The #MeToo movement has been with us for a year or so now and has taken down a handful of powerful men, including movie producer Harvey Weinstein, journalists Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer and television executive Les Moonves. In the midst of all this, 81-year-old comedian Bill Cosby– once viewed as America’s doctor who holds a doctorate in education – has begun serving prison time for an assault that occurred more than a decade ago, with other allegations against him still pending. Layer on top of all that the U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing involving a Supreme Court nominee and a woman who accuses him of sexual assault, and it is fair to say that Americans have been swimming in uncharted waters. 

Never in the history of our nation have sexual harassment and sexual assault been more on our minds as we struggle with issues involving both workplace and private interactions between men and women. Survivors of sexual harassment and assault are swamping social media with stories of what happened to them, how they reacted at the time and how it affects them today. Ditto for abuse hotlines and other support organizations, which report that victims of sexual assault and rape suffer more anguish than any victims of violent crimes. Their experiences, many of them years in the past, are being dredged up by recent media attention. For many victims, these memories are a re-victimization that affects their lives long after the actual experience. 

Writing in The New York Times, Hayley Kirscher has some suggestions for how to deal with freshly stirred and painful memories. “Be kind to yourself,” she said. 

Assault survivors and sufferers of PTSD often experience thoughts of shame and judgment, and for them, self-care or self-compassion can help. The idea is to promote healing, and experts suggest ask- ing yourself what you need that you can provide for yourself. It may be time with friends and family, time alone, a change of scenery or something as simple as a bubble bath. These “gifts” to yourself will not erase memories or give closure, but they may ease suffering and point the way toward healing. 

Another technique is to acknowledge what you are feeling. Pretending the pain is not there simply pushes it back, and it will return, often when you are least prepared. Journaling can help by putting feelings on paper in private. So can sharing those thoughts with people close to you or with a professional counselor. Don’t be afraid to cry. It can be cathartic. 

Remember, we are all creatures of both mind and body. Our physical, mental and emotional selves are intertwined and affect each other. Rutgers neuroscientist and psychology professor Tracey Shors recommends both meditation and aerobic exercise. She says survivors who practice these techniques have fewer trauma- related thoughts and feel better about themselves than those who do not. 

Finally, Josie Torielli with the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault recommends “grounding,” a technique to keep us in the moment and not dwelling on past memories. She suggests finding and naming five objects you can see in a room, four sounds you can hear, three things you can touch or feel, two things you can smell and one good quality about yourself. Laugh as much and as often as you can – it is both a physical and an emotional release. 

All human beings harbor and sometimes nurture painful memories, few more than survivors of sexual abuse. But it is harder to dwell on them when we reach outside ourselves and toward others. Help and support are out there – both from within ourselves and from the outside. 

When strolling through downtown Fayetteville, it’s almost like taking a step back in time. The quaint local shops, the historic buildings, and, of course, the horse-drawn carriage rides. Run by the Cool Spring Downtown District, the rides run spring, summer and fall. There are two more regular tours scheduled for this fall – Oct. 13 and Nov. 15. 

For more than three years, S and S Carriage Rides has been meandering along the cobblestones of downtown, offering rides to couples, individuals and families. There is nothing like the nostalgia of hearing the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves along the pavement. Not only are the rides a relaxing, unique way to enjoy downtown, they offer a great way for newcomers and visitors to learn more about the area. Over one-third of carriage riders are from out of town, with two-thirds of those being from out of state. 

That being said, the rides can even provide life- long citizens with surprising historical tidbits and narratives that aren’t often heard. 

Dr. Hank Parfitt has been organizing the carriage rides since they started in Fayetteville, and it’s easy to see his passion for the job. “We have a love for local history. We don’t just rattle on, we relate the events to the people and the times,” Parfitt said. 

His favorite part of the job is watching guests connect with Fayetteville. “You see somebody with that ‘aha!’ moment with a new historical fact,” he said. “It’s so much fun to see people respond like that. We are exposing people to the best side of Fayetteville.” 

The carriage rides are not just a job for Parfitt, they are a part of his life. “All of our tour guides go to a one-on-one training session with the city historian,” he said. “We are constantly looking for ways to increase our knowledge.” 

Parfitt is currently enrolled in American History courses at Fayetteville State University. 

In addition to the regularly scheduled monthly rides, there are themed rides that take place throughout the year. Themed rides are some of the most popular offerings, especially around the start of the holiday season with A Dickens Holiday taking place in downtown Fayetteville the day after Thanksgiving. 

“It’s a gentler, kinder way to start the season” Parfitt explained. “You can avoid the crazy chaos of the mall and Black Friday.” 

The rides during A Dickens Holiday on Nov. 23 run from 1-9 p.m. Expect to see the drivers, carriage and even horses decked out for the occasion. 

There is also a Halloween tour led by Count Dracula, a Christmas ride with Santa Clause and an Easter ride with the Easter Bunny. Valentine’s day is also a very popular time of the year – the carriage drivers have seen their fair share of proposals and anniversaries. Mother’s Day gets its own theme as well.

Whether riders are seeking a romantic date, a charming family outing or a spur of the moment jaunt around town, they can relax and enjoy the beauty of downtown Fayetteville – and learn some- thing new – on a historic carriage ride. 

Carriage rides are offered throughout the year, with a small break during the colder months. Tours take place from 1-6 p.m., leaving from the Cool Springs Downtown District office at 222 Hay St. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $20 with a military ID and $15 for children under 12. 

To make a reservation, call City Center Gallery & Books at 910-678-8899 or visit www.sands- carriagerides.com/ or www.facebook.com/ Sandscarriagerides. 

“Othello” is a Shakespearean tragedy, based on Giovanni Battista Giraldi’s “Un Capitano Moro,” that is estimated to have been written in the year 1603. The story centers around the lives of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his love, Desdemona, shortly after their elopement. This tale is fraught with duplicity, racism, envy, revenge and love, and it is because of these human elements that “Othello” is still widely regarded as relevant, even today. 

Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s apt retelling of “Othello,” entitled “OthelLIT,” guides willing patrons through the winding trials of its characters by enveloping the audience in well- timed and hilarious satire, all the while with drink in hand. 

“OthelLIT” is a part of STS’ traveling LIT series, which features intimate settings in Fayetteville and beyond, audience participation, adlibbing, drinking games, music ranging from Bon Jovi to Lily Allen and so much more. “OthelLIT” is the definition of a mixed bag. Each element of its reimagining – from kazoo trumpets to slow-motion knife fights and everything in between – exhibits an array of authenticity, wrapped generously in candid humor. Filled with pop culture references from a variety of eras, every audience member will be able to enjoy the endearing marriage of humorous contemporary colloquialisms and the eloquent speech of Shakespeare’s time. 

The experience of audience members is full of surprises. Scene after scene provides complete immersion into a new kind of world. Villainous Iago, played by Nathan Pearce, has theme music (cue “Pink Panther” theme!) as he devilishly monologues. The dazzling Desdemona is denoted by whichever cast or audience member quick-changes into the blonde Renaissance wig and blue peasant dress; six separate people played the same beauty in one night. Usher’s “Yeah!” heralds each of Othello’s entrances. Three cheers for Music Director Jacob French for intuitively engaging the actors and audience while creating the perfect aura for the night through music and sound. 

