I recently attended a “sprinkle,” and, no, it was not raining.

A sprinkle, I now know, is a small baby shower for a mother-to-be who already has at least one bundle of joy at home but who still needs a few little things for the new member of the family. This is especially true if the new arrival is a different gender than earlier kiddos.

I was, as far as I could discern, the oldest guest at the sprinkle. The honoree and her friends, most of whom were in some stage of pregnancy from undetectable to bursting at the seams, oohed and ahhed at all the sweet baby clothes and cuddly toys, and as the mother of three, the whole thing triggered all sorts of warm memories for me.

That said, the young mothers and mothers-to-be attending the sprinkle seemed at the time like a booming generational representation, but, in fact, it is my generation and those just behind me that are booming.
If life falls into 3 different stages — one’s individual childhood, the period when we have children, and when our children have children, it is the last group that is growing, not the first or second.

There are numbers to prove it.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is joining the growing number of nations with significantly aging populations. Japan has the world’s oldest population with one out of every four people 65 or over, and some European nations, notably France, Spain, Germany and Italy, are fast heading in that direction.

Census data report that in 1900, a mere 4% of Americans were 65 or over. Currently, about 56 million Americans, or nearly 17% of us, are 65 or over, and projections are that we will reach the Japanese statistic of one in every four people by 2060.

High quality food coupled with a better understanding of nutrition as well as accessible health care have produced seniors who are healthy and active, with some on second or even third careers, playing tennis, and generally enjoying life in ways prior senior generations did not. We are living much longer than Americans of the past, with a life expectancy of around 76.

The babies coming to the mothers at the sprinkle can expect to reach 74 for the boys and 80 for girls. This is two decades longer than most Americans lived in the 1960s.

Clearly, old age is not what it used to be, but all this good news comes with bumps in the road. Younger working Americans are paying into Social Security for today’s pensioners, the same situation that pushed France to raise its retirement age from 62 to 64, causing riots in the streets.

Politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, are terrified to discuss this issue in public, but those chickens will come home to roost eventually.
In addition, not all seniors are healthy and playing tennis. Millions of us are in declining health with few options for care and profoundly lonely.

The precarious nature of old age is why Americans are concerned about the two geriatric frontrunners for President of the United States in 2024. Should we actually elect a leader staring down 80?
Old age is a concept, just like youth. It is also a fact. Just as we have begun to rethink what constitutes adulthood — is it age, physical size, or maturity of the human brain, we need to consider what constitutes old age.

The world is shifting around us, and it is time we figure out how to use all our human resources both appropriately and fairly.

How often do the majority and minority leaders of any legislative chamber in America agree on a significant policy change? You can probably count those occasions on your fingers without putting down your coffee cup.

But one such example is unfolding right now in our state capital. Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) and Rep. Robert Reives (D-Chatham) are two primary sponsors of House Bill 346, which would loosen some state controls on the operations of Blue Cross NC. Bell and Reives are also, respectively, the majority and minority leaders of the North Carolina House.
Critics of the bill argue it represents a back-door attempt to transfer the value of the nonprofit health insurer into private hands.

Back in the late 1990s, some of these critics helped block a major effort to convert Blue Cross into a for-profit entity. The result was a 1998 law that requires the proceeds of any such sale to private owners to flow into a charitable foundation.

That was my position in 1998, too. While Blue Cross NC had by then become a fully taxed entity, much of its assets had been accrued during an earlier period when it benefitted from sizable tax breaks and other state assistance. If it were sold to private firms or shareholders, who would the buyers pay? Surely not themselves, the state, or the former executives or directors of the nonprofit.

It seemed prudent at the time to require any such for-profit conversion to result in an independent foundation dedicated to the health and wellbeing of North Carolinians.
It remains the prudent policy today. The bill Bell, Reives, and dozens of other state lawmakers are sponsoring this session wouldn’t change it. If the leaders of Blue Cross NC decide to sell, the proceeds will go to a foundation. Where I differ from the critics is that I see House Bill 346 as making a sale less likely.

Right now, Blue Cross is the dominant player in North Carolina’s market for private health plans. Indeed, it’s the only insurer selling policies in all 100 counties.

But health care is undergoing rapid change. Both federal legislation and industry trends have created increasing returns to scale. Local hospitals and other providers are merging, becoming parts of national chains. Insurers are also scaling up, in part to compete for the business of employers who operate across the country.

Among other benefits, these scaled-up companies can invest productively in new technologies, massive databases, artificial intelligence, and other lines of business that enhance their ability to control insurance premiums and promote wellness.

Generally speaking, however, the insurers don’t make investments directly, which would quickly run up against state-imposed caps on the investment of their assets.
Instead, they are organized as holding companies that own both the tightly regulated insurance company as well as affiliated subsidiaries.

Under current law, Blue Cross NC can’t do that. Moreover, as a “hospital service corporation” under state law, it faces not only a 10% cap on how much of its assets can be invested in non-insurance ventures but also an automatic trigger to convert to a for-profit company if it ever sold a significant interest in such a venture.

House Bill 346 would permit it to reorganize as a nonprofit holding company that would continue to own the nonprofit Blue Cross insurer as well as other affiliated companies and investments. The bill also stipulates that no current executives receive equity-based compensation from any subsidiaries created by the holding company and that any subsequent sale of Blue Cross would still put all the proceeds of that sale — from all lines of business — into a foundation.

The way I see it, the critics are mistaken about the bill. It would reduce the probability that some out-of-state entity will end up owning and controlling North Carolina’s largest health insurer.

That’s one of the reasons both Republican and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly have lined up behind it. They see it the same way.

Editor's note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (www.FolkloreCycle.com).

Since 2019, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has denied more than 6,000 requests for permits to purchase handguns. Action by the state legislature last week has put an end to that permit process.

The legislature overturned a veto by Gov. Roy Cooper of S.B. 41, which repeals the requirement that anyone buying a pistol get a permit from a county sheriff.

Sheriff Ennis Wright said in a statement last week that people who want to purchase a pistol in Cumberland County are, effective March 29, no longer required to get a permit from the sheriff.

Since the beginning of 2019 and through March 29, 6,006 pistol permits were denied by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, according to data provided by that office. The number of denials each year is as follows: 974 in 2019; 1,942 in 2020; 1,494 in 2021; 1,303 in 2022; 293 in 2023.

Even with passage of the new state law, a permit will still be required for concealed-carry weapons.
Under the now repealed system, North Carolina sheriffs were able to evaluate the mental health and domestic violence history of someone seeking a pistol permit. The federal background system through the National Instant Criminal System, or NCIS, is still in place, but Wright said in an emailed statement to CityView that he does not believe that system is adequate.

“I wasn’t for repealing the pistol purchase permit applications. I am concerned that the (NCIS) background check process is not as complete as safety would require and is not as thorough as the background investigation that the Sheriff’s Office conducted for pistol purchase permits,” Wright said.

Wright emphasized that other federal and state laws regulating firearms are still in place.

“Citizens must know that anyone obtaining or transferring any gun must comply with federal and state laws,” he said.

The overturn of Cooper’s veto of S.B. 41 fell along party lines with all Republicans voting to overturn it and all Democrats voting to sustain the veto. Republicans in the General Assembly have a supermajority in both the House and Senate, allowing the legislative body to overturn any veto by the governor if no Republicans buck the party.

Democratic lawmakers are concerned that the repeal will make it easier for violent individuals to access a firearm.

“As an educator and former magistrate, I am concerned about gun violence and the state of mental health across our country. As a result, I voted to uphold Gov. Cooper’s veto,” said Rep. Frances Jackson, a Democrat from Cumberland County.

Democratic representatives are also concerned about people with a history of domestic violence having easier access to firearms.

Of the 44 homicides in Fayetteville in 2022, nine were attributed to domestic violence as a possible motive, the most of any other classification, CityView has reported.

“Eliminating strong background checks will allow more domestic abusers and other dangerous people to own handguns and reduces law enforcement’s ability to stop them from committing violent crimes,” Cooper said in a statement when announcing his veto.

