good healthy fats), some fruit (more good carbs), and NO SUGAR. It really is that easy. The problem is we are conditioned to eat sugar laden starches which our bodies are not capable of readily metabolizing. Yes, I know what the food pyramid tells us, but how well is it working? Take a look around. Next, eat several times a day consisting of small quantities of the good foods above, starting with breakfast. That truly is the best way to rev up the metabolism. From there, make sure you’re getting in all three nutrients — protein, fat and carbohydrates — at every setting, regardless of snack or meal.
        Remember though, as the metabolism slows down and the body stores more and more fat, it will take time to lose the weight in a healthy manner. STICK WITH IT! Let’s start making “aggressive” health deposits in the bank and get ourselves out of health and wellness bankruptcy.
        E-mail your questions to John Velandra at: designsinfitness@att.net. Or call him at (910) 306-3142. John is a certified personal trainer and the owner of CrossFit Cape Fear and Designs In Fitness Personal Training Services in Fayetteville. You can visit online at www.designsinfitness.net or www.crossfitcapefear.com
  • margaret-06-17-15.jpg

    Author Robert Fulghum hit an incredible home run with his 1988 book of short essays, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Fulghum’s effort dominated the bestseller lists for more than a year, and while it has been 25 years or so since I read it, I do remember thinking that he learned a lot more than I did when I was 5-years-old. All I remember about kindergarten is the spectacularly wonderful goopiness of finger paints, and Billy Rose’s mother coming to pick up our carpool early the day Hurricane Hazel flattened much of North Carolina’s southern coast and laid the supple young pine trees in our family’s Haymount yard down on the ground.

    That being said, I started thinking about what I have learned since kindergarten. I am happy and relieved to report that I have learned a few things, including a lot more about hurricanes, particularly from Hurricane Fran. In no special order, here are a few tidbits that have stuck with me through the years. Some I wish I had understood in kindergarten, and some my younger me had to mature a bit to grasp.

    The only person who will go all the way through life with you is you. Parents, friends, even spouses, will fall away. You will enjoy your life’s journey more if you learn to like your own company and to trust your own judgment. Young people, especially teenagers, have real trouble with this as they are often mesmerized by their peers, but it is true nonetheless.

    Politics is a matter of timing. The world’s best candidate can lose when the tide of public opinion is heading in a different direction, and, conversely, a weak candidate — perhaps dishonest or lacking in mental horsepower — can get elected if the public tide flows his or her way. Fortunately, politics is cyclic — the tide will turn eventually.

    Henry the VIII of England did not do-in all six of his wives. He beheaded two of them, but two died of natural causes. The sight unseen German princess whom he married on the rebound did not last long, but she kept her head. Unenamored Henry quickly had Anne of Cleves declared his sister and dispatched her to a remote country estate to live peacefully ever after. His sixth wife outlived him. 

    Many friends come and go throughout life, as do some relatives, because of interests, change of location and all of the other factors that affect our lives. If we are lucky, though, we have a handful of the most precious ones for the better part of our lives. I am so blessed to have friends with whom I have laughed, cried, weathered triumphs and tragedies. They come from all parts of my life and enrich it every moment, even when we are not together.

    Sometimes we think others are in the wrong, when they are not. It is a good policy to keep a mirror handy for just such situations.

    There are certain items women over the age of 30 should never wear again. I count short shorts, leather pants, T-shirts with writing and/or pictures on them and hair bows among them.

    Resentment, anger and hatred are not good traveling buddies. They are corrosive, eating us up from the inside out, and leaving the objects of our emotions largely unscathed. I tell myself they produce more wrinkles than any other feelings.

    Our children are the most precious and fragile creatures we ever encounter. Treat them with love, respect and honesty, and those qualities will come back to you in spades. That does not mean leading them into positive and productive adult hoods is anything close to easy.

    No matter what we may delude ourselves into thinking, we really have no clue what is going on in anyone else’s home, office or marriage. Sometimes we have no clue what is going on in our own.

    Travel is almost always worth the investments of time, money and effort. Family travel makes memories that can be shared through the years in ways no possessions can. Travel broadens everyone’s perspective on the world and enriches and expands our own lives.

    And, as a bonus, it is generally fun.

    And, here is some wisdom which recurs to me more and more these days.

    At the end of life, what people regret are not the actions they have taken, however egregious, but the opportunities they have not seized out of fear or any other reason. In other words, when opportunity knocks, we will be happier with ourselves if we answer the door.

    I wonder whether Robert Fulghum learned that one.

  •     In the Bible, we see a man who did it all. A man with great riches, great houses, great women and great wisdom…but in the end he questioned its meaning. Solomon was both wealthy and famous. In Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (NIV), he writes, “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ What does a man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?”
         Solomon claimed at least four areas were “utterly meaningless.” First, wisdom is meaningless. In 1:13, Solomon says “I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven…all of them are meaningless.” Wisdom (by itself) is meaningless.
         Secondly, pleasure is meaningless. He tried to find meaning in everything from fine wine to laughter, from large homes to sex (having 700 wives and 300 concubines). Solomon said, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure…everything was meaningless” (2:10-11).{mosimage}
         Third, work is meaningless. He poured his efforts into hard labor. Even as king, he did not find meaning and purpose in life. Solomon said, “a man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work…but this too is meaningless.” (2:26).
         Fourth, money is meaningless. He turns to earning the almighty dollar. Solomon said, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income,” only to say, “This too is meaningless” (5:10).
         Will you be known for your wealth, wisdom or wishes? When it is all over…what will you have done for eternity? King Solomon, having tried it all, said, “Here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13, emphasis added).
         A Danish fable tells of a spider which descended on a single thread from the loft of a barn. It attached the thread to a corner of the barn and there began to weave its web. The spider began to prosper as the bugs were caught in its web. Then one day, the spider looked up at that single thread leading to the unseen loft and forgot why it was there. In an instant, the spider reached up, clipped the thread, and the web came crashing down.
         There was a time in Solomon’s life, when he had a vital link with heaven. But when he was prosperous, Solomon reached up and clipped that relationship with heaven…and when he did, his whole world came crashing to the ground. In the end, Solomon finally realized that it was all meaningless apart from God.
         Solomon asks, “What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” If all we have at the end of our life is what we did “under the sun,” we have missed it. We must decide to live for what is “above the sun.” Are you living life under the sun…or are you living life for what is above the sun…for Jesus?
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    It will probably come as no surprise to our readers that many of my conversations with local citizens revolve around what’s going on in the city, and in particular, with the local government. Recently the question was posed: “Are they doing anything good?” in reference to the Fayetteville City Council. That question was quickly followed up with, “If so, what is it?”

    Staying abreast of the comings and goings of the council, I do my best to keep track of what is going on, but in this instance, I thought why not go to the source? So I contacted Mayor Robertson and asked him the question I was asked, which more or less comes down to, “What have you done for the people of the city lately?”

    Those who know Robertson will understand that he didn’t miss a beat as he highlighted what was good in our city and how the city council is working and has worked together to improve the city, despite public sentiment that sees them as divided .

    At the top of Robertson’s list was one of the council’s most recent accomplishments: the passage of the budget. Over the past month, the council has focused on its budget. The discussions have at times been heated, but the council remained dedicated to the process and for the first time in recent memory passed the upcoming budget unanimously. 

    That’s a pretty big deal when you consider dwindling federal funding and increasing demands for services by a growing population. If you throw in the pressure of the PWC/City Government dysfunction, it is almost what some consider miraculous. Robertson doesn’t see it that way, explaining that the council is not as divided as some would think. 

    “Most of the time, we are all on the same page,” he said. “We may disagree about the way to get from one point to the other, but we know the direction we are headed.”