“OthelLIT” encourages the audience to participate in themed games and activities meant to enhance the whole experience, so grab a friend – or 10 – and allow yourself to be swept away in the colorful reverie. With Director Marie Lowe at the helm, the fluidity and talent of the actors and the willingness of the audience to go along for the ride, “OthelLIT” is a splendid evening full of fanciful fun for anyone of age in search of a well- earned laugh. As the actors laugh, ponder, gallivant and sing, they continue another strong season for STS. 

“OthelLIT” will continue showing through Tuesday, Oct. 30, with tickets ranging from $17.50 to $25. Some military, senior or student discounts may apply for certain showings. By its closing night, the show will have traveled to Paddy’s Irish Pub, Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, Hugger Mugger Brewing Company in Sanford and Fainting Goat Brewing Company in Fuquay-Varina. 

For more information and to order tickets or view showtimes and locations, visit sweetteashakespeare.com or call 910-420-4383. 

There were plenty of opportunities for cleanup in Hope Mills in the wake of Hurricane Florence, but once she determined most of the needs of the living were met, Mayor Jackie Warner sought help for a group that couldn’t help themselves: the deceased. 

When Morgan Sierra, regional director of the Lone Survivor Foundation, reached out to Warner for something her group of volunteers could do, Warner pointed her to two local cemeteries, Adcock and Legion Road.

Warner’s concern for the cemeteries was prompt­ed by a phone call from a resident who had recently buried a family member at the Legion Road cem­etery. “He wanted me to check the grave and make sure the cemetery was alright,’’ said Warner, who doesn’t live far from the Legion Road cemetery. 

While the grave she was asked to check out was intact, Warner noticed there were numerous limbs down and many of the American flags that deco­rated graves of veterans were damaged or destroyed. 

When Warner contacted town manager Melissa Adams to see if there were specific cleanup needs that weren’t being addressed, Adams suggested someone might want to help at the cemeteries. 

After Sierra’s group contacted Warner about help­ing with cleanup, Warner called her back and said the cemeteries would be a good project if she and her group were interested. 

Sierra, a retired military policeman from Fort Bragg, didn’t hesitate to take on the challenge. 

“It really boiled down to what we can do for the community,’’ Sierra said. “Being a nonprofit, giving away money is not something we can easily do, but we can give away our time.’’ 

Sierra posted on Facebook seeking volunteers for the project and got responses from about a dozen people, some military-connected and some Hope Mills residents. 

The sight at both cem­eteries was similar, she said. There was a lot of tree debris, including limbs, leaves and pine needles.

And of course, there were the American flags. “Every veteran flag was knocked down or tat­tered beyond belief and needed to be replaced,’’ she said. 

A local business sold them 8- by 12-inch American flags at a sharply reduced rate. Sierra estimated they put out 116 new flags. She thinks they’ll need to put out another 40 or 50 flags in coming days that will be provided by a donor who agreed to pay for them. 

Sierra said replacing the flags on the graves of vet­erans is the least her group can do.

“They’ve done so much for us throughout their tenure,’’ she said. “Our creed is never quit on those that never quit on us. If it’s something as simple as replacing a flag and saying, ‘We honor you and your sacrifices,’ then that’s our responsibility.’’ 

Sierra said if there are other cemeteries in Fayetteville and the surrounding area that would like to replace flags damaged by the hurricane, her group will be glad to help out.

“If somebody is willing to donate flags, I’m willing to go there with my group of volunteers,” she said, “We will continue placing flags where we can.”

In my writing, I frequently criticize American governmental entities at every level. That is, from local to federal, I do not hesitate to voice my general disappointment with the actions, and lack of action, by various political bodies and individuals. Granted, failure to act is an action. It is against this back­drop that I share what, for me, was an encouraging, absolutely refreshing, experience. Even in the midst of my despair regarding the condition of our nation and world overall, I do see and write about hope-inspiring observations. 

On Monday, Sept. 10, I attended a meeting of the Fayetteville City Council. There was a time when I attended these meetings on a frequent basis. The meetings became so chaotic, confrontational and filled with grandstanding by council members, that I stopped attending. I would watch meetings on television from time to time. Given my interest in one item expected to come up during the meeting, I went to that Monday night’s meeting. 

It happened that Michael Worrell, chairman of the Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit, was on the agenda to give a report. This was not my reason for being there, but his report proved to be, in my esti­mation, very encouraging. One source of my ongoing disgust with governmental bodies is the scarcity of thoughtful assessment of issues followed by actions that make sense and hold promise of proving effec­tive. I saw all of these rare qualities in Worrell’s report. Here is a summary of what he presented regarding the work of his committee over the last year: 

1. The transit center was certified and is fully oper­ational. The bidding process is underway for renting office space and attracting food service vendors. 
2. Greyhound and Megabus are operating from the transit center. 
3.  Bus routes were modified. Sunday bus service was added. 
4. Shelters and benches were added at various bus stops. 

These actions are planned for the coming year: 

1.  Identifying and instituting procedures for moni­toring system performance. 
2. Rework the marketing plan, with a focus on col­lege students. FAST was represented at Fayetteville State University’s Freshman Orientation. The presentation was well received. Similar efforts will be made at Methodist University and Fayetteville Technical Community College. The aim is to inform students so that they get into traveling the city on the bus system. 
3. Educate citizens regarding use of the system. The desire is to provide the basic information – from purchasing a ticket to actual travel. Given that the system is looking at ways to better use technol­ogy, the resulting improvements in this area will be part of the citizen education endeavor. Among the technology improvement possibilities is ticketing through mobile devices. This effort will also seek to, among citizens, develop pride in the system. 
4. Introduce shuttle service for major events such as The Dogwood Festival, baseball stadium events and so forth. 
5. Discuss expansion of the FAST service that is now available to Fort Bragg. 
6.  Prepare a five-year plan for the system that will detail system efforts for each year and include finan­cial projections/analysis. 
7.  Work on a fare discount program for students. Such an arrangement must be approved by the city council. A semester pass is one idea that’s being considered. 
8. Work with human resources to revamp the current FAST personnel evaluation process to give better feedback to employees. Further, action will be taken to share the impact of and responses to key initiatives with employees. Have employees know that their performance influences how citizens view the system. 
9.  Give attention to improving connectivity with other nearby municipalities. 

I realize what is presented above is a long list. My contention is that the list is worth reviewing because reflected in it is a high level of thought, planning and execution that is rare in government. It only takes a moment of pause and reflection to see the truth in that statement. 

When you finish reading this column, go to your television. Turn on any of the networks that do news and commentary 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I guarantee that you will see report after report, commentary after commentary, that ad­dress actions, and lack of action, at every level of government that make absolutely no sense. They reflect zero productive thought, a lot of meaning­less talk by politicians who are far more concerned with winning reelection than doing what is good for their constituents, and citizens protesting, or otherwise complaining, while accomplishing noth­ing that improves the conditions underlying their protest or complaint. 

What I observed in the council meeting was tremendously impressive and encouraging. That refreshing experience was extended when I visited the city’s website to research FACT. The statement of purpose reads: “To address the public transporta­tion needs of Fayetteville North Carolina in a proac­tive way by providing recommendations to the City Council, management, users and the general public in an effort to create a comprehensive and cohesive transit system that responds to our community’s present and future needs.” 

Wow – a governmental entity that is actually deliv­ering on its stated purpose. 

