Fayetteville’s hottest new bar is coming to town, but only for a limited time.

From March 23 to April 9, patrons can pull up a seat, tip their hat to the man behind the bar and listen to the sounds of “local color” unfold all around them.
Though it can’t be found on any map, revelers must look no further than the Cape Fear Regional Theater stage to find the city’s latest watering hole.

“Welcome To Arroyo’s!” is Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s newest production that will take the audience on a music-driven journey through New York’s Lower East Side as a brother and sister struggle under the weight of their shared grief and grapple with the complexity of identity.

Using hip-hop to weave an intricate tapestry, “Welcome to Arroyo’s!” is a “celebration of New York, hip-hop music and culture,” explained the play’s director, José Zayas.

“It takes place at a particular time in New York when things were changing.”

Originally written by Kristoffer Diaz in 2010, “Welcome To Arroyo’s!” is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that focuses on a Puerto Rican family, siblings Alejandro and Molly Arroyo, in the wake of their mother’s death.

Struggling in the aftermath of this tragedy, each must confront the intricacies of grief and the people that come into their lives to help make sense of it.

“I think this show will bring audiences a sense of hope,” actor Jarét Benét, who plays Officer Derek in the production, shared with Up & Coming Weekly.

“Whenever you lose someone close to you, it can take a long time to get over that, but whenever someone passes on, someone new always comes along. I think what the audience will take from that is none of us is struggling alone,” he said.

As the play focuses heavily on Puerto Rican identity, presenting a cast that remained faithful to the playwright’s intentions and message was paramount to Puerto Rican-born Zayas as a director.

“It was very important to be as authentic as possible,” Zayas admitted. “There’s so many levels of identity to take into account. When you’re casting, you hope to be able to stay true to those rhythms and nuances of culture.”

For actors Jesse Muñoz and Alondra Belén, who play Alejandro and Molly, the magnitude of telling Latinx stories can’t be overstated as both share a homeland or cultural similarities to the characters they’ll portray on stage.

“These characters were born and raised in the Bronx; I was born and raised in Puerto Rico — my first language is Spanish,” shared Belén. “There are just so many cultural backgrounds to consider; we really want this to be an authentic experience.”

“Welcome to Arroyo’s!” was originally scheduled to run during the 2020 season. Due to lingering concerns about COVID-19, the production was pared down to a virtual reading, where Ashley Owen, CFRT’s Marketing Director, fell in love.

“This is one of the funniest plays I've ever listened to or watched,” Owen shared. “It’s a joyful play and would make a great adult night out. This play is so much fun, and that's what people need. If you’re 18-55, this is going to be your jam,” she joked.

In addition to the play’s universal themes and unique premise, “Welcome To Arroyo’s!” brings Hispanic stories, relationships and struggles to a space they’re not often seen — the theater.

“The Hispanic population is one of the fastest growing in North Carolina,” Owen explained. “It’s a part of our city that we recognize and see. We wanted to put on a play for people not used to seeing themselves on stage.”

To bring home the feel of a neighborhood bar, seating for the play will take place right on stage. For those with a fear of interactive performances, there’s no need to worry — the audience won’t be called upon to participate. However, CFRT still hopes to fully engage audiences in this performance with a slew of exciting touches and special events.

The “bar” in Arroyo’s will be a fully functioning concession stand where the audience can grab a drink before the show and enjoy one of the many activities scheduled for opening week.

• Thursday, March 23: District House of Taps will be in-house to host a complimentary beer-tasting before dress rehearsal.
• Friday, March 24: Guests can enjoy some pre-show hip-hop trivia.
• Opening Night, March 25: Fayetteville Latin Dance will teach a few Latin dance moves from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
• Military Appreciation Night, March 29: Along with 25% discounted tickets for military personnel, a signature drink tasting featuring an Arroyo’s-themed drink will be revealed.
• Educator Appreciation Night, March 31: Educators will receive a 25% discounted ticket.

“Welcome to Arroyo’s!” is PG-13 and contains some adult language and themes. Tickets are $15-$28 and can be purchased on the theatre website https://www.cfrt.org/.
Cape Fear Regional Theatre is located at 1209 Hay Street.

During the early stage of the COVID crisis in 2020, my daily commute got super easy. Then it got scary hard.

While my staff and I worked from home for a few weeks, we soon concluded that some of our tasks could only be performed effectively in the office. So we resumed normal operations, albeit with some precautions.

At first, my springtime commutes from southern Wake County to my Raleigh office were delightful. The highways I traversed were lightly
traveled.

Then the speed demons took over. Whether they had always been would-be racecar drivers, or were just tempted into it by wide-open roads, I can’t say. But as early as seven in the morning, I regularly encountered motorists traveling 15 miles-per-hour or more above the speed limit on Raleigh’s Beltline and elsewhere, often dodging and weaving around slower-moving cars like mine as if they were playing some video game.

In many cases I witnessed two or more drivers clearly racing each other, oblivious to or unconcerned about the lives and property put at risk by their recklessness.
Today, almost three years later, I still witness the same behavior once or twice a week — only now the traffic is heavier and the hazards far greater.

Are bad driving habits fostered during pandemic lockdowns the sole reason North Carolina’s roads are becoming less safe? No.

After falling fairly consistently since the late 1960s, highway deaths per capita started rising about a decade ago. From 2011 to 2021, they went up 33%. More than half of that increase, however, happened over just two years: 2020 and 2021.

Although the number of people killed in car crashes in North Carolina in 2021 was the highest since 1973, we are a more populous state with more drivers on the road.

Despite the recent increase, our death rates remain far below the carnage of the 1960s and early 1970s. Our vehicles are better designed and maintained. Most of us wear seatbelts. Laws against drunk driving are clearer and more consistently enforced.

Moreover, while North Carolina’s recent uptick is worrisome — and our rate of 1.45 deaths per 100 million miles traveled is higher than the national average (1.34) — some of our nearby states are worse off, including Tennessee (1.59), Florida (1.60), West Virginia (1.66), Kentucky (1.68) and especially South Carolina (1.97).

In other words, there’s nothing unique about the recent increase in reckless driving on North Carolina’s roads and streets. It’s a broader phenomenon.

Nevertheless, we clearly have a serious problem. In most columns about such a problem, the author would conclude with a list of recommended policy changes to “fix” it. I’m not going to do that.

For one thing, it’s not clear to me that our current laws against speeding and reckless driving are inadequate, though I’m open to the possibility that we may need to hire and deploy more police officers and state troopers to enforce them. As New York police administrator John Hall observed in a 2021 Manhattan Institute paper, there is “considerable evidence that police traffic enforcement reduces crash injuries and fatalities.” (Hall also argued that increased use of automated enforcement such as traffic cameras won’t do as much to help, because there isn’t as much of a signal to passing motorists to slow down and because officers are more likely to detect and deter misbehavior such as late-night racing.)

Nor do I think North Carolina’s current messaging on highway safety necessarily needs an upgrade. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program, housed within DOT and ably directed by Mark Ezzell, already operates a range of awareness campaigns such as Booze It & Lose It and Speed a Little, Lose a Lot.

Rather than pinning our hopes primarily on legislation, I think all of us should accept a share of responsibility for combating the problem.
Let’s teach our young people to take driving seriously, control their tempers, and stow their devices. Let’s set a good example. Let’s show we know our roads aren’t racetracks.

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 (FolkloreCycle.com).

The Fayetteville City Council voted during a work session March 6 to hold a public hearing on whether to extend the length of council members’ terms from two years to four years.

Council members and the mayor are currently elected every two years. If the proposed change is approved, council members would serve staggered, four-year terms, meaning some seats would be on the ballot one year and others in the next election.

The mayor would still be elected every two years. The changes would apply only to future elections. The terms of current council members would stay at two years.

Two council members, Mario Benavente and Kathy Jensen, voted against proceeding with the measure. The date of the public hearing has not been determined.

Council member Derrick Thompson presented the measure to the City Council. He said four-year terms would help with long-term planning and decrease the risk of abrupt changes in the council makeup.

“We run the risk of having a new board every election cycle, including the mayor,” Thompson said. “This will cause havoc for a city this size, if that was to happen.”

The council’s action only puts the issue before the public for feedback at a hearing. The City Council would then decide whether to extend the length of the terms.
In 2018, the issue was put before voters in a referendum, and nearly 65% of voters rejected the measure.

When Benavente asked Monday why the council couldn’t put the proposed change on the ballot in another referendum, Thompson said, “Because we don’t have to.”
Thompson said that the public hearing would give city residents a chance to have their say on the proposal.

“Everybody will have an input on how we move forward,” Thompson said.