    Robertson takes great pride in the fact that the city’s crime rate has dropped again. Robertson ran his campaign with going after crime his top priority, and he has remained committed to it.  He pointed out that the city has made some hard choices to get a handle on this issue and has worked in concert to go after crime . Steps taken include:

    • Funding the police officers

    • Opening a new west area Police sub-station

    • Funding In-Car Camera Systems in all patrol cars 


    • Contracting with a new local crime laboratory to expedite the prosecution of criminals

    • Installing monitored thoroughfare cameras throughout the city

    • Installing Red light cameras at dangerous intersections

    Year over year crime rate reduction of 12.4 percent

    Expanding Community Watch and National Night Out participation

    To improve the quality of life for local residents, the city has also made great strides in the area of Parks and Recreation.

    The council studied and voted to:

    Re-introduce the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Youth Council

    Authorize construction of a new community pool at the Westover Recreation Center

    • Fund expansion of both Linear Park as well as the River Trail

    • Open City recreation centers on holidays

    Public Transportation, which was  a central focus of the previous council, remained on the radar, with the council  accomplishing the following:

    •  Starting conversations with Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, Spring Lake and Hope Mills about Regional Transportation serving all of Cumberland County’s residents

    • Now running routes onto Fort Bragg and connecting with Spring Lake and Hoke County buses

    • Starting or expanding several routes

    • Enacting programs  for Cumberland County Schools student athletes to ride any FAST bus for free

    • Approving $12.1 million for the construction of the new Transportation Center

    • Increasing overall ridership.

    Finally, in the area of economic development, Robertson reports that the city is making strides, continuing to update the Unified Development Ordinance, improving customer service and employee training, implementing a new “customer portal” for residents deal with Inspection and Permits Departments and continuing to create an environment that promotes growth. 


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    The Revolutionary War lasted from 1775-1783. It was about a year into the fight that delegates from the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia and voted for America’s independence from Britain. 

    The delegation struggled with the decision, but on July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence. Two days later, on July 4, the delegation adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was another eight years before the fighting stopped, but it is the 4th of July that America claims as her birthday. In the minds of many Americans, if there is anything worth celebrating it is freedom and independence.
    This year there is no shortage of events at which to celebrate.

    N.C. Symphony Present Concerts In Your Community and Fireworks

    Each summer the N.C. Symphony performs free concerts across the state as part of its Concerts in Your Community series. The concerts are a way for the symphony to give back and, as the state’s official symphony, a way to make its music available statewide. On July 1, don’t miss the Independence Day concert at Festival Park. This year, the symphony has invited the Cumberland Oratorio Singers to perform, as well. 

    “We take the stage at 7 p.m. and have a set that includes patriotic music and slices of Americana,” said Maureen Yearby, the marketing and publicity spokesperson for the Cumberland Oratorio Singers. “It is an opportunity to perform for the community we love and is a real indication that Cumberland Oratorio Singers has come a long way these past five years.”

    Following the  Cumberland Oratorio Singers, the N.C. Symphony performance includes favorites that are sure to touch the hearts of patriots and rousing classics that will leave hearts pounding. Some favorites that are featured include Root’s “The Battle Cry of Freedom” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” plus selections from the Civil War era. The symphony performs at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. End the evening with a fireworks display that is fitting for patriotic celebration of American independence. Find out more at www.ncsymphony.org.

    America’s Favorite Game

    Known for their summertime fireworks extravaganzas, the SwampDogs pull out all the stops when it comes to celebrating America’s birthday. It’s the team’s biggest event of the year and one that should not be missed. On Friday, July 3, the Honoring America Fireworks Tribute is presented by Hendrick Chrysler Jeep Fiat and USAA. 

    “This is the best fireworks show Fayetteville has to offer during the summer, and is a memorable show for the whole family,” said Assistant General Manager/Voice of the SwampDogs Joe Vasile.

    Celebrate in Spring Lake

    Spring Lake is celebrating with a 4th of July Festival on Main Street. This family-friendly event features live entertainment, a kid’s zone, water activities, a car show and food and craft vendors. The celebration takes place at
     the Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce and  runs from noon until dark. Call 497-8821 for more details. 

    Join the Fun in Hope Mills

    Hope Mills looks to celebrate the 4th of July with a Party in the Park at Hope Mills Municipal Park. But first, the day starts with a good, old-fashioned parade in downtown Hope Mills. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Party in the Park starts at 4 p.m. and will include family-friendly games, vendors and live entertainment. Find out more at www.townofhopemills.com, www.hopemillschamber.com or by calling 426-4107.

    A Patriotic Celebration at Fort Bragg

    Fort Bragg’s 4th of July celebration takes place on the Main Post Parade Field. The event includes plenty of events and activities to keep attendees busy all afternoon and well into the evening. 

    The parade field opens at 1 p.m., for those who are serious about staking out great spots for the concerts and fireworks. Kiddieland and food vendors open at 3 p.m. The program officially starts at 5 p.m. with a performance by Easton Corbin. 

    From 6-6:30 p.m., all eyes are on the skies as the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s  Black Daggers free fall from the sky. Up next is Randy Houser, who will perform until 7:45 p.m. Senior commander remarks and sponsor recognition follows. 

    If you have ever attended the Fort Bragg celebration, then you know you will not want to miss the flag ceremony and 82nd Division All American Chorus’ rendition of  The National Anthem followed by a three song set by Patten and Goff. 

    At 9 p.m., enjoy the music of the 82nd Division All American Band  featuring the “1812 Overture” (including the canon). The magic hour is 10 p.m., when fireworks begin to light up the sky over the home of America’s finest. 

    Guests are encouraged to arrive early because heavy traffic is expected. No pets, glass bottles or grills. A complete list of prohibited items is available at www.fortbraggmwr.com/july4th. Tent rentals are available but must be reserved in advance. Find out more at www.fortbraggmwr.com/tent-city. There are no tent rentals on the day of the event. The 2015 Fort Bragg 4th of July Celebration is free and open to the public. Find out more at www.fortbraggmwr.com.


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    Alzheimer’s is a cruel and nasty disease. It affects not only the person afflicted but everyone who knows and loves them. Sadly, it does not have the attention that many other diseases receive. 

    “There are lots of unanswered questions but what we know is that if it is good for your heart than it is good for your brain. So think eating well, exercising and reducing stress. That is something that we can hold on to that we know is true. Scientists say that they are close to a breakthrough but they lack the funding and the awareness that other diseases have. That is why this walk (the Walk to End Alzheimer’s) is so important. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the nation, there is no cure and there is no way to slow it down … It is also unreported. Many people die of Alzheimer’s complications but they are not reported on the death certificate,” explained Julie Russo, the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer’s Fund director and Fayetteville Walk to End Alzheimer’s co-chair. It is this knowledge that drives the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s which is sponsored by the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer Fund. The walk is scheduled for Sept. 12.

    The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a labor of love. It requires a tremendous amount of preparation, organization and work both all year-round and the day of the event. Russo explained that there are 20 volunteers that help to plan the walk year-round and the day of the event they need more than 50 people to help out. In previous years, getting and organizing volunteers has been a challenge, but with experience and a firm base, it has improved every year. 

    “Often I tap into my teacher skills. I was an elementary school teacher for 20 years and a lot of the skills are transferable like planning, recruiting and encouraging people. It’s not a one-time thing, you have to do it constantly. Whenever I go out I talk about the walk and try to tell people about it, I’m very tenacious,” Russo said. 

    This year’s walk is going to be bigger and better than ever. Russo explained by saying, “We are constantly trying to be innovative and expand our reach. This year we are having our walk in the SwampDogs Stadium. Before we would always have it in one of our neighborhoods. I am the Director of Administration for McKee homes and my husband is Pat McKee so we have always had the walk in one of our neighborhoods. But now, because of our numbers we have outgrown that. So the SwampDogs have generously donated their entire stadium for the day of the walk and there is a baseball night for the walk. That is on July 29, at 6 p.m., and at the baseball game we will be auctioning off one of the uniforms, but it will be purple and have the emblem of the Alzheimer’s Association. All the proceeds from that night will go to benefit the walk. We are calling it Bringing Memories Home Safe. “

    Along with a bigger location comes bigger goals, which are based on past performances and are designed to challenge and encourage participants. This year the fundraising goal is $69,000. They also aim to have 630 participants and 60 teams. Teams have never been a huge focus for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s before, but this year they are a major theme. Not only  have the  goals increased for team participation, there is also now a traveling trophy. The trophy, donated by Parks Building Supply and Interiors, is awarded to the corporate team that raises the most money by Oct. 1. The trophy will be displayed at the business until Sept. 1, 2016, when it returns to McKee Homes Design Center until the next year’s winner is determined. 