As though that “wow” was not enough, I looked at the composition of the commission. Here is what it shows: “One FAMPO director or designee; One Lo­cal Community Business Representative; Two ADA riders or representatives; One Bus rider; Two city residents; One city resident who resides outside the area services by FAST; One FAST driver/operator. All Commission members must reside in Fayetteville.” 

At the bottom line, in the midst of paid elected officials and employees, this committee is made up of volunteers. In my estimation, they are performing in a fashion that provides a model for others in every area of service or business, not only in government. However, given that this is a governmental entity, their approach and performance should be seri­ously studied and adhered to by other individuals and entities in government at every level. 

Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit, I commend and thank you.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his followers to ask and it will be given to them. 

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner learned that in a time of natural disaster, the Lowe’s store in Hope Mills takes that admonition literally. 

Immediately after Hurricane Florence came and went through Hope Mills, a disaster relief team from the Alabama Baptist State Convention arrived at Southview Baptist Church on Elk Road and set up operations with their mobile trailer. 

They were here to provide meals for various relief shelters around the county. 

Warner stopped by to introduce herself to the Alabama visitors and ask if there was anything she could do to help. 

As it turned out, there was. A second wave of vol­unteers from Alabama would be arriving within days to help with the cleanup. Unlike the cooking team in the trailer, they would not be coming fully equipped for the job they wanted to tackle. 

They provided Warner with a shopping list, a rather lengthy one. It included items like rakes, wheelbarrows, masks, safety glasses, gloves and protective suits for cleaning up hazardous substances like asbestos. 

Warner immediately turned to Jennifer McMillan, the manager at the Hope Mills Lowe’s, which opened about a year and a half ago. 

“Lowe’s has come in and become a part of the Hope Mills community,’’ Warner said. “They started by making a contribution to the special needs playground we’re going to set up. Anything we need, they’ll support.’’ 

McMillan wasn’t working that day, but Warner gave her the shopping list and McMillan’s team at Lowe’s took care of the request. 

McMillan told Warner to give her a number on how much of each item she needed. The folks from Alabama gave Warner an estimate but would have been glad to get anything they could, she said. 

Warner said Lowe’s came through with 35 pairs of work gloves, 30 masks, 30 pairs of safety glasses and protective suits, along with 10 rakes and six wheelbarrows. 

“I went there for whatever I might get, and they gave us exactly what I needed,’’ Warner said. 

McMillan, who saw the damage Hurricane Matthew did to Hope Mills, said Lowe’s isn’t just a for-profit organization. We are an organization that is there specifically to take care of the community,’’ she said. “We position ourselves to be available, especially in areas that are impacted.’’ 

McMillan said Warner has been an avid supporter of Lowe’s since it came to Hope Mills as well as a good customer. “When she came, we knew there was going to be a need in the community,’’ McMillan said. “We wanted to be there to support the community from Lowe’s perspective and to be able to support the mayor as well.’’ 

McMillan said it comes down to basic human kind­ness. “We care about our communities. We live in our communities, and we want to make sure everything gets back to normal as quickly as possible and that those in need have the ability to provide solutions for themselves as quickly as possible,’’ she said. 

“They have become a great team member of Hope Mills,’’ Warner said. 

As for cleanup of the entire town, Warner said Hope Mills is ahead of where it was after Hurricane Matthew came through.

“I believe the difference between Matthew and Florence is we were prepared,” Warner said. “People have started signing on to FEMA because they have the contact information. We already have trash and debris pickup.”

Photo: A group from the Hope Mills Lowe’s (left) helped provide supplies for volunteers who came from the Alabama Baptist State Convention (right) 

Americans watched in horror last week as the U.S. Senate Judiciary Commit­tee contorted itself over the nomination of Brett Kava­naugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a woman from his distant past, has accused the nominee of sexual assault, and the commit­tee heard from both the accuser and the accused. Both gave emotional and riveting testimony to the committee. No matter whether one believes Ford is a blatant liar or Kavanaugh is either that or a blackout drinker, the entire process was excruciating to watch. 

Decades ago, I was part of a small group of women who founded Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, an agency that continues to provide coun­seling and other support services to victims of sexual assault, both women and men. 

Here is what I know from my own experiences and from factual data from the U.S. Justice Department and its various data reporting arms. 

Nearly a quarter of a million Americans 12 and older are victims of sexual assault every year, with the highest risk being between the ages of 12-34. About 10 percent of them are men. All victims of a completed rape sustain physical injuries as do many victims of other sexual assaults. In addition, victims are three times more likely to suffer depression and six times more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder than non-victims. 

More than half of all sexual assaults are reported to have occurred in the victim’s home or in the home of a friend, rela­tive or neighbor between 6 p.m. and midnight. The closer the relationship between the victim and the assaulter, the less likely the assault is to be reported. Two-thirds of all assault­ers are known to their victims. Stanford University research finds that about 2 percent of sexual assault claims are false, making 98 percent true, though only about 40 percent are reported to authorities. 

Our nation’s highly charged and toxic partisan poli­tics have victimized both Ford and Kavanaugh. It has exposed a woman apparently motivated by the good of her nation and a man with a long and distinguished career and turned them into puppets for partisan purposes. Their lives and those of their families will never be the same after national exposure and result­ing death threats. Republicans in Washington, D.C., see Ford as a Democratically controlled Jenny-come-lately obstructionist trying to block decades-old plans to control federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Democrats see Kavanaugh as a pawn of the right wing, whose appointment could hijack our nation’s highest court for a generation. Both of them – indeed all Americans – are being jerked around by a handful of U.S. Senators while they attempt to strong-arm enough votes to confirm Kavanaugh. 

All any of us can do is watch and wait while the power struggle continues behind closed doors in Washington. The cold, hard reality is that even with an FBI investigation, truncated as it may be, we may never know more truth than we know now. This painful episode may go down in history as “she said, he said” forever. 

One way or another, Ford and Kavanaugh will eventually exit our national stage’s glaring spotlight. What will remain and continue to poison us is the toxicity of our highly charged partisan politics. Two emotional women identifying themselves as survi­vors of sexual assault confronted Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona in a Capitol elevator last week, with one demanding, “Look at me and tell me that it doesn’t matter what happened to me. Don’t look away from me.” 

She was talking about sexual assault, but we can­not look away from our political reality either. 

The partisan politics that everyone despises has so tainted our public life that we are allowing it to undermine the foundation of our country. If we or our elected representatives cannot act for the good of country over the good of party, we are endanger­ing our democracy.

Photo: Judge Brett Kavanaugh 

Jalen Broadhurst 

Jack Britt• Football• Senior

Broadhurst has a 4.45 weighted grade point average. In addition to playing football, he’s a member of the youth chapter of the Sandhills Red Cross. 

Alaina Kazmierczak 

Jack Britt• Cheerleader• Senior

Kazmierczak has a 4.25 weighted grade point average. She’s a mem­ber of Key Club and National Honor Society. She’s also a member of her church choir.

Every year, The CARE Clinic hosts a dinner – an Evening of CARE. It is a fun, intimate evening of food and fellowship. Local residents assume the responsibility of hosting and serv­ing a dinner. The hosts choose how many guests they can accommodate, many opening their homes for the evening. They provide the location, beverages and appetizers while The CARE Clinic provides the main meal - unless the hosts wish to do that as well. While the dinner is not until Feb. 2, now is the time to sign up to be a host (or to purchase tickets). 

