As decorations rapidly move from grinning jack-o’-lanterns and jolly, top-hatted turkeys to jingle bells and evergreens — the countdown to Christmas seems to start just a little bit earlier each year. The yuletide frenzy picks up sometime in mid-October, and after Halloween, the calendar is a riot of red and green ribbons until the New Year.

Despite its total domination of the solstice season, it’s important to remember that Christmas isn’t the only celebration on the agenda during this time of glad tidings and good cheer. From November to January, there are an astonishing number of holidays that hold religious and cultural significance for families worldwide.

Hanukkah, Yule, Diwali, Chinese New Year, St. Lucia Day, and so many others make for an exciting holiday season for many people in the United States and abroad.
While many of these holidays — Christmas included — boast origins from other countries and cultures, one winter holiday, in particular, is uniquely and singularly American in its creation: Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is an annual holiday that celebrates African-American and Pan-African culture. Created in 1966 by professor Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa began as an effort to bring cultural identity and a celebration of African American history to the black community.

In response to the shocking violence of the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles, California, Karenga, a prominent figure in the Black Power movement, wanted to offer Black Americans a holiday rooted in the festival traditions of West and Southeast Africa as a way to claim a heritage and traditions lost during American slavery.
A derivation of the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, Kwanzaa, styled with an additional “a” to make it seven letters long, means “first fruits.” The non-religious, seven-day holiday is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 each year.

Kwanzaa is a strictly cultural practice and in no way seeks to replace Christmas, though it is generally practiced in conjunction with the holiday.
During Kwanzaa, traditionally, families decorate their homes with the symbols of the holiday. The tradition of Kwanzaa is based on a variety of practices and may look very different from home to home. Still, it is understood as a celebration of family, life, culture, and community, as well as a recommitment to the “Nguzo Saba,” which are the “seven principles” at the core of the holiday.

Perhaps Kwanzaa’a most widely recognized symbol is the kinara. This seven-branched candelabra holds the Mishumaa Saba, seven candles of red, black and green — the colors of the Pan-African flag. Each candle in the kinara represents one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, and one is lit each day. The kinara’s black center candle —the unity candle, is lit first, then lighting proceeds from left to right to encourage thoughtful consideration and discussion of each principle throughout the holiday.

• Day 1: Unity, Umoja. On the first day of Kwanzaa, African families gather together and share family stories and traditions with one another and other community members.
• Day 2: Self-determination, Kujichagulia. This principle is about setting actionable goals for oneself and accomplishing them soon after the new year. Kujichagulia is important for self-identity and figuring out one’s place in the community and the world.
• Day 3: Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujima. On the third day of Kwanzaa, the community or family unit comes together to take on a responsibility or problem of a neighbor to further a sense of unity.
• Day 4: Cooperative Economics, Ujamaa. This principle encourages keeping money and goods within the community by shopping locally or helping local businesses.
• Day 5: Purpose, Nia. To find one’s passion or path and share it with others through mentoring or teaching is a way to both find and live a life of purpose.
• Day 6: Creativity, Kuumba. Singing, dancing, crafts, or appreciating works of African art are all ways families might choose to observe this principle.
• Day 7: Faith, Imani. This principle speaks to the power of belief within this tradition. Belief can be related to religious practices or can refer to belief and faith in oneself, family, and people.

In addition to the kinara, other major symbols of the holiday include:

• Mkeke — the mat upon which the symbols are placed.
• Mazao — crops that symbolize the “fruits of collective labor.”
• Muhindi — corn is a symbol for children and future generations.
• Kikombe cha Umoja — the unity cup, usually passed from person to person during feasting or gathering.
• Zawadi — “the gifts,” which symbolize parents’ hard work and good behavior of their children.

During the seven days of Kwanzaa, families will celebrate through feasting, dancing, drumming, and enjoying time together.
Children represent a major aspect of Kwanzaa as they represent the future. Elders in the community and in the home also hold a place of honor during the season to show respect to the ones who came before.

Though it has roots in separatist ideology, over time, Kwanzaa has come to represent the importance of culture and identity within the Black community. Parallel to those aims is a desire within the community to understand the origin, customs, and history of Black people outside the complicated framework of slavery. Despite being seen as a closed practice during its highest point of popularity in the 70s, Kwanzaa is now embraced by people of many ethnicities and races who seek to refocus their values ahead of the new year.

Although not as widely practiced as it once might have been, Kwanzaa is an excellent example of how powerful the need for tradition can be. The practices that govern our most cherished memories provide a solid foundation on which to build, grow and share.

The late poet Maya Angelou, a noted lover of the holiday said this of Kwanzaa: “It is a time when we gather in the spirit of family and community, to celebrate life, love, unity and hope.”

The holiday season is a special time of year. Individuals often spend a little more on gifts, indulge a little more on rich foods and treats and make a concerted effort to enjoy more time with their loved ones during the holidays.

However, the tendency to overdo things during the holiday season can create a lot of waste. In fact, Americans produce 25% more garbage from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, according to Waste

Advantage magazine, a publication of the waste and recycling industry. That uptick equates to one million tons of extra trash per week throughout the holidays.

Extra food, plastic and paper waste is generated this time of year, but people can be mindful of the potential to go overboard and take some steps to be more waste-conscious as they entertain.

• Reuse a small portion of wrapping paper or look for other wrapping items. Sunday comics, newsprint, colorful magazine pages, and even pieces of fabric can be used to wrap gifts in lieu of purchasing new wrapping paper. Otherwise, collect used wrapping paper and reuse it next year, doing the same with boxes and bows.
  According to researchers at Stanford University, if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
• Skip disposable party items. It’s certainly easy to use disposable plates, napkins and cups when hosting holiday parties, but that is very wasteful. Opt for durable, reusable products that can be packed away and used each year during holiday events.
• Buy durable and reusable items as gifts. Avoid fad gifts and focus on items that will have staying power. Homemade gifts, such as foods, knitted scarves, artwork, and more, are generally eco-friendly.
• Set up marked trash and recycling receptacles. Remind party guests to recycle the appropriate materials by clearly marking a pail designed for collecting recyclables, such as cans, plastic beverage bottles and glass wine bottles. Most hard plastics can be recycled.
• Remove your name from catalog lists. Call companies and ask to be taken off promotional mailing lists to reduce paper waste.
• Send a photo. Mail holiday card recipients photos of the kids or the entire family in lieu of cards. They’re apt to save the photos and display them, helping to keep even more paper trash out of landfills.
• Research new recipes for leftovers. With an abundance of food remaining after entertaining, turn leftovers into new meals by exploring recipes from friends or by doing a little research online.

Waste can get out of control during the holidays, but there are ways to tame the excess.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville announced that Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer will serve as the 17th Sergeant Major of the Army.

The announcement came during closing comments at the Army Profession Forum held in Alexandria, Virginia, Dec. 7-8.

“We have the greatest Army in the world because we have the greatest NCO Corps,” Gen. McConville said. “I’m proud to select Command Sgt. Maj. Weimer to lead that Corps.”
Weimer will assume responsibility from Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston in August
of 2023.

“When I joined the Army in 1993, I never would have thought I’d make it this far,” Weimer said. “It’s an absolute honor to be selected as the next Sergeant Major of the Army, and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve our incredible soldiers and their families.”

Until August, Weimer will continue to serve as the senior enlisted leader of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

“Right now, I want to make sure that the soldiers and families at USASOC have what they need to take care of their people and sustain readiness,” Weimer said.

“I’m not looking ahead, just focusing on the task at hand,” he said.

Weimer joined the Army in 1993 and successfully completed Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1994. He completed the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course and earned his Green Beret in 1996 and has served more than 20 years within Army Special Operations.
He served numerous overseas tours in the U.S. Central and U.S. Southern Command areas, as well as other global missions. Weimer is a graduate of Norwich University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis.

His awards and decorations include a number of valor awards: the Defense Superior Service Medal with C device, two Bronze Star Medals with V devices, and the Joint Commendation Medal with V device. Weimer has also received the Purple Heart, denoting injury in combat.

For more information about the Sergeant Major of the Army visit www.army.mil/leaders/sma/bio/. To learn more about U.S. Army Special Operations Command visit www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/USASOCHQ.html.

