The oldest conveyor of human thought and emotion is storytelling. It manifests in art of all forms. From the symmetry of the Giza pyramids to the poetry of Maya Angelou to Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics, through and through, we somehow feel closer to humanity as art transforms and validates our existence. We know we need it, but how does inspiration for art come about? In the brain, the heart, the soul, the divine... magic? This is the driving question of Shane Wilson’s new book, “The Smoke in His Eyes.” City Center Gallery & Books will host Wilson’s premiere North Carolina book reading event Thursday, June 28.

As a child, Wilson remembers how he fell into his imagination and conjured up stories. Now as an English teacher at Fayetteville Technical Community College, he has two novelsunder his belt. The latest book saw its publication release by GenZ Publishing on May 18.

“The Smoke in His Eyes” tells the tale of musicians. TJ is haunted by a mysterious and traumatic childhood event that rears its ugly head in visions. Muna, who appears as ethereal smoke, attempts to help him understand the nature of his visions.

“The book explores both of their individual reasons for creating art and their inspirations for it,” said Wilson.

Much like his first novel, “Smoke in His Eyes” falls into the magical realism genre. But the story holds fast to real-world actions and emotions. According to Wilson, the book is very much a North Carolina book. An entire section is even devoted to seeing the protagonist in the Appalachian Mountains.

The surreal elements of the narrative, in turn, heighten the mysterious events of everyday life.

“The best parts of life are the parts we have a hard time explaining,” said Wilson. “That’s what I would consider the magic of life, so I just like to dial that up when I write fiction. As adults, we’ve lost that sense of wonder a little bit. But there’s something in people that still likes fantasy, that escapism.”

 

Magic is just another word for inspiration, in Wilson’s words. After writing his first novel, his anxiety was, quite simply, having no new story to write. No inspiration to tap.

One line sums up Wilson’s fear: You’re going to have to figure out what you’re going to write about when you’ve run out of stories to tell.

Wilson’s fascination with the origins of inspiration ended up fueling the themes of his second novel.

“What is the compulsion to create and what is the compulsion to share?” questioned Wilson. “Essentially, the art we create is the only evidence for the existence of inspiration.”

“The Smoke in His Eyes” contemplates the role of inspiration in music. The main character is a guitarist. In fact, Wilson learned to play the guitar for this novel and even wrote the original songs featured in the book.

His dedication to craft reveals itself also in his upcoming book reading at City Center Gallery & Books. According to him, the reading would be disingenuous without music.

“The talks are going to be like a VH-1 storytelling situation where I’ll read a little bit and talk about it and then I’ll play a song,” said Wilson. “I think it’s an interesting wrinkle or spin on the old classic book reading.”

Wilson hopes the discussions at the book reading pivot toward the intersections of the different arts and how those arts help us make sense of our own lives.

“(My) book is for somebody,” Wilson said. “It’s just that those people have to find it, and readings give me an opportunity to do that. I love to talk about art, really. It’s less about talking about my own stuff than it is talking about books. It’s really exciting.”

The reading will take place at City Center on 112 Hay St. from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 28. It is free and open to the public. Call the venue at 910-678-8899 for more information.

A lot has been written about the diversity of Fayetteville City Council District 2. Another freshman politician has been chosen to succeed former Councilman Tyrone Williams. Williams resigned in May after being accused of attempting to bribe PCH Holdings’ Jordan Jones. The FBI’s Public Corruption Unit has been looking into the allegation.

Local Chiropractor and construction contractor Dan Culliton was appointed by council to succeed Williams last week. “District 2 is traditionally not as apt to choose someone like me,” said
Culliton, who is white.

District 2 is one of four predominantly African-American districts created by the 2010 census to provide for the likely election of minority candidates. However, two other white men have been elected in recent years. Kirk deViere most recently served the district before deciding to seek higher office, paving the way for Williams. In the mid-2000s, businessman Paul Williams was the District 2 council representative.

Culliton, 48, will be sworn in June 25. He finished runner-up to Tyrone Williams in last year’s general election and will serve the remainder of Williams’ term.

Culliton told Up & Coming Weekly he isn’t sure if he will seek election next year. He said it will depend on the will of the people.

“I’m going to be a strong voice for the district,” he said. Of his selection by city council, Culliton said, “They did the right thing; I’ve been engaged in the district for a long time.”

The district is shaped like a fan with five blades. It also includes a satellite residential area near Fayetteville Regional Airport. Its population is 57 percent African-American.

The Cumberland County Board of Elections says there are 16,740 registered voters in District 2, an impressive percentage of its 22,000 residents. Of that number, 9,498 voters are African-American. There are 5,039 white voters. But, only 2,600 voters turned out in the general election last November. Williams received a 56 percent majority.

District 2 is thought of as primarily serving the downtown area and East Fayetteville. There are portions of 21 voting precincts in the district. It also covers a significant part of Haymount north of  Hay Street over to Westmont Drive. On the northside, it includes areas along Ramsey Street as far north as Tokay and Country Club Drives. To the west, the district blankets areas north of and along Bragg Boulevard to Cain Road, where it butts up to District 4. And, east of the river, District 2 encompasses mostly residential neighborhoods from Person Street to Cedar Creek Road out to I-95, exit 49. It goes south along Southern Avenue and Legion Road and on Owen Drive to Village Drive.

 

PHOTO: Dan Culliton

George T. “Tommy” Griffin was known as an innovator to colleagues. The courthouse crowd also knew Griffin as a fun-filled prankster. He was dedicated to the staff of the Cumberland County Superior Court Clerk’s office. Griffin was buried last week following his death from a long illness. He was 77 years old and served as clerk of court for nearly 30 years.

Griffin was appointed in 1972, four years after what was then called “the new courthouse” was opened. He won election every four years after that without opposition. Griffin surprised a lot of people when he decided to run for sheriff in 2001. He lost the democratic primary to Earl “Moose” Butler in the 2002 Democratic primary election.

In the early 1960s, he paid his way through college at what was then Pembroke State University. Soon thereafter, Griffin became involved with the state’s Administrative Office of the Courts in Raleigh. He was a leader in creating a unified state court system after Tar Heel residents passed a constitutional amendment. Under this uniform judicial system, administration and budgeting were centralized. All court personnel are now paid by the state, and the Administrative Office of the Courts is responsible for developing a single budget for the entire judicial system.

North Carolina Superior Court clerks serve as probate judges. Domestic relations cases involving alimony, child support, child custody, divorce, equitable distribution and juvenile matters are also heard in this court. The clerks also maintain criminal court, civil court and juvenile court records as well as estate records. They provide courtroom clerks for all sessions of court in their respective counties.

Colleagues were impressed with Gifford’s forward thinking when he became superior court clerk in 1972. As new computer database and record-keeping technologies became available, he implemented them as budgets would allow. Cumberland County began pilot programs that soon went statewide.

Tommy Griffin was especially keen on his responsibility to the public, providing citizens access to all public court records.

He also collected fines and court fees and doled out child support payments.

Former Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Coy Brewer said Griffin was the driving force behind a pretrial release program that Cumberland County implemented to reduce overcrowding at
the jail.

Griffin’s senior assistant clerk, Linda Priest, took over for him when he retired in 2001. “He loved a good time” and was quite a jokester, she said.

Chief District Court Judge Robert Stiehl noted Griffin’s ability to hire hardworking, smart people. Griffin’s survivors include his wife, Pamela, and two sons.

 

PHOTO: George T. “Tommy” Griffin served as clerk of court for nearly 30 years.

Section of Cliffdale Road closed to traffic

The Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad grade crossing on Skibo Road will likely remain under construction a few more days. It has disrupted local traffic since June 18. The North Carolina Department of Transportation closed Skibo Road (U.S. 401 Bypass) in both directions between Cliffdale Road and Chason Ridge Drive. It provides access to Best Buy, Target and other nearby shopping areas.

The busy corridor is scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m. Friday, June 22. Local motorists will likely use Glensford Drive, which runs parallel to Skibo as a detour.

Railroad workers are replacing the rubber-type crossing with more durable concrete panels. Aberdeen & Rockfish completed the same type of improvement last year at Raeford and South McPherson Church Roads. After the rail improvements are made, NCDOT will repave the crossing to make a smooth driving transition.

 

Cumberland County Schools funding boost

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners is increasing school funding by several million dollars for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The county is providing $80,150,000 to Cumberland
County Schools for current expense funding.

The amount is an increase of $686,891 above the current fiscal year. The school board and county commissioners settled a funding dispute during a mediation June 11.

County commissioners also agreed to pay the schools 25 percent of tax revenues collected above the budgeted revenues for Fiscal Year 2018. Significantly, the county is also providing $1,315,299 for school nurses; $2,422,025 for School Resource Officers; and $865,093 for Crossing Guards, for a total of $84,752,417 of local county dollars for current expenses next fiscal year.

“It is our hope that both boards will once again develop a multi-year funding agreement, and we look forward to having those conversations with our new school superintendent,” said Board of
Commissioners Chairman Larry Lancaster.

Downtown bridge repair delays

Reconstruction of the North Cool Spring Street Bridge connecting Grove Street to Person Street will be delayed for several weeks. The city says repairs began in November 2017 and were expected to be completed by now. But problems that had not been found initially have added to the time schedule. This includes repairs to water and sewer mains, bank stabilization, storm drainage, curb and gutter and the sidewalk.