He said he could fill City Hall with people from his district who would support the plan, but he added that he wants to hear from people who live in other districts. Jensen, who opposed the measure, said constituents in her district are against term extensions.
“I know what my district has told me over and over again, so I'm not going to be able to support this,” Jensen said.

Last time I wrote about honeybees. I've learned more I want to share, beginning with where the term “Queen Bee” comes from.

She is truly a queen. Her court as I call it has a 24-hour royal service. Bees do not sleep, and the average bee produces one and one/half teaspoons of honey in a lifetime. Honey comes from the nectar of flowering plants and bees gather pollen and perform the vital service of pollinating fruit, vegetables and other types of plants in our food chain.

Honey is as old as written history and sacred writings in Egypt and India. Cave paintings in Spain have depictions dating back to 7,000 B.C. and fossils date back about 150 million years. Honey was considered valuable and often used as a form of currency, tribute or offering. In Germany, the peasants paid their feudal lords with beeswax and honey.

The earliest recorded beekeepers were found in the sun temple near Cairo and were often symbolized as royalty. Honey cakes were often baked by the Egyptians and Greeks as offerings to the gods.
Honey is the first sweetener known to man. Bears love honey but it isn’t just for the sweetness. They raid beehives in search of honey and will consume the bees, and larvae, which adds protein to their diet. The hives satisfy their sweet tooth with a quick meal of vitamins and minerals. Honey also has a presence in Christianity with the use of beeswax for church candles. There are also mentions of honey in the Bible.

John the Baptist was said to have survived off of wild honey and locusts in the dessert. Samson ate honey out of a skull of a lion carcass. Jacob sent his sons with gifts of spice, balm, honey and myrrh with pistachio nuts, and almonds for the Pharoah of Egypt. The armies of Israel found honey but were instructed not to eat it by the order of King Saul, so they would not be distracted.

A very poignant reference is when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush with the promise to deliver his people to a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey. However, this could also be viewed as a figurative as well as literal description of the Promised Land.

Bees were thought to have special powers and were found on many emblems such as those of Pope Urban VIII, a sign of the King of Lower Egypt during the First Dynasty, Napoleons’ flag and robe, the symbol of the Greek goddess Artemis, and the emblem of Eros and Cupid.

There are about 320 varieties of honey that vary in color and taste, odor and flavor because of the plants the bees visit. Honey contains mostly sugar and a mix of amino acids, minerals, vitamins, zinc and antioxidants. It is also a natural sweetener, and anti-inflammatory agent. It is used to treat coughs, burns and wounds for healing. Local honey is beneficial for allergies.

There is a difference between raw and regular honey. Raw honey comes directly from the honeycomb but, today, honey purchased in grocery stores is processed thru pasteurization which involves heating. During pasteurization, additional sugar may be added.

Raw honey comes from the honeycomb. The beekeeper will filter the honey to remove debris of pollen and beeswax. Because it is not pasteurized it may appear cloudy or opaque, but it is still safe to eat.
Honey contains about 80% sugar and can be a good substitute for people with diabetes. Keep in mind that although healthy it contains 64 calories per tablespoon.

Live, love life and honey.

Almost every day each of us has opportunities to learn something new. This past Monday’s [Feb. 27] Fayetteville City Council meeting was such an experience for me.
I learned why the [Mayor Mitch] Colvin administration is so very much against electing council members by the city rather than a multitude of so-called districts.

If the City Council were elected citywide the current cabal of racist, politically corrupt members would be out of office.

There would be people in those positions who would be expected to consider the welfare and benefit of the city rather than their own political interests.
The case of the PWC Commission position would be decided on the qualifications of the candidates rather than race or political connection.

After the original six candidates for the PWC position were announced, a lifelong Fayettevillian told me at a civic organization meeting that I should tell Joe Hallatschek to not waste his time, that former Councilman Davis would be chosen for the position.

I asked why he thought that. He said it was the way politics are done in this town.

Full disclosure: Joe Hallatschek is my son-in-law. I know his character and his technical qualifications for the job. A probable majority of the City Council knows that too.

But that’s not the way they voted. Joe is a West Point graduate, an Eagle Scout and a solid rock for me as I struggled through the loss of my wife of 64 years.

As Bill Bowman said in his editorial Actions speak louder than words: “That behavior speaks volumes to the leadership they are NOT providing... the Council lacks integrity, intelligence and common sense... I see bias, racism and good ole boy politics taking precedence over what is right and good for the citizens of Fayetteville. Fayetteville deserves better.”

The city has a lot going for it that is being wasted. A beautiful baseball stadium, the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, the coming Civil War and Reconstruction History Center, the Dogwood Festival, Methodist University and hundreds of very committed citizens who want the best for our community.

As long as Colvin and company have political control of our city we won’t get what is the best. Just more of the same shenanigans and self-serving acts.

We are in desperate need of more and better investigative reporting. With elections coming in November we need to spread the word about what is happening in city government.

Let’s encourage more people to get involved and question their so-called representatives. We do deserve better.

—Pat King, Fayetteville

Editor’s note: The referenced Publisher's Pen by Bill Bowman ran in the March 1 issue. It can be found at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/9578-mayor-actions-speak-louder-than-words

SAN DIEGO — Petty Officer 2nd Class Yasmine Jackson, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is one of more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard the self-contained mobile airport, USS Carl Vinson.
Equipped with a full flight deck and more than 60 aircraft including attack fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft carriers are one of the largest warships in the world.

Jackson graduated from Jack Britt High School in 2011 and joined the Navy six years ago.

“I joined the Navy to travel and see the world,” said Jackson. “My relatives, as well as my father, served in the military and it was important for me to follow in their footsteps.”

Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Fayetteville.

“I grew up in a military town where I was exposed to diversity and people from all different walks of life,” said Jackson. “Working and living with people from all different backgrounds and points of view is what makes this Navy great.”

Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.

According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global cruise because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s ocean.

In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and the combat capability of its air wing.
This year commemorates 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy. In 1973, the first eight women began flight school in Pensacola. One year later six of them, known as “The First Six,” earned their “Wings of Gold.”

Over the past 50 years, the Navy has expanded its roles for women to lead and serve globally, and today women aviators project power from the sea in every type of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft.

According to Navy officials, our Nation and our Navy is stronger because of their service.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“Our mission remains timeless — to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”

As a member of the Navy, Jackson is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy is the global force at sea protecting not only American interests, but also supporting our allies and democracy across the globe,” said Jackson. “We ensure travel and trade are able to continue safely on a daily basis.”

Jackson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“Finishing our 2022 seven-month deployment successfully during COVID, as well as climbing to the rank of petty officer second class, have been my proudest accomplishments in the Navy,” said Jackson.

As Jackson and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving in the Navy is something that people should be proud to say they have done and gives others a role model to look up to,” said Jackson. “It is a rewarding experience that gives you unmeasurable skills and stories that you can take with you anywhere you go.”

Jackson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my family and friends who have supported me while I have been away and took care of things back at home,” added Jackson. “The friends and family I have made while serving have also been a huge support for getting through the hard days.”

The cost of electricity, water and sewer services are going up for Fayetteville residents.

The Public Works Commission on March 8 approved rate increases that will go into effect in May. The estimated increase in the monthly costs for a typical family will be $12.97.
PWC has said inflation made the rate increases necessary, CityView reported.

At previous PWC meetings, staff members cited the increased cost of water treatment and electric transformers and higher costs related to annexation in recent years.
The rate increases are the first decision made by newly appointed PWC Treasurer Chris Davis, who was sworn in by Mayor Mitch Colvin at the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting.

“I’m just glad to be a part of a team. I’ve been able to watch it from the sideline for years,” said Davis, a former Fayetteville City Council member.

“It is a dynamic team, an amazing team, and I’m just proud to be part of it.”

The appointment to PWC took several months as the City Council, the body that decides who is appointed, did not come to a majority agreement until earlier this month at a council meeting.
PWC Chair Ronna Garrett said she understands the appointment process, even though it took some time for this decision.

“People are very passionate and care about where they live, and sometimes it’s frustrating when you have passionate voices who have an opposing view of what you might think is the proper thing,” Garrett said.

“But I know one thing is for certain: This board, myself, this team, the city, all want one thing, and that’s for the greater good of this community.”

In February, the North Carolina Democratic Party’s state executive committee elected 25-year-old Anderson Clayton state party chair.

How and why this young woman beat the incumbent who had the support of Gov. Roy Cooper are important and interesting questions for another day.

But the more important question for today is: what does she do now?

What can she do to mobilize the state’s Democratic voters whose candidates’ poor performances in the recent gubernatorial and state legislative races were disheartening?

She might find a useful example in the actions of a Republican, Thom Tillis. Although Tillis is currently a U.S. Senator, in 2010 he was a recently elected member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. His only prior political experience was a term on the Cornelius town board.

