Expectations were high at E.E. Smith last year when Alex Scruggs transferred to the Seabrook Road school from Trinity Christian School to join the Golden Bull basketball team.

After taking Smith to the fourth round of last year’s North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A state playoffs and with the Wake Forest commit returning for her senior season, there’s no reason Smith coach Dee Hardy shouldn’t be even more optimistic about the 2018-19 season.

“She has such a lovely personality and blends in anywhere she goes,’’ Hardy said. “It was pretty smooth sailing.’’

Scruggs led Cumberland County Schools in scoring with 28.3 points per game last season. She was also among the rebounding leaders with 11.7 per game and tops in 3-point field goals with 55, almost 20 more than the second-place finisher.

“This season, my expectations have to be (for me) to be an overall better player than last year and make my teammates better,’’ Scruggs said.

Scruggs said she feels she needs to be tougher this year, especially driving to the basket and rebounding. “I think public school (basketball) is a lot more aggressive and fast-paced than private school,’’ she said.

Smith has added some new faces to the team this year. Kendall Maccauley transferred from Freedom Christian along with Daireanna McIntyre from Seventy-First. They join holdovers Keonna Bryant, Trinity Dixon and Kayla Parson.

“We’ll look to them for guidance and maturity,’’ Hardy said of the three Smith returnees.

As for competition from the rest of the Patriot Athletic Conference, Hardy expects Pine Forest to be a major threat with the addition of Northwood Temple transfers, cousins Ciara and Kendal Moore, who led Northwood to the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 1-A basketball title last year.

“Terry Sanford has a lot returning and I look for them to be strong,’’ Hardy said. The Bulldogs are again led by versatile athlete Lindsay Bell.

Hardy expects a test from South View and veteran coach Brent Barker. “They always have something,’’ she said.

Smith begins the season with a difficult challenge, facing 3-A East Regional finalist Havelock on Nov. 24.

Photo: Alex Scruggs

 Senior leadership, togetherness and a commitment to zone defense helped carry Terry Sanford’s boys to a share of the Patriot Athletic Conference regular-season title with Overhills last year.

For a repeat to occur in 2018-19, head coach Darren Corbett is going to have to find some new faces as graduation hit his Bulldogs hard.

“We are leaning heavily on Yates Johnson,’’ Corbett said. “Yates is a rising junior who started every game last year but one.’’

Johnson was the Bulldogs’ third-leading scorer last year behind departed starters Gabe Hardison and Holt Walker, averaging 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and hitting 24 3-point goals.

A newcomer will be Northwood Temple transfer Jay Hickman, like Johnson a junior. He’ll join a couple of returnees from last season, Dante Bowlding and D.J. Herz.

Corbett said Hickman, a 6-foot-1-inch guard, has gotten interest from some Division I schools including East Carolina.

Corbett expects Johnson to score a few more points this season but won’t be calling on him to carry the entire load.

“He’s a big asset to us as far as his intensity level and work ethic he brings every day,’’ Corbett said.

Johnson said he’s worked on his 3-point shooting and finishing at the rim. “I need to be a leader like I was last year, just in a bigger role,’’ he said.

Corbett expects Westover and Overhills to provide major challenges again this season. “Pine Forest was really good last year and Cape Fear is good as well,’’ he said. “If we can establish ourselves early, we can be competitive.’’

Photo: Yates Johnson

 The second annual Hoops and Dreams Showcase is scheduled Nov. 23-24 at Methodist University’s March Riddle Center.

The event will feature top local and national high school basketball teams.

Tickets will only be sold on-site on a first-come, first-served basis.

Local teams taking part include Trinity Christian, Northwood Temple, Village Christian, Fayetteville Academy, New Life Christian, Freedom Christian and Cape Fear Christian.

Some of the out-of-area teams taking part include Word of God Christian from Raleigh, Charlotte Independence, Greensboro Smith, Morrisville Panther Creek, Greenfield School, Farmville Central and Asheville Christian.

Some of the top committed players scheduled to appear are Josh Nickelberry of Northwood to Louisville, Greg Gantt of Trinity Christian to Providence and Justin McKoy of Panther Creek to Penn State.

 Here is the Sandhills Athletic Conference All-Conference volleyball team as chosen by the league’s coaches.

Player of the year: Lexy Cole, Jack Britt

Coach of the year: Leigh Ann Weaver, Jack Britt

Jack Britt: Caitlin Broome, Alyssa Bullard, Lauren Walker, Kaiah Parker, Ilena Hall

Pinecrest: L’asia Jackson, Liz Mann, Carley Modlin, Madi Ringley

Richmond Senior: Savannah Lampley, Carley Lambeth, Layne Maultsby

Lumberton: Alexandria Simpson, Rachel O’Neil, Katie Kinlaw

Scotland: Sarah Eury

Seventy-First: Morrigan Denman 

Purnell Swett: Khalie Jones, Nyasia Jackson Hoke County: Veronique Woodson

Photo: Lexy Cole

 Here is the Patriot Athletic Conference All- Conference volleyball team as chosen by the league’s coaches.

Player of the year: Lauren Adams, Cape Fear

Coach of the year: Jalesty Washington, Gray’s Creek

First team

Cape Fear: Techiera Matthews, Marlie Horne, Taylor Melvin

Gray’s Creek: Kylie Aldridge, Hailey Pait, Morgan Brady Terry Sanford: Kara Walker, Kate Perko

South View: Sierra Gosselin

E.E. Smith: Ja’Nya Lunnermon

Second team

Westover: Tia Johnson

Cape Fear: Alexis Spexarth. 

Terry Sanford: Ashley Bolton, Ally Danaher

South View: Mellody Bombatepe

Pine Forest: Chayse Daniels, Erin Debenport

Gray’s Creek: Savannah Mullis, Jaide Holliday Overhills: Monique Reid

Honorable mention

E.E. Smith: Alexandria Scruggs, Kayden Antonson, Antonia Powell, Kayla Parsons, Serenity Lunnermon

Pine Forest: Aliciav Hairston, Jalena Novak

Overhills: Alexis Lillard, Kirsten Kirschbaum

South View: Amaria McLaughlin, Casey Dees

Gray’s Creek: Summer Powell, Kelsie Rouse

Westover: Mya Johnson

Terry Sanford: Ashley Shannon

Photo: Lauren Adams

 Aaliyah Smith

Seventy-First • Junior •

Tennis

Smith has a grade point average of 3.0. In addition to tennis, she’s active in the Seventy-First Junior ROTC and forensics.

 

 

 

 

Adam Lindee

Gray’s Creek • Senior •

Cross country

Lindee has an unweighted grade point average of 3.54. In the recent Patriot Athletic Conference cross country championship meet at South View High School, Lindee placed tenth with a time of 18:04.30.