    The 2015 Walk to End Alzheimer’s is on Sept. 12, 2015. Registration is at 9 a.m., the ceremony is at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:30 a.m. The route length is two miles and it is held at the “SwampDogs’” J.P. Riddle Stadium, located at 2823 Legion Road. For more information, call 919-803-8285 or visit http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=7621&pg=entry. 

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    Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Fine Arts Department is presenting two plays, The Water Engine and Mr. Happiness by David Mamet on June 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. and June 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. in the Cumberland Hall Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College. 

    John Doerner and Patricia Cucco are co-directors of the plays. 

    The Water Engine takes place in a radio studio. It is a depiction of what radio actors did in the studio in 1934 in Chicago, which was to stand in front of the microphone with their scripts. It is a radio play that becomes a realistic play. 

    “We play with the audience’s perception and according to the author there should be three realities,” said Doerner. “At times they are radio actors, real actors and sometimes they are both.”

     Doerner added that the play is surprising to the audience and the cast is the best cast that he has ever worked with. The cast consists of students, teachers and actors who bring 100 percent every day to rehearsal. 

    The Water Engine is about a man who invents an engine that runs on water. “He goes to a patent attorney to try and patent it and things go downhill from there because they try to take advantage of him,” said Doerner. “He has separated the hydrogen from the water and it makes you think about the impact that something like this would have on our economy and culture and how people would deal with that.”    

    Mr. Happiness opens the show. It is a short piece that begins a larger play. The play is one long monologue and the actor is James Dean. 

    “He reads letters on the air to the listeners and he answers them,” said Doerner. “It is a lonely-heart kind of Ann Landers thing.” 

    Doerner added that Mr. Happiness is performed before The Water Engine

    Doerner is an educator and actor from New York City and has always had a passion for the theater. 

    “We have wanted to do this play for 25 years now,” said Doerner. “I chose this play because it has a lot to say about government, ambition and politics which is very timely in reference to today.” 

    Doerner added that the play was written back in the ‘70s.     

    “There is something about theater that touches and stays with us in a place that nothing else touches,” said Doerner. “If you can be a part of creating that, you are contributing to the culture and that is what I like to think I do.”  

    The play is free and open to the public.  For more information, call 678-0092.   


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    Wait no longer! Christian rock band Casting Crowns is finally making their way to Fayetteville June 20 with fellow artists Josh Wilson and About A Mile.

    If you’ve ever listened to Christian Radio for more than a minute at a time, you’ve more than likely heard a Casting Crowns song. For more than a decade, Casting Crowns filled the airwaves  with hit after hit, writing some of the most cherished songs heard in churches today. So, when the word was out that this timeless band was coming to the Crown Coliseum back in April, tickets sold quickly. 

    Then, fans received some terrible news. The Fayetteville stop on the tour, among many others, was canceled. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Casting Crowns lead singer, Mark Hall, announced on social media that he had a cancerous mass on his kidney and would be having surgery to remove it in March.

    His life was halted unexpectedly by this devastating news, leaving the band no choice but to reschedule the rest of the Evening With Casting Crowns tour, including pushing back Fayetteville’s April date to June 20. 

    During the announcement, Mark made a humble request to their fans.

    “Please pray for healing and for God’s peace for my family,” he asked online. 

    People began to pray. Thousands of fans joined in to pray for Mark, his family and the band, starting a #Pray-ingForMark movement, connecting with him online with the hashtag to show their love and support during his surgery and recovery. What began as a simple request spread rapidly across the nation through people who know Mark, or know him from a distance — even other Christian artists were asking for prayer from their fans on social media and at their own concerts. Artists like Mandisa, Michael W. Smith and the band Kutless showed their support for Mark on Twitter and Facebook, and included moments of prayer for Mark in their own shows. There is no denying it — this man was covered in prayer.

    The days following the surgery, Mark’s wife, Melanie, kept fans updated on the Casting Crowns blog and on their website, letting everyone know he had come out of the procedure with no complications. The tumor was confirmed as cancer, but was fully encased, and the cancer had not spread to the kidney or anywhere else in his body. Melanie expressed their many thanks a few days after the surgery.

    “I wish that I could explain in words how much of a miracle it was, but it would take too many words. And to be honest, I am too tired.

    But let me just say:

    1. Casting Crowns is normally never off in March. 

    2. Mark was not experiencing any symptoms related to this tumor (he was having gastric problems). 

    3. Doctors do not routinely order CT scans with contrast for physicals.

    God was at work in this before we had any idea. 

    He is good that way. We are thankful for His mercy and grace. We are thankful that He chose to answer our requests in this way. I know that not everyone’s stories have the desired ending. But I also know that God desires us to trust Him with it all anyway. Even still, He says He will work it all together for our good.”

    At the end of April, just over a month after the tumor was removed, Casting Crowns was back on tour with the message of hope and healing in the darkest of situations. Did you catch that? That’s only a mere five weeks after the surgery. Mark and the band, still heavily considering his health and recovery, say Mark may have to “do some songs sitting down” if need be.

    Having the extra time for recovery has been difficult. Since their first label-supported album release in 2003, they have been going nonstop — sometimes working seven days a week — and if you can believe it, they consider this their side-job. Four members of Casting Crowns currently minister at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga. All of the band’s touring and recording is maneuvered around their full-time work of mentoring teenagers at the church. They often schedule the tour dates between Thursdays and Saturdays to be home for church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Mark, who’s the full-time youth pastor, says their songs are actually written from the topics they cover with their youth, coupled with bold honesty and catchy choruses. Though written for a specific topic, they find the songs not only speaking to their audiences, but to themselves as well. 

    Mark recalls, “In March, at our last show before the surgery, we were standing on the stage singing songs that I wrote and it’s as though God was looking ahead when and knew when I needed to hear these things, songs like ‘Already There’, ‘Praise You In This Storm’, ‘Who Am I’ that I wrote years ago…It’s like He was preparing me for this moment.” 

    Its songs like these that not only won the hearts of their fans, but also some major awards. With two American Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, 15 Dove Awards and a Grammy, not to mention countless nominations, Casting Crowns has dominated the Christian music scene for many years. 

    The Crown Coliseum will honor those tickets that were bought before the tour was re-scheduled, so those that purchased tickets prior should plan to attend the upcoming show. These seasoned performers are guaranteed to put on a good show when they stop here in Fayetteville. Mark reassured us that though they had to reschedule, they will make it up to all that attend.

    “We had to move a few concerts, which always stinks because people spend their money and their time planning things like that…Just know that if you guys show up, we’ll make it worth your while.”

    For more information about Casting Crowns, visit https://www.castingcrowns.com. For tickets and information about the concert, visit, http://crowncomplexnc.com.


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    The Grammy’s, the Oscars, the Tonys. All are awards that celebrate excellence in performance: music, movies and plays. In Fayetteville, the Pryer Awards, sponsored by The Gilbert Theater not only recognize outstanding performances, but also raise funds for the theater. The Third Annual Pryer Awards is set for Tuesday, June 16, from 6 -9 p.m. at the Gilbert Theater. 

    Those familiar with the theater will quickly realize that the event and award take its name from the founder of the theater, Lynne Pryer. 

    “This is our only fundraiser of the year, but it is an awards ceremony, too,” said Robyne Parrish, artistic director of the Gilbert Theater. “All year long, the audience is asked to vote for their favorites in the different categories after the show and at the end of the year the votes are tallied for the entire season.”  

    Parrish added that the categories are Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Design Element and Best Play or Best Musical. 

    The awards ceremony got its humble beginnings from a discussion about the hard work of the artists at the theater all year long. 

