Sometimes I wonder if I have too much time on my hands to think. Perhaps I have not matured enough to understand the nature of things – or maybe I’m just too stubborn to accept them. At what point does a person stop being curious and stop asking questions? Why are…

Hurricane Florence remains a nightmare for millions of North Carolinians, thousands of us in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Florence was deadly to some, including a young child swept from his mother’s arms by floodwaters. Florence’s name and memory now rank with those of Hurricanes Hazel and Fran. Imagine being a…

Everybody talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. Someone out on The Internets said that the prolonged waiting for Hurricane Florence to hit was like being stalked by a turtle. I would give them credit for the phrase, but I can’t remember where I saw it,…

 Homestead In September 1945, the Homestead Hurricane caused widespread damage in coastal North Caro-lina. What then became a tropical storm system produced heavy rainfall over the state, peaking at 14.8 inches in Rockingham in the period Sept. 13-18. The storm led to drenching rainfall, which saturated grounds. The Cape Fear…

Hurricane Florence remains a nightmare for millions of North Carolinians, thousands of us in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Florence was deadly to some, including a young child swept from his mother’s arms by floodwaters. Florence’s name and memory now rank with those of Hurricanes Hazel and Fran. Imagine being a…

Sometimes I wonder if I have too much time on my hands to think. Perhaps I have not matured enough to understand the nature of things – or maybe I’m just too stubborn to accept them. At what point does a person stop being curious and stop asking questions? Why are…

Farmers and agriculture communities are the backbone of our great state, and every time I see a billboard proclaiming, “Thank a Farmer Three Times a Day!” I wholeheartedly agree. Our farmers are the reason each of us has food to eat and clothes to wear. More specifically, hog farmers in our state work day and night,…

I find it more and more difficult to be hopeful regarding the future of America, this country that I love. Despite so many positive indicators, such as low unemployment, high consumer confidence, a booming economy and stock market, a greatly diminished nuclear threat from North Korea, a stand against other countries exploiting us in trade, and…

 For more than 60 years, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has educated, entertained and inspired the Sandhills with great music, fun events and educational and outreach opportunities. As the organization heads into the 2018-19 season, it shows no sign of slowing down. The first concert of the season, “The Music of…

 Some people simply love going to the movies. Others dream of making films themselves. Many in both camps want to explore stories and genres they can’t find at mainstream theaters. Fayetteville has its own film festival that creators Pat Wright and Jan Johnson debuted in 2016 for just these reasons.…

Kicking off the Gilbert Theater’s 25th season, “Godspell” the musical tells the story of Jesus Christ as portrayed through the New Testament, with a few twists.  “The (play) is about the book of Matthew and this group of people who use creative ways to tell parable stories,” said Artistic Director…

For years, Campbellton Landing was home to concerts as well as Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s annual River Show. The open space, the shade trees and the Sol Rose Amphitheater nestled on the banks of the Cape Fear River give it a special feel­ing. Greg Adair intends to bring that venue…

In the late 1970s, John Malzone was asked to plan a parade for a local festival that would celebrate the many ethnic and cultural groups that make up Fayetteville’s community. He did so, and he also emceed the festival hosting the parade. That event was Fayetteville’s very first International Folk…

Finally, there is a place close to Fayetteville that is built for ATVs and dirt bikes.  A few weeks ago, my friend Matt put out a call to go to the new Deep Creek ATV Park.  The morning of the trip, the weatherman said it was going to be a nice, cool day. The plan was…