Democratic Rep. Charles Smith of Cumberland County echoed the governor in an interview with CityView.

“I just don’t think that we should be loosening or repealing what I would consider a common-sense gun regulation that keeps guns out of the hands of potentially dangerous individuals,” Smith said.

Republican Rep. Diane Wheatley of Cumberland County said in an emailed statement that the sheriff permitting system is redundant.

“This repeal does not stop any federal or state background check when purchasing a gun,” Wheatley said. “Instead, it will only save local sheriff’s offices from having to run redundant background checks on law-abiding citizens wishing to purchase a gun.”

Wright, who opposes the repeal, said that private sales of guns don’t require sellers to utilize background checks, making a purchase easier for those not legally permitted to possess a firearm.

Other members of the Cumberland County state delegation could not be reached for comment.

Tim Moore, the Republican speaker of the House, said in a press release that the permit system infringed on Second Amendment rights.

“This legislation preserves the Second Amendment rights of North Carolinians by repealing the outdated pistol permit system,” Moore said.

“These have been long-standing goals of Second Amendment advocates in our state, and we have finally brought this legislation over the finish line,” the speaker continued.

The passage of the bill, which also allows individuals to carry guns into churches attached to schools, comes after a shooter entered a private Christian elementary school last week in Nashville, Tennessee, and killed six people, including three children.

In Cooper’s news release, the governor cited a report by the 2023 North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force that found gun deaths of children across the state increased by more than 230% between 2012 and 2021.

The news of Rep. Tricia Cotham, Mecklenburg County, changing her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican has sent shockwaves throughout the North Carolina politics, even making national headlines.

The move now gives Republicans a veto-proof supermajority in the General Assembly. The proverbial question is, how does it affect the state Democrat Party moving forward, including Gov. Roy Cooper?

“As a former Democrat, I understand her feelings about being thrown under the bus, and I think this sends an important signal to the statewide Democratic Party that if they want to be a big tent party, they have to make room for moderate centrist Democrats to have a place,” political consultant Brad Crone, president of Campaign Connections, told Carolina Journal in a Wednesday phone interview.

He said he has followed her career since she began serving in the State House and believes her when she says she is a public servant. Cotham first served in the House from 2007-2017.

At a press conference Wednesday morning at NCGOP headquarters, Cotham said she felt unwelcome in the Democrat Party from the time she ran in the 2022 Primary. The attacks on her and her family, including her two young sons, only increased on Twitter and in person, prompting her change of political affiliation.

“There's no place for that in our political system or in political speech there's just no place for it at all,” said Crone. “I have seen it personally and understand it, and we have got to be respectful of people who may not agree with us in our political discourse. I thought (U.S. Sen. Dan) Bishop, whom I do not agree with probably on 80% of the issues, but I respect, I thought his comments were most appropriate.”

Bishop spoke at Cotham’s press conference.

House Minority Leader Robert Reives and others had begun their take on her and others on March 29 after she, along with Reps. Michael Wray, D-Northampton, and Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, had missed voting on overriding Gov. Cooper’s veto on S.B. 41. Reives said in a press release “Elections have consequences” and said the only avenue to change would be through the primary and general elections of 2024. Reives and others called for her resignation after her announcement.

NCDP Party Chair Anderson Clayton called for Cotham’s resignation at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

“This is about honesty and accountability to the people who elected her and serve in their best interests,” Clayton said. “I'm from a place where honesty means something, where folks are going to take you at your word. Your word ain’t good for a hill of beans if you’re not going to stick to it.”

Clayton, a 25-year-old progressive, was elected in February to lead the state party over establishment candidates. Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein both endorsed former Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson, but party leaders elected Clayton instead. In the press conference, speakers questioned Cotham’s loyalty and policy positions, particularly on abortion access.

“It is now our fervent hope that her vote on this issue, and so many other issues important to women across this state is not up for political grab,” said Elizabeth Goodwin, President of the Democratic Women of North Carolina."We ask of Rep. Cotham that she let the same values that voters believed she possessed when they elected her, guide her future votes even if she no longer sticks to the same party.”

“The question of course remains will her voting patterns change along with her party affiliation?” said Chris Cooper, professor of political science & public affairs at Western Carolina University, in a phone interview with CJ Wednesday.

“Abortion is an obvious example,” he said. “She's been at the forefront of it because she made it clear that she was Pro-Choice in the past. Will she agree for some restrictions? Will she follow along with the Republican Party more often? I think these are the questions we all want to know the answer to.”
Regarding Gov. Cooper’s veto power, Cooper says “It has no teeth,” making him a lame duck in most instances.

Cooper said there’s also the question of her political future and if a Republican primary electorate will want to support a candidate who has been so vocally Pro-Choice and vocal on other issues that run counter to the mainstream of the Republican Party.

So, what do Cotham’s chances to win re-election look like in the future now that she has changed parties?

“Cotham would have difficulty winning as a Republican in her current district,” said Dr. Andy Jackson, director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation. “Locke's Civitas Partisan Index rates it (House District 112) as safely Democratic (D+12). However, if the North Carolina Supreme Court rules in favor of the General Assembly in Harper v. Hall, she might find herself in an R+1 tossup district.”

Jackson said in either case, she could expect a lot of money to be thrown against her re-election bid.
“The Democrats say, well, we'll beat her,” said Crone. “They are so ill-informed that they don't realize there will be new maps, and with (Rep, John R.) Bradford leaving that's going to give him some flexibility, so she could very well end up with a very nice district that will probably be competitive or lean a little R and give her an advantage, and she if she elects to run again, can stay in the General Assembly.”

Bradford said he is considering running for state treasurer now that State Treasurer Dale Folwell is running for the Republican nomination for governor.

Another Raleigh political insider told CJ, on the condition of anonymity, that centrist voters of any race really do not have a place in today’s North Carolina Democratic Party, adding that (former Governor)

“Jim Hunt Democrats” no longer exist in the state.

Crone says the Democratic Party has to do a lot of self-inspection as to whether or not they want to have moderate centrist voters with voices and leadership roles in the party.

“Otherwise, you will not be able to build a coalition to govern in the governor's position or ever think about taking back the legislature,” he said. “You cannot disenfranchise center-of-the-road, middle-of-the-road voters and expect to build the governing coalition. They have to decide if they want to be competitive in the legislature and competitive in statewide races by drawing middle-of-the-road centrist voters back to supporting Democrats.”

Party switching may not end with Cotham. Chris Cooper said there might be a couple of other Democrats who are considering a similar move, and it is something to keep an eye on moving forward.

“Party switching does happen, usually not with such critical short-term implications for public policy,” he said.

The Visual Conversation: Artists Who Teach exhibition opens at Gallery 208 on April 6. The exhibition is the result of a group of public school art teachers who attended an eight-hour enrichment workshop using non-toxic printmaking techniques.

For this exhibition, artists who teach have shared their voices in an experimental medium that they are able to share with their students in the classroom.

After registering for the workshop, the artists/teachers only brought their sketchbooks, some basic tools, a lot of creativity, and an opportunity to meet the demands of a printmaking marathon. A day filled with experimenting and new processes resulted in successful prints for the exhibition to share with the public.

Sponsored by a grant from the Fayetteville and Cumberland County Arts Council, the workshop enabled yours truly to have the supplies and durables available needed for each participant to create up to 30 monoprints while working through the processes.

The exhibition reflects a group of artists’ courage to explore ways to expand upon their regular ways of working while applying new processes and expanding upon their ideas.

The creative stages of preparation, incubation, insight, evaluation, and elaboration have been replaced with an open-ended collaborative period of time in which each artist’s work evolves from improvision, experimentation, and adapting to technical challenges.

The group (Nameral Graybeal, Alfie Frederick, Angela Williams, Kyle Harding, Manuela Smith, Adrian Solomon, Tiara Siner, Rick Kenner, Kathleen Fair and Chantel Dorisme) all met the challenges of the workshop: let go of preconceived ideas about how their work should look; instead, adapt to immediacy!

