Local News

United Way of Cumberland County provides books to newborns

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Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Written by Kathleen Ramsey

Scott Embry and the folks at the United Way of Cumberland County have one goal in mind with their launch of a new partnership with Cape Fear Valley Health — that 100 percent of the babies born in Cumberland County will go home with a book and access to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
The members of The United Way of Cumberland County hope to do this by giving every parent of a newborn “The Little Engine That Could” and helping assist them to enroll in the Imagination Library. This program provides children ages zero through five with a free book every month mailed to their homes.
The partnership with Cape Fear Valley Health began this past month.
“This partnership will enhance our efforts to promote early childhood literacy,” Embry said. Embry said they are operating this program in collaboration with Smart Start and Partnership for Children.
“Our collaboration with Cape Fear Valley Health is instrumental in spreading awareness of this program. We believe this book is a great entry point. The impact of early childhood reading research highlights the critical role of early literacy.”
Embry mentioned a study done by Ohio State University that found children who are read to daily hear an estimated 78,000 words per year.
“Over five years, this translates to a cumulative 1.4 million more words compared to children who are never read to. This exposure is vital in bridging the Word Gap and fostering better educational outcomes.”
The book they are giving out to the newborns, “The Little Engine That Could,” was recommended by those at Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Cape Fear Valley Health delivers between 300 and 350 babies each month and the goal of the members at The United Way of Cumberland County is to make sure each one receives this book.
Embry says they are having on-going conversations with local leaders and hope to open additional collaborations.
“We welcome area organizations to join us in this important work,” he said.
At the end of the day, Embry says, the mission is to improve lives across Cumberland County by “strategically raising and investing resources that successfully impact prioritized human service and health needs.”
Once enrolled, the parents will continue to receive a book a month mailed to their homes, funded by about $2.20 per book. For more information about The United Way of Cumberland County or this program, visit www.unitedway-cc.org.

County leaders attend city/county meeting; Methodist University receives historic award; Fayetteville switches ethanol transport to rail

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Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Written by Staff Report & Evey Weisblat, CityView Today

County Leaders Attend City-County Liaison Meeting
Cumberland County officials took part in a City-County Liaison Committee Meeting with leaders from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County Schools and other organizations within the community. The meeting was held at Fayetteville City Hall.
The meetings, which are typically held every other month, provide County and City leaders with an opportunity to provide updates and discuss issues of mutual interest. Three elected officials from each governing board comprise the Committee, including the chair and vice chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, as well as the mayor and mayor pro tem for the City of Fayetteville.
County elected officials who attended Thursday’s meeting included Board of Commissioners Chairman Glenn Adams and Commissioner Jimmy Keefe.
During the meeting, one of the topics discussed was a potential Aquatics Center in the County. An Indoor Aquatics Center was among the top recommendations from the 2020 Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation Director Michael Gibson presented a possible concept for an Indoor Aquatics Center that would include multiple water elements and other amenities. He discussed a possible cost range for a facility, as well as potential partner organizations that could participate in the project.
Chairman Adams offered for County staff to take the lead in moving the discussion forward at a staff-level. The committee voted unanimously for their respective boards to work through the County to determine the next steps to move an Indoor Aquatics Center forward.
Additionally, City staff presented an update regarding the feasibility of an amusement park located in the County and that next steps would be to engage a consultant to conduct a feasibility study at an estimated cost of $75,000.
Chairman Adams said due to the number of major County capital projects currently in development, the County was not interested in participating at this time.
Other items discussed during the meeting included a presentation on the City’s Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study and an update from Cumberland County Schools.
Learn more about Cumberland County by visiting cumberlandcountync.gov, and by following the County on YouTube, CCNCTV Spectrum Channel 5, and social media by searching for CumberlandCountyNC.

Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine Receives $8 Million from Golden LEAF Foundation
Golden LEAF, established in 1999 to administer a portion of tobacco settlement agreement monies back into North Carolina's rural and economically distressed communities, announced it has awarded $8 million to the new school of medicine.
“Research has shown that resident doctors trained in rural areas are more likely to practice in rural areas,” said Golden LEAF Board Chair Ralph Strayhorn. “The funding to Methodist University will not only help build hundreds of jobs throughout Southeastern North Carolina, but also increase the number of physicians serving the region. This project will substantially move the needle for rural healthcare in North Carolina.”
“Golden LEAF is excited to be a partner on such a transformative project to address critical healthcare needs in North Carolina’s rural communities,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “This partnership between Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health System will have generational impacts through the creation of high-quality jobs while addressing the critical shortage of medical professionals in Southeastern North Carolina.”
The SOM – which has a goal of welcoming its first cohort of students in 2026 – is expected to create more than 250 new jobs and graduate more than 100 doctors each year.
“When Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health System announced the creation of a new medical school in Fayetteville in February 2023, our vision was to serve Southeastern North Carolina through the education of the next generation of physicians, and to stimulate economic growth and job creation in the region,” said Dr. Hershey Bell, the founding dean of the school.
“We are extremely grateful for the award announced today by the Golden LEAF Foundation to help fund the educational program at the medical school. Our students, faculty and leadership will all benefit from the resources that will be made available because of this wonderful offering and gifts from others in the community who have supported, and continue to support, our efforts.”
Golden LEAF funds will be used for instructional equipment including technology.
“I am deeply grateful to the Golden LEAF Board of Directors for this exceptionally generous award for the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine,” said MU President Stanley T. Wearden. “This award, one of the largest in the history of Methodist University, is a gratifying recognition of the value that the new school of medicine will bring to this region of North Carolina, both in terms of new job creation and in terms of improved healthcare. We are honored by the Golden LEAF Board of Directors’ confidence in our ability to administer these funds judiciously and effectively to provide world-class medical education, which will improve the economic and physical health of the Cape Fear region.”
The new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine is to be located on the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, combining the expertise and resources of both institutions to provide students with unparalleled educational and clinical experiences.
It will create opportunities for students to learn in a collaborative and innovative environment, with access to cutting-edge technology in a brand-new facility. The new medical school will provide students with the opportunity to work alongside experienced faculty and health care professionals, gaining valuable real-world experience that will prepare them for their future careers.
“We are deeply grateful to the Golden LEAF Foundation for their generous support,” said Mike Nagowski, CEO of the Cape Fear Valley Health System. “This award will enhance our medical school’s educational resources, benefiting our students, faculty, and the entire Southeastern North Carolina community.”
The mission of the SOM is to prepare graduates to be socially accountable, community-engaged, evidence-based, compassionate, equity-focused physician leaders who will contribute to mitigating health disparities and improving health outcomes in Southeastern North Carolina or wherever they may practice. Key values include Humility, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Community Engagement, Social Accountability, and Interprofessional Collaboration.
“We are grateful to the Golden LEAF Foundation for this significant investment in our new medical education program leading to the doctor of medicine (MD) degree,” said Dr. Suzanne Blum Malley, Provost at MU. “Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine graduates will be well prepared to deliver innovative, community-responsive healthcare and will contribute to improved health outcomes and job growth throughout the region.”
Methodist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and will submit its new program substantive change to SACSCOC before Jan. 1, 2025. The Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine is also currently an applicant program with the Liaison Commission on Medical Education (LCME). MU will not publish admission requirements nor consider any applicants to the program until it receives those approvals.

