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        The Cumberland County Business Council and the Fayetteville Area System of Transit dominated much of the discussion in the first of the Fayetteville City Council’s budget workshops on Thursday, May 15.
    Annually, once the proposed budget has been presented, the council meets in a series of workshops to tweak the budget. The council uses these workshops to ask questions concerning budgeted items and funding sites, as well as to put more things in the budget and take things out. City Manager Dale Iman explained to the council that they would put items in either a “wish” column denoting items the council wanted to restore or put into the budget and a “hit” list, which indicated what programs would lose money to fund the new request. {mosimage}
        The council also received answers to a list of preliminary questions they had concerning the budget. At each budget workshop, the city staff will have responses to questions brought up in the previous meetings. One of the most debated questions of the evening concerned the city’s contract with the CCBC. The CCBC was formed in 2003 to bring the county’s fragmented economic development efforts under one organization. The CCBC receives funding from the city and the county to conduct economic development for both entities.
        In the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 proposed budget, the city has allocated $415,000 to the CCBC for the provision of the following services: maintaining an inventory of properties to market to new businesses, including office and industrial space; recruiting new businesses, with an emphasis on companies dealing in the realm of defense, automotive, biotech and pharmaceutical ; supporting existing industries; allocating grants through the Women’s Center; and creating a career/workforce development plan.
        Members of the council felt that the CCBC had not been held accountable in the past. Mayor Tony Chavonne noted that in some of the areas the city contracts with the CCBC to perform it is hard to measure success, but felt that the council was looking for greater accountability.
        Councilman D.J. Haire questioned whether any of the money given to the CCBC by the city was going to salaries. Iman noted that the city contracts the services of the CCBC and as such, they do not have oversight on the CCBC budget. He added that the CCBC has been without leadership for the past several months and that the upcoming months would prove critical to its performance. Iman said the ultimate goal of the city’s participation with the CBCC was to grow the tax base.
        Councilman Charles Evans asked whether or not the city could require the organization to provide a list of projects they are working on and how it benefits the city. “They are supposed to create employment situations. I would like to know in the last three to five years what businesses have come to the city because of them,” he said. “We have no jobs — Fayetteville is not being sold too well out and abroad.”
    Iman concurred that the CCBC has not had a lot of success in attracting jobs to the county noting that the major stumbling block has been the work force and work force development needed to recruit the jobs the county would like to have.”
        Councilman Keith Bates noted that several industries that the county was vying for had recently gone to other areas – one to Asheville and one to Bladen County. He cited a recent study that indicated that Fayetteville did not have employees who were willing to work in those kinds of industries. As of March 2008, the Fayetteville Metropolitan Area had a work force of 146,687 according to the state’s Civilian Labor Force Estimates. Of that number, 137,718 people were gainfully employed, leaving the area with a 5.4 percent unemployment rate. The statewide rate is 5.2 percent.
        Chavonne added that Cumberland County does not receive as many state incentives to attract industry as do other areas with lower wealth. He said it makes it harder for the county to compete for industry.
    Councilman Bill Crisp called the CCBC a “failure.” “We don’t need to look back over the past three to five years,” he said. “What’s critical is this year and the next year. We need an overview of what they are doing because of BRAC. We’ve seen industry get out of here and we need to get industry in here,” said Crisp.
    Haire questioned whether the city could allocate funds to the CCBC on a benchmark basis meaning the funds would flow to the organization as they meet certain goals set by the city. Crisp countered that economic development was an “imperfect” thing, and that the council should give them the money, but then see what they do with it.
        Bates requested the city make it a stipulation that the organization give the council a quarterly report on its economic development activities.
        Councilman Bobby Hurst, who is the council’s liaison to the CCBC, said that the organization has already agreed to keep the council more firmly in the loop with quarterly reports.
        The FAST system also had its share of discussion at the meeting. At issue was a motion by Council Ted Mohn in an earlier meeting to add an additional $100,000 to the transit system’s budget. In developing the proposed budget, Iman and his staff added $100,000 to the proposed budget. Mohn maintains that his motion was meant to add an additional $100,000 to the current year’s expenditures. Chavonne noted that he had written the motion, which Mohn read in the council meeting and that it was to add the funds to the current year’s expenditures. The meeting’s minutes reflect the budget allocation. The difference in the motion has the council and city staff looking for an additional $122,000 for the system. That would up the city’s annual contribution to the system to more than $2 million dollars.
        The city staff budgeted $1.8 million from the general fund for the system; the additional $100,000 would bring the budgeted amount to $1.9. The current year’s expected operating expense from the general fund is in excess of $1.9 million.
        Council members put the extra $122,000 on the wish list, with the suggestions that a $100,000 allocation to GoodYear as part of an incentive program be used to fund the difference. GoodYear must meet several benchmarks before it receives the funding from both the city and the county. It appears that the company will be unable to meet the infrastructure improvements in the plant that would qualify it for the funding this year. Iman said that would allow the city to use the money this year for the bus system but they would not be covered in the coming budget years.
        Mohn suggested council members give up the proposed pay raise to raise another $10,000 for the transit system funding. No action was taken.

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    Editor’s Note: Margaret has been busy at her child’s wedding this week and elected to run one of her favorite columns. She will return next week.
        In early 2001, Up and Coming Weekly publisher Bill Bowman asked me to write this column. Bless his sweet little heart. It has been and continues to be among my life’s great challenges and pleasures, and I treasure the interaction it has provided with people from all parts of our community.
        English majors are not generally noted for our math skills, but if my calculations are correct, I think I am approaching 300 Up and Coming Weekly columns, even allowing for a few vacations and the one week I simply forgot to write any column at all following the General Election of 2002. Each column seems like a child to me, but some clearly generate more reader interest than others.
        Readers had a great many thoughts on a number of columns over the years regarding my take on a little girl in foster care for nearly six years, teenaged mothers and tattoos. The column which elicited the most comment, though, and which people still talk to me about did not seem so provocative at the time I wrote it early this year. In fact, I thought I might hear from a teacher or two, or perhaps from no one at all.
        I learned quickly that there are a lot of English language lovers and grammarians out there. Sticklers even.
        Being one myself, I was greatly pleased by the response from folks who are tired of hearing and reading the butchering of our language and frustrated by a lack of concern from too many people, educators included.
        Well, sticklers, I have some good news for us. Teaching grammar, it seems, is coming back into fashion.
    The same day I heard a CNN reporter whose editor was clearly on a lunch break tell viewers that another person had been traveling with “my camera crew and I,” one of Fayetteville’s premier sticklers, Jane Buryk, sent me an article by Daniel de Vise in the Washington Post. De Vise chronicles the resurgence of grammar education in some high-performing high schools in the Washington area, and reports that students who study it are scoring better on high-stakes state tests and on the always-dreaded SAT.
        When I was in school way back in the dark ages of the 1960s, we did study grammar, and we executed long and complicated diagrams of sentence structure with nouns and verbs on horizontal lines and the words which modified or described them written on diagonal lines below. Even I will confess that the work could be a bit tedious, and by the freewheeling 1970s, grammar education was on the decline. De Vise reports that in 1985, the National Council of Teachers of English blessed this turn in education thinking by declaring grammar drills “a deterrent to the improvement of students’ speaking and writing.” Apparently, students were supposed to learn grammar and sentence structure simply by speaking and writing in English.
        So what has changed over the last 20 years or so?{mosimage}
        Students did not learn proper English by osmosis and continued to “lay” down instead of “lie” down and to give the dog “it’s” food instead of “its” food. They continued to ask, “where is the book at?” De Vise reports on one high school teacher who does teach grammar and who tested the comma skills of some up and coming Advanced Placement students. “…they’ll get it right about half the time,” notes the teacher. “But half is an F.”
        We might have gone on like this indefinitely with no one concerned but the sticklers except for a change on the world stage, the emerging global economy.
        Suddenly, the world was opening up and Americans found ourselves competing not just against each other for a leg up in the worldwide marketplace. Suddenly, we Americans and those coming along behind us are competing with people literally on the other side of the Earth, some of whom can speak and write our own language better than we can. It became obvious that we would have to hone our skills in all sorts of ways.
        And, then came the icing on the grammar education cake — the new writing portion of the SAT introduced last year which presents both a long-form essay composition and multiple choice questions addressing sentence structure. De Vise notes that the high school class of 2006, the first to take the new writing portion of the SAT, posted the lowest verbal scores in a decade.
        Human beings use many unspoken clues to assess other people. We take in their clothes, the vehicles they drive, their voices, and their public conduct to form opinions about them. Poor manners and poor hygiene clearly send negative messages, and I think poor English language skills communicate precisely the same unappealing impression.
          If I were an employer interviewing for a position of responsibility and upward potential and have several intelligent and qualified candidates, I will gravitate toward the one who has manners and who speaks and writes correctly. I suspect you would as well.