Preconceived relationships between composition and scale, structure and space, tone and color, shape, and line were replaced with a new perceptual awareness of the potential of each formal relationship in the new works.

Collaborations in the workshop played a critical role in supporting and stimulating the creative process since dynamic dialogue and exchange between artists took place. Each artist took advantage of the opportunity to experiment with technical processes in a medium they are not accustomed to while embracing different modes of using the material, new ways to conceptualize their work, and getting feedback from the class.

Not only was the workshop an occasion for teachers to learn new techniques for the students in their art classes; but, equally important, it was an opportunity for teachers to give themselves the gift of what they give to their students: the joy of exploring their individual ideas in a safe and encouraging creative environment and having the opportunity to explore image making processes in a different way.

Each artist can now practice using non-toxic materials and printing without a press in their own studio or classroom and has benefitted from a health movement in traditional printmaking that took place in the 1980s. Keith Howard, a pioneer in safer printmaking techniques in printmaking developed a gelatin-based photo etching technique, known as the Howard process, which helped to reshape a paradigm shift towards a safer work environment.

Howard’s influential book titled “Non-Toxic Printmaking Techniques” in the 1990s influenced the “green” professional printmaking studios and for artists to be able to practice printmaking in their homes. Even today the research continues, and a significant number of manufacturers have developed soy and acrylic-based alternatives.

The Visual Conversation: Artists Who Teach is evidence of the transformative power of process and experimentation. Each artist began with an open-minded way to rethink visual structures and ended up with a new way to convey meaning and intent. Visitors to the gallery will hopefully experience the same transformation that took place with each artist during the workshop — to experience something outside of themselves and then reconnect on a very personal level.

The public is invited to the opening reception of The Visual Conversation: Artists Who Teach exhibition at Gallery 208 on April 6 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The exhibition will remain up until May 30. The hours at the gallery are Monday — Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information call 910-484-6200.

Cumberland County Extension Master Gardeners will hold its annual Plant Fair on April 15 at the Cooperative Extension Center at 301 E. Mountain Drive.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., novice and experienced green thumbs can peruse a variety of native plants, herbs, vegetables and harvested seed packs. As visitors browse the bounty of locally grown greenery, they can also talk a little shop and get some gardening advice.

“We have noticed that a lot of people have a lot of questions about plants,” shared Linda Myers, former president of the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. “Our goal is to help the citizens of Cumberland County make smart decisions about what to plant in their yards or how to take care of their house plants.”

Funds raised from the event will go toward several horticultural programs that serve the community. The Second Harvest Food Bank Garden, horticulture scholarships, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Extension Master Gardener Education programs, and similar initiatives will benefit.

In addition to its function as a major fundraising event, the Plant Fair also serves as an educational opportunity for people in the community. Major topics on the day’s agenda include sowing and saving seeds, home gardening, house plants, attracting bees, birds and butterflies, and much more.

Educational displays, demonstrations and Extension Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to answer questions. The fair will also offer information on Cumberland County Extension Consumer Horticulture, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, 4H, and Junior Master Gardener programs.

Horticulture is the art or practice of garden cultivation and management, dating back thousands of years. According to the annual National Gardening Survey, around 77% of Americans garden and spend over
$45 billion annually on gardening supplies.

As concerns about the environment increase and conversations surrounding the importance of sustainability maintain a foothold in the national discourse, the ability of the individual American to grow their own food and grow their own plants is seeing a surprising resurgence.

Entities such as the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Cumberland County provide valuable information and hands-on support for those looking to dig in the dirt.

“Horticultural Education is so important,” Myers shared. “Sometimes there are things you just don’t know. For instance, some plants will not grow in Cumberland County. If you end up planting something that likes cold weather here in the south — you’re wasting your money.”

In addition to raising much-needed funds to support such important work, Myers is excited about the opportunity for connection events like this provide. After two years of social hibernation brought on by the pandemic, many organizations are trying to get back to where they were before everything stopped.

“Coming out of the pandemic when we didn’t meet for a year and then only by zoom, we need to reinvigorate our organization and the whole program,” Myers stated. “The Plant Fair is a way for master gardeners to engage with each other and a way for us to reengage with the public.”

For more information about the Plant Fair, call 910- 321-6882.

Easter Sunday is one of the most significant days on the Christian calendar. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and is a time of reflection, celebration and renewal.
In many parts of the world, Easter is also associated with the Easter Bunny, a figure who brings Easter eggs and sweet treats for children to enjoy.

However you chose to celebrate Easter, be reminded that the center of it is family.

There are several area churches that are prepared for special services during Holy Week — from Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday. Call or visit the websites listed for more details on the programs being held during the week leading to Easter Sunday.

Epicenter Church, 2512 Fort Bragg Road, Fayetteville, 910-485-8855. Will conduct an Easter egg hunt on Saturday April 8. The event is called “Hop Around Town — Fayetteville” a free Easter event tailored for the whole family. The event will include egg hunts, inflatables, pizza and more. Epicenter will conduct “Hop Around Town” at three additional locations: Anderson Creek, Linden Oaks and Grays Creek. You can register for the event at any location at www.hoparoundtown.com. Service times on Sunday are 9 and 11 a.m.

Northwood Temple, 4250 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville. Sunday service times are 9 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m. Worship Service and 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Family Night. Services are held in Spanish at Iglesias Northwood (Spanish) HORARIOS: Domingo 11 a.m. & Miércoles 8 p.m. online, https://northwoodtemple.org/events/live-easter-egg-hunt/.

Highland Baptist Church, 4456 Legion Road, Hope Mills. Join Highland Baptist Church for their annual Easter Dash fun run, celebrating Easter! Children (up through 5th grade) will be racing to various stations that will teach them about the meaning of Easter. Like a Color Run, this run will include obstacles and clouds of color. Additional festivities will include music, face-painting, food, and bounce houses. Open to the public. Pre-registration required. www.highlandbaptistnc.org. Service times on Sunday are 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Manna Church, 5117 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville, presents an epic love story beyond comparison. Manna invites you to an Easter celebration that walks you through the final weeks of Jesus, the Creator of the World. Beginning on Maundy Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m., come share in the Last Supper through the tradition of Communion. Continue to Good Friday April 7, when the church will hear how Jesus paid the cost of sin on the cross. On Saturday April 8 at 5 p.m. and Sunday April 9, Manna Church will conclude the week by celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. Families can download an Easter Activity Kit at www.fayftbragg.manna.church that include crafts, games, coloring and recipes. Visit the churches website for date, times and eight locations.

Village Baptist Church, 906 McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville. Join the Village for a special Maundy Thursday service April 6. It’s the day to remember the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples the night before his betrayal, arrest, and the events leading to his crucifixion. Resurrection Service Sunday April 9 at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Come celebrate the Good News of Christ's victory. For more information visit https://www.thevillagebc.church/easter.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1601 Raeford Road in Fayetteville, will follow the life of Jesus from Palm Sunday on April 2 at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to Easter Sunday. Maundy Thursday April 6 (Holy Eucharist), Good Friday April 7 (Solemn Liturgy with Communion) noon and 7 p.m., and Easter Sunday on April 9 at 10:30 a.m. and Annual Easter Egg Hunt following the morning liturgy. Visit https://www.holytrinityfay.org/ for info.

First Presbyterian Church, 102 Ann Street in Fayetteville, invites all to worship on Easter Sunday morning April 9 at 6:30 a.m. for Community Sunrise Easter Worship Service in Lafayette Park. Visit the website for registration and more information. http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ejocwprodc541032&llr=6avwukjab.

The Fayetteville Church, 1700 Elliot Farm Road in Fayetteville. Join Fayetteville Church on April 9 for an early morning devotional and Easter Sunday Service followed by an Egg Hunt. Sunrise Prayer 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., Easter Sunrise Devotional 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Visit the website for additional information - https://www.thefayettevillechurch.org/event-details/easter-sunday-2

Victory Outreach Word Ministries, 4814 U.S. 301 in Hope Mills. Join the VOW Church family for Easter Service on April 9. Service times are Sunday at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m. Visit the website for more information. https://www.facebook.com/thevowchurch/about.

