https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/


  • 19The interior of a home may be where homeowners and their families spend the majority of their time, and there’s no denying that a well-planned interior goes a long way toward making a house a home.
    However, the exterior of a home, including its landscaping, can serve as a source of pride and catch the eye of prospective buyers when the home hits the market.

    It’s easy to walk past a home with an eye-catching exterior and assume the homeowner has a green thumb or has spent lots of time and money working on the landscaping. Though that may be true, oftentimes it's the simplest strategies that make all the difference.

    Homeowners can keep these strategies in mind as they look to transform the exterior of their homes.

    Dress up the walkway. A longer walkway can give guests a strong first impression of a home and won't break the bank. Create new planting beds and plant bright plants and flowers along each side of the walkway.

    If it’s necessary and within budget, lengthen the walkway to create the feel of a more grandiose entryway.
    Make things more symmetrical. A messy landscape can give a poor first impression, even if the area features some beautiful plants. In such instances, a little effort to make things more symmetrical, with equal parts grass and vegetation, can create a cleaner, more inviting look.

    Mulch your flower and tree beds. Mulch is a relatively inexpensive but effective way to add aesthetic appeal to a landscape. Freshly mulched beds beneath trees and flowers creates a clean and organized look, and the mulch also serves a practical purpose, as it reduces weed growth and helps the soil retain moisture so plants stay healthy and look better throughout the warmer months when rainfall may not be steady or significant.

    Plant shade trees. Shade trees can be especially useful when selling a home. The shade provided by trees can shield grass from blistering summer sun, potentially helping it stay green. A lush green lawn appeals to buyers and gives the impression the home has been well maintained. In addition, shade trees can be used to create the look of a backyard oasis. A well-placed bench beneath a large shade tree can entice buyers who want a relaxing spot to enjoy warm summer days outdoors without getting a sunburn.

    Consider maintenance. The more exotic an exterior landscape is, the more maintenance it's likely to require. Lawn and garden enthusiasts may not be turned off by landscape features that require steady maintenance, but homeowners who don’t have much time for such work should keep things simple.

    A poorly maintained landscape, even if it includes exotic plants and elaborate designs, will adversely affect curb appeal.
    Another feather in the cap of low-maintenance landscape features is they could prove more appealing to prospective buyers, who may view elaborate, exotic landscaping as a lot of extra work they won’t want to do.

    Some simple landscaping strategies can help homeowners transform their home exteriors without requiring a significant investment of time or money.

  • 18Stress poses a significant public health problem. Though work is often cited as a primary cause of stress, in 2022, socioeconomic issues contributed to a spike in stress levels, which serves as proof that there's no shortage of potential stressors.

    According to the Stress in America Survey 2022 from the American Psychological Association, 81% of respondents indicated they were stressed out due to issues affecting the supply chain.
    Inflation proved even more troubling, as 87% of participants in the survey indicated they were stressed out by the rising cost in living. That’s especially noteworthy, as it marked a nearly 30% increase from the year prior.

    Stress is more than an inconvenience. Though the APA notes the human body is well-equipped to handle stress in small doses, chronic stress poses an entirely different problem, affecting various parts of the body.
    Musculoskeletal system

    The APA reports that muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress. However, muscle tension for long periods of time can trigger a host of problems, including tension-type headache and migraine headaches, which are each associated with chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and head.

    The APA notes that work-related stress in particular has been linked to musculoskeletal pain in the lower back and upper extremities.

    Respiratory system

    Stress can present problems affecting the respiratory system as well. Shortness of breath and rapid breathing can occur when a person is feeling stress. Though the APA acknowledges this is often not a problem for people without respiratory disease, the group notes it can exacerbate breathing problems for people with preexisting respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD.

    Cardiovascular system

    Chronic stress can contribute to long-term problems affecting the heart and blood vessels, which the APA notes are the two elements of the cardiovascular system that work together to provide nourishment and oxygen to the body’s organs.

    Chronic stress has many hallmarks, including a consistent and ongoing spike in heart rate. As a result, long-term ongoing stress increases a person’s risk for an assortment of cardiovascular problems, including hypertension, heart attack and stroke.

    Gastrointestinal system

    The APA notes that hundreds of millions of neurons in the gut are in constant communication with the brain. This is why feelings of nervousness or anxiety often produce the sensation of butterflies in the stomach.
    When a person is dealing with chronic stress, that can affect communication between the gut and brain, potentially leading to pain, bloating and other discomfort in the gut.

    Stress is a public health problem that affects people from all walks of life. Individuals feeling excess levels of stress are urged to speak to their physicians and visit apa.org for more information.

  • 17Personal trainers design exercise programs to gain better strength, mobility and cardiovascular endurance. Fitness centers offer equipment to implement many types of exercise available from group fitness classes to functional training.

    Corrective exercise takes a slightly different approach. A specialist in corrective exercise analyzes movement patterns. This can help identify muscle imbalances.

    We all have muscle imbalances. It means you can have musculoskeletal issues from the way you have trained for sports, injuries, chronic pain, surgeries, broken bones, sprained ankles, arthritis, and plantar fasciitis.

    Muscle imbalance can begin at an early age, especially with repetitive motion and improper form when exercising or playing sports.

    My emphasis for personal training is on active aging. How we move now indicates how we have been moving in the same patterns for a while. Our muscles have adapted to patterns over the years and may have compensated with adjustments that now can cause pain or discomfort.

    As an example, if you play tennis regularly and you have that same serve primarily on one side, through the years your body begins to compensate with imbalances. The same goes for a mother that might carry her child on the same hip or a person that carries heavy books or a purse on the same side, wears high heels daily, sits at a computer, or is seated for long periods such as long-distance driving.

    Corrective exercise is designed in three progressive phases for muscle imbalance.
    The assessment begins with a verbal consultation and discussion used to acquire a health history. Discussion includes the client’s movements, past and present work. Lifestyle, sports played, areas of discomfort, and what generally causes your discomfort are topics discussed. It also includes any diagnosed conditions that may influence the musculoskeletal system.

    The visual and hands-on assessment is an observance of movement and how the client feels during brief motion phases. The visual assessment engages movement and observes the way we move, beginning at the feet and ankles and continuing up to the neck and shoulders.

    When we have an imbalance in one area it travels up the entire kinetic chain. For example, if you overpronate, that can cause an imbalance in your knees, hip and pelvis region and travel up to your shoulders and neck. The body quickly adjusts to imbalances and finds a way to compensate for movement.

    It is important to remember that an assessment does not take the place of a medical diagnosis.

    Myofascial release is the next part of the exercise program. Myofascial release is a massage foam rolling technique for muscle soreness in broad areas. A tennis or golf ball is used for targeted areas. Areas may include scar tissue, tightness, restrictions or flexibility. The massage stimulates blood circulation to the area and helps to heal soft tissue.

    After targeted muscles have been identified, stretching is the next phase for muscle groups for static, passive and dynamic stretching. Stretching exercises are used to increase flexibility and range of motion.

    Once muscle groups have been addressed the program design includes exercises that balance weak and over-lengthened muscles that work together. With an effective program, the client will begin to see improvement and be able to enjoy daily activities and movement with strength, flexibility and balance.

    Live, love life with movement and corrective exercise.

  • 16 Everyone understands the value of good eyesight and its importance in terms of quality of life. It’s important to do our part to take care of our eyes and to turn to qualified medical staff for proper treatment and care.

