Look out there on the horizon. No bigger than a man’s hand, see the small, dark cloud that is the annual gathering of your Thanksgiving relatives? They are coming to your house soon. Beware. Beware.

Today, we shall take a deep dive into the colorful world of Greek mythology in an effort to make you feel better about hanging out with your extended family over the Thanksgiving holiday. If you think your family has some troubling characters, consider the story of

Jason and the family issues he had. You may have to avoid talking about politics around the turkey dinner with crazy Uncle Lou. But when Jason hung out with his in-laws, relatives were carved instead of turkeys. Jason had a wicked Uncle Pelias who had Jason’s daddy and most of Jason’s relatives whacked so Pelias could be king. Jason’s mom, Alcimede, saved Jason as an infant by pretending Jason was stillborn. She realized Jason couldn’t live with her, so she sent him to be raised by a centaur named Chiron.

Being raised by a half horse/half man may have caused Jason some developmental issues.

When Jason was a grown man, he came back to Pelias’ court to claim his rightful throne. On the way back, Jason helped a little old lady cross a stream and lost his sandal. Turned out the little old lady was the goddess Hera in disguise. As Wonder Woman used to say in the comics, “Hera helped him.”

Uncle Pelias told Jason he could be king if he went on a quest to bring back the Golden Fleece. Never one to turn down a quest, Jason took the challenge.

Jason, Hercules, and his buddies who were called the Argonauts took the good ship Argo and set sail for adventure.

His first stop was the island of Lemnos, which was occupied only by women. The ladies of the island had irritated Aphrodite by not complimenting her enough. Aphrodite laid a spell on the ladies making them stink. The ladies smelled so rank that their husbands would have nothing to do with them. The husbands used this as an excuse to party down with some ladies of easy virtue from Thrace. Unfortunately, while the boys were asleep, their wives killed them. This proves that heck hath no fury like a smelly woman.

When Jason landed on Lemnos, their queen had finally found some good deodorant. She and Jason produced a set of twins. Turned out Poppa was a rolling stone. Jason skedaddled to his next stop, Bear Mountain, leaving the queen a single mom.

Jason then had a ruckus with some six-armed giants. One of his men, Hylas, got pulled into a stream by a bunch of half-nekkid nymphs and drowned.

Jason made it to the kingdom of Phineus, which was under siege by the Harpies. The Harpies have a woman’s head and body with bird wings and claws. They were stealing Phineus’ food. The old king was about to starve to death. Naturally, Jason killed the Harpies. Phineus started eating again and developed Type II diabetes for his troubles.

Finally, Jason arrived at Colchis where the fleece was kept by King Aeetes. The king promised to give the fleece to Jason if he completed three tasks. The King’s daughter, Medea, fell in love with Jason with a little help from Aphrodite’s son Eros. Medea would do anything for her man.

Job one was to plow a field with a herd of firebreathing oxen. Medea whipped up a potion of Sunblock SPF 10,000 to keep Jason from being burned by the flaming halitosis of the oxen.

Jason then had to plant an allotment of dragon’s teeth in the field. The teeth sprouted into armed warriors who wanted to kill Jason. Medea came up with a great plan. She told Jason to chunk a rock into the crowd of warriors. The warriors couldn’t tell where the rock came from and blamed each other. They ended up killing each other in a big bar room brawl.

At last, Jason had to snatch the Golden Fleece fromva dragon who never slept. Medea whipped up anvaerosol spray of early Ambien, which Jason squirtedvon the dragon, who fell fast asleep. Jason grabbed thevfleece and started to sail away with Medea. Her daddy,vKing Aeetes, was not happy and took after them.vMedea, to throw her daddy off the trail, chopped upvher brother Apsyrtus. She threw chunks of him intovthe ocean. This tactic distracted Aeetes, who stoppedvto pick up the pieces of his son, which were floating invthe sea. Jason and Medea were then able to high-tailvit back home with the fleece.

So, what have we learned today? Never ever mess with a woman named Medea or you may get an extreme makeover like Apsyrtus. Even if your wife needs a bath and smells a bit funky, if you want to keep living, buy nose plugs and stay away from women of relaxed social sensibilities. Finally, no matter who you vote for, Congress is going to keep fleecing you.

Now don’t you feel better about your own family?

 My mother, and probably yours, was fond of all sorts of sayings, among them “pretty is as pretty does” and “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Mrs. Trump, the mother of our president, apparently was not fond of such sayings. Or, if she were, those lessons did not take with her fourth-born child, Donald, in any way, shape or form.

One moment our president talks about unity and all Americans, and two seconds later he calls people names and spews divisiveness and venom. He uses what another Republican president, Theodore Roosevelt, called his “bully pulpit” literally and perversely.

Political talking heads have debated the Trump style on national civility and public discourse since the 2016 campaign, and more recently, how the Trump style may or may not be pushing some among us into violent, even lethal, behavior.

Chances are we will never know the answer to that question, much less agree on it, but recent and ongoing gun violence points toward the “chickens coming home to roost.”

The United States has been blessed for more than two centuries in that our presidents have been more statesmen than bullies. Think Abraham Lincoln addressing national unity: “The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave, to every heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Think John Kennedy acknowledging his responsibility for the fiasco of the Bay of Pigs invasion: “There is an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan.”

Remember, too, the profound common sense of a military man and another Republican president, Dwight Eisenhower: “You don’t lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.”

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University of North Carolina President Margaret Spellings has decided to fold her tents and decamp back to Texas after working only three years of a 5-year contract. She reportedly began negotiating her early exit last month and is the second president to depart in fewer than five years.

Tom Ross was inexplicably muscled out in 2015 by a highly partisan board of governors whose chair was unable to explain the move, calling Ross was a great leader. What he also was is a Democrat, apparently a disqualification for a big job under the total control of Republicans.

Spellings is a Republican who worked for George W. Bush, but she is also a woman and one who marched to her own drummer, not partisan politics, when it came to doing her job in higher education.

Spellings does not depart until March, but her announcement catapulted her into lame duck status, and it is unclear what more she will be able to accomplish for North Carolina’s once-fabled university system.

One thing is clear, however. The position of UNC President, once held by the likes of Bill Friday and CD Spangler, is now a political appointment, not a respected and sought-after leadership position in our nation’s world of higher education.

Who on earth is going to put himself or herself forward to follow Spellings under these cut-throat circumstances?

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If it is true that size matters, India is winning the contest in at least one department.

India is now home to the world’s largest statue, a massive 600-foot depiction of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhia Patel, and is called the Statue of Unity. It is twice the size of our Statue of Liberty, not counting her pedestal.

The Statue of Unity takes the world’s biggest title from China, home of a 420-foot statue of the Buddha.

India apparently intends to hold on to its title. Another statue is under construction off the coast of Mumbai that will soar nearly 700 feet toward the heavens.

 Naming rights? You bet! And Fayetteville’s Class A Advanced baseball team President Mark Zarthar and company named it right. The Fayetteville Woodpeckers is a name that can fly with the eagles with its powerful, attractive logo that automatically evokes a sense of pride, strength and determination.

That pretty much defines the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. On Sunday, Nov. 4, more than 1,000 people and potential Woodpeckers fans showed up at Festival Park to find out what the team name would be. I doubt there was anyone, other than the die-hard skeptics, who thought the name Fatbacks was even in the running. Again, kudos to the Houston Astros organization. The name is great, the logos are awesome, the uniforms are classy, and the launch event was a huge success.

The celebration was executed with class and style, encompassing and reflecting many aspects of our community. It included beer, a great band and baseball. What’s not to like?