Fayetteville switches ethanol transport to rail
Thousands of trucks carrying the majority of Fayetteville’s ethanol supply into the city each year will no longer be coming here. Instead, freight trains will take their place.
That’s because a new transloading facility has opened up in Fayetteville, which will unload the “vast majority” of Fayetteville’s ethanol supply, Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation said in a press release announcing the opening on July 17.
By transporting ethanol directly from the Midwest to Fayetteville via rail, the facility will remove the equivalent of 3,000 trucks per year from local roads, FCEDC said. The economic development corporation expects this to lessen the burden on the city’s infrastructure as roadways will see less traffic.
“That right there alone shows the positive impact of that project, relieving that stress off the roadways and just making it safer for everybody,” Rob Patton, FCEDC’s executive director, told CityView, referring to the number of trucks that will no longer drive through Fayetteville.
Ethanol is a biomass fuel, primarily made from corn, which is used in a wide variety of applications — including gasoline, which typically contains up to 10% ethanol. Ethanol plants are concentrated in the Midwest because that’s where corn production is most prevalent, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Economic impact
According to a January report from the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT), utilizing freight rail is cost-effective and “reduces wear on roadway infrastructure and creates a safer, less congested road network.”
Intermodal facilities and transloading facilities, like the one built for Fayetteville’s ethanol supply, provide important connection points between different methods of transportation; there are currently 83 such facilities in North Carolina, according to the report.
Located off Murchison Road near the I-295 interchange, the new transloading facility connects to the existing CSX freight rail that runs adjacent to the property and extends to Fort Liberty. The transfer point will unload trains that come from ethanol plants in the Midwest directly to the fuel depot next door off Murchison Road, FCEDC said.
The facility is owned by Strategic Transload Services LLC, a chemical transportation company with subsidiaries throughout the Southeast, according to FCEDC.
“The FCEDC staff was extremely helpful with securing the right location for our expansion,” Von Friesen of Strategic Transload Services said in a press release.
Environmental and safety impact
Patton emphasized the benefits of utilizing existing infrastructure and the energy efficiency of freight travel compared to using trucks as benefits of the project. He said the property where the transloading facility was built used to be a landfill, but has been idle for a “long time.”
According to county land records, the site was owned by Eagle Refuse Company Inc from 1992, which operated a construction and demolition landfill there. The company has been dissolved since 2010, according to state business records, and it sold the land to Strategic Transload Services in 2022 for $25,000.
Because of the debris that had piled up, there were limited options for potential uses of the property, Patton told CityView.
“it wasn’t like the Ann Street landfill where they’re putting everybody’s trash in,” Patton said. “It was more like stumps and things like that; organic material that had been cleared or taken away or whatever, that we really couldn’t do anything with except for, like, this project. So it’s utilizing otherwise unutilizable piece of land.”
Despite high-profile catastrophic incidents — like the 2023 East Palestine train derailment in Ohio — freight trains carrying hazardous materials, such as ethanol, are considered to be significantly safer in terms of the rate of accidents and spills, according to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. Patton agrees.
Considered a renewable fuel, ethanol releases significantly fewer greenhouse gasses than fossil fuels, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
“The more you can relieve the stress off the roads, the better off we are, and using that rail line that’s right there,” Patton said. “It just makes so much sense for efficiencies across the board, like you stated, for the environmental impact of the fuel, the trucks, all that business. It’s just a really cool project that relieves a lot of stress off a congested area.”

