A show featuring some of the country’s best comics that also supports a good cause? Sounds like a wonderful and heal*arious thing to watch.

The Best Medicine Brigade is hosting a national competition to find America’s funniest veterans and military spouses. The show, Operation HEAL*ARIOUS, is making a stop in Fayetteville which is known for having a large population of veterans, active duty servicemembers and military spouses.

HEAL*ARIOUS is a nonprofit that provides free and therapeutic humor programs to improve psychological performance and mental health. This comedy showcase featuring military spouse and veteran comedians is bringing awareness to the nonprofit.

The judges of the show include Dewayne White, an Army veteran and a DC-based stand-up comedian who performs all over the country; P.T. Bratton, an Air Force veteran who delivers clean, conscience comedy in a post-pandemic world; and Red Squirrel, an Army spouse and nationally touring comedian with Southern Momma Tour and Glitter & Grit Comedy Tour.

The Fayetteville show will be hosted by Stan Shelby, a Navy veteran. Shelby cut his teeth in the comedy world as a member of the Atlanta comedy community and can be seen performing across the country.

The contestants for the local show are Chris Petty, an Army veteran, Robert Taylor, a Marine Corps veteran, Jelvon Young, an Army veteran, Hulin Saunders III, an Army veteran, and Monica Daly, an Army veteran.
Petty and Young are both local residents of Cumberland County.

Young told Up & Coming Weekly he is excited to participate in the comedy show.

“It’s another opportunity to showcase my talent as well as help people escape their troubles momentarily,” Young said. “Hopefully, people will leave feeling a lot better than they came, and people should come to experience the magic of laughter.”

The show will then be headlined by Ashley Gutermuth, a military spouse who is an online comic and standup comedian. Most of her comedy is focused on military humor. She has developed a major fan base with over 200 thousand followers on Instagram (@ashgutermuth) and 194 thousand followers on TikTok (@AshGutermuth). She has also appeared on “The Tonight Show.”

A special guest will also make an appearance at the show, Austin von Letkemann, also known as @MandatoryFunDay on social media.
Letkemann is an Army Intelligence Officer and through his social media accounts, he pokes fun at the various nuances of military life — everything from the Defense Travel System to mandatory ‘fun days’.

Due to high demand the 8 p.m. show on July 29 is sold out, so producers have added a 4 p.m. show. Both shows will take place at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Ticket prices start at $20 for general admission.

More information about tickets and Operation HEAL*ARIOUS is available at www.bestmedicinebrigade.com.

Municipal elections determine the makeup of local governments. These elected officials make decisions about development, policing, budgets, local taxation, and other issues that affect voters’ daily lives such as trash service.

FAYETTEVILLE

Fayetteville’s mayoral incumbent Mitch Colvin is being challenged by Freddie de la Cruz, Charles Evans and Quancidine Hinson-Gribble. Colvin has been Fayetteville’s mayor since November 2017.
De la Cruz challenged Colvin in 2022 but was defeated.

Evans ran for the 7th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 but was defeated. He is a former member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and served on the Fayetteville City Council representing District 2.

Hinson-Gribble lost a bid for mayor in 2017.

The District 1 seat incumbent Kathy Keefe Jensen, will be challenged by Jose Alejandro Rodriguez.

The District 2 seat, which consists of Downtown Fayetteville, is being challenged. Incumbent Shakeyla Ingram is being challenged by six other people. Gail Morfesis, Larry Marshall, Laura Rodrigues Mussler, Janene (Dublin) Ackles, Malik Eilliam Davis and Anastasia J. Vann have filed.

The District 3 seat incumbent Mario (Be) Benavente, will be challenged by Michele A. Dillon.

District 4 Incumbent D.J. Haire is being challenged by Stuart A. Collick.

District 5 Incumbent Johnny Dawkins is being challenged by three other candidates: Fred G. LaChance III, Justin Herbe and Lynne Bissette Greene.

District 9 Incumbent Deno Hondros is being challenged by Fredlisha R. Lansana.

District 6’s Derrick Thompson, District 7’s Brenda McNair, and District 8’s Courtney Banks-McLaughlin are not being challenged.

HOPE MILLS

Mayor Jackie Warner is being challenged by former town commissioner Jessie Bellflowers.

The Board of Commissioners will be a packed race.

In the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners race, incumbents Bryan A. Marley, Kenjuana McCray, Jerry Legge, Grilley Mitchell and Joanne Scarola have filed. Ronald Starling, Patrick Mitchell, Ronnie Strong, Pat Edwards, Mark Hess, Deanna L. Rosario, H. Elyse Craver and Karen Smith Saracen have also filed.

SPRING LAKE

The mayoral seat, currently held by Kia Anthony, is being challenged by Fredricka Sutherland. Sutherland is a previous board member for the town of Spring Lake.

For the Board of Alderman, incumbents Robyn Chadwick, Sona L. Cooper, Adrian Jones Thompson, Marvin Lackman and Raul Palacios will be facing challengers Daniel B. Gerald, Jackie Lee Jackson, James P. O’Garra and Katrina Bratcher.

EASTOVER

Mayor Charles McLaurin will not be facing any challengers in this election.

For Town Council, incumbent Stan Crumpler, incumbent Cheryl Hudson and Fredrick A. Williams have all filed.

FALCON

Wayne G. Lucas will be the only one running for Mayor.

For Town Commissioner, incumbents John C. Wheeler and R. Dwayne Dunning Sr. and challengers Chris Stone, Sue Brigman, Larry C. Lovick and James Danny Nelson filed for seats on the town board.

GODWIN

Willie Burnette will be running for an uncontested reelection for Mayor.

Board of Commissioners incumbents George Cooper Jr., Ronald McNeill and Scarlet M. Hall will be facing challengers Angela Burnette Lambert and Joseph Smith.

LINDEN

Frances B. Collier will be the only one running for reelection of mayor.

Incumbent board members Barbara C. Denning, Larry Overby, Betsy Small, Ronnie Maness, and Jonathan Collier will be running.

STEDMAN

Incumbent Mark Lee will be facing challengers Ralph A. Vogt and Joseph Manuel for town commissioner.

WADE

The Mayoral seat is up and will be fought between Johnny Lanthorn and George E. Strater.

Jennifer Dixon Weaver and Kevin A. Herring are running for reelection of their commissioner seats.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

The Cumberland-Eastover Sanitary District board also has a board member seat open. Dani Osborne, from Eastover, is the only one running for the seat.

The city of Fayetteville primary is scheduled for Oct. 10. One Stop Voting starts Sept. 21. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Sept. 11.

The municipal election is Nov. 7. One-Stop Voting starts on Oct. 19. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 9.

Works Career Center Fayetteville will host a hiring event July 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spring Lake Town Hall, located at 300 Ruth Street in Spring Lake. This event aims to address the long-standing workforce vacancies in the town, with a primary focus on six key positions.

The Spring Lake community has been experiencing exceptional growth, and in order to meet the demands of the expanding population, several key positions need to be filled. The hiring event will provide an opportunity for qualified individuals to explore career options and connect with potential employers.