So far, it looks like our $37.8 million stadium has great economic development potential for downtown Fayetteville. However, a future challenge may lie in managing all this newfound economic potential and good fortune. Harnessing potential to successfully create a vibrant, exciting downtown community is a decades-old objective that seems to remain stubbornly elusive.

One business owner described the situation in downtown Fayetteville as having “too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” Another referred to having an overabundance of self-serving, noncommunicating organizations content on building silos rather than a consensus. In other words, downtown Fayetteville seems to conflict with itself to its own detriment. This needs to change.

Downtown Fayetteville desperately needs a common bond or thread if it is to realize the full potential of our new stadium and Fayetteville Woodpeckers baseball team. This is not hyperbole. This is serious business.

Example: My $5 glass of wine at Huske Hardware House Restaurant and Brewery Sunday evening transformed into a $130 dinner tab when I was joined by friends attending the Astros’ Woodpeckers event in Festival Park. This long-anticipated party brought people and business into Fayetteville. With this being the case, you would have thought the downtown businesses, merchants, restaurants and organizations, including the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, would have readied themselves to take advantage of and participate in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Hay Street should have been lit up like a Christmas tree, celebrating the Woodpeckers with shops andrestaurants opened and ready to do business.

It didn’t happen. Hay Street was dark, and if you listened closely, you could hear the food trucks leaving Festival Park with our money, goodwill and hope for developing a healthy and vibrant downtown.

Like I said, we are conflicted in our overall objectives because we fail to communicate. This is a simple problem that can be easily eliminated if anyone would step up in a leadership role to bring everyone together.

We are hopeful this happens soon. 

Again, a hearty welcome to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers!

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

 With a career that spans more than 45 years, five-time Grammy- winner Michael McDonald is prolific. The appeal of the Missouri-born musician’s distinctive vocal style and honest delivery has proven to be ageless, both in terms of longevity and the collaborators he draws – from Aretha.Franklin to Grizzly Bear. Tuesday, Nov. 27, Community Concerts kicks of its 83rd season by bringing McDonald on his “Season of Peace, Holiday & Hits” tour to the Crown Theatre. This feel-good concert features McDonald’s rendition of beloved Christmas classics, new Christmas songs and hits from McDonald’s career.

McDonald started his professional journey by singing lead and backing vocals for Steely Dan’s touring band in the early- to mid-1970s. In 1975, he joined The Doobie Brothers, changing the iconic American rockers’ flavor with his interest in soul. He served as singer, keyboardist and songwriter on the Top 40 singles “Takin’ It To The Streets,” “It Keeps You Runnin’,” “Minute By Minute” and “What A Fool Believes.”

In 1982, after The Doobie Brothers’ initial dissolution, McDonald released his first solo studio album, “If That’s What It Takes.” This album featured one of his best-known hits, “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).” He went on to release seven more solo albums between 1985-2008, and he delighted fans across the world by releasing another, “Wide Open,” last year.

In the midst of all of this, McDonald collaborated on writing and/or singing with various artists and groups. A small sample of these collaborators includes Carly Simon, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Ray Charles, Van Halen, James Ingram, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Vince Gill, Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin.

More recently, McDonald recorded a B-side of indie rocker group Grizzly Bear’s hit “While You Wait for the Others” and sang on Thundercat’s single “Show You the Way.”

With “Season of Peace, Holiday & Hits,” fans will enjoy standout songs from McDonald’s illustrious career and get into the holiday spirit with beautiful renditions of songs like “White Christmas/ Winter Wonderland” (feat. Jonny Lang), “Oh Holy Night,” “Christmas on the Bayou” and “Children Go Where I Send Thee” (feat. Twinkie Clark).

“You’re in for one of the best holiday and hits shows ever,” said Michael Fleishman, attractions director for Community Concerts. “And more stars are on the way!”

Community Concerts, the entity responsible for bringing McDonald to Fayetteville, is the city’s oldest arts organization. The volunteer-run nonprofit was founded in 1935 with the mission of enriching Fayetteville one concert at a time.

Each season, Community Concerts brings an array of world-class entertainment to Fayetteville at an affordable price. Community Concerts also created the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame to recognize those who have brought musical distinction to this community, and it awards college music scholarships to promising local high school students. Finally, it organizes local music showcases to build community and support artists’ exposure, and it provides free concerts to local groups such as the Vision Resource Center, Fayetteville Urban Ministry and The Sunshine Center.

Community Concerts’ 83rd season, which Mc- Donald opens with his performance at the Crown, is themed “Rock and More!”

“Last year, we had a season that was more heavy on the Broadway-esque shows,” Fleishman said. “This season, we wanted to go back to really heavy on a music and concert emphasis. This season, maybe more than every other, is hit after hit. You will know just about every song on the stage this season.

“This is a singalong, have fun season.” Following McDonald is Three Dog Night on Feb. 22; Choir of Man on Feb. 27; The O’Jays on March 15; and America on April 4.

“All of these shows have A+ fan reviews,” Fleishman said. He noted that there is one show this season that does carry the Broadway feel – Choir of Man on Feb. 27.

“We were selected among a few other markets to be part of the inaugural North American tour for this show, and it’s become a worldwide singing and dancing sensation,” he said. The set is a working bar that gets danced and jumped all over, and audience members are even invited to participate, he added. “Don’t let the name fool you; it has nothing to do with a choir.”

To purchase tickets to see McDonald Nov. 27, or to learn more about Community Concerts and the rest of its season, visit.                     community-concerts.com, go to the Crown Box Office, or call Fleishman at 910-323-1991.

This year, we celebrate Veterans Day on the 100^th anniversary of the Armistice ending World War I, on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918. President John F. Kennedy once said, "A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers." The historical purpose of Veterans Day is to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

On this Veterans Day, we give thanks for the 28 million living veterans and 57 million family members and survivors of those veterans who strengthen our nation with their example of our nation’s service and sacrifice. Our veterans are drawn from many generations and from many backgrounds. We honor these American patriots for their valor, their loyalty, and their dedication to service.  

Since the birth of our great nation in 1776, we salute the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who have rendered the highest service any American can offer by contributing to the character and to the greatness of American freedom. Today, almost one in every three Americans is either a veteran or a member of a veteran's family.

According to the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, this Veterans Day, we commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of World War I, in remembrance and to honor the heroism and sacrifice of the more than 4.7 million American sons and daughters who served in the Great War. Of these, 116,516 service members died from combat and disease. Another 200,000 were wounded, a casualty rate far greater than in World War II. And, more than 3,000 are still missing and unaccounted for today. World War I remains America’s forgotten war, even though more Americans gave their lives during the Great War than during Korea and Vietnam combined, and this war profoundly shaped the rest of “the American century.”