Christmas Eve is viewed differently by different people, even those who live under the same Santa-ready roof.
Adults may see Christmas Eve as crunch time when they must prepare food for the next day or set up presents for their children to open in the morning. Children, on the other hand, are focused on Santa’s visit and little else.

Parents naturally want to make Christmas-time as special as possible for their children, and that may involve ensuring that Christmas Eve is just as memorable as Christmas Day. The following are some ways to impart more magic into Christmas Eve celebrations.

Attend Mass at midnight

Practicing Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas. On Christmas Eve, churches often hold celebrations that may include late-evening or midnight masses that celebrate the birth of Christ when the calendar switches over to Dec. 25. While it does make for a late night, it can be thought-provoking for kids and a unique experience unlike any other.

Bake fresh cookies

Children like to leave out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa. That makes Christmas Eve a perfect time to whip up a fresh batch of cookies. Explore different recipes to come up with a unique offering for Santa each year.

Read a Christmas story

Watching television or looking at a tablet or mobile phone before bed can be too stimulating when it’s time for children to wind down for bed. Choose a holiday tale or tales that can be read as a Christmas Eve bedtime story. Reciting the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas)” is a great way to set the Christmas Eve mood.

Make a batch of “reindeer dust”

Why should Santa’s reindeer be left out when it comes to receiving treats? Reindeer dust, made from a combination of oatmeal, rice cereal and dried fruits, is purported to attract Santa’s reindeer and provide them a nibble at the same time. Plus, it’s generally safe for other animals in the yard to eat.

Go caroling

Caroling may not be the norm, but some families may want to revive it. Close-knit communities can organize family-centric caroling opportunities and roam the cul-de-sacs and other pedestrian-friendly areas singing popular songs.

Christmas Eve is a great time to embrace various traditions that help to make the season even more special.

It is a myth that adults cannot learn to ski — I started skiing when I was forty. It is easier for children, but these days a sizable number of adults are taking a lesson.

The Baby Boomer generation continues to hit the slopes and it is not unusual to see skiers in their seventies. Skiing is an engaging sport that is both aerobic and anaerobic and a sport that the entire family can enjoy.

Making a good plan for your ski trip is an important part of having an enjoyable experience. Look for a slope that is beginner friendly with a good rental department and has qualified instructors. In the beginning, avoid investing in expensive ski clothes and equipment to see if you like the sport. Wearing water-resistant clothing will help keep you dry when you fall. Let’s face it you are going to fall, get cold, and get snow down your pants. Your clothing should be layered, moisture wicking and avoid cotton because it absorbs sweat and will make you colder.

My advice to the beginner is to buy an inexpensive pair of bibs, a jacket, and a good pair of gloves and wear sunglasses that have a holder strap or goggles and a helmet. Rent your skis or snowboard and go early because the lines are usually long, and it takes a while to properly fit equipment not to mention how long it takes you to get settled and put it on.

Go to a ski slope that offers other activities such as ice skating or tubing for other members that may not be interested in the sport. A lesson or lessons are a prerequisite in learning how to navigate your skis or board, start, stop and get on and off the lift. The “bunny slope,” as it is affectionately called, is there for a reason and a fantastic way to learn and build confidence. Going straight to the top is no way to learn how to ski or board and can be dangerous for you and the others around you when you are unable to stop.

Hydration is a key factor for endurance during the day, taking breaks and eating something nutritious. The choice of a slope suited for your level of experience is important to enjoy the experience and create memories you take with you and look forward to your next trip.

I have skied out west, the North Carolina mountains (that include Beach, Sugar, Appalachian) as well as in West Virginia (Winterplace and Snowshoe). The ambiance of the North Carolina mountains is perfect for a place to ski and shop but the downside is the popularity and crowding. If you love the North Carolina mountains try to schedule that trip on weekdays instead of the weekend.

My suggestion for beginners would be Winterplace, West Virginia, which is good for proximity and usually less crowded with a variety of beginner friendly runs.
Churches or schools offer road trips or weekends for youth and is a fantastic way for your children to go with supervision.

If you are thinking about a family trip, planning in advance will save you time and money with lift tickets, available times, ski packages that include rentals, lessons, and any days that may be sold out.
Ski season on the East Coast typically runs from mid-December through March.

Adults learning to ski should have lessons from a qualified instructor to learn the basics and opt out from those eager friends that want to teach them. Enjoy that friend time later while you talk about your runs.
Live, love life with skiing and snowboarding!

Grab your neon leg warmers, and get that hairspray out; it’s time to go back to the 80s. The second annual New Year’s Eve Party at the Gates Four Country Club will celebrate in full eighties style. Last year, the inaugural New Year’s Eve Party was 70s-themed. The Gates Four Groovy New Year’s Eve Party was the first event of this kind that the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre and the Gates Four Golf and Country Club collaborated on. Now they hope to have an even more successful second year.

Gates Four and the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre have spared no expense in making this a fun and exciting evening to remember.

“We have invited all our guests to dig deep into their closets, don their most stylish 80s attire and join their friends for an evening of great music, dancing, food, and fun,” said Bill Bowman, organizer of the event and Up & Coming Weekly’s publisher.

Bowman states that there will be a legendary prime rib carving station at a 40-item buffet, two fully stocked cash bars, and retro 80s polyester-clad D.J. Scott James.

And what’s a Fayetteville party without the iconic group, Rivermist. This headlining band has been performing together since the summer of 2015. They have won the Up & Coming Weekly’s Best Local Band award for six years in a row. Accolades are not new to the band. They were named the 2021 “Vocal Group of the Year” by the Carolina Country Music Awards.

The group is nominated as the Vocal Group of the Year in the 2022 CCMAs, as well as for their collaboration with Doyle Wood on “There’s a River Called Jordan” in the Christian Country Single of the Year category. The CCMA winners will be announced in January.

In addition to great music, the 80s Party will also have food and a costume contest. Each winner will receive fantastic prizes in categories for Best Costumed Man, Best Costumed Woman, and Best Costumed Couple. But if costumes aren’t your thing, there will also be a dancing contest and a lip sync contest. But that won’t be the only way to win some prizes. There will be door prizes and other gifts throughout the night.

The event will be held in the Gates Four Country Club Ballroom on Dec. 31. The party kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and will go into the early hours of 2023. Enjoy the Midnight Champagne Toast as 2022 ends and kick off 2023 with a New Year’s breakfast.

This end-of-the-year party is open to the public, with limited seating. Reservations are required. Tickets are $100 per person or $190 per couple. VIP Tickets are available for $250 a couple. VIP Tickets include special seating and two bottles of wine.

Reservations can be made online at www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com or by calling 910-484-6200.

Cumberland County went live Dec. 9 with its new 911 Call Center, located in the County’s new Emergency Services Center at 500 Executive Place in Fayetteville.

The transition of 911 telecommunications from its previous location in the Cumberland County Law Enforcement Center downtown was seamless and without interruption, according to a County media release.

“This is an exciting moment for Cumberland County as we transition to this new facility and dramatically enhance the work environment of our Emergency Services staff, and ultimately the level of service our

Emergency Services Department and 9-1-1 Center are able to provide for our citizens in their time of need,” said Cumberland County Commissioners Chairwoman Toni Stewart.

“This has been a priority for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners dating back to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, and I am thrilled this day has finally arrived.”

“This is a historic day for Cumberland County Emergency Services for a number of reasons,” said Telecommunications Manager Adam Johnson.

“All our technology was in place and it was a smooth transition with lots of planning and practice to make sure today would kick off smoothly,” he said.

In late 2018, the County purchased the building at 500 Executive Place to be renovated and upgraded to serve as the new Emergency Services Center.
The new 911 Call Center has greatly expanded space with live training rooms and room for growth.

The new center features next generation 911 equipment, including a phone system with text-to-911 capability. It also allows for rapid call routing to other 911 centers in the event the facility must be evacuated.
In addition, the audio-visual system has been designed to allow for maximum communication and flexibility, which is integral to emergency management and response.

“We had long outgrown the space we had in the LEC,” Johnson said. “We started with humble beginnings to serve the public and rapidly grew the size of our staff and the services we offered the public. This new facility will allow our amazing team of Telecommunicators and support staff to flourish.”