“This fundraiser is unique because you are doing it in your own home and you can do it any way you want,” said Cynthia Deere, The CARE Clinic development and marketing direc­tor. “When it started 22 years ago, hosts were holding it in their homes and using fine china and crystal. That has changed. Last year, we had a host who did the dinner, and after everyone ate, there was a band and firepit outside. They basically threw a party. We had people who, because the next day was the Super Bowl, they did a pre-party. You can do a game night or a girl’s night out. It doesn’t have to be a formal affair. 

“We want to get young people involved and let them know they can have fun with it. We do have people who still do the formal dinners, and we love that, too. Put your own spin on it.” 

Deere noted that the host gives a brief explanation about the purpose of the dinner and what The CARE Clinic does. 

Two years ago, because of Hurricane Matthew, a number of host homes could not participate. This is a concern this year as well because of Hurricane Florence. 

“We would really like to see people sign up to host. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Deere said. “There are many people that have either hosted or attended the event since the beginning. If you are not able to host a dinner on this specific date, you could hold it the following weekend and provide your own food.” 

In 2018, the Evening of CARE raised more than $60,000. 

“What many people don’t realize is that it costs about $44,000 a month just to keep The CARE Clinic doors open,” said Deere. “So, if this raises $60,000, that is only six weeks of ser­vice to people. 

“The biggest need we have is phar­maceuticals. Our patients who come in and need medicines like antibiot­ics, diabetes medications or things like that, can get them filled with us at no cost to them.” 

The clinic offers multiple services ranging from basic medical care and chiropractic care to commu­nity resource information, social services and limited referrals to specialists. To be seen at The CARE Clinic, patients must be: an adult; be uninsured; meet a household income requirement; and have a valid and current NC DMV picture ID or license. 

Patients of the clinic seeking a medical appointment must call between Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For dental appoint­ments, patients must call on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Patients are seen every Tuesday and Thursday as well as the second and fourth Wednesday evenings. 

Visit www.thecareclinic.org or call 910-485-0555 for more information about how to become involved with The CARE Clinic and the Evening of Care.

In the Fayetteville community and all over the world, people rise up and dedicate their time and resources to serve and protect those who can’t protect them­selves. Fayetteville’s Child Advocacy Center runs with this mission in mind. In that spirit, Saturday, Oct. 13, the CAC presents its fifth annual Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse at the Metropolitan Room in downtown Fayetteville. This fundraiser and others like it help the CAC keep its services for survivors of abuse and their families free of charge. 

The CAC works with 19 community agencies, from the District Attorney’s office to Cumberland County Schools, to support child abuse victims. Its integrated system allows the CAC to work with children in the most empathetic and efficient way possible. 

Guests to the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction are encouraged to dress up and attend wearing creative masks. As in past years, awards will be given for best mask in the categories of male, female, couple, group, overall ensemble and most unique. There will also be a DJ, dancing, a photo booth and delicious food and drinks. 

For many, the evening’s highlight is the live and silent auctions. Trips, pack­ages and various items will be up for grabs. 

Trips to bid on include luxurious vacation packages for stays in Bali, Argentina, Belize, Italy, Tuscany, Canada, California, Alaska and Kentucky. As an exam­ple of what these packages offer, the trip to Tuscany is an eight-day, seven-night stay at a five-bedroom restored 16th century villa in Cortona. A dinner and wine pairing prepared by a master chef is included. “A group of five couples could go in on this trip and have the possibility of winning a vacation of a life­time at a very affordable price,” said CAC Executive Director Roberta Humphries. 

Other locations include activities like scuba div­ing, wine-tastings, spa treatments and more. A 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Tournament experience will also be auctioned off. 

Smaller auction items include fine jewelry, North Carolina athletic event tickets, fitness classes or rec­reation experiences, events at the Crown Complex, restaurant offerings, gift baskets and more. Nearly 50 local business donated these items. 

Volunteer committee members Sue Perkins and Sharon Mozingo headed up the search for culinary sponsors, and their results will not disappoint. The evening’s diverse food spread will be provided by Evans Catering, Inc.; R Burger; Chris’s Steak House; Sherefé; Sammio’s Italian Restaurant; Metro Diner; Agape Bakery; Southern Coals; and Burney’s Sweets & More. Guests can look forward to enjoy­ing a spread and dip buffet, bacon and blue cheese sliders, pork medallions, chicken pot pie, mac and cheese, shrimp ceviche, spanakopita, croissants, pinwheel cookies and more. 

Emily Herring, chair of the event, said there’s no question that the evening will be enjoyable, but that the real point of it all is to serve the children. “It’s a fun time for everyone, but it’s benefitting a cause that is truly (remarkable),” she said. “I want people to know that what they are paying to come experience is helping children feel safer, (giving) them a voice. 

“Those children and their families can get the help they need because of this event and other events like it that the advocacy center puts on.” 

Tickets to the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction on Oct. 13 cost $100 per individual, $175 per couple and $1,200 for a table of eight. They can be purchased in person at the CAC at 222 Rowan St. or online at www.CACFayNC.org.

Labor Day historically launches annual election campaigning. This year’s election is a so-called off-year, or midterm, election because it is midway through the term of the U.S. president. It’s an off year for Fayetteville City Council, but impor­tant county and state elections will be held in November. 

October is an important and busy month for the fall election. Voter registration in Cumberland County closes Oct. 12. Residents who cast ballots on a regular basis remain per­manently registered so long as they continue to vote. The board of elec­tions periodically purges those who do not vote from the books. 

Wednesday, Oct. 17, one stop voting begins for the November election. It’s a two-week early voting period that ends at 1 p.m. Oct. 31. 

The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail for the general election is Oct. 30. Absentee ballots, which are the last to be counted, can be delivered two ways, either by hand to the board of elections no later than 5 p.m., Nov. 5, or by mail. Mailed ballots must be postmarked and received no later than the third day following the general election to be counted. 

Also on Nov. 5, ballot requests for the sick and disabled begin at 8 a.m. 

The first Tuesday in November, which is the 6th, is election day. 

There’s a popular expression that all elections are local, and that’s never more important than in off years. Elec­tions in the United States are adminis­tered in a highly decentralized process through which each state shapes its own election laws, which in turn shape the roles counties play. The nation’s 3,069 counties traditionally administer and fund elections at the local level, in­cluding overseeing polling places and coordinating poll workers for federal, state and local elections. 

This is an off year for presidential and North Carolina gubernato­rial elections, but voter turnout will determine who at least one new local congressman will be. The state’s 9th Congressional district is without an incumbent. The 8th Congressional district is also up for grabs, but a three-term incumbent has the edge. There is no U.S. Senate race this year. 

The two state senators represent­ing Cumberland County in the North Carolina General Assembly, one a Democrat and the other a Republi­can, face challengers. The four mem­bers of the North Carolina House of Representatives have opponents. Cumberland County’s appointed sheriff is being challenged and is seeking election for the first time. The district attorney does not have an op­ponent. Two women are running for the Superior Court clerk’s office, one of whom is serving in an appointed position. Three local superior court judges and seven lower court district judges are up for election. 

Cumberland County Commis­sioners serve staggered terms. This year, the three incumbents elected at large face challenges from two oth­ers. The two incumbent candidates elected from District 1 have in effect been re-elected since they have no opposition. 