North Carolina sent over 60,000 men and women to serve in the Great War through three training camps: Camp Greene near Charlotte, Camp Bragg near Fayetteville, and Camp Polk near Raleigh. Women joined the American Red Cross, the YMCA, the Salvation Army, and served as nurses in military hospitals at home and in France. Of these, 1,771 service members died in combat from North Carolina according to the Gold Star Casualty list. Of these, 17 service members died in combat from Cumberland County. Today, we remember and honor these local American heroes:

Benjamin W. Brady, Rank: Mechanic, U.S. Army, Hope Mills

George W. Brown, Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army, Hope Mills

Thomas Macon Bulla, Rank: Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

Nathan Byrd, Rank: Cook, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

Rone L. Coffey, Rank: Private, U.S. Army, Hope Mills

William W. Grantham, Rank: Private, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

Henry H. Hall, Rank: Private, U.S. Army, Hope Mills

Thomas L. Hall, Rank: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

Thomas H. Kirkpatrick, Rank: Private, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

William Mason, Rank: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

William McLaurin, Rank: Mechanic, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

John D. McPhail, Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army, Hope Mills

Robert Porcelli, Rank: Bugler, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

Archie C. Rasberry, Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

Walter West, Rank: Mechanic, U.S. Army, Fayetteville

Walter West, Rank: Private, U.S. Army, Hope Mills

Rogers Williams, Rank: Private, U.S. Army, Wade

VFW Post 10630 would like to invite any family members of these World War I American heroes to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony, with the release of Balloon Doves, on November 11, 2018 (Sunday), starting at 3 pm, at the Hope Mills Veterans Memorial Park near the recreation center on Rockfish Road. If you wish to present a “wreath” in remembrance and to honor our nation’s veterans during the Veterans Day Ceremony, please contact Mr. Bill Greene, Quartermaster, at wgreen20@nc.rr.com.

As we raise our flag and as the bugle sounds taps, we remember that the men and women of America’s Armed Forces serve a great cause. They follow in a great tradition, handed down to them by America’s veterans. What veterans have given our country is beyond our power to fully repay, yet, today we recognize our debt to their honor. And on this national holiday, our hearts are filled with respect and gratitude for the veterans of the United States of America.

May God bless our veterans and their families, and may God continue to bless our great nation.

Jessie Bellflowers is a past Veterans of Foreign Wars All-American/Triple Crown state commander for North Carolina and he is a member of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners.

 Zoe White

Seventy-First • Junior •

Volleyball/basketball/ track and field

White has a 3.9 grade point average. In addition to playing multiple sports, she’s active in Student Government Association, Health Occupations Students of America, National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America.

 Cornell Robinson

Seventy-First • Junior •

Football

Robinson has a grade point average of 3.9. In addition to playing football, he’s a member of the Seventy-First National Honor Society

 A trio of Cumberland County cross country runners came away with victories recently as their conference meets were held.

It was nothing new for Morgan Dorsey of Fayetteville Academy, who for the fifth time won her conference cross country championship running for the Eagles.

In the Patriot Athletic Conference meet at South View, the Tigers’ Kodi Payne won her second consecutive girls conference title, while Westover’s Delsin Burkhart triumphed in the boys race.

Dorsey ran her race at Hugh McRae Park in Wilmington, a flat course that’s on open terrain, which allows participants to see the whole course before running it.

Dorsey, a junior, said her strategy for the race this year was the same as it’s been the previous times she ran.

She likes to stay behind the lead runners for most of the race, then let her track and field instincts kick in late and pull away for the win.

“This year, they got out a little slow and I think they wanted me to lead the race,’’ Dorsey said. “I don’t like to lead. I always feel like someone’s chasing me.’’

Dorsey, who recorded a 21:20 for the win, said her main concern is doing her best, not winning the race. “I’m not a long distance runner,’’ she said. “I can hang for three miles.’’

Payne, a senior, has been running slower than last season and didn’t have a highly successful regular season in the Patriot Athletic Conference this year.

“The girls I ran against last year were performing much better than I was, so I was worried time-wise about what I would run,’’ she said.

She was obviously familiar with the South View course where the conference meet was held, so she had her strategy planned.

“I just started out smart,’’ she said, “take the first mile slower than the rest so I could gradually speed up in the woods since we have a hill. I wanted to make sure I had energy saved up so I could go up that hill strong.’’

Her winning time was 19:23.60.

Burkhart started running track for Westover as a freshman but only tried cross country for the first time last season at the suggestion of his coach.

He’s quickly found cross country more fun than track. “You’re out running around trails on campuses or parks,’’ he said.

He had a good performance in the Jungle Run at South View earlier this year and was confident about his chances in the conference meet.

“Midway through the race is where I usually get fatigued,’’ he said. “I made sure I opened up my stride and took deep breaths so I could capitalize on the hills and turns.’’

He took the lead for good at the two-mile marker, he said, finishing in a time of 16:49.80.

Dorsey, Payne and Burkhart are all hopeful their performances in their conference meets will help boost them in regional and state competition to come.

Burkhart probably expressed the feelings of all three best, saying his main concern was staying healthy. “I put in all the necessary work through the summer and during the season to allow me to compete at the regional and state level,’’ he said.

 South View’s Emery Simmons is the lone Cumberland County football player chosen to appear in this year’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas high school all-star football game.

The annual contest that pits the top senior football players from North and South Carolina against each other is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15, at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Simmons has put together a personal highlight reel of catches this season, including a spectacular one-handed grab in South View’s only loss of the season so far against Terry Sanford.

According to statistics at ncprepsports.net through Oct. 23, he led Cumberland County Schools receivers in total yards and touchdown catches with 40 total receptions for 775 yards and 12 scores.

Already committed to Penn State, Simmons said he’s been taking the season game by game, putting in his best effort to impress the coaches who picked this year’s Shrine Bowl team.

“Not many people get to say they play in an all-star game like this, the longest-running all-star game in the country,’’ Simmons said. “It’s a blessing and an honor to be a part of it.’’

South View coach Rodney Brewington said Simmons has gone from being a running back in middle school to a 6-foot-2 receiver with loads of athletic ability and a work ethic to match.

“From a work ethic standpoint, I can’t say I’ve coached a kid who works as hard as he works,’’ Brewington said. “From an athletic standpoint, he puts you in the mind of Eric Ebron, who had athletic ability you couldn’t coach.’’

Ebron played for Brewington when Brewington coached in Greensboro and is currently the tight end for the Detroit Lions.

On the field, Brewington said one of Simmons’ greatest gifts is his aggressiveness. “He’s a kid that doesn’t wait for the ball to come to him,’’ Brewington said. “He goes to get it. He can dunk a basketball from a standstill. That’s a coach’s dream to have him as a receiver.’’

Simmons is one of six wide receivers chosen for this year’s Shrine Bowl team, but Brewington has no doubt he’ll have no trouble seeing his share of passes in the game.

“If they want to win, he’s going to have a lot of touches,’’ Brewington said.

Photo: Emery Simmons

 When Earl “Early Bird” Horan IV was announced as homecoming king at Gray’s Creek High School’s homecoming game recently, it was just a small sign of the overwhelming support the Gray’s Creek family has showered on special needs students like Horan and his counterparts.

Earl Horan III, Horan’s father, is a special education teacher at Gray’s Creek and has been a first-hand witness to how open and supportive the school has been of its special needs population.

“They have jumped in with both feet,’’ the senior Horan said. He and his son came to the Gray’s Creek community four years ago, and Early Bird immediately began hanging out with the football players and making friends on the team. His father also involved him in the school’s wrestling program where he made more friends.

Eventually, the elder Horan approached football coach David Lovette about getting his players involved with young Earl’s Buddy Football team. The Buddy sports program helps promote activities for special needs youngsters.

The Gray’s Creek football team has continued its involvement with Buddy football ever since. Coach Jeff Nance, who coaches the Gray’s Creek baseball team and is the school’s adaptive physical education coach, has been involving his team with the Very Special Arts Festival every year.

Meanwhile, bowling coach Sam Bullard has two of Horan’s autistic students on the Gray’s Creek bowling team.

Non-sports groups like Future Farmers of America and the school chorus have also incorporated special needs students into their programs.

But one of the biggest steps forward took place last year when Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for Cumberland County Schools, began promoting the idea of offering Unified Sports programs.