The following positions are the primary focus of this event:

• Finance Director: A crucial role in managing the town’s financial operations and providing strategic guidance on fiscal matters.
• Police Officer: A dedicated and skilled individual who will help ensure the safety and security of the Spring Lake community.
• Firefighter: A heroic and committed professional responsible for protecting lives and property in emergency situations.
• Accounts Payable Technician: An organized and detail-oriented individual who will contribute to the town’s financial management by accurately processing invoices and payments.
• Meter Reader Fulltime: A diligent and reliable person responsible for recording utility consumption and maintaining accurate meter readings.
• Meter Reader Part-time: An opportunity for those seeking part-time employment to contribute to the community by recording utility consumption and maintaining accurate meter readings.

Job seekers who are interested in any of these positions are encouraged to send their resumes to Event Coordinator Dwight Butler at dwight.butler@commerce.nc.gov.

Resumes received in advance will be shared with participating employers, giving them an opportunity to review candidates before the event.

“This hiring event is a wonderful opportunity for job seekers to connect with employers in the Spring Lake area,” said Butler. “We are excited to facilitate these valuable connections and help the community grow by filling these long-standing vacancies.”

The NC Works Career Center Fayetteville team will be on-site during the event to offer guidance, answer questions, and provide assistance with the application process. Job seekers are advised to come prepared with multiple copies of their resumes and dress in professional attire.

For further information about the hiring event, please contact Butler or visit the NC Works Career Center Fayetteville website at www.ncworks.gov/fayetteville

NC Works Career Center Fayetteville

NC Works Career Center is a dedicated resource for job seekers and employers in the Fayetteville area. They provide a range of employment services, including job search assistance, resume writing support and recruitment assistance for businesses.

The Child Advocacy Center welcomed new Executive Director Jasie Landeros to their nonprofit organization’s team July 1. Landeros is assuming leadership from Roberta Humphries who retired after 14 years at CAC.

Born and raised in Wade, Landeros is a Cape Fear High School graduate with strong ties to Cumberland County and the military community. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from UNC Wilmington, she taught elementary school for a number of years, even working in gifted education.

While Landeros’ spouse was stationed in Florida, Landeros ran the Prevention & Outreach Program for the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, where she focused on spreading awareness of child abuse through the education of children and adults. That program spanned across two counties.

Upon her family’s transition back to Fort Liberty, Landeros returned to teaching for Cumberland County Schools before applying for her new position at the CAC. She credits her excellent leadership and mentorship at ECCAC for her interest in taking this unique career path.

Landeros is eager to continue the success Humphries began during her tenure. Humphries effectively doubled the size of the CAC’s staff during that time period.

“Roberta’s done great work paving the way for the CAC,” Landeros shares, “and now she’s passing the torch, which I plan to handle with love and care. Her dedication and devotion to the mission of the CAC has so obviously impacted the legacy she’s leaving behind.”

Landeros hopes to continue with the organization’s forward-moving progress by connecting with their community partners and agencies to influence the advocacy of child abuse prevention efforts.
On the heels of facilitating several successful initiatives for Internet Safety Awareness Month in June, the CAC is currently in the throes of planning their annual Pinwheel Masquerade Ball & Auction for October. This organization’s staff of ten heavily depends on their board of directors and volunteers to facilitate this signature fundraiser and other events and initiatives throughout the year.

“Through our various community-focused efforts, I want to make child abuse a topic we openly talk about to children and adults–not something scary that we shy away from–and ensure everyone knows what the CAC is and what we do,” Landeros emphasizes.

“Ultimately, my focus is on increasing therapy services for children facing the healing process and on fostering key relationships and connections throughout Cumberland County via our schools, faith-based institutions, and more,” she concludes.

This mother, military spouse, and self-described “passionate advocate for children” is also issuing an open invitation to the county’s residents to consider donating their time, funds or resources to the CAC’s mission of working with community partners to respond to and prevent child abuse. The public may learn more about that mission and how individuals can get involved here: cacyfaync.org.

About the Child Advocacy Center

The CAC is a place of healing and hope. Joining hands with 19 community agencies, CAC provides a safe and child-friendly place to interview, investigate and provide support for abused children. The CAC also provides prevention education for parents and professionals in the community. The CAC looks to a future where all children live in a safe and nurturing environment, free from abuse.
To learn more, visit www.cacfaync.org.

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission announced July 21 the hiring of Timothy Bryant as the utility’s next CEO/General Manager. Bryant, who brings over 25 years of utility experience to PWC, will join PWC Aug. 14.

Since September 2022, Mick Noland has served as Interim CEO/General Manager following the resignation of Elaina Ball in August 2022.

Bryant comes to PWC from Florida Power and Light Company where he has held numerous leadership roles since 2008. FPL is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc, the largest electric utility in the United States, serving an estimated 12.5 million people in the state of Florida.

“The Commission conducted an extensive search for an Energy Executive who has extraordinary leadership acumen, unrivaled passion for people and the community, and a strong knowledge of the shifting and evolving regulatory and technical challenges that lie ahead for the utility industry,” said PWC Chair Ronna Garrett. “Tim Bryant meets all those descriptors and brings proven leadership, technical expertise and a connection to North Carolina that makes him a perfect fit for our hometown utility and our community.”

Bryant most recently served as Director of External Affairs for FPL where he worked as a liaison between FPL and its stakeholders in the development of Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Economic Development, Community Relations, and Environmental across Florida.

A former power plant manager, Bryant was instrumental in the operations and maintenance of three FPL Energy Centers. He also served as General Manager of Wind Central Maintenance that led the restoration of wind turbine fleets across North America before moving into External Affairs.

Before NextEra Energy, he worked for Southern Company in Birmingham, Alabama, where he led a multi-discipline engineering team in designing simple-cycle and combined-cycle power generation facilities and environmental control systems.

A native of Goldsboro, Bryant began his utility career in 1997 with power generation engineering roles with Black & Veatch Corporation.

“It is my honor and privilege to join PWC,” said Bryant. “My family and I are extremely excited to come back home, to North Carolina and look forward to contributing to the on-going success of PWC and the greater Fayetteville community.”

“I am truly amazed by PWC’s commitment to our customers and the community. As CEO, I intend to remain focused on delivering value for PWC’s customers and the community as we navigate the changing energy future and continue PWC’s history of delivering excellence in public power and water.”

Bryant is a Professional Engineer and a graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and earned an MBA from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas. In addition to his utility career, Bryant is a former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army National Guard where he served over 12 years in Kansas and North Carolina.

He is an active civic leader, currently serving on numerous boards to include: the American Association of Blacks in Energy Board of Directors, Business for the Arts of Broward Board of Directors, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of South Florida Board of Directors, Kappa Foundation of Palm Beach County Board of Directors, Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club of Riviera Beach, Parks Foundation of Broward County, and Pompano Beach Economic Development Council.

The Green Eyeshades have recognized the very best journalism in the southeastern United States since the 1950s. Run by Southerners from the Society of Professional Journalists, journalists in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia can enter their work.

Up & Coming Weekly is pleased to announce first and third-place wins in several categories for our non-daily print reporting.

Publisher Bill Bowman’s editorial collection won first place for Editorial Writing. His editorials tackled local politics, the chamber of commerce, downtown Fayetteville, the Arts Council, and lack of local news.

“Honest editorial and opinion writing are crucial aspects of good journalism, and this has always been Up & Coming Weekly's commitment to the Fayetteville community. We are extremely proud of these awards and recognition by peers in our industry,” said Bowman.