Realizing that so long as his party was in the minority he would have little influence, he went to work, driving across the state to identify and recruit candidates to run as Republicans in the upcoming elections, raising money to support those candidates, inspiring and training them. His tireless work, helped by national trends that favored Republicans, brought about victories for enough Republicans to change control of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

In 2011, the House elected Tillis speaker.

What do Tillis’s experiences mean to Ms. Clayton?

She should consider taking a personal role, as Tillis did, in recruiting, training and finding financial support for candidates of her party, being careful not to let conflicts within the party diminish her efforts.

Several important state political figures have given and gained valuable experiences as state party chair.
In 1985, Raleigh attorney Wade Smith served as Democratic Party chair. On his travels throughout North Carolina, he used his well-tuned trial lawyer skills to recruit and mobilize. He told stories, sang songs, and used humor to bring the audiences together before making his “support the party” pitch.

At the end of his meetings, he always said something like “We don’t want to get rid of all Republicans. We want to preserve at least one to put in a museum for history’s sake.”

David Price retired in January as a member of Congress representing North Carolina’s Fourth District. Prior to his election to Congress in 1980 he had served as chair of the state Democratic Party. He learned how to deal with the state’s major political figures and how to show them his strengths. His state party leadership experience helped prepare him for his first congressional campaign.

Former Congressman Bill Cobey, who coincidently lost to Price in the 1986 congressional elections, served as state Republican Party chair between 1999 and 2003. He reminded me that a party chair cannot simply travel, raise money, and motivate voters. The party chair may have a fractious organization to bring together as well as fundraising responsibilities and various complicated projects to manage. For instance, under his leadership, the party purchased a new headquarters building.

Robin Hayes represented the Eighth congressional district between 1999 and 2009. From 2011 to 2013, and from 2016 to 2019, he was chair of the Republican Party. In 2019 he was accused in a bribery scheme and later convicted of lying to the FBI. President Donald Trump pardoned Hayes on January 20, 2020. The matter showed there can be a thin line in the work of public officials between properly serving public constituencies and bribery.

Chairs of both parties have brought a variety of strengths and weaknesses to the job. But the youth that the 25-year-old Clayton brings could make possible a fresh and positive approach that could change the party for the better. Or, her lack of experience-honed judgment could lead to detrimental decisions and actions that could plague the party for a long time.

For the sake of all North Carolinians, we should hope her tenure will inspire all citizens of our state to take a role in politics and participate in positive and constructive ways.

Editor’s note: D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch.

If you’ve been in the Fayetteville community a while, your heart probably smiled when you heard the news about professional basketball coming back to Fayetteville. The city has a unique relationship with basketball. We have legendary players and coaches, active professional players, overseas superstars, you name it. Though the city is filled with talent in every corner, and fans eager to see basketball being played, the hoop city hasn’t had a professional basketball team in over 16 years.

In 2001, the Fayetteville Patriots launched its opening season and were one of eight franchises in the National Basketball Development League. The team held games in the Crown Complex arena, where the games were full of entertainment and great basketball. The Patriots won the semifinals in their 2002-2003 season. The franchise lasted a total of five seasons, bringing the organization to a close in 2006.

Fans have been awaiting a return of professional basketball since then. Sources around the city have been buzzin’ with rumors about another team forming in the city for the past couple of years, and in January of 2022 the Fayetteville Stingers announced that they will be forming a team under The Basketball League.

The Fayetteville Stingers organization is spearheaded by the team marketing owner Ken Bishop and General Manager Ray Phillips who are both Philadelphia natives. Both have coaching and leadership experience in their communities. Since announcing the team, and hiring all-star coaching duo Don Gardner and Robert Brickey, they’ve been on a mission to create opportunities and build a solid foundation here within the community.

In an interview with sports podcaster Tiras Ray, of “Say what Say it again,” Bishop explained why he chose Fayetteville when picking a city. He said “you guys have a lot of history here, to not have a team in one of the most polarizing sports (basketball) was a head scratcher to me, like why is this not happening? I did my research more on the community and something inside of me just said ‘Make this Happen!’”

After reaching out to Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin about bringing the team to Fayetteville, Bishop and Phillips began to set their plans in motion. After the hiring of Brickey and Gardner, the four have been able to be on the same wavelength with similar expectations for the organization.

In the podcast, Bishop and Brickey agreed that a goal is to bring a winning aspect to the game, for the team and entertainment wise for local audiences. “We want everybody to have fun, this is a game that can take you places. We all have the same goals, make it the playoffs, compete at a high level, and keep taking things to the next level for the community.”

Also in the podcast, when asked why he chose the name Fayetteville Stingers, Bishop says “it was a play on the basketball teams that are already here in the state of North Carolina. Charlotte has the Hornets, the G-league team is named the Swarm, let’s play off the history.”

Since establishing the Stingers, the managers and coaches have hosted a series of combines, training camps, clinics and try outs to build their staff and roster for the opening season, which has already begun. Most of the staff and players are Fayetteville natives or a part of the community in Cumberland County.

Phillips recognizes that the city is a gold mine of talent from all walks of life. “It’s our job as an organization, as the Stingers and representing the TBL to give people a second chance at something they love to do and that’s not just on the basketball court, that’s off the basketball court as well,” Phillips says.

The Stingers decided to keep the organization as local as possible. They have intern partnerships with Fayetteville State University and Methodist University. Giving students opportunities and work experience in different fields within the basketball world is beneficial to the organization and the community.

The Stingers also kept their combines local and accepted players in the Fayetteville, Hope Mills and surrounding areas. The roster being mostly Fayetteville natives is extremely important for the next generation of basketball players to see, especially on a professional level.

While also playing their games in the historic Crown Complex and staffing their organization with key figures of the community, it’s clear to see the Stingers are dedicated to the city of Fayetteville.
With the community on their side, along with a dynamite coaching staff and roster, the Fayetteville Stingers are underway in their opening season.

Their next home game will be played this Friday, March 17, at the Crown Complex arena, starting at 7:30 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to see and support the newest basketball here in our city.
Single game tickets are available at the box office and on Ticketmaster.com. You can also check out season pass options on the team website https://fayettevillestingers.com/.

Up & Coming Weekly sat down with General Manager Ray Phillips to discuss his role with the Stingers and what the organization is bringing to the city of Fayetteville.

“My favorite part of being the General Manager of the Fayetteville Stingers is being able to have an impact of the lives of these young men, and the staff members that come through. It gives me a chance to impart my wisdom and knowledge, but most importantly a listening ear.”

Phillips notices that a lot of times in the Black and brown community, guys don’t have a chance to express themselves to other men. He says, “we’re constantly told to man up or that we’re being too soft, nobody cares about what you have to say. But I want to be that ear because I do care and love you, even if I don’t know you. I want to hear what you have to say.”

With the responsibility of a team and the lives of the staff and players, communication is key and an important foundation in Phillip’s role in the organization. As General Manager, he is the right-hand man to every staff member and oversees everyone from the Dance and Media teams to the players.

His role also consists of handling team partnerships and representing the organization during media interactions and promotion. Though he wears many hats, Phillips said he feels that his most important role is to build a great relationship with the community.

Back in January, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Stingers were able to adopt B Street in downtown Fayetteville. Phillips took 12 young men, walked down B Street and voluntarily did a trash pickup.
He says, “It’s important for the people in the community to see us out there, because without those people, we’re nothing.”

Even as they ride out inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, women owners and executives of small and mid-size majority-women-owned businesses have an optimistic outlook about the near-term future of their businesses, according to a recent survey.

The PNC Bank survey found that women business owner expectations for their own companies remain strong, with 41% feeling highly optimistic — up from 29% in the fall of 2020 but down from 67% in the fall of 2021 — while the share of those feeling pessimistic has held constant at just 1%.

The survey also indicated that more than eight in 10 women business owners are very confident about their future success and nearly half say it comes from their own hard work and drive. Similarly, 79% are very satisfied with their role as a business owner or leader compared to 67% of men business owners.

“We are seeing a new pattern of self-empowerment among women business owners that is very encouraging,” said Beth Marcello, director of PNC Women’s Business Development. “Their own hard work to survive the pandemic is the source of their confidence and optimism today.”

The survey suggests that women have a take charge, can-do attitude. When it was difficult to find employees, 49% of women business owners versus one-third of men business owners say that they or their managers stepped in to cover open staff hours themselves.

“For the first time, we have evidence of increased financial confidence among women business owners. They are two times more likely than men to say they’re considering a new loan or line of credit to support business growth,” said Marcello. “They are monitoring their cash position and have a cash reserve, but they’re investing excess cash rather than stockpiling it; they are continuing to leverage the increased efficiency of the digital financial tools they migrated to during the pandemic; and they are confidently increasing pricing as the economy allows for it.”

