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  • With Fort Bragg as a neighbor, it is common to see Army soldiers and sometimes Air Force airmen, many living right next door. Our community has a patriotic core with many of our young men and women enlisting to serve our nation in other military services. To recognize them, we proudly shine a spotlight on some of our hometown heroes currently serving abroad.

    Information System Technician 2nd Class Jose Rivera-Scott, a sailor from Hope Mills, is a network operations technician assigned to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Located in an austere environment, Camp Lemonnier is a U.S. Navy base located in the Horn of Africa and is the only enduring U.S. military base on the continent of Africa. CLDJ is an operational installation that enables U.S., allied and partner nation forces to be where and when they are needed to ensure security in Europe, Southwest Asia and Africa.

    Rivera-Scott is a 2013 graduate from Gray’s Creek High School. “Many family members have served before me in the Air Force and Army including my grandfathers and my mother,” said Rivera-Scott. “My grandfathers were pilots, so that is what I originally wanted to be; however, I chose a different path, and I’m proud of being the first Navy sailor in my family.”

    Halfway around the globe, two Fayetteville natives are assigned aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67).

    Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Darrius Hames and Operations Specialist Seaman Julia Champagne are in the Philippine Sea participating in exercise Keen Sword 21.

    Keen Sword is an example of the strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance, the foundation of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region for more than 60 years. The relationships built and maintained during these events are critical to our shared capability to respond to contingencies at a moment’s notice.

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    Pictured: (top left) Information System Technician 2nd Class Jose Rivera-Scott, from Hope Mills, is serving in Djibouti. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Colin Sens)

    (top right) Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Darrius Hames, from Fayetteville, is serving aboard the USS Shiloh in the Philippine Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Santiago Navarro)

    (bottom) Operations Specialist Seaman Julia Champagne from Fayetteville, left, and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Edith Dantes from Sioux City, Iowa, measure the bearing and range of surface and subsurface contacts in the combat information center of the USS Shiloh in the Philippine Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryre Arciaga)

  • 02 thank you letters on flagThe All American Patriot Association will host its first Patriotic and Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 14 from noon until 11 p.m. at Bryan Honda on Raeford Road in Fayetteville

    “We will open with a flag raising ceremony, pledge of allegiance, national anthem, jumpers jumping in,” said Franco Webb, CEO and president of AAPA. The event is all about fun for veterans, their families and the community.

    “The main purpose of the event is to bring everybody together, to have a good time, it’s about being Americans, about being patriotic, and celebrating our veterans,” Webb said.

    The celebration will feature different speakers discussing patriotic themes, a class teaching children and adults how to raise and lower a flag, and properly fold the flag. Members of local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts will be teaching the proper disposal of a flag.

    The family friendly event will have children's activities, a bounce house and food trucks on site. There will be live performances by bands such as Harley & Big Country, 80's Unleashed, Sabor A Rumba, Ronnie Hymes. The headliner will be RIVERMIST.

    “It's going to be an awesome night to come out, dance and have a good time,” Webb said.

    Attendees will have the opportunity to win prizes throughout the day. Speakers will be randomly selecting people and asking them patriotic questions, and the winners will win a prize, he said.

    Raffle tickets will be available for purchase, and there will be gift baskets set up on tables. Some of the things being raffled include gift cards from Best Buy and a custom ‘Big Dog’ motorcycle.

    “Items that will be up for a silent auction will include an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol with a certificate of authenticity, scholarships for kids to attend a summer horse camp in Texas, and a metal fireplace,” Webb said.

    We have had a lot of positive responses, with people and sponsors, Webb said. Some sponsors of the event include Bryan Honda, Piedmont Natural Gas, Kraken Skulls, Phoenix Global Support, Webb Security and more.

    Webb said that he began organizing the event as a way to celebrate patriotism in the community. “It’s an event that is needed and it comes at a time when everyone’s been holed up and it’s a good reason to get everyone together,” Webb said.

    For more details about the Patriots Day and Veterans Day Celebration, visit https://fb.me/e/gWJHnb3yD

  • Members of local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts work to help veterans and the local community members alike.

    “We do things to help out our local veterans, point them in the right direction, if they need to understand their medical benefits or their disability, we have a lobbyist group in D.C. for them,” said Jim Blevins, commander of VFW Post 10630 in
    Hope Mills.

    The VFW acts as a middleman to educate veterans on their benefits, rights and connect them to the proper resources. VFW posts have a service officer that helps with claims, answers questions, helps complete paperwork. The service officer is available to help if veterans need it said Mike Baker, commander of VFW Post 670 in Fayetteville.

    “We have the need fund to pay bills in case of emergencies, cars broke down, you need gas, etc., they can call the local VFW’s, submit a form and we are able to assist them with small cash payments,” Baker said.

    Post 670 raises money through golf tournaments and other events throughout the year and donates some of it to homeless veterans to meet their food and clothing needs, and connect them with other resources.

    Blevins said the group tries to protect veterans’ rights as well as help them in times of need. He said the post received brand new electric wheelchairs, which cost about $6,000, which will be donated to a veteran in need, who otherwise couldn’t afford it.

    “In conjunction with the Veterans Affairs committee in Hope Mills, we do outreach programs, we invite the VA, Red Cross, Disabled Veterans Administration, Tricare and set up a table for veterans who aren’t sure what they’re benefits are, just to get information,” Blevins said. “It gives them an opportunity to come in and learn more about their benefits and help point them in the right direction.”

    VFW also gives back to the community by offering scholarships to students locally. The Voices of Democracy and Patriot's Pen programs allow students to write essays and win scholarships towards the school of their choice.

    “The Voice of Democracy is a $30,000 scholarship, Patriots Pen is a $5,000 scholarship to the school of your choice,” Baker said. “So that’s a way for us to give back to the community, the post gives some, the district gives some, then national gives some.”

    Another thing that we do is partner with Student Veterans of America to help them get the supplies they need for college, he added.

    “What is special to me is being able to help other veterans, but not just veterans we also help out the community,” Blevins said. “Last year, Hope Mills had about 4 baseball teams here that made it into the world series, and VFW donated money to each team to help them travel and cover expenses.”

    He said the organizations have had to slow down their fundraising and outreach efforts due to  COVID-19.

    “We are getting everything back in the groove again, raising money so we can run the facility as well as donate money to the community,” Baker said.

    Blevins said they are starting to lean more towards social events to bring people in and have a really nice facility and lots of things that they would like to do but COVID-19 has put a damper on things.

    “A lot of the VFW’s are now in survival mode to get through it, it’s a difficult time for us,” he said, adding that it makes it even more difficult to attract new members right now.

    The Hope Mills Post 10630 hosts monthly dinners for members and the community at $12 a plate, as an effort to recruit new members.

    VFW Post 630 in Fayetteville offers different social events like poker night, steak night, line dancing and karaoke for current, new members and the community. On Tuesdays, they offer poker nights, on Fridays it is karaoke from 5-10 p.m., Baker said.

    “We are on the 28th year of our Friday night Steak Nights... it's a way for us to raise money, a lot of members come out on Friday night to line dance, and do karaoke and enjoy comradeship,” he said. “And we are also open to the public so it's a way for them to meet members and to have a good time.” The $12 meal includes ribeye, potatoes and salad.

    VFW Post 670 meets monthly every second Thursday at 7 p.m. at 3928 Doc Bennett Road in Fayetteville. VFW post 10630 located at 3226 Davis Street in Hope Mills, meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

    “I have made good friends here at the post, they're a bunch of characters for sure,” Blevins said. “It’s a good place to meet when you miss the military, and you get to talk and exchange stories.”

    Baker said the post is a good way to mingle with different war vets, exchange stories and hear interesting things.