The new Cumberland County Emergency Services Center also houses Emergency Management, the Fire Marshal and the County’s Emergency Operations Center.

The 911 Communications Center dispatches for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Hope Mills Police Department, Spring Lake Police Department, Cape Fear Valley EMS (county-wide) and all County Fire Departments.

Cumberland County upholds the rigorous and industry-leading standards required to be a triple Accredited Center of Excellence through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. Text to 911.

Calling is the best and fastest way to reach 911, but it is possible to receive emergency assistance by text to 911. You may consider text to 911 if:

• You are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability.
• You are in a situation where it is not safe or possible to speak out loud to 911.
• You are having a medical emergency and cannot speak on the phone.

For information about Emergency Services, visit www.cumberlandcountync.gov/emergencyservices.

Various traditions take center stage during the holiday season. One of those traditions may be sitting down and enjoying any of a number of timeless Christmas movies or even newer holiday films that are quickly becoming favorites.
Film fans have their own ideas about the best films to watch during the holidays, but the following movies are some that kids and adults can enjoy together.

• “The Polar Express” (2004): A young boy enjoys a magical adventure to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express train. He learns about the true spirit of the holidays and the value of bravery and friendship along the way.
• “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992): Charles Dickens’ classic story about a bitter miser might be a little frightening for young children to enjoy in its more theatrical offerings. However, when the Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale, the story becomes much more family-friendly.
• “A Boy Called Christmas” (2021): Based on the book by Matt Haig, this movie is a reimagined take on Father Christmas. It focuses on Nikolas as he goes on an adventure to find a magical town called Elfhelm.
• “Jack Frost” (1998): When a father dies in a car accident, he comes back to life as a snowman in his son’s front yard. Jack learns to keep his promises and make things right with his son — things he wasn't capable of doing as a human.
• “Christmas with the Kranks” (2004): The Kranks decide to forgo their annual Christmas party and plan a vacation since their daughter will be out of town. But when said daughter decides to come home after all, chaos sets in as the couple tries to figure out how to put together an extravaganza at the last minute.
• “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” (1997): The Beast does not favor the holiday season, so Belle must change his mind on the matter in this animated Disney offering.
• “Elf” (2003): As a youngster, Buddy was magically transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa’s elves. As an adult, he’s determined to find his real dad in New York City and uncover a way to fit in.
• “Santa Hunters” (2014): A young boy teams up with his sibling and cousins to try to capture new footage of Santa in action and prove that the man in red truly exists.
• “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” (2018): This is a newer take on the classic Nutcracker tale. This adventure sees Clara defending the Land of Sweets from the evil Mother Ginger.

Holiday films enhance the celebratory nature of the season. Certain movies are tailor-made for families to watch together during this special time of year.

From 1977 until 1985 and from 1993 through 2001 Wilson County was the de facto capital of North Carolina. At least it was when then-Gov. Jim Hunt and his close advisor, Betty McCain, were home from Raleigh.
McCain, who died Nov. 23, served as Hunt’s trusted political partner and friend throughout Hunt’s career. Among her assignments were serving as secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources and first female chair of the state Democratic Party.

She also worked tirelessly on Hunt’s successful efforts to change the state’s constitution to permit governors to serve two consecutive terms.
Reports of her death recognized her affection for her late husband, Dr. John McCain, and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

These reports also contained long lists of her accomplishments and service: undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, followed by a master's in music from Columbia University Teachers College followed by positions at UNC-CH’s campus Y and seven decades of service to the university system.

She served on the board of governors of the UNC System, as a member of the UNC-CH board of visitors, chair of the UNC General Alumni Association, and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center board of visitors. UNC-CH awarded her an honorary degree, the GAA Distinguished Service Medal and the William Richardson Davie Award.

Notwithstanding her many accomplishments and great service to North Carolina, many will most remember her for her warm and steady support for friends and colleagues, her energetic, entertaining, and effective speeches, and for her unmatched and disarming sense of humor as demonstrated by the following stories from folks who knew her.

According to Robert Anthony, former curator of the North Carolina Collection, when McCain was speaking to a group of nationally prominent decorative arts experts meeting in New Bern, McCain greeted them in her polished mock country girl manner explaining that she was from Faison in Duplin County, a town so small that the school, she told them, had to use the same car for drivers’ training and for sex education.

For many years, she told this group, people in Duplin made a living growing tobacco. But, she explained, “when the government cracked down on cigarette smoking and thus put the tobacco farmers out of business, some people switched to growing hogs. If we could just get the hogs to start smoking cigarettes, we might be able to get a product we could sell to the Yankees as smoked ham.”

When Michael Hill, historian, and research supervisor at Cultural Resources, bragged about visiting all of North Carolina's 100 counties, she put her hand softly on his arm and said, “Honey, I've been to every precinct.”

Patrick Wooten, deputy commissioner of the state’s Industrial Commission remembered, “At a political gathering down in Wilson, when the topic of weight gain from politicians eating so much barbecue came up, Betty Ray said, ‘My daughter, Eloise, bought me one of those stationary bicycles and told me that I had to ride it, and that she was going to come over to check the odometer every week.’ When I asked her if she had done that she said, ‘No, honey, I pay the preacher’s little boy to come over and ride it.’”

McCain was an unapologetic Democrat. Willis Whichard, former supreme court justice and biographer of Governor David Swain, shared this story: Betty used to say that someone once told her mother that she would vote for the devil if he was on the Democratic ticket. Her mother frowned and responded emphatically, “Not in the primary!”

Once, she told her colleagues that she hoped she would be buried in Madison County, North Carolina. When they asked her why she picked a small mountain county far away from where she lived, she said, “I just want to keep on voting after I die.”

And up in heaven now, she just might figure out how she can keep on voting.

Editor’s Note: D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch.

As the 95-pound ball of energy rushed past me — nearly knocking me over as I let him back in after his morning patrol — I almost forgot there was a time we’d have been joined by a leash for the entirety of this ritual.

Dog people understand; there’s something to be learned in every day we spend with our four-legged friends. In the time he’s been in our family, I’ve learned a lot about life, love and healing from Champ.
The longer I walk this earth, the more aware I’ve become that people give up too soon, too often. We prefer reward without the contest, promotion without effort, and accolades without genuine accomplishment.

Someone gave up too soon on this big bundle of loyalty that shadows me wherever I go in the house. Perhaps they failed to be there when he brought the ball back, or to patiently correct him when he got the sandwich that was sitting pretty much at eye level on the counter.

Or maybe whoever dropped him off as an unmanageable pet had simply lost interest when he sprouted those long legs and began testing them to see how fast he could get from one place to the next. I don’t know.
What I do know is that rescuing Champ from a no-kill shelter is what all three of us needed. We had just lost his predecessor to old age and our son to an act of senseless violence when Champ came into our home to remind me that relationships worth having are worth exponentially more than the effort we apply to growing them. Among other things, this crazy dog has taught me a lot about how God must see us — His unruly-but-worth-the-effort children.

When we applied to adopt him, we were grilled by the shelter staff who implied we might be too old for a dog of Champ’s stature. They suggested he might require too much attention, discipline or strength to make it with us. After the second or third doggy welfare call, I assured them he wasn’t our dog — he was a member of the family.

I believe our relationship with God is a lot like all of this. We come to Him with all our quirks and habits, and He takes us in knowing we have greater potential than we’re given credit for.

As we learn that what He wants to do is love us, and nothing we do can make Him love us less, we begin to calm and grow into the relationship to the point the thing that gives us the most joy and greatest sense of comfort and belonging is to simply sit at God’s feet and adore Him.

God makes Himself known in so many ways. From each breath we breathe to the stunning sunsets that take it away, the wonder of God and His creation should never fail to stun us.
Merry Christmas … hope has come!

Decorating homes and other spaces is a major component of the holiday season for many. Holiday decorations often reflect celebrants’ religious beliefs, and the following are some traditional holiday decor symbols for people of various faiths.