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    My boyfriend of 10 years proposed on Christmas Eve. Excited, I said yes! The truth is, financially and emotionally, he’s not at my level. He lives with his mother and hasn’t had a job the ENTIRE 10 years we’ve been together. He looks at least 10 years older than he is, and I suspect him of having a drug problem, and cheating on me, too. To cut to the point, I simply do not want him. I make $50K a year, own my home, am attractive, in shape, etc. I’m in my late 30s and smart enough to know that the problem isn’t him, it’s me. So, what allowed me to stay so long and waste so much time trying to change him? Why did I work so hard to persuade others he was a great guy when, in my heart of hearts, I knew he was garbage? 

    --Frankenstein’s Fiancee


    This guy’s the slacker version of the Energizer Bunny, napping and napping and napping č except when he jolts awake to get high, cheat on you or yell, “Hey, Ma! Another beer!” 

    As total failures go, the guy’s been a stunning success. Most men can only dream of living like Hugh Hefner, who has three girlfriends, but had to build a vast publishing empire, buy a mansion and put in a zoo and waterfalls to keep them around. Granted, your boyfriend only has two women in his life; apparently, his reward for keeping his pot plants out of his mother’s begonias, opening his bedroom door when she brings up his neatly folded laundry and picking up the phone when you call to say, “Hello, this is your girlfriend, how can I provide you with excellent enabling today?”

    Now, let’s say some matchmaker-type asked you, “Hey, how about a cheating, drug-abusing, prematurely aged boyfriend who hasn’t worked for 10 years and lives with his mother?” I’m guessing your response wouldn’t have been, “Wowee, stack up the bridal magazines!” But, maybe, when you met the guy, you weren’t really ready for a relationship, so the wrong guy was kinda right. And then you felt compelled to defend having spent so much time with him, which only led to you spending more and more time with him - until his Christmas Eve proposal made a certain someone the happiest woman in the world. Not you, silly. Think of the joy his mother must’ve felt at the news that sonny boy might finally leave home. 

    As for your excitement, it was probably part generic wedding lust and part bragging rights: “A man asked me to marry him!” (Yeah, but which man?) More than anything else, getting engaged gave you the perfect justification for why you stuck around doing all that justifying for 10 long years. Yeah, you were dumb. But, you had help. It seems our brains are wired for self-justification. In “Mistakes Were Made (but not by me),” social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson explain that most people, when confronted with evidence that their beliefs or actions are harmful, immoral or stupid, “do not change their point of view or course of action but justify it even more tenaciously.” Recognizing that you have this tendency is the best way to avoid succumbing to it - along with forcing yourself to be ruthlessly honest about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Admitting your mistakes should keep you from marrying them, tempting as it must be when a man gets down on one knee, holds out a twist-tie with a chunk of rock candy glued to it, and says, “Hey, Babe, how’dja like to take over my weekly allowance payment from Mom?” 


    Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA╩ 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)

    (c)2008, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved.

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    {mosimage}So, you finally joined a gym, paid the membership fee, and even bought one of their “workout” shirts. Now what? After the initial feel-good thoughts of belonging to a health club fade, where do you start and more importantly at the starting-out stage, how do you fit in? Here are a few tips to help you get on your way.

    First off, go to the gym again and get a feel for it before you go for your first workout. Get to know the place so you can walk around like one of the “regulars.” Find out where everything is and how the facility is laid out. Where’s the water fountain? Restrooms? What services are offered to help you get started? Two of the biggest questions to answer are, “When is the gym crowded?” and “What are the hours of the day care?”

    Be sure that the clothes you have for the gym are appropriate. Always wear athletic shoes č not sandals or flip flops. While athletic shoes won’t protect your toe from a dropped weight, it will give you good support and some level of protection. Next, make sure that your clothes are clean, fit you and cover what needs covered. A lot of times, people will lay on a bench or the floor to do an exercise, and their shorts are so loose that they show everyone more than they need to see. For women, a good support top is essential too.

    Next, be honest and ask yourself if you know what you’re doing. One of the best things to do if you are unsure about the equipment or how to get started is to enlist the services of a professional trainer. Many clubs offer floor staff or staff trainers, these are not the same. A personal trainer should be truly interested in helping familiarize you to the club and getting you started on the best program for where you are at. If they try to “hard-sell” you a year of training and you’ve either never worked out before or had a trainer before... run! All they are going to do is take your money and leave you with a bad experience. Truly though, getting a trainer for a few sessions can save you months or years of wasted time and energy.

    OK, you’re on the right track to fitness and have been showing up regularly č congratulations! Now, as you start to get into the routine, do yourself a favor and, bring a towel. Yes, a towel; a lot of people do not wipe off the piece of equipment they were using and you don’t need to put your head on a big wet patch of sweat. Enough said.

    When you’re working out and someone is on the equipment you need, don’t simply walk away or feel intimidated. Simply wait until they’re finished with their set and ask if you can “work in” with them. It’s that simple. Most people will let someone work in with them between sets, and the ones who don’t, you don’t want to be around anyway.

    Lastly, and most embarrassingly, be keenly aware of personal hygiene. While it may sound funny or like common sense, that can be one of the most embarrassing moments for everyone involved. Always wear clean clothes and use deodorant when you get ready to work out č some gyms even have complimentary toiletries to use. Use them.

    There you are, some simple tips to make your gym experience a little more pleasurable and comfortable. While they won’t help you lose 10 pounds or build bigger biceps, it will give you a sense of confidence so that when you do go to the gym, you “look” like one of the regulars. 

    Now, the rest is up to you.


    E-mail your questions to John Velandra at: john@designsinfitness.net. Or call him at (910) 306-3142. John is a certified personal trainer and the owner of CrossFit Cape Fear and Designs In Fitness Personal Training Services in Fayetteville.

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    Rated: 3 Stars- Rated: 5 Stars for fans of the comic. 

     

    {mosimage}How doesIron Man (126 minutes) compare to other comic book-inspired movies?  Much better than the last X-Men sequel, better thanFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, better thanSpiderman 3, better than Bryan Singer’sSuperman, and better than Ang Lee’sThe Incredible Hulk.Iron Man told a decent, updated, single hero origin story, focusing on the technical development of the suit, throwing in lots of explosions and cool gadgets. This is a movie with good source material and a practiced lead (Robert Downey Jr.) that tons of people will see more than once in the theaters.  

    Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) inherited Stark Industries from his father, who started the company during World War II. Obadiah Stane (The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges) handles the business side of the company, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow, looking so pretty with freckles) takes care of Tony, and Air Force Lieutenant Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) acts as Tony’s friend. While Tony drinks, gambles and enjoys the kind of lavish lifestyle that Bruce Wayne would envy, the company exploits his genius for engineering weaponry. Some creative storytelling is employed for the first half of the movie, and Tony ends up in Afghanistan to show a new weapon to the U.S. Air Force. There, a terrorist group led by the clichÄd Raza (Faran Tahir) captures him, and rather than make the weapon they want, Tony manufactures an armored suit in order to escape. After returning to America, Tony makes a surprise announcement and retreats to his laboratory to work in secret. Much of the remaining plot involves Tony learning which of the first billed cast he can trust.

    A ton of writers worked on the final version, which is usually a flashing red danger sign. However, there are surprisingly few plot holes, and some witty dialogue. Downey Jr., unlike many of the newcomers who suit up to play comic characters, can really act. Jon Favreau displays a light hand with material that could easily turn campy. He deftly updates an origin story, trimming away the soap opera fat that so frequently bogs down such classic Stan Lee material, without sacrificing main character development or comic book style fun.

    So why the three-star rating? Well, the villain, although well played, is not given enough to do. The character just doesn’t seem all that tough, and plays his hand a little too early in the film. Perhaps the writers or the director didn’t give the audience credit for intelligence enough to follow the plot and character development. Rather than letting the actor work the material, the character just lingers in corners laughing evilly. Go watch how Bryan Singer developed Magneto in the originalX-Men movie! And is it too much to ask that Rhodes, the single nonwhite character, get something to do other than set up Downey Jr. for his one-liners? We won’t even get into Paltrow’s version of Pepper Potts, true to the original character as she may be. Couldn’t the writers empower Pepper? She crushes on a guy who sleeps around with random women and can’t even remember her birthday, runs around in high heels and can’t seem to make decisions. The worst kind of female sidekick! All in all, I’ve seen worse.  A note to the mega-fans ╔ watch the credits. You won’t be sorry. 

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    {mosimage}Mike Mushok, lead guitarist for Staind, doesn’t believe in standing still.