Unified Sports is a project promoted by Special Olympics that helps partner athletes with intellectual disabilities with traditional athletes who help their partners compete in select events in sports like track and field.

Last year, the first Unified Sports athletes from Cumberland County took part in local track meets.

“We had tons of volunteers and over 20 students on our team,’’ Horan said. He said Gray’s Creek athletic director Troy Lindsey made sure the team members had everything they needed to compete.

In other developments, the school has partnered with Terry Sanford High School soccer coach Karl Molnar, who with his wife Kim has founded an organization called Miller’s Crew that offers opportunities for special needs students to become more functional in society. They have opened small businesses operated by the special needs students at West Bladen and Jack Britt High Schools. Gray’s Creek will soon open a coffee shop in the former teachers’ lounge.

Horan said the experience is heartwarming because the students have so much to give.

He said a doctor once told him that special needs children are God’s example of how things should be on Earth.

“They’ve got the purest souls, the sweetness,’’ he said. “They lift everybody up by being around them. They are innocent.’’

When Early Bird was named homecoming king, Horan said the students treated his son like a rock star.

“He was bum-rushed before he got off the football field,’’ Horan said.

Asked what he enjoyed most about the experience, Early Bird said talking to the girls and waving to the crowd while he rode around the field in a convertible wearing his crown and cape.

“We don’t just put them in a hut like we did back in my day,’’ Horan said of the special needs youngsters. “I think Cumberland County Schools is doing everything correctly. They are in the forefront of inclusion of the special needs population. It’s really heartwarming.’’

Photo: Gray’s Creek principal Lisa Stewart (left) poses with Earl Horan, homecoming king (right

 While Hope Mills residents may still be debating what costumes to wear for Halloween, it’s already time to start entertaining thoughts about the town’s annual Christmas parade.

This year’s event, scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Dec. 1, has an application process that’s already begun. The deadline for receiving applications from any organization or business interested in being a part of the parade is Nov. 19.

Forms can be picked up at the recreation department’s temporary headquarters in Hope Mills Town Hall or downloaded at www.townofhopemills.com.

Applications have to be turned in just under two weeks before the parade is held to allow time to review each one and to set the parade lineup and deal with all the logistics involved, said Kasey Ivey, head of senior programs for the town of Hope Mills.

Ivey said there have been some minor changes in the rules for this year’s parade.

Previously, stopping during the parade was prohibited to avoid creating gaps in the parade lineup. A new policy has been added that allows individual units to stop if they feel the need to for an unspecified safety reason.

Spectators are encouraged to arrive early where possible so they can find parking along the parade route and to get to adequate seating for themselves and everyone in their party.

Another parade rule still in place is that no one will be allowed to throw candy into the crowd from any float or other unit in the parade.

Ivey said this is to prevent the possibility of children running into the path of parade units to retrieve candy.

Businesses or organizations that have candy or material they’d like to distribute during the parade will be allowed to have people on foot handing it out as they pass by the crowd on the street.

A precaution for floats requires them to have a safety hold or side railings for all riders on the float. Also, Ivey said anyone driving a vehicle that is in the parade or pulling a float must be 18 years of age.

Even though Election Day will have passed, political campaigning along the parade route is not permitted.

Everyone is reminded that Santa-themed entries are not permitted because, according to the application form, “the real Santa Claus has agreed to participate.’’

Lineup for the parade begins at 1 p.m., judging of floats at 2:15 p.m. and roll call at 2:30 p.m.

Contact Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com or Maxey Dove at 910-426-4108 with specific questions about parade entries. Questions can also be answered via the recreation department’s Facebook page, Hope Mills Parks and Recreation.

If anyone needs to get answers face-to-face, the parks and recreation offices remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Florence. Ivey said they have relocated to temporary headquarters in Town Hall on Rockfish Road. Visit the front reception desk at Town Hall during normal business hours.

 As Cumberland County’s newest teacher of the year, Amy Stovall of Gray’s Creek High School hopes to use the platform she’s been given to help spread awareness for arts education and the important role it can play in developing the total student.

Stovall, who teaches vocal music and choir at Gray’s Creek, was named the county’s teacher of the year at a banquet in mid-October.

A native of Louisiana, a connection with the military first brought her to Fayetteville.

After starting her education at Louisiana State and Austin Peay, she earned a bachelor of music education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and followed it up in 2014 with a master’s in the same field.

It was during her college years that she first felt a calling to become a teacher.

She grew up around music; she was the daughter of an Elvis impersonator who made money on the side during his college years with his act.

Stovall’s grandmother played piano, and Amy remembers taking piano lessons off and on from the time she was 8 years old.

She began teaching at Lumberton Junior High School, spent three years at Scotland High School and has been at Gray’s Creek for the past 10 years.

She’s mainly taught vocal music and choir. This year, she’s teaching advanced placement music theory for the first time. She also helps out with the school’s band and theater programs, working with the school’s theater teacher to put on a fullscale musical every spring.

Stovall admitted she was surprised when she learned she was a candidate for teacher of the year.

“A lot of the messages of congratulations that came to me were from fellow art educators who said, “We’re just so thrilled not just that you got it but that an arts educator got it,’’ she said.

She said it’s hard for people who don’t teach in the arts to understand or see that arts teachers have a detailed curriculum just like other academic teachers. “I think there’s a misconception that we sit in our classrooms in a circle and sing cute songs,’’ she said.

She fears many people see arts-oriented classes like hers as little more than places where the teachers are glorified babysitters.

She said that’s never been the perception of her peers of her classes at Gray’s Creek.

“I really feel like my kids get a pretty good education in history, in cultural awareness, mathematics and physics,’’ she said. “We talk about the properties of sound also. We put all those frames of reference into the lesson, into the things that we sing. We’re not just learning notes and rhythm.’’

In addition to learning, Stovall hopes the young people in her classes are also growing and expanding their minds in areas that will help them in whatever field they might try to pursue.

“This is going to translate into their adult life, when they’re working with people in the real-world settings,’’ she said. “It’s really important that these kids have their imaginations stirred.

“Their brains need time to imagine, create and play, otherwise we’re just spitting out kids who can pass tests. What are they going to do with that knowledge? If they aren’t imagining and creating now, when they are young, they are going to become scientists who don’t know how to invent anything.’’

That’s why Stovall feels an obligation to use the platform and voice she’s been given as teacher of the year, even if it’s just local, to speak out about the importance of music and arts education.

“We need equity in arts funding,’’ she said. “We need to protect our arts teachers’ jobs. Funding is a hard issue, and the arts are usually the first thing to get cut.’’

She fears cutting arts positions eliminates an essential piece of education for children. She hopes to use her voice to bring awareness to the importance of arts education, what its needs are and how it benefits students.

“To me, it’s important that I’m standing here being the voice of my fellow music and arts educators,’’ she said.

Photo: Amy Stovall (center) stands with husband Tommy (left) and Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. (right), superintendent of Cumberland County Schools.

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

• Pumpkin decorating for seniors Tuesday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-noon in the small activity room of Parks and Rec. No fee, but advanced sign-up is required. Only 20 pumpkins are available. Prizes will be awarded for the best three pumpkins.

• Ghostly Gala for seniors Wednesday, Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Parks and Rec community room. Advanced sign-up at the reception desk required. Costumes are preferred. There will be a costume contest and pumpkin decorating contest. Potluck social. Bring main dish, side dish or dessert.

• Trunk R Treat Wednesday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park. For details, call 910-426-4109.