Christmas tree, Christian or secular Christmas symbol
Few things evoke thoughts of Christmas time quite like a towering evergreen parked front and center in a home’s picture window. Christmas trees are believed to date back to sixteenth century Germany. The custom ultimately arrived in America when the country welcomed an influx of German immigrants. It is widely believed that various non-Christian cultures may have used evergreen plants indoors in celebration of the winter solstice, which suggests Christmas trees may pre-date Christian symbolism.

Menorah, Jewish Chanukah symbol
Menorahs are seven-armed candelabras used in Jewish religious worship. To mark the Chanukah celebration, a special nine-armed hanukkiah is displayed for eight days and nights. A candle is lit each day to commemorate the miracle of oil lasting in the rededicated Temple after the Maccabees’ successful uprising against the Syrian Greeks. The menorah typically is placed in a highly visible spot, such as the front window of a home or in a high-traffic living space.

Advent wreath, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran, among others, Christian symbol
The Advent wreath is used by various Christian denominations and draws attention to the weeks preceding Christmas. A new candle is lit on the wreath each Sunday at mass to prepare the faithful to receive the Lord Jesus.

Kinara and Mishumaa Saba, Kwanzaa cultural symbol
The Kinara (candle holder) and the Mishumaa Samba (the seven candles) are symbolic of Kwanzaa. The candles and holder represent the Seven Principles, or the minimum set of values by which African people are urged to live.

Baby New Year, Secular symbol
Baby New Year is a popular promotional symbol used to commemorate the dawn of a new year. The baby represents rebirth and may be traced back to the ancient Greeks or Egyptians. Historians say the Greeks believed that their god of wine, Dionysus, was reborn on New Year’s Day as the spirit of fertility. While people may not decorate with Baby New Year figurines, they do participate in “First Baby” competitions, which celebrate those infants born in the opening moments of a new year.

Nativity scene, Christian Christmas symbol
It’s customary for nativity scenes to be included in Christmas decor schemes. The nativity depicts the birth of Christ and typically includes a manger, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, various animals, an angel, and the three visiting Magi. The infant Jesus also is included, though some people prefer to wait until after the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve to place Jesus in the manger. Live nativity scenes also are commonplace around Christmas. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first live nativity scene in 1223.

Prices on the majority of goods and services have increased over the last year-plus. Financial analysts report that inflation has reached heights that haven’t been seen in 41 years.
According to the United States Department of Labor, the consumer price index, which measures changes in how much Americans pay for good and services, rose 0.4 % in September. As prices soared, families’ budgets were being pushed.

What can people do in the face of rising costs on items they need, including those who may be on fixed incomes? These suggestions may be helpful for some families.

Frequently review your budget. Keep track of how much items cost right now. Document all spending by writing down a list of weekly expenses or utilizing any number of free budgeting apps available.

Tracking what is going out may make it easier to cut costs on less essential items, such as streaming services or gym memberships.

Contact service providers. You may be able to negotiate better deals with a service provider, such as a mobile phone company or a cable television provider, if they learn you are considering leaving.
If they can’t work out a deal, go with the less expensive provider. You can always switch back at the end of the term if you desire.

Stop automatic payments. Having subscriptions and other bills automatically deducted from your checking account is convenient, but those rising costs may be overlooked. By viewing your bill and paying it each month, you can see where costs have increased and where you might need to rethink services.

Carpool to work or school. Reduce expenditures on gasoline by sharing the costs with another person. Determine if public transportation is more cost-effective than driving to work or school each day.

Another way to save is to combine trips. It may be acceptable to put off some errands for another day in order to save gas and time.

Consider alternative retailers. Brand loyalty to one supermarket or a particular retailer is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Nowadays, it is wise to comparison shop across various stores to figure out where you’re getting the best deal. Venture into stores you may not have considered previously. Divide your shopping list by store category, visiting several for different items if it leads to big savings. Sharing information with friends and neighbors on sales and deals can save money as well.

Unplug, literally and figuratively. Cut down on energy costs by unplugging items when not in use. Reduce dependence on devices to further stem costs on electricity and gas-powered appliances. Prices continue to rise and consumers can explore various ways to stick to their spending budgets.

A shooting Sunday night, Dec. 11 left one man dead and a juvenile in critical condition, the Fayetteville Police Department said.

Officers were dispatched to the 6400 block of Independence Place Drive for reports of shots fired just before 11:30 p.m., police said in a release.

When officers arrived, they found a man and a juvenile in a truck.

The man was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said in the release.

Police on Monday identified the man as 27-year-old Bishop Rhone.

The juvenile is in critical condition, police said.

This was the third fatal shooting in the city over the weekend.

Two people were killed in separate shootings Saturday. A woman died in a shooting on Lonestar Road, and a man died after a shooting on Cude Street.

Anyone who has information about this investigation is asked to contact Detective S. Shirey at 910-751-3009 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

Having won city voters’ approval to issue $97 million in bonds to address infrastructure, housing and public safety concerns, the Fayetteville City Council on Dec. 12 began planning exactly how the money will be spent.

The council on Monday night heard a presentation by city administrators about the next steps in the bond projects that voters passed in the November election.
The administrators were seeking input and guidance from council members.

“We have three working groups that we have created in connection with these three projects,” Assistant City Manager Adam Lindsay said.

Sheila Thomas-Ambat, the city’s public services director, talked first about the $25 million in infrastructure bonds that voters approved.

“That was a 67% approval, which was the highest,” she said of the election results. “We want to thank the community for speaking and their vote of confidence in us in delivering.

Plans are to spend $15 million on street resurfacing based on a 2022 survey.

“We plan to bring to this council in approximately February the streets that we anticipate resurfacing,” Thomas-Ambat said. “And those streets will be selected from the 2022 pavement condition survey. We estimate a total of 63 miles of city streets that will be resurfaced.”

Thomas-Ambat said the improvements will be a full resurfacing and the city will not use preservation methods that have previously been discussed with the council.

The resurfacing is expected to take three years, she said.
Lee Jernigan, the city’s traffic engineer, then spoke about the $8 million in sidewalks, bike lanes and intersection improvements that are part of the infrastructure package.

“Currently, what we proposed would be selected from council’s adopted pedestrian plan and some projects that were already located in the council’s five-year capital improvement plans,” Jernigan said.

That would include about 14.5 miles of sidewalks, he said.

“And just to inform folks on how (we) determined the methodology for selection, it was basically connectivity, and you can see that included schools, commercial centers and public facilities. Safety and constructability were also a component because, obviously, some things are easier to build than others and less costly.”

The bond package included roughly $1.25 million for Intersection improvement projects, but some of those have been paid for with federal and state funding. Jernigan said the council could chose to reassign that funding or identify additional intersections for improvements.
Chris Cauley, the city’s economic and community development director, then discussed plans for the housing bond funding.

“We already have housing development programs underway,” Cauley said of the voter-approved $12 million bond package. “It’s to put the lion’s share into rental development. So, we know we have a significant amount of households paying too much for rent right now. … We have housing development needs that are stacked up.”

“These projects that we’re looking at doing that are a little bit out of the box from what we’ve been doing the last 20 years, they’re going to cost $4 million to $5 million in gap financing from the city. So this lets us take advantage of a couple of those projects we’ve never really had the ability to secure before and bring those here.”

Gap financing is financial assistance in the form of a loan to cover a gap in time, funding or negotiations.
The plan includes single-family homes, Cauley said.

“We’ll be looking for a development partner to help us build some modest homes for folks to move into, especially new families and early professionals,” he said. “This would be like construction financing and helping if there’s a gap between the appraised value of the home and what the home actually cost to build. Because sometimes when you’re building a modest home, that could be a challenge, depending on the location.”

Portions of the bond money also have been earmarked for housing rehabilitation and down payment assistance, he said.
Cauley said the city staff will report back to the council in February to help explain “this very complex stuff a little bit better.”

With that, Rob Stone, the city’s construction management director, briefly discussed the $60 million in public safety improvement bonds.
The priority for the Fayetteville Police Department is a proposed 911 call center. For the Fire Department, it’s three fire stations: Nos. 16, 9 and 2.

“These were brought forth from the 2019 study for public safety and also discussion with the Fire Department and Police Department as prioritized items,” Stone said. “What we’re looking for is — again, with the council consensus of project prioritization — is to what the council is looking for with this bond. The big item is the 911 center.”