    Mushok promises an “evolution” on the group’s new, though as-yet-untitled CD, which the band is touring in support of. The band will visit the Crown Coliseum on May 16 for the front leg of its tour.

    “We should be finished with the CD by the time we get to Fayetteville,” said Mushok. “It’s definitely a step ahead for us. The songs really came together.

    “And even though it’s different, it still rocks,” added Mushok, “and I don’t think our hardcore fans will be disappointed.”

    Mushok cites the presence of producer Johnny K. for the slightly new direction of the CD; this was the first time Johnny K. produced Staind, though he has worked with a diverse group of musicians, including Disturbed, 3 Doors Down, the Plain White T’s and Finger 11.

    “He brought some innovations to the studio,” said Mushok.

    One should expect innovation from Mushok, who definitely breaks the preconceived idea of the guitar hero when you learn that he graduated from Western New England University with a degree in electrical engineering, which makes him perhaps the first or second most educated rock guitarist in the world č when you throw Queen’s Brian May and his degree in astrophysics into the mix.

    Mushok started Staind when he met current lead singer Aaron Lewis at a Christmas party in 1993.

    “It was fate because I’d been trying to find a lead singer for so long,” said Mushok. “Of course, it was like, ‘Here’s a another guy at a party who thinks he can sing,’ but obviously, the kid could, and can, sing his ass off.” 

    Mushok brought in drummer Jon Wysocki and Lewis knew a bass player (who has since been replaced) and Staind was off and running.

    Or rather, Stain was.

    “Yeah, our original name was Stain,” said Mushok, “but we found out there was another band with the same name, so we added the ‘d.’”

    Four years after that 1993 meeting between Mushok and Lewis, Staind began building its rep in the music world... thanks in large part to a would-be showdown between the band and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit over the choice of cover art employed by Staind on their first, self-released CD,Tormented. 

    Staind was opening for Limp Bizkit in 1997 when Durst became irate at what he called the “satanic” cover art and threw the disc at the band and walked away.

    But after he heard them play a 45-minute set, Durst changed his tune and helped get them a record deal and a spot on the Vans Warped Tour. Their first album for Elektra,Dysfunctional, was well received when it was released in 1999, but the band’s real breakthrough came with the 2001 follow-up,Break the Cycle, which hit No. 1 on the charts and produced such hit singles asIt’s Been Awhile,Fade,EpiphanyandFor You.

    Since then, the group’s 2002 MTV DVDUnpluggedwent gold and two subsequent albums,4 Shades of Grey andChapter V, both topped the charts.

    Local fans of Staind are lucky in that they are catching the band at the very front of its tour, before the group gets worn down by the constant touring č touring which Mushok says can last between 18 and 20 months.

    “After awhile, all the towns we play become one big blur,” Mushok said. “And even though I know Fayetteville is in North Carolina, because I have a friend who lives there č his dad is in the military č and we’ve played there twice, I got a little confused when someone mistakenly told me we were playing in Fayetteville, Ala.

    “I’m looking forward to playing in the North Carolina version of Fayetteville,” said Mushok. “I think we’re going to give the fans a great show.”

    The concert is May 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, $42 and $45; members of the military get a $5 discount with ID.

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    {mosimage}Indie Band “The Never” is set to play at the Fayetteville Museum of Art for their premiere party “Fused & Divided, Life & Art.” The shindig is Friday, May 16th at 6 p.m. The event is free, includes swanky snacks, adult beverages, fantastic art č and the best yet č The Never. Daytrotter.com called them a “spry vigor band with much wisdom” with the interview as evidence below. Jonny, rhythm section and singer in the band, decided to delve deep into The Never’s history, their mission, and their passion for music & our homečEarth.

     If you only had two words to describe your band, what would they be; why?

    “Folk Art. It’s really hard to describe what we do. We add a lot of theatre ideas into our shows č whether it’s a light show or performing at an outdoor movie theatre with artwork from our last record projected behind us on the silver screen. Our new record will have a ‘lil bit of a folk feel with loud bombastic moments bursting thru the quieter parts.”

    Who came up with the name and why do you think it fits your band?

    “Finding a name for your artistic outlet is a really awkward thing to do.╩ Especially for us because we don’t really have a set idea for what our band is musically and there’s so many other things that we’d like to do under that name. But the definition of “The Never” is from a Stephen King novel and is reference to “the time before time began.” It’s kind of epic in a way. Seemed to fit what we do but also not limit us to your expectations upon first hearing it.”

    Give me a “The Never” history lesson, how did you guys get started?

    “We’ve got a long history... the short of it is... Joah my brother, and we were in a group called Vibrant Green with our oldest brother and we began doing shows with a friends who were also from Pittsboro. Our bands fell apart within the same month so we kind of formed like voltron and it worked! Vibrant green is still an active band on our label! We first signed to Morisen Records out of Charlotte and released one record with them and dropped them after that because they wanted rights to our publishing. We didn’t feel comfortable with that so we kind of mutually dropped one another. We then signed with Trekky Records in Chapel Hill and releasedAntarctica, our story book record, and have worked with Trekky Records ever since. We are completely content and have been touring for past two years.”

    Who does The Never look to for inspiration č who do you think did it better before you?╩

    “So many people deserve our respect... Arcade Fire is doing great things right now musically while also inspiring a whole new generation to better their living conditions č whether that be politically or just as simple as supporting your local farmers that you buy your food from. We also take heed of older artists like Harry Nilsson and Elvis Costello. A lot of my friends think it’s cheesy but I love U2 and what they stand for. They try to teach people through their art and challenge them to think. Seriously, Africa needs our help, but it seems we’d rather “liberate” countries who don’t even want to be liberated.”

    The Never has an obvious connection with art č the album Antarctica was released with an illustrated storybook. Can you detail more about this relationship and how it affects the band’s work?

    “Our guitarist is an amazing painter and Joah and I would love to see him do more work. Our records are a great way to include that talent and in the future we’d like to have more of what we can offer brought into our group’s work č all three of us have been involved in theatre at some point and would like to bring that aspect of teaching thru art to our performances.”

    Can you explain the Anarctica concept and theme, if there is one?

    “It’s a storybook album: a full length CD literally coupled with a fully illustrated storybook by guitarist Noah Smith. The story is centered on a young, naive boy named Paul and his journey to find the owner of a large bomb he finds near his home in the country. Antarctica is a plea for everyone young and old to remember the simple things of childhood. The book also serves as a reminder to appreciate our world and the beauty it has to offer.”

    Why should people get off their butts and check out the Never at the FMoA?

    “First off you’ll be supporting a great local arts venue like the FMoA. Secondly we like to chill with cool people! Thirdly, there’s alcohol... and that’s always fun. Music, good vibes, and art!”

    Sounds like reason enough to me. Be sure to check out The Never at the Fayetteville Museum of Art, May 16th, from 6-8pm. Get more information about the band at www.thenever.org and about the art at www.fayettevillemuseumart.org.

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    Dear EarthTalk: What is the “cleantech” business sector and why have I been hearing that term so much lately?

    -Andrea Newell, Denver, CO


    {mosimage}Cleantech is a loosely defined category of businesses dedicated to creating cutting edge technologies that address the world’s environmental problems. These high flying companies, most of which began small with the hope of ascending to publicly traded status č are the new darlings of Wall Street, attracting billions in venture capital and public funding in what many financial analysts are calling the next big thing since the burst of the dot-com bubble.

    Venture capitalists poured more than $3 billion into the cleantech sector in 2007 alone. Whether this cleantech boom will lead the rest of the economy down the green path for the long term or go bust in a couple of years like its dot-com predecessor remains to be seen.

    In the thick of the movement is Cleantech Network LLC, a research firm and clearinghouse for cleantech companies and investors that also publishes the online information clearinghouse, Cleantech.com. The firm defines its budding industry as “new technology and related business models offering competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges.”

    The firm interacts with a network of 8,000 investors, 6,000 companies and 3,500 professional organizations involved in alternative energy and energy efficient transportation, wastewater management technologies, air pollution control innovations, sustainable materials production and sourcing, environmentally responsible industrial and agricultural applications and waste recycling and management.

    Some examples of the thousands of companies that consider themselves part of the cleantech movement include: Finavera Renewables, a firm that is developing underwater turbines and buoys to generate power from the ocean’s tides and waves; 3TIER Group, which uses advanced computer modeling to help energy companies and utilities figure out where best to site wind, solar and hydro-electric projects; Avalence LLC, which is developing high-pressure hydrogen generation and storage equipment that will dispense hydrogen for use in transportation, home power and industrial applications; and, Infinia Corporation, which is developing a utility-scale system to harvest solar energy.