    “The Pryer Awards started because we wanted to honor the artists who work in the theater for basically nothing,” said Parrish. “We do pay everyone who works at the Gilbert, but it is a small stipend.” 

    The event features an evening of great food, an open bar and entertainment. Entertainment is provided by The Little Sisters of Hoboken and the Gilbert Glee Club. Ricardo Morgan is the master of ceremonies of the event. There is a silent auction featuring merchandise from local restaurants, artists and craftsmen. A champagne toast will be given to the Revolutionary donors during the evening of the event. A volunteer award will be presented to the two best volunteers. 

     A lifetime achievement award has been added this year and Steve Jones is the recipient of this award. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and has starred in The Rocky Horror Show several times. 

    “I have been thinking about this award for a while now and the people who have been working at the Gilbert and have gone above and beyond over the years,” said Parrish. “We will highlight Steve’s life outside of the Gilbert and everything he has done at the Gilbert.”  

    Raffle tickets are for sale for $25 and the winner will receive an all expense paid trip for two to the “Big Apple” better known as New York City. The winning ticket will be drawn the evening of the event. 

    “This is a great way to reach the community and get all of our donors together once a year,” said Parrish. “We look forward to an evening of honor and fun.” 

        Tickets are $40. Space is limited so reserve your seats now. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 678-7186 or visit www.gilberttheater.com. 

  • 6.jpgOriginally organized by the Continental Congress in 1775, the U.S.  Army is the oldest of the armed forces in the U.S. The original Army was a small militia whose goal was to protect the 13 colonies. While the country and the Army have both changed a lot since then, there is plenty to celebrate on both fronts. The United States celebrates her birthday July 4. The Army turns 240 on June 13. 

    With such auspicious anniversaries, the Army and community is pulling out all of the stops to make sure you won’t want to miss the celebration. 

    Fayetteville’s hometown baseball team, the SwampDogs, are big fans of the military. Every season the team hosts a military appreciation night. This year it falls on June 13. The players will celebrate by wearing camouflaged jerseys for the night’s game. 

    “We appreciate what the military does every day, but being that it is the Army’s birthday, we really want to make it a special night,” said Joe Vasile, SwampDogs assistant general manager. “All the players are really looking forward to it. It is always a special night for us and a way that we can show the community a good time and give back.”

    The SwampDogs, known for providing fans with great entertainment as well as exciting baseball games, is set to host its second fireworks extravaganza of the season. Rick Hendrick Toyota and USAA have joined forces with the team to bring this fun-filled night to The Swamp. The first 500 fans through the gate will receive a camouflaged hat compliments of Rick Hendrick Toyota and Foxy 99.

    Don’t miss the Army Ground Forces Band concert in Festival Park. Slated Friday,  June 12 at 7 p.m., the concert is a celebration of the Army’s birthday. Patriots and music lovers alike will enjoy the evenings offering. Like many birthday celebrations, this one will have cake, too. 

    The band offers performances at local events as well as a summer concert series. Its mission is to provide “world-class music in support of U.S. Army Forces Command headquartered at Fort Bragg, in Fayetteville, N.C. It serves as the musical ambassador of the American combat soldier to the American people, instilling pride in our troops and promoting a spirit of patriotism and support for our nation’s military through the performance of music at the local, regional and national levels.”

    The Army Ground Forces Band was organized  on July 21, 1845, in New Orleans, La., as the Fourth Infantry Regiment Band in New Orleans, La. 

    The concert starts at 7 p.m. Find out more at http://www.ArmyGroundForcesBand.com or by calling (910) 570-1752. 

    Just a short walk away from Festival Park, check out the Field of Honor at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. A joint project with the  Fayetteville Downtown Alliance and the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, the Field of Honor is the perfect place to reflect on the many triumphs and sacrifices of the generations of soldiers that have served their country. Every flag in honors someone who is currently serving, those who have served as well as the men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation’s security and freedom. 

    The Field on Honor is open until June 27. Find out more at http://www.ncfieldofhonor.com or by calling (910) 222-3382.





     

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    As we roll into summer, I am reminded that for me, at least, this is a relatively unfocused time of year. Schedules are looser with meals when we feel like it, and Lilly the Lab gets walked when the spirit moves both of us. So, too, with the news.  

    Politics are gearing up for the 2016 election  but they, too, are unfocused at this point, and other stories snag my attention more often.

    Here are a few of those:

    From the “here we go again” department comes yet another book banning effort in North Carolina. Buncombe County has had book challenges in the past, and last month a parent complained about The Kite Runner, a book that has been taught in that system’s high school Honors English class for years. (As a side note, it is also one of my own favorites.)  It tells the story of young Afghan boy and his best friend, the son of a family servant. The plot includes a violent rape of the friend. The book received critical praise, and was number one on The New York Times bestseller list for more than two years.

    Book banning efforts always remind me of a time when the Precious Jewels were young, and I objected to the “action figures” little boys were playing with in those days. I found their distorted plastic musculature, humanoids on steroids, offensive, and Mom arbitrarily banned them from chez Dickson.  Needless to say, my boys were furious and hightailed it to neighboring houses, where the mothers were more enlightened.  

    In the midst of this family brouhaha, a wise friend counseled me this way:  “Margaret, you cannot protect your children from their own culture.”

    She was right.  

    Nor can we protect our children from the painful aspects of life, be they actual or fictional.

    Americans, including this one, love polls, political and otherwise. We want to know what the rest of us are thinking about all aspects of American life.  All polls, Gallup and otherwise, are snapshots in time, and tomorrow may be different. That said, a recent Gallup poll on what the venerable polling outfit calls “moral issues” finds that Americans are moving to the left. I suspected as much, but Gallup gives us numbers, and here we go.

    Now, 63 percent of us, accept same-sex couple relationships.  Only 40 percent of us did in 2001, which is the greatest shift of public opinion in the history of Gallup polling.

    Children born to unmarried mothers?  Ho-hum. That is fine by 61 percent of us, 16 percent more than when Gallup asked the same question in 2001.

    Which brings up the obvious question of pre-martial sex. Most of us, 68 percent, are fine with it, compared to only 53 percent in 2001.

    What a difference a decade and a half makes. C’est la vie!

    All of us have had houseguests from time to time. Some are family. Some are friends.  Some may be business associates, exchange students, neighbors of neighbors,etc.

    Our Dickson guests have generally been lovely, although teenagers occasionally left gum wrappers and dirty towels on the floor. A parental tutorial was clearly in order, but I never went there with other people’s children. I am always grateful for the house gifts — scented soaps and sachets, tea towels and lovely wines.

    The White House has had some vastly different experiences.

    Every event at our President’s home is carefully orchestrated, as it should be. It seems, however, that more is managed than ordinarily meets the eye.  Take, for example, the discreet removal just before the dessert service of all the vermeil eagle placecard holders from the dining tables because too many White House guests have, there is no polite way to say this, sticky fingers.  

    Lifting White House mementos is not an issue only at state dinners. The Washington Post reported last month that thievery of Presidential loot has seen everything from towels with the Presidential seal to beverage cups to cut glass crystals dangling from sconces in the White House ladies’ room disappear into the pockets and pocketbooks of lawmakers, reporters and ordinary citizens who visited the White House or have had occasion to fly on Air Force One.  

    Sticky fingers have been a problem since our second President John Adams, and his wife, Abigail, moved into the brand spanking new White House. Says John Bushong, chief historian of the White House Historical Association, “The main temptation is the fact that you want to have something that is a memento, that gives you a connection to that experience you had in the house. The temptation is just irresistible.”

    Oh, dear! Perhaps the White House should spring for some cheap pens embossed with the Presidential seal to pass out at the door.


     

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    For many in the United States, this week marks a period of  profound endings and beginnings. The beginning of summer closes out the school year, with graduations closing the door on one level of education and either opening the door to the next or the far scarier world of work.

    This week will, for many Cumberland County families, be bittersweet as high school seniors don their caps and gowns and march across the stage to receive their diplomas. Not having had the experience of watching my own child take those bold steps yet, I am still misty-eyed from watching many of the young adults I have known since their childhood prepare for this week. 