He anticipates presenting more specific plans to the City Council in March or April, he said.

The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen will be advertising once again for a permanent town manager, which was announced Dec. 12 at its regularly scheduled board meeting.

Mayor Kia Anthony said the board had heard from the Local Government Commission, which sent a letter outlining six reasons for declining the proposed employment contract between the town and Justine Jones.

“We did receive an answer from the LGC in regard to the approval of Miss Jones’ contract,’’ Anthony said. “That was denied, and we are having to reopen the process to start our manager search over. We are going to have to assume the cost for again, but we will keep you updated as more things come to light.”

In a letter to the board sent last week, Local Government Commission Secretary Sharon Edmundson, who also serves as the deputy treasurer for the State and Local Government Finance Division, said that state Treasurer Dale Folwell and the LGC staff were willing to assist in hiring a town manager and outlined what the LGC considered to be necessary executive and administration qualifications for a new manager.

This skill set includes:

• A demonstrated success and experience as a manager of a North Carolina municipality with a size of population, staff, services and budget comparable to that of Spring Lake, most preferably for a minimum of two years. It was added that three to four years would be better.
• Possibly demonstrated success as a manager in turning around a distressed town or community.
• The ability to hit the ground running leading all town administrative functions.
• Demonstrated attention to detail in all written and oral correspondence. (Jones had sent a cover letter and resume to the “Town of Spring Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia” before sending a corrected version to the town of Spring Lake.)

“We did decide to post the town manager position,’’ Alderman Raul Palacios said. “We will be reviewing it by Friday and it will be posted by Monday.”

Palacios said last week that the board was given guidelines from the LGC in the letter that would help as they move forward.

Alderman Marvin Lackman echoed his sentiment.
“As a board, we are still learning, but we want to make sure we get it right,’’ Lackman said. “We are going to open the search back up to hire the most qualified person that we can bring in here.”

The board entered a closed session citing N.C. general statutes for personnel and attorney-client privilege and came out of the closed session after 30 minutes with the announcement.

In other discussion, the board clarified that it had received payments from the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County, but it had not received an up-to-date contract in several years.

At their last regularly scheduled meeting, Alderwoman Sona Cooper brought up that the contract between the Boys and Girls Club and the town had not been updated or signed since 2019 and the town had not been receiving monthly payments. The Boys and Girls Club uses the Spring Lake Recreation Center for its after-school activities.

Director Russell McPherson spoke during the public comment to have the record corrected that all invoices from the town had been paid and they were not behind on payments.

Fire Chief Jason Williams, who is also serving as interim town manager, said they do have record of payment from the Boys and Girls Club.

“There was a miscommunication,’’ Williams said. “The contract was the problem, we had the checks.”

He said the town would be meeting with the Boys and Girls Club and Fayetteville-Cumberland County Parks & Recreation to update the contract in January.

The board also approved a new payment plan for the second fire station built in 2021.

The Local Government Commission discovered in April that the town had circumvented the debt-approval process and had entered into an eight-year loan for $1.2 million for the fire station.

The terms approved, which were negotiated between the LGC and South River Electric Membership Corp., extended the maturity date from October 2030 to October 2039 and reduced payments to $55,555.56 over 18 years.

A longer payback period will help the town as it struggles to regain its financial footing.

Book Black Women, LLC. will be hosting a Christmas concert by candlelight on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the John D. Fuller Recreational Complex on Old Bunce Road in Fayetteville.

“My hope is that everyone feels the magic that is Christmas and leaves the event with joy! It’s Book Black Women’s final event of the year and I just want to fill the room with smiles,” said Ayana Washington, the founder of Book Black Women, LLC.

The concert will be held entirely in candlelight, creating an atmosphere for both the performers and the audience.

“An entire show illuminated by candlelight is almost whimsical! [It’s] the spirit of this season,” said Washington.

A Candlelight Christmas will feature several performers from the Fayetteville area, including Jerrita Waters, a professor from Fayetteville State University. Washington said Waters had not played her trumpet for concerts in a while but would come out of retirement for the show. Other performers include Ashley Jones, Bryanna Williams, Roné Grant, Destiny Pritchett and Kylah Duncan.

Two local vendors, Pretty Stickie and Southern Weirdo will provide concertgoers with treats and drinks.

“Both businesses are black woman owned. Refreshments and holiday beverages will be on sale for all, but VIP ticket holders will have unlimited access,” said Washington.

General admission or VIP tickets can be purchased for the event at www.eventbrite.com/e/a-candlelit-christmas-tickets-449815459147

VIP tickets are $40 and include bistro-style seating near the front of the stage. In addition, guests will receive a bottle of sparking cider at their table and refreshments are included in the cost of the VIP ticket.
General admission tickets are $25. Refreshments can be purchased for an additional cost.
Book Black Women, LLC. was started by Washington as a way to help promote black women in the community. In an interview earlier this year with Up & Coming Weekly, Washington said she created this entity (Book Black Women) because she wanted to provide performance opportunities for black women.

“With colorism being loud and silent all at once, it can sometimes be hard for black women to get the shots they deserve.”

Now, with the final event of the first year of Book Black Women, LLC, Washington is hopeful for the next year.

“Book Black Women has succeeded because of the community,” she said. “My day job funds 95% of the events, I apply for artist grants which assist with the other 5%. I receive much needed advice from other nonprofits in the city but the community, the people showing up to the events and buying tickets, is what is helping Book Black Women succeed. I am so appreciative of that!”

Washington plans to update Book Black Women to a 501(c)3 status.

“The events we have lined up are in collaboration with other small businesses in the city. Being a 501(c)3 nonprofit will help ensure those events have the greatest impact possible,” she said.
Washington can be reached for performance and sponsor opportunities at bookblackwomen.nc@gmail.com.

If you are a fan of Christmas lights, we got you covered. Here is a list of local light shows that you can check out. Some light shows are drive-thru only while others you can walk around.

Aloha Safari Park

Aloha Safari Park will have its first Christmas light show this year. They are open from 6 to 9 p.m. for lights. Admission is $10 per person for ages 2 and up. Come see a beautiful two-mile drive-through trail with over one million lights. When you’re done driving through, come on inside and enjoy some hot chocolate or make a s’more. Giraffe feeding will also be available. Santa himself will be there up until Christmas Eve. You can take photos with the jolly old fellow and a baby kangaroo. They will be open from Dec. 16 through Jan. 1.

Arnette Park

Enter a Winter Wonderland at Christmas in the Park at Arnette Park, a beautiful combination of developed facilities and natural woodland spanning 100 acres adjacent to the Cape Fear River. Enjoy a leisurely drive while taking in the sights and sounds of the Holiday season. Arnette Park is located at 2165 Wilmington Hwy, Exit 100 off Hwy 87. Admission is free. The dates of the light show are Dec. 14 – 15 and Dec. 18 – 21 (excluding Fridays and Saturdays).

Cape Fear Botanical Garden

A Garden tradition for the past 12 years, visit the Cape Fear Botanical Garden to see over one million lights, Santa, the Grinch, activities, S'mores and more. Food trucks and the Garden Bar will be available for refreshments. Visitors can also go shopping at the Artisan Market, make some arts and crafts, and see a showing of Frosty’s Winter Wonderland. Advance tickets are required and can be purchased by visiting the website. The light show is open from Dec. 16 through Dec. 22 from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

CATHIS Farm

This beautiful farm is the Holiday Light Destination this holiday season. Magical, twinkling Christmas light displays, photos with Santa and the Grinch, a snowfall play area, kid’s activities and games, make-your-own s’mores at the bonfire, plus private firepit reservations. Enjoy toasty holiday treats, and holiday shopping in their store, and experience wintery fun surrounded by their magical Christmas lights in Lillington. Tickets can be bought at https://cathisfarm.ticketspice.com/winter-lights-2022. The light show will be open on Dec. 16 – 18; Dec. 21 – 24; and Dec. 26. General admission tickets are $12 a person.

Farley Family Lights

The Farley Family will be doing a double feature every night at their house. Starting at 6 p.m. there will be a Christmas show featuring music from 92.7 FM. Following the Christmas Show is a Disney-themed light show. These two shows will repeat up until 9:30 p.m. So everyone gets a chance to see the double feature at least once. This is not a drive-thru event, rather a single-family home with some amazing decorations and timed lights and synchronized music. If you would like to see the show from the comfort of your car, please turn off the headlights however running lights are encouraged. This is a free event and is located at 95 Farley Road, Cameron.