While women business owners have concerns about inflation, profitability and the supply chain, they believe they’re prepared for these challenges.
Women business owners also intend to maintain or expand on policies they initiated during the pandemic, including allowing flexible work arrangements (48%), increasing compensation (38%) and implementing employee health or safety enhancements (33%).

Women business owners are more likely than men business owners to adopt Corporate Social Responsibility policies or practices, including gender pay equity (34% vs. 9%) and diversity and inclusion (29% vs. 14%).

These disparities could be an indication of why fewer women business owners (30%) than men business owners (43%) are finding it harder to hire new staff compared to six months ago.
Identifying and addressing challenges faced by women financial decision makers is a component of PNC’s Project 257: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality, an initiative to help close the 257-year economic gender gap. More information about these efforts as well as helpful resources for women financial decision makers can be found at pnc.com/women.

While the pandemic created new economic challenges, many with lasting effects, women business owners largely overcame these obstacles, taking away lessons that have inspired their optimism and confidence today.

Join the Cumberland Choral Arts for their upcoming concert, “Got Ear Candy?” Friday, March 24 at Jack Britt High School, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“Ear candy is that music we love to hear and sing over and over again,” explained Sandy Cage, alto and President of the Board of Directors for Cumberland Choral Arts. “The harmonies really stand out in the pieces we’ll be singing, and we’re having such a good time rehearsing them.”

With a run-time of around 90 minutes with intermission, the family-friendly performance will feature about 20 octavos or small pieces of choral music, many of which were chosen by members of the choir. Under the direction of Dr. Michael Martin and Assistant Director, Amy Stovall, concert-goers will be treated to a mix of songs, styles and genres that promise a little something for everyone.

In addition to CCA, attendees will also hear performances by the Campbellton Youth Chorus, directed by Sarah Szopinski; Cross Creek Chorale; and the Jack Britt High School Chorus, led by Richard Butler. With piano accompaniment provided by Susan Eissle, the evening promises to be a showcase of the enormous talent found here in Cumberland County.

The concert, sponsored in part by community donations and a grant from the Arts Council, is a passionate tribute to the art of music and the magic it can often create.
Founded in 1991, the Cumberland Choral Arts is “dedicated to bringing classical choral works to the greater Cumberland County area,” according to their website. The choir, now over 100 voices strong, continues to grow and is always on the lookout for new members.

“We’re always excited to have more people join our group,” Cage offered. “We’re a community choir; anyone who wants to sing can sing — no auditions necessary. We’re thrilled we’ve reached 100, and we’re excited to keep growing.”

The same invitation extends to Cumberland County’s next generation of singers. The Campbellton Youth Choir, with over 30 members, wishes to open its doors to even more youth in the community who have the urge to sing. “Children can join the youth choir at no cost,” Cage explained. “It’s important to create that space for any child that wants to sing in a group — it’s just us making sure we do what we can to encourage the future of choral music.”

Tickets for “Got Ear Candy?” are $15 for general admission and $5 for students. For those wanting to purchase their tickets early, visit https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

“This is so exciting for us,” Cage shared thoughtfully on behalf of CCA. “Music is so universal — it’s the heartbeat of a thriving community. Music brings us all together, makes us feel good, and makes us smile and clap our hands. It takes our memories back in time to when we first heard a song that moved us — anybody that loves music should definitely come.”
Jack Britt High School is located at 7403 Rockfish Rd.

For more information about Cumberland Choral Arts and its affiliated programs, visit https://www.cumberlandchoralarts.org/.

Methodist University’s Black Student Union has come a long way — in both reach and impact — during its eight years of existence. So much so that the organization has expanded to both undergraduate and graduate students.

The University is home to more than a hundred student organizations including the Black Student Union, which was originally formed in 2015 with the purpose of creating a community among Black MU students.
Sophomore TiyeNandi Alexander, a Nursing major, recently took the reigns as student president of the Black Student Union, a position that has helped her grow as a person in the past year or so.

“Normally, I would keep to myself a lot. But in my freshman year, the former president and vice president of the Black Student Union came up to me and took me under their wing,” Alexander said. “I started coming to events and meetings. Eventually, they trusted me to carry on the legacy of the Black Student Union.”

MU’s Black Student Union regularly hosts dozens of events and discussions throughout the year including information tables, poetry slams, movie nights, powder puff football games, spirit week and much more. Currently, more than 50 students are members of the Black Student Union.

Although young in age, the Black Student Union has helped provide an important voice during discussions of how to make Methodist University a more inclusive place — helping the University rank No. 1 as the most diverse university in North Carolina.

“It’s important to have representation and inclusivity because we are a minority off and on campus,” she said. “We want to create a brotherhood and sisterhood while offering a safe space for Black students to feel like they belong. We want to help them feel like we have people who are like them in their ideas and their culture.”

While the undergraduate chapter has been in place since 2015, the graduate chapter of the Black Student Union is newly born. Tajze Johnson, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student who is expected to graduate in 2024, started the graduate chapter after he noticed the need for better Black representation.

“The occupational therapy field is predominantly made up of Caucasian women. When I came to MU’s Occupational Therapy program, it was eye-opening to see that there were other Black people in the program with me,” said Johnson, who is the inaugural president of the chapter.

“However, I noticed there wasn’t clear space to have a conversation about it, so we created this graduate chapter. We simply wanted to create a place where African-American graduate students could go so they don’t ever feel like they don’t belong.”

While most of the original participants are from the Occupational Therapy program, Johnson wants to make it clear that the graduate chapter of the Black Student Union is open to all students from graduate programs — including MU’s Physician Assistant, Business Administration, Physical Therapy and other programs.

Although new, the graduate chapter of the Black Student Union is active. In the last month, the organization helped to host a presentation by Dr. Khalilah Johnson — an assistant professor of Occupational Science at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The following week, the graduate chapter held a meet-and-greet.

While Johnson hopes to organize more events and workshops throughout the year, he said the bigger purpose is to leave a steady organization behind for future Black graduate students.

“I want to help build a foundation for the next cohorts to come,” he said.

“Hopefully, when they come in, there will already be a strong organization in place so they immediately have a community they feel like they can bond with.”
To stay up-to-date on all MU events, visit https://www.methodist.edu/events/.

About Methodist University
Methodist University is an independent, four-year institution of higher education with approximately 2,000 students from across the U.S. and more than 50 countries.
MU offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs (including doctoral-level options) on campus and online. MU has been named the “No. 1, Most Diverse University in North Carolina,” one of 10 “Must-Watch Universities in North America,” features more than 100 student clubs and organizations, plus 20 NCAA intercollegiate sports (with nearly 40 team national championships).
To learn more about Methodist University, visit www.methodist.edu.

Cumberland County residents can view a virtual public meeting on the future of the Ann Street Landfill at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/annstreetplan.

The county is seeking feedback on the plan to extend the life of the landfill and asking residents to voice any concerns they have about it, according to a release from the county government.
The virtual meeting will be available until March 17.

Comments may be provided on the website, by emailing annstreetlandfill@cumberlandcountync.gov, by calling 910-505-9334, or through standard mail at 698 Ann St., according to the news release.

The Ann Street Landfill, which has operated at its current site since 1980, will reach capacity in just seven years, the release said. Before then, the county must plan for waste disposal beyond 2030.
County leaders have concluded that building a transfer station at the landfill is the most feasible short-term solution, the news release said.

The county is seeking feedback from neighboring residents and businesses and the greater Cumberland County community, the release said. The feedback will help identify strategies to reduce the impact on the neighborhood.

The project website also includes a Frequently Asked Questions section, Alternative Disposal Analysis Report, Environmental Justice Report, information on how a landfill operates and the County’s ongoing efforts to Reimagine Ann Street Landfill and Solid Waste in Cumberland County.

Need a place to reassess your physical, mental and spiritual health? The 3rd Annual Good Vibrationz: Metaphysical & Holistic Wellness Expo is back in Fayetteville and is the place to be if you are interested in connecting with open-minded people. The expo will take place at the Crown Expo from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 18.

 Ayreka Plowden, the owner of Aje Noire Creations and creator of the wellness expo, says this is one of her favorite events to put together. This will be the first year Plowden has organized this event by herself. Her husband, who was her partner in this event, passed away last year. She tells Up & Coming Weekly she is doing this event in honor of her late husband.

“I'm not doing this primarily for myself. I'm doing it for those that are participating and for those that are coming. Because there's a reason why those people that chose to participate, not just to earn money and to bring awareness to their business, but because somebody needs what they have,” Plowden said.