A portion of North Cool Spring Street was washed away by flood waters from Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Two other downtown bridges over Cross Creek are still closed, one of them – the Ann Street bridge – because of damage three years ago.

Unattended cooking fires

Fire officials say walking away from the range while cooking results in one of the most common causes of house fires. There have been at least two instances in Fayetteville of unattended cooking resulting in fires this month.

The most recent was at a home on McMillan Street off Campbell Avenue downtown. The first arriving fire engine “found a single story, residential structure with fire showing from the front of the
building,” said Deputy Fire Chief Hieu Sifford.

Firefighters were able to quickly find the origin of the fire and extinguish the blaze. The lone occupant of the house was not hurt. Sifford said the fire was contained mostly to the kitchen, resulting in an estimated $8,000 in damage.

The same day, fire crews said unattended cooking resulted in a kitchen fire in Windsor Terrace off Hillsboro Street. The occupant left his cooking on the stove and laid down to take a cap. Chief Sifford said a smoke alarm woke him up to discover the fire. He was not hurt.

Recycling is up in Fayetteville

North Carolina’s Recycling and Materials Management Section has released recycling numbers for all 100 counties showing a 5.3 percent increase in paper and container recycling compared to the previous year. Local recycling programs collected more than 1.7 million tons of traditional and nontraditional materials last year.

“Recycling collection in North Carolina has expanded alongside increasing demand for recyclable material by in-state manufacturers,” said Wendy Worley, Recycling and Materials Management section chief. “Counties and municipalities are targeting much more than paper, cans and plastics. There are so many more materials that can be recycled, like construction debris, wood and electronics, and kept from going into the landfill.”

North Carolina recovered almost 27,000 more tons of paper than the previous year and 8,000 more tons of metal. Plastics and glass tonnages remained essentially unchanged.

The state says Cumberland County’s population has grown by 100,000 people since the 1991-92 fiscal year, but recycling here has increased by 32 percent since then. The city of Fayetteville was among the first to make curbside recycling available.

Come, let us now praise famous Environmental Protection Agency administrators. Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me? None other than America’s most fearless and quirkiest Protector of the Environment. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Scott Pruitt. And as the emcee almost said in “Cabaret,” “When you are finished with him, you don’t have to bring him back.” He is nonrecyclable. Unless you have been living under the lava at Leilani Estates in Hawaii, our man Scotty is probably the best-known EPA administrator in years for his many scandals.

The president tells us he is going to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. Who better to drain the D.C. swamp than a Swamp Thing like Scotty? It takes one to know one. Thinking about Scotty draining the swamp reminded me of one of the classic movies of all times, “Swamp Thing.” The plot of “Swamp Thing” is a bit convoluted, but basically, Dr. Alec Holland is a scientist who managed to get doused in a secret formula that grows plants, is set on fire and jumps into a swamp to put out the fire. Dr. Al mutates into the Swamp Thing, who is part plant and part man.

Dr. Al is scary on the outside but a sweetie on the inside. He falls in love with the enormously talented Adrienne Barbeau, who plays a lady scientist who has to take a bath. The Swamp Thing and Scott Pruitt are similar in looks and may have been separated at birth. Scott undoubtedly got chosen for his job as a result of his resemblance to the Swamp Thing.

Scotty can generate more scandals in a single bound than Superman can jump over tall buildings. And yet, he persists despite all his troubles. What is so colorful as a Scotty Scandal? Let me count some of the ways: $130 fountain pens for signing orders voiding environmental regulations; first class air plane flights to keep him away from the hostile, unwashed masses yearning to breathe free and clean air; a $43,000 Maxwell Smart cone of silence telephone booth for calling in orders for pizza and selling the mineral rights in National Parks; and renting a room for $50 a night from a lobbyist.

Next time you are in D.C., see what sort of room you can get for $50 a night. If you find such a room, bring your AK-47 and Samurai sword, as you will need them for protection from things that  go bump in the dark in a $50 room. Scotty likes to use emergency sirens on his motorcade to clear the streets of mere motorists who could get in his way to important dinner reservations at a fancy French restaurant – must not allow the Vichyssoise soup to get cold.

Let us stop for a moment to catch our breath. At the risk of boring you with scandal after Scotty Scandal, let us look at my two favorite Scotty Scandals.

At the top of my list of entertaining scandals, I place Chickengate. After taking office as head honcho of the EPA, Scotty got in touch with Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A, with a business proposition. Scotty wanted to hustle up a Chick-fil-A franchise for his lovely wife, Marlyn. By the time this column reaches print, the Trump/Kim summit will be in the history books. As a sop for not giving up his nuclear weapons, the rumor mill has it that Kim will allow an American fast food restaurant to open somewhere in North Korea. If it turns out that Scotty gets a fast food franchise in Pyongyang, you will know that the fix was in. As the politicians and talking heads say on TV: “When you come to the dining room table and drill down into giving Scotty a Chick-fil-A franchise in North Korea, it’s a robust, win-win situation at the end of the day.” Scotty can then move to North Korea to sell chicken, allowing the EPA to escape his grasp.

In a very close second place to Chickengate on the Richter scale of Politicians Behaving Badly, we find Scotty’s puzzling quest to purchase a used mattress from the Trump International Hotel in D.C. For reasons known only to Scotty, he sent a federal employee paid by your tax dollars to inquire at the Trump Hotel in Washington as to how much it would cost to get a used mattress from said hotel. By now, you are probably asking yourself, “Self, why would Scotty want a used mattress from Trump Tower?”

Scotty is not just an ordinary Joe who wants a used mattress to save money. There must be another reason. Maybe he was planning on taking the mattress with him to Pyongyang when he sets up his chicken fast food franchise. There could be a shortage of Sleep Number smart mattresses north of the 38th parallel. Maybe he has been watching “The Godfather.” Scotty may have
imprinted on the scene where Clemenza has to scout out locations for the Coreleone family to go to the mattresses to hang out when the war starts with the Barzini and Tattaglia mafia families. Perhaps The Donald can get Scotty used mattresses wholesale. Maybe Scotty just has a thing for stained bedding like a Glorious Leader of the Western World? As the president likes to say, “We’ll see.”

What’s it all about, Alfie? As the great singer Tom Russell once sang: “Sky above. Mud below.”

 

PHOTO: Scott Pruitt is probably the best-known EPA administrator in years for his many scandals.

A joke going around a while back held that medical science wants to study U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan as they are the only human beings able to walk upright even though they are spineless.

Whether this joke makes you chuckle or enrages you, “spineless” is used even by Republicans to describe both members of Congress and moderates across the country who stand silent no matter what Donald Trump says or does.

Said Richard North Patterson in The Washington Post in April, “With few exceptions, congressional Republicans are cowed by this president. They are accustomed to making excuses for him, and if they were going to stand up to him, they’ve already had plenty of chances.”

In The Boston Globe, Patterson also weighed in with this: “So completely has the GOP become Donald Trump’s personal chorus of sycophants that their thin cries of protest over tariffs evoke the quavering voices of captives in a hostage video.”

Writing for The Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin addressed spinelessness. “First, unlike Senate and House Republicans during Watergate, there are few genuine leaders of principle whose sense of propriety is offended by Trump. The moral and intellectual quality of the current crew of Republicans pales in comparison to the type of Republicans who finally told Richard Nixon the jig was up.”

Even sitting U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, has used the word “cult” to describe GOP behavior in terms of Trump.

This is not the way our government is supposed to work.

Our Founding Fathers deliberately and carefully structured a balance of power among the three branches of government – executive, legislative and executive. Any one branch is to be kept in check by the other two branches. This requires courage and resolve, qualities not much on display these days in Washington or in the hinterlands.

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The death of Anthony Bourdain earlier this month shocked the world. He achieved fame as a New York chef and went on to host a popular CNN series, “Parts Unknown,” in which he traveled the world sampling foods that looked wonderful and some that would curl your hair. In doing so, he introduced us to people, places and cultures we would never see firsthand. He chatted with locals from famous cities and remote corners of the world, ate whatever they recommended – some dishes were doozies by anyone’s standards – and did so with grace and kindness. Bourdain once said in an interview that when people share their food, they are sharing parts of themselves, and he did his best to try everything, including foods most Americans would never consider
allowing past our lips.

Along the journey, Bourdain wrote a number of cookbooks, including the wildly successful “Kitchen Confidential,” published in 2000 and which is once again atop the New York Times bestseller list. Who knew that he also wrote well-received fiction?

A man of vast talents, Bourdain is mourned by those who loved him and people who knew him only by books and television. His intellect and love of people and adventure touched many of us.

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Last but certainly not least, what’s up with the North Carolina General Assembly?

In the waning days of the so-called “short” session, toxic (literally, in one case) legislation is popping up and getting traction.

Ours is a nation that dramatically trails other developed nations in voter turnout, with voter turnout in presidential years somewhere around 55 percent and an embarrassing 40 percent in mid-year elections. The world’s leader in voting is Belgium, where an impressive 85 percent of voters bestir themselves to get to the polls. You would think our political leaders would want us to vote, but our state’s Republican leadership is pushing a bill to further limit early voting, an option used more often by minority voters than Election Day voting. You would think legislators would like more people to vote, unless, of course, they are not their kind of voters.