“Bad news comes in three” was one of the publisher pens submitted for the award. The article can be found at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/8999-bad-news-comes-in-three.

“I believe honest editorial and opinion pieces disclose viewpoints and expose potential biases upfront. This kind of transparency and awareness allows our readers to evaluate information within the context of the perspective, enabling them to make informed judgments, much to the chagrin of several local government officials,” Bowman said.

Columnist Margaret Dickson received first place for Serious Commentary. Her columns touched on national politics, redistricting and book banning.

“Ostriches put their heads in the sand out of fear,” was one of the columns submitted for the award. The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/8969-ostriches-put-their-heads-in-the-sand-out-of-fear.

Dickson’s collection of columns also received first place for Opinion Writing from the Association of Community Publishers.

“Journalists who are honest about their opinions build trust with their audience and are held accountable for the accuracy and fairness of their work. If we wrote it, we own it! This is what we do and it continues to be our newspaper's commitment and contribution to the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community,” Bowman said.

Staff Writer Kathleen Ramsey took home third place for Feature Writing for her article, “Curate Essentials: An herbal apothecary and boutique in the heart of Haymount Hill.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/8882-curate-essentials-an-herbal-apothecary-and-boutique-in-the-heart-of-haymount-hill.

This article also won third place for Business Writing from the North Carolina Press Association.

Assistant Editor Hannah Lee took home third place for General News Reporting for her coverage of Fort Bragg. Some of the coverage included the NATO Deployments in 2022, the renaming of Fort Bragg into Fort Liberty, and the Armed Services YMCA food pantry located on post.

“Deployments underway for thousands of Fort Bragg troops” was one of the articles submitted for the award. It can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/local-news-briefs/8380-deployments-underway-for-thousands-of-fort-bragg-troops.

North Carolina has enjoyed more than a decade of conservative governance. It’s brought our state impressive growth and widespread acclaim. The General Assembly has reformed and reduced state taxes, lightened the regulatory burden, invested in infrastructure, and promoted choice and competition in public services, among other accomplishments.

This year, lawmakers have an excellent opportunity to build on this record of success by enacting a 2023-25 state budget with a prudent mix of strategic investments and pro-growth tax reforms.

Unfortunately, the Senate version of the budget contains a non-conservative — indeed, a decidedly anti-conservative — provision to transfer $1.4 billion in taxpayer money to a private entity, NCInnovation. Its stated intention is to bridge the gap between academic research and successful commercialization.

Most new businesses fail. Indeed, many seemingly innovative ideas never become businesses in the first place. They fail to attract enough human and financial capital to sustain them as they move from the research-and-development phase to the revenue-producing phase. The business executives, consultants and activists who created NCInnovation propose to solve the problem by making grants to university researchers and other interested parties to carry them across this gap, often described as the “valley of death.”

There may well be university researchers and other North Carolinians with promising ideas who just need some bridge funding to launch trailblazing new businesses. Sounds like a fascinating opportunity for private investors to pursue, with the promise of significant returns as well as the risk of significant losses. It is not, however, the proper role of state government.

As NCInnovation itself recognizes, “North Carolina is a powerhouse when it comes to research and development funding.” Our colleges and universities attract a great deal of private and federal research funding. State taxpayers add to that with one of the highest levels of university subsidy in the nation.

While opinions may differ, my view as a conservative is that it is appropriate to use state dollars to subsidize research on state campuses, and to fund extension services to transfer research findings to private individuals and enterprises to implement.

As for the other cliff of the so-called valley of death, it’s clearly not appropriate to force state taxpayers to become venture capitalists for private startups. Although the initial budget language for the NCInnovation transfer appeared to allow for equity stakes in recipient firms, that idea is no longer on the table as far as I know.

Rather, the proposal is to transfer $1.4 billion from the state treasury to NCInnovation, a private entity with a board composed primarily of legislative appointees. Notice I didn’t say “appropriate” I said transfer. The $1.4 billion is not technically an expenditure, which means it doesn’t count against the General Assembly’s annual spending cap of inflation plus population growth. For conservatives, that should already be a big red flag.

Exactly what range of grants NCInnovation might make from the proceeds of its $1.4 billion corpus is not spelled out in any of the documents I’ve seen. Nor would its activities be subject to open meetings and public records laws.

And why should we expect the board and staff of NCInnovation to make better decisions about which potential ventures to fund than private investors would make with their own money? This is the crux of the matter. The organization has attracted an impressive array of directors and well-wishers, many of whom are accomplished executives. I don’t question their business savvy. I question why they deem it appropriate to risk just not their own money, or their friends’ money, or their clients’ money, but my money — and yours.

Conservatives believe that government’s role is clearly defined and limited. We pay taxes to fund public services such as law enforcement, courts, education and transportation assets that cannot or should not be funded through receipts or voluntary contributions.

When the line between the public sector and the private sector gets blurry, we get concerned. When it disappears entirely, we get angry.

A dangerous threat hides in the shadows, inflicting devastation upon our communities and claiming the lives of our loved ones — parents, siblings, children, and friends. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than morphine, has emerged as a deadly force in the ongoing battle against drug abuse and overdose.

To combat this threat, the urgent need for comprehensive legislation becomes undeniable. Through the enforcement of strict regulations, targeted law enforcement efforts, and the implementation of harm-reduction strategies, legislation can serve as a formidable defense in safeguarding public safety. By enhancing education and awareness, partnering with law enforcement, investing in research, and tightening regulations, we can create a comprehensive strategy to fight against this chemical warfare.

This is why I am proud to present legislation that tackles the fentanyl crisis head-on. Senate Bill 189 would increase fines for trafficking controlled substances like fentanyl, sending a clear message that illicit trade in the deadly drug will not be tolerated in our state. Furthermore, we are introducing new offenses that specifically target those who distribute certain substances resulting in death, ensuring that individuals responsible for fatal outcomes face more severe penalties.

Recognizing the importance of encouraging individuals to seek help, we have expanded limited immunity for the possession of small amounts of fentanyl. This provision offers protection from prosecution, empowering individuals to come forward and access the assistance they need without the fear of legal consequences.

Additionally, this comprehensive legislation establishes a dedicated Task Force to bring together a team of experts that will enhance law enforcement efforts in combating the illegal manufacturing, importation and distribution of fentanyl and heroin. By promoting a coordinated and strategic approach, we aim to effectively confront the crisis at its core.

We cannot continue to be reactive to the ongoing fentanyl crisis; we must be proactive in adopting sensible measures to stem the alarming influx of these drugs through our southern border. The illicit trafficking and distribution of these substances is a form of chemical warfare, and we must fight to prosecute the individuals who are trafficking and distributing this deadly poison.

We must get drugs off the street before they end up in the hands of our children. This legislation takes significant steps forward in our efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis, safeguard our communities, and offer support and solutions to those affected by this devastating epidemic. 

On average, eight North Carolinians die every day due to fentanyl. The time to act is now, and I strongly urge my colleagues in the N.C. House of Representatives to pass this important legislation and send it to the governor for his signature. We cannot wait another day.

Editor’s note: Sen. Michael Lazzara is a Republican who represents District 6, Onslow County in the North Carolina Senate.