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

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

 A handful of elected Hope Mills government leaders, along with some members of the town staff, recently toured some of the town’s undeveloped property. The purpose was to put eyes on what’s there in order to hopefully solidify plans for what can be done with the land.

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell and commissioners Jerry Legge and Meg Larson were among those who took part in the in-person inspection of the old golf course, the planned Heritage Park and the remnants of Hope Mills Lake No. 2.

“I think the main reason we did it was so the board would be familiar with the properties,’’ Warner said. She said the walk helped the board members get a visual feel for what may or may not be feasible at the various locations.

Warner said she previously visited the golf course four years ago when it was about to be returned to the town.

She noted some or all of the properties had undergone numerous changes over time.

The golf course in particular has become more overgrown in the wooded areas. Some trails and paths for golf carts have been washed away because of flooding caused by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

“There are areas where it gets really soggy due to the fact we had a good bit of flooding,’’ Warner said.

At Heritage Park, where there are remnants of the old mill, there is a lot more graffiti.

Warner thinks that of the three locations that were toured, the one that offers the most promise for quickest development is Heritage Park.

“We have a plan for it,’’ she said. “We had it set up as phase three of the lake park plan.’’ That plan is currently on hold at the request of the Board of Commissioners. Warner feels if the plan was put into motion it would be the easiest to complete and the least expensive of the three.

As for the golf course property, Warner is optimistic about getting grant funding to move forward. But she’s concerned that it will be far more expensive to advance the kind of projects the community has expressed an interest in seeing developed.

“I think we’re going to have to have partnerships,’’ she said of development of the golf course property. “I’m much in favor of partnerships with the YMCA or others to fund things that the community wants there.’’

She doesn’t think a good portion.of Hope Mills Lake No. 2 can be used for many things because of the terrain there.

This was the area that the Lone Survivor Foundation attempted to purchase for use as a veterans retreat. The LSF was repeatedly rejected by the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners in its quest.

Warner said even if the land around Hope Mills Lake No. 2 is left in a natural state and opened to the public for recreational use, the town will have to spend some money to make the area more secure.

Another problem at the site is it’s been used as a place for the town to dump rocks and gravel.

“If we leave it natural and you have access to it, I think you’ll have to have some form of lighting, some form of monitoring to make sure you don’t have injury or people in there that shouldn’t be in there,’’ Warner said. “There would be a lot of cleanup that would have to be done.’’

 Sometimes, you are on top of the world, and other times, the world is on top of you. Fall has finally arrived, and people are out there riding. With all of the crazy weather we have had this year, I am not sure how long good riding weather will actually last, but every mile is a good mile, almost.

This year, my riding season has been tame. In fact, except for a decent few days before Memorial Day, my riding has been almost nonexistent. For those of you who follow this article (thank you), you know that I will quickly put 1,000 miles down over a few days with no problem. But this year has been an exception.

About 10 years ago, I started riding with some local guys here. We would meet about every other weekend and tear up the roads between here and Chapel Hill, Pittsboro or Uwharrie National Forest on Sunday mornings.

Some of these guys have 10 years on me. At first, the conversations were about motorcycling, bikes, maintenance, riding techniques and all the crazy things we have done in our lives. We’d laugh and joke like good-oleboys do. Over time, I noticed the conversations started changing to health issues, retirement, disability, Social Security and Lord-knows Medicare Part A and Part B.

To be honest, it was kind of a fortune cookie to my future. As I am now older, I have witnessed that the longer we live, the more stages we pass through. I see new riders, “infants.” Beginner riders, “no fear.” Experienced riders, “technical.” And those who are slowing down, “aging riders.” For those who live long enough to be forced to give up riding, “retired riders.” Sad, but no matter what we do in life, we all go through various stages. We all evolve.

This year I have been hit with medical issues, and like everyone else here, the weather. It was either raining or too hot to enjoy a day’s ride.

Now I’m the guy who has to consider his health. For now, I may not be able to jump out there and ride a Trans American Trail and travel offroad across the county.

My original riding friends have all retired. We still ride when we can. Now we talk about riding, our aches and pains, who is sick and funerals we have attended. They have worked through their setbacks and are loving life, telling me to go ahead and retire so I can ride more. Part of me appreciates their enthusiasm, but the other part is cautious because, in the end, retirement is a math problem and a betting game.

Ideally, we probably all would like to retire while we are still young enough and in good enough health to enjoy ourselves, and if the Lord is willing, we will live a long and happy life. Of course, as anyone who rides knows, it does not take long to rack up some severe costs on the road. As a general rule, I usually estimate $150 a day for a road trip. That is $4,500 a month to get out there and ride. That does not include maintenance or new tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. And there are still bills on top of that and those fact-of-life necessities like room and board. Then there is that problem of how much in retirement savings it will take to enjoy riding, enjoy life and make it to our final day on earth.

Ideally, we would pass away on the same day we run out of money. That seems like the perfect financial plan! Of course, the Bible says, “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). No pressure there – now I can’t die broke because the Good Book just told me to leave some goodies for my heirs.

Age, medical setbacks and rough times do not mean there is not some good riding left in us. I think that is the difference between a phase and stage.

If there is a topic you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com.

RIDE SAFE!

 Grammy Award-winning and multiplatinum selling band Casting Crowns will release its new studio album, “Only Jesus,” Nov. 16. “Nobody (ft. Matthew West)” was the second of six songs that will be released early from the new project before street date.

Talking about the new album theme and idea behind it, Casting Crowns’ frontman Mark Hall asked, “What does it look like when Jesus is our only answer?

“The theme that continued to come up while working on these new songs was that ‘I am not the point’ – it is not about me, it is about pointing to him,” Hall said. “God is already at work in our lives, and he has a plan that he places us in so that others can know him. We are here to show the way to God by how we live, how we react to difficult situations, how we handle trials and troubled relationships. Our hope is that through these songs, you can see what it looks like when Jesus is our only source, our only solution and we are pointing to only Jesus.”

The band released the title track to radio and digital outlets and has already seen it jump into the Top 15 at all AC radio charts in just four weeks. “Only Jesus” has 3.5 million streams across all platforms, and it has been featured on key playlists on Spotify (New Music Friday, New Music Friday Christian, Top Christian), Amazon (Fresh Christian, Playlist Cover, Top 100 Most Played, Christian Hits) and Apple’s The A-List Christian list.

Casting Crowns kicks off the “Only Jesus” tour in early 2019. The group will conclude 2018 with the “It’s Finally Christmas” tour with guest Hannah Kerr.

Prolific contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns has achieved sales milestones with more than 11 million albums sold, including one Recording Industry Association of America 2x multi-Platinum album, five RIAA Platinum albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, seven RIAA Gold albums, four Gold DVDs, one RIAA Platinum certified single and five RIAA Gold certified digital singles. The band currently holds the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.

Casting Crowns has also been honored with four American Music Awards out of seven total nominations, a Grammy Award for its 2005 album “Lifesong,” and seven Grammy nominations. In addition, the group has garnered 18 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and two Billboard Music Awards from 11 total Billboard Music Award nominations.

Casting Crowns’ seven band members all remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and tour according to their local church commitments. Serving for 25-plus years in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall maintains his role as the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.

 I am looking for iconic North Carolina eateries for a new book.

The dictionary defines iconic as “widely recognized and well-established” or “widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence.”

The iconic restaurants should be (1) widely known in North Carolina, and better yet, known throughout the country and the world; (2) have been in business for many years and have a compelling backstory that includes ownership by interesting people; (3) have a loyal following; and last, and maybe least, (4) put good food on the table.