Lu Mil Vineyard

Drive your own vehicle thru hundreds of thousands of lights and decorations that are synchronized to music that you can listen to on your car’s FM radio. Their magical experience will help create unforgettable family memories for all ages. Come make Lu Mil Vineyard’s Festival of Lights a family tradition. They are open from Dec. 15 through Dec. 23 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is $10 a person, and children ages 5 and under are free. Cash and cards are accepted at the ticket booth. Bus Tour Reservations are available. There is a free wine tasting every night of the Festival of Lights. You can try any three of their wines for free. Pictures with Santa are also free, as long as you bring your own camera. They are located at 438 Suggs-Taylor Road in Elizabethtown.

The Meadow Lights

The Meadow Lights is the largest and oldest Christmas light show in Eastern North Carolina. They are a family-owned and operated business that started more than 40 years ago. In 1994 they built “The Old Country Store” to sell drinks and old-fashioned candy. Since then, they have become one of the largest candy stores in the state, specializing in Christmas and old fashion candy, carrying over 300 varieties. They display lights on over 30 acres and operate a train ride through 10-plus acres. The lights will be on every night until New Year’s Eve. Santa will also be there every night until Christmas Eve. The candy store and concession stand will remain open as long as they have inventory but may close earlier in the year. The Meadow Lights are located at 4546 Godwin Lake Road, Benson.

Segra Stadium

Get in the holiday spirit at Segra Stadium and enjoy tens of thousands of holiday lights. The Fayetteville Holiday Lights, presented by Aevex Aerospace, will run nightly through Dec. 23. The event will include tens of thousands of holiday lights around the stadium, with displays on the concourse and a path of walk-through lights on the warning track of the field. Patrons can also get their picture taken with Santa and participate in holiday crafts for free. Each night will have a different theme. Adult tickets are $10 and children’s tickets are $8 if you buy in advance Tickets go up $2 on the day of. Tickets can be bought at https://bit.ly/HolidayLights120822.

Sweet Valley Ranch

Join Sweet Valley Ranch as they transform their farm into a magical Christmas Wonderland featuring over one million lights and over 350 animals as the stars of the show. The light show is a drive-through event but guests can also park at Tiny’s Winter Wonderland (across the street) to enjoy a visit with Santa, vendors, gift shop, amusement rides, food and more. This is a drive-through event and all ticket holders must be in the same vehicle. Guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Individuals that purchase tickets at the event will experience longer delays. The light show will be open on Dec. 15 – 18; Dec. 21 – 23; and Dec. 26. Tickets are $10 a person for one to three people in the car, $9 a person for four to eleven people in a car, and $8 a person for twelve or more people in a car. Anyone aged 2 and under is free. Tickets can be bought at www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com/festival-of-lights.

From Dec. 15 until Jan. 15, the Cumberland County Public Library system is inviting readers of all ages to keep up the excellent work of reading books over the holiday break during its Winter Reading Program, known as WRAP.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library, Inc., WRAP allows readers of all ages to win prizes for tracking their reading progress and participating in library-related activities, according to the Cumberland County Public Library.

The Winter Reading Program is split into children, teens, adults, staff and family, and each category has different objectives.

“[The Winter Reading Program] is meant to be a program that encourages” people to continue reading during winter break, said Carla Brooks, Cumberland County Library Division Manager of Programs.

“We call it our Winter Reading and Activities Program.”

The 2022-2023 Children’s Winter Reading Program “encourages lifelong reading habits for children 11 and under,” according to the Cumberland County Public Library’s website.
The next category is for teens aged 12 to 18.

“[Kids] read for five hours, and they get a little record,” Brooks said. “They bring it back in and they can get a free book.”

These two categories offer virtually the same prizes: Read for five hours (or 300 minutes), earn a free book, and enter into drawings for the prize of “book bundles” at the Cumberland County library of your choice.

“It helps kids to start their own little home libraries if they don’t have any,” Brooks said. “Or, if they’ve got one, it helps them to continue to expand it.”

Remember that there are two distinct $25 gift certificates to be raffled away: Children earn the chance to win one to Barnes & Noble, while teenagers can win one to 2nd & Charles.

“For every five hours after [the 300 minutes], it’s just more chances in to the drawings,” she said.

The remaining categories are adults, library staff, and family, with a gift bundle and a potential $100 gift card grand prize. In addition, library staff and families can enter to win a gift bundle for employees.
Brooks said that adults get a bingo card to fill out with different things they might need, like reading under a blanket or reading an old childhood favorite.

“Once they get bingo one way, they bring the card back in, and this year the prize for adults is a mini flashlight,” she added.

The Winter Reading Program is happening at all eight libraries in the Cumberland County Library network.
Be aware all library locations are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, the Headquarters Library (downtown Fayetteville), Hope Mills Branch, North Regional Library and Cliffdale Regional Library are open Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m.

There are seven libraries besides the Headquarters Library in downtown, so visitors can choose the closest facility, Brooks said.

For information about exact library locations, please visit https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library/locations.

The Fayetteville city manager on Dec. 9 announced the two finalists to become the city’s next police chief and both are already familiar with the department and the community.
City Manager Doug Hewett told members of the media that Kemberle Braden and James Nolette, both assistant chiefs in the Police Department, are the finalists to replace retiring Chief Gina Hawkins. Hewett, who will make the decision, said he hoped to have the chief named before Christmas.

Members of the public can ask questions of the candidates during a community forum scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the council chambers at City Hall. Residents also may submit questions in advance.
The link for online questions, which is set to be posted this afternoon, is available at fayettevillenc.gov/chiefsearch.

The candidates introduced themselves and spoke briefly about their history with the department. The media was not allowed to ask
questions.

“The candidates in this forum will not answer any questions. Only Mr. Hewett will,” said Loren Bymer, a spokesman for the city. “There will be (an) opportunity on Tuesday for candidates to receive questions.”

Bymer said Friday’s announcement of the two finalists was part of the employment process.
The names of the other candidates will not be released, Bymer said. Nolette and Braden were among 10 potential candidates identified during the search process.

“I am proud that following a rigorous process (that pooled a variety of candidates from around the country), both of our finalists are from here, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and have demonstrated that they are invested in this community,” Hewett said.

Braden commands the Field Operations Bureau for the department, which is made up of various patrol and investigative units and oversees patrol operations, major crimes and vice operations.

“I have been serving the Fayetteville community for the last 27 years,” he said. “And I’m originally from Fayetteville, as my father was a retired Special Forces soldier out at Fort Bragg.”

Nolette said he has been with the Fayetteville Police Department for approximately 25 years.

“I came to North Carolina — as based on my accent you can tell I’m not from here — originally from Providence, Rhode Island,” he said.

Technically, he said, he’s a third-generation police officer who has lived in Fayetteville since 1999. That included a six-year stint with Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division.

“I’ve made this my home. I didn’t want to go back to Rhode Island and shovel snow any more so this is where I stayed.”

He married his wife, who is from Fayetteville, and together they have an 11-year-old son.

“Incredibly humbled by this opportunity,” Nolette said.

Nolette commands the Specialized Services Bureau, which is comprised of various units in training and professional development, field operations support, the Community Resources Division, Specialized Operations, Central Record and the Technical Support Division.

“When we began this search,” Hewett said, “we went through a comprehensive process to gather input from stakeholders, including council, police department staff, city staff and the residents of Fayetteville. This information helped us understand what the important characteristics were for our next chief of police.”

“Overwhelmingly,” he added, “the feedback that we received was someone who prioritizes collaboration, transparency, accountability and a desire to make Fayetteville even safer and a more secure place to live. We knew based on community interest that our chief should be invested fully in this community.”

Through a search firm hired by the city, the Chapel Hill-based Developmental Associates,
the city began searching nationally for candidates who met that criteria, Hewett said. The search process included the identification of possible candidates, screening and preliminary interviews.

The assessment center run by the search firm included law enforcement professionals from communities across the nation and local community members who served as volunteer
evaluators.