Because Gov. Roy Cooper’s former secretary of health and human services, Mandy Cohen, just got the nod from President Joe Biden to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control, politicians and analysts are again debating how North Carolinians fared during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defenders of Cooper and Cohen argue that their comparatively stringent regulations saved many lives when compared to states such as Florida where lockdowns were shorter and mandates less severe.

Detractors argue that North Carolinians suffered greater economic pain, including lost jobs and incomes, than was necessary to combat the virus, and that the state’s decision to keep public schools closed longer than neighboring states was particularly indefensible.

I opined frequently about these issues during the pandemic, criticizing Cooper’s school closures and violations of the separation of powers. But I also urged everyone to try to keep a cool head, to recognize the unprecedented nature of the crisis and the difficult decisions our governor and other officials were compelled to make.

That being said, we have more data now than we did in 2020, 2021, or even 2022 to assess the effectiveness of policy responses to the pandemic. The clearest finding, in my view, is that closing public schools for more than a brief period in the spring of 2020 was a wrongheaded and counterproductive policy. Schoolchildren were at extremely low risk and didn’t prove to be major vectors of transmission to vulnerable populations.

What about lockdowns, business closures, mask mandates, and other nonmedical interventions? Some studies suggest the stringency of such regulations exhibited little correlation with the spread of the virus.

Others, such as a major paper published in the British journal The Lancet this March, found that while regulatory stringency had some relationship to infection rates, it wasn’t associated with death rates. That latter COVID outcome measure was always the better one. Infection rates have more of a reporting bias.

Places that test more will detect more infections, all other things being equal, while a death is a death, although some ambiguity about its cause may persist.

As for comparing the pandemic experience of North Carolinians to, say, Floridians, I’m afraid that far too many politicians and activists continue to hurl accusations based on the wrong statistic.

They use COVID deaths per capita without adjusting for preexisting risk factors such as age. That’s silly. Many of the same people would (properly) insist on adjusting for student characteristics when assessing school performance, for example.

When adjusted for age and comorbidities, Florida’s COVID death rate from 2020 to mid-2022 was lower, not higher, than North Carolina’s. The Lancet study ranked Florida as having the 12th lowest rate in the country. North Carolina was 27th. On the other hand, many other states in the Southeast had worse death-rate rankings than we did, including South Carolina (35th), Tennessee (38th), and Georgia (43rd).

Still, The Lancet authors found “no statistical association between the party affiliation of a state governor and cumulative death rates from COVID-19.”

To the extent there was a political explanation for differences in mortality, it had less to do with lockdowns and masks than with the uptake of vaccines. Republican-leaning places tended to have lower vaccination rates — and that translated into higher mortality for vulnerable populations.

Now, here’s what I got wrong in 2020: I thought the economic damage from Cooper’s lockdowns would last longer than it did. While North Carolina did experience a worse-than-average drop in economic activity, we also bounced back faster.

Big losses in employment, especially in restaurants and other service sectors, were very painful in the short run.

Then loose eligibility standards for unemployment insurance induced some North Carolinians to stay out of the workforce for a while. When those standards tightened back up, most went back to work. (Many of those who didn’t appear to have severe drug addictions or mental illnesses).

In most ways, North Carolina’s experience with COVID was close to the national average. Unexciting but true.

The second annual Association of the U.S. Army Warfighter Summit and Exposition is coming to the Crown Complex July 26 and 27. The two-day, in-person summit teaches leadership and professional development. The theme this year is “America’s Army: Ready for Today, Modernizing for 2030 and Beyond.”

Retired Brig. Gen. Jack Haley is the Vice President, Membership and Meetings for the AUSA. He says they are excited to be back at Fort Liberty. AUSA had their first warfighter summit last year, and 1,300 people came. This year, he hopes to have more people attend and check out the vendors and panels.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for the association to work with the Army Forces Command in this case to really showcase what the Army’s all about, because the Army is not about equipment. The Army is about soldiers. So that’s really what we’re trying to do.”

The summit will feature presentations by Army senior leaders and commands based at Fort Liberty, as well as experts from industry and academia. Topics will span six warfighting functions and highlight ways Fort Liberty’s operational forces can win throughout the expanded competitive space.

The keynote speaker on the first day of the summit will be Gen. Gary M. Brito, the Commanding General of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.

There will be two keynote speakers on the second day of the summit. Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sims of Forces Command will be speaking in the morning. Gen. James E. Rainey, the Commanding General of the Futures Command will be speaking in the afternoon.

One fireside chat that Haley thinks will interest people will be the chat between retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey, and current Sgt.Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston. Grinston will retire in August, after handing over the position to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer.

There will be panels dedicated specifically to the needs of the soldiers at Fort Liberty. On the first day, there will be a panel with leaders from the 18th Airborne Corps, including Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Holland.

There will also be panels and chats talking about warfare from the industry perspective. On the first day, there will be a panel about Insights from the Russian-Ukrainian War. Speakers include Joseph Anderson, President and CEO of Rafael Systems Global Sustainment, LLC; David Poland, Client Solutions Executive from AT&T; Lt. Cmdr. Nicole M. Winget, Navy Reserve and Interim Dean of Adult & Online Education and Associate Professor at Campbell University; and Todd M. Burnett, the Executive Advisor of Booz Allen Hamilton.

In addition, a session dedicated to spouses and families will be held on the second day of the summit. That fireside chat will discuss employment. Holly Dailey, the Director of Family Readiness for AUSA, and Lieutenant General Kevin Vereen, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, will be speaking.

Haley hopes that soldiers who come to the summit will not only learn about AUSA, but about the resources and programs available for them.

“It’s a great professional development opportunity for soldiers, for really anybody, but certainly for soldiers to get to hear senior leaders, both officers and sergeant majors. Then they get the opportunity to engage with industry leaders. [Soldiers] don’t really get that much opportunity to walk around in a small area and see all of the different technologies that are being developed that are out there to support them,” Haley said.

The summit is open to the public. There will be a variety of military vehicles and aircraft on display. Special Forces will have an interactive trailer which allows people to experience aspects of the Special Operations world.

There is no cost for military and government civilian personnel. To register, go to https://meetings.ausa.org/warfighter/index.cfm.

Blessed -N- Blessings Gospel Concert is Friday, July 21 at 7 p.m. at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium.

Apostle Alber “Trevy” Treadwell, emcee and promoter of the event, said concert attendees will experience “a hand-clapping, toe-tapping, exciting good time in the Lord.”

Treadwell said the event is two-fold. The first is because it celebrates Treadwell’s several decades of preaching.

Secondly, it is to be a blessing in the community.

Treadwell’s ministry, Treadwell Evangelistic Empowerment Ministries Inc. is uniting with Church of the Living God Religious Education Center’s Pastor Dr. Calvin Vanbeverhoudt.

He and Vanbeverhoudt have known each other for years and this is the first gospel concert event they’ve done together.

It was a vision Vanbeverhoudt had to bring people together after the pandemic and bring them into an atmosphere of praise and worship.

Treadwell said this event benefits the community because a good portion of the proceeds that are raised from ticket sales will go back to Fayetteville community nonprofits.

They chose to have the concert at FSU because it allows them to encourage the community, give back to education and the community as a whole, he said.