    Over and above the cleantech sector’s potential for addressing crucial environmental problems, analysts see it as a bright spot in the darkening picture of the recession-bound economy over the next few years. 

    Marketing research and consulting firm Fuji Keizai USA expects the global market for cleantech products and services to grow from the $284 billion is it is generating today to over $1.3 trillion within a decade. The value of the companies in the sector is also expected to grow from today’s $104 billion to some $467 billion in the same 10-year time frame.



    GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.

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    {mosimage}We began theAmerican Idol journey in January full of hope. The singing competition promised that this would be the year of deep talent č no silly Sanjayas in the final 12. At first blush, most of the contestants did look solid. But it soon became clear that they weren’t much more than that. None of them could make your hair stand on end, ł la Fantasia Barrino. So each week you’d vote for your favorites with an uneasy sense of their limitations.

    The parallels with this year’s presidential race are inescapable. As primary season grinds on, people seem to be having qualms about those contestants too, no matter how impressive they once seemed.

    I suppose I’ll rouse myself to vote for David Cook in this week’sAmerican Idol finale (Tuesday & Wednesday, 8 p.m., Fox). As for Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama and John McCain, I’m waiting to see who can sing the best version ofI Will Always Love You.


    Big Medicine

    Saturday, 7 p.m. (TLC)

    This series features a father-and-son surgeon team who deal with obese people. In this week’s episode, a patient loses 600 pounds through diet and swimming. Unfortunately, he still weighs 400 pounds when his regimen is finished.

    Wouldn’t it be a drag to lose 600 pounds and have your doctors tell you it’s “a good start”?


    Academy of Country Music Awards

    Sunday, 8 p.m. (CBS)

    The recent CMT Awards felt about as southern as South Hollywood. You barely heard a pedal steel or fiddle all night, but rather slickly produced pop and rock that clashed with the cowboy hats and boots the performers presumably found in some costume shop. Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and New Jersey’s Jon Bon Jovi were unlikely award winners, and Snoop Dogg was an unlikely presenter. Gone were the picket-fence and hay-bale props of past years, replaced by slinky backup dancers and glittering sets. Most stunning of all, none of the winners evoked God or patriotism at the podium. Since the Lord works in mysterious ways, today’s country stars apparently need someone who’s more on-task č say, an agent or manager č to create showbiz miracles for them.

    Don’t expect anything different at this week’s Academy of Country Music Awards. If a homespun genius like Hank Williams Sr. tried to make his way on stage, I bet the security guards would draw their guns on him.

    Masterpiece

    Sunday, 9 p.m. (PBS)

    WatchingCranfordfeels like stepping into a real English hamlet from the 1840s. The miniseries, based on novels by Elizabeth Gaskell, paints a large cast of characters on this charmingly small canvas. It makesCranfordcome alive with provincial splendor: the fears, the hopes, the cruelty, the kindness. And, of course, the gossip, which never ceases.

    Cranford’s rhythms are slow, but the production pulls you in thanks to fabulous acting by Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Michael Gambon, Francesca Annis, Imelda Staunton and others. By this week’s finale, you’ll be clucking over the latest tempest in a teapot, just like the town’s biddies in their bonnets and shawls.

  • Details

    {mosimage}Here is my nomination for every college or university that sponsors a campus-wide book for students and faculty to read and discuss together:Gandhi & Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age, a new book by Arthur Herman.

    The new book is perfect for campus-wide discussion, and sadly, few, if any, campuses will pick it.

    Gandhi & Churchill tells how the lives of these two very different inspirational figures intersected during the turbulent times that led to the breakup of the British Empire č and left us, their successors, with a host of challenges. 

    Some example discussion topics are: racism and racial pride; benevolent colonialism and the oppression that accompanied it; nonviolence and hard-nosed big power politics; the dangers of appeasement and the strategic advantages of accommodation to the reasonable aspirations and demands of opponents; the conflicting imperatives of global economic development against the spiritual advantages of local village life.

    All of these important topics, and the different opinions we have about each of them, are part of the history of the first half of the 20th Century as seen through the roles Gandhi and Churchill played. 

    There is more: the clash of cultures; the role of accidents and luck in the course of history; good and evil men č and the enormous influence of powerful leadership in shaping events.

    When Churchill was born in England’s Blenheim Castle in 1874 and Gandhi on the west coast of India in 1869, India was the jewel of the British colonial possessions. Of all of Queen Victoria’s subjects, two-thirds of them lived on the Indian subcontinent. British rule had brought stability and order to a people of more than 250 million inhabitants composed of an untold variety of languages, castes and religions. To a certain degree it had imposed its systems of laws, culture, economics and education.

    Churchill believed that India was an essential part of the British Empire. Without India, he thought, Great Britain could not be a great power. He also believed that without British oversight, India would fall victim to disorder and violence as its various groups competed for domination. He proudly believed in the superior qualities of the Anglo-Saxon peoples and the importance of stern and forceful rule.

    Gandhi trained as a British lawyer in London. He believed that the principles of English law required that Indian subjects of the British King be entitled to equality, self-government and their own superior culture. He thought that the most effective weapon to gain those objectives for India was through nonviolent resistance.

    Both men, in their very different ways, were amazing examples of courage and character.

    Ironically, each of them first proved these qualities, not in England or India, but in South Africa during the Boer War in the early 1900s. Gandhi had come there as a lawyer and became a leader of the Indian community’s demands to be treated equally. During the same time, Churchill, although theoretically a news reporter, was actually an active combatant whose heroism made him a celebrity. 

    Later, as the two men became leaders of their respective peoples, the conflict between Gandhi’s determination to achieve self-government and equality and Churchill’s belief that India must remain subject to British rule led to their bitter rivalry. Although I would be delighted if UNC-Chapel Hill chooses this book for its summer reading program next year, it is a long shot. The author’s politics tilt conservative. For instance, he is an articulate supporter of the war in Iraq. So his book, as genuinely “fair and balanced” as it is, would be a tough sell in Chapel Hill and in many university communities.

    I hope I am wrong. Churchill & Gandhi would be a great book for campus-wide discussion. 

  • Details

    {mosimage}It’s hard not to play along when your children come up with cute untruths.

    For example, for a time one of my kids used to tell me confidently and matter-of-factly that if he didn’t go to bed, the moon would not rise. It was a reasonable conclusion based on his personal experience at the time (he was about two or three). Later, of course, his bedtime changed, he began to notice the moon in the sky even during some days, and concluded differently.

    Unfortunately, many politicians have yet to grow out of the toddler phase when it comes to spotting and discarding spurious correlations. They insist, confidently and matter-of-factly, that without their favorite spending program or regulation, some huge chunk of the economy would cease to be or that ever-improving health and safety trends would suddenly reverse themselves.

    The most naĢve and destructive examples of such thinking stem from misusing the concept of the multiplier effect. You’ve seen or read this many times, I’m sure. A politician will say that for every dollar spent on such-and-such a project, the public will receive multiple dollars back in economic activity and thousands or even millions of jobs. In virtually every case, the statement isn’t just invalid. It’s idiotic. And yet it just gets restated by the next earnest-sounding politician.

    Most of the time, such politicians are citing an economic-impact study that takes the amount spent and runs it through a model that estimates the local expenditure on labor and materials and the resulting employment implications. While such data can be useful ą particularly if you are thinking about going into the business of supplying the labor or materials in question ą they don’t speak at all to the net economic benefits.

    Getting to the net requires that you estimate the benefit of using those dollars on some alternative. Economists call this the opportunity cost. Basically, all costs are opportunity costs, whether they are denominated by dollars, time, or some other means. If you spend $8.50 eating lunch at Jersey Mike’s (highly recommended, by the way) you can’t spend the same $8.50 on some other meal, or on buying socks at the store after having skipped lunch. More broadly, the resources you consumed getting to and from the sub shop, including the minutes, can’t be devoted to something else. What you didn’t consume ą the alternative meal, the socks, the extra time at the office ą constitute the opportunity cost.

    In public finance, the opportunity cost comes at two stages. Certainly, the tax dollars you spend on, say, highway construction can’t be spent on public schools or law enforcement. But there is also an opportunity cost to converting private dollars, earned through voluntary means, into tax dollars. When people keep more of what they earn, that money doesn’t disappear just because it no longer shows up in the government’s balance sheet. It is devoted either to current private consumption or to net private investment, both of which have economic impacts, too. 

    The only real justification for a government program is that private individuals, spending a given amount of money through voluntary exchange, won’t get as high a return on that money as the government would by taxing the money from them and devoting it to a public purpose.

    The case isn’t that hard to make when it comes to basic governmental services such as law enforcement and the courts. Beyond that, you have to argue that policy makers are likely to know better than citizens how best to spend the citizens’ own money. There are such cases, I would submit. But these cases are rare.