    When the time comes to seek care which might involve surgical procedures on our eyes, it’s assuring to know there are professionally trained individuals we can trust for help.

    Fayetteville Technical Community College offers a program of study designed to equip qualified ophthalmic personnel with the educational preparation necessary to assume the role of Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant. The three-semester certificate program, designed for Certified Ophthalmic Assistants and Certified Ophthalmic Technicians or Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologists, provides a convenient pathway for these certified ophthalmic personnel to enhance their career opportunities by obtaining the certification to become an Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant.

    The need to develop OSAs is nationally recognized, with ophthalmologists agreeing that the training could provide significant assistance with the mechanical and technical aspects of ophthalmic surgery.
    OSAs work under the direction of an ophthalmologist. In addition to assisting during surgery, the OSA assists with preparing surgical instruments and preparing patients for procedures.

    The OSA may also assist with administering evaluations and tests before and after surgery. In some cases, the ophthalmic surgical assistant may assist patients with follow-up after surgery.
    The employment opportunities for graduates of FTCC’s Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant Program is expected to grow, and successful graduates of the program are eligible to apply for the Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant national certification exam. Employment opportunities include hospitals, clinics and educational institutions. The program will provide current COAs and COTs with another unique career option in the health care industry.

    The didactic portion of the program is taught online, and the laboratory portion is taught during the evenings. This format combining online and evening instruction provides a way for interested candidates to continue working while completing the educational requirements for the program.

    This program is designed for entry during the fall semester, and individuals entering the program must currently be employed as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, Certified Ophthalmic Technician or Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist.

    Graduates of FTCC’s Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant program may be eligible to sit for the OSA sub-specialty certification administered by the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology.

    During the course of the program, students will apply theoretical knowledge to the care of ophthalmic surgical patients and develop the skills necessary to prepare supplies, equipment and instruments, maintain aseptic conditions,

    prepare patients for ophthalmic surgery, and assist ophthalmologists during surgery.

    Registration for fall classes is open, and fall classes begin Aug. 21. For more information about FTCC visit www.faytechcc.edu. To learn more about the OSA Program, please search “ophthalmic” at the website or call 910-678-8358 or email herringt@faytechcc.edu.

  • 15aPlaners, joiners, bandsaws, table saws, computer numerical control machines and Harley, the light-blond Golden Retriever, soak up every square inch of floor space. Boards of different types of wood lean stacked against the walls.

    It’s drafty and loud. The smell of stained wood is pungent, but the whir of the machines is reassuring.

    Intricate works of student art such as inlaid tables and plaques are strewn about, some completed, some in the process of being finished for a public showing at the Fayetteville Arts Council from May 4 to 20.

    The woodshop is a world away from the grind of daily life for the kids at Falcon Children’s Home.
    The program started in 2015 when he offered to teach a wood-working class, Head Instructor John DeGreef says.

    Falcon Children’s Home liked the idea and at the end of a trial run wanted to make woodshop a high school elective. However, there was no money for equipment. And DeGreef couldn’t continue to trailer his personal tools to school for every class.

    He says a friend suggested reaching out to the United Way for grant money. And during their first year, they gave $15,000. “That’s pretty much where we started,” DeGreef said.
    After moving to its present location, gaining Woodturning Instructor Carl Sanders, CNC Instructor Derek Feely and state-of-the-art machinery that includes two CNC laser cutters, the program has become a crucial part of Falcon Children’s Home.

    “Basically, seven years later,” DeGreef says, “We’re close to $180,000 raised through grants.”

    All of the equipment in the shop was either purchased using grant monies or donated. In fact, Falcon Children’s Home relies on donations for everything from toilet paper to paying employees.
    There are young people up to 21-years-old living in cottages on the grounds, Houseparent Magdeli Alexandra Lopez says. Right now, there are eight kids and two house parents per cottage.

    There are a total of 13 cottages on campus, separated by gender. Each one can hold a maximum of 12 kids and two house parents. The children live there year-round.

    “It’s a foster home,” DeGreef says. Kids come and live here until the court system deems it’s okay for them to go home.

    This nearly windowless woodshop building, its power tools and stalwart instructors focus the kids’ minds around something positive and rewards them with lifelong skills.
    Woodshop is a safe space for these young people.

    “We don’t know why they’re here or what they’ve been through, and we don’t get in to that,” Feely says. “Our job is to make an escape for them.”

    Foster care is a “protective service” for children who have been abused, neglected or maltreated, in which they’re given a family environment in an agency-approved home for a planned and temporary period of time.

    “There’s about 90 [to] 95 kids that live [up here] full time,” DeGreef says.

    Falcon Children’s Home has been “providing a home for children who... are unable to live with their parents in a regular home setting for over 110 years.”15b
    Lopez tells the students to treat woodshop like a real job, he says. It’s more therapeutic for them. Some of our children deal with a lot of anger, and the shop has helped them process their emotions.

    “When you’re pushing the wood through the machines,” 16-year-old Marquasia says, “Just hearing the noise releases some anger.”

    As Marquasia speaks, Harley materializes out of thin air and lays her head in her lap, as if to say everything’s alright.

    “It’s like hands-on therapy for me,” Marquasia adds.

    The woodshop is chock-full of pieces of student art that will be displayed and up for sale at the Fayetteville Arts Council in downtown Fayetteville.

    “[The kids] are selling a lot of these things,” Lopez says. A lot of people think they come to shop, but they’re actually selling it.

    All money from items sold goes to the student artist who created them. If you’d like to meet the kids of Falcon Children’s Home, observe their wonderful woodwork and potentially buy something special for your home, and for a good reason, please come on down to the Fayetteville Arts Council, located at 301 Hay Street, May 4 to 20. Thursday, May 4, is the grand opening night, and the kids will be there from 4 to 9 p.m., DeGreef says.

    John DeGreef, Carl Sanders and Derek Feely are military veterans. Harley is a rescue animal and belongs to DeGreef.

    “For all of us, this is our give-back,” DeGreef says. “We served our country, and we want to continue to give back to our community.”

    Falcon Children’s Home is located in Falcon, straight up I-95, a few miles north of Fayetteville. Falcon Children’s Home has “opportunities throughout the year” for people interested in volunteering. If you would like to volunteer, please visit www.falconchildrenshome.org/volunteer. If you would like to donate money to the home, please visit www.falconchildrenshome.org/donate.

  • Poetry offers a unique way to express emotions, ideas and experiences through language. It can explore complex themes and ideas in a concise and powerful way while inspiring readers in profound ways. Poetry also has the ability to connect people across cultures and time periods, offering a window into different perspectives and ways of seeing the world.

    April is National Poetry Month, and what better way to celebrate than by exploring the rich poetry scene in your local community? Local poetry can offer a unique perspective on the people, history and culture of your area. Fayetteville has a thriving poetry community with several open mics a month and poetry events happening downtown.

    The Poetry Community

    14aLeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens has been a part of the local arts community since 2007, shortly after leaving the Army. Bowens tells Up & Coming Weekly that he remembers when the poetry community got so huge, there used to be 13 open mics in one week. However, he says that now is a moment of transition due to a resurgence following the shutdowns of 2020.

    “Now we’re at a point where there is a resurgence of open mics and that’s because of what happened during the pandemic when a lot of open mics went away and then they came back. But it brought in a lot of new energy because a lot of people started building upon that,” Bowens said.