    We are pretty far out which doesn’t help but folks can look us up on Facebook at VFW Post 670, or visit https://vfw670.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp or come down on Friday nights, he said.

    We are including using technology and social media to reach new people, Blevins said.

    “You know the Vietnam vets took care of the Korean War and the WWII people and now it’s kind of like the Desert Storm and younger people take care of them,” he said.

    Post 10630 will be live streaming the Veterans Day event on Facebook due to COVID-19.

    Post 670 will be hosting Veterans for America Day on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. with live bands and vendors at the post, open to veterans and the public, Baker said.

    “The organization is open to both men and women, we do have mostly men but as long as you are a veteran of foreign wars, it does not matter,”  Blevins said.

    For more information on joining a local VFW post, seek assistance or meet veterans, contact Post 10630 at 910-476-3719, ocdrpost10630@vfwnc.com or Post 670 at 910-424-8675.

    There are more than 1.6 million VFW and Auxiliary members in over 6,000 Posts around the world. The VFW provides vital assistance and support for America’s service members, veterans and their families.

    There are three qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in the By-Laws. An individual must meet all three in order to become a member.
    1. Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.
    2. Must have served in the Armed Forces of the U.S. and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently serving.
    3. Service in a war, campaign or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters.

    For more information on becoming a member of the VFW or learning about the services the VFW provides, visit www.vfw.org/

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    Pictured: (top left) VFW Post 670 meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at 3928 Doc Bennett Road in FaVFW Post 670 meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at 3928 Doc Bennett Road in Fayetteville.yetteville.

    (top right) VFW post 10630 located at 3226 Davis Street in Hope Mills, meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

    (bottom) Veterans gather at VFW events to share military experiences, provide assistance to others in need, and promote awareness of veterans issues.

     

     

     

     

     

  • 13 01 big image chess makingThe Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation presents their Foundation Weekend events Nov. 4-8.

    “The purpose of the event is to raise money for student scholarships and aid, programs and services at Fayetteville Technical Community College,” said Sandy Ammons, executive director of FTCC Foundation. “The foundation is the fundraising arm of the college and in the past we have raised over $50,000 so we are hoping this year despite the circumstances to sur
    pass that.”

    The Foundation Weekend consists of one event with three different parts: the FTCC Foundation Golf Tournament, the Bluegrass & BBQ at Home dinner and the Online Silent Auction.

    The Golf Tournament will be held at Gates Four Golf and Country Club Nov. 6.

    “The golf tournament goes back at least 20 years and has evolved throughout the years,” said Ammons. “It was scheduled for April and May of this year and because of COVID-19 we had to postpone it.”
    Ammons added that they had to look at it with a different spin on how they could continue with the golf tournament under the new circumstances. The Golf Tournament is currently full and sold out.

    The Online Silent Auction will take place Nov. 4- 8.

    “In the past the silent auction was part of the dinner and you would come to the dinner and there would be an auction in the same room,” said Ammons. “We’ve had the Bluegrass theme for several years which is fun and we had live entertainment, a Western theme and people would come dressed in Western attire and it was an in-person event.”

    Ammons added that this year the silent auction is online and it is open to everyone to bid on the auction items. There is no fee or ticket to purchase.

    “We have really tried to tap into wonderful local businesses and artists who give back to the community who are helping us pull off this event with a new twist,” she said.

    The public can view items up for auction by visiting the Online Silent Auction site at https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/ftccfoundation-15436.

    “We have got some wonderful auction items that are made by FTCC faculty such as cakes from our Culinary Department, a beautiful hand-milled chess set, exotic plants, tons of gift certificates to local businesses, artwork, original paintings, photography prints, fine jewelry from Hinkamp Jewelers, a BBQ package, a pet package, a garden package and much more,” said Ammons.

    “You can do your Christmas shopping through our auction because we have something for everybody and we add packages daily as we receive them.”

    The Bluegrass & BBQ at Home dinner will take place on Nov. 7.

    “We are going to have a fantastic dinner catered by Southern Coals and it will be chicken, BBQ, macaroni and cheese, broccoli salad and banana pudding,” said Ammons.

    “It will be complete with flowers from the Downtown Market, wine glasses from FTCC, and the meal will be delivered to your home hot and ready to serve or you can pick it up at Southern Coals.”

    Ammons added it will come with beverages from Bright Light Brewing Company or red wine from Healy Wholesale.

    “This event would normally have live entertainment so we are going to have a private live concert at 7 p.m. by the Guy Unger Band streamed to the homes of the guests who buy tickets,” said Ammons. “They will get the link to view the live concert during the dinner.”

    The Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation has been in existence since 1985 and it is the foundation arm of the college.

    “A big part of what we do is scholarships so we work with donors to bring in money for scholarships for students as well as work to match the students to the right scholarship,” said Ammons.

    “We really try to do everything we can to keep our students on track and in school to graduate and to start their careers.”

    The foundation also manages the Alumni Network. “We work with our students as they are getting ready to graduate and we make sure they stay connected to the college, help with networking and work with them so they can stay with their program after they leave college,” said Ammons. “We work with alumni, retired faculty and staff and current faculty and staff so we are kind of the link between the community and the college.”

    For more information or to purchase tickets visit https://www.faytechcc.edu/foundation-events/ or call 910-678-8441.

    Pictured: (Above) A hand-milled chess set made by FTCC faculty Kevin Henry and students will be available during the Foundation Online Silent Auction event. (Below) The pieces are made from brass and aluminum.

    13 02 big image chess pieces

  • 12 02 DSC 0958The Airborne & Special Operations Museum is again open to the public and offers two exhibits. The 13th Annual Field of Honor exhibit went up Oct. 3 and will be up for display until Nov 30., and the GWOT Memorial Flag exhibit opened Oct 13., and will run until Dec. 6.

    The Field of Honor exhibit, in partnership with Cool Springs Downtown District, showcases 500 flags on display at the ASOM field, said Abbie Cashel, donor relations and event coordinator for ASOM Foundation.

    “Each flag comes with a story, each dedicated to someone whether it be a service member, a veteran and this year we actually opened it up to personal heroes, people that made a positive experience during COVID-19 or just in general,” she said. The tag on each flag identifies who the flag represents and honoree  information.

    “We are really excited that we sold out this year, all 500 flags, that was incredible, all the great community support,” Cashel said.

    The flags sold out for $35 each which will may motivate the museum to have more slots available next year.

    “A lot of people come from all over to view their loved ones’ flags, it acts as a memorial for people and they also use it to honor their loved ones and their service and that's what makes it really special in the community,” she said. “It’s just a really peaceful, respectful place to view a hero.”

    The Global War on Terror Memorial Flag is 28 feet wide and 6 feet tall and designed by Veterans Athletes United. The design symbolizes the shape of a flag when draped on a fallen service member’s casket.
    About 7,000 dog tags form the flag, belonging to those killed in the War on Terror. The 50 gold stars on the flag represent all Gold Star families across the nation. Displayed in front of the flag is a battlefield cross sculpted from mahogany wood by female veteran artist Alicia Dietz.

    The tags are in alphabetical order ranging from Sept. 11, 2001 to Dec. 31, 2019, the tags are in chronological order of the date the service member was killed in action.

    “It’s a really cool piece that we have had up before and a lot of people came, it’s just another exhibit that allows people to honor and remember their loved ones,” Cashel said.

    The GWOT exhibit is free to the public but the museum welcomes a $5 donation.

    The museum is preparing for its next feature, the Ghost Army Exhibit :The Combat Con Artists of World War II , which will open to the public Dec. 15 and be on display until April 25, 2021.

    The exhibit will highlight the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Group, the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in U.S. Army history.

    The top secret, unique “Ghost Army” was composed of 82 officers and 1,023 men and was activated Jan. 20, 1944, under the command of Colonel Harry L. Reeder.