Balm in Gilead Ministries, 3110 Doc Bennett Road in Fayetteville. All are welcomed to attend Balm in Gilead Ministries for Good Friday Communion Service held on Friday April 7 at 6 p.m. Easter Morning Worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. Please visit the link for more information http://www.balmingileadnc.org/.

Covenant Love Church, 420 Dunn Road in Fayetteville. Join CLC for an Easter weekend celebration. Friday, April 7 will be celebrating Good Friday with a Worship Service as we Behold Jesus together! Everyone is welcome to attend and join us, doors open at 6 p.m. and worship begins at 7 p.m. in the Main Sanctuary in Building B. The Easter Weekend continues in the Prayer Room on Saturday, April 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. as we come together to pray over our Easter Service and community. Saturday's Prayer Room will take place in Building D Mission Control. Easter Sunday takes place on Sunday, April 9. We will be having one service at 10 a.m. with the Campus opening at 9 a.m. Please visit the link for more information https://covenantlove.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1552507.

Fayetteville Christian Church, 4308 Rosehill Road in Fayetteville. Join FCC church family for Sunday morning service at 10:30 a.m. for an Easter Sunday celebration. Please visit https://www.fayettevillechristian.org/for more information.

Saint Ann Catholic Church, 357 N. Cool Spring Street in Fayetteville. Father Michael Coveyou and congregation invite you to Holy Thursday, April 6, (no 9 a.m. Daily Mass), Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7 p.m. The church will remain open until 10 p.m. for Adoration at the Altar of Repose. Good Friday, April 7, (no 12:15 p.m. Daily Mass), Stations of the Cross 3 p.m.; Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion 7 p.m. Holy Saturday, April 8, Blessing of the Easter Food Baskets 10 a.m. (no 5 p.m. Mass), The Great Easter Vigil 8:30 p.m., Easter Sunday, April 9, 8:30 a.m. Mass and 11 a.m. Mass. Visit website for more information - https://www.stanncatholicchurch.org/.

U.S. Army Fort Bragg All American Chapel Services, Bldg. C-7242. Sunday morning Worship Service — live stream at 11 a.m.; Catholic Mass Saturday at 5 p.m. and Mass Sunday at 9 a.m.
Additional Protestant Religious Education Programs:
Friday at 7 p.m. — LDS Religious Education, Protestant Women of the Chapel, Tuesday 9 a.m. — live stream Tuesday 6:30 p.m. (Nightly Study) 2nd and 4th Thursday at 9 a.m.
Spanish PWOC Reconciliation (30 minutes prior to every Mass), Saturday 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Visit the website for additional chapel locations and times, https://home.army.mil/bragg/index.php/about/garrison/religious-services/al.

Editor's Note: Due to space, we can not list all Church Easter activities. If your church would like Up & Coming Weekly to help publicize your events, please contact us at editor@upandcomingweekly.com.

Over the next few months, a number of streets will be redesignated as part of the Fort Bragg redesignation to Fort Liberty.

In total, nine streets will be named to commemorate and recognize the selfless services of U.S. Army Soldiers who share a special connection to the installation, according to a media release from Fort Bragg.
The “redesignation of the streets, and the name Liberty honors the heroism, sacrifices, and values of the soldiers, service members, civilians and families who live on and serve alongside this installation,” the release stated.

“We view this as the next chapter in the post’s history and look forward to honoring the stories of the military heroes of every generation and walk of life.”

The streets that will be redesignated are Bragg Boulevard, Reilly Road, Randolph Street, Armistead Street, Alexander Street, Pelham Street, Jackson Street, Donelson Street and Mosby Street.

Bragg Boulevard will change to Liberty Boulevard. The well-known street, Bragg Boulevard, that will change to Liberty Boulevard will only pertain to the portion of the road that runs through the installation. Bragg Boulevard is Highway 87 and only the portion on the installation will be redesignated.

Reilly Road will change to Rock Merritt Avenue. Kenneth “Rock” Merritt was a WWII and Vietnam veteran who jumped into Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944. He earned a Silver Star for disabling a German machine gun nest at Hill 131 near La Cuiroterie. Merritt went on to serve during Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. He was also Command Sergeant Major of the XVIII Airborne Corps, twice.

Randolph Street will change to R. Miller Street. Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller received the Medal of Honor, posthumous, for actions conducted in Afghanistan in January 2008 while serving with 3rd Special Forces Group. Miller’s extraordinary valor during that battle in which he was mortally wounded ultimately saved the lives of seven members of his own team and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers.

Armistead Street will change to Stiner Road. Gen. Carl Stiner was the former commanding general of USASOC, JSOC, XVIII Abn. Corps, and the 82nd Airborne Division. With his extensive background in special operations, he was heavily involved in the capture of the terrorists in the Achille Lauro hijacking, the Panama invasion and the capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, and all special operations activities during Operation Desert Storm.

Alexander Street will change to Gandara Street. Pvt. Joe Gandara received the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for actions conducted on June 9, 1944 in Amfreville, France. While serving with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Abn. Div., Gandara’s detachment came under devastating enemy fire from a strong German force that pinned the men on ground for a period of four hours. He advanced alone firing his machine gun from his hip destroying three hostile machine guns before he was fatally wounded.

Pelham Street will change to Conde-Falcon Road. Staff Sgt. Felix M. Conde-Falcon received the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for actions conducted in 1969 while serving as an acting platoon leader in an operation near Ap Tan Hoa, Vietnam. While serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Abn. Div., Conde-Falcon moved ahead of his platoon heaving grenades towards a first bunker. Without hesitating, he proceeded to take out two additional bunkers in the same manner. Rejoined with his platoon, they came under heavy enemy fire. He single-handedly assaulted the nearest fortification carrying a machine gun killing the enemy before running out of ammunition. He retrieved an M-16 rifle and concentrated on the next bunker — within 10 meters of his goal, he was shot by an unseen assailant and soon died of his wounds.

Jackson Street will change to Merriweather Road. Staff Sgt. Daniel Merriweather was killed in action on Jan. 13, 2010, during Operation Enduring Freedom while serving with the 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Bragg. Merriweather’s vehicle was attacked by enemy forces with an improvised explosive device. He is survived by his wife, Rachelle, and his two sons.

Donelson Street will change to Benavidez Street. Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez served with the XVIII Abn. Corps and 82nd Abn. Div. and earned a Medal of Honor for actions conducted in 1968 while serving as a staff sergeant in Vietnam with 5th Special Forces Group. Benavidez voluntarily joined his comrades, who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire. He refused to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, and ultimately saved the lives of at least eight men.

 Mosby Street will change to Shachnow Lane. Maj. Gen. Sidney Shachnow survived imprisonment, the Nazi Holocaust, and the Second World War to become one of the most influential Army Special Forces officers of the post-Vietnam era. He is a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment as well as both the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs Corps Halls of Fame. He served as the Honorary Colonel of the Special Forces Regiment from 2008 to 2011 and was the only General in the U.S. Army to have survived the Holocaust.

The street names selected were based off input from units on the installation. The new names honor the heroism, sacrifices and values of those who have a unique connection to Fort Bragg.
According to Fort Bragg officials, all streets will have new signs in place over the next few months and no later than Dec. 31.

What would the Founding Fathers think if they were here today?

In my opinion, it wouldn’t be self-driving cars or the internet that would surprise them the most. I think it would be the size of our government.

The entire executive branch used to fit inside of the White House. Yet today, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards and commissions fill hundreds of buildings with millions of bureaucrats constantly seeking to expand their power.

Our government is meant to be responsive to the people. Our system of checks and balances was not set up to have un-elected bureaucrats making laws and rules that impact the everyday lives of you and your family.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden presented his budget to Congress. This reckless budget will grow the size of government even further and proposes trillions in new spending and higher taxes for you and families across the country. It will further increase our national debt and your cost of living — at a time when we suffer a $31 trillion debt and an inflation crisis.