    I look at them, and while I see the confidence and anticipation they have to move forward to the next stage of their lives, I can’t help but see them as the awkward, yet endearing toddlers I met more than a decade ago. Their transition from rough-and-tumble toddler has not necessarily been easy, but it has been quite the ride.

    I look at them and think back to my own senior year in high school and have to think about how different we were. There was not a single girl in my high school class who could have matched the beauty, grace and maturity of the girls I see preparing to graduate. In my mind, we were more awkward, not as confident and definitely not as stylish as the young ladies I know today. We were, thankfully,  a lot more innocent as well.

    Our lives had not been shaped by a decade of war, a dismal economy and, as a friend of mine noted, such extreme weapons of mass distraction. We did not have computers on our desktops or iPhones permanently attached to our hands. When we wanted to communicate with our friends, we met them at their locker or spent the night at their house. We didn’t instant message them as we were sitting at the same table. 

    If we wanted to write a research paper, we spent hours, days and weeks in libraries checking out books, reading them and laboriously putting together our notes and footnotes. We did not have instant access to information and footnote builders. Some will argue that we worked harder. I would say that today’s kids simply have the tools to work smarter. 

    For many of those whom I graduated with, college, sadly, was not an option. That isn’t the case with the graduates who are set to walk the halls. Almost 81 percent of the students who graduated last year pursued higher education, garnering more than $51 million in scholarships. Those numbers speak volumes about our students. It speaks to their understanding of the world around them and their realization that higher education is the key to their success in our global economy.

    That being said, it is important to note that as many as 1 in 3 of the students who walk across the stage this week and matriculate to one of the many colleges and universities in our state will not make it through their freshman year, according to U.S. News and World Report. Why? For some, it is a matter of money. For most, it is a matter of discipline. The same technology, that has made it easier for our students to write papers and stay informed, has also made them less focused and more easily distracted. It has, in essence, isolated them, and in that isolation, has taken away the stick-to-it, can-do attitude that older generations have had instilled. 

    I am not one to believe all statistics or studies. Instead, I tend to look not at the beginnings and the endings, but all that comes in between. And in the case of many of the young men and women I know, the in between is what is going to set their feet on the path of success. I have watched them grow from giggling toddlers to fearful elementary students to awkward middle school students to amazing young men and women who are donning their caps and gowns. I have seen their hard work in the classroom, on sporting fields and in clubs. For those who will be successful, I have seen the very real family and friend connections that are based not on a smart phone, but rather on in-person, up-close, messy and sometimes heartbreaking, breathtaking moments called life. 

    These are the young men and women who will enter college this fall, and in four years, graduate with a degree. Not because they are smarter than their counterparts but because they know that some things are worth the effort. 

    They have learned that it’s not always about where or how you start, but rather how to make the best of all that comes after. And in doing so, they have ensured that an ending is just another beginning. Based on what I’ve seen the past decade, I look forward to watching their new beginnings and all that comes between. It’s going to be  a wild ride.

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    Operation Ceasefire is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to reducing violent gun crimes and gang crime in Fayetteville. The organization wants to create a safer city and future for everyone in the community. According to its website, the program does this through, “a strategy of prevention, intervention and suppression.” 

    The organization supports this mission through various programs that reach out to all facets of the community. Movie Night is a popular program because it is fun. Each summer Operation Ceasefire hosts movies that are free to the public. The next Movie Night is scheduled for June 5.

    Another way that Operation Ceasefire attempts to end the violence is by engaging it at the source — by finding people who are serving probation and parole sentences for violent crimes and then inviting them to “call-ins.” 

    At these meetings, they interact with resource partners and law enforcement officers in ways designed to build a nonviolent and positive future. They offer help in education, employment, counseling and healthcare. With improved alternatives, the goal is that the desperation that often leads to violent crimes can be avoided. 

    Attendees also learn of the consequences that continued violence brings. So far, this program has been incredibly successful. Between 2010 and 2012, the program recovered 150 firearms and 88.28 percent of Operation Ceasefire participants completed, remained active in good standing or were terminated successfully from probation. 

    Operation Ceasefire also has a program called EKG or Educating Kids about Gun Violence. This youth education and prevention program is designed to stop gun violence before it even happens. Children are educated about the, “legal, medical and emotional consequences of youth gun possession and related gun violence, as well as encouraging young people to consider options and choices available to them in situations involving guns.” This program was started by the Fayetteville Police Department in 2014 and engages multiple community partners including the Cumberland County School System. Funding comes from the State of North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. It is estimated that during the 2014-2015 school year, more than 8,600 students will be taught these important lessons county-wide.

    The third program that Operation Ceasefire promotes is the Movie Night series. This series educates children about the issues of gun violence and encourages them to sign “The Pledge,” promising to reduce gun violence. It also to provides the community with a fun and exciting cinema-filled evening. Last year’s Movie Night outreach was tremendously successful with hundreds of children signing “The Pledge.” And it is expected that this year will be just as successful. 

    On June 5, a viewing of Paddington is scheduled at Bethel Baptist Church located at 300 Andy St. On Sept. 19, movie night is scheduled for Pine Forest High School located at 525 Andrews Rd. The final movie of the series is on Oct. 10, at Trinity United Methodist Church located at 6974 Raeford Rd. Films are announced closer to the show date on the Operation Ceasefire website. All of the movies are held outdoors and are free and open to the public. They begin at 7:30 p.m. and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to relax under the stars. In the case of inclement weather, the movies will be held inside if the location allows. For more information, call 910-433-1017 or visit http://ceasefire.ci.fayetteville.nc.us/movienight.aspx. 


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    I have loved magazines since I realized they existed. 

    My childhood home subscribed to several, among them LIFE and LOOK, both now long gone, along with TIME and Newsweek, which tried to weather the Internet age by morphing into who knows what. The one slick vestige of my childhood that still arrives at my door with relentless regularity is the much-treasured New Yorker, a publication which has cut edges since it was born in 1925. 

    Also in the mailbox are Our State, Garden and Gun, the always-glamorous Vanity Fair, Yoga Journal, along with various trade, professional and special interest publications, and the occasional fashion mag. 

    Some get read. Others do not. I often feel guilty loading my City of Fayetteville-issued blue recycling can.

    One that almost always makes the cut is The Atlantic, an American magazine first published in 1857. Always smart and current, it focuses on politics, foreign affairs, the economy and cultural trends and has won more National Magazine Awards than any other monthly. It also boasts a terrific website with provocative stories that do not appear in the actual magazine and hard-to-resist — at least for me — archived pieces.

    One of those is “The 100 Most Influential Figures in American History” chosen in 2006 by what The Atlantic describes as “10 eminent historians.” The list is, of course, highly subjective, which made me think about who I would have put on such a ranking, dead or alive.

    Here at the historians’ top 10 and how they describe them, beginning with number one.

    Abraham Lincoln. “He saved the Union,
    freed the slaves and presided over America’s second founding.”

    George Washington. “He made the United States possible — not only by defeating a king, but by declining to become one himself.”

    Thomas Jefferson. “The author of the five most important words in American history: ‘All men are created equal.’”

    Franklin Roosevelt. “He said, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,’ and then he proved it.”

    Alexander Hamilton. “Soldier, banker and political scientist, he set in motion an agrarian nation’s transformation into an industrial power.”

    Benjamin Franklin. “The founder-of-all trades — scientist, printer, writer, diplomat, inventor and more; like his country, he contained multitudes.”

    John Marshall. “The defining chief justice, he established the Supreme Court as the equal of the other two federal branches.”

    Martin Luther King. “His dream of racial equality is still elusive, but no one did more to make it real.”

    Thomas Edison. “It wasn’t just the light bulb; the Wizard of Menlo Park was the most prolific inventor in American history.”

    Woodrow Wilson. “He made the world safe for U.S. interventionism, if not for democracy.”