Hi there Buckaroos! It’s that most wonderful time of the year again. Nope, this is not a treacly Hallmark ode to Christmas. It’s the time of year when the Oxford University Press announces the new Word of the Year.
What, you missed that stunning announcement while watching Carolina’s football and basketball teams crash and burn?

Lucky you, as a fine leisure service of Up & Coming Weekly, you will learn the 2022 Word of the Year. You can display your knowledge at the Christmas and New Year’s parties about to descend upon humanity. Dazzle your friends, and more importantly, irritate your enemies by knowing the 2022 Word of the Year.

The 2022 Oxford word of the year is actually two words — GOBLIN MODE. Chosen by a public vote of over 318,000 worldwide word fans, Goblin Mode is the winner. Unsure what Goblin Mode means? As Jules said in Pulp Fiction, “Allow me to retort.” Goblin Mode is “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”
Goblin Mode appears on social media, where typists troll other human beings by saying all manner of obnoxious things because they are hidden behind a computer screen.

For a person who is in Goblin Mode, the sky is the limit for letting bad behavior roll.
Goblin Mode grabbed the Gold Medal with 93% of the vote, convincingly beating “Metaverse,” which won the Silver, and the hashtag “#Standwith” which earned the Bronze.
Over at Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word of the year was “Gaslighting.” Gaslighting is defined as “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one’s own advantage.”

Politicians are quite familiar with the concepts of Goblin Mode and Gaslighting. You can let your own political preferences decide whether Democrats, Republicans, or MAGAs do these best.
The prominence of Goblin Mode made me wonder about Goblins themselves. Who were the original Goblins, and are there still real Goblins?
According to Mr. Google, Goblins “were small grotesque monstrous creatures found in European folk lore.” Female Goblins are known as Goblettes.

Goblins came in a wide range of shapes, sizes, personality disorders and flavors. Goblins first appeared in Medieval stories. They range from relatively harmless household sprites up the spectrum to malevolent violent critters who would chew off your extremities given the opportunity.

Goblins were closely related to a variety of unworldly creatures such as fairies, brownies, dwarfs, gnomes, imps and Kobolds. For extra credit at a holiday cocktail party, you can let it drop into your conversation that a Kobold is a “small humanoid creature skilled at building traps and ambushes.” Kobolds are genetically related to dragons.
There is a variety of Goblins known as Red Cap Goblins because they wear hats dyed red with human blood. This begs the question of whether there are Green Cap Goblins who wear hats dyed with dollars belonging to other humans.

Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there are no Green Cap Goblins. Papa says if you see it in the Up & Coming, it is so. Please tell me the truth: are there Green Cap Goblins?

Editor: Yes, Virginia, there are Green Cap Goblins. They exist as certainly as greed and gaslighting exist.

How dreary would the world be if there were no Green Cap Goblins. There would be no childlike faith in them, no poetry, no belief that something that sounds too good to be true is true. Green Cap Goblins exist! They live and live forever. Ten thousand years from now Green Cap Goblins will separate fools from their money. They are no longer called Green Cap Goblins. They are called Multi-Billionaires.
One of the greatest current Green Cap Goblins is our old pal Sam Bankman-Fried, the owner of the now-bankrupt FTX and its ugly cousin Alameda. Sam can do magic. He made billions of dollars disappear. Poof.

Now his depositors have money. Now they don’t. Admire Sam’s recent interview with The Wall Street Journal: People sent him money to invest in FTX to buy cryptocurrency and exotic stuff. Sam ran FTX and its associated bank called Alameda. Somehow $5 billion of the money the suckers (oops, depositors) sent to Sam got misplaced. Some of it went to Alameda, some of it went to FTX and then was sent to Alameda. It was kind of a mess.

Sam explained: “They were wired to Alameda, and … I can only speculate about what happened after that. Dollars are fungible with each other. And so, it’s not like there’s this $1 bill over here you can trace. What you get is more omnibus, you know, pots of assets of various forms.”

This is called Gobbly-Gook. Sam allowed that he was really busy: “I didn’t have enough brain cycles left to understand everything that was going on with Alameda if I wanted to.”
In effect, Sam says the money investors sent him went into his left pocket, called FTX, then he put the money in his right pocket, called Alameda. No one seems to know what happened after that.
And that, Dear Virginia, is what Goblin Mode is all about. Sam is a Green Hat Goblin. Bernie Madoff and Charles Ponzi are smiling in Hell.

Bundle up the kids, fill up the gas tank and head towards Sunnyside School Road to enjoy Sweet Valley Ranch’s drive-thru Festival of Lights now until Dec. 26.

Staff transformed about 40 acres of the farm into a magical Christmas Wonderland with over 1 million lights and over 350 animals.
While the show is a drive-through event – across the street – guests can also park at Tiny’s Winter Wonderland to relish a visit with Santa, vendors, a gift shop, amusement rides, food and more! All ticket holders must be in the same vehicle.

This year will mark three years Fred and Anita Surgeon, the owners of the ranch, have done the festival. Their inaugural year was Dec. 2020.
What is a farm without animals?

Surgeon said animals will be there decked out in Christmas garments and lit-up collars. Some will even be at the Nativity Scene exhibit.
Traditional farm animals will be there like sheep, goats and horses. As well as some exotic animals like cranes, llamas and zebras. He said there will be signs by the animals so attendees will know what type of animal it is. He said feedback from attendees over the years has been that they wanted to know which animals are which.

The special exhibits at the festival are the First Responder, Dinosaur World, Star Wars, Santa’s Drive-Thru Gift Shop, Ginger Bread House and there will be a Military Tribute. Another exhibit is The Grinch’s Mansions where a live Grinch will be. Another exhibit is Tiny’s Backyard.

For those wondering why there is a Tiny’s Winter Wonderland and Tiny’s Backyard, Tiny is the ranch’s mascot, a Brahma Bull that weighs 2,500 pounds. Tiny will be at the festival.
Those interested in attending the festival can view the schedule on the ranch’s website. Children under 2 are admitted for free. Ticket prices range from $8 to $10. Large groups will get special pricing.

Ticket pricing is as follows: one to three visitors in a car is $10 per person; four to 11 visitors is $9 per person; 12 or more visitors cost $8 per person. Visitors aged two and under are free.
The site is open from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 26. Customer Appreciation Day is on Dec. 21, when all guests will be admitted for $8 each. The festival will be Closed on Dec. 24 and 25.

The event is located at 2990 Sunnyside School Road in Fayetteville. For more information visit their website https://www.sweetvalley.com

I was firmly opposed to the state of North Carolina getting into the lottery business back in 2005.

There were many reasons. What worried me most was that the government, which should be in the business of encouraging its citizens to make good financial choices, would instead be encouraging them to throw their money to the winds to a state-owned lottery,

The government would be selling a bill of goods to its people.
How were our legislators persuaded to get into a business that harmed its people? Now, I am beginning to remember.

Our leaders promised all kinds of things to get the votes they needed. There would be strict restrictions on advertising. Places for lottery sales would be limited. Programs to discourage addiction to gambling would be a part of the lottery’s responsibility. All that and other things to discourage participation would be put in place. Such restrictions were promised knowing that as soon as the lottery was in place, those provisions could be quietly eliminated.

On March 30, 2006, the first lottery scratch-off tickets went on sale. Two months later Powerball was offered, beginning an escalation of enticing prizes that continues today.
For instance, early on, according to the lottery, “Gradual product roll-outs allowed people unfamiliar with the lottery to learn how to play and try new games.”

“On Super Bowl Sunday in February 2016, the lottery joined the multistate game Lucky for Life. While some players enjoy the chance to win big top prizes or play for jackpots that grow larger, the unique top prize of $1,000 A Day for Life in the game offers the appeal of a prize that lasts a lifetime.”

The lottery boasted, “It is the only US lottery to achieve both growth in sales and growth in earnings every year during its first 10 years.”
Is there a downside for the lottery’s success in achieving so much participation?
If so, every state in the nation except for five, shares the challenges.

The national situation was described in Oct. 24 issue of The New Yorker in an article by Kathryn Schulz. It was titled “What We’ve Lost Playing the Lottery: The games are a bonanza for the companies that states hire to administer them. But what about the rest of us?” Her article was based in part on a new book, “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America,” by historian Jonathan D. Cohen.