The board of education is structured similarly. This year, the three at-large members are seeking re-election. The six board members elected from indi­vidual districts are in an off year. 

For information about where or how to vote, visit http://www. co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/ election-group/elections.

Editor’s note: The following submis­sion is in reference to Rep. Billy Richard­son’s opinion piece titled “Profit before people? No thanks, Smithfield!” which ran in the Sept. 19, 2018, issue of Up & Coming Weeky. 

Livestock farms stink. They always have. 

We should be extremely grateful for hog, poultry, cattle and dairy farmers who are willing to work long days in tough conditions to provide food for our tables. 

Recent outrageous and excessive jury awards against the hog industry in our state threaten to put farmers out of business, so it is important that those representing us in the North Carolina General Assembly understand the appropriate role of government in ad­dressing this challenge. 

Sound public policy is needed – not reckless spending. 

A battle has been brewing in the North Carolina hog industry for some time. It boiled over this spring. The story really started several years ago when a group of attorneys developed legal arguments that would allow them to circumvent caps on the amount of punitive damages a jury could award - legal arguments that allowed for a $50 million judgment this spring on behalf of 10 homeown­ers living near hog farms. The appeals process may reduce that amount to $2.5 million, but more plaintiffs have been recruited, and their cases are awaiting trial. Total jury awards could reach half a billion dollars. 

The problem is clear. Homeowners living near hog farms have been able to secure judgments many times greater than the entire value of their home and property – something that our laws never intended. 

Our legislature did the right thing during short session this year. They changed the law. Judgments in any future lawsuits for “nuisance” livestock odors may no longer exceed the total value of the property exposed to the natural consequences of livestock operations nearby. That is good public policy. We should not be punishing our farmers who are fol lowing the rules in place. 

There have not been any new hog operations permitted in North Carolina the past 20 years, so the sparse populations nearby are not just figuring out there is a hog farm around. Yet, many lawsuits remain in the pipeline, and the agenda driving them is searching for an agreed path forward. 

What ought to be clear is that it is not the respon­sibility of taxpayers here and across the state to come up with what is likely to be hundreds of mil­lions of dollars for new state-of-the-art technology that can contain most of the odors. The hog industry is a highly profitable business controlled by multi-national corporations, who need our farmers. 

Rep. Billy Richardson has proposed asking Governor Roy Cooper to call a special legislative session, so that the General Assembly can appro­priate taxpayer dollars for upgrade costs of nearly 2,300 hog operations in North Carolina. He wants to use millions of dollars from our state’s rainy day fund to provide matching money for the upgrades that will reduce odors. 

This is where sound public policy needs to push back. It is not the respon­sibility of the taxpayers in North Caro­lina to retro-fit hog lagoons. And, Rep. Richardson is wrong to suggest spending down rainy day funds intended to carry us through the next economic downturn or natural disaster. 

It was just a decade ago that recession struck, and despite the highest tax rates in the southeast at that time, our state did not have sufficient funds to meet payroll. Teacher pay was cut in May and June 2009, and remained frozen for five years, while our state repaid a $2.6 bil­lion debt, and climbed out of the hole. All because we had been spending and borrowing so freely that we had little in reserve. We are only now able to offer substantial pay raises that will once again allow our teachers here to earn above the national average pay – for the first time in a decade. Why? Because our current legislature has not been lured into throw­ing money at problems that are not the responsibility of government to fund. 

If Rep. Richardson is successful in persuading Gov. Cooper to call a special session of the legislature to prioritize hog farm subsidies over critical needs that ARE the responsibility of govern­ment – such as schools and resource officers for our children’s safety – we should insist that the effort be defeated – because it is bad public policy. 

North Carolina families should not be asked to pay for hog industry upgrades that subsidize private production costs – no matter how much we love our bacon.

Gallery 208 has hosted many solo exhibitions by photographers during the last several years. Each artist brings a theme to their work – capturing the beauty of the landscape, a stopped action moment or an unreal circumstance crafted by the use of Photoshop or Light Room. From purist photogra­phers to those who use photographic software, each artist brings an intent. Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 5:30-7 p.m., Gallery 208 will host a reception for photographer Andrew Johnson. The exhibition, “Night Silence: Photographs by Andrew Johnson,” is a masterful group of photographs by an artist who uses the existing light at night to create an alternate reality. 

The public is invited to the reception to meet the artist, hear a brief artist talk and preview a body of work that is unique. Johnson’s photographs lure viewers into looking more closely at something familiar, like a building or a set of doors in the urban or rural landscape. We recognize a familiar subject, but it is as if we are seeing something unfamiliar. The beauty of the light in the photographs contrasts with the conceptual – familiar versus unfamiliar – and we are fixed in a moment of discovery. As in all great works of art, the image succeeds in representing what it does not represent. In other words, the artist is able to transcend the limits of a photograph. 

Johnson is a minimalist. He is not copying what he sees, but he uses photography to transcend a subject – to create an illusion beyond itself. He has crafted a physical presence as well as a story that goes beyond the subject. For me, Johnson distills his experiences in image-making to evoke a new order – one that is distinguished by an illuminating, colored light. 

As viewers, we each bring our sensibilities to the work. Yet Johnson talks about his work from a differ­ent perspective. He shared the following: “For me, shooting at night is a singular experience. It’s not an aloneness. It’s at night, of course, and no one (is) around. But it’s more than that, it’s as if no one else is on Earth and I am consumed by artificial light and the sounds of nature at night. I feel comfort in the absorption of a night environment.” 

He continued, “You don’t usually think about it this way, but light at night can actually create crisp images when the light reacts with different surfac­es, creating dramatic effects. I am drawn to these surfaces, the stillness of the night and surreal effects of artificial light to create a mood.” 

Shane Booth, a professional photographer, is familiar with Johnson’s work, since Johnson was an art student at Fayetteville State University. “Andrew’s works are very complicated,” Booth said. “We, the public, are not used to looking at the world at night and so we don’t pay attention to the ways in which light effects things or places. On the other hand, Andrew is drawn to the light at night. He sees what we do not see. He is drawn to the different temperatures of light rays at night. He captures those temperatures to add a sense of mystery to his content.” 

Booth continued, “Technically, artificial light has the potential to flatten out objects. In Andrew’s case, the light flattens out a doorway, so it becomes a new way of viewing a doorway. As well, artificial light, particularly at night, can mute colors and turn an or­dinary place into a surreal environment. So, Andrew uses this to add emotion to an inanimate object... like a building; he is giving the building a personality by his use of light. As well, he is creating a forebod­ing sense of place by contrasting a dark atmosphere with artificial light. 

“Andrews’s photos are void of people, yet he creates a supernatural presence. In looking at the photos, you may feel as if there is always someone behind you, or behind the door in the photo. In some ways, the artist has created a moment when the viewers become vo­yeuristic; we are not supposed to be at that location, at that time of the night. It’s uncanny. At the same time, tension is mixed with beauty and stillness, and we are memorized to stare at the photo.” 

Photography is a popular medium for untrained artists, especially since cell phone and “selfie” imag­es are easy to produce. In some circles, photography is still underrated when compared to painting or sculpture. But in the hands of an exceptional artist, the photograph becomes the quintessential medium to bring meaning and content to viewers. 