    Bowens is the founder and CEO of Poetry-N-Motion, a local company that specializes in writing workshops, mentoring and event hosting/planning. Their mission is to serve as a change agent to provide an alternative for individuals who are faced with challenging situations where a different outlet can be utilized to decrease and/or diffuse emotional distress. Their target audiences are youth, veterans, community leaders and aspiring artists.

    “[The arts are] very important not only for that creative outlet, but most people also look at that as a way of healing and coping with trauma. Because one of my mentors told me, ‘If no one will listen to you, the page will or the art will.’ So when you have that as an outlet to help with so many things, it makes it very important as to why we need [the] arts, not just in this community, but also in every community that we can make that space possible.”

    Last month, Bowens published a new book, “Before: A Collection of Poems,” which is semi-autobiographical. The topics range from life, heartbreak, love, joy, pain and a variety of emotions you can go through as a person.

    Each poem starts with the word “Before” and then is expanded on in the poem itself. In the first month of its release, he sold over 400 copies.

    “I’m very excited that the book has done so, so well,” Bowens said.

    Bowens says the community plays a huge role and it’s important for all artists to support one another, especially in our own community.

    “Some of the local players or local artists here in the city go on to do big and better things. There’s phenomenal writers that started here in Fayetteville that are now published authors or motivational speakers and just going out there doing and hosting a lot of other events, not only in Fayetteville but outside of the city or the state. I think it’s very important for a community to get behind it because these artists are the future of what happens within any industry form. And it becomes disheartening when we don’t get the community support because we do so much to represent our community,” Bowens said.

    “So it’s very important for us to get behind the artists in the community and the poets, while we can support everything they're doing, because everybody still finds it hard to believe that we have a poetry scene here in the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina when it’s been here for going on 24 years.”

    Upcoming Poetry Events

    TAP on Thursday

    Winterbloom Tea, in collaboration with Poetry-N-Motion, are bringing an open mic, free to everyone. This Tea And Performance happens every third Thursday of the month. If you are a poet, comic, songwriter, musician, they encourage you to come out for this awesome event. The next event will take place on May 18 at 7 p.m.
    Winterbloom Tea is located at 238 Hay Street. For more information call 910-491-3526.

    14cArts in Motion Trolley

    In celebration of National Poetry Month, Cool Spring Downtown District invited North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green to Downtown Fayetteville to take part in Arts in Motion on Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. on their District Trolley.
    Green is the ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina. She is the first African American and third woman to be appointed as the North Carolina Poet Laureate and reappointed in 2021 for a second term by Governor Roy Cooper. She is also a 2019 Academy of American Poet Laureate Fellow and has been recognized on the Forbes Magazine 50 Over 50 Lifestyle List for 2022.

    “We're excited to have Jackie Shelton Green for the poetry trolley, and we think it's going to be an amazing event. It's probably a once in a lifetime event to actually be able to sit with our North Carolina poet laureate and be able to pick her brain and just understand the wisdom that she has and how she got to this place and how to become better,” Lauren Falls, Director of Marketing and Events for Cool Spring Downtown District, told Up & Coming Weekly.

    The trolley will pick people up at the Gaston Taproom located at 421 Chicago Drive. Tickets are $30 and can be bought at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arts-in-motion-trolley-featuring-nc-poet-laureate-jaki-shelton-green-tickets-605040140347.

    14bArt Meets Life

    Art Meets Life is a show where not only will you get to see art in motion, but also get to know more about the artists that perform as well.
    This show, which will be featuring the Detour Slam, will take place at The Sweet Palette on May 5. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The Sweet Palette is located at 101 Person Street. For information call 910-489-7342.
    Fighting Fathers

    This special series will consist of three performances featuring Southern spoken word artists whose work explores the intersections of military service, fatherhood, and life as Black men in the American South. The Fighting Fathers will give voice to an intersection of our local community that is often overlooked.

    The accompanying free workshops will teach attendees how to use the art of spoken word poetry to tell their own story and engage in a creative experience that gives them a deeper understanding of their own emotional journey. The third and last session will feature Bowens. The last two featured Boris “Bluz” Rogers and Neil Ray Donnell. The performance will take place at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre on May 20 at 7:30 p.m.

    Cape Fear Regional Theatre is located at 1209 Hay Street. For information call 910-323-4234.

    By engaging with local poetry, you not only support your community's arts scene but also gain a deeper appreciation for the place you call home. So this National Poetry Month, and throughout the year, take some time to explore the poetry in your own backyard.

    Editor's note: In the next issue of Up & Coming, read about Fayetteville's own Detour Slam Team, a poetry group competing in the Southern Fried Poetry Competition this year.

  • DW7 Nearly 14 years after his death, Michael Jackson is still the undisputed King of Pop. From a precocious child star to one of the world’s most polarizing celebrities, Jackson’s 40-year career forever changed the face of music and made him one of the most culturally prominent figures of his lifetime.

    Jackson’s musical legacy will close out the Dogwood Festival’s three-night concert series on Sunday, April 30, when Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience takes to the stage at 7:30 p.m.

    Founded in 2003 by Vamsi Tadepalli in Charlotte, — six years before his tragic passing — Who’s Bad is now the longest-running Michael Jackson tribute in the world.

    The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience is created from meticulous research of Jackson’s tours, videos and live performances to perfect the showmanship that sold out arenas for decades. Having performed nearly 3,000 shows worldwide, Whose Bad has gotten the tribute game down to a science, impressing generations of fans, friends and industry insiders.

    Remembered for certified diamond hits like “Billie Jean” and “Thriller,” the invention of the moonwalk, and his larger-than-life persona off stage, Jackson’s contribution to music and pop culture are both still seen and felt in the entertainment industry.

    In his lifetime, Jackson produced 13 number-one singles, won 15 Grammy awards and sold over one billion records — making him one of the best musical artists of all time. As far as legacies go — it’s a tough act to follow, but Who’s Bad has made it their mission to elevate their craft to meet that challenge consistently.

    According to their website, “Each individual show is designed and constructed through an unparalleled study of the artists’ original performances, and infused with new energy so that they can be brought to life….”

    Not content to perform only a portion of his catalog or emulate a particular era, Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience is an exciting kaleidoscope of Jackson’s most iconic looks, moves and tunes. From his rakish fedora, singular white glove and the loafers that seemed to glide on air — Who’s Bad has distilled all the moving parts of the Jackson juggernaut into a performance that pays respect to his fans, his craft and his memory.

    Though “Michael,” whose distinctive dance moves and vocal style are eerily brought to life by James Till III and Taalib York, is the clear star of the show, an impressive roster of singers, dancers and entertainment professionals propel the kinetic, dance-driven performance to a level of magic befitting the King of Pop.

    Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson experience is free and open to the public.

  • DW6This year’s Dogwood Festival lineup is the living embodiment of “a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll.” Music lovers of Cumberland County will be able to boot scoot, head thrash and moonwalk with the best of them at Festival Park.

    Saturday night will take the All-American City back to the halcyon days of early 2000 with California alternative rockers Lit at 7:45 p.m. and Buckcherry at 9 p.m.

    Coming off the scuffed-Converse navel-gazing grunge which dominated the airwaves throughout the 90s, Lit, Buckcherry, and even the bubble-gum pop of their Billboard contemporaries were a welcome change to the post-grunge musical landscape as Y2K approached.

    When Lit leaped onto the scene with their hit single “My Own Worst Enemy” in 1999, it was clear to anyone with access to MTV or a Discman that rock had gotten fun again. The song charted at number one, undoubtedly on the power of its accompanying video — a delightful homage to the cult film, “The Big Lebowski.” It stayed for 11 weeks, earning the band a Billboard Music Award. Their album, “A Place in the Sun,” spawned two more hits, “Ziploc” and “Miserable,” and went certified platinum.