I was going to spend most of this part of the column talking about the various scenarios for who will qualify for the playoffs from the Sandhills and Patriot Athletic Conferences.

 

But all of that should sort itself out on the field with no need for any complicated tiebreaks, so I’m going to let the scores take care of answering those questions.

There’s a more important topic to discuss as the result of some ugly incidents that took place at football games elsewhere in the state in recent weeks.

 

I’m not going into detail but let’s just say it involved fights and in a couple of cases serious penalties handed down by the N.C. High School Athletic Association that ended the season for the schools involved.

 

As we approach this final weekend of the high school regular season, I send a warning to those schools that are still in the running for the postseason.

 

One moment of anger and frustration on your part can light the fuse to an explosion that will end your football season now.

The NCHSAA has stiff and severe penalties for being involved in a fight on the field of play, penalties that will land you on the bench and your team out of the playoffs.

 

Just remember this. If a fight breaks out, walk away. Do not engage. Cover yourself if need be but don’t swing back.

And if you are on the sideline, never, ever come out on the field when a fight starts. The NCHSAA considers coming on to the field during a fight a violation just as bad as if you were out there throwing punches.

 

Some of you are just inches away from competing for a state title. Don’t blow your shot with a fit of temper.

The record: 73-20

Talk about a dose of reality. I had a miserable 3-3 week to drop the record to 73-20. Bye bye 80 percent right as I dipped to 78.5 percent.

Let’s try to regroup and get back to 80 percent going into the postseason.

Cape Fear at Douglas Byrd - This isn’t automatic for Cape Fear, which needs a win to have a shot at a piece of second place in the Patriot Athletic Conference. Byrd exploded against Westover last week and Cape Fear needs to take the Eagles seriously.

Cape Fear 20, Douglas Byrd 14.

E.E. Smith at Westover - This is Smith’s last chance to avoid a winless season. I don’t think it’s going to happen.

Westover 28, E.E. Smith 14.

Terry Sanford at Gray’s Creek - This is a tough one to pick. There are reports of possible key injuries for Terry Sanford. Under normal circumstances, both teams have plenty of offense. But I think Gray’s Creek has a slight edge on defense. I’m going to give the Bears the advantage playing at home.

Gray’s Creek 24, Terry Sanford 23.

Jack Britt at Scotland - Britt could be looking at an emotional letdown after the big win against Seventy-First. Scotland needs a win to avoid a sub-.500 finish.

Scotland 28, Jack Britt 20.

Pine Forest at South View - It all comes down to this for the Patriot Athletic Conference championship. Pine Forest has far exceeded my expectations for the year and definitely deserves to be in this position. South View was most people’s pick to be here this week, and I see no reason to change my thinking as one of those who thought the Tigers would be playing for the title.

South View 29, Pine Forest 22.

Harrells Christian at Village Christian - These teams already met at Harrells on Sept. 7 with Village winning 43-6. I don’t expect this week’s game to be much different, as Village advances to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 11-man Division III championship game against either SouthLake Christian or Asheville School. Village would be the host team against either in the finals as it is the No. 1 seed in its bracket.

Village Christian 34, Harrells Christian 12.

Tatyana Sluss

Jack Britt • Senior •

Tennis

Sluss has a weighted grade point average of 4.41. She is a member of Health Occupations Students of America, Spanish Club and National Honor Society. She plans to major in biology and hopes to become a surgeon.

 

 

 

Komla Akogo

Seventy-First • Junior •

Soccer

Akogo has a 3.3 grade point average. He enjoys playing basketball and running track.

 Julian Barbaro and Hudson Zeisman weren’t just playing for Fayetteville Academy in a drive toward back-to-back North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A soccer championships.

They were playing for family and friends. When the Eagles defeated Gaston Day 3-1 to bring home this year’s NCISAA state title recently, their mission was complete.

This season, Barbaro and Zeisman shared a tradition of putting a piece of tape on each other’s wrists.

The day of the championship game, the band on Barbaro’s wrist contained references to three people: his sister Emmi; Zeisman’s mother, Missy; and the late Deacon Burgess of Terry Sanford.

Burgess was a former Bulldog football player who died from cancer. Zeisman’s mother has been recovering from a double aneurysm and attends Academy soccer games in a motorized wheelchair.

Emmi Barbaro was killed in a tragic accident six years ago.

Barbaro drew special inspiration from his sister, who always used to say anything is possible and never give up.

“That was pretty much the reason I remember her throughout the game,’’ Barbaro said. He had special reason to keep her words in mind as this season drew to a close. In Fayetteville Academy’s senior night game, Barboro tore the meniscus in his left knee and his status for the playoffs was seriously in doubt.

He skipped one game after the injury, then took the field for the Academy’s final three games, scoring two goals, including one in the championship game with Gaston Day.

“I took the risk,’’ he said, wearing a brace on his knee during the playoffs. He plans to have surgery on the knee sometime this month.

“I’m so happy for my senior season to end like this,’’ he said.

Zeisman also had his mother in mind when the Eagles beat Gaston Day. When the game ended, he wound up with the game ball in his hands. “The first thing that came to my mind was I was going to give it to my mom,’’ he said. “She’s been the one person who’s been there for me through thick and thin.’’

Zeisman also said he had no doubt Barbaro was going to battle through his injury in the playoffs. “He played through and scored the third goal (in the finals),’’ Zeisman said. “He’s a warrior.’’

The run to the state title may have been easier for Fayetteville Academy than winning its own conference. The Eagles were members of the Coastal Rivers Conference, a combination 3-A/2- A league. League rival Cape Fear Christian was the NCISAA 3-A champion, while league member Coastal Christian was the top seed in the 3-A state tournament and advanced to the semifinals before losing to 3-A runnerup Gaston Christian.

McCarthy felt the Eagles’ title was a combination of hard work, daily training and the high standards that have helped the school win 17 state soccer titles.

“We had nine great seniors that were involved in what we were trying to do,’’ McCarthy said. “They worked incredibly hard during the summer. It was an awesome group.’’

Obviously, with nine senior starters, the Eagles will take a huge graduation hit – but McCarthy is optimistic for next season. “We’ve got some good young players,’’ he said. “We’ll see if they keep developing. We’re excited.’’

 A strong finish in this year’s North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A golf tournament by Jack Britt and the pending return of sophomore sisters Mckenzie and Mckayla Daffin has the future of Buc girls golf looking bright.

Britt finished tied for fourth with Cardinal Gibbons High School in this year’s two-day 4-A tournament held last month at Pinehurst No. 3.

