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Dining Guide: Black History Month

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Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Written by Staff Report
Black History Month is a time to honor legacy, resilience, and the cultural contributions that have shaped our communities—and few places tell that story more vividly than black-owned restaurants. These spaces are more than dining destinations; they are living testaments to creativity, entrepreneurship, and tradition. From soul food kitchens preserving generations-old recipes to innovative eateries redefining modern cuisine, black-owned restaurants nourish both body and spirit. This month, as we celebrate Black history, we also celebrate the flavors, stories, and dreams served daily at tables across the country.
 
Barbara Ann's Southern Fried Chicken, 3740 S. Main St., Hope Mills
910-491-5859
Barbara Ann's Southern Fried Chicken serves up homestyle comfort food in a relaxed atmosphere, featuring their signature crispy fried chicken, smoky turkey BBQ, and freshly-baked golden cornbread.
 
Barry's Pizzeria, 
8200 Cliffdale Rd.
910-491-2692
Visit Barry's Pizzeria for their mouthwatering selection of hand-tossed pizzas, available by the slice or whole pie, plus delicious subs, crispy wings, and other Italian-American favorites.
 
Crown Fried Chicken, 
2013 Murchison Rd.
910-488-3034
3404 Ramsey St
910-779-2261
Crown Fried Chicken, with its two convenient locations, has established itself as the go-to destination for casual dining enthusiasts seeking delicious fried chicken and hearty comfort food. 
 
Dab's Soul Food Cafe, 
412 N Bragg Blvd.
910-436-0110
Dab's, a charming local cafe, is the creation of Alabama-born Antonia Adams. The cozy establishment delights customers with homestyle comfort food favorites, including creamy mac 'n' cheese, traditional shrimp and grits, and perfectly seasoned wings served with Southern hospitality.
 
Food 4 The Soul, 
6829 Fillyaw Rd. #102
910-302-0116
Food 4 The Soul is a full-service restaurant offering convenient take-out, prompt delivery, and comfortable dine-in options. A welcoming destination known for authentic southern food prepared with care and tradition. 
 
The Garden Cafe, 
3421 Murchison Rd. Suite A
910-619-5956
The Garden Cafe offers distinctive sandwiches, colorful salads, flavorful flatbreads, and premium Granny Smith apples. They prioritize freshly baked dishes and top-tier, natural ingredients that transform traditional favorites into exceptional meals.
 
Henley's Vintage Kitchen, 
1911-A Murchison Rd.
910-745-9816
Henley's is a cozy, welcoming dining establishment that combines traditional American dishes with Southern comfort food, creating a delightful menu that satisfies both classic and regional taste preferences.
Liberty Island Foods, 
5197 Bragg Blvd.
910-491-1990
Stop by Liberty Island Foods to experience authentic Caribbean cuisine, featuring zesty jerk chicken and caramelized plantains, all prepared using premium quality ingredients.
 
Melvin's At Riverside, 
1130 Person St.
910-339-3059
Melvin's at Riverside offers classic Southern dishes, including crispy fried chicken, simmered collard greens, and homestyle cornbread in a relaxed dining atmosphere.
 
Nita’s Kitchen, 
8200 Cliffdale Rd. #102
910-867-9550
Nita's Kitchen is a beloved soul food restaurant specializing in comforting Southern classics like creamy mac and cheese, perfectly seasoned fried chicken, and crispy, flavorful wings.
 
Simlo's Island Cafe, 
3057 Boone Trial Ext.
910-965-7783
Simlo's, a proud veteran-owned and family-operated restaurant, serves genuine Jamaican cuisine, featuring traditional favorites like curry goat and tender oxtail in a welcoming atmosphere.
 
Uptown's Chicken & Waffles, 1707 Owen Dr.
910-676-8039
Uptown's Chicken & Waffles is a welcoming establishment that specializes in Southern comfort cuisine. Their menu features signature dishes like crispy fried fish, creamy grits, and their famous chicken and waffles combination. 
 
Level 88, 5112 Yadkin Rd.
910-500-3092
Level 88 transitions from a polished dining room during the day to a "vibrant entertainment" destination at night. Often hosting live music, DJs, and themed events like speed dating or holiday parties, it has positioned itself as the go-to place for professionals, military personnel, and locals to connect.  
 