Then there is a bill expected to pass that would limit how and when neighbors of hog-producing operations can sue the companies over offending odors from open-air waste lagoons and damage to property values. The bill comes in the wake of a $50 million verdict awarded in April to 10 neighbors of a hog farm, a verdict later reduced to $3.5 million, conforming to an earlier state law capping these damages. Such limits demonstrate more sympathy for business than for the people who must live with it.

Let me describe the odor this way. Years ago, I was advised to wear only washable clothing to tour a “state-of-the-art” hog operation in Cumberland County, with about 5,000 animals packed into houses so tightly that only a handful of people were required to run the operation. The stench was overwhelming and sickening. When I arrived home, peeling clothes off as I entered the house, a visiting child took one sniff and said, “PU! Where have you been?”

What are our elected leaders thinking?

WIDU radio personality and Fayetteville Observer columnist Troy Williams and I have journalistically crossed swords several times when it comes to perspectives on issues concerning the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. This is not a bad thing. I respect Williams and consider what we do the pure essence of free expression. The free press accentuates the American privilege of free speech.

Williams’ article in last Saturday’s Fayetteville Observer, titled “Council does the right thing with Culliton pick,” was perceptive in identifying and acknowledging those people who want to use local government for their personal enrichment and political gain. Williams has put the Cumberland County Democratic Party and Fayetteville City Council on notice that identity politics comes
up short on substance when talent, qualifications and capabilities are ignored.

The city voted 6-3 to replace District 2 Councilman Tyrone Williams, who resigned after the controversy relating to him requesting $15,000 from a downtown contractor, with Cumberland County Republican Dan Culliton, a white man, over Democrat Patricia Bradley. Bradley is an African-American woman currently employed by Fayetteville State University. She previously served as assistant city attorney and was assigned to the Fayetteville Police Department during the city’s “driving while black” racial profiling controversy.

Bradley was no doubt the darling of local Cumberland County Democrats. Despite an aggressive Democratic campaign and political pressure from some of the sitting council members, common sense won out. Despite the pressure and a barrage of criticism from local Democrats, Councilwoman Tisha Waddell and senior council member Bill Crisp held their ground and stood on principle, joining their council contemporaries in voting for what was in the best interest of District 2 and the entire Fayetteville community. For this, they should be applauded and admired.

To quote Williams’ Observer article, “common sense and decency prevailed.”

He said something else in his article that struck a sensitive but relevant note with me. He wrote, “Without a doubt, a good government ought to be colorblind.”

That statement reminded me of something William T. Brown once said. Brown was a Fayetteville educator and principal during the years of desegregation in the schools and later a trustee at Fayetteville State University. In a discussion with Brown about the need to encourage and promote greater racial harmony within our community, I suggested that people needed to be more open, more tolerant and colorblind. Brown smiled as he corrected me: “Not colorblind, Bill; people need to be color intelligent.”

His point was that we always want to recognize and respect nationality and diversity, but character is what defines a person – and everyone needs to recognize this. Intelligence and character are what made Brown an exceptional educational icon and community leader. He was principal of E.E. Smith High School the first year that white students began attending historically black high schools in Cumberland County. To Brown’s way of thinking, intelligence, common sense, hard work and achievement were the keys to success. My conversation with him was more than two decades ago, and I have never forgotten those words.

Entitlement and identity politics have put our city and county communities in peril, and it needs to stop.

Local Democrats, many in the black community, are angry and disgusted with Tisha Waddell and Bill Crisp because Waddell and Crisp are independent thinkers with principles and integrity. They refused to be intimidated or bought off or have their core values compromised.

The recent 6-3 vote that chose Culliton over Bradley was a mandate and somewhat of a godsend at the same time. Bradley, after Culliton’s appointment, referred to Fayetteville City Council as “a den of wolves and thieves” in a Facebook post. Really? This begs the questions: What was the real intention and motivation for getting Bradley elected? And, who is masterminding this league of helpless and hapless lemmings? It will be apparent soon.

Honesty and integrity will win out when initiatives like this run out of strategy or logic or both. One thing is for sure, the 6-3 vote of the council for Dan Culliton has sent a resounding message. More and more people are beginning to connect the dots. Once the dots are connected, the only message that will be tolerated and acceptable to the citizens of Fayetteville will be the one that reads: “Fayetteville First!”

Now, that’s color intelligent! Thank you, W.T. Brown.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Local farmers markets are more than just fun, they’re a homegrown solution to food deserts, which are (usually low-income) urban areas where residents must travel long distances to purchase fresh, nutritious food at an affordable price. Food deserts exist across the county, state and country.

If you do have access to fresh food, shopping at farmers markets is still a smart choice, as the produce will likely be fresher than what you could purchase at a typical grocery store. Supporting farmers markets also reduces the use of fossil fuels needed to transport supermarket produce around the world, and it’s a way to directly invest in the local economy.

More than just investing dollars, farmers markets offer the unique opportunity to invest in community – to get to know the people growing the food you purchase. You can ask about their growing methods and learn about why they might choose to go 100 percent organic versus simply pesticide- and herbicide-free. You can even ask to visit the grower’s farm, and in many cases, you’ll get a yes.

Here is a brief list of some of the many farmers markets in the area to get you started.

Murchison Road Community Farmers Market

• 1047 Murchison Rd. (North section of BroncoSquare parking lot, in front of Fayetteville StateUniversity Bookstore)

• Wednesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through October

• 910-672-2413

This market was established in 2014 by four Fayetteville State University Business School students. These students applied for and received grants to start a farmers market when  neighborhood markets in the Murchison Road area closed, creating a food desert. Grants came from the Ford Motor Company via the Ford HBCU Community Challenge (Start-up Award), the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program and the city of Fayetteville. SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is accepted at this market.

The second Wednesday of each month (July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 and Oct. 10) is Healthy Wednesday. Community and service organizations are invited to share information about healthy lifestyle choices. Simple but important screenings, like testing blood pressure and blood sugar levels, are provided free that day. Participating organizations include Cumberland County Department of Social Services, CC Department of Public Health, Cape Fear Valley Health System, FSU Student Health Services, Community Health Interventions and Miller-Motte College.

Local chefs also visit on Healthy Wednesdays and provide cooking demonstrations using the produce that is available that day from the market.

Other agencies that offer services to improve lifestyle are also invited to Healthy Wednesdays: Legal Aid of North Carolina, Fayetteville Technical Community College, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and Fayetteville Police Crime Prevention and the Fayetteville Fire Department.

Participating vendors selling goods include:

• Spence Family Farm, Spring Lake. Fresh farm in-season produce.

• Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville. Garden-grown vegetables and potted plants.

• John Parker, Parker’s Ten Acre Farms, Cedar Creek. Pork products, chicken, eggs from open range chickens.

• Ms. Cherry’s Baked Goods, Hope Mills. Baked items, like cakes, brownies and cookies.

• 3BrotherLemonade Stand, Fayetteville. Fresh, made-from-scratch lemonade.

• Rhonda Jackson, Cumberland County. Homemade soaps.

City Market at the Museum

• 325 Franklin St., outside the Fayetteville AreaTransportation and Local History Museum

• Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year-round

• 910-433-1944

Founded in 2012, City Market at the Museum is a treasure in the heart of downtown Fayetteville. Vendors sell not just local produce, but also local honey and the work of local artisans – blended teas, handmade pottery, soaps, soy candles, jewelry, handblown glass, clothing, baked goods, specialty coffee and much more.

Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market

• 5423 Corporation Dr.

• Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., through October

• 910-426-2537

Grab a cold beer from the Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, then stroll and browse options that include fresh produce, local honey, craft kombucha, pasture-raised meats, eggs, fresh-caught fish and shrimp, clothes, flowers, beverages, coffee and even homemade popsicles and ice cream.

The market is dog-friendly and is next to a dog park, so bring your lawn chair and enjoy the family atmosphere on Sunday afternoons.

This market was born out of a desire for Dirtbag Ales and Sustainable Sandhills to work together and show off the bounty of the Sandhills. Sustainable Sandhills is the acting market manager; its mission is to save the planet while preserving the environment through education, demonstration and collaboration.

Gillis Hill Farm Produce

• 2899 Gillis Hill Rd.

• Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., through January

• 910-308-9342 or 910-867-2350

For the past 200 years, the Gillis family has owned and operated this farm. They have a roadside mart that provides, depending on the season, apple butter, apple cider, apples, beans,  blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, greens, herbs, honey, Indian corn, grapes, Muscadine grapes, nectarines, onions, peaches, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini, pecans, jams and jellies.

There are also seasonal Christmas trees, wreaths, vegetable plants, boiled peanuts, mums, strawberry picking, corn mazes and hay rides.

A lot of folks were worried how Seventy-First was going to fare when it stepped into the rugged Sandhills Athletic Conference last season and had to take on traditional powers like Richmond Senior and Scotland.

Falcon coach Duran McLaurin wasn’t among the doubters. “We were picked to finish fourth or fifth in that conference, and we finished second,’’McLaurin said. Actually, the Falcons tied for second with Richmond Senior, which beat them 25-19, ending the season 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the league.