“We believe Jesus plus education equals success,” Treadwell said. “We couldn’t have found a better way to give back to Fayetteville State [than] by hosting an event there. Why not pour back into education by hosting the event?”

Led by the spirit of the Lord
Treadwell said that music is soothing and provides encouragement to the soul.

“Whether you’re a fan of secular or gospel music, some form of music has lifted your spirits or has encouraged a person to go one more mile,” he said.

“We just want to be obedient to the voice of the Lord and He gets the full glory out of
the event.”

The concert will also include music by Minister Jarell Smalls & Company and the Rev. Luther Barnes & The Sunset Jubilaires. Gospel comedian Elder Willie Brown will be in attendance.

Also scheduled is youth group Today’s Youth Giving God Praise. The group empowers the youth, Treadwell said. He said he witnessed performances they had where there was not a dry eye in the place because of how they minister.

“We want to take gospel music to heal the hurting hearts that are here in the community and surrounding community,” Treadwell said.

Treadwell said to make the concert more affordable for attendees, when purchasing tickets, use CHURCHY on Eventbrite to receive $10 off a ticket.

VIP tickets are $45 in advance or $55 at the door on the day of the concert. General Admission tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. There are no cash sales, only debit and credit card only.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. on July 21 and the concert is set to begin at 7 p.m.

To purchase tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blessed-n-blessings-gospel-concert-2023-tickets-624124572397.

Existing muscle imbalances can lead to injuries. We often do not know that an injury may be due to muscle imbalances. Three common injuries that occur are in the ankles, hips and spine.

Lack of dorsiflexion can lead to ankle injuries as well as a lack of flexibility in the ankle.

The ankle plays an important role in helping the knees to flex with movement that travels up the Kinetic chain.

Lack of flexibility in the ankles and the ability for forward movement causes them to rotate inward to transfer the weight.

The rotation causes additional movement of the knees, lower back, and hips.

Ankle sprains and breaks are also a result of a lack of flexibility and are a leading cause of visits to the emergency room.

Exercises and activities that require the ankle to bend and be flexible include: running, jumping, squatting and any movement requiring the ankle to move forward.

A simple test for your ankle flexibility is to stand or sit with your legs in front of you. Pull your toes toward your shin to see your range of motion. Tap your foot from one side to the other, put both feet together, and roll out to the side.

Lack of flexibility in the hip and leg extension can also cause injuries. Your hips and legs require the ability to extend during movements.

Movements include many yoga poses such as warrior pose, lunging, walking, and walking up stairs.

Poor hip flexibility causes the ankle, knee, and lower back to overcompensate putting stress on the joints and muscles.

A simple test for hip and leg extensions is to lie on your back with your right leg on the mat and your right arm extended in the back of your head. Pull your knee towards your chest.

Signs of poor flexibility include: the hips shifting when pulling the knee towards the chest, difficulty in reaching the arm back towards the floor, and difficulty in keeping the extended leg close to the floor.

Repeat the same movement on the opposite leg.

Many times, over-compensation, will include arching of the back to assist the leg extension to the floor.

The calves and hip flexors must be flexible enough to allow the leg to travel backward with movement.

Hip flexor stretches and stretches for the calves are recommended to improve flexibility.

Seated butterfly stretches (sitting on the floor and bringing your feet together or on a yoga block and lunges with the assistance of a bar or stable surface are good stretches for hip flexors.

Thoracic spine rotation occurs with the oblique muscles that wrap around the torso from the rib cage to the pelvis.

Flexibility in these muscles allows the spine to rotate. Some activities that require the spine to rotate include golf, baseball, tennis, basketball, pickleball and kayaking.

A lack of flexibility can potentially place stress on other areas of your body.

A thoracic spine is a group of vertebrae that are connected to your rib cage and the entire structure is known as the thorax with the plane of motion referred to as the transverse plane.

Gentle spine rotations and stretching while seated, standing or lying can improve mobility.

Going to a fitness center can be a good start for a fitness regimen. Initially working with a personal trainer, group fitness instructor or a corrective exercise specialist can help identify fewer flexible areas.

The body can quickly adapt to compensate for muscle imbalances, many times including another area of the body to compensate for lack of movement.

Live, love life and mobility!

You know it’s summer in Fayetteville when the annual Midsummer Magic event comes back to downtown.

The two-day event promises a wealth of unique sights and sounds, which is what Betsy McElwee, event coordinator for the Downtown Alliance, is looking forward to the most.

“One of the main objectives for this event is to get people kind of circulating downtown and learning about new businesses that maybe they didn’t know about,” McElwee said.

As one of the signature events for the Downtown Alliance, Midsummer Magic is a unique opportunity to bring the people of Fayetteville together for a tour of the businesses downtown has to offer.

The event takes place at several businesses downtown on July 21 and 22. You just need to pick up a Fairy Journal, which can be found online or at several downtown businesses, and follow the Fairy Door Scavenger Hunt and Quest instructions.

This journal will also show you where there are special promotions and activities at different businesses. The scavenger hunt will take place between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on
both days.

“There are also going to be traveling gnomes throughout the day who will help people answer different questions that are on the quest. So there will be different random kinds of trivia questions. And a gnome may answer that question for you, or they may tell you where you need to go to find the answer. So there is a book of knowledge that will be downtown, where you’ll have to locate the book of knowledge to answer the question,” McElwee said.

If you complete the Fairy Journal, you can turn it in by July 22 and be eligible for a prize.

The LlamaCorns will be returning and performers will be scattered throughout the event to delight those on their quest.

Everyone is also encouraged to dress in their most fantastic fairy, sprite, goblin, dwarf or wizard ensemble for a chance to win this year’s costume contest. Participants only need to tag their picture on their personal social media page with #MidsummerMagicFayNC to enter for a chance to win prizes.

The costume contest is separated into different categories for Downtown Businesses, kids ages 0 through 4, kids ages 5 through 10, kids ages 12 through 17, adults, groups and pets.

For adults looking for a different way to explore businesses, the Midsummer Crawl will be coming back on Friday, July 21, from 5 to 9 p.m. The crawl happened once before the pandemic, but McElwee said they are excited to see it return.

“We’ll be publishing a list of drink specials and activities that’ll be going on during the crawl. And we'll have about 15 or more bars and restaurants, food-based businesses, there’s a few cafes. It won’t only be alcohol. There’ll be some businesses that will have a dessert on the menu. Because not every business that’s doing the crawl has alcohol, but a big portion of them do,” McElwee said.

Midsummer Magic is free and open to the public, but some activities will have an associated cost.

For more information regarding Midsummer Magic and to download a Fairy Journal, visit https://www.faydta.com/our-events/downtown-fayetteville-scavenger-hunt/

All parents worry about their children, and back in 1492 when I was the mother of school age children, my husband and I worried about their schools, teachers, and all that accompanies the years-long process of formal learning. We called it “adventures in education,” and it was different with each child and with each school year.

If I were a parent of school age children in 2023, I would be both confused and terrified. Under the banners of “school choice” and “parental rights,” North Carolina legislators are systematically dismantling public education as we have known it.

The assault began relatively modestly in 2011 when the General Assembly lifted the 100-school cap on what had been an experiment in less-regulated public schools dubbed charter schools. Today we have more than 200 of them, whose educational quality varies wildly, though many parents may not understand that reality.