    Those who assert the magic of multiplier effects to justify their pet programs may be dissembling. But it is my experience that most of the time, they don’t know enough about the matter to be lying. They are just repeating what they’ve heard, or spotting spurious connections on the basis of limited experience.

    It’s their business if they choose, Peter Pan-like, not to grow up. But they should keep their hands out of the wallets of the grownups.

  • Details

    Every song must come to an end.
    For 17 years, Alan Porter has led the Cumberland Oratorio Singers. In fact, Porter created the COS, over which he has presided as conductor for its entire history.
    But on May 18, Porter will exit stage left as he performs his last concert with the choral group.
    “It’s time to go,” said Porter, who now lives in Kure Beach. “I’ve commuted for six years from here to Fayetteville to conduct the COS. It’s time for some new blood.”
    That “new blood” is Michael Martin, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities and music education at Methodist University. Martin will begin conducting the COS in the fall.
    \But before he passes the baton to his successor, Porter has a sensational sendoff scheduled for his last hurrah with the COS. Among the pieces to be performed at the concert — which will be a retrospective of the group’s past work — will be Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Holocaust Cantata.
    The COS has about 55 members — a number that has fluctuated and seen many different faces fill the chairs.
    Former member Gina Harvey, who is traveling from South Carolina to accompany the choir on violin, is particularly excited about performing Handle’s Messiah, a longtime crowd favorite, and Brahm’s Requiem.
    But she also finds the performance bittersweet because it is Porter’s last time on the conductor’s stand.
    “He is one of the most passionate and talented musicians I have ever known,” said Harvey, who joined the COS 14 years ago and has been driving all the way from the Palmetto State just to prepare for this show. “Even though they’re getting an excellent replacement, things will never be the same with the COS — Alan built this choir, it’s his baby.”
    Another musician hand-picked by Porter for the performance is Fayetteville cellist Zack May, who, like Harvey, conjured the term “bittersweet” in describing the performance.
    “It is kind of sad because he (Porter) has been with us so long,” said May, who has played cello at COS performances for four years. “But I am very excited about this show, especially the playing of the Holocaust Cantata.”
    May has a five-minute cello solo in the Holocaust Cantata.
    A current member of the COS, Su Vick — the section leader for the altos — said she too is saddened to see Porter go, but feels the COS is being left in good hands.
    “Allan has been a friend of mine for a long time,” said Vick. “He’s been a wonderful conductor. And we’re fortunate to have an excellent replacement in Michael Martin.
    “I will say that the good part is that even though we’re losing a conductor, we’re gaining a place to stay at the beach,” Vick said wryly, in reference to Porter’s Kure Beach home.
    Porter himself says he plans to enjoy his beachside retirement, though the COS will never be far from his thoughts.
    “It’s been a great run,” said Porter, who will stay on the COS’s board of directors. “This is my baby — I created it. But now I must step away.
    “But at least I know I leave it in the capable hands of Michael Martin,” said Porter.
    {mosimage} Martin has conducted large choral groups of 120, directed a semiprofessional group set up by audition, and conducted men’s barbershop chorus — singing for 18 years in professional barbershop quartets.
    Martin has said he plans to increase the size of the COS and its fans through advertising and by playing more venues in addition to the COS’s home, Methodist University’s Reeves Auditorium.
    Porter’s final performance will be May 18, 4 p.m., at Reeves Auditorium.

    Contact Tim Wilkins: tim@upandcomingweekly.com

  • Details
        The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a little out of time. The organization, which focuses on the Middle Ages, will take Fayetteville residents back in time with them on Sunday, May 18, from 1-4 p.m., at Lake Rim Park when it presents a medieval reenactment.  
        “We try to re-create arts and things that were done in the Middle Ages,” said Noel Gifford, member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and Fayetteville’s Canton of Attilliun chapter. “We are presenting this for the local people so they know what we are doing and what we are about.” {mosimage}
        There will be demonstrations of heavy armored combat, rapier fighting, Middle Eastern dancing and multiple arts and crafts. Costumers use luminous silks to create ladies’ gowns while the men in armor brave the heat of the forge to hammer plate steel into the fashions of war.  
        “We also demonstrate marshal arts,” said Gavin Mac Roberts, local chapter president of The Society for Creative Anachronism. “Before being allowed to participate in combat, SCA combatants go through a rigorous training regimen and safety authorization process.” 
        Mac Roberts added that the equipment is inspected before the start of the event and the combatants must maintain their skills through regular attendance at combat practice. Participants use real blades and wear protective clothing and masks.
        The nonprofit organization’s purpose is to research and recreate the arts and skills of pre-16th century Europe. Each member researches a particular time period learning what the people ate, clothing that was worn and other facets of the people’s way of life. In short, they delve into the culture of the period. Some members create a “persona” for themselves as someone who could have lived in a specific time and place. It is that persona they bring to demonstrations like the upcoming one.  
        The SCA has 100,000 diverse participants who live in 19 “kingdoms” across the globe, including participants in Maryland, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and a small portion of Georgia. These re-enactors use their knowledge of history to enrich the lives of others. Various events take place throughout the country.
        “We dress up in our costumes and demonstrate our art to the public,” said Gifford. “Some people sell the clothing that they make.”
        Gifford added that the members donate their time visiting local libraries and schools to help bring history alive for students.
        “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Mac Roberts. “We hope that people will be interested in learning about what we do.”
        Admission is free and the event is open to the public. For more information about the SCA, including how to join, call 988-8207.  

  • Details
        The annual exhibit of Public Works, at the Fayetteville Arts Council, opened 4th Friday in April and can still be viewed by visitors to the Art Center on Hay Street. Sponsored by the Public Works Commission, 144 works of art fill the gallery walls or are on pedestals. Works on the walls are stacked on top of each other due to the successful outpouring of artists in the area.
        The annual exhibit is a way for anyone to participate in a 4th Friday gallery exhibit and show art enthusiasts what they can do. The exhibit demonstrates the vast subject matter and styles that artists in the area choose to work in and the variety of media they use.
        One of the more unusual mediums was by Adriana Zsilinska. The work titled Terra Nostra is on silk and is a remarkable use of a batik technique, in which the artist draws on the fabric with colored pens to create interesting linear elements.
        Knowing it is an open exhibit — anyone who has their work framed with a proper hanging system can participate — makes the exhibit a mix of work from professional and amateurs (even some very young, creative children are exhibiting). Doesn’t matter to me what the age, I just look for work that is strong in design or composition, evokes meaning and is skillfully constructed.
        The age of the artist or the style, it doesn’t matter; a truly successful work stands out on the wall. A good example of this is the work titled Sissy and Sara by a very, very young artist named Sara Tringo. How did the child know to pick the color of lavender to paint the figure on top of the dense colors in the background? At such a young age, did Sara know she was creating depth and pictorial space? (I feel confident in saying she did not know her childlike-style of image making has influenced great works of art by artists like Jean Dubuffet and others.)
        What are some of the conditions for a strong work? First and foremost, there has to be a figure-ground relationship of some kind taking place. In other words, the background shouldn’t just be a backdrop that doesn’t relate to what is painted in foreground.
        Michelle Wilson and Lucille Benoit both have small paintings in the exhibit and have painted the traditional still life as a subject. Both artists have a keen sense of how important the space behind the objects is in creating spatial structure through the use of color and half tones.
        Wilson’s painting is a still life of an artist’s brush placed horizontally across a table and somewhat inside an open box. Benoit’s painting is a small still life titled Nancy’s, and is a painting of a grouping of objects — garlic and onions. Both artists seem to have an understanding of how to create form with color and how to set up a successful composition.
        Knowing when a work is complete can be difficult. Not knowing when the piece is finished can result in it being overworked. Does the artist overwork a painting or drawing because they, perhaps, do not have an understanding of the underlying form they are trying to construct? More doesn’t always mean better. Craftsmanship is always an issue; a well-crafted work shows a certain amount of competence in using the medium — avoiding too many unnecessary details?{mosimage}
        Kids at Play by Leroy Robinson is a good example of how a painting can be left minimal in detail and is still a strong work. His acrylic painting of two silhouetted figures in the foreground is in contrast to an arrangement of colorful pattern, an abstract cityscape in the background. His color choices create a rhythm in the work that directs our eye across the surface of the painting.
        Rose Ann San Martino’ painting, Driveway, is an excellent example of using a lot of detail in a painting, but it works. Her purple and black painting consists of the bottom of a car in the top right corner of the painting, leaving two-thirds of the painting in a purplish color with text covering every square inch — horror vacui at its best (artists fill the entire surface of an artwork with ornamental details, figures, shapes, lines and anything else the artist might envision).
        Then there is always the pitfall of over-framing. If the work is behind glass, then it needs a matt to protect the work from the glass or Plexiglas; the borders of the cut matt shouldn’t be too skimpy to create a sense of the work being squashed in the frame. You should never see the frame first, always the work first. So, a provincial frame on a contemporary work just doesn’t work.
        The Wee Pumpkin Patch King by Abigail Wilson is a fanciful, tiny sculpture in black and white clay of a whimsical figure. Small in scale, about 5”x 6”. Wilson framed her capricious figure in a black shadow box on a black matt. The framing is a visual support for the work and remains subordinate to the very tiny man and the essence of what the odd figure exudes.
        Content — what is the work about? Content is not the same as subject. The subject of the work can be described in terms of something representational; is it a cat, a dog, a person, etc. Content evokes something about the subject — is it expressive, political, transcendental and many other essences.
        {mosimage}In Joy Tringo’s painting, Trapped Within the Mind: Tribute to Jonah’s Autism, is an excellent example of how you don’t need descriptive painting to evoke a feeling or to give the viewer insight into an experience. Colorful and joyous, the swirls and circular space balls fill the background, the pattern of puzzle pieces decorate the egg shape of the body. Two references to time are in the painting, an otherwise joyous work is unsettling as the animated figure wears a necklace with the word “help” on the necklace charm.
        Other important elements which are the underpinning of good work is a successful composition and using color effectively and structurally. Is the color local or expressive, does it create form and/or space? Is color (with all its complexity) actually used to create structure in the work?
        Stanley Croteau uses color to evoke an emotion in his oil painting, Don’t Lose Your Balloons. Medium in size, Croteau uses color to entice us to look at his work. The brilliant color used to describe form emphasizes the uncertain meaning behind the portrait of an individual turning into an angry clown face. Very emotional and well painted; Croteau uses the psychological as his artistic mace.
        Size is not an issue. Sara Tringo’s little painting is very small, about 7”x 9”. Pamolu Oldham has two small collages that are very political and well designed. In her collage, What Child Is This?, Oldham shares her views about the state of politics by placing a cutout head of President Bush on the shoulders of a child. The child is a well known icon and is interpreted as the Madonna and Child; the letters A.K.A. can be read across the space above Madonna’s head.
        I can’t write about the exhibit and not mention some of the sculptures in the gallery. The works are in two categories: the serious stone carving by Kyle Sonnenberg and the fun fabricated junk sculpture made from the recycled material.
        Sonnenberg’s carvings are well crafted. He selects his stone to reflect meaning in each sculpture, like the brick red and white color of alabaster in his carving, The Shop Girl’s Broken Heart.
    Dan Brady will make you chuckle with his lighthearted fabrication of Mr. Coffee and Java. The figure is made of tubing, cans, plastic, small athletic shoes and two coffee cups as eyes. Java looked sort a like an animal to me — fabricated all in the spirit of having fun.
        Daniel Mattox created a similar pleasurable experience with found objects; his sculpture titled Reindeer is made out of metal parts, solid and open forms to express a joyful interpretation of a favorite seasonal animal. The interpretation by Mattox and Brady will certainly delight any visitor to the exhibit, of any age.
        Lots to look at and there is still time to see Public Works; the exhibit will remain in the Art Center until the third week of May. For information call 323-1776.