McLaurin said there was no disgrace finishing behind a Scotland team that won the Eastern 4-A championship. At this year’s spring workout sessions, McLaurin worked toward doing as well or better than last year.

“We want to build depth, take a look at some of the sophomores that are going to be coming up from the junior varsity team and see if they can plug in some spots,’’ he said.

The big concern on offense is replacing 1,000-yard rushers Fabian Jones and Juan Maddox. The good news is quarterback Kyler Davis is back. “He’s special,’’ McLaurin said. “He’s going to be a good one.’’

Davis is the second-leading returning passer in the county with 1,778 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He was only intercepted three times.

Offensive line returns some key players like Benjamin Willis and Tristan Hill.

McLaurin is counting on linebacker Javen Washington to be the defensive leader.

“We’ve got a lot of athleticism on both sides of the ball,’’ Washington said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that can play.’’

Washington said the linebacker corps is seniorheavy, with himself, Jaliyah McNeil and Devante Wedlock returning. He said that trio will be key to Seventy-First’s success this season.

McLaurin expects the Falcons will contend for the conference title again this year. “Football is football,’’ he said. “You’ve got to be able to run the football and be able to stop the run. Those are
things I feel we do.

“As long as we stay stout against the run and not give up big plays in the secondary, do what we’ve been doing the last four or five years, which has been effective, I think we’ll be right there.’’

 

PHOTO: Linebacker, Javen Washington

All great teams have stars, but they’re not always the reason a championship is won. Such is the case with this year’s Jack Britt state 4-A softball champion.

All the pieces of a puzzle have to fit to make the picture complete, and a couple of big ones that found their way into Jack Britt’s title portrait were Ashton Fields and Taryn O’Connor.

When regular shortstop Jessica McRae broke her nose in the Eastern Regional series with South Central and had to undergo surgery, it knocked her out of the state finals with South Caldwell. Enter freshman Fields, who had to be plugged into the lineup at first base when regular first baseman Rayven Shepard moved to shortstop to replace McRae.

Fields played flawless defense at first the entire weekend, and fielded a throw from third baseman Savannah Roddey to get the last out of the final game.

“We knew she would be nervous when we started, but you would have never known,’’ said Britt coach Sebrina Wilson of Fields. “She stepped in and did everything.’’

Fields had almost no experience at first base with Britt, but she played the position extensively in travel softball. “I wanted to make sure I didn’t let the team down,’’ she said.

Early in the first game, she gunned down a runner headed for third and said that gave her a boost of confidence.

While the decision to move Fields to first was forced by injury, inserting Taryn O’Connor into the batting order the day of the final game of the title series was the result of Wilson’s intuition.

Wilson had a feeling O’Connor was due at the plate and wanted to put her in the lineup. “Joe (assistant coach Myrtle) said she had a really great day in the cage,’’ Wilson said. “She got aggressive and fouled off some pitches.’’

She wound up going 2-for-4 in the title game with a double and two RBIs.

O’Connor couldn’t explain what happened with her hitting. “God must have fallen in place for me,’’ she said. “They just told me to hit how I was doing in batting practice.’’

Wilson said there were other players who stepped up at key times for Jack Britt during the championship run. She mentioned Abigail Johnson, who got a big sacrifice fly in the playoff win over Fuquay-Varina and performed well as a courtesy runner in the title series with South Caldwell.

Kiara Ramos sparked a key rally for the Buccaneers in their playoff win over Wilmington Hoggard.

“The journey this year has been an adventure,’’ Wilson said. “Everybody we asked to do a job; they did it.’’

 

PHOTOS: (Top to Bottom) - Ashton Fields and Taryn O’Connor

For a team that had won the first North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A fast-pitch softball championship in Cumberland County history, Jack Britt coach Sebrina Wilson said her players were surprisingly quiet on the ride home from NC State’s Dail Softball Stadium a little over a week ago.

That changed when assistant coach Joe Myrtle pulled the white Cumberland County Schools activity bus off Interstate 95 at the Hope Mills off-ramp and saw a Hope Mills Police Department cruiser waiting to give them an escort back to the Jack Britt campus.

The team rolled down the windows of the bus and began hanging out, cheering and taking photos. It would continue several minutes later when they arrived at the Rockfish Road school and were greeted in the bus parking lot by a jubilant throng of the Britt faithful.

“That’s when it set in,’’ Wilson said of the historymaking title. “It’s a special moment.’’

Britt won the title series 2-1, beating South Caldwell 3-2 and 6-3 while losing the middle game 3-0.

It was the end to what was a truly rollercoaster ride of a season for the Buccaneers. Although Britt wound up as state champion, it didn’t win the Sandhills Athletic Conference title, finishing second to a Richmond Senior team that beat them three times. Britt was also swept in two straight games in the Western 4-A Regional final by its state finals opponent, South Caldwell. At one stretch in March, Britt lost three in a row and four of five to league opponents.

The Buccaneers finished the season 25-6, with five of their six losses coming to conference opponents. But it was that tough league race that steeled Britt for the postseason. When the final
MaxPreps state 4-A softball rankings came out last week, Britt and three of its conference foes, Richmond Senior, Purnell Swett and Lumberton, were among the 20 highest ranked 4-A softball teams in the state.

Even after winning the first game of the state finals against South Caldwell, Britt was no-hit in the second game and facing elimination in a deciding game later in the day.

But the Buccaneers got a huge break when rain fell after Saturday’s first game and forced a postponement until Sunday.

Carlie Myrtle, the freshman who had pitched all but one inning for Britt up to that point, said the delay was huge.

“I was really tired after the second game,’’ Myrtle said. “It was really nice to get another day of rest before going out there and playing.’’

Mackenzie George, who saw limited action pitching during the regular season, stepped in to start the final game on Sunday and made it to the second inning before Myrtle finished the final 5.1 innings, shutting out South Caldwell the rest of the way on two hits, one walk and one strikeout.

“They had already seen me twice,’’ Myrtle said. “I knew I had to either step it up or show them something different.’’

Myrtle started by throwing all inside pitches, which she said South Caldwell was thankfully often taking for strikes. “My changeup wasn’t working very well, but it complemented my fastball pretty nicely and that was what held them at bay,’’ she said.

Myrtle praised her defense, especially third baseman Savannah Roddey. “Savannah made five amazing plays,’’ she said. “Big shout out to Savannah because she saved my butt.’’

George took Most Valuable Player honors in the state championship series for the Buccaneers, particularly for her efforts at the plate in the final game, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and getting a single to start the game after Britt was no-hit the day before.

“She had an awesome tournament,’’ Wilson said of George. “She put the ball in play, and she gave me something to make them think we have another pitcher. It gave them somebody else to look at.’’

While George appreciated the MVP award, she said it wasn’t hers alone. “It was a team effort,’’ she said. “Anybody could have gotten it.’’

Myrtle heads a group of talented freshmen that will return for Britt next season and make them an immediate contender for the 2019 state title. But no one is thinking about that just now. There is too much to celebrate.

“I cried so much,’’ Myrtle said. “I love this team. I love that I won it with this team. Every single girl I’ve bonded with on this team.

“I loved them to death and I’m so glad I was able to do this with them.’’

 

PHOTOS: (Top to Bottom) - Jack Britt softball coach Sebrina Wilson and assistant coach Joe Myrtle display the state championship trophy; Carlie Myrtle; Mackenzie George

Is Robin Burnum’s popular restaurant Robin’s on Main moving to a new location?

The owner herself said the answer is very likely yes, but the questions of when it will move and where are long from being answered.

Burnum was planning to do some much-needed improvement on the restaurant when building owner John Beasley informed her was entertaining offers to sell the property.

No deal to sell it has been finalized, Burnum said, but when it is, she said Beasley informed her he’d give her 90 days’ notice before she would need to relocate.

But Burnum said she was already giving thought to finding a new home for the business currently located on Main Street roughly across from the restored Hope Mills Lake.

“The building is too small for me anyway,’’ she said. Burnum wants to stay in the general neighborhood where she’s currently located, and one of the first places she looked is literally around the corner from where she is – the former Hamilton-Porter Funeral Home building, now named Hamilton-Porter Enterprise, on Trade Street.

The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners recently voted to modify the zoning restrictions on the Trade Street property, so Burnum could move her restaurant there. But there are other problems to consider.

“It’s going to cost me a lot of money to get it to become a restaurant,’’ she said. “I’ve gotten prices for air conditioning and plumbing in the $40,000 range. The biggest cost is to turn it into a restaurant.’’

Burnum is confident her loyal base of customers would follow her to the Trade Street location, but she’s concerned about being able to draw new business, since the new property isn’t on a busy street like she is now.

She’s also giving some thought to a couple of locations on Main Street, where she’d have to construct a new building. One is across from the shopping center that will be anchored by the new
Surge Trampoline Park. The other is just down the street from there near where a seafood market was located.

Once she does move, Burnum wants to increase both seating space and cooking space in the new location.

Her goal is to have a restaurant that will seat up to 80 people. Now cooking on a 26-inch grill, she plans on adding two 42-inch grills at her new home.

“Here on Saturday and Sunday, we have an hour wait,’’ she said. “It’s crazy. It’s good, but it’s crazy.’’