    Obviously, this top 10 list includes only men, mainly political ones, most of them from the more distant past, and I get that. Men have been totally in charge until the last part of the 20th century, and it is not really possible to assess and understand the relative importance of most living people or the more recently departed. Only time can tell us how Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama will remembered.

    Only one living person, Bill Gates, made the list. He came in at number 54 and is described as the John D. Rockefeller of the Information Age, meaning that he has both made a gigantic fortune and is giving it away.

    Only nine women made the list, most of them for supporting the rights of women or of black Americans. They are Elizabeth Cady Stanton (#30), described as one of the first great American feminists, a supporter of social reform and women’s right to vote; Susan B. Anthony (#38), also a feminist and supporter of women’s equality under the law; Harriet Beecher Stowe (#41) who “inspired abolitionists;” Margaret Sanger (#51), a champion of birth control and the freedom that came with it; Jane Addams (#64), described as the “secular saint of social work;” and Betty Freidan (#77) who wrote a book about unhappy housewives and “inspired a revolution in gender roles.” The three other women are Rachel Carson (#39) whom the historians called “the godmother of the environmental movement;” Margaret Mead (#81) who taught us about the anthropology of other people; and Mary Baker Eddy (#86), who founded a religion, Christian Science.

    I do not believe that women’s contributions to our nation clock in at merely 9 percent.

    There are some names among the 100 that many of us will have to Google — John Dewey, John Brown, Robert Oppenheimer, Horace Mann, Samuel Gompers and Enrico Fermi. We can also quibble about some of the rankings. Is Walt Disney (#27) with his “unmatched influence over childhood,” more important than James D. Watson (#68), who discovered DNA, the “code of life?” Are P.T. Barnum (#67) whose “taste for spectacle paved the way for blockbuster movies and reality TV” and Sam Walton (#72) who promised “’Every Day Low Prices’ and we took him up on it” really more influential than Ralph Nader (#96) “who made cars safer and 30 years later made George W. Bush President?”

    Did the 10 eminent historians nail it or are they living in ivory towers?









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    Ten days ago, I spent Memorial Day weekend in much the same way as millions of other Americans. I enjoyed some increasingly rare family time, and I thought about our nation’s veterans, including my father and my uncles, World War II veterans all.

    With one year of medical school under his belt, my father served as a medic during the massive D-Day invasion of Normandy. He never once spoke of those awful days with my sister or me, but his military service was clearly a formative experience of his life. He kept up with his 30th Infantry Division buddies, most of whom he would never have known outside the Army, until the day he drew his final breath.

    My father and uncles lived in a different time than today’s military members. Virtually every man they knew served in the military for some period of time, either because they volunteered to defend our country or because they were drafted. Military men came from all states, all education levels, all economic stations. Almost every able-bodied man served. 

    Today the draft is gone. Only volunteers serve, and not all who volunteer are enlisted. That fact of American life in place since 1973 has changed how Americans think of both military service and the work of our warriors, if we think of them at all.

    David Zucchino, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who attended Terry Sanford High School here in our community, has co-authored with David S. Cloud a recent series about this changed reality for the Los Angles Times. The articles, centered in the Fayetteville-Fort Bragg community, focus on the differences between a half-century ago when our nation was in the throes of a painful and controversial conflict in Southeast Asia in which 2.7-million American men were drafted into service and today, when less than one percent of Americans are volunteers in our armed forces. Perhaps because everyone knew someone who served in Vietnam, American news outlets, particularly television, concentrated on war coverage. Today, when most Americans do not know active-duty personnel and perhaps not even veterans, media coverage of today’s conflicts in the Middle East is less extensive and highly fragmented in our new digital world.

    It is quite possible to avoid thinking about service members and what they do altogether.

    This “segregation,” as Zucchino and Cloud refer to it, is both geographically and socially distinct. Five states — California, Virginia, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina, are home to nearly half of all military personnel, and our own community experiences them and their families as friends, neighbors and co-workers. Residents of the other 45 states do not. What is more, military personnel and their families are increasingly isolated on military bases that, like Fort Bragg, have restricted non-military access and which provide amenities such as schools, healthcare, shopping and entertainment on post. Military bases are “our most exclusive gated communities,” says Phillip Carter, an Iraq veteran turned think tank executive. A 2012 Pew Research Center study confirmed that the connections between military personnel and the broader general population are becoming more distant.

    “The U.S. military today is gradually becoming a separate warrior class, many analysts say, that is becoming increasingly distinct from the public it is charged with protecting,” write Zucchino and Cloud.

    It gets even worse, at least to me.

    The growing gulf means that military families who bear enormous sacrifices for the rest of us lead lives we do not readily understand. Economic, educational and — yes, class differences play roles as well. Lt. Col. Remi M. Hajjar, a West Point professor, laid it out for the LA Times series this way. “I am well-aware that many Americans, especially our elite classes, consider the military a bit like a guard dog. They are very thankful for our protection, but they probably wouldn’t want to have it as a neighbor, and they certainly are not going to influence or inspire their own kids to join that pack of Rottweilers to protect America.”

    Even Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair, General Martin Dempsey, admits concern. “The last decade of war has affected the relationship between our society and the military … We can’t allow a sense of separation to grow between us.”

    George Baroff, a retired professor who served in World War II and who lives in the academic community of Chapel Hill, is surprised when someone thanks him for his service, as many are wont to do these days. “You never, ever heard that in World War II,” he told Zucchino and Cloud. “And the reason is, everybody served.”

    I cannot imagine our dysfunctional and highly partisan Congress discussing reinstating a draft, nor would I want them to do so, though mandatory national service is a conversation well worth having. The reality is that we really are all in this together, and we cannot prosper and endure by paying a small group of people to protect us and then just forget about it.

    We all need to have some skin in the game. Too many of us do not now.

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    As summer gets in full swing, local children and teens are spending more time out of doors. For many of them, that means time at local parks and athletic fields. For some, it means the start of summer practice for school athletic teams or weekends spent traveling around the state to participate in athletic tournaments.

    For parents, that means hectic schedules, carpools, evenings spent sweating on the sidelines and cheering their favorite teams. It also means money, a lot of money for registration fees and countless bottles of Gatorade and water and the ubiquitous sunflower seeds.

    I am one of those parents whose child is busy on multiple fields throughout the week. Currently, in the mornings he is hitting the high school weight room as part of the summer conditioning for fall football. He is also hitting the batting center to work on his hitting to improve his baseball game and our weekends are spent driving to baseball fields around the state for him to play in tournaments designed to bring players to the attention of college scouts. Throw in Wednesday night and Sundays spent at church and you can see that our summer is pretty well spent.

    That’s our choice. A choice we make to keep our child engaged. To keep him focused on improving himself not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. All of these games are both mental and physical. They are also emotional — and that goes for parents as well. 

    At a certain age, you have to sit back and watch your kids learn some hard lessons. Unlike T-ball, not everybody plays and not everybody wins. Sometimes, a lot of the times, kids can’t see the reason behind a coach’s decision (heck, sometimes I can’t), but they have to listen and hopefully, learn from the experience. Parents, too. Coaches, too.

    Coaches, of all flavors, are unsung heroes who are changing lives for good or ill. It’s a big responsibility and it is so important that they realize the impact they have on the lives of the young men and women they are coaching. They can create a champion or they can turn a kid off sports completely. It all has to do with why they are coaching.

    For some, coaching is a way to relive their own glory days on the field. They are the coaches who are playing for titles, who are focused not on infusing a love of the game and teaching the fundamentals, but rather the “win at all cost” coaches. These are perhaps the most dangerous people to allow into your child’s life. These coaches don’t look at the potential a child has, rather where he or she is right at that moment, not who they could be if they developed, if they were coached. 

    These are the coaches who yell, assign blame and give up on their team when they are not performing. They are the ones the other coaches shun. You should shun them, too. Winning isn’t the only thing.

    For others, coaching is about sharing a passion. It’s about teaching skills and watching with pride when a kids “gets it.” These are the coaches you want. These are the ones who your child is going to love long after he or she stops competing. These are the coaches who are going to change your child because they not only believe in them, they enjoy them and they love them. 