  • Details

        {mosimage}A sure sign that summer is on its way in Fayetteville is the arrival of Fayetteville After Five. This third Thursday event brings the community together in a celebration of art, music and fun. What could be more fun?
    Sponsored by the Fayetteville Museum of Art and some of its community friends (Cumulus Broadcasting, Distributors of Bud Light, The City of Fayetteville, The Fayetteville Observer, Up and Coming Weekly and Time Warner Cable), the event is fun for the whole family.
        As in years past, the event will feature food vendors and adult beverages. The Young at Art Tent, which allows children of all ages to engage in hands-on activities and art projects FREE of charge. The Visual Artist Tent will feature artists creating on-site as well as displaying and offering for sale unique, hand-crafted items. So it’s more than just music and dancing — it’s educational, it’s cultural — heck, let’s cut to the chase, it’s just fun.
        The kick-off event, slated for Thursday, May 15 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Festival Park will feature the beach sounds of the Craig Woolard Band. Those new to the area might be asking themselves what is this “beach music” and even a bigger question — what’s the shag? We’ve got some answers for you.
        Certain regions in the country are linked with certain kinds of music. You think New Orleans and jazz pops into your mind. You think Seattle — grunge. You think Memphis — Elvis-style rock ‘n’ roll. Nashville — country. You get where I’m going with this? You think North and South Carolina and beach music should (after you spend some time in the two states) and will pop into your head.
        Beach music is a regional genre which developed from various musical styles of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.The styles ranged from big band swing instrumentals to the more raucous sounds of blues/jump blues, jazz, doo-wop, boogie, rhythm and blues, reggae, rockabilly and old-time rock ‘n’ roll. It’s music that reaches deep down inside you and gets you on your feet, which, by the way can’t stand still. Your feet literally start itching to move — and that’s where shagging comes into play. The shag is the state dance of North and South Carolina. It’s a close cousin to swing dancing — but there isn’t as much throwing in the air and the steps are a little more low key. The shag is more of a shuffle than a bop. It’s something best done in the sand — but Festival Park will do just fine.
        So, now that you know what beach music is, and you know how to dance to it, you need to know that when it comes to beach music, the Craig Woolard Band is beach music royalty. For 27 years, Woolard was the front man for the Embers, perhaps the premier beach band in the land. When the band broke up in 2006, Woolard found himself in an odd place. He still had a love and passion for music — but no one to play it with. Thanks to a group of great friends and fans, Woolard found his way and formed a new band. The band has been entertaining countless thousands for the past couple of years and has quickly earned its place in the Beach Music Hall of Fame.
        The band’s latest release, Come and Get This, is heating up the airwaves. The CD has produced several hits and has people hitting the floor any time it’s played. Woolard and company are favorites on and off the beach. They can frequently be found playing events like Fayetteville After Five, or more recently, fraternity and sorority parties across the state. Woolard plays the kind of music that makes you long to dig your toes into the sand and grab your favorite guy or gal and hit the dance floor.
        Woolard is a Fayetteville favorite. He has been performing since he was 14 years old, and has become quite the showman. He explained that he isn’t content until the audience is having as much fun as he is. And, well, since he loves what he does, Fayetteville After Five is looking to be one jumping place.
    Woolard and his band are committed to giving his audience more than their money’s worth. When you attend a function with the band they don’t just want you to watch, they want you to be caught up in the fun!
        And while beach music may have been born in the Carolinas years ago, its appeal, and so the band’s appeal, really doesn’t have any boundaries. Children and adults love the band and its music — so introduce your kids or your grandkids to some classic beach sounds at Fayetteville After Five.
        Don’t forget — it’s free, it’s at Festival Park and it’s going to be fun!

    So You Want to Shag                                                                                                                                        by STAFF REPORTS

        So, you’re new to the area and you keep hearing about this thing called the “shag.” No it’s not a hairstyle and it’s not British slang. The shag is a form of swing dancing that evolved from the jitterbug and jump blues of the big band jazz era and originated along the strands between Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Wilmington, during the 1940s. It is most often associated with beach music, a genre of rhythm and blues-based songs that lends itself to this dance form. According to Bo Bryan, a noted shag historian and resident of Beaufort County, the term was coined at Carolina Beach. Today, the shag is a recognized dance in national and international dance competitions held across the United States.
        In the dance, the upper body and hips hardly move as the legs do convoluted kicks and fancy footwork. The man is the center of attention and the woman’s steps either mirror steps of the man’s or a sort of marking time while he does spins and other gyrations.
        The shag is the state dance of North Carolina and South Carolina, and is still popular among residents of both states. Thousands of people are members of shag clubs throughout the region. Fayetteville has its own Shag Club. The clubs meet on a regular basis and throw some of the best parties around. Dancing reigns at the parties — where people are only too happy to show off their fancy footwork.
        Most shaggers make a the spring and fall pilgrimage to Ocean Drive at North Myrtle Beach to participate in the annual SOS, a veritable shaggers paradise. For one weekend, OD is filled to overflow of dancers going from club to club — places like Duck’s and Fat Harold’s (no, we’re not making these names up) and the holy of holies — the OD Pavilion — for a weekend of dancing that is the staff history is made of.
        So, grab your weejuns, get a partner and head down to Festival Park. If you don’t know how to shag, someone will be glad to teach you — and if that fails, simply grab a partner, swing them around and shuffle your feet — you’ll get the hang of it.