Taste Of West Africa, 
116 Person St.
910-779-2375
Located in the heart of downtown Fayetteville, Taste of West Africa is a family-owned venue that serves as both a restaurant and a cultural hub, celebrating authentic Ghanaian and West African flavors and bringing them to the community in a vibrant, art-filled space. 

Health & Wellness: Just superb: Triple-bypass patient walks promising road ahead

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Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Written by Lia Tremblay

7Last spring, Tina McKinnie was looking forward to a pretty big milestone: Her first grandchild was due in a few months, and she was counting down the days.
“I just couldn’t wait,” she said. “I was dying to see my grandbaby and just love on him.”
After surviving a heart attack in 2021, McKinnie was grateful to be alive and well for this new chapter. She had recently lost 70 pounds and was taking good care of herself.
“I was walking a mile and a half every day,” she said. “Going to the gym four days a week. I was doing really, really well.”
So when she began to experience a familiar chest discomfort, she initially wrote it off as no big deal.
“I was going through a stressful time,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a little anxiety and an actual heart problem, and I thought my heart must be fine because I was feeling so much better than I did back then.”
McKinnie wisely went to her cardiologist just to be sure. When a stress test indicated a slight blockage, she was scheduled for a cardiac catheterization in a few days. She was advised to go to the Emergency Department if the discomfort worsened in the meantime.
“It did, that Sunday morning,” she said. “So I called 911, and they took me to the hospital. I was having another heart attack.”
She was wheeled off for a heart catheterization to place some stents in the affected arteries, but the imaging there led to a new plan. She would instead need surgery: a triple-bypass coronary artery bypass grafting to create new pathways for blood flow in three narrowed arteries.
Fearful at first, McKinnie said she was soon calmed by learning from her surgeon, Adam Celio, MD, exactly what would happen and how it would help. She’s also grateful to a memorable nursing team for keeping her calm throughout her stay with helpful information—and humor.
“When I get nervous, I make jokes,” McKinnie said. “Jeanne, Abigayle and Matt were so sweet and so kind, and we kept each other laughing.”
After the surgery, she experienced some discouraging complications related to her blood pressure. But she said the staff kept her informed and encouraged with every setback.
“They always explained everything they were going to do, step by step,” she said. “They were just superb.”
At home, McKinnie’s recovery hit another speed bump when she began to accumulate too much fluid in her chest. She had to return to the hospital for a weekend, but was delighted to see the same team awaiting her.
“I had the best staff and nurses,” she said. “Truly, if it weren’t for them and God, I would not be here.”
In the following weeks, McKinnie said, she was motivated through her recovery by the excitement of soon meeting her new grandchild. And on August 28, there he was.
“His name is Sebastian,” she said. “He was born weighing less than five pounds. His little head would sit in the palm of your hand. So, he had a little struggle for a while there, but he’s doing great now.”
McKinnie said there were times when she felt discouraged during her recovery, when she lacked the energy to do the things she wanted to do, but it helped to keep moving in any way she could.
“Even on days when you feel like you can’t get up,” she said, “you can sit in that chair and move your legs, move your arms. Do anything that moves your body and wakes it up.”
It was especially frustrating, McKinnie said, to have this setback after she’d worked so hard to get into better shape. But even if they didn’t prevent a second heart attack, she said, those healthy habits may be the reason she lived to meet Sebastian. So, she’s taking the road ahead in stride.
“Now I may be starting over,” she said. “But I’m not stopping. I live by the words ‘You are here for a reason.’”

(Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Valley Health)

The Spa: Celebrating 51 years of wellness in Fayetteville

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Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Written by Tara Kamiya