The above is best said in John Berger’s well-known book, “Ways of Seeing.” The author states, “unlike any other visual image, a photograph is not a rendering, an imitation or an interpretation of its subject, but actually a trace of it. No painting or drawing, however naturalist, belongs to its subject in the way that a photograph does.” 

Gallery 208 is excited to introduce this talented lo­cal veteran artist to the community. Johnson served in the U.S. Army for six years before he attended and graduated from Fayetteville State University. After graduation in 2017, he became employed by the city of Fayetteville as its graphic production supervisor. 

Gallery 208 invites everyone to attend the reception to meet the artist. But, if that’s not possible, “Night Silence” will be on exhibit until late December. 

Gallery 208, located at 208 Rowan St., is open Mon­day through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call the gallery at 910-484-6200 for more information.

What explains the staying power of Harper Lee’s book “To Kill a Mockingbird” and the film that starred Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch? 

For some, it is its poignant story of Jean Louise, or “Scout.” Scout’s love and respect for her father, Atticus, gave her the courage to face the dangers and unfairness of a flawed world. For others, it is Atticus him­self and his example of dignity, kind­ness and courage. 

But things are much more compli­cated according to a new book, “Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters: What Harper Lee’s Book and the Iconic American Film Mean to Us Today,” by Tom Santopietro. 

“Mockingbird’s” staying power is evidenced by its inclusion on PBS’ list of 100 novels in contention for selection as America’s best-loved book. The list is a part of PBS’ “Great American Read” broadcast series airing on UNC-TV September through October. 

That staying power is remark­able, according to Santopietro because in “the nearly 60 years since Mockingbird was originally pub­lished, the world has changed much more than the previous 300 years combined.” 

Santopietro gives us a biography of the “Mockingbird” phenomenon. He takes us to Harper Lee’s home­town, Monroeville, Alabama, and introduces us to the friends, family and neighbors who were models for the characters of her book. Readers also learn about Harper-Lee’s gentle home life and her town’s oppressive segregated social system. 

Readers learn how the book was written, how it was sold to a publisher and how it took the country by storm. They also learn how the movie was made, includ­ing the key casting decisions that brought Gregory Peck onboard and how a North Carolina woman from Reidsville, Alice Lee “Boaty” Boatwright, made the key selec­tion of a 9-year-old Birmingham, Alabama, girl who had no acting experience to play Scout. 

Santopietro describes how “Go Set a Watchman,” a sequel or a pre­quel to “Mockingbird” written in the 1950s, came to be discovered in 2014 and published the following year. That book shocked readers with its very different look at Atticus Finch, the hero of “Mockingbird.” 

In “Watchman,” Atticus is shown, in the words of Isabel Wilkerson, as a “gentleman bigot.” He is a supporter of the White Citizens Council and a firm opponent of the court-ordered desegregation of public schools and the efforts to open public accommo­dations to African-Americans. 

Santopietro asserts that the Atticus of “Watchman” resembles “no one as much as Strom Thurmond.” 

He continues, “Like Thurmond, Atticus here seems to believe that the worst of all possible worlds lies in any involvement on the part of the federal government, an evil topped in his mind only by the participation of the NAACP.” 

A better model for “Watchman’s” Atticus than the sometimes mean-spirited Thurmond might be I. Beverly Lake, the segregationist can­didate who opposed Terry Sanford in the 1960 North Carolina gover­nor’s race. Lake sincerely believed in segregation, and like Atticus, he was a gentleman. In fact, according to John Drescher in his “Triumph of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat a Champion of Segregation and Reshaped The South,” Lake support­ed the liberal Frank Porter Graham in the 1950 race for U.S. Senate and condemned the racist attacks from the campaign of Graham’s opponent. 

According to Drescher, “Lake’s personal and public generosity was part of his appeal as a candidate and set him apart from other leading Southern segregationists of the 1950s and 60s. He was not a hater.” 

The racial views of Lake in the 1950s were like those of Harper Lee’s father, A.C., the model for Atticus. According to Santopietro, these men “represented the typical white south­ern male viewpoint in the 1950s.” 

Can we still honor the contribu­tions and good qualities of those who held to this discredited view­point of their times? 

If not, “Mockingbird” will slip off the lists of best-loved books.

Photo: Gregory Peck played Atticus Finch in the film adaptation. 

The state of North Carolina and Federal Emer­gency Management Agency are operating a joint disaster recovery center at the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, 1225 Ramsey St. It is open seven days a week, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The center offers in-person support for individu­als and business owners who sustained major Hurri­cane Florence disaster damage and damage caused by subsequent floods. 

Homeowners, renters and business owners should register for disaster assistance before visit­ing the recovery center by calling 800-621-3362 or texting 800-462-7585. Be prepared to provide the location where the damage occurred, current mailing address and telephone number, insurance information, total household annual income, rout­ing and account numbers for checking or savings accounts and a description of disaster-caused damage and losses. 

Initial hurricane damage assessment 

FEMA’s Hurricane Rapid Damage Evaluation is complete regarding all accessible residential prop­erties. Homes have been categorized as affected, minor, major and destroyed. 

Cumberland County has completed its prelimi­nary Hurricane Florence damage assessment for unincorporated areas and the six smaller towns in the county. The loss does not include damages in Fayetteville, Hope Mills or Spring Lake. A total of 731 residential structures were damaged for an estimated loss of $28,119,667, according to Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt. A total of 16 commer­cial structures in the county were damaged for an estimated loss of $2,984,260. 

In the city of Fayetteville, just under 1,200 hab­itable structures have evidence of wind or flood damage. About 100 of those structures were found to be damaged because of flooding. Two-thirds of the impacted structures are categorized as affected. Another 300 plus are categorized as minor. Four dozen houses received major damage. 

“It is important to realize that this assessment is not the same as what private insurance adjust­ers continue to conduct throughout our city,” said Development Services Director Jerry Newton. The total loss countywide will be in the tens of millions of dollars. Flood- and wind-damaged structures throughout the city are likely higher than the 1,200 found through the FEMA assessment, Newton said. 

The city of Fayetteville was unable to provide a preliminary monetary estimate of the damage. Damage assessment work is still underway. Teams have not been able to access some areas because they have been hampered by floodwaters and poor road conditions. The initial estimate does not in­clude commercial properties. 

Hometown utility shines 

The Public Works Commission’s Emergency Op­erations Center was staffed more than 100 straight hours from Thursday, Sept. 13, through Tuesday, Sept. 18. Just over 500 PWC employees and 100 mu­tual aid workers responded to the storm. More than half of those stayed at PWC’s headquarters for five days on a 24/7 basis, sleeping on cots and airbeds. Many remained on hand despite power outages and flooding at their homes. 

PWC linemen worked 16-hour shifts and were able to get 97 percent of the utility’s 50,000 customers who lost service back on line within 96 hours, the vast ma­jority of them within 30 hours. A week after the storm, only 33 customers remained without service because of needed home repairs and inspections. 

During the storm, PWC’s water distribution system had no interruptions or water quality issues. PWC’s water and wastewater plants, all located along the Cape Fear River, remained operational throughout the storm. 

Debris removal underway 

Hurricane debris removal is underway, but of­ficials say it could take weeks. Contractors have been hired by the city and county and are prioritiz­ing rubble removal based on which areas where Hurricane Florence generated storm debris can be safely accessed. 