     Contact Janice Burton at: editor@upandcomingweekly.com

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        In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt used the theme song Happy Days Are Here Again to jump start his presidential campaign and lift the country’s spirits on the heels of the Great Depression.
        Each member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners may very well be humming the same tune after voters approved a 1/4 cent sales tax increase last week that will generate about $8 million for the county to help pay for a new public library and health department, as well as cover other costs.
        The sales tax referendum was approved by 30,817 votes to 20,246 — 60.4 percent to 39.6 percent. This was a much higher turnout of Cumberland County voters than usual, and some commissioners say Democratic presidential nominees Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had a huge say in the sales tax approval.
    “I expect the turnout was because of the presidential election,” said Commissioner Diane Wheatley. “I was a little concerned that some just came out to vote in the presidential election and didn’t know what the tax was about.” {mosimage}
        Dr. Jeannette Council, vice chairman of the board of commissioners, also gave a shout-out to Hillary and Barack for the passage of the sales tax increase.
        “I think one of the reasons we got this passed was because of the large turnout of voters,” said Council. “And I absolutely think the interest in Obama and Clinton was the reason for the turnout.
    “I am ecstatic about the passing of the sales tax,” added Council. “It means we can meet our budget for the year. We were facing a shortfall.”
        The county faced a $4 million budget shortfall if the tax had not been passed. While the new sales tax does initially add up to about $8 million a year in extra revenue for the county, the overall numbers come to $4.8 million a year, as the tax increase included an incentive to lower property taxes by 2 cents — which most of the commissioners, including Wheatley, believe was a key selling point for the approval of the tax increase.
    “This will give the property owners some relief,” said Wheatley. “It will also help fund the new health department, which we desperately need, and the new public library to be built on the same location as the new elementary school planned for the western part of the county.”
        The new health department will be on Ramsey Street adjacent to the Department of Social Services, and will be a three-story, 108,000-square-foot building.
        The planned public library will actually be a part of the campus of the planned elementary school, something that is fairly unique for North Carolina, said  Sarah Vanderclute, director of public information for Cumberland County.
        “It’s not completely unheard of to have a public library and a public school in the same complex, but it is rare,” said Vanderclute.  “Our spirits are very high and we are very pleased with the vote. It is a major plus for the county and it will help us build the kind of county we want.”
        According to Vanderclute, the health department will cost $28-$30 million, while the library will be $6-$7 million.
        Breeden Blackwell, chairman of the commissioners, cited three reasons for the approval of the tax increase: the voter turnout; the work of the Cumberland County Citizens for Fair Taxes, which raised about $40,000 for billboard ads and performed various other campaigns in support of the sales tax; and the decision by the commissioners to lower property taxes.
        However, Blackwell said he had initial concerns about the approval of the tax as the voting went late into the night.
        “I was there until the final returns came in,” said Blackwell,”and we worried when those first returns came in. But it turned out all right.”
        While the commissioners and folks involved in the county government were overjoyed, not everyone heralded the sales tax increase.
        James and Bonnie Craven, who live just off Hwy. 87 in the western part of the county, said it will cost them more in a time of economic uncertainty.
        “We don’t own property, we rent,” said Bonnie Craven. “So it’s just going to cost us more to buy the things we need when we go shopping. We just might have to go over the county line into Bladen County for some things we need.”
        The 1/4-cent tax increase would amount to about a penny on a $4 dollar purchase, or 25 cents on a $100 purchase. The tax would not be applied to food purchased at a grocery store.                                                          Election night was a double win for Commissioner Kenneth Edge, who not only saw the approval of the sales tax, but won the District 2 Democratic primary and will face three Republican challengers in November.
    “It’s just a great honor for me,” said Edge. “Obviously, the voters have confidence in what I’ve done for them and the county, and they have confidence I will continue to do a good job as commissioner.”

    Contact Tim Wilkins: tim@upandcomingweekly.com

  • Details

        {mosimage} From blinking cocktail glasses to quick lube offers, Fayetteville’s roadways play host to a veritable cornucopia of signs, whose growth until 1997, were virtually unregulated. On May 5, The Fayetteville City Council got a first look at a proposed new sign ordinance designed to further regulate signs on the city’s roadways.
        Jimmy Teal, the chief officer for planning, presented the proposed ordinance to the council during its monthly work meeting. The sign ordinance is based on a similar ordinance in Cary. Cary, the seventh largest metropolitan city in the state, is known for its controlled growth and planning. In 1971, Cary adopted zoning and other ordinances on an ad-hoc basis to control growth and give the city structure. Passing a Planned Unit Development zoning ordinance to accommodate population growth related to the growth of Research Triangle Park, Cary’s local government placed a high value on creating an aesthetically pleasing town. A PUD allows a developer to plan an entire community before beginning development, thus allowing future residents to be aware of where churches, schools, commercial and industrial areas will be located well before such use begins.
        Fayetteville is putting a new emphasis on the aesthetics of the city and on planning in general. Teal said as the city moves forward with the Unified Development Ordinance, it is looking at all aspects of city development. The UDO does not address signs, Teal explained, so the council directed city staff to pull together information on sign ordinances and bring a proposal to the table. Teal said the staff took a look at sign ordinances from across the state. A recent study by the City of Winston-Salem rated municipalities on their ordinances — Cary was the most restrictive, while Fayetteville was one of the least restrictive. Teal said the city’s goal probably is to fall somewhere in the middle of the two, but used the Cary ordinance as a starting point.
        “The ultimate goal is to make Fayetteville a more attractive city,” said Teal.
        While the proposed ordinance deals with three types of signs — pole signs, wall signs and ground signs — the main concern is on pole signs. Pole signs are a fixture in the city, particularly along thoroughfares like Yadkin Road, Bragg Boulevard and Ramsey Street. Teal pointed out that in these heavy commercial areas, pole signs have been placed on relatively small lots and are located one after the other. Under the proposed ordinance, both the number and size of pole signs will be regulated. The Cary ordinance does not allow any pole signs. The current Fayetteville ordinance allows businesses to have three kinds of signs: a pole sign, no more than 25 feet high, with 150-square-feet of copy space; a ground sign, no more than 8 feet high, with 150 feet in copy space; and a wall sign.
        Under Fayetteville’s proposed ordinance, pole signs will only be allowed on major thoroughfares, which will be designated by the council. Only one pole sign will be allowed per site. The maximum copy size is down to 50 feet and the maximum height is down to 17 feet, with a 10-foot minimum. Roads not designated as thoroughfares would not be allowed to have any pole signs at all.
        For the city’s purpose, a thoroughfare is a road with more than four travel lanes and a turn lane. Teal said people looking for a business would be looking across four or five lanes of traffic and might have difficulty seeing a ground sign.
        The council discussed the amount of time businesses would have to bring their signs into compliance if the ordinance is adopted. The planning staff recommended a five-year amortization period for pole signs, three years for wall signs and two years for ground signs. If a business’ sign is not in compliance, they must take the sign down and pay a permit fee to construct a sign to replace it. Councilman Charles Evans suggested waiving the permit fee if businesses bring their signs into compliance during the first year of the amortization schedule.
        Another key point in the ordinance is defining what is and what a ground sign isn’t. When the first sign ordinance was passed in 1997, many portable signs were converted to ground signs by anchoring them into the ground. Under the new ordinance, these converted ground signs will not be allowed.
    City Manager Dale Iman said the ground signs were the “most egregious” offenders. “The portable signs that were allowed to be converted — signs that are propped up, signs with lights burned out — these are all problems that the ordinance will address and by addressing those it’s a major improvement in our city,” said Iman.
        Teal said between 75 and 80 percent of the businesses in the city will be affected by the ordinance if it is approved. Councilman Keith Bates urged the council to seriously consider adopting the ordinance noting that failure to adopt the ordinance would result in “playing 40 years of catch up again.” Bates said failure to act on the proposal would result in future councils looking back and saying the council should have done something about it.
        In other business, the council also took a look at billboards, with the staff bringing a proposed ordinance to ban the placement of any new billboards within the city limits. The transfer ordinance will remain in effect, under which sign companies can replace one sign as long as they take one sign down. There are currently 180 billboards in the city limits.