After describing some of the multiple games offered in convenience stores, such as Show Me $10,000!, $100,000 Lucky, Money Explosion, Cash Is King, Blazing Hot Cash, Big Cash Riches, Schulz writes, “The strangest of the many strange things about these tickets is that, unlike other convenience-store staples--Utz potato chips, Entenmann’s cinnamon-swirl buns, $1.98 bottles of wine--they are brought to you by your state government.”

These games, she writes “are, like state parks and driver’s licenses, a government service.”
Schultz writes, “At my local store, some customers snap up entire rolls--at a minimum, three hundred dollars’ worth of tickets--and others show up in the morning, play until they win something, then come back in the evening and do it again. All of this, repeated every day at grocery stores and liquor stores and mini-marts across the country, renders the lottery a ninety-one-billion-dollar business.”

Cohen writes, “Americans spend more on lottery tickets every year than on cigarettes, coffee, or smartphones, and they spend more on lottery tickets annually than on video streaming services, concert tickets, books, and movie tickets combined.”

So, lottery tickets could be viewed as either “a benign form of entertainment or a dangerous addiction.”

Either way, the question remains, according to Cohen, whether governments charged with promoting the general welfare should be in the business of producing lottery tickets, publicizing them, and profiting from them.

Editor’s Note: D.G. Martin, a lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch.

Terror

As the wife of a former prosecutor of major felonies and later a judge, I was a close observer of several of our community’s most sensational crimes and their resulting murder trials. Think the young Air Force wife and her two pre-school daughters, the couple who were shot dead walking downtown simply because of the color of their skin, and the attack at a McPherson Church Road restaurant that left four dead and seven injured.

In each of these shocking crimes, a perpetrator was arrested, tried and eventually convicted.

The hope is that the vicious stabbings of four students in a college town in Idaho will follow the same course.
At this writing, though, law enforcement authorities apparently remain baffled as to who committed these seemingly random murders and why.

Like the Cumberland County cases, the Idaho murders seem to be of the scariest sort — strangers who come out of nowhere and kill for reasons incomprehensible to the rest of us.
Fayetteville and Cumberland County support large and experienced law enforcement agencies that have, sadly, investigated and solved many murders over the years. Moscow, Idaho, a small town of about 25,000 that had not had a murder in seven years until last month.

State and federal investigators, including the FBI with all its experience, intellectual horsepower and crime-solving gadgetry, have stepped in, though whatever they are up to has yet to be disclosed publicly. The universal hope is that law enforcement has found a trail and is well on the way to identifying and arresting a suspect, or even scarier, suspects.

The alternative is too frightening to contemplate.

Trees

This holiday season, I have my first faux Christmas tree. Or, as a friend put it, a real tree, just one that has never been alive. My faux tree is, he opined, not a hologram.
I chose this route not because I do not love everything about a tree that has been alive but because I got tired of dealing with putting on and taking off hundreds of little white lights. Faux trees, it seems, can be purchased — mostly from China, “pre-lit,” so all one has to do is plug them in, put on all the special family ornaments, including the clothespin reindeer from Sunday school classes long past.

I am, however, suffering from faux tree guilt.

Debate continues over which is more environmentally safe and sustainable.

A 2018 article in The New York Times addressed this question and, like most other issues, it is a mixed bag. Live Christmas trees are a crop, just like food crops, that are planted every year and supports small farmers, including many in western North Carolina.

They can be recycled, and many recycled trees are now used along our coastline to help stave off erosion. They are also increasingly expensive, with the average price of a live tree this season being between $80-100.

Faux trees, on the other hand can be and are re-used for years, lessening the environmental impact of their plastic. It is also true that the environmental impact of faux trees is not much compared to the vehicular and air travel of the season and all the consumerism that comes with it. In addition, live trees in another big tree-producing state, Oregon, are harvested by helicopters, which can hardly be environmentally positive.

All of that said, I miss my live tree.

Tattoos

And, finally, a London tattoo removal parlor is offering free laser tattoo removal of Kanye West tatts, approximately a $2,500 value, following West’s recent rants admiring Adolph Hitler and other offensive statements.

My question is who would have wanted one in the first place?

With an eye on neighboring Moore County, the Fayetteville Public Works Commission says it is increasing its monitoring, reviewing security procedures, and working with local authorities to ensure the delivery of services to customers.

“We are following the situation in Moore County, and, if requested and able, will provide any resources to help,” PWC said in a post on its website. “We know this raises concerns for our customers, and we want to assure our community that the safety and security of our infrastructure is a top priority.”

The FBI has taken the lead in investigating what N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper has said may have been an act of domestic terrorism that damaged two electrical substations in Moore County on Dec. 3. One is located in West End, and the other substation is in Carthage.
Thousands of people were left without power when gunshots disabled electrical equipment.

“We obviously know people are concerned,” said Carolyn Justice-Hinson, a spokeswoman for PWC. “We take it very seriously. This is a priority for us and has been before Moore County. We will continue to work to protect our system and hope for the residents of Moore County and Duke Energy customers that this can be resolved.”

Moore County declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew after the power disruption.
Roughly 45,000 people were without power in North Carolina beginning Saturday. As of noon Wednesday, about 35,000 customers remained without power, said Emily Kissee, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy.

“That number is going down,” Kissee said.

Duke Energy anticipated having power restored for nearly all customers last week.
Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields told reporters that firearms were used to shoot and disable equipment at the two substations in Moore County over the weekend. Damage was estimated in the millions. No motive or suspect has identified.

“We have not released the caliber of weapon nor the type of weapon,” Moore County Chief Deputy Richard Maness said Wednesday.

“All of our available personnel with the Sheriff's Office is actively investigating any and all leads we have,” Maness said. “We’ve partnered with the FBI, the State Bureau of Investigation. We're working near and far around the clock to find out who did this. I'm not at liberty to release a lot of details.”

A tipline for anyone who may have information about the attacks is at 910-947-4444. Maness said investigators are looking into any leads.
On Dec. 7, Moore County residents were coping with a fourth day of power disruptions that began just after 7 p.m. Saturday, Fields has said.
Justice-Hinson said Dec. 6 by phone that PWC exceeds mandates for electric utility safety set by the federal government.

“We are reviewing our current plans and increasing our monitoring and continue to stay vigilant with it,” she said.

Justice-Hinson said the situation is a good reminder that nothing is 100% guaranteed.

“If you rely on electricity for medical purposes or you have young children in the home, always make sure you have a plan to get to somewhere with power or take care of your family,” she said. “No utility wants to let their customers go without services. Obviously, everyone is reliant on electricity.”

Moore County Public Safety has said officials are working to determine if the death of one county resident who was without power was the result of the power outage or a medical condition.
Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said the city is definitely paying attention to what happened in Moore County.

“As we try to be helpful to our neighbors, we’re making sure we are taking the right precautions, preventative steps,” Colvin said.

Colvin said he has spoken with PWC Chairwoman Ronna Rowe Garret, adding, “I’m sure this will be a conversation we’ll be having in the coming weeks. It’s definitely a teachable moment for everyone.”
At South River Electric Membership Corp., headquartered in Fayetteville, spokeswoman Cathy O’Dell said safety has always been a priority.

“Not only the safety of our employees, but also the safety of our members in the greater community, securing our infrastructure and keeping safety as a top priority,” O’Dell said.

Since about 2017, O'Dell said, South River has maintained surveillance at its substations, including cameras and audio alarms. Some locations have a combination of those and other security measures, she said.

"Certainly, I think we’ve all been in a heightened state of awareness,” she said. “As a coastal state, I think we're in a position of preparedness. I certainly hope this is an isolated incident and does not grow in any way.”

Like PWC, Moore County is connected to the Duke Energy system. Part of Moore County also is served by an electric cooperative, Justice-Hinson said.

She said the utility’s employees have been reminded that they are “our eyes and ears in the community, and they need to stay very alert. If you see something, say something. Take everything seriously.”
Fayetteville PWC’s top priority, Justice-Hinson said, is reliable service.

“We want to do anything and everything we can to prevent disruption to services.”