The dismantling effort has continued with a program to channel North Carolina taxpayer dollars to non-public schools, specifically private, often religiously affiliated operations with almost no accountability for the use of our tax dollars. This transfer of public funds into private hands is called a “voucher” program.

Charter schools are a national phenomenon in response to perceived failures of public schools and a sense that “one size fits all” does not work for many students. Charter schools are likely here to stay, but the ageless caveat of “buyer beware” applies, because the quality of individual charter schools varies significantly. North Carolina has some excellent ones, notably in and around urban areas.

Charters do administer state-required tests, but they are not required to follow state curricula. Only 50% of their teachers are required to be licensed, and there are no required teacher workdays or professional development programs. Transportation is not required, and if a charter school offers it, it does not have to meet the safety standards of traditional public schools transportation.

A deeply concerning reality to me is that many charter schools are increasingly operated by private, for-profit companies, a transfer of public funds into private companies that make little investment and face little risk or responsibility.

North Carolina’s newer school voucher program, appealingly called “Opportunity Scholarships,” is even more problematic. Hard data is difficult to come by since there is little regulation of the program, but a report by the North Carolina Justice Center found allegations of religious and other discrimination and the teaching of factually inaccurate information.

There have also been instances of private schools receiving more state financed vouchers than they had students and schools receiving tax paid vouchers after they have closed their doors. In addition, these voucher tax dollars may soon be available not only to lower-income families but to even the wealthiest among us.

Parental desire for choices for their children is understandable and laudable. My family wished for that as well. With choice, though, comes responsibility to research the options as well as possible before diving into them.

The General Assembly has enormous responsibility as well. It should require more accountability from both charter schools and private schools that take vouchers so that parents can make informed choices for the children and so that taxpayers can see how much and where our hard-earned tax dollars are going.

Failure to do so is the worst form of dereliction of legislative responsibility to the North Carolinians who sent them to Raleigh.

Producing ill-educated does no one any good — not individual students and not the state as a whole. Ignorance is the answer to nothing.

The demand for food is directly related to population growth. By 2050, food needs are expected to double, according to a study published in the journal Agricultural Economics. That puts increasing pressure on the agricultural sector to meet growing demand.

However, many experts think the industry will fall short. In addition to increased food demand, consumer habits, technology and policies continue to force the agricultural industry to evolve. Indeed, the agricultural sector may look very different in the future.

Bigger digital footprint
Social media has transformed many industries, and it can do the same for agriculture. Farming supply chains can communicate with one another by getting feedback from customers in real time through social media. However, agricultural operations will have to devote teams to manage social media presence, especially since misinformation is so widespread on social media.

Apart from social media, local farmers may increase their efforts to use mobile apps and direct-to-consumer purchasing options. The global pandemic helped businesses reimagine takeout and curb-side shopping.

Local farms may want to market to the home-shopping community, providing ways to deliver produce, fresh meat and poultry and other items direct to customers’ homes.

Regenerative agriculture
The future may feature a significant shift in the way farms source their ingredients. Regeneration International says that regenerative agriculture can be the future. This describes farming and grazing practices that may help reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity.

Some insist that farmers who utilize regenerative agriculture produce food that is more sustainable and healthy. This is something eco- and health-conscious consumers can stand behind.

Technological advancement
There’s a good chance that technology will continue to play important and growing roles in farming operations. New agricultural technologies can collect data on soil and plant health and produce results in real time.

Precision farming technology can be developed to deliver integrated solutions no matter the size of the operation.

Shift in what’s grown
Farmers may give more thought to sustainable products. Crops like hemp and cannabis are being utilized in new and innovative ways, and they’re only the start as consumers have expanded their views on plant-based foods and products.

While there’s no way to see into the future, individuals can anticipate changes that could be in store for the agricultural sector in the decades ahead.

An all-female country and “new” grass band, moonshine, cocktails and a unique NASCAR exhibit are a few of the many options to experience at Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s Sunset Series event on July 21.

According to Beth Hess, Marketing and Sponsorship Consultant at Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Sunset Series allows attendees to enjoy the long stretches of daylight during the summer. It even invites people to experience the garden during hours when they are usually closed.

The Sunset Series has been a part of summers at Cape Fear Botanical Garden since late 2020.

“We have one featured night in June, July and August. At times it has included murder mystery events, performing arts and concerts,” Hess said.

The July 21 event is bee-themed and is from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s for more than just nature lovers.

Attendees of the event will be able to purchase from different food trucks on site, Bees & Boards Charcuterie Co., cocktails and moonshine.

“Bees & Boards will be there because of the bee theme and because charcuterie is yummy and great to share with your ‘honey,’” Hess said.

Admission for CFBG members and children age 5 and under is free.

For non-members, children ages 6 to 12 entry is $5; 13+ entry is $10; military with ID is $9; adults 65 and older is $9.

Riggsbee Road
The concert for July 21 will be performed by Riggsbee Road, a music group from Raleigh.

Hess said that Riggsbee Road was chosen for more than its talent and because of its ties to North Carolina.

“They have their big banjo sound and harmonies reminiscent of early roots of our region's music. They also continue to perform songs with strong storytelling — from all time periods and genres — that bring back that feeling of rocking on a porch at sunset listening to great stories from neighbors and friends,” Hess said.

The band was created in 2020 amid the COVID pandemic. They started as a band of five and grew to seven.

Riggsbee Road got its name because of a walk in the cemetery and a romance story almost a century old.

Shelley Kelly, lead vocalist in the group, described how it happened.

“A few months into the project, we needed a name, so we all started brainstorming. We had a long list of ideas, but nothing that really stuck,” Kelly said.

She and her husband walked through the Oakwood Cemetery in downtown Raleigh — an old, historic landmark in the historic Oakwood neighborhood.

“As we walked, we looked at the names on tombstones for inspiration. We saw Riggsbee and we both thought it sounded like a bluegrass band,” she said. She added it to the list and presented it to the band and they were warm to it.

A few weeks later, it was Valentine’s Day 2021, and an article popped up in her newsfeed about a woman who met and fell in love with her husband at a soda shop on the first floor of the Hudson Belk Building in downtown Raleigh.

Kelly thought it was interesting because she met her husband in the same building on the first floor.

“The building is called the Hudson today, converted to condos, and is where I lived when I met my husband in 2016,” she said. “The article listed her last name as Riggsbee and continued to tell the story of how the couple married, built a house in 1928, had a family and were buried at Oakwood Cemetery!”

As coincidences go, dots connected for Kelly.

“My husband and I got married and bought a house near downtown that was built in 1928! My husband is also the person who encouraged me to start the dream project,” she said.

Kelly said the women in the band said Riggsbee had to be the name of the group and they just added “Road” to the end.

Riggsbee Road covers pop, country and classic tunes. As Kelly said, “We cover from Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Bon Jovi to The Judds. From Harry Styles to Meghan Trainor.”

She said that Bluegrass music is one of the first styles of music played in North Carolina.

She said it has an earthy, rooted, wholesome feel — especially because she and the other members have gospel and Christian roots.

“Our audience tells us they can’t guess what’s coming next when we perform,” Kelly said. “We keep them on their toes.”

Horticulture, Hooch & Outlaws
“For 2023, we themed the Sunset Series events to coordinate with our Special Exhibit: Horticulture, Hooch & Outlaws in Fast Cars,” Hess said.