    I count my child lucky to have had several coaches who are of this caliber. They want the best for the player, even when they don’t win - Especially when they don’t win.

    Two such coaches are at Gray’s Creek High School. One is the football coach, David Lovette and the other is the baseball/assistant football coach, Jeff Nance. 

    Lovette is a no-nonsense kind of coach. When you are practicing, you are practicing. When he asks you to do something, it’s because he wants you to learn something. He sees the potential in his boys and he pushes them to reach it. He doesn’t break them. He has a dry sense of humor, and quick smile. He is quick to praise his players and also to correct them. He is about building men of honor; however, a winning season is okay, too.

    Nance is always smiling. He knows his players. He enjoys them. He is quick to crack a joke, but quicker to teach. We have been spending time with Nance lately working on my son’s hitting. For months, people have been telling and yelling at my son about his swing. He heard them. But he didn’t understand what they were saying. Within five minutes of being in the cage with Nance, he not only got a lesson in physics, but also learned how to correct his mechanics. Not because Nance yelled, but because he taught by example. That “aha!” moment was a joy to see.

    I also saw Nance in action during the last baseball season. In a parent meeting, he explained that if he saw one of his players messing up, he would call home. He straightforwardly told the parents assembled that evil was walking the halls of area high schools and it wanted their kids. He was going to do his part to keep that from happening. And he did, much to the dismay of some players. 

    But here’s the thing with Nance, he will work his players hard, and at the end of practice, he will give them a hug and he usually says, “I love you, buddy.”

     And, he means it. Every time. His players get that, and they are changed. 


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    The Fayetteville SwampDogs’ season is well underway, and as usual fans have been flocking to “The Swamp” for the best family fun and entertainment Fayetteville has to offer. This week is set to be another exciting week, as the SwampDogs host four games.

    The fun kicks off on Wednesday, July 1, with Opening Night Part 2: The Salute to Sequels as the Dogs take on the Wilmington Sharks at 7:05 pm. Help the SwampDogs kick off the second part of their schedule by tipping their hats towards the great “Part Twos” in history. It’s also Social Media night, so follow the SwampDogs on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for special deals at the ballpark.

    Friday, July 3 marks the return of the Honoring America Fireworks Tribute at “The Swamp” presented by Hendrick Chrysler Jeep Fiat, USAA and Disaster One.  Everyone knows that the best fireworks in Fayetteville are at “The Swamp” on the third, so don’t miss your chance to experience the extravaganza that everybody is sure to be talking about! This game is sold out every year, so make sure to reserve your tickets early so you don’t get shut out.

    The SwampDogs return home on Monday, July 6 for College Rivalry Night and Guaranteed Win Night! If the SwampDogs don’t win against the Lexington County Blowfish, all fans in attendance receive a free general admission ticket to the next home game at “The Swamp.”

    That next home game is on Tuesday, July 7 on Superhero and Villain Night!  Come to the game dressed as your favorite superhero or villain to see whether good or evil will triumph and win the day.

    With these great games coming up this week, and the weekly promotions of Cornhole Mondays, Scavenger Hunt Tuesdays and Ladies Night Wednesdays, “The Swamp” is sure to be packed this week as the SwampDogs
    chase a birth into the Petitt Cup Playoffs once again.

    To reserve your tickets for these games — or any remaining SwampDogs game this season — contact the Fayetteville SwampDogs’ business office at 910-426-5900 or stop by in person at J.P. Riddle Stadium, located at 2823 Legion Road 

    in Fayetteville.  

    With single game tickets starting at just $6, and a Family Four Pack — comprised of four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four small sodas — a $56 value costing only $35, the SwampDogs are an affordable night out that can’t be beat.

    For the most up-to-date information on the SwampDogs, including our upcoming schedule, player bios and more, slide down to the online home of the SwampDogs, www.goswampdogs.com. On social media, the SwampDogs can be found on Twitter and Instagram at the handle @GoSwampDogs, and on Facebook like the official team page, Fayetteville SwampDogs Baseball. These are all great sources to help keep you connected to your favorit boys of summer.  

    A SwampDogs game is where baseball is fun, and we want to see you out at
    “The Swamp.”


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    As is the case with many of you, I feel that most of my year has revolved around the ongoing battle between the City of Fayetteville and PWC. At times, it is exhausting. I need a program to keep track of all of the different charges lodged by city staff against the utility, because they change on a regular basis. 

    During the recent public forum arranged by City Manager Ted Voorhees, the latest in PWC’s list of heinous crimes was the expenditure of $500,000 in a five-year period on charities and local causes. Shocking! A business, because like it or not, PWC is a business, with a $350 million budget spending $100,000 a year on community events is disgraceful, right?

    Wrong! Let’s compare that $100,000 to the $600,000 Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative doles out in one year in grants to area schools. That’s a good thing, but when compared to that, PWC’s civic involvement is chump change.

    Like many businesses in the U.S., local giving has been on the decline, with business leaders encouraging their employees to become active in the community and to give back through volunteer efforts. At PWC, that is also the case.

    PWC’s employees raised more than $535,000 in that same five year period  for the United Way,  It seems that PWC puts feet to their mission, and does not just pay it lip service.

    If PWC and its city-appointed commission has committed a major crime, it has been in being too successful. Unless something is thriving, successful and profitable, no one covets it. Have you ever heard of corporate raiders going after a broke company? Not going to happen. If PWC didn’t look like a good bet, the city staff wouldn’t look at it like it was the goose that laid the golden egg. 

    If PWC was poorly managed or losing money, the city manager would not want it. That’s just one more problem he would have to solve. But because the utility is so successful, because it runs efficiently, it is something to be coveted. It is a means of making ends meet, while continuing to build a growing level of paid staff within the city. Thanks, but no thanks. 

    The reality in today’s world of constrained resources is flattened communications and command and control. There cannot be layers of leadership because that is not practical or affordable. The city cannot spend what it does not have, and if it needs more, than it needs to raise taxes or limit its expenditures. 

    PWC’s mission is to ensure that lights come on when their customers flip a switch and that clean water comes out when they turn on the faucet. They do that very well, and to the contrary of many who spoke at the recent public hearing, they do it very economically. 

    For those who missed the numbers the first time, let’s be clear: PWC’s  residential rate is 4.49 percent less than the North Carolina average and 12.29 percent less than the national average. For industrial users, PWC is 3.27 percent less than the state average and 6.9 percent less than the national average, according to Electric City.

    There are those in leadership positions who are encouraging the idea that PWC’s rates are out of line and are that way because of mismanagement. 

    Numbers do not lie; people do. PWC’s rates are better than most in the state. If someone tells you differently, look at what they want, what they hope to take and who they are trying to fool.

    Anytime you hear someone talking about rates and expenditures but they can’t back up what they are saying, i.e., PWC has spent $500,000 on local issues, but they forget to mention that is over five years and is well below what other utilities spend; or who says that PWC’s rates are too high, but can’t tell you what they are, is probably trying to sell you a bill of goods. 

    Don’t buy it.

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    In As You Like It, the immortal bard penned the famous line  “All the world’s a stage,” which refers more to the countless roles each individual plays throughout the stages of their lives, but it also speaks to the heart of theatre and the actors and actresses who walk the boards, laying themselves bare to tell a story.

    In Cumberland County, there are a number of stages and a number of extremely talented people who bring stories to life on the stage and several companies that give them not only the opportunity, but the wherewithal to make magic happen. In these hazy days of summer, our theatres go dark, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot of work going on and a lot of preparation behind the scenes, readying the stage for the start of the 2015-2016 theatre season.

    Sweet Tea Shakespeare

    One of the newest, and definitely unique, theatre companies in the Cape Fear Region is Sweet Tea Shakespeare, which operates under the auspices of Fayetteville State University.  The company seeks to “celebrate the wonder of Shakespeare, other classic plays and new work in beautiful environments with family-style flare by providing simple, elemental, magical theatre experiences.”