With only the Daffin sisters and senior Angelique Seymour qualifying for the state tournament from Britt, all three scores counted toward the team total each day of the tournament.

Britt posted the best score of any team in the state finals with only three players participating: 490.

Mckenzie led the way, shooting 78-80-150. Seymour recorded 84-81-165, and Makayla shot 84-83-167.

The performance didn’t surprise Britt golf coach Ray Musselwhite. “I felt we had the potential to go further than we’d ever gone before,’’ he said. “We beat Pinecrest for the first time (in a regular season match) and qualified four girls back to the regionals.’’

Musselwhite was especially impressed with the play of Mckenzie Daffin. “She battled through a swing change and was struggling a bit at midseason with the consistency she wanted,” he said.

He praised Seymour for surviving her first experience facing the strong level of competition in the state tournament. “I can’t say enough about how she performed, especially on day two, picking up strokes and battling down the stretch,’’ he said.

Seymour, who picked up golf about four years ago, said she’s gotten a few college offers and is seriously considering one from Belmont Abbey. “I’m thinking about going there and studying biology,’’ she said. “I might go to a larger school and play as a walk-on.’’

Mckayla picked up strokes the second day and also improved her overall play.

What’s most impressive about the success of the Britt team is the Daffin sisters have only been playing golf a few years.

Seymour said the Daffin sisters weren’t looking ahead of what was in front of them in the state finals. “By the time they are seniors, they should be state champion contenders,’’ Musselwhite said.

Looking ahead, Mckenzie likes her driver and iron play but wants to work on her short game. “I’d like to see my putts come down and to save more strokes with chipping,’’ she said. “I want to become more accurate with my clubs and irons.’’

Mckayla added 20 yards to her drives this year but wants to improve her irons and chipping. “By the end of next year, I’d like to be shooting around mid- 70s or lower,’’ she said. “I’m definitely going to put the work in to make it possible.’’

Photo:  L-R: Mckayla Daffin, Angelique Seymour, Mckenzie Daffin

The pieces were there for Freedom Christian Academy to win its first North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association state volleyball championship this season, but it took first-year coach Wyndee Mathias and her senior-laden squad several games for the picture to come into focus.

Once it did, it was an absolute masterpiece.

After starting the season with a 9-6 record, Freedom ended with a 13-0 run that included outscoring its opponents 39-1.

In the title game, the Patriots avenged an earlier loss to Gaston Day with their twelfth 3-0 win in their last 13 games.

Mathias told her team the first part of the season would be a learning process for them and for her.

“We’re going to experiment with lineups, changes and different things,’’ she explained to them. “We’ll get a starting point and know where we’ve got to work from.’’

But she also made them aware of their potential. “I told them you are very capable of playing in the state playoffs and going far,’’ she said. “I told them your only limitation would be you.’’

The Patriots qualified for the state playoffs as the No. 6 seed, meaning the trip to the championship match would have to include wins over the top three seeds in the tournament.

Throughout the win streak, Mathias said the team never discussed what they were doing, focusing only on the next game on the schedule and no further. In the finals with Gaston Day, she said, the team was only at about 70 to 75 percent of effectiveness and had to play more of a mental than a physical game. “They fought through that game and ground for every point they could,’’ she said.

For much of the season, the Patriots were led by NCISAA All-State selections Jasmine Wooten and Sophie Majerske.

Majerske is a setter, Wooten an outside hitter. “I think we all played a lot harder because it was our last year and we’ve gone through ups and downs together,’’ Wooten said. “We really wanted to win for each other.’’

Majerske said, “For the seniors, it was knowing for a lot of us this was our last time. We’re not playing in college. We really just went hard.’’

Despite the loss of nine seniors this year, Mathias is optimistic about Freedom’s chances to compete for the title next season. “We’re looking at how we can improve the program from the sixth grade up,’’ she said. “We’re focusing on the entire program and how we can develop a much stronger program.”

Meetings

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Until the Parks and Recreation building has been repaired following damage from Hurricane Florence, some meetings may be moved to Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall at regular dates and times. Those meetings are noted with an asterisk below.

• Board of Commissioners and Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council Monday, Nov. 19: POSTPONED.

• Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m., at Parks and Recreation Building.*

• Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m., at Parks and Recreation Building.*

• Appearance Commission, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m. at Parks and Recreation Building.*

Activities

• Veterans Day Monday, Nov. 12: Town offices closed.

• Thanksgiving Thursday-Friday, Nov. 22-23: Town offices closed.

Promote yourself:Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

There’s a reason Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner likes to develop partnerships with local businesses and the community to preserve and improve local buildings and historical landmarks. In her opinion, these partnerships work to everyone’s benefit.

“Good things happen when we partner and we share,’’ Warner said. “They do things we couldn’t afford to do.”

In defense of her position, she cited a number of projects during her tenure as a town leader that in her opinion have been win-win situations.

Old Town Hall

At the top of the list is old Town Hall in the heart of the downtown area, which some years ago was converted into an office complex by Dr. Eric Raynor.

“Dr. Raynor was not only able to maintain the building; he’s refurbished it,’’ Warner said. “He’s added a lot of mill work and put in an elevator to make it handicapped-accessible.’’

There’s a placard on the outside of the building that gives a brief account of its history along with pictures inside of the bygone era in Hope Mills.

“It’s an old building that looks new because of what he’s done to maintain and refurbish it,’’ she said.

The Eddie Dees Building

Just across the street from old Town Hall on Main Street is the Eddie Dees Building, which was purchased by Jeff Gram, a close friend of the late mayor and an entrepreneur who is involved in a number of professional ventures.

The building has been home to several businesses over the years until Gram converted it into a combination of shops and office spaces.

“It was very appropriate he named it after Eddie Dees because Eddie was influential in helping him acquire that property,’’ Warner said. “He completely redid the building and rents it now.

“If it hadn’t been redone, it would have become another building that was dilapidated. It would have cost a good bit to update and upgrade it, but someone like him who had the money and interest in old buildings was able to do it.’’

First Citizens Bank

A little farther down Main Street from Old Town Hall and the Dees Building is First Citizens Bank.

Before the bank took over, the property wasn’t terribly attractive. First Citizens agreed to a partnership with the town. The bank tore down the structures on the property, built a new bank that reflected the architecture of the mill period of the early 1900s, and added a paved parking lot that it agreed to share with the town.

“We ended up with a municipal parking lot and an area that is very well landscaped,’’ Warner said. “They also gave us $20,000 to landscape and upgrade the land right across the street from there so it could be matching.’’

Plank Road

Plank Road weaves through various parts of Hope Mills, including an area off Golfview Road where it ran perilously close to the backyards of residents.