20The Spa Fitness and Wellness Center in Fayetteville will celebrate 51 years of service with a community open house on Saturday, Feb. 21, inviting residents to experience a full day of fitness and wellness with family-friendly activities.
The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the facility, located at 860 Elm St. in Eutaw Village next to Round A Bout Skating Center, and is designed to welcome both longtime members and newcomers. Organizers say the celebration reflects the center’s mission of improving quality of life through physical fitness and wellness programming.
Since opening in 1975, The Spa Fitness and Wellness Center has focused on providing high quality facilities, professional instruction and programs that help individuals build lifelong healthy habits. Leaders say the anniversary celebration offers an opportunity to reconnect with the community while showcasing the center’s latest amenities and services.
Throughout the day, visitors can participate in aerobics classes and explore a range of vendors offering wellness products and services. Guests will also be able to enjoy food and drinks, enter for door prizes and take advantage of exclusive deals for new memberships. Organizers encourage attendees to bring a friend and explore the center together.
The Spa Fitness and Wellness Center emphasizes a family-oriented environment. Membership includes access to a newly remodeled co-ed fitness floor featuring brand new equipment designed to support strength training, cardio and overall wellness. Complimentary childcare is available to members for up to two hours on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Childcare is closed on Sundays.
Members also have access to Carrots Juice Bar, a full-service cafe that offers fresh meals, smoothies and shakes. The cafe is designed to provide convenient nutrition options for guests before or after workouts or spa services.
In addition to fitness offerings, members can enjoy discounted services at the day spa, which provides massages and other wellness treatments. Officials say the combination of fitness, spa services and nutrition makes the center a comprehensive wellness destination.
Regular operating hours are Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The anniversary open house is free and open to the public. Organizers hope the event will inspire community members to explore new ways to stay active and prioritize wellness.
More information about memberships and services is available by calling 910-484-2111 or emailing info@spafitnesscentervippass.com

(Photo courtesy of the Spa Fitness and Wellness Center's Facebook page)

Phoenix Center to hold victim volunteer training

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Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Written by Amanda Ransom

9Each February, through its Victim Advocacy Volunteer Training, The Phoenix Center gives community members a meaningful way to be part of its mission. This program is designed to prepare everyday people to stand beside survivors of sexual violence. While the training provides practical skills, it also helps to bring clarity to the deeper mission of an organization that has stood beside survivors in Cumberland County for nearly five decades.
The organization was founded in 1976 and operated by Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County. The Phoenix Center, located at 519 Ramsey St., was developed from a shared realization among local healthcare providers, law enforcement, and mental health professionals that survivors needed stronger, more compassionate support.
“There has been a gap in services between initial services by law enforcement and medical professionals and available services in the community,” said Deanne Gerdes, executive director of the Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County.
From the beginning, this organization was built to fill the gaps, not just in crisis moments, but throughout the long process of healing. Today, the Phoenix Center serves a broad and often vulnerable population.
“The Phoenix Center primarily serves all victims of sexual assault, which includes victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, stalking, computer crimes, and any other sex-related crime,” Gerdes said.
“The mission of RCVCC is to achieve zero tolerance for the crime of sexual violence and to reduce its trauma,” Gerdes explained. “We strive to reach this goal through community-wide education programs to promote awareness about sexual assault and the issues related to the crime, and by providing compassionate, professional services to the victims and survivors of sexual assault.”
Together, these services create a compassionate network of care that meets survivors where they are. The Phoenix Center offers both men and women 24/7 crisis line support and hospital advocacy to counseling, support groups, and courtroom support. Survivors are never left to navigate trauma alone. The February Victim Advocacy Volunteer Training plays a critical role in sustaining that support system.
“The goal of all our training is to give volunteers the knowledge and skills to work with victims,” Gerdes said.
The training is open to anyone in the community who wants to help.
“Anyone who is interested in working with and helping victims through the process of surviving a sexual assault should consider attending,” she said.
Participants learn foundational advocacy skills, crisis response strategies, and trauma-informed care principles that prepare them for real-world situations. The curriculum follows a structured agenda; the heart of the training lies in preparing volunteers to show up with empathy, professionalism and emotional intelligence.
Volunteer advocates are a vital extension of The Phoenix Center’s mission, showing up when survivors are often at their most vulnerable and in need of steady, compassionate support. Whether sitting beside someone in a hospital room or answering a call in the middle of the night, these advocates help ensure no survivor has to navigate the aftermath of trauma alone.
“Volunteer advocates support victims by going to the hospital to ensure victims’ rights are acknowledged, answer any questions, provide resources and explain all procedures,” Gerdes explained. “Our volunteer advocates also answer crisis calls 24/7 in order to give staff some time off.”
That presence creates both immediate and lasting impact, bringing comfort to survivors in moments of fear and uncertainty. Trauma-informed advocacy remains central to the organization’s philosophy.
“In order for a victim to start a process of healing, it is important that we all recognize the trauma at the beginning so that the person has a chance to become a survivor,” Gerdes said.
This approach changes care from simply responding to a crisis to restoring dignity and hope. The goal is to help individuals move forward not only as those who have experienced harm, but as survivors supported in reclaiming their strength, voice, and identity.
Volunteers play a meaningful role in that transformation.
“Most importantly, volunteers are there for the victims,” Gerdes said. “Secondly, volunteer advocates give staff the ability to walk away and take a breath.”
The work is not easy, and the organization does not shy away from that truth.
“It can be hard work,” Gerdes said, “but it can also bring in the most rewarding thing people ever do.”
For those interested in becoming part of the mission, The Phoenix Center offers multiple ways to get involved. If interested in volunteering or just learning about the agency and how each of us can support victims, you can call The Phoenix Center at 910-485-7273 or email kberg@rapecrisisonline.org.
“In 2026, we proudly recognize a remarkable milestone: 50 years of dedicated service by Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, a cornerstone of support, healing, and empowerment for survivors of sexual violence in our community,” Gerdes said. “Since its beginnings in the mid-1970s, this nonprofit has stood unwaveringly beside individuals affected by sexual assault, offering compassionate assistance and a powerful voice for change”.
What began as a volunteer-driven effort to address gaps in crisis care, the organization has become a trusted provider of free, confidential services, including a 24-hour hotline, hospital advocacy, counseling, support groups, court accompaniment, community education, and survivor-centered support.
“Over five decades, Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County has been more than a service provider; it has been a lifeline,” Gerdes said. “Through countless phone calls answered, hospital rooms, court appearances supported, and educational programs delivered, the organization has helped transform trauma into empowerment for thousands of individuals and families.”
As the organization honors its 50th anniversary, it also honors the people behind the mission. “We celebrate the volunteers, staff, board members, and community members who have worked tirelessly to advance safety, dignity, and justice for survivors,” Gerdes said.
Through its February training and year-round services, The Phoenix Center reminds the community that healing doesn’t happen alone. It happens through people, volunteers who show up, listen without judgment, and stand beside survivors when it matters most. Fort those interested in becoming a volunteer, the February training sessions will be held Feb. 24 and 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sign-ups are encouraged at https://bit.ly/4qz50uK
For more information, email admin@rapecrisisonline.org or call 910-485-7273.