    In the intervening years, Lit, comprised of brothers Jeremy and A. Jay Popoff (lead guitar and vocals; lead vocals), Kevin Baldes (bass), and Taylor Carroll (drums) have gone through some lineup changes, most notably due to the cancer-related death of their drummer, Allen Shellenberger, in 2009. Since “A Place in the Sun,” the band has released five studio albums; the latest, “Tastes Like Gold,” was released in 2022.

    Also on stage Saturday is rowdy party band Buckcherry, whose catchy hit single, “Crazy B—” held the public captive for a significant portion of the mid-2000s and garnered the band a Grammy nomination in 2006.
    Buckcherry, whose current roster now hosts Josh Todd (lead vocals), Stevie D. (lead and rhythm guitar), Kelly LeMieux (bass), Francis Ruiz, and Billy Rowe (rhythm and lead guitar), has released 10 studio albums between 1999 and 2023 and continues to tour extensively.

    Together, these two bands invite the audience back to a simpler time — a time just before smartphones and Tiktok. The slick guitar riffs and forever-young feel-good lyrics are sure to be the perfect punctuation to a day filled with good food, games, vendors and community.

  • DW5Headlining the kickoff of the Dogwood Festival on Friday night this year are country singers Ashland Craft and David Nail.

    Nail has had number one hits like “Let It Rain” and “Whatever She’s Got.” While Nail has been to Fayetteville, this will be his first time performing at the Dogwood Festival.

    “It gets us excited any time we play something with a little bit of history,” he said. Nail’s set will include a soon to be released single, “Best of Me.”

    “That’ll be the first time we’ve ever played it live,” he said.

    From Greenville, South Carolina, Craft’s debut album “Travelin Kind” is out now.

    Festival concerts will be free to the public and attendees will have access to both food and drink vendors.

    For those who want to get closer to the action, “Best Seat in the House” tickets are available for $25 for each festival day — thrifty music lovers can purchase a weekend pass for $60 at www.thedogwoodfestival.com/.

  • DW4The Dogwood Festival kicks off this year with its premier food and wine event, Cork &Fork.

    This celebration of food brings together local chefs and restaurants in one place for people to try out their tasty offerings. Wine pairings will also be available as part of the event.

    Cork &Fork will be held at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville, April 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Single tickets purchased before April 27 are $40. A “date night” couples’ ticket is $75. Day of tickets are $45.

    Guests can visit the different food and beverage vendors and sample hors d’oeuvres created especially for Cork & Fork. Included in the cost of the ticket are unlimited food tastings and 10 wine sample tickets. Each ticket is worth a 2 ounce sample pour of wine. Three tickets can be used for a full 6 ounce pour or a 16 ounce beer.
    Vendors include Bees & Boards Charcuterie, Guatemala Centro America, Burney’s Sweets and more, and Gaston Brewing Company, as well as several others.

    “This is the third year that we’ve been doing Cork & Fork,” said Troy Rasmussen, owner and president, Gaston Brewing Company.

    “Last year we did a spinach and feta stuffed ravioli in a pesto Alfredo sauce. It was a huge hit, so we are probably going to be doing something similar this year.”
    Rasmussen said Gaston Brewing Company will also be providing beverages for the Dogwood Festival as a whole. Their blackberry ale, Velvet Art, will be available as well as their New England IPA State of Lunacy. Their Namaste Lavender Ale will also be served.

    “We think it’s a great collaborative relationship to partner with these different festival organizers and organizations within our downtown space,” Rasmussen said. “The more successful these festivals and events are, the more it brings people downtown, and that benefits all of us. For us, it’s an opportunity to be a part of something and hopefully our little contribution helps to add to the success of the event.”

    Tickets to Cork & Fork can be purchased day of, or in advance at www.thedogwoodfestival.com/cork-fork.

  • DW3 The addition of the mobile axe throwing trailer from the Axes & Armor Hatchet House adds to the fun and excitement of the Dogwood Festival.

    The Axes & Armor Hatchet House will be up Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. on Gillespie Street.

    The free attraction provides festival patrons a chance to try axe throwing in a safe and controlled environment. All patrons must sign a waiver before throwing an axe.

    You do not want to miss out on the opportunity to try your hand at axe throwing while testing your throwing skills and aim.

    Throwing an axe can be an excellent opportunity to bond with friends or family. It’s also a chance to meet new people and learn a new skill you can show off to your friends later.

    So, stop by the mobile throwing trailer while visiting the Dogwood Festival, and have some fun while testing your skills.

    The Axes & Armor Hatchet House has two locations, one in Fayetteville at 4005 Raeford Road, and one in Spring Lake at 409 N. Bragg Blvd. For info visit www.axesandarmor.com/.

  • DW2The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival is bringing back the excitement of pro wrestling this year. Ring Wars Carolina is an independent professional wrestling company based out of Hope Mills. They will host multiple wrestling matches at the Ray Avenue and Hay Street intersection.

    For festival patrons, this is an opportunity to see professional wrestling up close that you want to take advantage of.

    The matches will occur on Saturday and Sunday and show times are noon, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m.
    Ring Wars Carolina has been providing quality entertainment since 1996, with a focus on the Carolinas since 2002. Their mission is to provide quality entertainment that is fun for the entire family. They are sure to deliver at the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival.

    The best part of this event is that it is completely free. It provides an excellent option for families and anyone looking for great live entertainment. It is also a chance to experience the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival and meet new people who are also fans of pro wrestling.

    Experience the thrill of live wrestling, cheer on their favorite wrestlers, and meet new people in a fun and family-friendly environment.
    For more infromation on Ring Wars Carolina, visit www.ringwarscarolina.net/.

  • DW1 Shadows of the Fire and Air Born Aerials will be in the Performance Area near the Market House on Hay Street. Debbie Belles, who helps coordinate all the logistics of the space for the performers, said that all the dancers are looking forward to the event.

    Shadows of the Fire will host four dancers, including Belles herself, during the festival.

    The group has been entertaining at Dogwood Festival since the early 2000s, Belles said. “It’s always a fun time.”
    Air Born Aerials will perform Saturday only at 1, 2, 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Performance Area entertainment runs from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

  • 13bGet ready for a night of “music, fun and frivolity” as Fayetteville’s Ultimate Lip Sync Showdown returns for its fifth year on May 6 at the Crown Center Ballroom in Fayetteville.

    This epic event will benefit the Child Advocacy Center and is considered “one of the most fun fundraisers you can attend in Cumberland County.” Up & Coming Weekly spoke with Tim Edwards, co-chair for the CAC’s fundraising committee, about how this special event came to be.

    “We were trying to come up with a new event that people would get excited about,” Edwards explained. “Lots of people can’t sing or dance—but they can entertain.” With the popularity of “Dancing with the Stars” and “Lip Sync Battle,” a friendly competition seemed like just the ticket.

    For Fayetteville’s Ultimate Lip Sync Showdown, acts sign up to perform songs of their choosing, design their sets, gather their costumes, and set their sights on super stardom. Over the years, “people have really taken it and run,” Edwards joked.

    This year’s stage will include performances from Ursula the Sea Witch, Elvis, the legendary pairing of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, the cast of “Matilda,” and a group of young performers who go by the rather intriguing name of Alien Horse Hotwheels.