Warner said the road was difficult to maintain because of the homes, so the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners decided to close it and give the property to the homeowners there.

“Now the homeowners don’t have to worry about people cutting through there and they were given an extension of their backyard,’’ she said. “Most are very happy because it stopped a lot of traffic.’’

State Employees Credit Union

At least three houses had to be torn down to build the State Employees Credit Union on Main Street, but Warner said the people who sold the property were excited and the town also wound up a winner.

“We got a tastefully designed building with landscaping and signage that’s very discreet and very pretty once the building was built,’’ she said.

“SECU keeps the landscaping beautiful and it’s a pretty corner.’’

Public Works Commission

The town of Hope Mills has continued to grow, and Warner knew a time was coming when the town wouldn’t be able to maintain the infrastructure it needed to expand water services.

Enter the Public Works Commission, which came in and purchased the water and sewage system.

“They have replaced a lot of old pipes and stuff that had been there for a long time,’’ she said. “It makes sense that we can use PWC and they take care of the infrastructure needs for us. And it saves us dollars.’’

Senior Center

The old Senior Center became a problem for the town because of its somewhat isolated location. It wasn’t available for use for night events for the seniors. Eventually it was given to the town, and the town invested money into the property for upkeep.

Finally, the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars offered to buy the building as its headquarters and struck a deal with the town as a nonprofit organization to pay $50,000, the amount of money the town had spent on upkeep.

The VFW named the building for one of its members, former Mayor Edwin Deaver.

Although the building was listed as an asset on the town books at $250,000, Warner said the town never actually had that money in the bank, and got back the $50,000 it put into the building when it sold it.

Now the VFW pays utilities and upkeep on the building, and Warner is certain if the town needed it for any kind of function they would be able to work out an agreement with the VFW.

The Senior Center activities have been moved to Town Hall. There, they have their own remodeled room at the Parks and Recreation Department plus easier access to the gym and its facilities.

“There’s a positive side to all of it,’’ Warner said. “I just want things to be positive.’

 Tina West said she prefers to do her work in the shadows, avoiding the limelight as much as possible.

But it was hard to overlook her efforts during Hurricane Florence, and recently the manager of the South View High School cafeteria was honored by the local Red Cross at a meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Education.

West, who has been manager of the South View cafeteria for about eight years, was recognized for her volunteer efforts providing food to the evacuees who stayed in the shelter at South View during Hurricane Florence.

West and her family literally moved into a storage closet at the school for nearly a week, sleeping on air mattresses so she could be on-scene as much as possible to oversee the eating needs of the 317 people who called the South View gymnasium home for as many as nine days.

“Basically, we made sure they had at least two meals a day,’’ West said. She tried to make sure all the meals were hot and got an assist from cafeteria managers from neighboring schools.

There were some challenges. The gym was powered by a generator when the electricity went off, but there was a day when the generator went out.

West lost power to the freezer at the school and had to transfer food from there to the freezer at South View Middle School next door.

Once the generator came back on, she moved the food back to the high school.

Breakfast and lunch were the main meals she and her helpers served daily. With the help of donations, they were also able to serve dinner on occasion.

“We had one teacher who bought pizza for dinner,’’

West said. “A gentleman who runs a local body shop bought cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches.’’

West also tried to interact with the evacuees, especially one group of elderly ladies, a couple of whom lost everything to the storm. “They just needed someone to talk to,’’ West said.

Chad Barbour, assistant principal at South View, said West’s performance during the storm came as no surprise.

“She does an excellent job,’’ he said. “She’s been named cafeteria manager of the year by the county.

“She does a lot of things she doesn’t seek credit for. She feeds a lot of children from getting food donations. She’ll send backpacks of food home and coordinates all this herself.’’

Barbour said he played a small role in South View’s Hurricane relief efforts and praised the school staff, including West, for the job it did.

“The hours were difficult on the folks,’’ he said. “Our custodial and cafeteria staff stepped up, took charge and ran it. Our school resource officer played a big role in providing security and things like that.

“It’s leadership philosophy. Get the right people, put them in the right place, and get out of their way.’’

Photo: Tina West

 Michael Tucker hopes to use the platform he’s been given as Cumberland County’s principal of the year to share the challenges faced by public education in 2018. Tucker, principal at Stoney Point Elementary School and an educator in the county school system since 1999, was named winner of the annual honor as county’s principal of the year late last month.

A native of Harnett County and a 1993 graduate of Triton High School, Tucker earned his college degree, teaching credentials and a master’s in school administration from Fayetteville State University.

He served as a classroom teacher at various county schools before moving into administration in 2009.

He took over at Stoney Point in July. 

One thing Tucker isn’t sure the public is aware of is the level of responsibility the principal has for everything that goes on at the school.

“If you’re in a large school or small school, you’re responsible for just about everything that takes place in that building,’’ he said. “You’re going to get the praise if it’s successful or the criticism if it’s unsuccessful.

“There are so many layers with this job.’’

One of the biggest challenges is making the education experience the best it can be for both students and teachers but drawing the line when it comes to deciding what may be a good thing to do in the classroom and what’s going too far.

“Teachers want to do things that are fun and creative,’’ he said. “We sometimes have to be the bearer of bad news and say this might not be appropriate or we can’t use these kinds of resources in the classroom.’’

Tucker said he hopes his recognition as principal of the year in the county will provide him opportunities to speak out not about the challenges in his job, but the difficulties faced by the teaching profession as a whole in North Carolina.

He said he’s supervised teachers in schools both large and small and there’s been a common thread wherever he’s worked.

“There are many teachers who teach as a fulltime job but they have another job outside of teaching,’’ he said. “They may be waiting tables. They may be working in retail. They might be doing something else.’’

He said all are doing it for the same reason: to supplement the income they are getting as teachers.

“It’s disappointing they have a full-time job with 24/7 responsibility but they have to supplement their income by having a second job,’’ he said. “That’s something I don’t think a lot of people are aware of.’’

Students also face shortages in the classroom because of budget shortfalls, Tucker said. Many schools are shifting from costlier printed textbooks to cheaper digital options, but Tucker said sometimes the shift isn’t as smooth or seamless as it should be.

“There may be gaps between the resources teachers have to actually provide that instruction,’’ he said. “They might not have access to laptops or digital tools.’’

But Tucker said the story he wants to share isn’t a total tale of woe when it comes to public schools. “There’s a lot of good things going on in public education in North Carolina and around the country,’’ he said. “I think we are trying to trend in the right direction, but there are a lot of areas that need to be brought to public awareness so we can try to affect a change.’’