    The group was successfully capable of simulating two whole divisions, approximately 30,000 men by using visual, sonic and radio deception to fool German forces during the final year of World War II.

    For more information on the exhibit visit https://www.asomf.org/event/ghost-army-the-combat-con-artists-of-world-war-ii/

    The museum is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The ASOM is using a reservation system that helps keep capacity level in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, but people can walk in and sign in at the front desk,
    Cashel said.

    ASOM first opened its doors in 2000, and celebrates its 20th year anniversary this year, although many of the planned events were postponed due to COVID-19 and will hopefully be rescheduled for next year, she said.

    “It's really a place for people to come and learn about Airborne and Special Operations and their history,” Cashel said. “Entry is free, so pretty much everyone in the community does have a chance to come and look and learn and engage with the history of past soldiers that paved the way for modern day soldiers.”

    Visit https://www.asomf.org for more information about the museum.

    Pictured: (Above) The 13th Annual Field of Honor will be on display until Nov. 30. (Below) The GWOT Memorial Flag is made of about 7,000 dog tags identifying those killed in service  (Photos by Dylan Hooker)

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  • 17 01 garden boxThe Master Gardeners Virtual Gardening Symposium promises fresh ideas from gardening experts, a bounty of information and some fun for viewers. The event is packed with presentations, raffles and friendly faces.

    The Nov. 7 event, scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is sponsored by the Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Association.

    The event features guest speakers Joe Lamp’l, creator, executive producer and host of the Emmy-award-winning national PBS series “Growing a Greener World;” Kerry Ann Mendez, an award-winning garden educator, author and design consultant whose international gardening webinars are enjoyed by thousands; and Jason Weathington, NC State/Cumberland County Extension urban horticulture agent and landscape architect.

    Lamp'l will share behind-the-scenes tips from 9 seasons of his show. Mendez will present "The Right Size Flower Garden." Weathington will present “The Outdoor Room.”

    “The focus of my talk will give people the confidence to go out and create an amazing space, which I think everyone desires to have but very few know how to create,” said Weathington. “It’s important to go back to basic landscape elements and how you can use them to our advantage. Most of us need to learn some of the basics.

    The event is a fundraiser to support local horticulture efforts and scholarships for Fayetteville Technical Community College horticulture students.

    “We give two scholarships at $1,500,” said Cumberland County Master Gardener Symposium Chairperson Judy Dewar.

    “We also offer grants to teachers who offer horticulture classes. And we strive to find ways to educate our county residents.”

    Dewar added that this event is for every level of gardener.

    “There is something from the most adept gardener to the one who has never planted a seed.”

    To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/ and search “Cumberland County” and select the event.

    Participants can also click the link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cumberland-county-master-gardener-rescheduled-gardening-symposium-2020-tickets-120442509789?aff=ebdssbeac&fbclid=IwAR2DyFB-H_1yshgyTpP7WL22TdzJd63dJaOpA2HTMmBSyD0S1pLiqOCpjiU

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    Pictured: The Master Gardener Virtual Gardening Symposium offers presentations from experts, raffles and fresh ideas. The symposium is scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 7.

     

  • 11 Elaina BallThe Fayetteville Public Works Commission announced that Elaina Ball will be the utility’s next CEO/General Manager. Ball, who brings 14 years of utility experience to PWC, is the first female leader in PWC’s 115-year history and just the 9th CEO/General Manager. Ball will join PWC Dec. 1 and succeeds David Trego who will retire Dec. 31 after leading PWC since 2015.

    Ball comes to PWC from El Paso Electric where she served as Senior Vice President in Operations and Administration roles. Since 2018, she oversaw functional areas of the Company including Power Generation, Power Marketing, T&D, Customer Care, Technology, Safety, Environmental and Public Relations and Corporate Communications.

    “Elaina has a wealth of experience in the electric industry, including generation, which is a huge asset for us, “said PWC Chair Wade Fowler.

    “She’s been a leader at outstanding utilities including public power utilities in San Antonio and Austin Texas," Fowler said. "She was highly sought after by several other organizations and we are very fortunate that she chose PWC and Fayetteville. We are excited about the future of PWC and what she brings to it. She’s a very relationship oriented and in addition to PWC, is looking forward to her involvement in the community.”

    She was responsible for over 800 employees and helped El Paso set new records for annual customer satisfaction scores and earn its first JD Power top performing utility award in 2019 as well as helping them through a successful merger with IIF, an infrastructure investment fund advised by J.P. Morgan. El Paso Electric is a regional electric utility that serves over 400,000 customers in a 10,000 square mile area of the Rio Grande valley in west Texas and southern New Mexico.

    Ball served in leadership roles at two of the nation’s largest municipally owned electric systems. Prior to joining El Paso Electric, Ball worked at Austin Energy, the publicly owned electric utility serving 450,000 customers in the Austin, Texas area. While at Austin Energy, she served as Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for power generation, transmission and distribution, information technology and onsite energy resources. She also served on the board of the South Texas Nuclear Project electric generating station.

    Ball served as Vice President, Technical Services at CPS Energy, the municipally owned electric and gas utility serving over 800,000 customers in the greater San Antonio area from 2006-2012. At CPS, she was responsible for electric transmission, substation and distribution engineering, and operational technology, among other functions.

    “I’m very excited to join the great team at the PWC and for our family to be a part of this community,” said Ball. “PWC is a significant asset and plays a vital role in the community’s success. It is known throughout both the electric and water utility industry for its excellent operations and I look forward to continuing the legacy of strong leadership at the PWC and continuing that excellence of providing safe and reliable service to our customers.”

    Ball is an active civic leader, currently serving on the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Board of Directors. She is also a current Board of Directors member of the Association of Women in Energy. A native of Texas, Ball has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

    Fayetteville PWC is a municipally owned utility that provides electric, water and wastewater service to over 118,000 customers in Fayetteville/Cumberland County. PWC has over 600 employees and is the 37th largest municipal electric utility in the U.S.

    Pictured: Elaina Ball

  • 16 lake rim parkFayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation offers a variety of locations around town to enjoy the outdoors. Lake Rim Park on Tar Kiln Drive offers an assortment of amenities including picnic areas, horseshoe pits, walking trails, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, athletic fields, natural areas and children’s playgrounds.

    In addition to park facilities, a number of tours and activities are offered in November and December.

    Tar Kiln Tour — Nov. 10, 2 to 4 p.m., free, ages 10+
    Participants can take a behind-the-scenes look at a historical treasure located at Lake Rim Park. Join a park ranger to view the remnants of the Weed’s Lightwood Plant, a century-old turpentine factory. Learn about the importance of the naval stores industry in North Carolina and find out why we are known as “The Tar Heel State.” Call to register, space is limited.

    Kayak Tours — Nov. 14, 9:30 to 11 a.m., $15, $5 w/own boat, adults and ages 10+
    Lake tours are perfect for those trying kayaking for the first time and seasoned paddlers looking to relax on the water. All the equipment and basic instruction for beginners will be provided. We recommend beginners participate in a lake tour before going on a kayak trip. Tours are dependent on the weather. Call to register, space is limited. Participants under 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult.

    Color Hunt — Nov. 18, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., free, all ages
    Conduct experiments to observe a rainbow of colors, discover why colors change in the fall and then search the park for an array of colors on a scavenger hunt. Call to register, space is limited.

    Archery Clinic — Dec. 5, noon to 3 p.m., $5, Ages 8+
    This class is designed to introduce the sport of archery to beginners. Participants will use compound bows as they learn the basics of archery to include safety, proper stance and follow through. Adults are welcome too. Registration begins Nov. 23, space is limited.

    All facilities are open to the public on a first come, first serve basis unless they are reserved. Contact the park office at 910-433-1018 to reserve facilities or register for events. Office hours are Mon. — Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Visit https://www.fcpr.us/parks-trails/parks/lake-rim-park for more information.