    “Every year, this event keeps getting bigger and bigger,” said Edwards. It’s been an exciting fundraiser over the years. “You get to raise money for a nonprofit and have a good time.”

    Cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m. with the showdown set for 7 p.m. Tickets for the event are $75 for standard seating and $99 for VIP. Groups of eight can call and arrange a table to enjoy the action together.

    The ticket price includes a menu of heavy hors d'oeuvres, live music, a round of desserts, and coffee service during intermission.
    Though entertainment is high atop the list of priorities for the evening, fundraising is the ultimate goal. A combination of efforts accompanies this aim as groups compete not only for bragging rights but also to see who can inspire the most charitable giving on behalf of the CAC.

    Performers sell raffle tickets before and during the showdown. Those funds go toward their final contribution, and local groups or businesses can choose to sponsor an act from various sponsorship tiers.
    After the show, the audience will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite act. Groups will be awarded prizes in three categories: Top Overall Prize for Performance, Top Prize Overall for Fundraising, and the People’s Choice.

    “The acts get excited about bragging rights; the competition is fierce but fun. Our acts hit the stage and really... go all out. They really want to raise as much money as possible,” Edwards explained.
    To purchase tickets, visit the CAC’s website at https://www.cacfaync.org/.

    “I really want to encourage people to come out,” Edwards said. “I give it the Tim Edwards Guarantee. If you go and don’t have a good time — come see me after the show.”

  • 13Members of the community looking for a fun family event can head to Dirtbag Ales on May 6 for Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s Movie Night.

    The double feature event will begin at 8 p.m., and is free to attend. “The Tramp” starring Charlie Chaplain will be the first movie shown, followed by Buster Keaton’s “One Week.” The films will be accompanied by a live ensemble, with music arranged by Peter B. Kay.

    “The FSO started Symphony Movie Nights in 2021 along with our Symphony on Tap series,” said Meghan Woolbright, Marketing and Office Manager for FSO.

    “Every October since 2021, we've held our fall movie showing of ‘Nosferatu,’ a 1922 gothic silent film at Dirtbag Ales. These movie nights have been really well received, so why not do another in the spring?”

    “Community” is what the FSO is all about. Several events throughout the year are held for free, all for the benefit of the Cumberland County community.

    “The FSO loves engaging with our community. One way we do that is by offering free community concerts like our various Symphony on Tap events, and our Independence Day concert held at Festival Park on July 4,” said Woolbright.

    The FSO has been a staple in Fayetteville since 1956. A group of musicians who dreamed of sharing their passion with the community came together to create the first Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.
    The main orchestra is currently comprised of about 70 musicians. FSO has had six music directors since its inception. Dr. Stefan Sanders is the current director. He is in his fifth year.
    The orchestra provides several free concerts to the community throughout their season, and Movie Night is just one more way the musicians give back to Fayetteville.

    “These events allow our beloved community of Fayetteville to come together and enjoy a free movie and listen to a small ensemble perform in a comfortable environment like a restaurant or a taproom,” said Woolbright.

    “The Tramp” is one of Charlie Chaplin’s most well known silent films. Chaplain, as the character of the Tramp, has several misadventures in the 26 minute runtime. It debuted in 1915.

    “One Week,” also a silent film, has a runtime of 19 minutes. Starring Buster Keaton, the story centers around a newly wed couple as they build a house together using a do-it-yourself kit. It debuted in 1920.

    The two comedies will be accompanied by an ensemble from members of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

    The event on May 6 is open and free to the public. For more information, visit https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/.

  • 12b His Outreach Worldwide will host a barbecue fundraiser May 5. The food will be provided by Southern Coals and live music will be provided by Currie Wayne Clayton Jr.

    The HOW BBQ Fundraiser will take place at 2770 Breezewood Avenue in Fayetteville from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $10 per plate, with all proceeds going toward the HOW Ministry School in Tamu, Myanmar.

    The goal of His Outreach Worldwide is to share the good news and love of Jesus with all children. The organization does this through several ministry efforts that help local church food banks, helping children with critical health concerns, delivering water filters around the world, and running a women’s ministry and children’s school in Myanmar and India.

    The ministry’s book “Sharing Jesus With Children Around The World” has been translated into 69 languages and distributed in more than 159 nations. It is transforming lives all around the world. One such place is the HOW Ministry School in Tamu, Myanmar.

    HOW’s Founder and Director, Lynne O’Quinn, says that much love and support is needed in that area of the world. The city is considered to be the drug, prostitution, smuggling, trafficking “capital” of Myanmar as it sits on the border of India and shares “trade” with twin city Moreh, India. HOW’s goal is to change the area by sharing the love of Christ with the children in the community.

    “We now have 238 students — preschool through 4th grade with plans for higher classes as soon as possible,” O’Quinn shared with Up & Coming Weekly. “These students are all Hindu and Buddhist. They are learning English through scriptures, Bible stories and Christian songs. We are the only English teaching school in the region.”

    O’Quinn went on to say, “We have 22 extremely qualified staff. HOW’s leader of the school is ACA University's first woman to graduate with a theological degree, one of two to graduate with the highest honors. She speaks eight languages. Our principal has an engineering degree but chose to serve God through our school. Charis English Primary School is fully accredited by the Burmese government and has the government’s — as well as the community’s — support. This fact alone is amazing and of God.”

    “As you can see, God’s hand is all over this,” she said. “There are so many miracles that have surrounded this. God is truly amazing!”

    O’Quinn points out that for HOW’s mission to be successful, it takes the work of many people, and fundraisers such as the May 5 event are invaluable to continuing the effort. She invites the entire community to the event to learn more about HOW.

    “I sincerely desire our Fayetteville area community to be made aware of the good and service HOW does throughout our community and the world,” she said.

    For more information on His Outreach Worldwide and the ministry school in Tamu, Myanmar, visit http://hisoutreachworldwide.org/.

  • 12See the enchanting world of fairy tales come to life on May 7 as the World Ballet Series presents “Cinderella” at the Crown Theatre in Fayetteville.
    With the dulcet tones of Sergei Prokofiev’s enduring score wafting from the orchestra pit, audiences are sure to be awed by the lush hand-painted sets, gorgeous costumes and breathtaking choreography of Marina Kessler.

    “Rhodopis” in Ancient Greece, “Yeh-Shen” in China, the story of Cinderella has gone by many names dating back to the first century. Today, there are as many as 1500 different versions of “Cinderella” in circulation.

    Though the tale of a young woman who undergoes an extraordinary reversal of fortune exists in some form or another throughout many different cultures, literary versions such as “Aschenputtel” (“The Little Ash Girl”) by The Brothers Grimm of Germany and the story of “Cendrillon…” by French author Charles Perrault, are perhaps the most well known.

    Perrault’s version is the basis for Walt Disney’s 1950 animated feature, “Cinderella," whose singing mice and bibbidi-bobbidi-boos have charmed audiences for generations.
    Adapted for the stage in the early 19th century, the earliest ballet of “Cinderella” dates back to around 1813. The addition of Sergei Prokofiev’s score in 1945 has since become the industry standard. Of the composition, Prokofiev said:

    “... I see Cinderella not only as a fairy tale character but also a real person, feeling, experiencing and moving among us … What I wished to express above all in the music of Cinderella was the poetic love of Cinderella and the Prince, the birth and flowering of that love, the obstacles in its path and finally, the dream fulfilled.”