Photo: Michael Tucker

 Alex Warner is a political shark. After two terms on the Cumberland County School Board, he ran a record-breaking campaign for the North Carolina House of Representatives. He served nine terms representing District 45.

In person, Warner is modest about his political prowess. But when he speaks, it’s evident his tenure has made him an expert on this topic with very strong opinions on politics – and politicians.

“Our Constitution is very clear – our founding fathers wanted ‘frequent elections,’” Warner said. “They wanted our representatives there for two years. That way if they weren’t performing to meet the needs of the people they represent, the people could vote them out.”

Warner has watched from the sidelines for eight years while his wife, Mayor Jackie Warner, has battled, not with her constituents, but with her fellow commissioners. The behavior of the commissioners is why Alex Warner recently broke his silence and decided it was time to play an active role in politics again.

Warner is protective of his wife and family, especially now when board members have been attacking them for months. But he’s also pragmatic and realizes if they’ll attack his family, they could attack any family in Hope Mills.

“I’ve seen this so many time,” he said. “Someone gets elected and takes office with the idea they’re going to represent the people. But it takes a person with strong character to do that. Too often, they bow to special interest groups. Ultimately, they forget who put them in office. They start to feel like they’re smarter than the people who elected them, and that hubris justifies any bad behaviors.”

He’s referring to the board’s political missteps throughout the summer months. When faced with a proposal from a national organization wanting to purchase municipal land, the board stalled, pushed false narratives and ultimately refused to hear from the public before denying the offer. For many of the voters, the real offense was in not allowing a public hearing. But the board has accused the Warner family of trying to manipulate the system to force the sale. To date, there’s been no evidence to support this claim, but board members continue to dig and continue to hurl accusations.

Warner sees this as a symptom of a bigger problem. “Some of the board members seem insecure,” he said. “They’ve got to go by a title or insist on telling you what their profession is outside of the board or manipulate rules to control the staff and other board members. They were elected to serve. They were elected to execute the people’s will. We have a pretty savvy constituency; they won’t tolerate being led around like sheep. Many elected officials have paid a price for that misconception with short-lived political careers.”

On Oct. 21, the political action committee Hope Mills Citizens for Change installed signs around Hope Mills encouraging citizens to vote no on a 4-year referendum. If passed, the mayor and two commissioners with the most votes would be elected for four years in the 2019 election. The remaining three seats would convert to 4-year terms in the 2021 election.

The referendum was suggested by Commissioner Mike Mitchell and quickly pushed through four meetings and a public hearing at which the public was unanimously against it.

As soon as the signs appeared, Mitchell contacted the Cumberland County Board of Elections and began digging for information. What he found was a receipt showing Alex Warner donating the signs to the PAC. Mitchell also takes issue with a tagline at the bottom of the signs that reads “for this board.” He’s used social media to accuse the PAC and Warner of misleading the public.

Warner laughed at the accusation. “I was accused of buying political signs that say ‘vote no for this board for 4-year terms,’” he said. “I want everybody to know Alex Warner designed the signs, I paid for the signs, I donated the sign to HMCFC, and I don’t have anything to hide.”

Warner said the behavior of this board inspired his decision. He was ready to place the signs in yards himself when he heard a PAC had formed. He immediately contacted Elizabeth Cooper to donate the signs and join the PAC. He’s hoping the signs will inspire the people to question what’s happening, to be more involved and to vote.

“Our people need to be involved in our government other than just being tax-payers,” he said. “They need to hold the elected accountable for their actions. They need to ask, what has this board done to improve the lives of the people of Hope Mills?”

He was quick to condemn this board for their lack of action. He cited the “back-biting, jockeying for position and a lack of cohesion” as hindrances. But he also pointed out that the few times they’ve come together to vote on anything, it was self-serving. They voted in spring to award themselves huge raises and benefits, and they voted to put the referendum on the ballot.

While Warner and HMCFC are lobbying to stop the 4-year referendum, they’re also thinking ahead. Their next step is a year-long voter registration drive. They hope to double the number of registered voters and vote out the board members who don’t serve the citizens. “They’re part of a single board, but their egos are getting in the way,” Warner said, “They have to go.”

Those interested in joining HMCFC can find information at facebook.com/HopeMillsCFC.

Photo: Alex Warner

 When Dr. H. G. Jones died on Oct. 14, our state lost a key connection to its history as well as a prime and positive, but all too rare, example of dedicated and unselfish public service.

For many years, Jones was my neighbor. I admired the fruit tree in his front yard across the street from my house on Country Club Road in Chapel Hill. It was an uncommon variety of apple named Mattamuskeet. Its small, dark-colored fruit was not as alluring as the flashy golden varieties in the grocery stores, nor was its flesh as super sweet and tasty as the varieties we have come to love so much. Mattamuskeets are tough and tangy, part of the adapted attributes that equip them to withstand the challenges of storage in the warm and moist conditions of the coastal plain of North Carolina. For that reason alone, this apple is treasured by people who live in Hyde County near the lake that shares the Mattamuskeet name.

According to legend, the seed of the first such tree was found ages ago by Mattamuskeet Indians in the gizzard of a large goose.

Walking by Jones’ house during the fall, I would sometimes steal a few apples that had fallen. Then I would make apple cobbler, take a serving to Jones and ask for his forgiveness for my theft. He always forgave, always with a smile.

How that Mattamuskeet apple tree got to Jones’s yard is one of my favorite stories.

In his role as director of North Carolina’s Department of Archives and History and later as curator of the North Carolina Collection at the UNC-Chapel Hill library, Jones was often asked to travel to various parts of the state to lecture to local groups about their community’s history. Usually, the group offered him a small honorarium. He always refused, explaining that he was a public servant and had already been paid to promote the history of our state.

Although he always refused any monetary payment, it came to be known that he would accept an apple pie, if one were offered. So it became customary for local groups to present him with a pie after every talk.

Once, he traveled to Hyde County to give a talk. Surprisingly, no pie was presented, and Jones came back to Chapel Hill empty-handed and a little puzzled about the missing pie.

Several days later, when he came home from work, Jones found a new tree in his yard. It had been planted by the folks from near Lake Mattamuskeet, and as it grew and bore fruit, it was a living monument to Jones’s unselfish and loving service to the people of North Carolina.

In addition to many talks throughout North Carolina, Jones spread the knowledge of state history in countless ways including, for 17 years, a weekly newspaper column, “In Light of History,” which explained our history in words we could understand. In the same spirit, he wrote and assembled illustrations for “North Carolina Illustrated, 1524- 1984.” It is my favorite book to put our state’s rich early history in perspective.