“I tell people that I have not actually made any money off of my events and I've eaten a lot of cost hosting these events. But to me, they are worth it because I've heard nothing but great things from people that have participated as well as people that have a tent.”

This year, there will be over 20 metaphysical and holistic vendors. Each vendor will have a chance to present what they offer to everyone on the main stage. For those who are interested in a particular vendor after their presentation, they can check out their tent.

There will also be a sound bath session, a collective guided meditation, nutrition specialists, and more. Plowden says this will be a family-friendly event and all are welcome.

“I'm trying to have something specifically towards children there. So that way the kids can have a space of their own to learn about ways to maintain healthier food options, things of that nature, kind of trying to incorporate the same thing for the adults. They understand a lot more than we give them credit for. That's why they say little kids are sponges because they absorb information. Why not give them good information to absorb?”

Plowden says that anyone coming to the event for the first time should have an open mind.

“Be open to not know everything. Not expecting everything to be what you're expecting it to be, but to come with an open mind and know that you're coming here because there's something here that you need or something that you need to hear. And these people are going to be able to either point you in the right direction of where you need to go or offer you a service that may be able to get you to the point that you are trying to get to. Just know that everything and everyone is connected somehow,” Plowden said.

Tickets are $12 for General Admission and $6 for children ages five to 12. Anyone below the age of 5 can enter for free. Tickets can be bought at https://bit.ly/3JqV3xe.

Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch invites the local community to their annual Bread ‘N Bowls event March 30. The fundraising effort includes a meal and offers a raffle to win a new car.

The event raises funds for the nonprofit which provides meals and services to people who are homeless or struggling.
Bread ‘N Bowls will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church at 701 Westmont Drive in Fayetteville.

What is FAOIAM?

In 1995, several churches in the city came together to serve the community for Blitz Days. Blitz Days happened two times a year to help folks re-roof houses, build wheelchair ramps all over the city and more.

Blitz Days still occur, but after years of doing it, churches wanted this on a regular basis — not just a few times a year. This is the part of FAOIAM which is for men, women and children.

In 2006, more than 60 churches, civic groups and businesses in the area started serving breakfast to the homeless Mondays through Fridays. These organizations formed the Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch. In 2022 they served their 300,000th breakfast.

After forming, they noticed the growing need to serve the homeless and hungry. The organization purchased land and housing to provide housing for the homeless. They started offering case management services as well.

The Able-Life Program

This is a program within FAO IAM where homeless men who may have dealt with job loss, health issues, divorce, mental illness, substance abuse or a felony record get resources to transform their lives.

In 2017, the 40-bed Lodge became available. The Lodge is integral to the Able-Life Program.

According to Craig Morrison, executive director of the organization, the Lodge is a safe space for homeless men to get training and treatment to get back on their feet. It’s housing that’s available for more than 90 days.

That is a rarity when it comes to emergency housing.

“Folks don’t get into difficult situations overnight,” Morrison said. “It’s really hard to get out of a situation overnight. Emergency shelters typically do 90 days. How do you climb out? A year in the Lodge gets folks connected to resources usually in that year.”

He added that the Lodge is the space for the men to get stability, coping skills, life skills, certifications, get a job and save their own money for their own transportation. That’s year one.

From there they may transition to one of the homes on Frink Street that the organization owns. They can stay there for two years for a total of three years of housing. Residency requirements include employment, sobriety and upholding a code of conduct.

The Main Event

FAOIAM has two fundraisers each year and the Bread ‘N Bowls event on March 30 is their main fundraiser.

“We love serving folks. We want to give the opportunity to meet the community,” Morrison said.
At Bread ‘N Bowls, people get a bread bowl meal with a choice of chili or cheesy potato soup with a brownie and a drink for $15. For $25, you can get a ceramic, hand-painted bowl with your meal.

There will be a drive-through option for food. Free delivery is available for individuals (or companies) who place an order for 10 or more bowls.
Morrison said the bowls are painted by people who come to the free breakfast meals offered at FAOIAM.

The Brand New Car

During Bread ‘N Bowls, Valley Auto World is teaming up with FAOIAM on a raffle for a brand new car. Valley Auto World is known for their inventory of Volkswagens and BMWs.

The raffle is part of the fundraising effort for the nonprofit. A single entry ticket is $125. Individuals can buy as many tickets as they want; however, only 1,500 tickets will be sold in total.

The winner picks a car with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of up to $50,000. If it is over that cost, the winner pays the difference. For example, if the car is $25,000 they receive the car for free. If they choose a car that is $51,000, the winner has to pay $1,000 for the car.

The winner is responsible for all taxes, delivery costs, dealer fees, and any options he or she may choose above the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price greater than $50,000.

View the website for the official raffle rules at www.faoiam.org/car-raffle-2023/ and to purchase your ticket.
For more information about Bread ‘N Bowls, services available at Operation Inasmuch or to volunteer, visit https://www.faoiam.org/.

Operation Inasmuch is a Christian nonprofit organization. Since 2007, they have served homeless and struggling people a hot, nourishing breakfast each week-day morning. After breakfast, they provide a variety of human, health and educational services tailored to the needs of the homeless community. (Photos courtesy Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch)

Are you troubled? Confused? Drinking too much? Your Magic Eight Ball lost its Mojo? No worries. You have come to the right page. Today we explore the wonderful world of country music wherein one can find the answers to life’s mysteries.

I have been listening to country music so you don’t have to. Our country station has a rotation of about 15 songs that repeat endlessly. Within those songs, lies the wisdom of the ages.

The songs focus on economics, lost and found love, pickup trucks, and drinking. Ponder the immortal lyrics of Merle Haggard who sang: “It’s a big job just getting by with nine kids and a wife/ But I’ve been a working man dang near all my life.” Merle is not complaining. He gets up and goes to work. He is not concerned about his feelings. He just wants to feed his family.

A current song examines money troubles with the lines: “If the Devil danced in empty pockets/ He’d have a ball in mine.” Another song combines the Protestant work ethic with parental love, pointing out that “Hard work won’t kill you but her Daddy will.” A chronologically gifted worker sings: “I ain’t old/ I’ve just been used rough.”

Country music offers sound advice regarding love. Lost love is a most favored topic: “In the corner of my mind stands a juke box/ It’s playing all my favorite memories.” Another ditty goes: “It’s a little too late/ She’s a little too gone/ She’s a little too right/ I’m a little too wrong.”

Another poor fellow: “Lost my wife and my girlfriend somewhere along the way/ Amarillo by morning.” A footloose lovelorn dude sings: “There’s just one place I haven’t gone/ I’ve moved everywhere but on.”

Country singers are resilient, a fellow who lost his wife sings: “I ain’t got to see my ex-future Mother-in-Law anymore.” A gent who is fed up with the ladies and romantic issues sings: “The only BS I need is Beer and Sunshine.” Hit the beach!

It’s not just men who lose love. Ladies feel heartache too. One lady person sings: “I got a heart like a truck/ It’s been dragged through the muck/ Runs on dreams and gasoline.” The lady has been knocked down but she pops back up. Another gal reminds her errant boyfriend that: “I’m every thing she is and every thing she ain’t.”

Truck references abound. One guy sings: “Got your picture up in my new pickup truck.”
Another fellow has to sell his pickup because it housed too many memories of his lost baby doll. He sings: “I need a new truck/ I need one she ain’t climbed up in/ That ain’t played her favorite song/ Need some glass we ain’t fogged up/ That her bare feet ain’t been on.”

A vigilante truck song is “Wait in the Truck.” A driver picks up a battered woman hitch hiking in the rain. He finds out where the old boyfriend lives and drives there to shoot him. He tells her to “Wait in the truck/ Well, I knocked and knocked and no one came/ So I kicked in his double wide door/ I let the hammer drop before he got/ To that 12 gauge he was reaching for.” She comes to visit him in prison from time to time so it’s a happy ending for everyone except the dead guy.

New found love brings happier days: “Last night you took my breath away/ And I ain’t found it yet.” Another song deals with lust delicately: “Your body makes me weak/ You are a Mozart between the sheets.” A gentleman swaddled in the coils of new love sings: ‘I thought of love as a prison/ A place I did not want to be/ I’m guilty of love in the first degree.” Touching.

A guy with a new gal sings: “Every time you kiss me/ It’s like sunshine and whiskey.”

Another guy uses a great pickup line: “I can take the blue out of your brown eyes.” A one-night stand is saluted: “By the dark of the moon/ There’s a fire in the night.” Occasionally love reaches the point he wants to get married so he sings: “You name the babies/ I’ll name the dogs.” Touching romanticism.