Curate Essentials celebrates its two year anniversary

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Tuesday, 06 August 2024

Written by Sheila D. Barker

Curate Essentials, located at 1302 Ft. Bragg Rd in historic Haymount, resides in a charming building from 1914 that once served as a private home, offering a unique blend of history and modern elegance. The white storefront beckons with its cozy wrap-around porch and lush garden oasis. Customers can shop, sip on a refreshing tea or coffee on the inviting front porch or take a leisurely stroll through the stunning garden.
Curate aims to craft all-natural products that promote balance in mind, body, and spirit. Owner Leslie Pearson explains more about what Curate provides.
“Curate Essentials is primarily an herbal apothecary. We specialize in handcrafted, all-natural bath and body products and herbal remedies such as functional tea blends, tinctures, balms and salves, and other medicinal alternatives. We make everything in small batches to provide the freshest quality, so visitors can usually find us in the kitchen making anything from soap, lotions, candles, shampoo and conditioner, and sugar scrubs. We also serve tea, coffee and pastries that people can enjoy on our wrap-around covered porch overlooking our herbal education garden.”
The garden features azaleas, camellias, dogwoods and Japanese maples. The herbal section boasts medicinal plants, wildflowers, and pollinator-friendly flora.
“We created an herbal education garden in the front of the shop so people can see, smell and touch many of the herbs we use in our tea blends. It’s a lovely addition to the Haymount neighborhood and quite an eye-catcher for passersby. We have also included many natural dye plants, pollinators, and native botanicals that enhance the overall experience.”
As Curate Essentials celebrates its second anniversary, it's the perfect time to reflect on the key milestones and success stories that have shaped their journey. Over the past two years, they have touched the lives of countless individuals, providing them with natural healing solutions and community that have made a real difference.
“Curate has become a comfortable third place for a lot of people and I feel so blessed to see the connections happening - especially for those with spouses who are deployed. We have a mom’s support group that meets up every week, book clubs, and other groups who come to Curate for informal gatherings,” Pearson said.
“Our inventory has grown based on the needs of the community who we serve - especially our functional tea blends. We make blends to soothe anything from allergies, stress and anxiety, sleep issues, and lymphatic support and even blends for pregnant and nursing mothers. We offer an alternative to pharmaceuticals, which has become important to many people. We like to say we have something from dandruff to athlete’s foot and everything in between.”
Curate Essentials is also looking ahead to the future. They are committed to continuing their research and development efforts, exploring new ingredients and techniques to enhance the effectiveness of their remedies. The team at Curate Essentials is passionate about uncovering the full potential of nature and harnessing it to create even more powerful healing solutions. They also are planning classes and workshops to get the community involved.
“We plan to eventually offer classes on a variety of things like candle and soap making, art, herbalism, and other related interests,” said Pearson.
We asked Pearson to name her top five favorite items in the shop. Here’s her "Favorite Things" list:
• The new men and women’s facial line, which includes a daily cleanser, refining toner, hydrating moisturizer, soothing eye treatment, and an age-defying serum. I feel really good about using these products on my sensitive skin and recommending them to our customers.
• Our Goat's Milk, Oatmeal and Honey bar soap is another favorite - it’s lightly scented, creamy, and gentle enough to use on babies. Oatmeal soothes sensitive skin and exfoliates with a gentle touch, honey is a natural humectant to help lock in moisture, and goat's milk has been used for years to nourish dry skin, soothe eczema and other irritated skin conditions.
• I’m currently in love with our Menopause Relief tea blend. We use Black Cohosh, Eleuthero, Red Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover, Valerian Root, Licorice Root, and Chamomile - all herbs that help reduce hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, constipation, and bloating. I drink a cup every evening before bed and I’ve experienced a noticeable difference.
• I use our Rosemary and Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner. Both are specially formulated to sooth itchy scalps, promote hair growth and revitalize dry, dull hair by lifting buildup. The shampoo has a nice lather and is so invigorating that it wakes me up in the morning. It’s packed with nurturing ingredients like vitamin E oil, rosemary essential oil, and tea tree oil.
• Now let’s talk coffee - we serve Onyx Coffee Lab and my favorite is the Eclipse Blend which has notes of bakers chocolate, burnt sugar, and smoked vanilla bean. It tastes great black or as a latte and has become known as the Bosses Brew. Pair this with one of our fresh made pastries and your morning is set.
Curate Essentials is open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Their website is www.curateessentials.com. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram @curateessentials.