Sunnyside Oyster Bar in Williamston, Sanitary Fish Market in Morehead City and the two Bridges barbecues (Red’s and Alston’s) in Shelby are examples.

Keeping these considerations and examples in mind, what would you say is our state’s most iconic eatery?

My answer is one that might surprise you. The most iconic eatery in North Carolina is Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy. Why would a simple sandwich shop in a small North Carolina town get my nod? Following the criteria outlined earlier, here are the reasons:

1. Widely known: Without a doubt, Snappy Lunch’s name is better known throughout the world than any of our other eateries. For that, give Andy Griffith the credit.

Although Andy died in 2012, the continuing re-runs of his television program still make him a celebrity throughout the world. It has made the TV character Andy’s fictional hometown, Mayberry, a part of the world’s language, meaning “idyllic small town.”

Though Mayberry’s sandwich shop gets mentioned only a few times during the TV program’s series, many Andy Griffith fans all over the world remember its quirky name: Snappy Lunch.

The fictional Mayberry is based on Andy Griffith’s real hometown, Mount Airy, where there is a real Snappy Lunch.

2. History: Mount Airy residents – like the real Andy and many others – have eaten here since it opened in 1923. “Make it snappy,” some  customers said when they ordered sandwiches. Hence the name, Snappy Lunch.

Although the founder, Charles Dowell, died in 2012 at age 84, his legacy is still present. He created Snappy Lunch’s classic, a pork chop sandwich described as “a boneless, tenderized loin chop dipped in sweet-milk batter and fried until golden crisp.” His widow, Mary, and daughter, Jamie, own and operate Snappy Lunch, with help from Jamie’s husband Seth Dowell-Young, who is in charge of the grill where Charlie held court. The family is determined to keep Charlie’s legacy alive.

3. Loyal following: Snappy’s customers include a host of locals and visitors. One local is Raymond Keith Massey, who was eating breakfast when I dropped by. He said he comes five times a week. When I asked why so often, he said, “It’s cheap; two eggs and a big piece of pork, just $2.14.”

4. Food: The food is special. On my visit to this icon, Mary’s great-nephew, Brady Horton, took my order for the famous pork chop sandwich, all the way. He brought it to me wrapped in wax paper, almost dripping with juicy slaw, tomato and sauce, with pork so large it was poking outside the bun. I needed several napkins to keep this delicious mess from spilling into my lap.

The other fare is simple and good. Breakfast is a great time to visit and listen in on the talk of the regular local clientele who gather and hang around until after 10 a.m.

There you have it. Snappy Lunch is known throughout the world, and it’s got history, loyal followers and a special food dish. No other North Carolina eatery fits these considerations so well.

So, Snappy Lunch it is – North Carolina’s most iconic eatery.

If you are willing to share your opinion, whether you agree or disagree, drop me a line at nceateries@yahoo.com.

 Paul Thompson, owner of Paul’s Place, is multifaceted. In addition to being an entrepreneur, he is a veteran, a musician, a comedian and now a producer. He’s bringing these passions together Nov. 10 for “A Patriotic Dinner Theatre” at VFW 670.

“I am (a retired Army first sergeant), and I was at VFW 670 for a wake,” said Thompson. “I looked at the facility and thought it would be a great place to put on a show. I talked to the commander and decided to do something to help get (VFW 670) back on its feet. I got a great chef – a young lady who is starting her catering service – and got together some good entertainment.”

Not only is Thompson helping to organize the event, he is also the master of ceremonies for the evening. “I am an amateur comedian,” Thompson said. “I have been on comedy stages at Myrtle Beach. I will do some comedy and introduce people. I host a lot of events at Paul’s Place, but this is my first show that I have produced.”

Lee Jean Music, Richard Garey from “Mark Twain Himself,” and Elvis and Neil Diamond tribute artist Bobby J. will share the stage. 

Lee Jean is a former “American Idol” competitor. “He placed in the top eight in season 15 of the show in 2012,” said Thompson. “He’s good.” Jean is known for covering song from the folk, soul and pop genres.

“I went to high school with Richard Garey,” Thompson said. “He owns a theater in Missouri where he does a lot of Mark Twain, including his play ‘Mark Twain Himself.’”

Garey has entertained audiences in the United States, Canada and Bermuda for more than 30 years. He has committed more that seven hours of original Twain writing and letters to memory and interacts with the audience as Twain to provide an engaging experience. Garey said that while no two shows are exactly alike, all of his shows are 100 percent Twain.

Garey credits his high school English teacher/ drama coach for inspiring his acting career. “If you can hold the interest of high school sophomores for nine months, you can rivet just about any audience for 90 minutes.”

“Making people happy,” said Bobby J. “That’s my reason for doing my tribute to Elvis.” As a performer, J. said he has performed all over the continent “from New Jersey to Venezuela.”

He’s performed with Bobby Rydell and been featured on the “Today” show as well. He loves creating an energy with the audience no matter where he performs; it’s what keeps him returning to the stage. “I take pride in duplicating the voice and the moves that made Elvis famous,” J. said. “I am constantly working on my craft.”

Thompson said the audience can expect to see both of J.’s impersonations – a set featuring a Neil Diamond impersonation and another featuring Elvis.

The evening’s menu features a choice of two meats – a ribeye roast or herb-crusted pork loin – and includes two vegetables and dessert. “I’ve tried the food,” said Thompson. “It is delicious. This event is a sit-down dinner. And it will be a familyfriendly show.”

Thompson added that if the event is a success, VFW 670 has invited him to produce dinner theaters there quarterly.

Dinner is at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10th and will be at VFW 670 at 3928 Doc Bennett Rd. Tickets cost $30 per person or $50 per couple.

Call 910-476-9524 or visit Paul’s Place at 719 Starling St. in Fayetteville for tickets and information.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, the Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Chili Cook- Off. Once part of Ole Mill Days, this year, the Hope Mills Chamber decided to partner with Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market, WKML, Heroes Homecoming and The Lone Survivor Foundation to make this event even better.

“We wanted to change the venue because of the date, mainly,” said Hope Mills Chamber President Jessica Seagroves. “Last year, it was so hot we were sunburnt when we left Ole Mill Days! We wanted more ‘chili appropriate’ weather. October in North Carolina? It’s still 90 degrees outside sometimes.

“We wanted to partner with Dirtbag Ales to add a fun change to the chili cook-off. This is our second year serving on the Heroes Homecoming committee, and I felt that if we were able to get everyone together for this event, it would be a better event for the veterans and our community.”

Locals who have not been to a Hope Mills Area Chamber Chili Cook-Off in the past are missing out. Chili enthusiasts from all over the area bring their best dishes for a chance to win one of eight cash prizes. There are hot and mild categories, which will have three different winners for each category. There will also be a veteran’s choice winner and a people’s choice winner.

Not only will there be cash prizes for the best chilis, a cornhole tournament has been added as well. Teams can pre-register or register the day of. There will be a cash prize awarded to the winner. The cornhole tournament starts at 2 p.m.

The event is scheduled to coincide with Veterans Day. A tent to include live music, food and swag bags will be set up for veterans. Veterans eat free at the event, and there will be several veteran-focused groups in attendance that exist to serve our military community better.

“We wanted to find a way to make this more for the members of our community, and a vast majority of those are veterans,” Seagroves explained. “We wanted to show our support of the men and women who have gone above and beyond for our community. I really love Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market and how much they support the veterans. That made it a natural transition to partner with Lone Survivor Foundation for the chili cook-off and to focus on the veterans in our community. It all came together to make a great event.”