Burnum hopes a new location would allow her to increase the special events she holds for the Hope Mills community, like her efforts to recognize law enforcement and first responders.

“Once a month I would feed the homeless,’’ she said. “I would do more for the community with the fire and police departments.’’

In the end, Burnum said all of her efforts are geared toward helping her adopted hometown of Hope Mills.

“I like the people,’’ the Rhode Island native said. “I’m away from my family, and the customers here, my loyal customers, are like my family. I’ve become attached to them.’’

Meetings

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

• Historic Preservation Commissioners Wednesday, June 13, 5 p.m.

• Board of Commissioners Monday, June 18, 7 p.m. There will be a public hearing on four-year staggered terms for the elected.

• Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, June 19, 6 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.

• Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

• Senior programs – 55 plus: Jewelry Techniques, Tuesday, June 19, 9-11 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the small activity room of the Hope Mills Parks and Rec center. Each participant will learn to make two pairs of dangle earrings; all supplies and beads will be provided. $5. Sign up at front reception desk. Only 10 seats available per workshop.

• First Annual 4th of July Pageant Friday-Saturday, June 22-23. For more information, call 910-426-4107.

Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

The plans are in place for five days of celebrating the restoration of Hope Mills Lake. Now, Mayor Jackie Warner said, the town is working hard to find sponsors to help pay for the party.

Warner said town officials have calculated it’s going to take about $5,000 to cover all of the events the lake celebration will include.

There are six events planned, starting with a Friday night street dance on Trade Street on June 29. The cardboard boat race will be Saturday, June 30. Two events are set for Sunday, July 1. Heroes on the Water will feature canoeing and kayaking in the afternoon, followed by Church on the Lake in the evening. Art and Jazz on the Lake is scheduled Monday, July 2, and Beach Night is Tuesday, July 3.

Initially, Warner said, town officials sought to get one major sponsor for each event at a cost of about $1,000 apiece.

The problem, Warner said, is there have been a lot of charity-related events going on locally that have increased requests on local businesses to make contributions. So, Warner said, they’ve scaled back and are trying to ask for smaller donations, including reaching out to individuals in the community to donate anything they can to help with the lake celebration.

Some of the celebration events will bring in money to help defray costs. There is a $25 registration fee to take part in the cardboard boat race.

Money is also coming in from the entrants in the Fourth of July beauty pageant, which will be held prior to the lake celebration.

One thing the town won’t be doing as part of this lake celebration is an official program. The last time the lake was restored, a program with ads was sold, but Warner said the response to the program wasn’t great and it didn’t sell well.

That plus the fact this year’s lake celebration will stretch over five days led town officials to scrap the plan for the program.

While money is needed to pay for the lake celebration, the big Fourth of July celebration isn’t a problem.

“The Fourth of July is in the town budget,’’ Warner said. “It’s covered, the big expense for the parade and the fireworks. We don’t have to pay for that.’’

Areas where the town does need to raise money include the rental fee for sound equipment that will be needed at some of the music-related events. They are buying art supplies that will be used by children at the art event in the park. There will also be a cost to pay for some of the music acts that will be performing at some of the events, along with a disc jockey at the beach music event.

Warner has posted a letter about the need for sponsorship on her mayor’s Facebook page. The same letter has been sent to businesses in Hope Mills.

If anyone wants to make a private donation, they can send it or drop it off to the Town of Hope Mills, denoting on the check that it’s for the lake celebration. Warner said as sponsorship money arrives for specific events, it will be denoted on the town’s website, www.townofhopemills.com.

For questions about donations, contact Warner at jwarner@townofhopemills.com, Sandi Hardee at smhardee78@gmail.com or Patricia Jenkins at pjenkins@townofhopemills.com.

Anyone planning on making a donation needs to make it as soon as possible, Warner said. “We’ve got to get things in and done the weekend before June 30,’’ she said. That’s less than two weeks away.

Here is a present for you from a column several years ago – a few quotes about North Carolina.

“North Carolina is, I believe, the poorest state in the Union: the part of it though which we traveled should seem to indicate as much... The few detached houses on the road were mean and beggarly in their appearance, and the people whom we saw when the coach stopped had a squalid, and at the same time fierce air, which at once bore witness to the unfortunate influences of their existence.” From the journal of Frances Anne Kemble, traveling through the state in 1838. As bad as things sometimes seem today, we’ve come a long way in the last 180 years.

“A short time of conflict & the day is ours – ours for Freedom, for Right, for Self Government! They can never overcome, never conquer us, for we fight for our Birthright – Freedom!” An entry dated April 24, 1861, from the diary of Catherine Ann Devereaux Edmondston of Halifax County. Are we always so confident of quick victory at the beginning of a “just war?”

“Between the lines (the South Carolina and Virginia borders)...was left an area which for years on end rejoiced in the generalization that it was a vale of humility between two mountains of conceit. The generalization is useful, as most generalizations are. A modicum of truth lies in it, a persisting modicum, borne out in the report of a modern North Carolinian that among his State’s neighbors there were only two classes of people, those who never had worn shoes and those who made you feel that you never had....(I)n a North Carolina (that is) recently more proud than humble, (there is) a continuing conviction that one man is as good as another and that if you don’t believe it he’ll show you he’s a damn sight better....” Jonathan Daniels, writing in the 1930s.

“Daniel Boone... grew to manhood in the Yadkin River Valley near Statesville. He spent nearly half of his life here, and in fact did not settle west of the mountains until he was 41.” Joe Knox, in the Greensboro Daily News in 1976.

“This, Mr. Chairman, is perhaps the Negro’s temporary farewell to the American Congress; but let me say, Phoenix-like, he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words are in behalf of an outraged, heartbroken, bruised, and bleeding, but God-fearing people, faithful, industrious, loyal people – rising people, full of potential force.” George White, North Carolina’s last black Congressman, in 1901, giving his farewell speech to Congress, after being defeated in a re-election bid.

“I am, by nature, very conservative, but I am firm in my convictions.. I want to blaze a trail for other women. I know that years from now there will be many other women in politics, but you have to start a thing.” Lillian Exum Clement of Asheville, in 1920 or 1921, after becoming the first woman to be elected to the North Carolina General Assembly.

“I shall continue to stand against wastefulness and extravagance in any activity. But there is a point, even in economy, beyond which self-respecting government cannot go. For to do so means not merely an abdication of its function but social bankruptcy.” Governor J. C. B. Ehringhaus, in 1933, justifying a new tax to support education. What would he advise in today?

Want more? I stole all these quotes from a book that the UNC Press published 25 years ago. “Discovering North Carolina: A Tar Heel Reader” was edited by Jack Claiborne and William Price.
Charles Kuralt said about it, “The most interesting book about North Carolina I’ve ever read.”

If you’ve read the column this far, you’ll want to read this book too.

Fayetteville Technical Community College is an industry leader in awarding college credit for prior learning experiences to include military training. With over 200 military career evaluations and more than 250 programs of study, FTCC offers members of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans the opportunity to pursue a higher education degree while utilizing the training they have completed as a part of their military career.

Whether advancing within the military or transitioning to the civilian workforce, military students and veterans will find that FTCC is committed to their success. As the leader in credit for prior learning, FTCC specializes in translating military training to college-level learning and credit.

FTCC is committed to offering service members and veterans the opportunity to complete programs of the highest quality and integrity as they pursue personal and professional success goals.  FTCC’s most popular and most flexible degree is the associate in general education, which allows students to capitalize on credits earned through military training and transfer with ease to one of FTCC’s partner institutions for an advanced degree.

The associate in general education degree consists of 64 total semester hours, 48 of which may be applied from other colleges and institutions as well as from military training. To earn this degree at Fayetteville Tech, a minimum of 16 semester hours must be taken with our institution, either online or face to face. Often, many military students and veterans pursuing this degree only need to complete the general education courses, such as English, math and social science, to complete the degree.

In addition to offering the associate in general education, FTCC offers several certificate and diploma programs. FTCC is committed to providing in-demand educational opportunities that will benefit students in the professional environment, giving them an edge on the competition when seeking employment on the civilian market. Several certificate programs in the criminal justice technology and supply chain management fields have been added recently. Many of the courses necessary for the certificates may be awarded through the training military service members and veterans have already received in their careers. Most of these certificates are completed within two semesters.

FTCC recognizes the fact that service members train hard to achieve and maintain a standard of excellence and that their efforts deserve to be recognized in the civilian world. Awarding college
credit for military training also serves our veterans as they make the transition from active duty to civilian life. Fayetteville Tech places these students on the fast track to earning educational
credentials and being prepared for a competitive work environment.

Students who wish to have their military training converted to college credit will simply need to submit the joint services transcript to FTCC by logging in at https://jst.doded.mil and following the
prompts for submitting an official transcript.

Email johnsontr@faytechcc.edu or call 910-678-0166 to answer any questions. Students can sign up now for fall classes.

 

PHOTO: Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash.

As a community, Cumberland County has many organizations that try to look after children and make the holidays a special time. The need is great, and budgets are often small. But a little creativity and generosity from those who are willing to give make a big difference. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office presents “5 Days of Christmas in July Toy Drive” Monday, July 23, to Friday, July 27.