This radical budget spends $16.5 billion on the climate and $3 billion for gender equity, yet just $40 million to combat the fentanyl crisis that is killing thousands of Americans. It also contains a staggering $1.9 billion to fund the ATF — directly declaring war on your Second Amendment rights.

I was proud to introduce a resolution last week to prevent the ATF from enforcing an unconstitutional pistol brace rule that targets law-abiding citizens and combat wounded veterans. As this bill is considered by the House, I will continue to support efforts to defend your constitutional rights, just as I continue my work to expand school safety and mental health.

In the Energy and Commerce Committee last week, I had the opportunity to question the CEO of TikTok and express my concerns with the social media app. As a parent, I'm very concerned about the ways in which social media companies impact our children’s behaviors and mental health. While many might consider TikTok to be just another video-sharing app, in reality it’s likely it has been functioning as a massive Chinese Communist Party surveillance program — and it is all in the palm of your hand.

As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I have serious concerns about the opportunities TikTok gives the CCP to access non-public sensitive data from our military families.

I asked the TikTok CEO if the company can access other devices on your home Wi-Fi to collect data. He could not give me a straight answer. It should concern every American that his answer wasn’t “No.” I look forward to further addressing the threat this app presents to our national security in order to create a strong national data privacy standard that will put you back in charge of your data.

From reckless spending, to threatening your constitutional rights, to refusing to stand up to the Chinese Community Party, the Biden administration is a threat to the freedoms you hold so dear.

As your Congressman, I never stop working to solve problems facing you and your family.

The U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum will again host the Field of Honor from Sept. 11 to Nov. 12. All flags will proudly be displayed on the Museum’s Parade Field.

The 2023 Field of Honor is brought to the public by the Cool Spring Downtown District and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation.

Each flag comes with its own story and displays a tag identifying both the flag sponsor and honoree.

This living display of heroism flies as a patriotic tribute to the strength and unity of Americans, and honors all who are currently serving, those that have served, and the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s security and freedom.

Flags are now available for purchase. Sales will close on Aug. 1. This year, a limited number of flags are available around the Iron Mike Circle for a special price.

To purchase a flag, visit: https://shop.asomf.org/field-of-honor/.

The upcoming spring and summer season of Sweet Tea Shakespeare will include plays in both Fayetteville and Raleigh. “Shakespeare in Love,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “The Illusion,” and “The Little Princess” will take audiences to a realm of grand drama and intense emotion.

Tickets for all plays continue to be among the most reasonably priced entertainment alternatives in the area, as Sweet Tea Shakespeare embraces its purpose to make theater accessible to everyone.

A chance to see all four plays at a discounted price has been made available for those looking for a genuinely entertaining spring and summer event.

“The Illusion” and “Shakespeare in Love” will run consecutively in Fayetteville April through early July. “A Little Princess” will run in June and “A Midsummer Night's Dream” will run in late July, both in Raleigh. To see all four shows, it’s only $50. For students of any age, it is $25.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s production of Tony Kushner’s “The Illusion” will sprinkle some magic across Fayetteville. This comedy drama, which is an adaptation of “L’Illusion Comique” by French writer Pierre Corneille from the 17th century, is sure to amuse audiences this spring.

“The Illusion” focuses on Pridamant, a worried parent frantically looking for his son Clindor. When he meets Alcandre the Magician, whose promise is to reveal Clindor’s location through a vision, this story takes an unexpected turn. It serves as a reminder that travels are genuine, even if some of what we see in life may not be, as it unfolds with stock characters from commedia dell’arte and full of illusions that confound even Alcandre himself.

Jeremy Fiebig, Sweet Tea Shakespeare Artistic Director, is in charge of directing the play.

This outdoor performance will run from April 21-23, April 28-30 and May 5-7 starting at 7:30 p.m. at the rustic amphitheater at Gillis Hill Farm. There will be a live music pre-show 45 minutes before show time.

Many call “Shakespeare in Love” a testament to storytelling. In this story, the Queen demands a comedy and every word the playwright pens leaves him perplexed. To have the opportunity to voice her opinions, a noblewoman challenges the established quo. In Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s production, the most tragic love story ever written is re-imagined.

“Shakespeare In Love,” a theatrical adaptation of the 1999 Oscar-winning screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, will be performed in Fayetteville this summer to the delight of Sweet Tea Shakespeare audiences.

The play follows a young Will Shakespeare’s struggle to write his next play and how his encounters with Viola DeLessex, a young member of the aristocracy, affect him.

Viola dreams of appearing in one of his plays despite the fact that doing so is against the law. Their interactions inspire Will to write the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

It is directed by special guest Jim Warren (Founding Director of the American Shakespeare Center, author of Shakespeare's New Contemporaries, and head project consultant for the American Globe Center), and features original music by award-winning multi-hyphenate musician Owen Eddy (www.oweneddy.com).

Will and Viola fall in love and get into trouble as they try to navigate their star-crossed path to happiness against the humorous backdrop of mistaken identity, cunning plotting and backstage antics.

What transpires is evidence of the storytelling’s ability to lead us to unexpected locations, unbelievable opportunities, and eventually our magum opus — our great life’s work.

The venue for this performance is to be announced soon. This show will run from June 23-25, June 20-July 2 with shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live music pre-show 30 minutes before show time.

Guests can purchase the All Four One package or individual show tickets. For more information on productions in Fayetteville and the two to be performed in Raleigh, visit https://sweetteashakespeare.com/.

Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation and Methodist University are teaming up this year to celebrate health and wellness along the tranquil banks of the Cape Fear River.

The second annual Step Up 4 Health and Wellness Expo will take place on Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Methodist University’s campus.

An expansion of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s long-standing Ribbon Walk, the expo, presented by Cumulus Media, was introduced last year and held at Festival Park.

“This year’s move to Methodist University’s campus is an exciting opportunity to reach more people in the community and have more patients benefit from the event,” said Kristen Carpenter, Cape Fear Valley Health’s Development Coordinator for Community Engagement.

Continuing in the tradition of the Ribbon Walk, registrants can sign up to participate in either a one mile race or a 4K (around 2.5 miles), which will send them on a course through Methodist University’s beautifully landscaped, 600-acre campus. The fundraiser, which brought in more than $70,000 last year, offers support to various services directly impacting the lives of patients in the community.

Opening ceremonies for the walk will kick off at 9:30 a.m., followed by a survivor’s lap. All survivors are welcome and encouraged to join. Both the walk and the expo will officially begin at 10 a.m.
The Health Expo, located at the university’s newly-renovated Duggins Soccer Stadium, is free and open to the public.

The family-friendly community event promises to have a little bit of everything. Attendees are in for a fun and informative afternoon with around 60 vendors and booths from various community organizations and Cape Fear Valley Health service lines. During the expo, participants will have an opportunity to learn hands-on CPR, get wellness checks, and snag a goodie bag or two. The hope is that people will leave just a bit healthier and more informed than they came.

With a Healthplex membership raffle, kid’s area, music, food trucks, and some pulse-pumping Zumba — the expo has all the makings of a fun Saturday out with the family.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to come out and learn more about the different services we offer, get their wellness checked, and learn more about other organizations in the community as well,” Carpenter commented.

The registration fee to either walk or run is $30, and all participants will receive a T-shirt. Participants can register as individuals or as teams representing various organizations, local businesses or in remembrance of a loved one.

Registrants can stick to tradition and apply their registration fee to Friends of the Cancer Center or to support the following: Children’s Services, the Community Alternatives Program, Cumberland County Medication Access Program, or Heart Care. The fee can be split amongst all of these service lines as well.

There is no cost or registration to attend the Wellness Expo.
To register for the walk, visit www.cfvfoundation.org/stepup4health.

Methodist University is located at 5400 Ramsey Sreet.

Privei is a luxury menswear store in Fayetteville that every streetwear lover needs to experience. The store is now located at the Cross Creek Mall, by the Macy’s entrance. They are now on their third location in the city, with plans to expand outside of the store and give customers a different Privei experience.