  • 07 baseball softball complexThe Fayetteville City Council has decided to locate a $9 million sports complex on property owned by the U.S. Army at I-295 and McArthur Road. Council had also considered a city-owned tract on Fields Road in East Fayetteville. A five-year lease agreement with Fort Bragg calls for developing the first phase of the sports complex at a cost of $3.5 million. The city approved a memorandum of understanding with Fort Bragg to build baseball and softball fields which would be shared by Fort Bragg troops and the general public.

    The city will build and maintain the complex, which will provide priority use by soldiers during specified weekly time periods. The money to launch the complex will be drawn from proceeds of the 2016 $35 million parks and recreation bond referendum. The facility will eventually include additional sports and recreation facilities which have not yet been designated by the city. The City Council was divided on the initial agreement, with council members Shakeyla Ingram, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and Tisha Waddell dissenting.

    They preferred the Fields Road site. Citizens "east of the river have been advocating for development and investment for longer than I have been alive," Ingram said. Councilman Chris Davis called her remarks divisive, pointing out that 60% of bond revenues have been spent in Ingram’s district. District 2 consists of the region east of the river and the downtown business area. A staff report provided to council earlier proposes opening this first phase of the sports complex two years from now.

    City Council also agreed on a $1.5 million upgrade of the Jordan Soccer Complex at Methodist University. The city/county recreation and parks department will install a lighting system and renovate the soccer fields and parking facilities. The university gets the upgrades, while the city hopes the improvements will generate greater interest in sanctioned tournament play to generate income. The lease provides for open use of the soccer fields by the public when tournaments are not being held. The agreement also officially designated the complex as the trailhead for the Cape Fear River Trail. Recreation Director Michael Gibson said this project gives the city the ability to expand its soccer and football programs while also providing 35 acres of undesignated green space.

    In other business at the Oct. 26 meeting, City Council members unanimously approved an agreement with Fayetteville State University to develop a multi-million-dollar East Senior Center at the intersection of Filter Plant and Murchison Roads. It will resemble the first of two regional senior centers funded by the 2016 parks and recreation referendum. The Senior Center West was built adjacent to the recreation center at Lake Rim. Gibson said this project will be a "game-changer" for redevelopment of the Murchison Road corridor.

    Pictured: Fayetteville City Council voted to locate a $9 million sports complex on property owned by the U.S. Army at I-295 and McArthur Road. The completed baseball and softball fields would be shared by Fort Bragg troops and the general public. (Photo for illustration purposes.)

  • 10 Cape Fear River 2Fayetteville depends on the Cape Fear River for water and is impacted by inter-basin water transfers. The Fayetteville Public Works Commission is asking the public to comment on Fuquay-Varina’s proposed inter-basin transfer from the Cape Fear River basin to the Neuse River basin.

    PWC’s hope is that a thorough process will include full consideration of the impact on all communities downstream on the Cape Fear River and that before any IBT certificate is issued, it has been demonstrated there is no alternate option that would eliminate the need for an IBT. Fuquay-Varina is requesting an average transfer of approx. 4 million gallons per day and a maximum day transfer of 8 million gallons from the Cape River basin to the Neuse River basin.

    The request is based on 2055 water demand projects in the town’s service area. Previous agreements have included requirements for water to be returned to the Cape Fear River. The NC Division of Water Resources makes any decisions relating to such requests. Public comments can be submitted to msadler@hazenandsawyer.com. The public comment period closes on Nov. 20.

  • 09 2020 electionPresidential elections in America are unique. In other U.S. elections, candidates are elected directly by the people. But the president and vice president are not. Instead, they’re chosen by “electors” through a process called the Electoral College.

    This process of using electors is prescribed in the Constitution. Changing the system would require a constitutional amendment. Electoral College vote totals determine the winner, not the statistical plurality or majority a candidate may have in national popular vote totals.

    Electoral votes are awarded on the basis of the popular vote in each state. 48 out of the 50 states award electoral votes on a winner-takes-all basis, as does the District of Columbia.

    For example, all 15 of North Carolina’s electoral votes go to the winner of the state election, even if the margin of victory is only 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent.

    The number of electors each state has is based on the total number of U.S. senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Those numbers are based on each state’s population. California has the largest population. North Carolina is ranked 10th.

  • 08 scam keyboard 2The Cumberland County Health Department says some residents have received calls and voice messages from individuals claiming to be with the Health Department. Residents should beware of contact tracing scams seeking personal and financial information. These callers say it is about an “urgent health matter.”

    Legitimate contact tracers with the COVID-19 Community Team will never ask for anyone’s social security number, bank or credit card numbers, or any other financial information. If you are asked for this information, hang up and call the Cumberland County Health Department at 910-433-3600 to report the incident Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Contact tracing is an important tool to combat the spread of COVID-19. Legitimate contact tracers will call, text or email individuals who have been in close contact with positive coronavirus cases. Information shared with the COVID-19 Community Team is a private health record and is strictly confidential. Contact tracers will never reveal the identity of persons who have tested positive.

  • 06 fayetteville police departmentDetectives with the Fayetteville Police Department’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit have arrested a 60-year-old Florida man alleged to have committed a pair of rapes which occurred thirty years ago. Timothy Keller has been charged with two counts each of 1st degree rape, 1st degree sex offense, 1st degree kidnapping and armed robbery in the abduction and sexual assault of two women.

    One of the victims was attacked on Jan. 5, 1990. “The victim was walking to her vehicle in the parking lot of Bordeaux Shopping Center on Owen Drive when Keller kidnapped her at gunpoint,” police spokesman Jeremy Strickland said.

    “He drove her to the rear of the shopping center where he then raped her.” Fayetteville and Hope Mills authorities have also accused Keller of kidnapping another woman at an ATM machine on Hope Mills Road on April 25, 1990. “Keller kidnapped her at gunpoint, drove her to an isolated location where he then raped her,” Strickland said.

    Both cases went unsolved until now. Keller is being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center under $300,000 secured bond after being extradited from Florida.

    Over the last five years city police have solved dozens of cold cases utilizing technologies provided by grants from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance. The police department received an initial grant in 2015 and a second allocation in 2016 for a total of $1.2 million to test sexual assault kits, obtain technical training and prosecute sex crimes. The DOJ says that since June 2015, the FPD Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit has made nearly 60 arrests.

    Police ask that anyone with information concerning a sexual assault cold case contact Detective D. Kocher with the FPD at 910-433-1500 ext. 2323 or Crime Stoppers at 910-
    483-TIPS.

  • 15 McLamb VickyLast year, two Southeastern Health co-workers, Melanie McKee and Stephanie Smith, helped to organize an event designed to raise awareness and funds to assist COPD patients. Their involvement was in memory of their fathers who both experienced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a family of lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

    The event will continue this year with some adjustments due to COVID-19.

    The “Every Breath Counts” COPD 5k Run will be held in a virtual format on Nov. 7. The fee to participate is $25, which includes a race T-shirt. Medals will be given to the top three overall winners for both male and female participants as well as in each age category.

    A Walk, Run, Fundraise Walk-a-thon will be held throughout the month of November. Participants will be entered into a raffle based on the number of miles they track and the dollars they raise for COPD. Winners will be recognized in multiple categories.

    To register for either initiative, visit https://runsignup.com/everybreathcounts. The website also offers opportunities to purchase long-sleeve T-shirts, raffle tickets and to sign up for sponsorship opportunities. Visitors to the site may also make donations and raise funds to honor a loved one. All funds raised will expand education for COPD awareness through the Southeastern Health Foundation.

    Vicky McLamb, 57, of Lumberton, plans to walk in this year’s COPD Awareness event.