Alcohol is big in country music. One fellow sings about his gal when she gets a snootful: “Tequila makes her clothes fall off.” Another guy who is a dumpee sings: “Here I go again/ I’m drinking one/ I’m drinking two/ I got my heartache medication/ Tear drops turn into bubbles.”

A wife whose husband has a drinking problem sings: “Whiskey, if you were a woman/ I’d drive you from his tangled mind for good.” Unfortunately, whiskey wins out.

It is generally acknowledged that the perfect country song was written by Steve Goodman and sung by the Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, David Allen Coe with the immortal lyrics: “I was drunk the day my Mama got out of prison/ And I went to pick her up in the rain/ But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck/ She got ran over by a damned old train.”

Sadder words have never been warbled. Mr. Goodman, I salute you.

Country music lyrics share the wisdom of the ages: love, loss, trucks, dogs, and evidently, inebriation. (Hand-drawn illustration by Pitt Dickey)

As part of the Cape Fear Valley Health System, downtown Fayetteville’s Medical Arts Center is best-known as Highsmith Rainey’s physical therapy department.

However, on Mar. 11, it’ll be remembered as the first building in this area to host the United Way of Cumberland County’s inaugural Over the Edge fundraiser, in which participants rappel one of its 50-foot-walls.

“This is the first year that United Way has had this event,” said United Way of Cumberland County Fundraiser Chairwoman Carolyn Justice-Hinson. And it’s the only fundraiser of “its kind in Fayetteville [and] Cumberland County.”

Over the Edge is a peer-to-peer fundraiser where participants raise $1,000 to rappel or have somebody else rappel the Medical Arts Center.
The United Way of Cumberland County intends to raise $140,000 during the event “to improve the quality of lives in Cumberland County by addressing basic human needs,” per UWCC’s mission statement.

Historically, United Way has raised money via workplace campaigns and other types of donations. Over the Edge is a new fundraising avenue for the organization.

“United Way is a term that people have probably heard their entire life, but not everybody may understand [it],” Justice-Hinson said. “[United Way] is an umbrella program that raises money to support community programs.”

In fact, United Way is currently supporting 14 programs in Fayetteville and Cumberland County with partner agencies that impact 300,000 people a year, she added.

Donor contributions go to making sure children (K-12) succeed in school; supporting adult financial self-sufficiency and employment preparedness; access to welfare and awareness education; and providing emergency food, shelter and other needs.
United Way has served Fayetteville and Cumberland County for approximately 80 years.

“While United Way is a national brand, every United Way is local to their own community,” Justice-Hinson said. “We have our own board, and we’re funding programs and addressing issues that matter to our community.”

Even though it may be too late to enter the fundraiser, it’s still worth the trip downtown to see 50 people and local celebrities such as local officials and entrepreneurs Fizzy Friends and 2022 NC Governors Volunteer Medallion Award winner Stacey Buckner go over the edge.

You can donate money to the UWCC during the event. If you can’t make it, you can donate online at www.unitedway-cc.networkforgood.com.

“People might say [the Medical Arts Center] isn’t a very tall building,” Justice-Hinson said. “It’s tall for us, because it’s our first time, and it’s been a challenge finding a building that meets the criteria to be able to do this.”

Remember that some businesses are raising money for the bosses to rappel the Medical Arts Center. You can learn more about the Over the Edge fundraiser at unitedway-cc.org/over-the-edge-fundraiser.

“We are so grateful to Cape Fear Valley, who owns the Medical Arts Building... and, we’re happy they’ve partnered with us and allowed us to use the building for this event,” Justice-Hinson said

Aside from rappelling, there will be cornhole and food and vendors’ tents, not to mention all of the interesting restaurants and entertainment venues that downtown Fayetteville has to offer within walking distance of the Medical Arts Center.

“[The UWCC] thought this was the perfect fit for Fayetteville [and] Cumberland County,” Justice-Hinson said. “You know, being the home of Fort Bragg, this [fundraiser] is adventurous [and] tied” in to the area’s airborne tradition.

Over the Edge is a Canadian “adventure experience company with a passion for positive impact” that’s been operating in the United States since 2008.

“Over the Edge continues its commitment to help non-profits and charities meet their fundraising goals with our unique adventure experience,” said Over the Edge founder and CEO Paul Griffith.

Over the Edge “is one of these events [that] when you look at who’s participating, who it’s supporting, it’s another example of how Fayetteville comes together for a great cause,” Justice-Hinson said

The Medical Arts Center is located on the corner at 101 Robeson Street, directly from Highsmith Rainey Hospital and across Hay Street from the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.

Over the Edge begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. Ten to 15 people will rappel per hour starting at 10 a.m.

Some of the participants who are signed up for the Over the Edge challenge took part in practice rappel sessions at Triangle Rock Club on Raeford Road. (Photo by Linda McAlister)

Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health are partnering to open a four-year medical school that will welcome students in July 2026.

The Center for Medical Education and Neuroscience at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center will house the new medical school with a focus on providing better medical care for rural and underserved populations and diversifying the physician workforce in the area, officials said Feb. 27 at a news conference to announce the initiative.

Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden said the partnership fits perfectly with the university’s service-oriented mission and Cape Fear Valley Health’s long-standing history of health care.

“A medical school will be a tremendous asset to Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the region,” said Wearden.

He said Fayetteville is positioned to attract health care professionals in new areas of specialization.

“While we have many excellent health care professionals in this community, we nonetheless have a shortage, which is a microcosm of a national shortage.

There's a tremendous need, and we are in the prime spot to meet it,” said Wearden.
Wearden said a national shortage of health care workers is predicted by 2034 and that to meet the need, 30 to 40 medical schools would need to open.

“This partnership is a tremendous opportunity for our institution to engage with Cape Fear Valley Health to address the shortage of health care professionals, particularly in rural areas, and to improve the quality of health care delivery, which will enrich the local community and beyond,” said Wearden.

In addition, he said, a new medical school will attract businesses, taxpayers and homebuyers to the region.

“It will elevate the economic well-being of this region,” said Wearden.

He said a study commissioned by the hospital found that a new medical school could bring more than $750 million in economic impact to the community in the first 10 years.

“If you add that to the $88.5 million annual economic impact that Methodist University already brings, that will be a powerful economic stimulus. We are the right partners,” said Wearden.

Cape Fear Valley CEO Michael Nagowski said the health system could not be prouder than to partner with Methodist University.
Nagowski said the university educates nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists and others who take jobs at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

With this partnership, that long-standing history will not only continue but expand.
Nagowski said the medical school also is important to the wellness of the community, addressing the physician shortage and providing an economic engine to make the region a better place to live.

“The data is very clear. Wherever there are academic medical centers partnering with universities, the overall health of the population continues to improve,” said Nagowski. “This will also make Cape Fear Valley a better hospital than it is today, whether it be with our 350 residents, our almost 120 students already completing their third- and fourth-year programs, and now a full-fledged four-year medical school right here in Fayetteville. We will provide an outstanding medical school.”

Nagowski recognized Dr. Rakesh Gupta as a link between the two organizations. Gupta is chairman of the Methodist University board of trustees and a former chairman of the Cape Fear Valley Hospital board.

Gupta said the new medical school will be transformational.

“This will be a change of trajectory for all students in all spheres of education at Methodist, for students who at large come to this community from all over the country. We will remember this day for a long time to come,” said Gupta. “This will truly put us on the map.”

Several city and county elected officials at the news conference said they are excited about what this means to the community.
City Councilwoman Kathy Jensen, who represents the district in North Fayetteville that includes Methodist University, said she is ready to see green and gold — the university’s colors — spread throughout the city.

“It’s going to be great to see green and gold not just on the north side of town but expanded. The regional collaboration is great for not just Methodist University but [a] transformation for our city and county,” said Jensen.

Cumberland County Commissioner Marshall Faircloth, who served as chairman of the medical school subcommittee, said the plan is an economic boost.

“This will be the game changer we have been looking for over the next seven to eight years as it builds out. It will have great implications for our future. In one of the communities I visited, when the medical school came in, the economy took off,” said Faircloth.

Dr. Hershey Bell, vice president of the medical education program at Cape Fear Valley Health, agreed.
Bell said before the news conference that he has been working to get the pieces of the puzzle together and get the medical school ready for accreditation.

“When a medical school comes to town, it transforms the community in a way that you can never go back to before and it’s only for the better for everyone. Economically, for patient care, for the quality of education, it’s an amazing way for us to make a statement to the people of this community that great things are coming,” said Bell.

The medical school hopes to enroll 80 students in the first class and expand to 120 students over time. Classes will begin in 2026 pending approval by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, president of Methodist University (right) and Mike Nagowski, CEO of Cape Fear Valley Health, spoke at a press conference in the McLean Health Sciences Building at Methodist University to announce a partnership to open a new medical school. (Photo courtesy Methodist University Marketing & Communications)

Eighteen Cumberland County high school students, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fayetteville, participated in Rotary International’s District 7730’s annual Rotary Youth Leadership Conference Jan. 27-29 at the Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where high school students develop skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.