    In its fourth season, the company’s summer season is ongoing, with its first offering, The Cherry Orchard, currently running on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House, which is part of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. The company presents most of its work in this unique outdoor setting, which actually makes the great outdoor its stage. Written by Anton Chekhov, the play runs through June 21, with shows at 7 p.m. Music, food and fun start at 6:15 p.m. The cast features Marie Lowe, Candace Joice, Nathan Pearce, Brandon Bryan, David Holt, Michael Carney, Jeremy Fiebig, Ja’Maul Johnson, Kaley Morrison, Liz Covington, Reagan Carstens, Joey Narvaez, and Katie White. Greg Fiebig, the company director,  is directing and Jacob French is music director.

    In July, the second play of the summer season is a classic Shakespeare piece, The Tempest,which follows the survivors of a shipwreck as they explore and the island of Prospero.Opening July 16, it runs through the 19th, with shows also on July 23-26.

    The cast features Ruth Nelson, Jessica Osnoe, Nicole Callaghan, Marie Lowe, Cerina Johnson, Malerie Goodman, Joyce Borum, Katie Wampler, Liz Covington, Medina Demeter, Jennifer Czechowski, Zec Williams, Brandon Bryan, Joey Narvaez, and Ja’Maul Johnson. Fiebig and French team up again to bring the story to life.

    Audiences should bring their own seating, including camping or other outdoor chairs and blankets. Some quilt seating is available onsite on a rental basis. $12 general admission; $10 seniors and military member; children 6-12 are $6; and those under the age of 5 are admitted free. Tickets may be reserved at sweetteashakespeare.com/tickets and purchased onsite via cash, credit or debit card.

    The Gilbert Theater

    The Gilbert Theater, led by Artistic Director Robyne Parrish, has six shows lined up for its 2015-2016 season, with comedies, tragedies, feel-good and socially relevant plays on tap. Company members invite the community to come out and experience “theatre with a pulse.”

    The season opens Sept. 18 with the classic Mel Brooks musical, Young Frankenstein. In classic Brooks style, the show centers around the work of Dr. Frankenstein who, following in his grandfather’s footsteps, tries to bring a corpse back to life. With help and hindrance from servant Igor, buxom assistant Inga and needy fiancée Elizabeth, his experiment yields success and unexpected consequences. The play runs through Oct. 4.

    For the past several years, The Gilbert has brought the classic A Christmas Carol to the stage as a gift to the community. This year the company has elected to change things up and will stage It’s a Wonderful Life instead. The classic play chronicles the life of George Bailey, the “Everyman” from the small town of Bedford Falls. Bailey’s life has not turned out as he thought it would. He stands broken, dreaming of escape and adventure. Bailey, has given up hope, and it is up to his Guardian Angel to remind him that the life he is so disappointed in, is really very wonderful. The show runs Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 20. 

    In February, tragedy takes center stage as Shakespeare’s Titus Anronicus and Hedda Baler by Henrik Ibsen are performed. 

    Women of Manhattan and The Vagina Monologues round out the season in April and June, respectively. 

    Women of Manhattan by John Patrick Shanley chronicles the love lives of three women: Rhonda, who has just broken up with her boyfriend; Billie, a happily married woman who is afraid that she and her husband will never move past their honeymoon phase; and Judy, who is afraid she will never meet a good-looking guy who isn’t gay. 

    In a series of sharply written, subtly revealing scenes, their situations change. Billie fixes up Judy with her ex-boyfriend, a debonair black executive who proves to be more than an adequate lover; Billie’s husband gives her a black eye (which delights her because it finally proves that the honeymoon is over!); and Rhonda, still alone, summons up the courage to dispose of her boyfriend’s sneakers. 

    The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler is fairly self-explanatory. It is a series of monlogues delivered by women that is designed to “break down the barriers of secrecy and shame surrounding both the use of the word ‘vagina’ (both in public and in private) and the violence perpetrated against those who have one. “

    Tickets are $16 for general admission with military, student and senior discounts available. There are also special package prices for advance paid groups of ten or more. For more information or to buy tickets, email boxoffice@gilberttheater.com, visit www.gilberttheater.com or call 678-7186. Cape Fear Regional Theatre

    Nestled in Haymount, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre will continue telling great stories during its upcoming season. Under the direction of Artistic Director Tom Quaintance, the theatre has an eclectic lineup featuring everything from classics like Man of La Mancha, to musicals like The Wizand an original work, Downrange: Voices from the Homefrontin its lineup

    The eight-play season begins Sept. 17  with the musical, Man of La Mancha, which runs through Oct. 11. The musical tells the story of “The Mad Knight, ” Don Quixote, as a play within a play, performed by Miguel de Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. 

    A new adaption of a timeless classic, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is on stage in October. The adaption by Todd Kreidler, tells the story of a progressive white couple’s proud liberal sensibilities that are put to the test when their daughter, fresh from an overseas romance, brings her African-American fiancé home to meet them. 

    In December, the theatre stages it’s traditional The Best Christmas Pageant Everas a special event, followed by The Wiz, which runs Jan. 21-Feb. 14. This beloved Broadway musical sets Dorothy’s adventures in the land of OZ to music in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul! The Wizis CFRT’s Classic Theatre Series production for the 2015-2016 season and is presented in partnership with Cumberland County Schools, providing an opportunity to engage, entertain and educate students. Free tickets will be provided to all 11th grade CCS students.

    Downrange, written and directed by Mike Wiley, is the first original play commissioned by the theatre. It explores the impact of more than a decade of war on not only our nation’s warriors, but also their families. The show runs March 3-20, 2016.

    Downrangeis followed up with the classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace, which will open April 7. 

    In May, theatre patrons can look forward to spending some time with The Man in Black when the musical Ring of Fire comes to the stage. With Hedwig and the Angry Inch rounding out the season May.  Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the story of a German transsexual who goes on a journey of self-discovery, has one of the greatest rock scores of any contemporary musical. From the driving rock of “Tear Me Down” to the heart rending “Origin of Love” to the country-pop brilliance of “Sugar Daddy,” this musical has struck a chord. Hedwig allows us to feel free to truly love ourselves and become the best version of ourselves and, ultimately, spread the love to others.

    Season tickets are now available and options can be found at www.cfrt.org.


  • stagville-3.jpg

    The current exhibit at the Cape Fear Historical Complex showcases 64 black and white photographs of the Stagville Planation in Durham, N.C. The exhibit runs through Sept. 13.

    The Stagville plantation encompassed nearly 30,000 acres of land owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families, making it the largest plantation in the state of N.C. Paul Cameron, the wealthiest man at that time, owned approximately 900 slaves. 

    Photographer Brenda Scott began her study in 2011 to create lasting images of the historical meaning of Stagville. During her research she also met several descendants of Stagville. She took the opportunity to photograph descendants as well as still photos of the original owners of Stagville.

    “One descendant is holding a mirror that captures both her in the foreground and a slave cabin in the background. This photographic study of the site in modern times makes the exhibit’s content very unique”, said Leisa Greathouse, curator of education.

    Stagville the Living Legacy, one of Scott’s three projects also includes interviews with descendants. The interviews are also on display and complement the photos. Each interview gives context to the time and place and gives perspective to the photos as they are viewed as a whole.

    “The exhibit evokes different things to different people, which is what a museum exhibit is supposed to do. People are supposed to draw their own conclusions about Stagville’s past and present,” said Greathouse. 

    Today, the historic site consists of 165 acres where many of the original buildings still stand, which indicates the skill and craftsmanship of slaves who built them. Imagine the craftsmanship it demands to build a roof without one single nail —  one that has weathered the test of time. 

    “There is a picture of a simple door, whose wooden planks are set vertically and the sun is shining through the cracks, between the planks. The radiating sun creates brilliance to the picture. It’s a simple, yet beautiful photograph. How many of those hundreds of slaves saw that view 150 years ago as the Civil War ended? And even decades prior?” she asked. 

    The black and white exhibit is available for viewing
    from Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the historical complex. Find out more at www2.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf.


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