    McLamb completed Southeastern Health’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program in November 2019 after being diagnosed with COPD and, later, pulmonary arterial hypertension, in 2018. She sought help for extreme shortness of breath, to the point she thought she had pneumonia. After being referred to a pulmonologist, she began receiving care for her condition and was referred to an eight-month cardiopulmonary rehab
    program.

    After completing the program, McLamb went from using six liters of oxygen to only having oxygen on hand in the event of an emergency.

    “I have only used maybe three minutes of oxygen since I finished the rehab program and that was because my doctor recommended it for a trip to the mountains,” said McLamb. “I only used it going up the steps at the hotel.”

    Because her quality of life has improved so much since completing the program, McLamb shares her experience with anyone she encounters on oxygen, suggesting they ask their doctor about the program in the hopes that they can experience the success she has found.

    “They recommended I keep up with my exercise, so I continue to go to the fitness center three days a week,” said McLamb. “When the fitness center closed due to COVID, I walked at home but have returned now that the fitness center has re-opened.”

    McLamb has found a renewed energy she didn’t have before her rehab program.

    “Now I can’t sit still at work,” said McLamb. “I just want to get up and walk. I always want to be doing something.”

    Individuals interested in more information about cardiopulmonary rehab may ask their doctor or call 910-738-5403.

    For more information about the 5K race, call 910-738-5433. For information about overall COPD initiatives, call the Southeastern Health Foundation at 910-671-5583.

    Pictured: Vicky McLamb found a renewed energy after completing Southeastern Health’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program after a COPD diagnosis.
    (Photo courtesy Southeastern Health)

  • 14 Chevy SparkOne lucky student will be driving to school in a brand-new car, just for giving the gift of life. Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center and Powers Swain Chevrolet are teaming up to give away a Chevy Spark to promote blood donations among area high schoolers. The two-door hatchback’s winner will be picked at random in a drawing next year.

    High school students who donate by May 15, 2021, are eligible to be entered in the drawing. Official rules are available at the Blood Donor Center.

    The winner must be enrolled in a public, private, virtual or homeschool high school in Cumberland, Bladen, Harnett or Hoke county. The prize drawing will be held May 17 at Powers Swain Chevrolet in Fayetteville.

    The Blood Donor Center is in continuous need of blood donations because its blood products help patients throughout southeastern North Carolina. Currently, the center needs all blood types.

    High school donations help the center maintain a safe, adequate blood supply during most years. Nearly half the blood Cape Fear Valley uses for patient transfusions during school months comes from high school student donations.

    Due to COVID-19, schools are not allowing blood drives, so students are encouraged to donate at the Blood Donor Center located at 3357 Village Drive in Fayetteville or at a bloodmobile drive in the community.

    Information about becoming a donor and a complete schedule of upcoming blood drives are available at www.savingliveslocally.org.

    Blood drives scheduled for the next week include:
    Panda Express
    Nov. 4, 12 to 4 p.m.
    585 Cross Creek Mall
    910-487-7932

    Reserve at Carrington Place
    Nov. 5, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
    6511 Lexi Lane
    910-864-6886

    Plantation at Fayetteville
    Nov. 6, 2 to 5 p.m.
    3050 Plantation Garden Blvd.
    910-600-6116

    St. Ann Catholic Church
    Nov. 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon
    357 N. Cool Spring St.
    910-483-3216

    HWY 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries
    Nov. 8, 1 to 4 p.m.
    380 Laurinburg Road, Raeford
    910-875-1133

    Rustic Burger
    Nov. 10, 2 to 6 p.m.
    2653 Hope Mills Road
    910-568-4471

    Cape Fear Ortho and Sports Med
    Nov. 11, 1 to 4 p.m.
    4140 Ferncreek Dr. Suite 801
    910-484-2171

    Pictured: A Chevy Spark similar to the one shown in this stock image will be given to a high school blood donor in a drawing to be held May 17, 2021. Nearly half the blood Cape Fear Valley uses for transfusions comes from high school blood donations, which are down because schools have been closed during the pandemic.

     

  • 03 BabyCryingVirtually everyone I know of all political stripes has lost sleep over the 2020 elections. Several have resorted to anti-anxiety medication. Not only may we not know who our next president will be for days, perhaps weeks, even months, North Carolina has important races up and down the ticket.

    Here are some issues I am worrying about since politics are off the table for the moment.

    As a mother of three, my heart literally breaks for the 545 children and their parents who were forcibly separated by United States border control agents beginning more than 3 years ago. If you or I had done this, it would be called kidnapping and we would likely have been charged with that crime. Because the United States government did it, however, no one has been charged and “we the people” are now foster parents for children, some of them pre-schoolers, who should be with their own families.

    The Trump administration has been forced, kicking and screaming, by various courts to release information about these children, who eventually numbered about 5500. Most of them were reunited with family or remain in the United States with legal caretakers. The 545 remaining are in a legal limbo that may never be resolved. Radio public service announcements are airing in Mexico and throughout Central America to locate their parents, but the cold hard reality is that some of these children will never be reunited with their families. Some are too young to remember their parents. Some might never have known their
    own names.

    And this happened in the United States of America. We essentially kidnapped other peoples’ children and now must figure out how to raise them. No amount of money can ever atone for this. Our national shame before the rest of the world is profound, or certainly should be.

    Chances are good that you know, possibly love, someone who has, had, or died from opioid addition. As a widespread condition, opioid addition is relatively new, becoming a national problem over the last three decades for many reasons, primarily widespread marketing of these drugs. Nearly half a million have died and suffering continues. Among the culprits is Purdue Pharma, which aggressively marketed its OxyContin and downplayed its highly addictive qualities.

    Purdue has settled with the U.S. Justice Department for roughly $8.3 billion, some of which is to go to cities, states, tribes and individuals to address the crisis. Purdue has also filed for bankruptcy, meaning that the actual dollars for damages will be far less. Other litigation continues as do possible criminal charges against Purdue and the Sackler family, which controls the company, and other Big Pharma operations.

    As with the separated children, no amount of money can atone for the suffering of those addicted to legally prescribed opioids and the people who love them.

    Now, on to a “happy” worry. Americans are proving once again that what we name our children is often a fashion choice. The five top girl names in the North Carolina last year were very feminine, mostly ending in “a”—Ava, Olivia, Emma, Amelia and Charlotte. There is no overlap with those of 50 years ago—Lisa, Angela, Kimberly, Tammy and Melissa. Last year brought us lots of Liams, Noahs, Williams, James and Elijahs but fewer Michaels, Davids and Roberts. Only James and William, 4th in 1969, seems to endure in popularity, numbers 1 and 4 in 2020.

    In case you want sneak previews of what names are coming our way, know this. For boys, Maverick is more popular than Adam nationwide, and there are more girls named Brooklyn these days than Anna. Quickly rising names are Kairo for boys and Dior for girls.

    There are limits to parental creativity, particularly in New Zealand for some reason. Courts there have nixed “Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii,” “anal,” “Stallion,” “Sex Fruit,” “Rogue,” “Fish and Chips,” “Queen Victoria,” and “Keenan Got Lucy,” among others.

    Parents who stick with oldies but goldies from the naming department apparently have fewer worries.

    Pictured: For those who have lost sleep over the 2020 elections, don't expect a short reprieve between election day and inauguration day — there is still plenty to worry about.

  • 01 01 20201005 115840aThe School of Hope is a local non-profit serving children with autism and their families by providing resources and special needs education. Co-founders Amy and Rob Sparks decided to start the school after the death of their own son, Jarred, in 2011.

    “We lost our son who was autistic and we had never really found a good school for him,” Rob Sparks said. “My wife said, ‘I really want to open a school to provide the special needs of these kids.’ After Jarred passed away we started talking about it, and said this is what we were supposed to do,” he said.