Jones projected a modesty that complemented his commitment to service. Every now and then, though, he let pride shine through. Once, I asked him to help me to get the Country Club name of our street changed because it made people think we were rich, even though it is nowhere near a country club. Jones said he would oppose any such change as a matter of principle. “And besides,” he said grinning, “I don’t mind if the folks in Caswell County, where I grew up on a tenant farm, think that I now live near a country club.”

H.G. Jones, like the fruit of the Mattamuskeet tree, was a rare and precious apple.

Photo: Dr. H.G. Jones

 Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Performance Series presents “An Evening of Blues,” featuring Selwyn Birchwood with Big Ron Hunter. The show is set for Sunday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at J. W. Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of FSU.

“The performance series was created to bring more interaction between the university and the community,” said Steve Mack, executive director of the Seabrook Performance Series. “We felt that doing these concerts would bring more people out and get some people over to campus that have never been to campus.”

Mack added the series organizers wanted to bring in a level of entertainment that they felt people could appreciate. The goal is that instead of driving to other cities to see a lot of these same artists, by bringing big names and great talent to Fayetteville, people would be able to enjoy high-quality entertainment close to home – and potentially bring people from out of town to come to the concerts.

Mack knew from the outset that variety would be key. With that in mind, the performance series offers a wide range of entertainment. “We’ve got jazz, blues, dance, magic, illusion  and we are trying to cater to all different tastes,” said Mack. “Everything may not be suitable to everyone, but there might be something in there that somebody really likes.”

This performance combines two unique takes on a classic genre. “Selwyn is an award-winning contemporary blues artist, and Big Ron Hunter is a traditional, well-known, established blues artist,” said Aaron Singleton, marketing consultant for the Seabrook Performance Series. “We just think the two will complement each other and attract different people into the art of blues as an audience.”

Selwyn Birchwood is an American blues guitarist who plays the electric guitar and the electric lap steel guitar. His album “Don’t Call No Ambulance” received the Blues Music Award and Living Blues Critic’s Award for Best Debut Album of 2014. He also won the 2015 Blues Blast Rising Star Award.

Big Ron Hunter is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and is a big North Carolina favorite. He is a member of the Music Maker Relief Foundation. He has graced stages in France, the Lincoln Center, jazz festivals and more.

“We have a great slate of shows, and people should be on the lookout and come out and participate,” said Singleton. “It is a great bargain for the price and great entertainment at an awesome cost.”

Tickets cost $20 to $75. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase tickets, call 910-672-1724 or visit http://bit.ly/2yLWMrv.

 Food. It sustains the human body, and when shared in good company, it nourishes the soul. Empires have been built and destroyed, battle plans drawn and peace accords brokered at the dinner table. In the case of the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church’s annual “World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner,” it’s where long-lasting friendships are formed and a community is strengthened. It’s been that way for 60 years now. Nov. 14, once again, the Greek Orthodox congregation will serve up mouthwatering spaghetti dinners and Greek pastries at the Hellenic Center at 614 Oakridge Ave.

The dinner is a carry-out only affair; tickets are available at the door.

This much-anticipated event lasts just a day, and for the congregation, it is a herculean effort. For the community, it is a delectable, easy way to enjoy a hearty meal and support a noble effort.

Dozens of volunteers join ranks to put together thousands of meals in just 10 short hours. That equates to around 4,000 pounds of dry pasta, 900 gallons of meat sauce and 200 pounds of grated cheese. The amount of work that goes into making that much spaghetti is incredible, but when the cars start lining up at the Hellenic Center and the volunteers are bustling to fill orders, it is all worth it. Not many events get that kind of community support.

While the pasta alone is a great reason to support the Spaghetti Dinner, anyone with a sweet tooth can find relief at the Greek Pastry Sale that happens in conjunction with the dinner. It is, in its own right, worth a trip to the Hellenic Center.

The congregation treats the community to delicious Greek pastries and desserts, complete with traditional recipes and presentation twice a year. The Spaghetti Dinner is one of those times. The other is the Greek Festival, which happens every September. Dripping with honey, coated in powdered sugar, with coffee or on the go, the pastries are a decadent treat for anyone craving a little something sweet from the islands of the Mediterranean.

The entire daylong event is a big commitment, but what is even more impressive is the fact that the money raised at the event goes right back into the community. The “World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner” is a fundraiser for local nonprofits. The beneficiaries change from year to year, but the spirit behind Spaghetti Dinner does not.

Each meal costs just $6. Tickets are available at the door. This all takes place at the Hellenic Center at 614 Oakridge Ave. from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visit http://stsch.nc.goarch.org/spaghetti-dinner or call the church at 910-484-8925 for information.

 There was a time when things were simpler. Slower. Hay Street was not abuzz with cars but was filled with horse-drawn carriages plodding through downtown and meandering through neighborhoods, and people stopped to greet one another as they passed on the street. Cool Spring Downtown District’s Carriage Tours of Olde Fayetteville celebrate that spirit and charm all while sharing Fayetteville’s colorful history. Nov. 10, following the Veterans Day Parade, tours will depart from Cool Spring Downtown District at 222 Hay St. from 1-6 p.m.

The guided tours include historic sites from Fayetteville’s rich 250-year history. Riders learn about the people and events that shaped the city and get insight into the places and personalities that have become local legacy and lore. You may think you know Fayetteville, but chances are, even if you’ve lived here your whole life, you will learn something new.

Dr. Hank Parfitt started the carriage rides three years ago. “Part of it is that over the years I learned more and more about Fayetteville’s history,” he said. “I was surprised how far back our history goes. For 150 years, Fayetteville was a commercial and trading center for the state, and it had an important role in government. There are just so many interesting people and events, and I am always looking for ways to promote my hometown.”

He is still passionate about the carriage rides and the way they highlight local history. It’s important to Parfitt that the tours are not only fun, but historically accurate, too. That’s why all the guides receive one-on- one training with the city historian.

“The response has been phenomenal,” said Parfitt. “I noticed a real increase in the numbers of people we seem who have moved to Fayetteville recently. And they do the tours because they want to learn more about their new town. It is a great way to get a connection to your new community. It’s a fun way to learn something and make memories – and take some fun selfies.”

Parfitt added that more than 40 percent of carriage riders are from out of town, and two-thirds of that group are from out of state.

In addition to monthly rides in the warmer months, there are themed rides throughout the year as well. There are rides at A Dickens Holiday, during December and on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, among others.

The rides during A Dickens Holiday, which is on Nov. 23, run from 1-9 p.m. Expect to see the drivers, carriages and even horses dressed for the occasion. Parfitt noted that there are two kinds of carriage rides at A Dickens Holiday – two wagons that seat up to 12 people and the Queen Victoria carriages, which can seat up to six people. For reservations for A Dickens Holiday carriage rides, call 910-223-1089. Tickets sell out fast.