Residents of impacted areas who can safely do so are asked to place any storm-generated rubbish roadside. Place logs (no length restriction), plants and larger tree branches in one combined pile at the curb. Place leaves, small branches and twigs, pine straw and pine cones in yard waste containers or separate piles. Construction rubble such as building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, mat­tresses and plumbing items should be piled sepa­rately also. Only loose debris will be collected. 

Regular household trash, recycling and bagged debris of any kind should be separated from storm debris and be put at the curb on regularly scheduled pickup days. Do not place rubbish near a water me­ter, fire hydrant or beneath a power line. It should be placed in the public right-of-way but not in the street. 

News and information 

The Fayetteville community had the ad­vantage of reliable news and information during Hurricane Florence like never before. The city of Fayetteville and county of Cumberland com­bined their resources in a joint media opera­tions center, bringing together a dozen staff­ers whose job was to keep residents updated during and after the storm. 

Local governments and the Public Works Commission provided special coverage on their websites. A week without cable television and live over-the-air coverage demonstrated the impor­tance of people having battery-equipped portable radios. Emphasis was placed on the importance of keeping the public informed so as to prevent rumors and misinformation. 

Recognizing the public’s widespread use of social media, Fayetteville Police and PWC used Facebook to keep the community informed. The city used its new mobile app to provide storm updates. Tradi­tional news media provided information, but power outages limited television coverage. WRAL-FM preempted regular programming and simulcasted the audio of its sister television station on the radio during the week.

The football team at Pine Forest and the baseball team at Gray’s Creek both saw damage done to their respective athletic fields during the recent visit of Hurricane Floyd to Cumberland County. 

But that didn’t pre­vent players from both teams reaching out to others in the com­munity who had been harder hit by the storm than they were. 

At Pine Forest, coach Bill Sochovka was greeted to the site of a large sinkhole that developed near the goal line on one end of the field at Harold K. Warren Stadium. 

But Sochovka got even more disturbing news from his defensive coordinator, Jeff Houghton, who lives in the Spring Lake area. Houghton shared reports with Sochovka about the devasta­tion caused around Spring Lake by the flooding that Hurricane Florence caused. 

“We do a lot for the north side of town,’’ Sochovka said. But he added that there are a lot of current Pine Forest football players as well as alumni who are in the Spring Lake area, so he felt it was important to lend a hand there as well.

The Saturday after the storm passed, the Trojan football team practiced in the morning, then a dozen players went to Spring Lake, specifically to the area off Vass Road, to help out in neighbor­hoods that were flooded by the storm.

“They helped move stuff out of seven houses,’’ Sochovka said. “They were there from about 10 in the morning until four in the afternoon. What would have taken those folks days to do they did in a few hours.’’ 

Sochovka also helped out at the shelter that was opened at the Pine Forest gym for people dis­placed by the storm. He worked with Red Cross volunteers to show them around the building and make them aware of the various facilities available in the gym. 

Sochovka said disaster relief was a new experi­ence for many in the Trojan family. “You can sit and watch on TV, or you can do it in your community and be effective,’’ he said. 

Gray’s Creek baseball coach Jeff Nance saw minor damage to his field as some fences were blown down, signs knocked off the scoreboard and shingles blown from the dugout. 

But he also saw a need to help out in the Gray’s Creek community when a minister friend at an outreach called Balm of Gilead asked him for some assistance. 

“It’s a community outreach center that gives food and water to people, not just during disas­ters but anytime,’’ Nance said. The head of the ministry called and said she had a large supply of water coming in for disaster relief and needed help unloading it.

Nance sent out an appeal to his baseball team and about half of them showed up to unload the water and help prepare food bundles for delivery to people who had been hit hardest by the storm.

“This gives them the opportunity to see how for­tunate most of them are,’’ Nance said. “It brings out the best in them and the best in what we’re trying to teach them, teamwork.”

Editor’s note: This edition of the Hope Mills calendar may be affected by the after­math of Hurricane Florence. Please check to see if events are still scheduled before attending. 

Meetings 

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Most meetings take place at Town Hall or the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation center. Until the Parks and Recreation building has fully recovered from Hurri­cane Florence, some meetings may be moved to Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall at regular dates and times. 

• Festival Committee, Monday, Oct. 5, 5:30 p.m. 
• Historic Advisory Committee, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 5 p.m. 
• Mayor’s Youth Leadership Committee, Monday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. 
• Appearance Commission, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. 

Activities 

• Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240. 
• Ole Mill Days 2018 Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more details and vendor information, contact Parks and Recreation Director Kenny Bullock: 910-426-4107 or kwbullock@townofhopemills.com. 
• 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. 

Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

The largest and second-oldest historic property in Fayetteville, Heritage Square boasts struc­tures dating back to the late 1700s. These buildings tell the stories of some of Fayetteville’s founding families – and have intriguing tales of their own. Sherman’s Army headquartered in one during the Civil War. Another is an oval stand-alone ballroom – part of an 1850s murder trial dubbed “The Trial of the Century” at the time. Still another was the home of one of the area’s most powerful landowners in the 1700s. The grounds and gardens are tended by master gardeners, creating the serenity and sense of nostal­gia that can only be found in a well-kept Southern estate. It’s all nestled in downtown Fayetteville at 225 Dick St. Oct. 6-7, the Heritage Square Historical Society will open this property and all the fascinat­ing buildings to host its annual Christmas Bazaar. 

“We did this last year, and it was a huge success,” said Heritage Square Historical Society President Elaine Kennebeck. “We had people donate Christmas decorations and art, and we got beautiful things. A lot was brand new and still in the boxes.” 

From tchotchkes to substantial pieces, rustic to refined, Kennebeck promises it’s worth coming to see the offerings. “Last year, we had... some vintage items from the ’70s. We still have some left. We have a little of everything - thousands of items.” 

If the eclectic inventory of one-of-a-kind and hard-to-find items is not enough reason to come, Kennebeck is certain the deals are. She searches websites like eBay for similar items and prices the bazaar pieces at about half what the online auction sites demand. Shoppers get to see and handle the wares before buy­ing, and the atmosphere is relaxed and jovial. There will also be a room filled with costume jewelry and other assorted items for sale, includ­ing gift baskets. 

The fact that the event is held inside is a bonus because guests get to experience the property as well. 

Like much of Fayetteville, Heritage Square suf­fered significant damage from Hurricane Florence, some of it not covered by insurance. “Every nickel of this goes to maintaining and preserving the homes,” said Kennebeck. “We are trying very hard to recu­perate from (the hurricane).” 

The Heritage Historical Society does more than maintain the properties. Its goal is to share them as well. It rents out the property for events like weddings, receptions and baby showers. “We have beautiful grounds,” Kennebeck said. “We also have the oval ballroom, which is unique. The property is for people to enjoy. If you are looking for an authen­tic intimate Southern wedding, this is a great place. We have a full working kitchen, which caterers love. People can bring their own food, too.” 

There is also an educational initiative in prog­ress designed for students of all ages – and it’s not your standard historical tour. The experience uses common Victorian-era items and relates them to modern life. Not surprisingly, many of the examples connect to modern-day cell phones. Today’s phones do the work of a bevy of appliances from yesteryear. We talk to each other, listen to music, correspond, take pictures and more. It used to take wall phones, record players, typewriters and cameras to do the same. And the Heritage Historical Society can share what that was like. 