“For the last 21 years, the Sheriff’s Office has been doing shop with the sheriff where we assist deserving, less than fortunate families that come from the Cumberland County Schools and are recommended by the school social workers,” said Shawna Leake, lieutenant of community policing for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. “I was getting inundated with calls from people asking how they can get on the list, and I found myself referring those families to The Salvation Army and Fayetteville Urban Ministry.”

Leake added that she approached the Sheriff and asked if there was any way they could assist those agencies that they were referring people to. This is how “5 Days of Christmas in July” was established.

The toys will be donated to the Salvation Army and Fayetteville Urban Ministry. The event organizers are asking for appropriate toys for school-aged children.

“Please steer away from purchasing toy guns and other items of violence,” said Leake.

Unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the following locations: July 23 at the Walmart at 2820 Gillespie St. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; July 24 at J. P. Riddle Stadium from 5-10 p.m.; July 25 at the Sheriff’s Office at 131 Dick St. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; July 26 at the Walmart at 4601 Ramsey St. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and July 27 at Fourth Friday at 311 Hay St. from 5-9 p.m. Bring an unwrapped toy to the baseball game on July 24 and receive $2 off the price of admission.

“We appreciate the support of the community for this cause, and we want it to be a huge success so we can give toys to children,” said Leake. “Our goal is to help these agencies out in any way possible.” For more information, contact Lt. Leake at 910-824-4146 or sleake@ccsonc.org.

Audriaunna Kitterman is the first to admit she is still transitioning into a vegan lifestyle. She eats meat once and awhile, and the occasional fresh mozzarella. Changing what you’ve eaten all
your life is no small task. But according to Kitterman, a movement to understand veganism and have more vegan food options in Fayetteville has been growing for some time. With her holistic training at the Prima Elements Holistic Wellness Center and veganism research in tow, Kitterman decided to establish the first Vegan Festival of Fayetteville, to be held Saturday, June 23.

“I’m learning,” Kitterman said. “I’m understanding. I’m transitioning, and I know that there are other people within the (Fayetteville) community that are, too.”

Three vegan food trucks are booked for the festival. One is coming all the way from Tarpon Springs, Florida; another from Charleston, South Carolina. A Venezuelan vegan food truck from Wilmington will be there as well. “They’ll have vegan arepas, which are completely to die for,” Kitterman said.

Vendors of vegan-certified cleaning and cosmetic products are signed up. Educational booths and speakers on veganism will address misconceptions, transitioning and the health benefits.

Five speakers from various disciplines are lined up for the festival so far.

Jessica Carter works for the nonprofit Compassion Over Killing, based in Washington, D.C. As a vegan food and lifestyle coach, she will conduct a live talk and vegan cooking demonstration. Likewise, Dr. Amelia Jordan is a metaphysician, empath and vegan author leading a talk on bio-quantum physics.

A holistic functional nutritionist will speak on the topic of the gut and the brain. A naturopathic expert is hosting an information session on the healing benefits of a vegan diet. Additionally, a board-certified life coach will speak on reiki and hypnosis treatment.

According to Kitterman, certain misconceptions about veganism continue to persist in society. They relate to the nutritional merit of a plantbased diet, how and what to cook, and the culture of activism within the vegan community.

Most notably, a vegan diet, which does not include meat, eggs or dairy, confronts the food pyramid mandate that a person needs a specific amount of meat for protein and dairy for calcium each day.

Recent documentaries – “Forks Over Knives” and “Hungry for Change” – have shed light on major medical studies that posit the opposite. Doctors from the likes of the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard University contend meat and dairy aren’t as vital as they were once thought to be. In fact, meat and dairy increase the risk of various cancers and chronic illnesses. Vegetables, in turn,
decrease those risks almost entirely.

Another misconception, Kitterman said, can be summed up with this frequently asked question: Do you just eat salad all day?

“You can probably do more with plants than you can with meats and other things,” she said. The possibilities are endless.”

But it is the misconception about the culture of vegan activism that influenced Kitterman’s decision to put on the festival. According to her, many meat-eaters associate vegans with aggressive protestors. But for Kitterman and others, the lifestyle is a personal quest for a healthier relationship with food and the earth.

Kitterman’s experience reflects the reality of the years it often takes to fully transition into veganism. She encourages those practicing all lifestyles to attend the festival.

“If you’re not vegan, it’s okay. If you’re not vegetarian, it’s okay. Truly. Come,” Kitterman said. “Allow yourself to become educated. Try something new. Step outside of your comfort zone. Because the uncomfortable-ness means change. Change is growth, and growth is a beautiful, beautiful thing.”

Along with its vendors and speakers, the Vegan Festival of Fayetteville will also feature flower planting for kids, drum circles and live entertainment.

The festival is free and open to the public. It takes place at the Wellness Center on 124 Anderson St.,11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, contact the center at 910-483-8406.

‘The Tempest’

Over the years, Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s outdoor performances have become a summer staple in Fayetteville. This summer is no different as the company is in the middle of a two-week repertory run of two classic Shakespearean works: “The Tempest” and “Pericles.” June 6 saw the proverbial curtain rise on “The Tempest,” the story of Prospero – the rightful Duke of Milan who has learned magical powers from years of intense study – and his daughter, Miranda, who have been stranded on a mysterious island for 12 years. The island is also home to Ariel, a spirit enslaved by Prospero, and Caliban, a native inhabitant of the island who has also been enslaved by Prospero. As Duke of Milan, Prospero was overthrown by his brother Antonio.

Antonio, along with King Alonso of Naples and a slew of other characters, are shipwrecked on the island due to a storm created by Prospero. Once Prospero has all of his enemies together, he sets about separating them from one another in order to exact his revenge and regain his position as Duke of Milan.

STS often uses a technique called cross-gender casting, which means that men are often used in the roles of women and vice versa. “The Tempest” sees this practice employed to great effect as most of the main male characters are played by incredibly talented women – including the lead role of Prospero, which is helmed here by the impressive Duana Burby.

Additionally, Tohry Petty’s portrayal of Ariel, the magical spirit, is infectious. She brings a physical and dramatic energy with her any time she steps onstage. The issue here, of course, is that the cast is much too large to mention everyone, especially when there are so many standout performances.

With “The Tempest,” STS’ creativity and ambition are on full display. From the opening moments, the audience is transported into the world of magic that the piece presents. The opening scene’s shipwreck is imaginative and spellbinding. The production’s color palette and costume design are both striking and complimentary to the action unfolding. “The Tempest,” like all STS
shows, is presented in an arena format with the audience able to choose their own seats anywhere on three sides around the performance space, which makes potential second viewings a completely new experience.

“The Tempest” continues in rotation with Shakespeare’s “Pericles” until June 21 on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, 801 Arsenal Ave. Remaining show dates for “The Tempest” are June 14, 16, 18, and 20. Remaining dates for “Pericles” are June 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21. Shows begin each evening at 7:30 p.m. with a musical preshow at 6:45 p.m. General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Senior citizen and military tickets are $13 in advance and $18 at the door. Admission for students and children ages 6-12 costs $8 in advance and $13 at the door. Children under five are admitted for free.

For more information or to order tickets, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com. STS can also be reached via phone at 910-420-4383.

‘Pericles’

“Pericles” was written by William Shakespeare and possibly one other collaborator in the early 1600s. It tells a fastpaced story of the Prince of Tyre’s adventures throughout ancient Greece, hitting many emotional notes along the way. Fear, passion, loyalty, loss, love – it’s all there, along with a healthy dose of comedy. STS’ quirky approach to theater shines in its production of this story, which runs through June 21.

A hallmark of STS is its musicality. The term speaks to the live music woven throughout its shows, but “musical” is also a good descriptor for the way STS uses basic elements to invite the audience’s imagination out to play. “Pericles” showcases smart decisions by Director Jeremy Fiebig that maximize this invitation. Water and its doings – storms, waves, near-drownings – are a big part of Pericles’ story. In one scene, Pericles’ ship wrecks, and he is cast into the sea. We watch actor Richard Adlam’s form rise and fall and gasp and reach as company members swirl swaths of blue fabrics around him. One member holds a long, thin pole with dangling paper-cut fish above Adlam’s head. Another cast member paces around the grounds with a giant, round instrument that sounds like it’s filled with rice or beads.

STS’ form lets you see exactly how the magic of scenes is created, but this doesn’t detract from the effect. If anything, audience members are invited to suspend disbelief like they really mean it – to lean into their role as a necessary component to creating the wonder of the production. Compared to more traditional theater, it’s both a more demanding and yet more childlike charge that yields great reward.

The other elements of the show strike a nice balance between guiding the audience and leaving some things to simple, felt emotion. As in every STS show, a program provided at the beginning includes a brief, bullet-point synopsis of what happens in the play. These bullet points are a smart move, as Shakespeare can get pretty convoluted. For this show, each cast member also wears variations of a grey T-shirt with their character’s name written on it in clear, elegant type. In a story with names like Thaisa, Helicanus, Dionyza and Thaliard woven among Shakespeare’s intricate dialogue, these shirts are funny in their frankness and effective in their utility.

The makeup is equally simple yet effective, the most notable being large silver tears that make permanent residence on Pericles’ cheeks. When he’s happy, they sparkle with joy; when he’s sad, they accentuate the grief in his eyes. In between, they give him an intense, otherwordly look. It works.