Parfitt also said carriage rides will also run weekends throughout December and will include Santa Claus. For the November and December rides, advanced reservations are recommended. Call 910-678-8899 to reserve a ticket for the Nov. 10 or December rides. Tickets are $25 per person; $20 with military ID; and $15 for children under 12.

 If the richness and ornate detail of the 17th and 18th centuries speak to you, if Bach and Vivaldi make your heart flutter and sooth your soul, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “The Royal Court of Brandenburg” demands your presence for an exquisite evening of beloved masterpieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. Thursday, Nov. 15, the symphony will fill St. John’s Episcopal Church with the regal works of the masters.

The concert by FSO musicians will feature some of the Baroque era’s most well-loved pieces. In 1721, Bach presented the royal court with six Brandenburg Concertos. “We have performed other movements of Brandenburg,” said FSO President and CEO Christine Kastner. “It has been about three years (since that performance). There are six pieces. We did (Concertos)2 and 5 last time, and the churchwas full. We will do (Concertos) 3 and 4 this time.”

In “Concerto No. 4,” the concertino consists of a violin and two flutes, which are accompanied by a string quintet and harpsichord.

“Concerto No. 3” has nine solo strings – three violins, three violas and three celli – with bass and harpsichord accompaniment.

Bach’s concertos are still cherished around the world today. “It is interesting,” said Kastner. “We always get a few military people who come. And they say they were stationed in Germany and saw it there and wanted to see it here, too.”

Also included in the concert will be portions from Bach’s “Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor” as well as the bright and lively “Concerto for Two Trumpets” by Antonio Vivaldi.

Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Two Trumpets” features solos with orchestral accompaniment, unlike Bach’s pieces, which showcase the ensembles as a whole. Vivaldi’s piece shares the same three-movement construction as the Brandenburg examples, though. According to the program notes, “The slow inner movement is given short shrift in favor of the flashy outer movements, which provide ample opportunities for the trumpet soloists to showcase their skills.”

Kastner pointed out that the concerts at St. John’s are special. “Because it is smaller, there will be a lot of interaction,” she said. “St. John’s only seats about 300 people, so you have a much better view of musicians. It is a much more intimate environment.”

Another unique aspect of this concert is that FSO’s music director, Stefan Sanders, will be there. Kastner noted that in the past, the concerts at St. John’s were usually run by the musicians performing. “Stefan will be speaking about the music as well,” Kastner said.

The symphony’s mission to educate, entertain and inspire demands outreach to the community as well as affordability. Tickets for this event cost between $10 and $27. “Tickets to our events don’t cost more than $30,” said Kastner.

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org or call910-433-4690 for tickets and information. The website also provides a link to the program notes under the Season Concerts tab.

 Playing the 50th Cumberland County Golf Championship on his home course at Gates Four Golf and Country Club, Jack Britt High School senior Spencer Oxendine wasn’t lacking for confidence.

“I told my mom if I didn’t win this thing I’m going to be pretty upset,’’ the North Carolina State University golf commit said.

He had little reason to be upset Sunday after turning in a 74-72-146 that led him to the title over previous champions Billy West and Gary Robinson.

Robinson and Thomas Owen tied for second, Robinson shooting 79- 72-151 and Owen 74-77-151. West, the defending champion, recorded a 75-77-152.

Oxendine apparently made history in the process, becoming the first CCGC champion in the tournament’s 50-year history to win the event while still attending high school.

In 1984, Pine Forest product Mitchell Perry won the title after graduating the previous June. The tournament was held in September that year. Oxendine just began his senior year at Jack Britt this fall.

Oxendine, who blistered the Gates Four course with a 62 this summer that was one shot off the course record of another Cumberland County high school star, South View’s Todd Gleaton, said his effort over the course this weekend was “nothing stellar.’’

He felt he drove the ball well and kept it in play for the most part. “I played the course how I always do,’’ he said. “I play this course very aggressive. This is not a golf course whereyou can hit it off line, because if you start to hit it off line, you can make some big numbers.’’

Oxendine’s goal was to keep the ball in play and get it on the green.

The first day he recorded four bogeys and only three birdies. He finished Sunday’s round with three birdies and three bogeys.

His near-course record 62 over the summer featured nine birdies, an eagle and one bogey.

He called the win a great confidence boost going into his senior season of golf next spring at Jack Britt and looking ahead to his freshman season with the N.C. State team a year from now.

“Winning is always good no matter what it is,’’ he said.

Oxendine said he was looking forward to playing the full three days of the tournament and was disappointed when bad weather forced cancellation of Friday’s first round.

“I was kind of upset, but there was nothing we could do about it,’’ he said  “We didn’t want to tear up Stryker.’’ The tournament had been scheduled to open on Fort Bragg’s Stryker Golf Course, which would have been a first for the event.

“It didn’t change my approach,’’ he said. “My approach was I was probably going to shoot par on Stryker, maybe one or two under, then I would kind of tear it up on Gates Four. That was my mindset.’’

Photo: Spencer Oxendine and his mother, Mary Ellen Oxendine

 A Fayetteville City Council committee met late last month in response to a plea from County Commission Chairman Larry Lancaster. He had sent the city details of commissioners’ sales tax distribution proposal 10 months ago. County Manager Amy Cannon told the board’s finance committee last week that when Lancaster didn’t hear back from the city, he sent them a reminder in early October.

Cannon gave committee members details of the city’s counteroffer, which was received last week. As Up & Coming Weekly has reported, it would renew the sales tax agreement with the county and small towns for 10 years. It would cap future reimbursements from the city to the county at the FY2018 level of 7.3 million for those 10 years. Cannon also explained that the city’s counterproposal would phase out reimbursements to the county and towns over a 5-year period.

She reiterated that the county’s current agreement with local municipalities expires June 30, 2019. Cannon noted that time is running out. She stressed that any change in the agreement or sales tax distribution method would have to take place no later than April, 2019, to be effective with the 2019-20 fiscal year.

“It’s time for you to do what you need to do and not prolong the situation,” Falcon Mayor Cliff Turpin told commissioners. He is chairman of the coalition of Cumberland County mayors.

Except to acknowledge the county manager’s report, the finance committee took no action and gave no indication of when they will. Commissioner Marshall Faircloth did say he would like to hear the details and options available to all concerned.

“This has been a lingering issue,” Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said during the recent city council committee meeting.

Tax revenue reimbursements of $86 million have been made by the city to the county and small towns since 2004. Colvin pointed out that the greatest percentage of retail sales and taxes raised occur in the city limits of Fayetteville. Proponents of the city’s position on tax revenue distribution say privately that county commissioners know that two thirds of community voters live in the city.