    The plot, familiar to many, centers on the young Cinderella who, with the aid of her fairy godmother, works to out scheme her wicked step-mother and two evil step-sisters to achieve her “happily ever after.” Though many versions of “Cinderella” serve as cautionary tales on the evils of classism, the World Ballet Series’ production infuses the classic story with humor and the magic fans have come to expect — without any of the words.

    On stage at the Crown Theatre, the audience will see Cinderella leap and twirl away from her life as a cinder-coated housemaid to the beautiful, worthy princess she was always meant to be.

    The multi-city U.S. tour features “sparkling” Principal dancer Ekaterina Malkovich in the titular role and invited soloist Leonardo Celegato as her Prince Charming. The Wicked Stepmother, portrayed “stunningly” by dancer Angelina Zgurskaya, promises to tickle audiences as she and her two equally wicked daughters are repeatedly foiled. Rounding out the company is a cast of dancers plucked from every corner of the globe, making this bold vision of "Cinderella" one you won’t want to miss.

    “Cinderella” opens at 6 p.m. on May 7. Tickets range in price from $38 to $98. To purchase, visit the Crown Complex website at https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/. No food or drink is allowed into the theatre; concessions are available at the venue.

    The Crown Theatre is located at 1960 Coliseum Drive in Fayetteville.

  • 7aWhen exploring Fayetteville’s social scene, few people would consider looking to a nonprofit. Sometimes though, the most fun can come from the unlikeliest of sources. If you are looking for a night to remember, keep an eye out for The CARE Clinic’s Toast of the Town — Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting. This event has much to offer guests, but the best part is that it is all for a good cause.

    The CARE Clinic first broke ground on Robeson Street in 1993 after a needs assessment report across Eastern North Carolina highlighted a lack of accessible medical care for low-income individuals. Under the guidance of Sister Jean Rhodes from the Daughters of Charity, a Catholic religious community whose mission is to serve the poor, The CARE Clinic found its footing. Now, the clinic is federally qualified under the National and North Carolina Associations of Free and Charitable Clinics. Its mission is to provide free, quality healthcare to uninsured adults in Cumberland and bordering counties. It is an overwhelming task to undertake when considering the problem’s scope — over one million people without health insurance in North Carolina.

    As an independent nonprofit clinic, it relies on donations and sponsorships to support daily operations as they care for thousands of patients annually. Three yearly fundraisers help reach financial goals, but they are also welcomed as opportunities to step beyond the clinic’s walls into the community.

    Located close to downtown, The CARE Clinic links up with the Fayetteville social scene. The Toast of the Town started as a low-key event on the top floor of the Prince Charles Hotel. For those familiar with Fayetteville, you will recognize that the jump from this single room to the entire Cape Fear Botanical Garden expanse is quite sizable. Organizers are overjoyed by the continually growing popularity of this event.

    If you missed the 2022 Toast of the Town, let me walk you through our night in the garden.

    The Toast of the Town begins in the front entrance hall of the Botanical Garden. Guests filter through check-in and can be photographed in the “Step-and-Repeat” photo center sponsored by the UPS Store. They are then handed complimentary wine and beer glasses for tastings throughout the night. These glasses are available thanks to the contributions of some of the major supporters, including Cape Fear Valley Health System, the Waren Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors and Player McLean, LLP.

    With glasses in hand, guests are guided into the Orangery room. This room houses reserved tables saved for sponsors to congregate with their teams, staff or clients for a night of social gatherings. Each table is elegantly decorated with greenery and flowers by Debbie Bender Designs.

    Surrounding the perimeter of the room is a variety of silent auction baskets. Each basket contains items valued at over $200; local artists, businesses and organizations around Fayetteville donate these items. Some previous baskets included pre-season tickets to see the Carolina Panthers; an overnight stay at a winery from the Cape Fear Distillery; and massages, facials and pedicures for those looking to get7b pampered.

    The silent auction runs online on a virtual platform throughout the night, so bidders can be alerted via text the second they are outbid. Those looking for that typical pen-to-paper bidding can head over to bid on trips across North America and Europe provided by the American Fundraising Foundation. Some of the winning trips in previous years included Iceland, Greece and Tuscany!

    Once guests have taken a lap around the Orangery, they go outside to find the party. The border of the lawn hosts local beer, wine and spirits vendors from across North Carolina. Each vendor offers a variety of drinks to satiate every palette. Wine, in particular, is provided by Mutual Distributing company and delivers nearly 60 different options to taste and order for pick-up from one of their sellers. Beer and spirits come from vendors closer to home, including Mash House Brewing Company, Dirtbag Ales, Bright Light Brewing Company and Cape Fear Distillery.

    Next to the drink tables stand heavy hors d'oeuvres and desserts served by Two Brothers Catering. Each meal item is unique and delicious, with the Two Brothers servers ensuring your plate is always full.
    The night would not be complete without the opportunity to bust it down on the dance floor with friends. Five Star Entertainment pumps music through the speakers and sets up a photo booth in the corner to commemorate the night’s memories.

    The CARE Clinic sends a massive “Thank You!” to all who make the event possible. They do what they can for neighbors in need and lean on the whole community to support them in their work. Events like this open doors to connect with the community with some fun for a cause!

    The 2023 Toast of the Town is scheduled for May 4. Make plans now to attend. If you are interested in participating as a sponsor or attending as a guest, visit the event website at www.toastofthetownfay.com, follow on Facebook, @thecareclinicnc, or call 910-485-0555 for more information.

    Editor's note: Tara Martin is the Development and Marketing Director of The CARE Clinic. This article appears in the April issue of Women's View Magazine.

  • 6 Today’s lesson will explain why you should be careful what you wish for. Just ask Jiminy Cricket. There are many famous lovers in history: Frankie & Johnny, Romeo & Juliet, and The Donald & Melania, just to name a few.

    As we know, the path to true love seldom runs smooth. We are going to spend the rest of this blot on literature going undercover into the lives of two semi-famous lovers in Greek Mythology. Remember our old friends Eos and Tithonus?

    What? You don’t remember? Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and learn this sad story. It may make you feel better about your own love life. Misery loves company.
    Once upon a time in Greek Mythology, Eos was the Rosy Fingered Goddess of the Dawn. She had a big responsibility as she made the sun come up each morning like Karen Carpenter to light up our lives. As a result of a spell put on her by Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, Eos had an unquenchable thirst for making whoopee.

    Not to put too fine a point on it, but Eos liked the laddies. Even though she was a Goddess she preferred dating handsome young mortal men. A lot of mortal men. What man in his right mind would just say “No” to a beautiful rosy fingered Goddess? Nobody, that’s who. Eos was pretty successful in the partying down mode with mere mortals.

    Eos dated more men than Taylor Swift. But she was a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of gal. Once she had her way with them, she would banish them to foreign lands where they would pine away for her.
    Eventually, she got bored with endless dating. She found her soul mate in a very eligible dude named Tithonus. As Andy Griffith once sang: “Sure as the vine twines round the stump/ You are my darling Sugar Lump.” Eos was smitten by Tithonus the Sugar Lump. When a Goddess is smitten, she stays smitten, until a better looking guy comes along.

    Eos was ready to settle down and make Tithonus her permanent steady feller. There was one problem, a fly in the ointment so to speak. Goddesses are immortal. Men are not. Eos wanted to be able to hang out with Tithonus for all eternity. However, at some point Tithonus being mortal was going to croak. What to do?