    Amy said she made a promise to Jarred that she would never let his death be in vain, and opening a school for children with autism is a way of fulfilling that promise.

    “It was a labor of love for my husband and I,” she said.

    The duo raised money for six years, started the Jarred Bryan Sparks Foundation in memory of their son and then the School of Hope in 2017.

    “We said we would never let Jarred’s memory die and he was my greatest teacher, you know when you think you're teaching kids that have disabilities, they're actually teaching you,” she said.

    The education facility located in Fayetteville has grown from 5 students in 2017 to 23 this year.

    “We service children who are severely autistic, all the way up to kids who are high functioning autistic,” Amy said. “We are not based according to grades, it's based on ability levels, socialization and skills and how we can meet the needs of these students.”

    School of Hope is a private school that sees a lot of children with autism that public schools haven’t been a good fit for, she said.

    There are no more than six children in each classroom compared to public schools with higher numbers, Rob said.

    The school offers smaller classroom sizes, teachers, teaching assistants, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapists and Registered Behavior Technicians.

    “Cumberland County schools do not allow RBT’s into the classrooms and that's where our parents have been distraught because they know that their kids need that extra person there to help them but yet they are not allowed to bring them in public schools,” Amy said. “We feel like we are meeting the needs of a lot of these families because we can provide services that meet the individual needs of our children.”

    The School of Hope doesn’t follow an Individual Education Plan like public schools but focuses on a Personal Education Plan and takes into consideration the children's academic and socialization levels.

    They assess students and then form a plan on how to best serve the child and their needs, she said.

    “Because a lot of our children don't want to be around other people, they don't want to have conversations with people so we set up situations, teach them how to interact with their peers, something as simple as playing Uno, a game that teaches socialization how to take turns, follow directions,” Amy said.

    The School of Hope serves not only civilians but also the military community, she said.

    Rob Sparks said when he served in the Air Force, they struggled to find the right schools for their late son.

    “We have been there where people tell you they can't do anything else with your kid or that there's nothing else … we can provide for their needs,” he said. “We just want to be able to try and do that.”

    The couple hopes that the school will have about 100 children in the next 10 years.

    “Our greatest goal is that this school will go on forever when we are long gone and will touch lives even after us,” Amy said.

    They need to find people they can trust and know are going to love these children and do what’s best for them when she and her husband are no longer able to run the school, Amy said.

    “It makes me feel great, I mean I love giving back to the community especially an area I am familiar in,” Rob said. “My son didn’t have these opportunities, so I like to be able to create those opportunities and resources for autistic kids and I am just glad to be one of those resources.”

    The foundation and school host various fundraisers and events in the fall and spring to raise money for both non-profits. The next one is the Riding for Hope fundraiser scheduled for Nov. 14 to raise money for playground equipment and other needs of the school, Amy said.

    The fundraiser will have a motorcycle ride, raffles and a silent auction. The event will also serve to raise awareness about autism and answer questions that people may have, she said.

    “I think it's important that we are advocates for our children,” Amy said. “Our children are very unique, and this isn't a cookie cutter disability, and the number of autistic children is going up so it’s important we raise awareness because autism isn’t going away.”

    Rob said that the pandemic has slowed down the efforts to raise money and grow and this fundraiser will help move things along.

    “You know you can write grants and hope and pray that you get them but just because you write them doesn't mean you will get them,” Amy said. “We need this money to help for new playground equipment, when our kids go outside they can be engaged, have physical exercise,” Amy said.

    The goal of the fundraiser is to raise at least $10,000. If someone can’t attend but still wants to donate they can do so at the website https://theschoolofhope.networkforgood.com/projects/94356-make-a-difference-in-the-lives-of-children-with-autism

    For more information visit https://www.theschoolofhope.net and https://www.jarredbryansparksfoundation.org

    The Riding for Hope event starts at 10 a.m. Nov. 14 at the Fayetteville Community Church located at 2010 Middle River Loop. The bike ride will stop at the Seven Gables Skating Rink in Clinton and return to Fayetteville. Registration will be from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Rider tickets are $20, passengers are $10. Pre-registration email is sohfundraiser2020@gmail.com

    01 02 Rob and Amy Sparks

    01 03 20201027 133150

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (Left) Amy and Rob Sparks opened the School of Hope for austistic children in 2017 in honor of their late son, Jarred.
    (Right) The Riding for Hope event on Nov. 14 will raise funds for playground equipment for students and other school needs.

     

  • 02 bright flag waving"Have you no sense of decency?"

    This quote has been ringing in my ears for this entire election period. Its origin is from the testimony of then-Wisconsin Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, who became both famous and infamous in the 1950s with his allegations that Communists were overrunning our national government and infiltrating Washington's federal agencies. During this time, there was intense national anxiety about the spread of communism in the U.S. History has it that the arrogant, persistent and egomaniac McCarthy met his match when he locked horns with the U.S. Army. In retaliation for not giving preferential treatment to one of his closest aides, he charged the Army with neglect for having lax security at one of their top-secret Army facilities. Televised nationally, the Army-McCarthy trials went on for months and drew national attention because of McCarthy's notoriety. However, he proved to be no match for Joseph Welch, the attorney hired to defend the U.S. Army against his outrageous allegations. On June 9, 1954, in a calculated and desperate move to gain the advantage over Welch, McCarthy, with a national television audience tuned in, attempted to discredit Welch, by charging that one of his staff attorneys was a Communist operative.

    Across the nation, Americans watched and listened in disbelief. Joseph Welch responded emphatically with those immortal lines that ended McCarthy's career. The angry and frustrated Welch recoiled with: "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness." McCarthy tried to interrupt, but Welch cut him off, "Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?" Practically overnight, McCarthy's power, influence and national popularity evaporated. He was deplored by the public, censured by the Senate, ostracized by the Republican party, and ignored by the media. McCarthy's fanatic, mean and unjust reign of terror was over, and he died in disgrace three years later.

    "Have you no sense of decency?" That is the haunting question I want to keep asking this generation of American political leadership. Has anyone running for political office retained any sense of decency? Honesty? Integrity? Have politicians become so callous and remotely distanced from humanity that they no longer contend these character traits even matter? If they matter, why are we as citizens subjected to this constant barrage of lies, disinformation and deception? Don't they realize that Americans are growing skeptical and intolerant of their lies and weary of this environment of corruption and mistrust? Have they no sense of decency? COVID-19 is a perfect example of this and perhaps why we cannot get it under control. Local, state and national government officials have politicized this pandemic to suit their agendas while frustrated Americans suffer and lose confidence in America's leadership. Morality continues to get sidelined as married politicians get caught having sex with another man's wife in the middle of a major campaign, and it's "no big deal!” Really? Have you no sense of decency? Nationally, the CIA & FBI conspire to frame and unseat a duly elected POTUS! Have they no sense of decency? Our own Congress works to obstruct, slander and defame nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court. Have they no sense of decency? The media desecrates the Fourth Estate by abandoning their journalist integrity and commitment to the American people of providing fair and unbiased media coverage of our government's Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches. Have they no sense of decency? Recently, the gross dereliction of responsibility shown by social media outlets for censoring news and information for political purposes in an attempt to influence the results and outcome of a national election. Have they no sense of decency? Lastly, and closer to home, everyone should be disgusted by the number of relentless political TV, radio and postcard mailers sent to our homes that tout nothing but unsubstantiated "lies" about candidates. Have they no sense of decency?

    We are all aware of the challenges that lie ahead for our community, state and nation. I firmly believe as Americans we will get through this. Regardless of color, race, religion or political affiliation, real Americans believe in the U.S. Constitution and freedom. History has shown that we are not willing to give either of them up. At least not without a fight. When confronted with elected leaders not living up to decent moral expectations, just ask them: Have you no sense of decency?

    Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  • 04 Inkedasteroid LIThis column is written about a week before the election so I have no idea who won. Or if a winner or martial law has been declared. Or if all is sweetness and light and each side has graciously accepted that the other side has won. Who knows? The Shadow knows but he ain’t telling. Perhaps this column will never appear in print. Not because Up & Coming’s Publisher Bill Bowman will actually read it before it appears. Bill and I sit on very different sides of the political fence so it is a minor miracle this column has lasted all these many years. However, I digress.

    The reason this column may never soil the pages of world literature is because there is the possibility that the asteroid named 2018 VPI will hit the Earth on 2 November 2020. This is the day before the election thus wiping out the Earth and all its inhabitants including printing presses. This may or may not be an improvement over our current situation. Let us ponder 2018 VPI which is cruising towards us at 25,000 miles per hour. NASA found 2018 VPI in 2018 with its Near-Earth Object Observations Program. Science guys including TV star Neil deGrasse Tyson tell us that 2018 VPI is fairly small, about the size of an olive green 1960’s refrigerator. They tell us 2018 VPI has less than a half per cent chance of hitting us. Supposedly even if it did hit us, it wouldn’t destroy the Earth. However, let us remember that this is the Year of Our Lord 2020 when anything can and will happen. The experts also told us that the Titanic was unsinkable. The experts told us Hillary was a sure thing to be elected President in 2016. So, there is that.

    The odds are that 2018 VPI probably won’t destroy the Earth. But what if 2018 VPI is just a warning shot from some alien race or even a cranky Greek God? We have all seen enough movies about aliens deciding to destroy the Earth to know that somebody out there might not like us. If the Klingons have been picking up the political ads from the last six months, they probably hate us by now. If the Klingons don’t get us, maybe Thor is angry at us. Thor may have upgraded his weapons from thunder bolts to asteroids. It is no accident that HBO is running the Bruce Willis magnum opus “Armageddon” right now. Does HBO know something we don’t? Are the cable wizards trying to warn us of pending disaster? Has anyone seen Bruce Willis lately? We may need him in the next reel to save the Earth for real.

    Right now you are probably asking yourself, “Self, how big does an asteroid or a comet need to be to destroy the Earth?” You could ask the dinosaurs this question because they were around 65 million years ago when an asteroid about 6 to 9 miles wide smacked the Earth. Unfortunately, none of the dinosaurs survived the impact. Bruce Willis wasn’t born until about 65 million years later so he couldn’t save the Earth. Without Bruce Willis the best the dinosaurs could hope for was to be impressive fossils or petroleum. A rather large unpleasant visitor from outer space hit the Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago leaving a 110 mile in diameter crater. This led to climate change and multiple bad days for the dinosaurs.

    This interstellar event horizon collision did provide a financial windfall for Stan Sacrison some 67 million year later. In 1987, Mr. Sacrison found an almost complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex in Montana. Mr. Sacrison naturally named his find after himself calling him Stan the T Rex. Stan was a big boy, 40 feet long and 13 feet high. It turned out Stan was worth a lot of money, selling last month by the Christie Auction for $31.8 million. This was the largest amount a fossil ever sold for. Good job, Stan. Stan’s Mom would be proud of her boy finally making good after 65 million years. It shows the value of perseverance. It’s an ill asteroid that blows no one no good. So even though all the dinosaurs had to go to dinosaur heaven, at least Mr. Sacrison had a good pay day.

    Can anything good come from an asteroid striking and destroying the Earth? It would wipe out COVID-19 and the My Pillow Guy. Herd immunity would instantly take place leaving the Rona no place to go. Bill Barr would no longer be U.S. Attorney General. We would no longer have to put up with obnoxious Dook basketball fans. Q Anon could no longer rant about demons in pizza parlors. You would never again have to struggle to open those plastic bags at the grocery store that stick together in the produce section. Spam robo calls would cease forever. You would never have to remember your new passwords.

    If you are actually reading this deep into the column, congratulations. The Earth was not destroyed by 2018 VPI. Unfortunately, you are now living in a world of post-presidential election hijinx. Maybe that errant asteroid creaming the Earth doesn’t look so bad after all. Good luck with the election fall out. Like Roseanne Roseannadanna once said, “It’s always something.”

    Pictured: An asteroid named 2018 VPI is cruising toward the Earth at 25,000 miles an hour. The science guys tell us there is a very small chance it could hit the Earth.

  • 05 get flu shotMillions of people across the globe get flu shots each year to protect against influenza, but the vaccine might provide even greater benefits in 2020. As the world continues to confront the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, it’s imperative that people everywhere take necessary steps to protect themselves and others.

    “We are still fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Cumberland County,” said Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green. “As we enter the flu season, we must protect our healthcare and frontline workers. Getting your flu shot is a simple way to help these heroes who have been fighting this pandemic tirelessly since March.”

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that a flu vaccine will not protect people against COVID-19. However, flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of illness related to the flu. Those illnesses weaken people’s immune systems, making them more vulnerable to other viruses, including COVID-19.

    Flu vaccines have also been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization. That’s a significant benefit of being vaccinated, as people who get their flu shots can indirectly help hospitals conserve potentially scarce resources. As the COVID-19 virus rapidly spread late in the winter of 2019-20, many hospitals across the country and even the globe were stretched incredibly thin. So, anything ordinary citizens can do to alleviate such burdens can help save lives while also making hospital workers’ jobs easier and less stressful.

    The Cumberland County Department of Public Health is now offering free flu vaccinations regardless of insurance status. To protect the health and safety of staff and clients, flu vaccines at the Immunization Clinic located in the Health Department at 1235 Ramsey, St. are by appointment only.

    The public must call 910-321-7116 to make an appointment to receive the flu vaccine at the Cumberland County Health Department Immunization Clinic. Upon arrival at the clinic, participants will complete a short registration form and if insured, a copy of insurance cards will be captured, and the insurance company will be billed. Participants will not receive a bill for flu vaccines.

    Children, 18 and younger, can also receive a free flu vaccine through the Vaccines for Children program. Anyone accompanying a minor must show proof of custody.

    Many people may be concerned about going out and getting a flu shot in 2020. That’s especially likely for people who live in communities where the COVID-19 virus is spreading. However, the CDC notes that getting a flu shot in 2020 is an essential part of protecting your health and the health of your family.

    Many doctor’s offices are now insisting patients wait in their cars until doctors are ready to see them, and masks may be required when entering the doctor’s office. Such measures can reduce the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus when visiting a doctor’s office for a flu shot or another visit, so patients should not be hesitant to receive their vaccinations in 2020. Patients can follow such protocols even if their doctors are not insisting they do so. The same safety measures can be followed by people who intend to get their flu shots from neighborhood pharmacies.

    Community Flu Shot Clinics

    The Health Department is also partnering with community agencies to offer free flu vaccine clinics throughout the county. The public can choose between drive-thru or in-person flu vaccine services. No appointments are required for community flu clinics. Drive-thru clinics begin Nov. 10.

    To protect the health and safety of staff and clients, flu vaccinations given by drive-up cannot accommodate those on foot. Directional signage will guide the public through the registration line. Individuals receiving a vaccination must sit next to an operational window, be wearing a mask and remain in vehicles. Staff will administer flu vaccinations through the window. Individuals in middle or third row seats cannot be vaccinated.

    There is a drive-thru flu clinic scheduled Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Falling Run Baptist Church located at 2852 Cedar Creek Rd.

    Another drive-thru flu clinic is scheduled Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alliance Health located at 711 Executive Pl.

    An In-Person Community Clinic is scheduled Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fayetteville State University’s Rudolph Jones Student Center—The Bronco Lounge, located at 1200 Murchinson Rd.