This event is ideal for the entire family. In addition to the Chili Cook-Off, cornhole tournament and various vendors, there will be a bounce house for children as well as face painting, live music and local food trucks. Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market also includes a dog park and a playground.

If you would like to submit a chili for the event, email the Hope Mills Chamber at hmacc@ hopemillschamber.org or call 910-423-4314. The cost to register is $15. All entries are welcome. Vendor spots are still available as well.

Tickets will be available the day of the event and are offered at several levels. It’s $10 to taste each chill or $5 for one bowl of chili. The $20 VIP bands include chili tasting, a bowl of chili and specialty beverage. Veteran bands are free and include chili, food and drink in the VIP tent. Additional beverages (non-alcoholic) are one dollar.

The event runs from 1-5 p.m. and will take place at 5435 Corporation Dr. in Hope Mills. Call 910-423- 4314 or email hmacc@hopemillschamber.com for more information.

 For several years, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has brought the magic of live music to Cumberland County Public Schools third-graders via a free concert. On Nov. 3, FSO is changing up the format and offering a free children’s concert open to all families with children, no matter where they live or go to school. As a nonprofit, FSO can’t do free educational programming like this without the support of the community it serves. Nov. 9, the orchestra will host a Friendsgiving Brewery Tour, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward FSO’s education programs.

“Once Upon a Symphony, A Children’s Concert”

The free event takes place this Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Fayetteville Academy Gym, 3200 Cliffdale Rd. It will start at 11 a.m. and last about 45 minutes.

It’s not hard to imagine why hearing orchestral music performed in person by professional musicians is thrilling for young ones. Brief selections of music are accompanied by child-friendly interactive elements and explanations.

These elements include using the introduction to

“Peter and the Wolf” to talk about how instruments and sounds can create different personalities; using Darth Vader’s theme from “Star Wars” to explain tone and mood; and offering an instrument “petting zoo” for the children to touch and try different instruments.

“We added (music from) ‘Frozen’ to the children’s concert two years ago and the kids just burst into song,” said Christine Kastner, FSO president and CEO. “We realized that they were putting together that music they know was produced by an orchestra. We wanted to expand it.”

“Once Upon a Symphony” will also feature selections from “Harry Potter,” “Jurrasic Park” and “Trolls.”

Children will also get to act out a tea party to George Frideric Handel’s famous “Water Music,” march to John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes” and take a field trip to a farm with Joseph M. Daly’s “Chicken Reel.”

Fayetteville Academy’s gym has a capacity of about 600. Seating will be in the bleachers, or families may bring blankets to sit on the floor.

Kastner said the concert is designed to be appropriatefor children with special needs. “It’s one ofthe reasons we chose to do it in a gym instead of in a concert hall,” she said, referring to the more relaxe and spacious environment and there being more lighting and sensory-friendly elements.

The concert is sponsored by Terri Union andBrown and Associates Investment Services.

To learn more or to view a list of FSO’s 2018-19 season concerts, visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

Friendsgiving Brewery Tour

Promoted as a chance to “party for a purpose,” FSO’s Friendsgiving Brewery Tour is an opportunity for friends to celebrate Thanksgiving together by both giving back and having a fun night out.

Attendees will gather for dinner in the FSO’s community room at 6:30 p.m. for a meal and then hop on a bus at 7 p.m. for a tasting tour of the area’s breweries that will end at midnight. Stops include Bright Light Brewing Company; Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom; Mash House Brewery Company; World of Beer; and Paddy’s Irish Pub.

Each brewery will highlight a seasonal beer. Coolers on the bus are also welcomed.

In between stops, Friendsgiving-ers will learn about what their money is supporting: FSO’s numerous education programs.

“It’s a way of taking this group of people out, having a fun evening together and also introducing them to the idea that their funds will be supporting charities in this community,” Kastner said.

Registration is required and costs $75 per person. Groups of six or more will receive a $10 discount per head. Beer tastings at each stop are not included in the price of admission. The FSO offices are located at 308 Green St. To reserve your spot, call 910-433-4690.

 Four times a year, The Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch brings local women together to inspire, educate and empower one another. Wednesday, Nov. 7, is the final power lunch of the year, featuring keynote speaker Lisa Saleeby-Powell.

Now the president of Future Unlimited, Inc., Saleeby-Powell started working at the business’s first McDonald’s franchise restaurant in 1982 when her parents switched from building restaurants to owning one. After attending a meeting and seeing the energy in a room filled with entrepreneurs, she decided she wanted to own a McDonald’s and worked toward that goal for 10 years.

Now the company owns six McDonalds restaurants here in Cumberland County and employes more than 300 people.

Lisa has won several civic and business awards as well as the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year from Methodist University’s Reeves School of Business. She serves on the board of a number of local organizations and is involved with numerous charitable organizations.

The power lunch starts at 10 a.m. with a shopportunity, which includes vendors as well as a wine bar and tasting. The luncheon and Saleeby-Powell’s talk follow from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. After the meal, attendees are invited to stay and shop until 3 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation. The Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that offers funding assistance for reading and educational resources that are provided at no charge to children grades K-6. Since 1998, Kidsville News! has been distributed to all elementary school children in Cumberland and Hoke Counties.

The luncheon takes place at the Ramada Plaza at Bordeaux. Visit www.fayettevilleladiespowerlunch.com or call 910-273-2820 to make your reservation. Tickets cost $35.

Photo: Lisa Saleeby-Powell

 Longtime locals are familiar with a pair of tall, friendly red doors at 301 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville. And new residents can’t help but notice these same doors. Above them reads a simple but stately title: “THE ARTS CENTER.” This month, the organization behind those doors, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, turns 45.

Since its founding by local visionaries in 1973, the Arts Council has become an integral driver of Cumberland County’s culture and economy – and not by accident.

Deborah Mintz, executive director who’s worked at the Arts Council for more than half its existence, is retiring early next year. She’s responsible for the development of many of the nonprofit’s beloved community events, including A Dickens Holiday and the International Folk Festival. These events also draw thousands of outside visitors each year. In September, the IFF celebrated its 40th year and saw about 120,000 people enjoy downtown Fayetteville.

“I see the cultural arts industry as a dynamic partner with our local and state governments, economic development and educational organizations and institutions,” Mintz said. “Today, the nonprofit cultural arts industry provides close to $60 million annually in direct investment in our community.”

Behind those red doors, the Arts Council also runs a gallery that showcases art from local and international artists. Its exhibitions highlight and spark discussion of issues that range from the community to global level. The gallery’s latest exhibition, “Touchstone: Images Of Service,” opened last week and invited photographers to submit works that capture heroism, sacrifice and courage.

The Arts Council also spearheads public art installation initiatives with results that can be seen peppered throughout downtown.

While most residents are familiar with the Arts Council’s events and gallery, not as many know much about its Artists in Schools program and the grant money it disburses.

Artists in Schools brings high-caliber arts educatorsto over 80 public and private schools in Cumberland County and Fort Bragg. The program offers matching grants to schools to cover fees for residencies, assemblyperformances and workshops conducted by teaching artists. The Arts Council vets these teaching artists from a pool of local, regional and national talent.

Last year, said Arts Council Education & Outreach Director Adrienne Trego, Artists in Schools helped students learn about physics through circus acts, create their own silk banners celebrating their school and use drumming to learn about math.

The Arts Council also grants more than half a million dollars annually to support community organizations and individual artists in this community. These grants include the support of local nonprofit treasures like Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Janet Gibson, a Fayetteville native who joined the Arts Council early this year as director of marketing and communications, remembers writing about the Arts Council as a young reporter in November of 1987.