This production also does an excellent job showcasing the beauty of Shakespeare’s wordsmithing. There’s a reason he’s considered one of the greatest writers of the English language, and it’s a delight to hear his lines in the fantastical, silly and heartfelt world STS creates.

Adlam, last seen as Mr. Rochester in STS’ production of “Jane Eyre,” plays a solid Pericles and delivers his lines with clarity, fluidity and passion. Sarah Chapman stands out as Pericles’ daughter Marina, the weight and grace she brings to her character anchoring every scene she’s in. Tohry Petty is enjoyable to watch as Helicanus, Pericles’ most loyal subject and friend. Petty has a noticeably confident and mature stage presence and can be both earnest and hilarious. Jessica Osnoe is doe-eyed, gentle and regal as Pericles’ wife, Thaisa. Duana Burby keeps the story moving with affable expertise as Gower, the narrator of the tale.

The rest of the cast operates like a wellmade batch of playdough, at times splitting off into individual roles, other times morphing into whatever form is needed to serve the story and the main characters’ adventures and emotions. They carry chests, march with fire, twirl poles with ribbons and change T-shirts and roles, and whatever they’re doing, it’s fun to watch. Traycie Kuhn-Zapata and Austin Hendricks are two who particularly shine.

For a show that’s so boisterous, “Pericles” still manages to hit the deep tones of grief that come with the hero’s adventures. Pericles, dealing with the loss of a loved one, cries out to the sky: “O you gods! Why do you make us love your goodly gifts, and snatch them straight away?” I unexpectedly teared up. Any show that can sneak-attack me with tears after making me chuckle out loud a few minutes prior is a winner in my book.

 

PHOTOS: TOP: ‘The Tempest’ - Duana Burby leads as Prospero, who’s learned magical powers from years of study. Photo courtesy Joseph Bloomer for Meraki Creative Agency. BOTTOM: ‘Pericles’ - Richard Adlam, center, as Pericles. Photo courtesy Thistle and Sun Photography.

Fayetteville City Council is considering asking the legislature for authority to give citizens the right to recall elected officials who misbehave in office. It’s an outgrowth of the attempted bribery case involving former District 2 Councilman Tyrone Williams. City attorney Karen McDonald told council several North Carolina cities have recall provisions in their charters. But, she said, there is no consistent pattern to the various arrangements.

McDonald offered ideas that council members can consider, such as a method by which citizens could circulate a petition of grievances. It would require a predetermined percentage of registered voters’ signatures, which would be submitted to the Cumberland County Board of Elections. Once certified, the elected official would have five days to resign or face a recall election.

Because council members are elected from districts, one question that remained unanswered is whether the vote would be in the district where the member was elected or citywide. “Whatever we do wrong impacts the entire city,” said Councilman Bill Crisp.

“If city taxpayers pay for the recall election, city taxpayers should vote,” agreed Councilman Jim Arp.

City Manager Doug Hewett cautioned that city council must take care in developing criteria for having members removed from office. “This is something that is extraordinary; an avenue of last resort,” he said.

North Carolina does not provide for statewide recall elections. Virginia’s law states that recalls can be held when “neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of the office.”

Council is also considering a plan to do away with primary elections and extending terms of office from two to four years. Mayor Mitch Colvin said any such changes would be put to a vote of the people.

“Primaries cost a lot of money and serve no purpose,” Crisp said. He said primaries cost the city $100,000 and that he wants to save the money.

Councilwoman Kathy Jensen voted against the Crisp plan to cancel primaries. She thinks they help ensure the ultimate winners of the general election have clear support of the voters.

Crisp also wants to raise the filing fees for city council candidates to one percent of the annual salary.

Councilwoman Tisha Waddell objected, saying, “There are people who may not have a lot of money but have a lot to offer.”

Crisp contended that candidates who have popular support could easily raise the money to pay the higher filing fees.

City council took no action on any of the proposals but agreed to further discuss conditions that would justify including recall elections in the city charter.

I-95 widening funded by federal government

U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis have announced that Interstate 95 will be widened to eight lanes north and south of Fayetteville. A $147 million federal infrastructure grant has been earmarked for the project.

The announcement said the project will provide for widening from exit 56 in Eastover to exit 71 in Dunn and between Fayetteville and Lumberton.

The state Department Of Transportation also plans to widen the interstate from Dunn to Benson, where it intersects with Interstate 40. Little more has been said about the project, but Gov. Roy Cooper’s office released a statement that described the importance of the widening to military transportation and commerce.

The state DOT indicated earlier that I-95 widening projects wouldn’t begin until 2026, but the $147 million federal grant could accelerate the project.

Cliffdale Road widening opposed

Fayetteville city officials hope to convince the NC DOT not to go through with a plan to widen a residential section of Cliffdale Road. Council adopted a resolution expressing opposition to a proposed $16 million project to widen the neighborhood stretch of roadway from two to four lanes with a center median.

The roadway in question is the original onemile stretch of Cliffdale between Morganton and McPherson Church Roads. It is considered a state street over which DOT has jurisdiction. Residents
of the area are opposed to the project. They fear a widened road would result in heavier traffic and a reduction of property values.

County Government adopts new budget

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has adopted its Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget. The ad valorem property tax rate remains at 79.9 cents per $100 of valuation. The budget, which must be balanced by state law, includes $478 million in total expenditures, with a general fund total of $316 million. That represents savings of about $7 million less than the FY2018 adopted budget. The decrease was attributed to the implementation of child care subsidies being paid directly from the state and no longer through county budgets.

“We thought we had a pretty solid budget, and in the spirit of cooperation, we were able to come together and approve it unanimously,” said Chairman Larry Lancaster.

County employees will receive a three percent pay increase. Funding for Cumberland County Schools totals $79,463,109. An additional $398,937 is budgeted for seven school nurses. In addition to the new nurses, the budget includes 11 new full-time and two part-time positions in the general fund and abolishes one full-time Animal Control administrative support specialist position. The new positions include two full-time and two part-time animal shelter attendants, plus a full-time veterinarian. Two telecommunicator positions will be added to Emergency Services for Animal Control dispatch.

Festival Park Plaza leased

A leading Fayetteville realtor is moving its offices to downtown Fayetteville to “better position itself in the marketplace,” said Denise Strother, CEO of ERA Strother Real Estate. She said as many as 100 employees will occupy the second floor of the Festival Park Plaza building at 225 Ray Ave.

Developer Jordan Jones bought the building recently from the city of Fayetteville, which has signed a long-term lease for use of the first floor. The third floor is also leased.

Strother says the 15,000 square feet on the second floor will house Strother Real Estate, SPM Property Management and Lendello Mortgage Co. as well as corporate offices. Jones has agreed to add 132 spaces to an extended parking lot at the rear of the building, according to Strother. She says the company plans to move into the building the first of the year once some upfitting is completed.

Fayetteville businessman John Malzone said, “This is a great addition to our downtown workforce. Having a large, successful company relocate to our central city shows where the future of Fayetteville is. The future is downtown.”

It seems that we have become a nation consumed by protests. Far too often, any occurrence that a few people object to results in some form of protest. They run the gamut, from boycotts to marches, verbal to physical attacks and other actions too numerous to list. A major point of despair for me is that most American protests originate and are executed in a bubble.

This bubble description can be explained by sharing a comment the 13-year-old girl who I mentor made to me. This is the young lady I mentioned in a recent column addressing rap at the Dogwood Festival. She and I are reading a book by Sean Covey titled “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.” Covey gives very thoughtful attention to the process of making sound choices. During our review of one section of the book, that 13 year old said to me, “When making decisions, I do some foreshadowing.”

Dictionary.com defines foreshadowing as “to show or indicate beforehand; prefigure.” I think “prefigure” is the part of that definition that best reflects what this young lady is practicing. She is, within the framework of her beliefs and values, considering the likely consequences of the various decisions she might make in a given situation. That means she is looking beyond preconceived, knee-jerk, automatic responses to situations.

If that young lady were to take this preconceived, knee-jerk, automatic response approach, she would be operating in a bubble. I contend that this is the condition of most protests in our time. Pick any protest you want that has occurred in the past 50 years, especially the most recent ones, and it will most likely fit this bubble description. Consider the rioting, looting and burning of businesses that followed the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a black male, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The protesting was immediate and followed what has become the routine in protesting. It is done in a bubble.

I think it is disgraceful that so many who protest in our time point to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement as their model, as justification, for protesting. I hold that most current protests seek to intimidate, to bully, others into yielding to their demands. I grew up in the 1950s and ’60s, during the Civil Rights Movement. I remember participating in a civil rights march that was led by Dr. King in Atlanta. It was a peaceful march during which I believe the aim was to touch the hearts of our oppressors, and by so doing, prompt them to do what was right. My observation is confirmed by the following from an essay titled “The Political and Rhetorical Strategies of Martin Luther King,” available at https://befreedom.co/the-real-and-rhetorical-strategies-ofmartin-luther-king.

“MLK drew deeply from many sources: black history and Christianity; the revolution in revolutionary strategy accomplished first in India; the promise of America embodied in the Declaration of Independence, and Constitution, and the many global struggles against imperialism in Africa, Asia and South America. MLK was fully engaged with both history and the world he lived in.