    Eos put on her Thinking Tiara and came up with the perfect solution. She asked Zeus to make Tithonus immortal as a wedding present. Zeus could do anything.
    However, Zeus has a dark sense of humor. Eos was so excited about the prospect of eternal connubial bliss that when she asked for eternal life for Tithonus she forgot to ask for eternal youth for him. This was a big oops.

    Zeus realized Eos had screwed up. He chuckled and granted her wish exactly as wished.

    Things went great for the happy couple for years. Every morning after a night of ecstasy, Eos would get up from the marital bed to bring dawn to the Earth.
    Inevitably, Tithonus began to get older. When Eos realized what Zeus had done, the wish warranty like all car warranties had expired.

    Tithonus would never die but he would keep getting older and squishier. Yikes! This was bad news for all. Eos still loved her guy but all he wanted to do was to sit in a rocking chair and yell at kids to get off Olympus’ lawn.

    It got worse as Tithonus' age increased. Eventually, he could not move and just babbled incessantly. Death was not going to come to release him from his verbose jelly like state.
    After a particularly bad day, Eos did what any frustrated caretaker Goddess would do. She turned Tithonus into a cicada. Ancient Greeks believed that when cicadas shed their shells, they resumed their youth and lived forever. Cicadas are particularly loud at dawn which Greeks believed was due to their genetic inheritance from Tithonus and Eos’ job of bringing the dawn.

    Franz Kafka stole the transmogrification of Tithonus into a cicada in his novella “The Metamorphosis” in which a human wakes up to find he has turned into a giant roach. Shame on Franz for swiping Eos’ idea.

    So, what have we learned today? Once again, very little. But if you make a wish, first consult with a Board Certified Attorney who specializes in drafting wishes. Spend some money up front to avoid eternal problems. Just dial BR 549 and ask for Junior Samples. He can hook you up with the right lawyer to draft your wish.

  • 5Gun violence is not new in the United States.

    We have been a gun-loving, gun-toting nation since our inception. The right to bear arms is enshrined in our Constitution, although scholars debate to whom that actually applies.

    In 1994, Congress passed a ban on civilian ownership of military grade assault weapons. That ban expired 10 years later, and ever since we have been beset with a flood of such weapons and an accompanying wave of mass shootings.

    The mayor of Louisville lost a close friend in the recent mass shooting at a bank there earlier this month, an event now so routine this one feels like months ago. The mayor himself had been the victim of an assassination attempt a year ago. He escaped with only a bullet hole in his sweater, unlike so many other Americans permanently felled by gun violence.

    Mr. Mayor is hardly alone. Millions of Americans have personal experience with gun violence, and some like the mayor, more than once. A recent poll by the University of Chicago and the Associated Press found that 1 in 5 Americans report they or someone close to them have experienced gun violence of some sort from threats to murder. University of Chicago Professor Jens Ludwig dubs that a “strikingly high number.”

    And, ponder this for a moment. The leading cause of death of Americans between 0 and 18 years old is, in fact, gun violence. Let that sink in. Several decades ago, even after the advent of seat belt and baby seat regulations, the leading cause of childhood deaths was vehicle accidents. No more. We are now literally shooting our children dead. The rate of childhood gun deaths has soared from 10% in 2000 to 19% in 2023.

    The ban on civilian ownership of military assault weapons expired in 2004 … hmmmm.

    Most gun violence does not involve mass shootings, of course.

    Most incidents are personal, some accidental and some intentional. Many are suicides. What they all have in common are guns, and the reality that — accidental or intentional — without the gun present, many of those people, including children, would not have died.

    Mass shootings, generally defined as shootings in which 4 or more people are killed, garner national attention, as they should. There have been at least 160 of them so far this year, and we have 8 more months to go. They are changing our daily routines. Many people, including this writer, sometimes avoid large gatherings of people unknown to us and evaluate escape routes when we do go out. Many of us have sought out weapons to protect ourselves and those we love and many have tried to learn how to handle and shoot a gun.

    More and more, public safety experts are giving advice on what to do if we do find ourselves in an active shooter situation. This advice usually includes several components.
    Always be aware of your surroundings and quickly determine how you would leave the area or the building if you need to go.

    If there is an active shooter, run if you can. Hide if you cannot, and fight if you have no other option. If you hide, try to barricade yourself with furniture or whatever is around. Be quiet.
    After you ponder the fact that guns kill more children than any other cause, ponder this. While several southern American nations have higher gun death rates than the United States, we have set ourselves far apart from our international peer nations in terms of both gun ownership and gun deaths. According to U.S. News & World Report, American civilians own 120.5 firearms per 100 citizens, making us the only nation on earth with more guns than people.

    Political arguments aside, all I can think is hmmmm.

  • 4When the North Carolina House of Representatives approved its state budget plan a couple of weeks ago, the proposed pay raises for public employees, tax relief, and policy changes found within the budget bill commanded the lion’s share of public attention.

    No surprise there. Still, please allow me to offer at least a kitty cat’s share of attention to another item in the House version of the budget: a transfer of $4.2 billion over the next two years from the state’s General Fund to the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund. This represents a wise investment in North Carolina’s growth and quality of life.

    Yes, I know capital budgeting is unlikely to produce big headlines or fuel passionate arguments on social media. But it’s important. Bear with me and I’ll do my best to explain why.
    To a large extent, state agencies, regional authorities, and local governments are in the property-management business. They own and administer a vast array of buildings, facilities, public lands, and other infrastructure.

    Managed well, these assets provide ongoing returns to taxpayers in the form of revenue, population inflows, and services rendered. Managed poorly, such properties become distractions and money pits.

    The temptation to defer routine maintenance and costly repairs is universal. I’ve done it. I bet you have, too. We delay getting our vehicle’s oil changed or tires replaced. We keep putting off that dirty job or expensive retrofit, telling ourselves it can wait until it’s more convenient or we have more money in the bank, only to regret it after a catastrophic failure.

    For public decision makers, the temptation can be much stronger. At least I must confront the reality that if I let problems fester on property I own, I must foot the bill for the resulting catastrophe. Government assets are owned by everybody — which means, in a practical sense, by nobody. There’s less incentive to plan ahead and economize. Today’s managers won’t necessarily be around to have to deal with tomorrow’s catastrophic failure. And because future costs are spread across a large base of taxpayers, there isn’t much of an incentive for an individual to worry about them.

    This is a classic collective-action problem requiring an institutional remedy. In some cases, the right answer might be to sell public assets to private owners who will then face stronger financial incentives to manage them more efficiently.

    For such properties as school buildings, university classrooms, maintenance facilities, and critical infrastructure, however, a more palatable and practical remedy is to require governments to set aside dedicated funds for repair and replacement.

    That’s one of the reasons the North Carolina General Assembly voted several years ago to create the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund, or SCIF. By statute, it automatically receives a portion of state revenues and unspent money from a previous year’s budget. That comes to $1.4 billion for FY 2023-24 and $1.5 billion for 2024-25. The House has voted to transfer an additional $1.3 billion into the SCIF over the next two years.

    Now, just to be clear, SCIF funds go to more than repairs and renovations. They’ve been used to pay down North Carolina’s bonded debt by hundreds of millions of dollars as well as construct new public buildings and facilities.

    While it makes sense to finance some long-lived assets with borrowing — especially during periods when construction costs are surging — paying cash has benefits, too. It minimizes future interest payments and forces policy makers to be more disciplined about which capital investments to make, and when.

    That having been said, the repairs and renovations financed by SCIF represent prudent government at its best.