The Fayetteville students joined 53 other students from Rotary District 7730, to connect with Rotary and community leaders, build communication and problem-solving skills, and learn strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their school and community.

Students also participated in a food packing service project with Rise Against Hunger.

“In a world that’s ever changing at a moment's notice, we are proud to sponsor 18 students’ admission to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program,” said Brandon Price, President of the Fayetteville Rotary.

“These students learn real life skills that will enable them to become the future leaders our communities desperately need. Learning how to communicate and the ability to problem solve are under appreciated skills students are taught, along with helping them to discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their schools and communities.”

Fayetteville students represented Cross Creek Early College High School, Cumberland International Early College, E.E. Smith High School, Gray’s Creek High School, Jack Britt High School and Massey Hill Classical High School.

“RYLA gave me the opportunity to meet several other like-minded individuals,” said Stella Martyak, a Junior at Massey Hill Classical High School and RYLA attendee.

“This experience will help me greatly in the future. I learned new leadership skills that I can now bring back to my school and share with other leaders. The skills I learned will help me be a better leader and person wherever life may take me.”

Léora Desgranges, a French exchange student, was also one of the Fayetteville students who attended. Desgranges attends Jack Britt High School and is living in Fayetteville as part of the Rotary International's Exchange Student program.

“I chose to attend RYLA because as the exchange student of the District 7730, it’s another opportunity offered by Rotary,” said Desgranges.

“What’s more I wanted to meet new people and to know more about leadership skills.”

The Fayetteville Rotary Club annually coordinates the selection of local students for RYLA and pays the full expense for the students to attend.
Following RYLA, the students attend weekly Fayetteville Rotary meetings, and share their experience with Rotary Club members.
Mary Ledford, a Senior at Gray’s Creek High School and two-time RYLA participant, shared her experience at the Feb. 23 Rotary Club meeting.

“This experience was one that has left a great impression on my leadership skills, my community awareness and my network of like-minded, service-oriented students,” she said.

“RYLA rejuvenates students who already have service-oriented minds to be inventive and brave in their endeavors in their community,” said Ledford.
Rotary Club of Fayetteville

“We are very proud of this initiative and the work done by those to make it happen,” said Price.

“The Fayetteville Rotary Club has been a group of community and business leaders for more than 100 years. Supporting initiatives like RYLA ensures our club, our schools, and our communities continue to thrive with well-rounded talented leaders.”

The Fayetteville Rotary Club, established in 1920, is a member of Rotary International District 7730. The district includes 50 clubs from 15 counties in Southeastern North Carolina dedicated to providing Service Above Self.

Rotary District 7730 is a member of Rotary International, an organization of over 1.4 million business and professional folks worldwide who are collectively committed to doing good in the world with its pressing humanitarian challenges.

For more information visit https://fayettevillerotaryclub.org/.

Fayetteville Rotary Club sponsored 18 Youth Leadership Awards delegates to attend the annual leadership conference in Pine Knolls Shores. The conference helps build communication and problem-solving skills and teaches strategies for becoming dynamic leaders in the community. (Photo courtesy Fayetteville Rotary Club)

It’s been a busy start to the year under a new Republican majority in the U.S. House. Yet last week, it sure was good to be home.

It’s so important to travel across this district and hear from you about issues facing our community and nation. One thing is for sure — Washington needs more common sense and less government bureaucracy. Each week, I try to bring some of that North Carolina wisdom back to our nation’s capital.

In order to best address the challenges you and our communities are facing, I stayed busy over the work period and held roundtable discussions with elected officials and folks across our district.

In Asheboro, I met with the Mayor, County Manager, members of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, and the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. We discussed economic development in the area, needs of our towns and county, and projects I can fight for in Washington.

These discussions included water and sewer issues impacting portions of Randolph and Chatham County, and the necessary funding needed to further expand the Asheboro Regional Airport. We also discussed the recent substation attacks in Moore and Randolph Counties and the need to increase security and resiliency measures for our energy infrastructure. My family lost power like so many others in Moore County and I want to stop similar attacks from happening again.

In our discussion, I listened to our local leaders and shared my ideas.

In addition, I visited with our local 9-1-1 telecommunicators at Randolph County Emergency Services Center to learn first-hand about the critical role they play as lifelines between you and first responders when an emergency strikes. As the co-chair of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, I am actively working on bipartisan legislation to update our nation’s 9-1-1 infrastructure.

I was honored to recently receive the Leadership in Legislative Service Award from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International for leading these efforts. It is a privilege to be the voice in Congress supporting our dedicated telecommunicators, medical professionals and law enforcement. I will continue working to provide them the resources and tools they need to keep you and your family safe.

In Sanford, I met with members of the Sanford Area Growth Alliance to discuss the recent economic growth in Sanford and Lee County and future economic opportunities for the region. In order to sustain and increase economic growth in our community — we must ensure a strong labor force with the tools and training they need to get a good job. Good news: We’re ahead of the game.

The Growth Alliance shared with me the great work Central Carolina Community College has done to partner with Caterpillar to establish the Caterpillar Clayton Apprenticeship Program designed to continue developing a talented pipeline of skilled employees.

This highly competitive program provides high school students the opportunity to take classes while also working as a part-time Caterpillar employee, developing skills for a career immediately after graduation.

We also discussed major infrastructure projects that would increase accessibility across Lee County, including the potential expansion of current Highway 421 to Interstate-685 that would run from Greensboro all the way to Wilmington.

Finally in Moore County, I’m excited to share that we opened our new flagship district office in Southern Pines.
I am happy to now call Southern Pines home for both this new office and my family. Thank you to all the local elected officials, community leaders, members of local law enforcement and residents from across Moore County who helped us celebrate our grand opening. Renee, Lane, and I are thankful for the warm welcome from the community and are excited to be here for a very long time.

The dedicated staff in our new district office in Southern Pines is here to serve you. Whether it’s requesting a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol, providing assistance with federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration or the VA, making service academy nominations, or even helping with federal grants. I am committed to helping you cut through government bureaucracy.

My goal is to continue to provide you with high quality constituent service and be accessible to hear your needs, thoughts and concerns on key issues facing our community and nation.

As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, helping our active duty military, their families and veterans deal with the Department of Defense and the VA is especially important, as many military families call Moore County and our district home.

In addition to the new office in Southern Pines, my office in Fayetteville will remain open and available to serve folks across the region. To find out our exact office locations and office hours, please visit Hudson.house.gov or call us at 910-910-1924.

Responsive constituent services, accessibility and a focus on policies that give you and your family a better tomorrow is my mission. Stop by our new office to say hello, we would love to see you. Now as I head back to Washington this week, rest assured I’ll be bringing your wisdom, and some Cheerwine back with me.

Congressman Richard Hudson cuts the ribbon on his new district office in Southern Pines. Rep. Hudson's office in Fayetteville will remain open.
(Photo courtesy Rep. Richard Hudson)

The cloud is ubiquitous. It is pervasive. It is everywhere. It is here. And it is staying. If you have ever used a computer connected to the internet, you’ve used the cloud.

Once a novel term used as a metaphor for the internet, it is now a household term used by the seasoned and the young. It is often used to describe where your data lives, where you work, where you play, and/or where you study. With such a large-scale adoption comes extensive employment opportunities in the cloud space.

If you have ever used the storage services provided by Apple, you’ve enjoyed the benefits of the cloud by having your pictures off loaded from your phone to free up space and back them up online, in the cloud.

But, what is the cloud? It is a collection of computers working together to store your data on remote servers or offer apps, services and resources online for pretty much any project or activity you can conceive of. Examples of cloud services include Yahoo mail, office productivity tools available via Microsoft 365 and Adobe products for your creative self.

Some benefits of using the cloud for both small and large organizations include data security, ability to access your data and apps from anywhere, data analysis capabilities, backups, scalability, flexibility, and resiliency, along with reduced IT, business and operating expenses. Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure are the top two cloud service providers. They each offer over 200 services to help you build, run and manage applications across a variety of boundaries including on-premises, in the cloud, or a hybrid environment.

Opportunities abound in the cloud space. But to take advantage of them, you need the proper training and/or industry certifications — you need two out of three things to get a job in information technology: education, experience and industry certifications.

A four-year college degree is not essential; a certificate in cloud computing, networking or security will suffice.

Alternatively, an associate degree from a two-year college, such as FTCC, is a sound option as you will pick up some academic certificates along the way and get a lot of valuable hands-on exposure.