    No appointments are required for community flu clinics. As they are scheduled, additional community clinics will be posted on http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/fluclinic
    Is it flu or COVID-19?

    There are some key differences between COVID-19 and the flu. COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for longer. Another important difference is there is a vaccine to protect against flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to
    the virus.

    Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two.

    “While many unknowns surrounding COVID-19 remain, we do know having a cough, fever or fatigue can be symptoms of both the flu and COVID-19,” said Dr. Green. “At least one symptom that COVID-19 and flu do not share is the loss of taste many COVID-19 positive individuals report.”

    While more is learned every day, there is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. The CDC updates information daily and has the best available information to date.

  • 12 N2004P64099HMarch 13, 2020, is a date that will be added to our ever-growing dates of historical events in the United States. Why? It was the date many of our states’ governors issued stay-at-home orders for all of its citizens amid growing concerns related to the coronavirus. By 5 p.m. on March 13, CNN.com reported that at least 1,666 coronavirus cases and 41 deaths had been confirmed in the U.S.

    At Fayetteville Technical Community College, we were already on alert, as the news of the deadly virus spread. Faculty received training on how to use Blackboard Collaborate, a tool much like Zoom or Google, and were directed to teach from home. In addition to this training, College administrators surveyed students regarding their access to wi-fi services and computers when away from the campus.

    I will admit that when the notification of the email flashed across my i-phone, I was a little taken aback. I knew how to prepare for a snow storm or hurricane but not a pandemic.

    Thoughts filled my head about what I needed to do and how to get it done. The only computer I had at my home was more than ten years old and had no web-camera. I had no printer, and to be honest, I did not have the money to purchase what I needed to continue serving my students.

    Fortunately for me, FTCC provided the needed computer with a web-camera for my use. I still had no printer, but because I teach math, my job doesn’t entail a great deal of printing. Internet service providers offered free internet service, and my cell phone service provider gave an additional 8 GB of data for the remainder of the month of March.

    That Saturday back in March, I was busily trying to help my middle-schooler adapt to his new learning environment—the kitchen table—while I set up my new office in the dining room.

    I fielded myriad emails from students.

    I did my best to reassure my students that we would all work together to get through this ordeal. Then the day arrived for us to have our first of many virtual class meetings.

    My experience felt like the first day of school all over again … I had to take time to help students find their virtual classroom, navigate the tools within the software and go over proper etiquette for meeting online.

    Needless to say, by the end of the first day, I was exhausted yet very pleased that my students could continue learning. They could continue to explore the concepts of binomial experiments, hypothesis testing and compounding interest rates!

    Fast forward, and here we are in month eight of this pandemic. Even though no one knows if and when our COVID-19 situation will go away, one thing is for sure: at FTCC, we are working to ensure that our students can continue to learn.

    Spring classes begin January 11; we hope you will register today and begin the new year staying connected to something positive — education at FTCC.

  • 10 01 sibling IMG 1952 COPYJared and Janna Rhodes are a brother and sister duo who have always been close despite their 8-year age difference. Jared, 25, is a house parent at Falcon Children's Home and Janna, 17, is a senior at Pine Forest High School. The two wrote a murder mystery book that was released earlier this year and is available online. The pair recently sat down with Up & Coming Weekly to share the idea behind the book, their writing process and future projects.

    Tell us how you conceived the idea for “Speak No Evil.”
    We kind of have a specific way of talking to one another. Something happened and she said something smart to me and I said, “You better shut up before I sew that mouth shut.” We kind of laughed about it and thought it was an interesting idea. We started discussing it and it became this whole idea of what if there was a serial killer named 'The Seamstress' who killed people who used their words to destroy rather than to build people up. To tell you the truth, it was the easiest project that we have ever worked on, the first draft was probably done in about two weeks.

    What is the inspiration behind this book?
    We are both musicians and are big TV people. A show that we had started watching is "Broadchurch." It is a British television crime story so that was kind of fresh on our minds. We were also thinking about the show "How To Get Away With Murder." It was almost like the stars aligned and all the information that we needed was in our heads and we were like "let’s just make this happen."

    What is the purpose of the book?
    I think the main purpose of it is entertainment, but we definitely have something to say in the book as well. We talk a lot about how words mean something. Words can build people up and they can destroy people as well. We thought what better way to show the power of how bad words can be. It is literally having someone take on this persona where he decides to physically shut someone up and then to emotionally and mentally shut the whole town up.
    Also, a purpose is to show how two different people can work on something like writing a book or trying to solve a mystery. The two main characters in the book are very much like my sister and I. We kind of use that to make a more cohesive dynamic when it comes to the main
    characters.

    What can you tell us about the book without giving away any spoilers?
    It is set in the fictional town of Little Heaven, Georgia. We follow the exploits of a seasoned detective, Leroy Stone, and his police commissioner, Marleen Stricker. They are trying to find out who is killing these prominent members of the community. 'The Seamstress' is killing people who are not good people for the community or just in general not good individuals. To help out with the case, intrepid reporter Simone Garcia joins forces with the police to essentially uncover what’s going on in this town.

    Did you encounter challenges during the writing process?
    Yes, just really sweating the details because both of us are very much cut-to-the-chase big picture people. I had a friend of mine read through the first draft. We knew where the story was going but we just needed a little bit more meat so it felt like a more vibrant and cohesive story throughout.

    What has been your greatest achievement with this book?
    I think it may very well be the book itself. Neither of us ever thought we would write something like this. We love working with each other because we both think the same but we communicate things very differently. We can both say that we have a book that’s out and we did this and it was fun. We just want to do it again.

    What do you hope to gain from this book?
    Another aspect of my life is that I am a house parent at a children’s home. My boys love this kind of genre so I’ve been reading it to them. Them coming up to me having a theory about who 'The Seamstress' is or them wanting me to read them the next chapter is the best part. The fact that it is resonating with kids that have come from really bad situations and it puts a smile on their face is what we are really after.

    Will there be other books in the future?
    Maybe, yes. We have nine other books planned from one level to another. I can definitely say that they are not all going to be murder mysteries but they will be in the same universe.

    Final thoughts?
    Focus on the little details when you read the book. We put in a lot of details that if the right person knows this set amount of information they are going to find out who the killer is by the first couple of chapters. We also have a pen name and it is Grant Griffin. In the foreword and the afterword we write those things in the voice of this fictional author and he gives a thesis of the book and lets us be as weird as possible. It is just a way to spice up the book reading process.

    "Speak No Evil" is available online https://www.amazon.com/Speak-No-Evil-Grant-Griffin/dp/1663206376/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=speak+no+evil+grant+griffin&qid=1598115086&sr=8-3

    10 02 Speak No Evil

  • 07 Suzanne OwenThe principal of Cliffdale Elementary School, Suzanne Owen, has been named Cumberland County Schools’ 2021 Principal of the Year during the district’s first-ever virtual celebration.

    With 24 years of experience in education, Owen has served as principal of Cliffdale Elementary since 2018. Under her leadership, students met growth in all measures, exceeding growth in reading.

    “Her dedication to supporting teachers and building positive relationships with students is commendable, and we are fortunate to have her in CCS,” said school superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly.

    Tianna O’Brien, assistant principal at Bill Hefner Elementary School, was named the CCS 2021 Assistant Principal of the Year.

    As the district’s Principal of the Year winner, Owen received $3,000 from Lafayette Ford-Lincoln ($1,000 for personal use, $2,000 for school use), a cash award, iPad mini and floral arrangement from CCS, a commemorative Principal of the Year ring, an engraved desk clock and a trophy from the board of education.

    “This year—more than ever before—it’s important that we celebrate our school leaders who have shown resilience during a challenging and unprecedented school year,” said Dr. Connelly. As the district's Principal of the Year winner, Owen will now compete for the regional title.

    Pictured: Suzanne Owen

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