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    The International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) paid tribute to the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival on Sept. 10, during the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards ceremony held at the IFEA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Expo.
    The Dogwood Festival garnered five awards in the prestigious competition. Awards were won in the following categories, for events with budgets: $250,000 - $749,000: {mosimage}
•Gold — Best Organizational Web site;
•Silver — Best Press/Media Kit;
•Bronze — Best Sponsor Solicitation Package;
•Bronze — Best Ad Series;
•Bronze — Best Radio Promotion.
    Sponsored by industry leader Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, the professional competition drew 1,428 entries this year from among the world’s top festivals and events. 
    “We would like to congratulate all of our Pinnacle winners for their outstanding entries into this year’s competition,” said IFEA President & CEO Steven Wood Schmader. “The IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards represents the hallmark of excellence in the festivals and events industry. Entries in every budget category, from every corner of the globe, allow us to recognize the best in our business while raising the standards and quality of media promotions and events across the board.”

UNITED WAY CONDUCTS COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
    United Way of Cumberland County (UWCC) will enlist community leaders to conduct an assessment of the health and human service needs present in Cumberland County. The information gained through focus group meetings and mailed surveys will help guide United Way volunteers to focus their funding decisions on agencies and programs that will address community issues. 
    The methodology committee, made up of professionals from health and human service organizations, will compile the survey instrument. A second committee will distribute the surveys to neighborhood resource centers and libraries, and will mail them to randomly selected households throughout Cumberland County.
    Ten focus groups will also be held in neighborhood recreation centers across the county to acquire information from those who may have missed the survey. Topics covered in the focus groups will be community economics, education, health care, military, public safety, recreation and cultural activities, and social environment. To find a focus group in your area, go to www.unitedway-cc.org.
    Focus group schedule (all focus groups will be held from 6-8 p.m.):
•Sept. 25: Hope Mills Recreation Center, 5766 Rockfish Road, Hope Mills;
•Sept. 30: Cliffdale Recreation Center, 6404 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville;
•Oct. 2: Myers Recreation Center, 1018 Rochester St., Fayetteville;
•Oct. 7: Smith Recreation Center, 1520 Slater Ave., Fayetteville,;
•Oct. 14: Fort Bragg-Nijmegen Neighborhood Center, 2 Douve Place, Fort Bragg;
•Oct. 16: College Lakes Recreation Center, 4945 Rosehill Road, Fayetteville;
•Oct. 23: Eastover Recreation Center, 3637 Pembroke Lane, Fayetteville;
•Oct. 30: Stedman Recreation Center, 175 Circle Drive, Stedman