The Christmas Bazaar at Heritage Square, 225 Dick St., is open Friday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m.-4p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 6, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. It’s free to attend. Call 910-483-6009 for more information.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence and dev­astating flooding across the state, Commissioner Que Tucker and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors has request­ed NCHSAA member schools designate a contest or contests during the period from Oct. 1-19 as a Hurricane Florence Relief Assistance Contest. 

Member schools are asked to participate by col­lecting money at any home contest during that window and then forwarding those monies to the Association, which will act as a clearinghouse. All money will be divided and sent to local education agencies in the counties that have been designated as disaster areas and were federally approved for individual assistance. 

The NCHSAA Board of Directors has approved matching funds up to $25,000 to add to the money collected during the drive by member schools for Hurricane Florence Relief Games. Funds distrib­uted to affected LEAs would be available to help member schools as determined by local school administrators. 

“Many NCHSAA member schools in Eastern North Carolina received a devastating blow from Hurricane Florence, and we want to do our part to help during this time of need,” said Tucker. “After Hurricane Floyd and most recently Hurricane Matthew, we called upon member schools to help those in the hardest hit areas. Once again, we are asking each member school and its community to join together in helping those most impacted by this disaster.’’ 

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, NCHSAA mem­ber schools – helped by a matching contribution authorized by the Association Board members – were able to donate over $44,000 to LEAs in the most affected areas. In the case of Hurricane Floyd, the NCHSAA collected donations at statewide regional meetings and also provided a matching donation.

“Great things are possible when we all work together,” Tucker said. “Even in the wake of tremen­dous devastation, our member schools are a focal point of the effort to rebuild and return their com­munities to normalcy. Whether they were serving as emergency shelters or providing a rallying point for community donations, NCHSAA members always do whatever is necessary to support those in need. We are proud of them for their sense of community and are eager to see what we can do together this time around.’’ 

Once a school has decided when and how to participate, they are asked to contact NCHSAA Assistant Commissioner James Alverson with the details of their plans at james@nchsaa.org.

Community Concerts celebrates its 83rd season this year with a full slate of diverse entertainment. The 2018- 19 season opens strong with “The Choir of Man” on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Crown Theatre. 

Billed as the “ultimate feel good show,” “The Choir of Man” is more than a concert. It’s a 90-minute fun-filled party complete with singing, dancing and just the right amount of good-natured carousing. 

The multitalented cast features nine handsome blokes that sing pub tunes, folk songs, Broadway hits and classic rock, including the works of Adele, Queen, Paul Simon, Katy Perry and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The performers are world-class tap danc­ers, acrobats, singers, instrumental­ists and poets. 

“The Choir of Man” is the latest show from Nic Doodson and Andrew McKay, the creative duo behind Soweto Gospel Choir, The Magnets and North by Northwest. 

“The guys have spent the last couple of years touring the UK and Australia, and they are ready to bring this show to American audiences,” said Doodson. “This concert is such a great time for all – whether it’s a ladies night, first date, guys night out or even a bachelorette party! So, grab your best mates and we’ll see you at the venue.”

The second performance of the Community Concerts season will be by Grammy award winner Michael McDonald at the Crown Theatre. Set for Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m., this show is a part of McDonald’s “Season of Peace” tour. The Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers alum has won five Grammys and has pro­duced several chart-topping hits. He’s also collaborated with many prominent artists. 

His latest album, “Wide Open,” was released Sept. 15 and includes collaborations with Warren Haynes, Robben Ford, Marcus Miller and Branford Marsalis. This is McDonald’s first album of original material in 17 years. It was recorded in his Nashville studio over a number of years with drummer Shannon Forrest, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Toto, Blake Shelton and Nashville session musicians. 

Three Dog Night heats up the stage at the Crown Feb. 22. This legendary group had more top 10 hits and sold more records and more concert tickets than any other band between 1969 and 1974. 

The band includes founder and lead vocalist, Danny Hutton, along with Michael Alsup, Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz and David Morgan. 

Songs like “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” “Black and White,” “Shamba­la and “One” keep fans coming back year after year. 

Hall of Famers and iconic coroners The O’Jays are the fourth concert of the season. Scheduled for March 15, the concert will include chart-top­ping fan favorites like “Love Train,” “Put Your Hands Together,” “For the Love of Money,” “I Love Music,” “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love),” “Livin’ for the Weekend” and “Use Ta Be My Girl.” 

April 4, America closes the Com­munity Concerts season. The band has six Gold or Platinum albums with 11 Hits and have been inducted into the prestigious Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They topped charts with “A Horse with No Name” in the 1960s and dominated the ’70s with “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross the River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People” and “Sister Golden Hair.” 

Community Concerts was started in 1935 and is Fayetteville’s oldest art organization. The nonprofit’s mission is to bring top-notch entertainment to Fayetteville and the Fort Bragg/ Cumberland County community at affordable prices. 

Purchase tickets online at CapeFearTix.com or by calling 1-888-257-6208. For season tickets, visit www.community-concerts.com or call 910-303-3996.

Fayetteville has a big heart and an even bigger spirit. This community’s outpouring of generosity, love and compassion was well demonstrated dur­ing Hurricane Florence. Though the storm is over, repairing the damage, destruction and heart­break will be a long-term endeavor. The news cov­erage and headlines that swirled around Florence will soon dissipate, but for hundreds of citizens, the suffering is far from over. Clothes, food, shelter, medical care and money will be needed over the long haul to bring these tattered lives back to a sense of nor­malcy. Sunday, Oct. 7, St. John’s Episcopal Church is set to host an event that will help move the city forward. 

Inspired to help with hurricane recovery, St. John’s Episcopal Church new director of music, Ryan Pagels, took action. Pagels and his commit­tee organized a concert to benefit the community that will include ensembles from the Fayetteville Symphony Orches­tra, the FSO Youth Orchestra and the Methodist University Chorale. There will also be performances by MU faculty and students as well as from Fayetteville Academy and a host of other local pro­fessional musicians. 

“It is truly a community effort for the community,” Pagels said. “We were very blessed that the church sustained mini­mal damage from the hurricane and the flooding that followed.” 

St. John’s has a long history of giving back to the area it calls home. It has been doing so since its founding in 1817. And according to Pagels, hosting this concert is yet another way to meet the needs within the area and help those who were significantly impacted by the storm. 

Up & Coming Weekly will be at the concert, and we look forward to a mag­nificent turnout and outreach by the community. We look forward to sup­porting many other local businesses and organizations as they each bring their unique strengths to the effort to rebuild and heal our city, too. 

Fayetteville is home to many institu­tions built on the honorable legacy of serving humanity. And you don’t have to look far to see the positive and long-last­ing effects they have each had with their active in­volvement in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Along with St. John’s, the Salvation Army, Operation Inasmuch, Fayetteville Urban Ministry and Con­nections of Cumberland County are just a few organizations dedicated to making this community a better place. 

We salute Pagels and all those at St. John’s who helped organize this con­cert. Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper is all about promoting and showcasing the assets and good things that are hap­pening in our community, and it doesn’t get any bet­ter than this. 

The Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert is set for Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The event is free, but dona­tions are welcome. All monies collected during the concert will go the Hurri­cane Disaster Relief Fund that is be­ing administered locally by the United Way of Cumberland County and the Cumberland Community Foundation. For more information, contact Pagels at 910-483-7405 ext. 119. 

St. John’s is located at 302 Green St. in historic downtown Fayetteville. We hope to see you there. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.