“That was when the Arts Council moved into the building at 301 Hay St.,” she said. “I remember being here for a reception, and it was beyond celebratory. … It’s been very fulfilling to watch the Arts Council] grow and prosper and become admired by the arts community – not only statewide but nationally – in its reputation for being a leader and a trailblazer.

“The thing about the arts in our area is they provide jobs and really feed the economy.”

Mintz said the quality that’s best served her in leading the Arts Council is tenacity – that and “a passionate knowledge that the arts are critical to the growth and success of our citizens and community.” Gibson put it this way: the Arts Council is successful because of “so many visionaries and people who refuse to give up. They know that Fayetteville is this… center of creative expression.”

Mintz said the thing she’ll miss most in her retirement is working with these passionate people, though she’s not moving. “I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else. I am a Fayettevillian, not by birth, but by choice,” she said. “I will still be right here in my adopted hometown.”

The Arts Council is conducting a national search for a new executive director who can build on Mintz’s legacy.

To learn more about the Arts Council and view a full list of upcoming exhibitions at The Arts Center, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

 Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” is what going to the theater is all about– inclusive entertainment, inspiration and showcasing great talent. It is a funfilled show with laughs for all ages.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is the origin story of Peter Pan. It is based on the 2004 book “Peter and the Starcatchers” by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, which was adapted for stage by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. The play provides a backstory for Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook.

Director Michelle Tattenbaum and the cast deliver a show not to be missed. Like sticky pudding, it’s so good!

Molly, played by Malena Pennycook, is a young starcatcher in training, whose father is protecting a trunk of magical “star stuff.” After a series of mishaps fueled by greed and deception, Molly and an orphan boy, played by Graham Baker, survive a sinking ship and go on a swashbuckling adventure battling pirates, island natives and a crocodile to protect the trunk.

Timothy John Smith steals the show with his bravado and flamboyance as the pirate Black Stache. He is prone to malapropism and delivers a number of anachronistic jokes that keep the audience amused. Although his mission is to steal the trunk, what Black Stache really wants is to find a worthy opponent. The villain finds a hero in the orphan boy (to be named Peter).

Smith does an outstanding job, but as his character says, “No man is an archipelago,” and he shares the stage with a tremendous cast.

Local actress Becca Vourvoulas plays Mrs. Bumbrake, Molly’s nanny. James Martin is Lord Leonard Aster, Molly’s father. Paul Urriola plays Alf, a sailor aboard The Neverland. The ensemble includes Zane Burkhardt, Michael Carney, Karsten Otto, Justin Toyer, John Salvatore and Ben Schrager.

A standing ovation goes out to the cast and crew for the fine production, where just about everything stands out as a quality effort – from the stage direction to the set decoration. The ensemble cast merges nationally recognized actors with local talent and is a testament to the leadership and artistic vision that makes CFRT such a gem for the local community.

CFRT backstage veterans David Rawlins (scenic artist), Kenneth Blinn (production coordinator) and Bryan Hitzigrath (sound designer) are joined by regional and national talents Robin Vest (set designer) and Marika Kent (lighting designer), among others, to do an amazing job of making the words on the page come to life for the audience.

A special shout-out to the CFRT interns, who make sure all the prop and costume changes go smoothly backstage. They are surely on their toes for this production, making sure the right actor has the right sword, fish or flying cat in hand when he or she re-enters stage right.

At first glance, the set may seem minimal compared to some productions at CFRT, but it is quite extravagant in its styling and detail. The wooden planks and boxes that make up the foundation of the ships and the island prove versatile and accommodating to the volume of movement during the show. The set beautifully fits a child’s imagination of a fanciful story of pirates, singing mermaids, ships and a fearsome crocodile.

Also noteworthy are the efficient costumes by Whitney Locher. The quick changes for the ensemble cast members display a sense of creativity and splendor that add to the characters without detracting from the performance itself.

I could say something about the mermaids and their costumes at this point, but nothing I can write here would do justice to the performance at the beginning of Act 2. That is where the whole show changed for me. I admit, I thought the first 30 minutes or so was a bit wordy and slow. However, the rest of the audience thought otherwise, as indicated by their laughter and applause (as well as my own post-show polling of anyone under four feet tall). The rest of the audience found the heavy dialogue at the beginning of the show to be a quiet buildup to the action that followed. For the entire second act, I was applauding and giggling. It was fast-paced and had a rewarding conclusion for all Peter Pan fans.

Fans and newcomers to theater will not be disappointed in this show. It is a treat for theater-goers of all ages.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” runs through Nov 11. Military Appreciation Night will be Nov. 1. A sensory-friendly performance sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield will be Nov. 4. To reserve your tickets or get more information, visit www.cfrt.org or call 910-323-4233.

 In the State Senate District 19 election, you have a choice between two very different candidates. We have an opportunity to elect a senator who will put the interest of our entire community first. In me, you will have a senator who will fight for a quality public education system, not dismantle it; who will work to expand Medicaid, not reduce it; who will protect our drinking water from poison, not ignore it; who believes in the equal rights of all people to vote and live their life the way they see fit, not restrict their rights. A senator who will stand up and fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to the opportunities and basic rights they deserve no matter what zip code they live in or were born in.

I have had the honor of serving our country in the U.S. Army and serving Fayetteville as a city councilman. In both positions, I learned firsthand the value of service, of giving back, and of bringing people together to find common solutions. Too often today,our current state senator has just “looked out” for partisan interests and not the best interests of the people. He claims to have “brought millions of dollars back to our community,” but the sad truth is that many of the policies he voted for hurt people that live in our community. Though he helped bring a residency program to our hospital, he has shut patients out from accessing treatment by blocking the expansion of Medicaid – who is he really helping?

I will work to expand Medicaid to provide access to affordable healthcare. It is time we put patients over politics. We have over 500,000 people in our state without healthcare, which is why I support expanding Medicaid. Every person deserves access to affordable health care. Expanding Medicaid can lower insurance rates as well as create jobs and help our rural hospitals. The expansion of Medicaid will also renew our commitment to address mental health issues in our state.

My top priority is the education of our children and reinvesting in our public schools and teachers. I will give our teachers, children and school employees the support and respect they deserve. My fight is to boost  public education spending, and increase teacher pay to match or exceed the national average so we can recruit and retain the best and brightest. I will support investments in our schools’ infrastructure and in classroom resources so that our teachers don’t have to pay for needed items out of their own pockets.

We must also protect our drinking water and waterways from pollutants and poisons. Safe drinking water shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This is a public health issue and demands our attention. We need to provide the resources to our state departments that are there to protect us. I will fight for the need to review and potentially reverse many of the environmental deregulation bills that have been put in place over the last 8 years. Many of these laws give polluters amnesty for their dumping and pass the cleanup cost on to taxpayers. Additionally, we need to work with our local officials for a county-wide water system.

Everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed and we must work to create an economy that supports this success. Too many families in our community are being left behind in the economic recovery, and reinvesting in education is only part of the solution. We need to create a skilled labor force to attract good paying jobs to our state and community. Supporting the university system, community colleges and trade schools is critical to investing in our people’s success.

There is a clear difference between the two candidates in this senate race. My commitment is to put people first when creating policies and ensure they are equitable and fair. I expect to be held accountable for my votes. I ask that we hold our current senator accountable for his votes over the last eight years that have hurt families and people in our community.

I am a father, husband, veteran, small business owner and community servant who asks for your vote for State Senate. Together we can find common solutions to the critical issues that are facing our state and community.