Industry certifications are credentials you earn by passing an exam that is typically administered by a third party such as Pearson VUE. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C01) and Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) are examples of cloud certifications sponsored by AWS and Microsoft respectively.

FTCC has a Pearson VUE testing center at the Fayetteville campus that proctors a vast and wide variety of industry certification exams.

If you only have one of the three (education, experience or industry certification), it may be a bit more difficult to land an opportunity, but not impossible.
Having two out of three dramatically improves your chances and will certainly help you earn an excellent salary (averaging between $50 and 65,000) for an entry-level position.

Having all three means there’s a very good chance you’ll land an opportunity that pays an excellent salary (six figures not uncommon).

If you are looking for a career change or want to turbo-charge your earning potential in the exciting field of cloud computing, FTCC is your smart choice.
To learn more, visit www.faytechcc.edu/.

Ready, set, read!

It’s that time again for kids, grades K-5, to get lost in a great book as the Woodpeckers return for their second annual “Bunker’s All Star Reading Program.”

The challenge is on for children in Cumberland and surrounding counties, beginning Monday, March 13. Participants are encouraged to read for at least 20 minutes daily, five times weekly for four weeks, to win big prizes for themselves and their school.

Using a special bookmark to keep track of their progress, once students reach a “home run,” they can exchange their tracker at the Truist Box Office at Segra Stadium for a free ticket to one of two home games: Friday, April 28 or Sunday, April 30.

Additionally, students can bring up to ten family members to purchase a $9 discounted ticket for that day’s game.

Students who complete the challenge will be invited to walk around the field in a Pre-Grame Parade before each of the two designated games to celebrate their awesome reading achievement.

“This is our way to promote reading and academic success in children K-5,” Landrey Young, the Woodpeckers’ Community and Media Relations Manager, told Up & Coming Weekly.

New to the program this year is the addition of home-schooled families, a change the Woodpeckers are “really excited” to implement.
According to North Carolinians For Home Education, as of the 2021-22 school year, there are over 5,000 registered home-schools between Cumberland and Harnett counties, with numbers growing steadily every year. A move to include this largely overlooked population ensures that outreach initiatives truly serve everyone in the community.

In addition to rewarding students for their hard work, the Woodpeckers have also included an incentive for participating schools this year. Students must include the name of their school in addition to their name and grade when turning in their bookmarks.

The top three schools with the highest redemption rate will receive a cash donation to their library courtesy of the Woodpeckers Foundation.

Several schools have already signed up for the program. Of the 20,000 bookmarks reserved for the event, fewer than 1000 remain as the calendar inches closer to the official start date. Students who already have their trackers are encouraged to start their reading adventure now — no need to wait.

The “Bunker’s All Start Reading Program” aligns with the community presence the Woodpeckers have built since they arrived in Fayetteville. School drives, family fun days and a calendar full of activities geared toward the children of Cumberland County gives insight into what the sports organization truly values outside of winning games.

“We are really dedicated to the youth and youth sports in our area,” Young said. “We want kids to be excited about reading, help support their schools, and it gives us an opportunity to become more connected to schools in the area.”

For more information about the program or to sign up, email Landrey Young at lyoung@astros.com by Friday, March 10.

As a business owner, you have likely spent hours, days, months or even longer agonizing over whether to sell your business.

While in a perfect world the hard part would be over, the reality is that making the decision to sell is simply the first step in a complicated process.
Fortunately, there are ways to simplify the experience. To start, it’s a good idea to have a checklist of what steps to expect.

While each business may be different, when it comes to selling a business, the basic preparation will be the same.

It can also be helpful to have a seasoned business broker or advisor to aid and support you in the sale. Business advisors have the experience and know-how to navigate the sale of your business, making the experience easier on you and maximizing your return.

Step 1 — Determine your reason for selling

People decide to sell their businesses for a variety of reasons. Some may do so because they are ready to retire and leave the working world. A serious illness or death may require someone to step away from their business. Others may need a way to extricate themselves from a partnership dispute. Some simply become bored and decide to seek out new opportunities and challenges in their work life.

Whether you are considering selling for these reasons or others, the decision to sell a business is personal but should be acknowledged.

Step 2 — Confer with experienced professionals

Perhaps the single most important step of all, in terms of making the sale of your business easier, is selecting an experienced business advisor to guide you through the sale process.

A business broker or advisor can help you get everything in order while screening qualified buyers and ensuring you get the highest possible price for your company, all while keeping the sale as quiet as possible to avoid upsetting your employees, vendors, and clients.
Best of all, an advisor frees up your time so you can continue to keep your business up and running.

Step 3 — Organize your finances and properly package your business for sale

Part of the assistance provided by an experienced advisor is connecting you to other professionals who can help you organize your business’ financials for the upcoming sale.

It’s important for you to understand the financial position of your business, which requires knowledge of financial statements, projections, and key metrics for your industry, such as:

• What’s the company’s relative growth in gross sales and net income?
• What adjustments need to be made to normalize earnings?
• Do you own or lease the property where your business is located?
• What is the customer base and do you have any concentration issues?
• What about the value of the tangible and intangible property?
• What equipment and inventory will be included in the sale?
• Are there any outstanding liabilities or legal issues?
• Who are your key suppliers and vendors?

Answers to these questions are needed, as well as ensuring your books are in order. Do you have your latest tax documents? You may want to consider an independent audit of your financials just to be certain.

Step 4 — Understand the value of your business

To sell your business, you need to understand how much it is worth. Remember valuation is an art, not a science.
Multiple factors will come into play as you determine what your company is worth such as the business’s financial health, industry trends, the current market demand, and the location of your company.

Step 5 – Confidently market your business

The final step in selling your business is to get the word out albeit confidentially. But successfully marketing a company for sale has many nuances.
Business advisors are experts at creating competition for your business thanks to our ability to advertise your business to our worldwide network.
They have access to thousands of buyers, and we spend more money on advertising than anyone in our industry.
Selling a business can be an exciting but long and stressful time. Seek out a business advisor who can help you navigate the challenge.

Editor’s note: Ashley Kelsey is a Business Broker at Transworld Business Advisors of Eastern North Carolina. For more information call 910-302-6447 or visit www.transworldeast.com.

Photo: Deciding to sell a business is only the first step in a complicated process. Seek out a business advisor who can help navigate the process and maximize your return.

The town board will consider changing the format for electing a mayor and town commissioners to provide for staggered four-year terms when it meets Monday, March 6.

Currently, those officials are elected every two years. The board will vote on whether to alter the town charter to have elections for four-year, staggered terms with elections held in odd-numbered years.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

At its last meeting, the board opened the floor to allow anyone to speak for or against the proposed change. No one spoke in favor of staggered terms; two residents voiced opposition to the new term structure as well as allowing the commissioners to approve changing the charter themselves.

The matter could be put to a vote of town residents if enough of them sign a petition to call a referendum. At least 10% of the town’s registered voters must sign the petition to force a vote.
The last time the town considered changing terms, voters decided to keep terms at two years.

Annexation decision

The board of commissioners also will hold a hearing on a contiguous annexation of 1.2 acres at 3808 Park Garden court.
Residents are invited to speak for or against the annexation during the public-comment period. Speakers must register with the town clerk at least 15 minutes before the start of the meeting and are asked to limit their comments to three minutes.

The board also will consider the Sales Tax Interlocal Agreement.

The Cumberland County Commissioners announced the county’s intention to change the way sales tax revenue is distributed from per-capita, or per person, to ad-valorem, or according to property value, according to the agenda set by Chancer McLaughlin, the interim town manager.

The Cumberland County Mayors Coalition, which includes Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner as vice chair, asked the county to grant a five-year extension of the current agreement, but the plan was rejected.

According to a new proposal presented by the county, the agreement has been extended once in 2019.

According to Cumberland County’s website, the mayors of Eastover, Falcon, Fayetteville, Godwin, Hope Mills, Linden, Spring Lake, Stedman and Wade and the chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners make up the Cumberland County Mayors Coalition. The coalition meets quarterly.

The current sales tax agreement, which was signed in 2003, expires on June 30. That could result in a loss of about $1.9 million in sales tax revenue for the town in the first fiscal year, according to the memo. That would likely increase taxes for Hope Mills residents.

The county has offered an agreement that delays the change to ad-valorem taxation until June 2025, but Cumberland County would receive 100% of any growth.
The agreement must be approved by all municipalities before March 15 or the county will proceed with the move to ad-valorem taxation.

The interlocal agreement extension must be signed by people representing the municipalities of Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Stedman, Spring Lake, Wade, Falcon, Godwin, Linden, and Eastover and the county.

The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners is expected to discuss Cumberland County’s proposal at Monday’s board meeting.