“The best way to describe the brand is high-end streetwear,” says owner and operator Nicolino Parisi.

Privei is a store that holds carefully selected legacy brands, such as Billionaire Boys Club, Comme Des Garçons, Puma Select, and many others. They also sell home goods, shoes and a variety of accessories that you won’t find anywhere else in Fayetteville.

“I feel like what makes us unique is our ability to not compromise. We’re in the business of service, and I care a lot about the experience, energy, brands and overall feel of everything dealing with the store. Presentation, marketing, all of it,” says Parisi.

Privei first opened its doors back in 2014, with a location off of Skibo Road. The store stood out on the street with a bright sign spelling out the name, and that location was a home for many art exhibits, music showcases and creatives around the city. Alongside Parisi was former manager of Privei, James Gonzales (also known as musician James Vader).

Together, Parisi and Gonzales cultivated ideas and organized those events that still have an impact on the community they serve today. Parisi also gives a lot of credit to his father as a huge support system, who has helped Parisi build out his vision at his locations over time.

The name ‘Privei’ is a unique French spelling of the word “private,” which speaks to the store’s luxurious feel and the unique brands carried. Their brand focuses on concept, market and art. Privei strives to make a unique shopping experience for its customers, as well as be a centerpiece in the community for art, music and culture.

The Fayetteville native always had a love for fashion, but Parisi truly discovered the importance of individuality and standing out, at Douglas Byrd High School. Due to strict dress codes, backpacks could only be grey, black or white. With an urge to stand out and be different, he used his creativity, and started tie dying backpacks for his classmates.

Parisi then transitioned from backpacks to clothes, where he started creating cut and sew pieces, more specifically jeans. With success from selling his creations, he figured it was time to put his clothes in
a store.

Slim, owner of a former streetwear store in Fayetteville called ‘Exclusive Game,' gave Parisi his first opportunity to sell his clothes at his desired price point. This act of kindness gave him the belief that his path in fashion was possible.

It was also from this act, that later birthed Privei’s showcases and market day series, which Parisi credits has kept the store thriving throughout the years. “Ninety-eight percent of businesses close within their first five years, we’ve been able to combat that by opening our doors to the community and artists in our early years, and maintaining that relationship.”

With Privei’s roots grounded in the city, they plan to keep expanding on their love for community, and giving other businesses a chance to monetize what they love to do. They are looking to partner with bigger entities in the city to make this happen, and are looking to welcome more legacy brands in the near future.

A visit to Privei is worth a trip to Cross Creek Mall. Their store is open seven days a week,

For the first time in my 30-year history of being associated with Fayetteville/Cumberland County youth baseball,

I was greatly disappointed that out of 17 combined city and county elected officials, no one representing this community’s residents felt it necessary enough to show up at the Kiwanis Recreation Center’s ballfields to participate and celebrate the excitement of Youth Baseball’s Opening Day.

Hundreds of people gathered together last Saturday morning when the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club welcomed the “children of summer” onto the baseball field. Where were our Cumberland Commissioners, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, and any member of the Fayetteville City Council?

The most glaring absence was that of Councilman Johnny Dawkins since the ballpark and all that Opening Day excitement was taking place in his home District 5. Oops! Or, perhaps we should refer to this as his other home in District 5. His real home, where his wife resides, is in the Raleigh-Garner area, as recently reported by the news media. I doubt living part-time elsewhere would qualify as an “excused absence.”

However, it does speak volumes to the adage “out of sight, out of mind.”
Like many others elected, Dawkins likes to get out of Fayetteville as often as he can. A disturbing circumstance for someone elected to represent ALL the residents of Fayetteville full-time.

But this editorial is not about Dawkins. This local newspaper believes that elected city and county officials are responsible for representing their constituents and promoting their community's interests.
Elected officials cannot do this if they are constantly absent from major public events, meetings and local social gatherings.

Our present elected officials constantly shield themselves from the public. And, rightfully so. Why? Accountability. They know all too well that by making themselves more visible and accessible to their constituents, they would be held accountable and responsible for their actions and decisions. And, since many of them are oblivious to what is happening in the community, they cannot intelligently explain their actions or behavior, which makes this matter even more egregious.

We, as responsible citizens, want to get to know our elected officials. We want them to see our support, yet we intend to hold them accountable for their actions. But, there are other reasons they should make themselves accessible. They should want to build trust and relationships with residents. Getting out in public allows elected officials to connect with constituents personally, which builds confidence, trust and promotes transparency.

Elected officials should want to raise awareness of important city and county issues and initiatives and engage the community by asking for their input.
Effective elected officials demonstrate leadership by appearing at public events like Opening Days, Dogwood Festivals, Karen Chandler Concerts, and Chamber of Commerce events, etc., taking advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate and endorse their commitment to the community while taking an active and genuine role in representing Fayetteville/Cumberland County constituents to promote positive change and enhance the quality of life.

In closing, I feel being out in public and promoting constituents' interests is their overall responsibility. Attending public events and mingling with the people is integral to an elected official’s role in serving the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community.

They need to stop trying to communicate with us through ineffective websites, social media and Constant Contact email blasts. Nothing works better than transparency and face-to-face interaction.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Every year in April for the last 13 years, Fayetteville and surrounding areas have been festooned with bright blue pinwheels in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The pinwheels represent “the bright future every child deserves to have,” Faith Boehmer, Prevention and Volunteer Coordinator for the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville, explained. As they spin and flash, the pinwheels remind all who see them that not every child grows up in a secure, stable or nurturing environment.
According to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, over 4 million child maltreatment reports were made in 2021 involving over 7.2 million children. Of that number, only 2.9 children received prevention and post-response services.

Though the numbers are smaller, they are no less startling when viewed a bit closer to home.

“In 2021-2022, we had 808 [child abuse] referrals,” Boehmer shared. “Of that, 569 cases were followed by forensic interviews. Though our cases have doubled over the past 14 years, so have our efforts to educate the community.”

To bring awareness to the very real issue of child abuse and neglect in Cumberland County, the CAC has launched a month-long campaign to inform the community about resources, support and prevention.

As April gets underway, concerned community members can show their support in a number of ways. Community Pinwheel Kits containing 25 pinwheels and a yard sign are available on the CAC website for $50. Pinwheel vases, pins, jewelry and decals are also available for sale. All purchases must be made through the CAC website and picked up from the office during regular office hours. A portion of all sales supports the CAC and its continued effort to be “a voice for the children.”

There are seven scheduled pinwheel plantings around Cumberland County throughout April to increase the visibility of this ongoing crisis. Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville State University, FTCC, the Town of Spring Lake, Methodist University, and the Town of Hope Mills will each hold a ceremony to plant 400 pinwheels in high-traffic areas to show their support for abused and neglected children.

Fayetteville is also encouraged to #ShopBlueDowntown for child abuse awareness in April. Twenty downtown merchants are raising awareness and funds on behalf of the CAC by offering special blue-colored items at a discount on select days throughout the month. A full list of participating merchants can be found on the CAC website, https://www.cacfaync.org/.

On Thursday, April 20, Cumberland County and Fort Bragg community partners will host their Annual Child Abuse Summit from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the John D. Fuller Sr. Recreational/Athletic Complex on Old Bunce Road in Fayetteville. This year’s summit will cover topics such as the dangers of sexting, human trafficking, the WORTH Court, the integration of clinical hypnosis and child abuse, and other areas of concern.

Filmmaker and child sexual abuse survivor, Sasha Neulinger, will be featured on the panel’s list of speakers to screen and discuss his documentary “Rewind” about the traumatic abuse he suffered at the hands of a family member.

The free summit is designed with professionals who work with at-risk children.
For more information and a full list of activities, speakers and programs, visit https://www.cacfaync.org/.

How challenging can selling a business be? On the surface, the prospect appears simple. First, you have a business and want to sell it, then you share that information and wait for a buyer. But the reality is both more complicated and more nuanced. Using a broker takes the pressure off you so you can focus on your business operations.