    I know why North Carolinians might just prefer to pocket state budget surpluses as personal income, either as pay raises for public employees or higher take-home pay for taxpayers.
    But by ensuring the proper upkeep of state assets — and constructing new ones with cash instead of debt — we’ll keep long-term capital costs lower while delivering better-quality services.

    To that, I offer a loud meow.

  • Food Entrepreneurs Resource DayCalling all Food Entrepreneurs! The Women’s Business Center at CEED is hosting its first local Food Resource Day for all aspiring restaurateurs, food truckers, and food-based business owners. If you have been wanting to dive into the world of food but don’t know where to start, we have a day tailored just for you. We will have back-to-back presentations, networking, and one-on-one sessions with food industry leaders. Come out and learn from the best in the city and learn what it takes to run a successful and profitable food business.

    The Food Resource Day on April 24 will delve into the technical and hands-on information food-based entrepreneurs need to take their business to the next level. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the itinerary includes three Knowledge Sessions from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. concerning food regulations, “What I Wish I Knew” from mentor panelists, and a “How to Price your Menu” workshop, as well as speed dating rounds with local resource experts. A range of vital topics will cover how to develop menus and recipes, what is menu pricing, resources for financing your food truck and/or equipment, establishing a brick and mortar, working with suppliers and so much more.

    Among the attending mentors are Julius Cook, owner of Bezzie's Home Style Foods; Chef Alan Dover, chef, and teacher with FTCC; Edna Irizarry co-owner of Elite Catering, Got Chew Grill Restaurant and mobile Food Truck owner; and lead facilitator Dani Black from Bigger Tables Culinary & Consulting.

    We Some of the resource experts include WBCFay staff and their local partners from First Citizens Bank, Lee Insurance, NC Department of Agriculture, and more.

    Concerning any business or financial questions, attendees will have the chance to speak with bankers, insurance agents, accountants, bookkeepers, and professionals in payroll and HR services. The event hosts will also share funding opportunities for equipment, food trucks, and/or commercial property.

    The event will take place April 24, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneurial HUB at Fayetteville State University located at 1073 Murchison Road in Fayetteville. Tickets cost $30, and seating is limited. To register visit linktr.ee/wbcfaync or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/food-entrepreneur-resource-day-tickets-551621022327

    Editor’s note: CEED is the Center for Economic Empowerment & Development. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration.

  • 19With spring already underway, humans aren’t the only ones that are taking advantage of the nicer weather. Here are some wildlife encounters you may experience and pro tips from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for handling each:

    Unattended young rabbits, deer fawns and songbirds

    Wild parents can’t hire a babysitter and it is normal for many species to leave their young unattended for long periods. Never assume young wildlife has been abandoned or orphaned just because you don’t see a parent nearby. If your instinct is to stand guard until its parent returns, be aware that wild animals will avoid approaching if a potential predator (i.e., you) is nearby, to avoid drawing attention to their young. Often the best way to help young wildlife is to leave them alone so their parents can return and care for them.

    Young squirrels fallen from their nest

    Windy weather during the nesting season puts young squirrels at risk of falling out of their nests. Squirrel mothers don’t abandon their young easily and will search the ground for missing young to carry back to the nest. If the whole nest falls out of the tree, a squirrel will build a new nest before retrieving her young, so it’s important to give her the time and space to do so.

    Foxes, skunks, raccoons or squirrels making themselves at home — in yours

    In early spring, wild parents are looking for sheltered, out-of-the way spaces to raise their young for the season. Crawlspaces under buildings can offer a safe and comfortable nursery for foxes and skunks while their newborn young are most vulnerable. Climbing species like raccoons and squirrels may try to access your attic. Even chimneys can become an entry point for flying species like bats and chimney swifts. To avoid having uninvited guests living under or above your building, now is a good time to make repairs to the exterior (e.g., vents, eaves, chimney caps) so wildlife can’t find their way in.

    Spotting snakes on the move

    As cold-blooded animals, snakes rely on temperature for energy to move, so warmer weather means more will be out and about, regardless of the time of year. Most snakes in North Carolina start to become active after several days at or above 60 degrees, so an early spring means early snake activity while temperatures stay warm. The best way to handle a snake encounter is to give it space. Snakes only bite humans in self-defense, so bites can be prevented by avoiding situations that force a snake to defend itself from you. Never pick up or harass a snake, and avoid surprising one by watching where you step or reach, especially in areas with thick ivy or leaf litter on the ground, or piles of wood or rocks where snakes may be seeking shelter.

    Regardless of the wild species you encounter, seek advice from a wildlife professional, such as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, before moving
    or attempting to care for any young wild animal to avoid causing unintentional harm.

    For handling unwanted wildlife encounters, a licensed wildlife control agent may be able to help. When unsure of what to do, call the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 for assistance or visit ncwildlife.org/have-a-problem for answers to commonly asked questions about preventing wildlife conflicts, injured/orphaned wildlife and more.

  • 18Spring is a season of rejuvenation, and perhaps nowhere is that rebirth more noticeable than in the yard. Each spring, grass begins to grow again as inviting landscapes beckon people outdoors. Extra sunlight and rising temperatures make spring a great time to plant flowers, grasses and trees.

    To ensure successful planting, homeowners must take steps to prepare the soil. Healthy soil can provide the ideal conditions for roots to take hold, helping plants establish themselves before potentially harsh summer conditions arrive.

    Preparing soil might seem like an extensive job, but a simple approach may be all that’s necessary to create conditions that promote plant growth this spring.

    Clean up the previous months’ mess. Whether homeowners live in regions marked by year-round warmth or places where winter typically features heavy snowfall, it’s a good idea to clean up an area prior to spring planting. Fallen leaves, rocks, grass clippings, and other debris can contribute to compacted soil that makes it hard for plants to establish strong, healthy root systems. Clear away any debris prior to planting before taking the next step in your soil preparation routine.

    Loosen the soil. Once debris has been cleared away, loosen the soil. Depending on the size of the area where you’ll be planting, you may need to invest in tools like a shovel, spade, spading fork, and/or a lawn edger.

    If you’re planting in a small area, such as a deck planter box that still has soil from last year’s planting inside it, you can either clean the box and replace the soil entirely or dig around with a handheld trowel, cultivator and/or weeder.

    It’s important to loosen all of the soil around where you will ultimately plant prior to planting to ensure water can reach the roots and help them establish themselves once planting is completed.

    Test and, if necessary, amend the soil. A simple pH test can help determine the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. This is an important step as soil that is too acidic or alkaline can decrease the availability of nutrients the plants will need to thrive.

    In addition to conducting a pH test, which can be purchased at little cost at a local home improvement store, homeowners can contact their local Cooperative Extension Service to test their soil quality. These tests will reveal soil pH, but also can shed light on the texture of the soil and other components.

    Once the test is conducted, the local Coop Extension Service may recommend amendments to improve the nutritional quality of the soil so new plants can thrive.
    Soil conditions go a long way toward determining if new plants will thrive. Preparing the soil prior to spring planting can ensure a successful season.

Latest Articles

  • Gallery 208: Beyond Surface: Abstractions by Kellie Perkins
  • Kindah Temple No. 62 hosts annual Spring Ceremonial
  • FTCC Foundation invests in students’ futures
  • Unique Easter traditions from around the globe
  • Flawless Touch Detailing celebrates new location
  • CFRT: The Play That Goes Wrong...Again
Up & Coming Weekly Calendar
  

Advertise Your Event:

 

Login/Subscribe