The amount of sales tax revenue collected in Cumberland County is staggering. Last fiscal year it amounted to $192,897,697, said Cumberland County Finance Director Vicki Evans. When divided among county government and the eight municipalities, sales tax receipts represent a significant source of funding for local government operations.

North Carolina law provides that the governing boards of each of the state’s 100 counties determine how to distribute sales tax receipts. They can select one of two methods – population or property values. Cumberland County Commissioners and many others have traditionally used the population method, which benefits the municipalities.

 The city of Fayetteville stormwater program is expected to take giant steps forward in the years ahead in efforts to control stormwater runoff, prevent flooding and address citywide stormwater issues. The adoption this fiscal year by city council of a significant increase in the stormwater fee will allow for development of a master plan.

The city has experienced predictable localized flooding and stormwater runoff for decades with no plan to reduce or eliminate it. The stormwater fee increase is expected to raise approximately $3.2 million yearly to be set aside for the capital portion of the stormwater program. Over the firstfive years, the revenue will pay for completion of watershed studies and development of a master plan. The city currently spends nearly $3 million annually on both design and construction for stormwater capital improvements, and that amount will double once the studies are completed.

With passage of this fiscal year’s municipal budget, the city’s stormwater program is being accelerated so that a dozen watershed studies that could individually take up to two years can all be completed within five years. “We’re paralyzed until we get these studies done,” city Councilman Jim Arp said.

City officials over the years have examined and reviewed stormwater problems and how to fix them. But recent hurricanes have prompted the administration and elected officials to concentrate on the fix.

Officials contend that getting things done is based on capacity to do so, which usually means money. “The city is very forward thinking in its management of new growth and associated stormwater impacts,” said Assistant City Engineer John Lurch II. Fayetteville was recently recognized as the most innovative city in the country for its use of data analysis to guide decision-making, management and long-term planning.

“The city’s stormwater ordinance is an attempt to balance the development rights of upstream property owners with the rights of those downstream... without creating or worsening flooding problems,” said city Engineer Giselle Rodriguez. At her request, city council last week agreed to add $223,000 annually to the engineering division’s payroll to hire three additional professionals to enhance the review process for new housing developments.

Improvement of the city’s 15 watersheds is an extremely expensive undertaking. “The day of reckoning” is at hand, said city councilman Bill Crisp. “Millions and millions of dollars will be needed.” In an article for American Infrastructure, an industry periodical, Lurch wrote that “the city may need over $200 million in stormwater capital to design and build the projects that are uncovered through the study.”

City council members seem to agree that, ultimately, a revenue bond proposal may be put to a vote of the people to fund future stormwater needs. It would be the largest effort ever undertaken by the city stormwater program and promises to create a long-term plan for the development of the stormwater utility.

 The Houston Astros organization this week unveiled the Fayetteville Woodpeckers as its new Class- A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate.

“The All-American feel of the city, its support of our nation’s military and its economic development make it a great environment for the championshipcaliber baseball we will bring to the Fayetteville community,” said Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan.

The concept of the Woodpeckers came directly from the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg community as the result of town hall meetings, online surveys and one-on-one conversations with residents. Fort Bragg is home of the second-largest population of endangered redcockaded woodpeckers in the world. The bird is small but vital to the Long Leaf Pine ecosystem.

“Fayetteville is proudly recognized as the nation’s most All-American city, making it the perfect home for America’s pastime,” said Fayetteville Woodpeckers President Mark Zarthar.

The Houston Astros are partnering with the city of Fayetteville to open a nearly $38 million state-ofthe- art sports and entertainment stadium on Hay Street. “In addition to new retail, restaurant, hotel and office space, it will be the top destination in Fayetteville for fun,” said Astros Senior Director of Business Operations Dan O’Neill. “The community is a true representation of American values and pride, and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers will represent those values on and off the field.”

Honoring local heroes

The Cool Spring Downtown District, in partnership with the Cumberland County Veterans Council, the Airborne & Special Operation Museum Foundation and the city of Fayetteville, has launched a new recognition program – the Hometown Hero Award.

Honorees will be acknowledged annually during Fayetteville’s Veterans Day celebration in November.

Retired Army Gen. James J. Lindsay is the first recipient of the Hometown Hero award. The ceremony will take place Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum.

Gen. Lindsay, 86, enlisted in the Army in 1952 and graduated from Officer Candidate School in May 1953 as a second lieutenant. His first assignment was as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division. It began a long association with Fort Bragg and Fayetteville, during which time Lindsay served in every level of military supervision.

He was a commanding general of the 82nd Airborne and subsequently the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. He was the first commander of the Special Operations Command.

In 1990, Lindsay established the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation. As a direct result of his efforts, the museum opened in August 2000, changing the complexion of downtown Fayetteville and becoming the catalyst for revitalization and development.

“The city of Fayetteville is forever grateful and indebted to Gen. Lindsay for his significant contributions to our community,” said Mayor Mitch Colvin.

Round two of local residential stormdebris collection

Fayetteville’s storm debris contractor has begun its final pickup round across the city. It will conclude the week of Nov 12.

Refuse pickups are being done by postal zip codes: The first began in the western sections of 28304 and 28314 codes. Work is now proceeding in easterly/southerly directions in each zip code. Trucks will then move to the next zip code areas in the following order: 28304 and 28314 simultaneously; then to 28303, 28311, 28301, 28305 and 28312 in order.

If curbside storm debris has not been picked up by Nov. 12, residents should call 910-433-1FAY or report it using the FayFixIt app.

Commercial building debris is not being collected. Residents are asked to containerize leaves, pine straw and small limbs for regular, weekly yard waste pickup. Yard debris bags are available free of charge at recreation centers and city fire stations. Piles of refuse less than 12-feet long by 5-feet tall will be picked up according to the city’s normal yard waste pickup schedule.

Important public meetings

The city of Fayetteville’s Economic and Community Development Department is hosting public meetings this month seeking citizen input on community needs. Topics include housing, the economy, community development and homelessness.

The city is required by the federal government to conduct these sessions to determine whether existing programs can be improved and if new programs should be undertaken. The ECDD administers federal Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnership Grants.

Residents can learn more about these programs by visiting the department’s web page on the city of Fayetteville’s website, Fayettevillenc.gov/home.

The input will be incorporated into preparation of the agency’s 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan. Dates, times and locations of the meetings include:

• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m., at the Massey Hill Recreation Center, 1612 Camden Rd.

• Thursday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m., at the Cliffdale Library, 6882 Cliffdale Rd.

• Tuesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m., at the Smith Recreation Center, 1520 Slater Ave.