The tour is self-guided with informational panels, memorabilia and more looks at the botanical roots of racing in the south.

“From the grains used to make the moonshine all the way to the ways NASCAR is looking at biofuels today,” she said.

The exhibit is on loan from Hortication, a horticulturally based education company that develops traveling exhibits for gardens. For more information, visit https://hortication.com/exhibits/horticulture-hooch-and-outlaws-in-fast-cars/.

The exhibit at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden runs through Aug. 20.

The final Sunset of the season is scheduled for Aug. 18. The theme includes lines, such as race-inspired games with finish lines, country music line dancing and more.

Cape Fear Botanical Garden
“We are located two miles from downtown Fayetteville,” Hess said. “Right in the middle of business, we are peace, beauty, relaxation and education.”

Cape Fear Botanical Garden was founded in 1989. It sits on 80 acres of land and is open 360 days a year.

For more information, visit https://www.capefearbg.org/.

An inviting backyard can serve as a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. After a long day at the office or an exhausting day spent transporting kids to and fro, it’s hard to resist the allure of a peaceful outdoor space in which to unwind.

Privacy is a key component of any backyard oasis. Some homes may be so remote that privacy isn’t an issue. But many suburban homeowners recognize they might need to tweak their landscapes if they hope to create a private oasis outside

Fencing or planting? Most homeowners looking to create more privacy on their property will have to choose between fencing and planting. Fencing provides immediate privacy because, once it’s installed, no one can see into the yard. Fencing also doesn’t require watering or other immediate upkeep, which will be necessary when planting to ensure tree roots can establish themselves.

But planting has its benefits as well. Planting for privacy is essentially creating a living fence that can grow over time and provide even more privacy as trees reach maturity. Plants also tend to be less costly than fencing.
The home renovation experts at BobVila.com estimate that fencing projects typically cost between $1,667 and $4,075. However, fencing projects can cost considerably more than $4,000, especially for homeowners with large properties they want to enclose. Large, mature trees can be expensive, though it’s unlikely they will cost as much as fencing.

In addition, fencing requires more maintenance and will potentially need to be replaced, while native trees won’t require much upkeep and can last for generations.

Planting: Homeowners who choose to plant for privacy will next have to decide which type of plants to add to their properties. Evergreens provide year-round privacy because they don’t shed their leaves, so these are the ones most often chosen when creating a living fence.

A number of varieties of evergreen trees can do the job, but it’s important that homeowners consult with a landscape architect prior to choosing trees so they can ensure the trees will thrive when faced with the growing conditions on their properties.

During such a consultation, homeowners may discuss the following popular privacy trees.

Leyland cypress:  The Arbor Day Foundation notes that the Leyland cypress is popular for hedges and boundaries, likely because a typical tree reaches a mature height of 60 to 70 feet and can spread as wide as 25 feet. The Leyland cypress grows fast, which may appeal to homeowners who don’t want to wait to establish privacy.

Green Giant Arborvitae:  There are different varieties of the arborvitae, but the Green Giant tends to be the go-to option for privacy. The ADF notes that Green Giants will grow up to three feet per year until they reach maturity, providing a fast-growing option for privacy planters.

The Green Giant can spread as wide as 20 feet at maturity, which is another attribute that makes it so popular among homeowners desiring privacy.

Eastern White Pine: The ADF notes that the eastern white pine, which can reach heights as high as 80 feet, is favored in spacious yards. That’s likely due to its height and its potential spread, which can reach 40 feet.

Homeowners who choose the eastern white pine might like it for its resemblance to a Christmas tree, and in fact it is widely used for that purpose. The privacy provided by the eastern white pine is significant, but it might be best suited to especially large properties.

Whether it’s fencing or planting, homeowners have many options to consider as they seek to create more privacy on their properties.

The Fayetteville, NC Anime Club is a local club for anime and manga fans, a hidden gem tucked away in Fayetteville's community.

The local Anime Club provides a welcoming space for anime and manga enthusiasts to connect with others, indulge in their shared passion, and forge lasting friendships while having a great time.

Anime Club is an excellent place to meet fellow anime fans, make new friendships, watch and talk about anime together, and have fun.

Jessica Bundy, one of the founders of the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club, spoke with Up & Coming Weekly about the club's origins.

Fayetteville’s local libraries had anime clubs for high school students. It was a wonderful place for teens to socialize and share their passion for anime, she said.

Unfortunately, there was no place for the teens to go once they aged out of the group. Then the librarian suggested they start their own anime club, and the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club was born.

The Anime Club meets twice a month on the second and fourth Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. The meetings are held at Beans and Things Coffee shop located at 5554 Yadkin Road, where food and drinks are available for purchase.

There will be meetings on July 22 and Aug. 12. Future meetings will be on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FayettevilleNCAnimeClub

During certain months, they may only meet once a month because of holidays or special events. Any upcoming cancellations of future meetings will be on their Facebook page.

An Anime Club meeting usually involves showing a few episodes of either the latest anime show or an older one. There is a wide range of interests among the members. For instance, some people play Magic the Gathering while anime plays in the background.

Anime is a Japanese word for animation and means any animated film, unlike Manga which is printed cartoons. Anime also refers to Japanese animation. Anime-influenced animation refers to anime-inspired animation produced outside Japan.

Anime is popular globally and is a billion-dollar business. Famous anime shows that might sound familiar are Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, One Punch Man, Pokémon, Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia. According to Netflix, over half of their 200 million-plus global subscribers watched anime in 2021.

To one of the Fayetteville Anime Club founders, the club represents more than a shared interest.

Jessica Bundy says, “It’s making friends... hanging out with people who are just as excited about these things as I am. It’s a lot about friendship and community.”

For local anime enthusiasts, the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club is a hidden gem. It offers a community where stories are shared and friendships are created. Whether you are an anime enthusiast, or curious about anime, consider stepping into the world of the Fayetteville, NC Anime Club, where the sense of community and the shared passion for anime create an experience unlike any other.

As the department chairperson for the Building Construction Technology and Carpentry programs at Fayetteville Technical Community College, I have enjoyed serving in this role at FTCC for several years. This experience has provided me opportunities to work side by side with some amazing people including faculty, staff, administration and especially students.

I have also been rewarded in seeing many of our graduates become extremely successful entrepreneurs or work in high-level management positions with various construction businesses throughout our county and state.

Many people may not realize this, but some of the wealthiest businesses in North Carolina are in the building trades area. The demand is constant because people will always need new homes or renovations to their existing homes. Our objective within the Building Construction Department is to train individuals who can meet that need and help them develop successful careers.

The Building Construction Technology Program is a two-year associate of applied science degree program. Emphasis in the program is placed on building and carpentry, but students can also learn plumbing, electrical and HVAC skills through program electives.

Some students work in construction while completing their degrees. FTCC’s work-based learning program helps students establish credits toward the program degree. After graduation, students can easily find jobs.

Some of these jobs may involve working with a construction firm as a project manager, working as a NC building inspector, or as a Cumberland County construction employee. Students can pursue becoming a NC Licensed General Contractor. Whatever the desire, the Building Construction Technology Program can get you there.