Few business owners understand everything involved in selling a business. Even fewer have the time in their busy schedules to manage the process. That's why working with a professional business advisor can help you sell your business with ease and confidence.

Have All Necessary Documents

To begin the process of selling your business, you need to gather all the appropriate documents for your advisor. You'll need to show the history and the potential growth of the company. Items to include are: tax returns, all leases and contracts, YTD financials, vendor and supplier information, current inventory, accounts receivable aging.

This information provides insight, allowing the advisor to create a potential buyer profile. It can also show the potential buyer their benefits.

Market Your Business

The next step is to determine how to best reach the right buyers for your business. There are many avenues a business advisor can use to successfully market a business for sale. This can range from using buyer lists or posting on digital platforms. Strategic research about other companies in the same industry will offer insight into the types of buyers you want to target; individual or expansion buyers who want to merge their businesses or acquire new ones.

Essential to the marketing process is only sharing information as needed for each stage of the process to potential buyers. The process begins with a 100% confidential advertisement to pique interest. Then targeted advertising efforts and outreach targeted toward buyer databases. Once a potential buyer expresses interest and signs an NDA, you can share a limited package of summary financials. The timing of the release of certain details is a successful strategy to keep the buyer intrigued.

Submit Your Paperwork

The final stage of due diligence involves releasing the last of the financial information once an offer letter of intent has been accepted by both parties. This is when you release full details like property information, bank statements, payroll reports, employee lists, job descriptions, and a full inventory. The bank will also order tax transcripts from the IRS directly.

Once you submit the paperwork and all parties sign off, you can celebrate the successful sale of your business and prepare for your next stage — whether it is a new challenge, retirement, or something else.
Business advisors can walk you through every step of the selling process. They can help you determine the market value of your business, assist you in gathering your assets and financial documents, find a buyer, work with the professionals such as wealth managers, accountants, attorneys, lenders, inspectors, and appraisers, and finish the sale. After all, you want the best price with the best terms for your years of hard work and effort.

Using an advisor and having all your paperwork in order can only help maximize the profit on your business sale.
Editor’s note: Ashley Kelsey is a Business Broker at Transworld Business Advisors of Eastern North Carolina.

To say weddings are stressful is an understatement. With so many people, and so many things to do, members of the wedding party can easily get stressed. From the venue to the dresses, everything should be perfect.

As a makeup artist, Kristen Brabble helps fulfill a vision many people have on their perfect wedding day.

“I love making people feel like themselves, the best version of them,” Brabble told Up & Coming Weekly.

“I love being a part of those really intimate days. These are days where it's just your closest family and friends, and you really get to watch these really special moments. You know, words being said, heirlooms being passed down, gifts being given. And it's just really beautiful to watch someone going through this big milestone and they have so many more milestones ahead of them. And it's just the beginning. It's really beautiful.”

For her, makeup is not just a superficial thing. Makeup is a superpower that can boost confidence and make people feel beautiful.
Based out of Raleigh, Brabble owns her own business, Hello Pretty. She often works in and around Fayetteville for weddings and events. She started her aesthetics career in 2007, and became a full-time bridal makeup artist in 2013.

However, since the pandemic, the wedding industry has changed. Wedding parties are a lot more intimate, and wedding venues don’t allow a large number of guests to enter their properties at one time. That includes makeup artists.

“Usually, people get ready at the wedding venue. That's just kind of always traditionally been what you do. You get ready at the wedding venue. We used to be able to get into the wedding venues at 8 in the morning, and now it's more like between 11 and 1. So it's cut down on time to get everybody ready drastically,” Brabble said.

Some venues even placed the makeup artists in a small trailer that had no air conditioning and was often unbalanced. The space was small and crowded, leaving everyone feeling uncomfortable.
This inspired her to come up with her own mobile makeup and beauty bar.

“That way, everybody can arrive, and everybody can stay on-site the day of the wedding to get ready. So I would like to take a camper and outfit it to be really cute and fun and something that can fit a bridal party so that everyone can be together and do their hair and makeup the day of the wedding in a nice, timely manner.”

While Brabble doesn’t have a design drawn out, she does have a vision of what she wants inside this renovated camper. When you walk in, there will be a long U-shaped bench and a long table where people can gather, sit, talk and eat. On the right, she wants two chairs in front of mirrors, which will be perfect for makeup and hair. The kitchen will remain in the camper, so people can have food and drinks while they get ready for their big days. The room in the back of the camper will be redone to have an extra makeup/styling chair as well as an area for photos and selfies.

“Everyone wants a good photo moment. So there will be a space in there for photographic moments,” Brabble said.

Overall, the camper will have cute and fun wallpaper, be colorful and just be exciting. But this camper won’t be used just for weddings or special events. Brabble says this camper will be used to start mobile makeup lessons.

“I get a lot of inquiries about lessons. So in having this mobile beauty bar, it's also going to help me expand greatly on another portion of what I do, and that's the lessons,” Brabble said.
Brabble recently presented her idea as a part of #HERPitch. Out of a dozen business owners, Brabble was one of the four winners who received a grant for $2,500 from CEED Capital and the Women of Power Society of NC.

Brabble hopes to launch her mobile makeup beauty bar in six months. She is both excited and nervous, but she can’t imagine this launch not happening.

“It's definitely one of those things that I think about all day. It's like one of those things that I can't imagine it not happening, if that makes sense. It's like tunnel vision for me at this point and that came through at the end of the tunnel.”

For more information about Brabble and her company, Hello Pretty, visit www.helloprettyyou.com.

The City of Fayetteville encourages residents to participate in Fayetteville Beautiful to reduce the amount of litter and other pollutants on city streets and in stormwater systems.

Fayetteville Beautiful is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers should meet at the open lot at 447 Murchison Road. Litter bags, gloves, water and snacks will be provided to volunteers.
Registration, an interactive map, rules and photos from past events can be found on the Fayetteville Beautiful webpage at https://www.fayettevillenc.gov/city-services/parks-and-recreation/fayetteville-beautiful.

The city-sponsored program is dedicated to encouraging others to take greater responsibility for improving their environment through litter abatement, waste reduction and beautification programs.

Fayetteville Beautiful aligns with the city’s “Put Waste in its Place” campaign that reminds residents and visitors of their role in ensuring Fayetteville remains a desirable place to live, work and recreate. Here are a few ways residents can help with putting waste in its place: Use reusable containers; recycle bottles, cans, paper, plastics; adopt a street/site and keep it clean; provide adequate trash and recycling containers, place conspicuously and empty often.

Fayetteville Beautiful happens twice per year, in the spring and fall. Volunteers collected 1.3 tons of litter at the Spring 2022 event.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and to raise awareness, gardens of bright blue pinwheels are being "planted" in various locations across Cumberland County. The pinwheel represents a happy, safe and carefree childhood that every child deserves. More than a million pinwheels have been displayed nationwide since the campaign started in April 2008, adopted by Prevent Child Abuse America.

 The Child Advocacy Center is leading the campaign locally, coordinating with schools, organizations, businesses and agencies to sponsor the "gardens." This is the 13th year that the CAC has coordinated the campaign in Cumberland County, and each year, the numbers have grown.

 Pinwheels for Prevention started as a grassroots campaign from Prevent Child Abuse America. The blue pinwheels serve as a reminder of the bright and happy future that every child deserves. The purpose of planting the pinwheels is to raise awareness and change the public's belief and behavior about child abuse and neglect.

 The CAC is partnering with seven other places within the community for pinwheel garden planting ceremonies. Join them during your lunch break at any of the following locations:

• Town of Hope Mills, March 30 at noon
• Festival Park, March 31 at 12:30 p.m.
• Fayetteville Technical Community College, April 3 at noon
• Methodist University, April 4 at noon
• Cumberland County Schools, Central Services, April 4 at 2 p.m.
• Town of Spring Lake, April 5 at noon
• Fayetteville State University, April 6 at noon

 The CAC is also decorating several black flowerpots downtown with pinwheels and signs about April being Child Abuse Prevention Month.