(Photo: The Phoenix Center celebrates a group of advocates who graduated from the advocacy victim training course in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Phoenix Center's Facebook page)

MU President Wearden announces retirement

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Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Written by Staff Report

The Methodist University Board of Trustees announced today that Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden, Ph.D., will retire effective June 30, 2027. Wearden, 72, will have served 8.5 years as president at MU and is announcing his retirement more than a year in advance to allow the Board ample time to actively plan for a transparent and stable succession.
“I am still enjoying the challenges and rewards of this work,” Wearden said in a statement to the MU community. “While I am still healthy and deeply committed to MU, it is nonetheless time for me to transition to a productive but less stressful retirement, with time for family, travel, adventure, and hobbies, while continuing to seek ways to make a meaningful contribution to the world.”
In his time at MU, Wearden has put together a strong leadership team that, along with talented students, faculty, staff, alumni, and a host of friends and partners of the University, has accomplished much in the past eight years.
Just a few of the many accomplishments include:
• Improved student success, as measured by retention rate, persistence rate, and graduation rate.
• Building MU Online, with nearly 300 students in 30 programs that are perfect for working adults, active-duty soldiers, veterans, and their families.
• Partnerships with six community colleges and creating/funding the A-to-B Scholarships for their graduates to attend MU, increasing our number of transfer students and improving affordability.
• Years of effort, now coming to fruition, with the opening of the new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine. The agreement between MU and CFVH is structured to last and will continue to be binding for any future leaders of the two organizations. The school’s first class is scheduled to begin this summer (July) and is already elevating MU’s reputation both regionally and nationally.
“Dr. Wearden has certainly laid a strong foundation for Methodist University – and the community it serves – to flourish in the future,” said MU Board of Trustees Chair Tim Richardson. “He has been a consistent example of professionalism, wisdom, sound strategic planning, execution, and strength. Our University and community owe him an abundance of gratitude.”
Richardson said the Board will be sharing its next steps in the presidential search very soon, and Wearden is looking forward to building on the University’s already strong momentum.
“I am excited about the next 17 months,” Wearden said. “We have a lot to do in that period, during which MU will continue moving toward an even higher level of excellence.”

(Photo: Methodist University's president, Stanley T. Wearden, announced his retirement. His final day at the university will be June 30, 2027. Photo courtesy of Methodist University)

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