“Out of this mix King fashioned a powerful political and rhetorical strategy based on a set of closely interwoven concepts and practices: non-violent civil disobedience, love, the beloved community, the America dream and a revolution of values. He relied upon his faith and African-American history to counter fear and fatalism. For King the world is a product of interdependence
and mutuality. He urged us to be conscious of our connection with everyone and everything.”

In light of the King strategy described above and my observations from that Atlanta march, consider what I see as a clear example of “bubble protesting” that is totally contrary to the King strategy that proved amazingly successful. Anthony Wall, a 22-year-old black man, escorted his sister to her prom. Later that evening, they went to a Waffle House in Warsaw, North Carolina. An incident took place in the restaurant that resulted in the police being called and Wall being arrested. In the process of that arrest, a white police officer appears to choke Wall, and later, slam him to the ground. Here are the titles of a few of the many videos of the event as posted on YouTube, along with the number next to each title to indicate how many times it was viewed: Officer chokes 22-year-old during Waffle House arrest captured on video (6,800); Black man choked by officer at Waffle House in Warsaw, North Carolina (117,000); Waffle House Under Fire
After Black Man Is Choked by Cop on Video (4,800); Video Shows White Cop Choking a Black Prom-Goer Outside a North Carolina Waffle House (57,000).

Bernice King, daughter of King Jr., responded to this incident by calling for a boycott of all Waffle Houses. The following is from an article by Abbie Bennett titled “MLK’s daughter calls for Waffle House boycott after black man choked, slammed by NC cop.”

“In a tweet on Thursday, King wrote: “Family, let’s stay out of Waffle House until the corporate office legitimately and seriously commits to 1. discussion on racism, 2. employee training and 3.
other plans to change; and until they start to implement changes.”

In the same tweet, King shared the News & Observer story about Anthony Wall, 22, who was at Waffle House after taking his 16-year-old sister to prom in Warsaw, North Carolina on May 5.

Bernice King reads a newspaper article regarding the Warsaw incident and immediately calls for a boycott of Waffle Houses. Her response is certainly joined by many of those who watched one or more of the YouTube videos. Reports indicate there are growing calls for a boycott. The question I raise is how does this response to the Warsaw incident compare with the response that Martin King’s strategy would have produced? I contend they are at opposite ends of the response spectrum. Look again at that selection from the essay that speaks to the King strategy. I see none of those elements in the response of his daughter to the Warsaw incident. Even further, those elements are clearly missing from the “bubble protesting” approach that has taken hold in America.

More importantly, “bubble protesting” repeatedly fails to produce measurable, positive results. The problem is these protests are not clear in defining ultimate goals and gearing actions toward achieving those goals.

Look at the actions Bernice King calls for in her tweet. What’s the goal? How do her proposed actions move toward achieving some goal or goals? Not only is there this lack of goals and thoughtful actions in pursuit of them, racial tension and other protest issues are getting worse rather than better. Bubble protesters would do well to discuss foreshadowing with that 13-year-old I mentioned in my opening.

Finally, the automatic response, the knee-jerk approach of “bubble protesting,” hardly ever allows for gathering and examining facts. This adds to the misguidedness of these efforts. In the Warsaw Waffle House incident, every video I viewed started at some point after the white police officer begins interacting with the 22-yearold. After the thousands of views and calls for a boycott, a video surfaces at http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article211130829.html.

This video, accompanied by an article, shows the totally verbally abusive and disrespectful conduct of Wall and his sister that led to the police being called. Watching this video sheds a very different light on what happened in that Waffle House. Sadly, bubble protesters will dismiss this piece of information in the name of combating racism.

That 13-year-old who employs foreshadowing would not dismiss it. She would recognize and act on the need for teaching and modeling respect for authority and for others. Obviously, this concept is foreign to bubble protesters.

America needs to recognize and address the great harm being done to our nation by “bubble protesting.”

Like a bad dream or a bad penny, former President Bill Clinton’s highly inappropriate, though not criminal, relationship with Monica Lewinsky from two decades ago periodically rears its ugly head. It nearly cost him his presidency, and over the years, it has haunted him, his long-suffering wife, Hillary, and her political aspirations, not to mention the rest of us. It nigh on ruined Lewinsky’s life. Now in her mid-40s and holding a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, she has been unable to find meaningful and sustainable employment under her own notorious name. In her TED talk, she addressed “public shaming as a blood sport” and described herself as the original victim of cyber bullying beginning in the late 1990s.

The relationship popped up again recently as Clinton embarked on a book tour of his new novel, written with thriller author James Patterson. Instead of the book, news has centered on the Clinton-Lewinsky relationship, with the former president testily acknowledging that while he has publicly apologized for the affair on several occasions, he has never actually spoken to Lewinsky herself. With the United States and much of the world focused on the #MeToo movement, Clinton’s insensitivity and preoccupation with his own victimhood – “I left the White House $16M in  debt,” has not been well received. Even he has acknowledged this stance in recent interviews “was not my finest hour.”

Poor baby!

While the former president’s relationship with a young woman much closer to his daughter’s age than his own was not illegal, it was stunningly inappropriate for the most powerful man in the world to use her and discard her, leaving her alone for “shaming as blood sport” for more than 20 years.

Clinton is hardly alone, though.

American history is littered with presidential misbehavior in the libido department. Thomas Jefferson had six children with Sally Hemings, the younger half-sister of his late wife and his own
“property” as a slave on his Virginia plantation. Grover “Ma! Ma! Where’s My Pa? Gone to the White House! Ha! Ha! Ha” Cleveland fathered a child out of wedlock and got to the presidency  anyway. Franklin Roosevelt maintained a long-running affair with his wife’s secretary, who was with him when he died. John F. Kennedy apparently spent about as much time dating around as he did running the country, and both Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson reportedly enjoyed active social lives outside their marriages.

Our current president may take the cake in the womanizing department, though. Donald Trump has bragged on tape about which body part he prefers to “grab.” One can Google “how many women have accused President Trump of sexual harassment/sexual assault/sexual misconduct/groping/rape” and come up with a different number in each category. Some cases have been
settled and cash has changed hands, and others are out there for all the world to see. The latest is Stormy Daniels, who recently performed at a men’s club in Raleigh. The end to her legal dispute with the president seems nowhere in sight.

The president and Mrs. Trump have dismissed his remarks about women as “locker room talk” and “boy talk.”

Trump joins Clinton in crying “poor me.” The women are going after him, he says, and none – he repeats, not one – of the accusations contain a shred of truth, the groping tape notwithstanding.

These women, apparently like Special Counsel Robert Mueller, have been sent by the Democrats and other unnamed enemies to derail his excellent presidency.

It feels like we have been living for the last several years in the “season of men behaving badly,” with the domino-like downfalls of titans of show business, media, politics and business. Some fell with massive thunderclaps, while others eased themselves out of their important roles before their personal storms hit. In fact, though, men behaving badly has been with us since the founding of our country, and women are just now finding the power to call them on it.

Clinton and Trump and others with great political power can point at others all they want to, but at the end of the day, the responsibility is theirs, and it is not associated with any particular party.

Publisher Bill Bowman is on vacationthis week and yields this space to Rep. RichardHudson for an update.

As the saying goes, “A little progress each day adds up to big results.” Just as longterm pressure creates diamonds or water in a river eventually smooths stone, dedicated and persistent efforts often yield big results. As we mark the first 500 days of the Trump administration, our continuous efforts in the House of Representatives have added up to some impressive wins for the
American people. Make no mistake, there’s still much more work to do, but we are getting our nation back on the right track and making a real difference in people’s lives.

This Congress, we’ve taken the lead on keeping our promises to the American people. So far, we’ve passed 695 bills out of the House, with 175 of them being signed into law by President Donald Trump.

What are those bills we’ve passed? How about tax cuts that have led to more jobs and more take-home pay for working families across the country. How about bipartisan legislation to reduce the flow of fentanyl and synthetic opioids across our borders and to get these dangerous drugs off our streets. How about bipartisan legislation to give critically ill patients the ability to try innovative and potentially lifesaving medications. All of these and more have already been signed into law.

This week, we also added two more major accomplishments to that growing list. Trump signed the bipartisan Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act, the most significant pediatric cancer research bill ever passed by Congress. As the co-chair of the Pediatric Trauma Caucus and a proud father, I recognize how critical it is to care for our children, and this is another important step to help deliver hope and cures to children and their families.

Another piece of legislation that was signed into law this week was the VA MISSION Act. This bipartisan bill seeks to make good on one of our most sacred promises – to take care of our men and women in uniform both before and after their service. By condensing all the various community care programs at the VA into one single program, we can empower veterans to more easily access a doctor who suits their unique needs. This bill follows the same principles of my bill, the Care Veterans Deserve Act, to make sure veterans can access private health care if they want.

While we celebrate these accomplishments, I know there is still a lot of work to be done. Unfortunately, there are still more than 500 House-passed bills that are collecting dust waiting on action in the Senate. These are not meaningless bills either – they are critical initiatives like improving job opportunities for veterans and helping to end human trafficking.

This Congress, Washington continues to be plagued by historic obstructionism. However, I know there is too much at stake to give up. As your voice in Congress, I’ll continue to push for our shared values. We must continue to fight every day, and I won’t give up until the job is done. There’s too much at stake.