 Downtown Fayetteville merchants are coming together to help the CAC spread awareness about Child Abuse Prevention Month this April. Visitors can #ShopBlueDowntown on select days in April and help 20 businesses raise awareness and funds for the CAC in various ways.

 The CAC is hosting 'Monday with a Book' each week of April. Parents and children can visit their website or social media outlets on Facebook or Instagram to listen to the body safety books.

 Pinwheel garden kits and more pinwheel gear are still available at www.cacfaync.org.

 "We hope that during the month of April, you will find ways to celebrate the children in your life," said a representative from the CAC. "As you see, the pinwheels spinning in the sun this April, be reminded that the pinwheels represent the bright future for our children and our community. We want all children to live in stable, loving and stimulating environments – at home, at school and in the community."

 For more information on the CAC or to get involved, please visit the website at www.cacfaync.org

Fayetteville Technical Community College's Fine Arts Department will present a six-show run of "Steel Magnolias" over two weekends, starting Friday, March 31.

The comedy-drama by Robert Harling is about the bonds between six women in a southern town.
The FTCC production will be held in Cumberland Hall Auditorium at 2215 Hull Road on the College's Fayetteville campus. All performances are free and open to the public.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday, March 31; 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1; 7 p.m. Saturday, April 1; 7 p.m. on Friday, April 7; 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 8; and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.

"Steel Magnolias" is being presented through a special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service in New York.

Photos courtesy Fayetteville Technical Community College

Tradition features prominently in Holy Week celebrations. The week leading up to Easter Sunday, Holy Week, is a sacred time for faithful Christians. The Stations of the Cross are one of the traditions that many Christians feel bolsters their faith and brings them closer to God.

What are the Stations of the Cross? According to Catholic Online, the Stations of the Cross are a 14-step devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. Each of the 14 stations focus on a specific event of Jesus’ last day.

Where can the Stations of the Cross be found? Stations of the Cross are typically found in churches. Many times the Stations adorn the interior wall of a church, and Catholic Online notes they’re often depicted using small icons or images.
Some churches with sizable exterior grounds may arrange larger Stations along footpaths in yards or gardens on the premises.

When do people pray the Stations of the Cross? Lent is the most common time to pray the Stations of the Cross, and some churches hold weekly prayer sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays during this time of year, often with midday and evening prayer.

The Stations of the Cross are an important Easter tradition that shed light on Jesus’ resurrection. Individuals interested in praying the Stations of the Cross are urged to contact a
local church so they can engage in this moving Christian tradition.

The Stations of the Cross are an important Easter tradition for many Christians. According to Catholic Online, the 14 Stations of the Cross are:

• 1. Jesus is condemned to death
• 2. Jesus carries the cross
• 3. Jesus falls for the first time
• 4. Jesus meets with His Mother
• 5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus
  carry the cross
• 6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
• 7. Jesus falls a second time
• 8. Jesus meets the women of
  Jerusalem
• 9. Jesus falls a third time
• 10. Jesus’ clothes are taken away
• 11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
• 12. Jesus dies on the cross
• 13. The body of Jesus is taken
  down from the cross
• 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

Easter Sunday is often described as the holiest day on the Christian calendar. A day when Christians across the globe commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter Sunday is the culmination of the Lenten season of sacrifice.

Easter Sunday comes on the heels of Holy Week, which is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. Holy Week consists of various days that have their own special significance in the minds and hearts of Christians.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Trinity College at the University of Melbourne notes that Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, where He was greeted with crowds that enthusiastically waved palm branches. In commemoration of that entry and greeting, Christians receive palm branches or palm crosses during Palm Sunday Mass.

Holy Wednesday Once known as “Spy Wednesday,” Holy Wednesday focuses on the darkness of Holy Week and is meant to symbolize the abandonment of Jesus by His disciples. The religious service of Tenebrae, which is a Latin word meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” is typically observed during Holy Wednesday services.

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Washing of the Feet (Maundy) and the Last Supper. The Last Supper is the final meal Jesus shared with his apostles prior to His crucifixion. Christian scriptures indicate that, during the Last Supper, Jesus predicted His betrayal by one of the apostles present at the meal. It was also during the Last Supper when Jesus foretells that Peter will deny knowing Him three times before the next morning. Trinity College notes that Maundy Thursday reminds Christians of the new commandment that Jesus gave His disciples. That commandment was to love others as Jesus has loved them.

Good Friday commemorates the trial of Jesus, His subsequent sentence of death, His torture, the crucifixion and burial. Non-Christians may wonder why a day commemorating such events would be characterized as “good,” but Trinity College notes that, in this sense, the word “good” is meant to connote something “holy” or “pious.”

Holy Saturday marks the conclusion of Holy Week. Celebrations of Holy Saturday typically include a late-night Easter Vigil service that involves a liturgy and ultimately the celebration of the Eucharist. The two-part celebration is designed to commemorate the emergence from darkness into the light that is the Eucharist.

Holy Week is a significant period for Christians across the globe that commemorates many of the events that preceded the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If you are focusing on a healthy diet, it is hard not to think about sugar. You do not have to cut out sugar altogether. The key to a healthy sugar intake is to know the difference between natural and refined sugar.

Natural sugar is sugar that occurs in a food source without additives. Naturally recurring sugar is found in food such as dairy products, fruit or carbohydrates. When we think of sugar our first thought includes fruit, but natural sugar occurs in starchy vegetables, brown rice, whole grain pasta and cheese.

Refined or processed sugar should be limited. It includes sugar-enhanced products such as candy, cookies, sodas and smoothies.

According to dietary sources, the daily consumption amount of sugar for a 2,000-calorie diet is 37 grams for men and 25 grams for women. This translates into six teaspoons for women and eight for men.

Added sugar is not in food naturally and is added in products that include soda, yogurt, smoothies, candies and cakes. The problem with added sugar is the increased calories without nutritional benefits. Almost half of the added sugar in the daily diet comes from sweetened beverages, sodas and fruit drinks. Added sugar can also be found in the ingredients on food labels and some of them include brown sugar, corn syrup, sugar, syrup and molasses. Foods with added sugar should be eaten in moderation.

While sugar is not considered to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing), over-consumption of sugar and processed added sugar can add additional caloric intake which contributes to obesity. Obesity is considered a primary risk factor for cancer. There is no evidence that sugar makes cancer cells grow faster. Sugar stimulates the production of fatty acids in the liver. With digestion, fatty acids can contribute to compounds that trigger inflammation. There can be occurrences that cause inflammation such as fatigue, weight gain and body pain to name a few.

The overabundance of sugar can have long-term effects on the body which can include obesity, tooth decay and diabetes. Tooth decay is frequently caused by sugar because bacteria that cause cavities use sugar as a catalyst. Drinking sugary drinks adds a lot of calories but does not result in feeling full. Candy, cookies, cakes, other processed sweets, and sodas can contain approximately 30 grams of added sugar which is over the recommendation for daily consumption.

Artificial sweeteners may seem healthier because they do not contain sugar but they are more likely to make you hungrier and eat more throughout the day. The worst artificial sweeteners are sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin because the sugar substitutes are manufactured in a lab. Other sweeteners to avoid include high fructose corn syrup, brown rice syrup and agave.

The best alternative sweeteners are honey, coconut sugar and maple syrup. Honey is a healthy alternative because the liquid is made from bees visiting flowering plants.

Raw unpasteurized honey contains trace amounts of B vitamin and the minerals, iron, manganese and potassium.

Another benefit is that the taste is sweeter with a lesser addition to satisfy the taste buds.

Maple syrup comes from the sap of maple trees and adds antioxidants of trace amounts of manganese and zinc. Coconut sugar is made by boiling down and dehydrating the sap of coconut palm flowers.

Drinks containing high volumes of sugar are Mountain Dew (20 ounces or 18 and one-half teaspoons of sugar), Icee (74 grams), Coke (65 grams), sweet tea (42 grams).

Live, love life and enjoy sugar in moderation.