Another great experience available through FTCC’s Building Construction Technology program is hands-on learning. Students in the program will apply what they have learned in the classroom by working on actual building projects. We are proud to partner with Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity, Kingdom Development, Veterans Empowering Veterans, and many other nonprofit organizations in building homes, additions, or in renovating existing structures.

This service not only promotes a great educational learning experience for our students but also helps these agencies continue to serve the great people of Cumberland County in a positive way.

Every student feels a sense of pride and a great self-worth when taking a moment to stand back to admire a completed house and recognize that a deserving person or family will soon receive a dream home thought to be unattainable.

What a great honor it has been for me to experience the many great accomplishments taking place through the work at FTCC.

Qualifying students can receive financial aid and veteran benefits, and scholarships are also available. Learn more about FTCC and the Building Construction Technology and Carpentry programs.

Email me at carterk@faytechcc.edu or call 910-678-8475 for more information. The dream career leading to better pay starts with better skills. Join us at FTCC to explore your many options.

Up & Coming Weekly received six North Carolina Press Association awards and two Association of Community Publisher awards in recent competitions.

“Having Up & Coming Weekly's writers, designers and editors recognized and honored for excellence by our peers in the newspaper and media industry speaks volumes to the talent, dedication, professionalism, passion and commitment they have to the mission of a community newspaper,” Publisher Bill Bowman said.

“Up & Coming Weekly continues to focus on the people, businesses, organizations and issues that define the purpose, value and effectiveness of a genuine ‘community’ newspaper,” Bowman said. “This kind of passion and pride cannot be taught or manufactured. It comes from the heart and pours into the community through relevant news stories, fantastic art and artistry, thought-provoking insights, and sometimes even funny and whimsical tales. Together it’s a near-perfect repertoire for an effective and successful community newspaper.”

North Carolina Press Association
NCPA’s advertising and editorial contest is one of the largest in the nation, with over 4,000 entries submitted by more than 125 newspapers and news organizations.

Up & Coming Weekly competes in Division B, which represents community newspapers with a circulation between 3,500 to 10,000. Entries are judged by newspaper professionals from another state to ensure impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest.

Intern Writer R. Elgin Zeiber took home first place for Arts and Entertainment Reporting for his article “Local duo makes impact through music, service to others locally and around the world.” The article details the start of Cabin Fever Studio, a professional recording studio that sits nestled inside a log cabin one block south of eastern Raeford Road.

The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/9409-local-duo-makes-impact-through-music-service-to-others-locally-and-around-the-world.

Columnist Pitt Dickey took home second place for Lighter Columns for a series of his articles. Dickey's columns appear biweekly.“Going goblin mode, with a side of gaslighting” was one of the articles submitted for the award. It can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/local-news-briefs/9339-going-goblin-mode-with-a-side-of-gaslighting

Kathleen Ramsey took home third place for Business Writing for her article, “Curate Essentials: An herbal apothecary and boutique in the heart of Haymount Hill.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/8882-curate-essentials-an-herbal-apothecary-and-boutique-in-the-heart-of-haymount-hill.

Contributing writer Rabbi Dov Goldberg received third place for Religion & Faith Reporting for his article, “Dreidel offers a new spin on Hanukkah, cultural sharing.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/9369-dreidel-offers-a-new-spin-on-hanukkah-cultural-sharing.

Graphics Designer Isaiah Jones received two awards in advertising. He received two first-place wins in Food Ads and Entertainment Ads. Those awards were the “Pates Farm Market” ad and the “New Years Eve Party 80s Style” ad.

Association of Community Publishers
The Association of Community Publishers represents community publications from coast to coast, reaching millions of homes on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. These publications are united in providing the best advertising coverage to their clients and valuable advertising information to their strong and loyal readership base.

Columnist Margaret Dickson received first place for Best Opinion Article. “Ostriches put their heads in the sand out of fear,” was one of the articles submitted for the award. The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/8969-ostriches-put-their-heads-in-the-sand-out-of-fear.

Up & Coming Weekly also received second place for best Front Page Cover for Newsprint. The cover with the honorable award was the July 19 issue featuring the 7th Annual Midsummer Magic event, designed by Arts Director Courtney Sapp-Scott. The cover can be seen at http://www.epageflip.net/i/1473705-july-19-2022/1.

“Recognition by our peers in the industry is encouraging,” said Managing Editor April Olsen. “It is a source of pride for our team and reminds us to continue our focus on providing articles that inspire, inform and help promote people and organizations in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.”

The city has been at a crossroads for years in regards to tackling critical issues. A strong case can be made that a high percentage of the current rise in crime and other societal issues is related to a decrease in ethical decision-making. That ethical decision-making is not mirrored or modeled by the elected positions of this city.

With the city council and mayor continually downvoting independent third-party investigations, it is no shock to any educated individual as to how the population of the city can consider questionable choices as being okay.

And when a society questions which laws are important or which decisions can be avoided from an ethical standpoint, it has lost its way. That is where the pillars of the community and the fabric of the city collide.

Below are excerpts from an email that I sent to the elected representation of the city, to include the appointed position of city manager, regarding the unofficial city manager’s State of the City report. From January to June, 26 homicides were recorded by FPD Public Information Officer. If this trend remains constant, Fayetteville will surpass the 50 mark this year.

This city has a violent crime issue. For the elected body that will have a debate on a way forward, try to do so without inserting identity politics. That will be difficult to do based upon the current data that paints the city as having a violent crime issue with a disproportionate number of citizens from the Black community.

For most of you identity-politics-elected officials, this will be followed with silence. And closed-door meetings. The current “Can Do” approach does not put the city on a path of transparency or civic debate for critical issues like this.

Policies of the city and the enforcement within the framework of identity politics, or lack of, has made it easy for some residents to make a bad choice. The set of parameters within that decision-making cycle is what has contributed greatly to the increase in crime throughout the city.

A series of bad choices tends to end up on this list, which then become a larger issue for residents to overcome. If this was an issue of “Americans” in the city, then everyone that was elected would be discussing it. Instead, the city council’s main objective is identity politics. This is a hyphenated issue. The city has seen your discussions on violence which always end with systemic racism. How about double standards and standards that continually change to where residents understand that laws can be ignored?

The previous five years have greatly contributed to the current status and state of the city. If you can, one standard... one standard for every American in this city. Your current identity politics hypocrisy of current standards makes this a hyphenated issue. The lack of standards has ruined too many young lives in this city. That is clearly on your shoulders.

That makes it not an issue the entire city is looking at. But this is Fayetteville, and without a change of character, which generally means most of you should resign, it’s not going to change.

The difference is that decent Americans who want a better future for their children are going to look at the data and see that the city is failing. That you are failing.

Where are the pillars of the community?

Your lack of action on critical issues related to ethics and morality in the city have illustrated the requirement to use your identity politics language in order to get the point across.

The ethical and moral fabric of this city is degrading. No amount of social justice BS that you currently put forth is going to fix that. If the city doesn’t get back to the basics and establish parameters where ethics and morality take the forefront, you will continue to see violence perpetrated.

The city has too many pastors in name only. Too many elected and appointed positions that push forth identity politics versus one standard. Too many politicians versus citizens elected to serve. Welcome to the secondary and tertiary effects of those actions.

—Rob Walls, Fayetteville

Editor's note: This submission was edited for space.