(Photo: Leslie Pearson stands in front of the Curate sign. Located in Haymount, Curate is celebrating its second anniversary. Photo courtesy of Curate's Facebook page)

U.S. Titanium Company to Invest $867 Million in Cumberland County; MU Golf National Champions Honored at White House

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Tuesday, 06 August 2024

Written by Staff Report

Titanium company creating 300 jobs with a new manufacturing facility
The Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) is proud to announce that Project Aero has chosen Cumberland County for its aerospace-grade titanium mill. The company will create over 300 jobs, with an average salary of $123,476, while investing more than $867 million in buildings and equipment.
Project Aero addresses a substantial manufacturing supply chain need of the United States’ aerospace industry – namely, the availability of aerospace-grade titanium. Aerospace Manufacturers value titanium for its unique properties. Titanium can be combined with many other metals, such as aluminum, vanadium, and iron.
Titanium alloys are valued by aircraft manufacturers, as well as across many industries due to their low density, high strength, corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand extremes of temperature. The company’s project in Fayetteville will establish approximately a 500,000-square-foot facility and campus that is purpose-built to melt, roll, and finish titanium.
“With 20 plus years at U.S. Steel and 13 years at Nucor Corporation, developing five greenfield steel mill projects, I am proud to lead the construction of such a mission-critical project, ” said LeRoy Prichard, President of Capital Projects for Project Aero.
In May, the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County approved incentive packages designed to support the project, provided the company achieves required performance benchmarks.
“We are thrilled that Project Aero has chosen Cumberland County for their new state-of-the-art facility, and we look forward to welcoming them to our community,” said County Chairman Glenn Adams. “When we, as the Board, consider which projects to recruit into our community, we are always mindful of the impact on our residents and the opportunities they will provide. We want everyone to know that Cumberland County is open for business and hope this will spur continued economic growth.”
“This project highlights our potential in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, making Fayetteville poised for tremendous growth and increased prosperity,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin. “This historic investment will create several hundred high-paying jobs, with average salaries nearly double the national average and significantly higher than the average salary in North Carolina. We are excited to welcome this transformational project to Fayetteville and look forward to the future opportunities it will bring."
On behalf of the company, Project Aero Chairman Teresa McBride expressed appreciation for all that is being done to support the project.
“This would not have been possible without the support of Governor Roy Cooper, the State of North Carolina, Cumberland County, The City of Fayetteville, Fayetteville PWC, Dr. Franklin Clark, and Piedmont Natural Gas. We are grateful for the tireless effort FCEDC President & CEO Robert Van Geons and Executive Vice President Rob Patton have given to advance this project. We would also like to specifically thank Mayor Mitch Colvin, Chairman Glenn Adams, and PWC CEO Tim Bryant for their leadership and support,” said McBride.
In a release today announcing the project, Governor Roy Cooper said “From the moment the Wright brothers pioneered powered flight at Kitty Hawk, the aerospace industry has been a cornerstone of modern life, driving technological advancements and fostering connectivity. North Carolina offers aerospace manufacturers like this one in Cumberland County a talented workforce, worker training systems, and world-class transportation networks that will help them grow and succeed in our state.”
Methodist University golf national champions honored
Representatives of the national championship-winning Methodist University men's golf team were recognized on Monday at the White House as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris hosted NCAA championship teams from the 2023-24 season.
MU's Head Men's Golf Coach Steve Conley and players Chase Walts and Caleb Ryan attended the event that celebrated the team's 14th NCAA Division III National Championship, which was won in May in Las Vegas. Conley was named national coach of the year for the ninth time, and both Ryan (a senior) and Walts (a junior) earned first-team All-American honors.
The ceremony can be viewed by visiting https://www.youtube.com/live/eujVj7dE3_M
MU also had members of its nationally renowned PGA Golf Management program in attendance, including MU Women's Golf Head Coach Kelsie Warren. Warren was also a national champion at Methodist University and a four-time All-American. The MU women's program has won 26 national titles.
To learn more about MU's PGM program – which has a 100% student job placement rate in the golf industry since 1989 – visit methodist.edu/pgm

(Bottom Photo: Methodist University Golf national champions (l-r) Chase Walts, Coach Steve Conley, and Caleb Ryan pose at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Monday prior to being honored for their 14th title by Vice President Kamala Harris and others. Photo courtesy of MU)