    Contact Janice Burton at: editor@upandcomingweekly.com 

  • Details
        When I was a little girl, I really did not know about what we now think of as “four letter words.” Words were just words, and we used them to communicate, and most of the ones I knew were fair game to be used in conversation. I was aware, though, that words are powerful and that there are some words polite people do not use, even though I was a tad foggy on exactly what those words might be. My mother had a unwritten list of words my sister and I should not say — a list, which for reasons never explained to me, included the word “nasty.”
        To this day, I still cringe a bit when I hear that word used.
        Another word not in favor was “lie.” In our family, “lie” was rarely used. Instead, we were admonished not to tell “fibs.” My maternal grandmother, from whom my own mother undoubtedly inherited some of her ideas about language, used an even more creative word than “fibs.” I no longer remember my infraction, but I will remember until my last breath the feel of my grandmother’s large hands holding my then small face with her eyes close to mine, saying, “Margaret Dawson, don’t you ever tell me another teewaddy!” {mosimage}
        I love that word, and my own children were cautioned on a regular basis about the dangers of teewaddies.
    Unlike my mother, though, I find “lie” to be a plain, strong, and useful English word. Everyone understands that to lie is to be deliberately untruthful. An error of fact is not a lie. It is a mistake. A lie is something the person telling it knows is not true and tells it anyway.
        The problem is no one wants to fess up to telling lies, so many of us, most obviously people in public life, try to cover such lapses by saying     we “misspoke.”
    The first time I ever heard anyone use that word at all was then-Presidential Press Secretary Ron Zieglar covered for his boss Richard Nixon by saying the president had “misspoken.” I remember thinking at the time, “Sounds like a teewaddy-fib-lie to me!”
        Writing in the New York Times magazine last week, columnist William Safire makes just this point after a reader e-mailed to ask, “Perhaps you can explain the difference between misspeaking and lying.”
    We all know the difference in our hearts. Misspeaking is when you call your friend the wrong name, when you mistakenly tell your colleagues the meeting is Tuesday when it is really Wednesday, when you reference Australia when you were thinking about Austria.
        Lying is when we say or write something to mislead or deceive someone else, knowing full well what we are doing. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, “a lie is a lie is a lie,” and there is no getting around that fact whatever the reason it has been told.
        I find it fascinating how many people misspeak during political seasons. Several presidential contenders have acknowledged, almost always after being called out on the matter, having misspoken about something. This seems to be a way to say a vague and squishy “mea culpa” without having to say “I told a whopper.” Writing in The New Yorker magazine recently, Hendrik Hertzberg described misspeak as “a word that is apparently thought capable, in its contemporary political usage, of isolating a palpable, possibly toxic untruth, sealing it up in an airtight bag and disposing of it harmlessly.”
        My own experience is that people are smarter than that. We often know when someone, particularly a public figure, is telling us a tale under the banner of misspeaking. Late night comedians make their livings telling us jokes about just such linguistic clean-up attempts.
        My question is why do we let misspeakers get away with it?Why do we allow others to dress their untruths in language that tries to make them look less tainted than they really are? Why do we allow language to be used as wrapping paper for something decidedly unattractive and possibly dangerous?
        Whatever I told my grandmother all those years ago, whether I deliberately lied or whether I simply got mixed up about something, is lost in time. Either way, she was having none of it. We dealt with more than a few teewaddies and fibs as my children were growing up, but if one of them had ever told me he or she “misspoke,” I would have been beyond suspicion and on to conviction.
        All of us see and hear misspeakers in public life, be it government, business, professional or social. We encounter them in our individual lives when they cannot quite bring themselves to say they fibbed and use language to pretty up the situation. It is human nature, and it can be silly, annoying, deeply ingenuous, or thoroughly deceitful and dangerous, depending on who is doing it.
    I think of it as putting lipstick on the pig.

  • Details
        Only rarely does Hollywood come up with a perfect movie title. Zombie Strippers is just such a title. Zombie Strippers is the most beautiful movie title ever unearthed by Hollywood. I am not a sensitive type, but the title is so profoundly elegant that I teared up when I heard it. The title perfectly captures the essence of its movie to the extent that you almost don’t have to go see it because the title tells you what is going to happen.
        Zombie Strippers dethrones Dude, Where’s My Car? as the former King of all Movie Titles that don’t require you to see the movie to enjoy it. I am humbled in the presence of the title Zombie Strippers like a member of the faithful seeing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for the first time. What a piece of work is man, how noble in reason to be able to come up with a title like Zombie Strippers. The title soars far above mortal man arching across the firmament of the heavens like a comet outshining the sun.
        {mosimage}The movie trailer is available for all to see online. I commend it for your viewing pleasure and personal edification. The trailer features the following immortal dialogue discussing the existential intersection of the undead and adult entertainment: “They are good girls.” “They are strippers.” “ They are zombies.” “No, they are zombie strippers.”
        The movie stars John Englund, who played the late great never-say-die Freddie Kruger in the Nightmare on Elm Streetmovies. John Englund is the Al Pacino of horror movies.
        Zombies often get a bad rap. It is refreshing to see dancing zombies portrayed as full-fledged members of the artistic community. Zombies are one of the last ethnic groups that the mainstream media disparages with impunity. There is no Zombie Liberation Front protecting the interests of our undead brothers and sisters. Zombies are typically stereotyped in a very negative light as inarticulate, mindless, brain-eating creatures. Big deal. Show me someone who is perfect. What gives the living the right to criticize zombie culture as inferior to our own? As Bill Shakespeare would say, “Hath not a zombie hands, organs, senses, passions, fed with the same food as a human is? If you prick a zombie does he not bleed?” Well, perhaps that is a poor example. Zombies eat the hands and organs of humans. If you cut a zombie, he doesn’t bleed because he has no circulatory system.
        Instead of disparaging zombies, we need to bring them into the mainstream of American life. A society that is inclusive of zombies and recognizes and celebrates their special talents is a society that honors diversity. We are exhausting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we mainstream zombies, we can make them part of our nation’s armed forces. Send a battalion of zombies to Sadr City and take names. Our zombies could wipe out Muqtada al-Sadr’s dudes in a battle that would make You Tube stand on its head. The al-Qaeda types can’t kill zombies because they are already dead. The only part of a zombie that is vulnerable is the brain. Haliburton can make zombie-sized Kevlar helmets to cover the brains of the zombie battalion. Our zombies would clean up the Middle East quicker than you can say “Mission Accomplished.”
        Closeted Zombies already walk among us. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia is clearly a judicial zombie. He just told 60 Minutes that people should get over the Bush versus Gore Supreme Court decision that appointed Bush as President in 2000. The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s former pastor is clearly a clerical zombie, devouring the spotlight and Obama’s presidential campaign instead of human flesh. The oil companies are economic zombies, devouring the American economy with ever increasing gasoline prices. All these closeted zombies need to brought in from the cold. Zombies should be nurtured and loved so that their hostility toward the living is changed to empathy.
        One bright morning, zombies and humans will link arms and sing Kumbaya together. The undead will lie down with the living. America will once again become the shining city on the hill. Dead and undead will sing together in perfect harmony.

  • Details
        This is being written before North Carolina’s Tuesday primary and will be published a week later. The outcome of our state’s presidential primary will, for the first time in a very long time, matter. It is indeed refreshing to live in a state where our votes can affect the process of determining who will be the leader of the free world. It would be further refreshing if we as an electorate could be regarded as an astute and highly analytical group whose support could only be won by cogent argument and carefully developed thesis. By Wednesday morning there will be great joy in someone’s camp. I hope it will be in Senator Obama’s. He has been honest in his statements and respectful of those whose attention he draws.
        Alas however, it is politics as it has always been in at least one camp. One of the most egregious examples of the “tell them anything and they will buy it” school of political stumping is Hillary Clinton’s spoonful of sugar federal gasoline-tax holiday scheme. The idea is founded most undoubtedly on the proposition that American taxpayers are hopelessly stupid, particularly those of us living in North Carolina and Indiana.{mosimage}
        Take a deep breath and consider the plan. The federal government temporarily removes the highway fund tax of 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline. Whew. Now we are back to $3.39 per gallon. Pack up the SUV and off to Yellowstone. Driving is affordable again.  Bless you Mrs. Clinton and may your tribe always occupy the White House as it has already for eight years. Now for a reality check. The average family car (and we are dealing with averages here not exceptions) is driven about 12,000 miles per year and manages about 20 miles per gallon. That works out to be 50 gallons per month or a savings... ta da of $9.20 per family per month. Wow. So for three months the price of a fast food combo, maybe three packs of cigarettes, a movie ticket or a six pack of brewskis is going to make life worth living again for the American public.
        I guess the worrisome aspect of this plan to lure votes is that Mrs. Clinton and her managers believe that we, the voters, are just too dumb to see through it. This is a latter day version of Marie Antoinette’s “let them eat cake” suggestion. Of course, she paid for that ill-advised comment with a severed head. Mrs. Clinton goes on. The gasoline tax not collected would then be replaced by nicking the oil company’s profits to restore the estimated $9 billion lost from the highway trust fund. Not so bad, but doesn’t that require an act of Congress? Doesn’t she know that, what with her experience and everything? It gets worse. She also wants to spend the money not collected to research bio-fuels. This may be a shell game, I am not sure, but do count how many times Mrs. Clinton is shuffling this same bedraggled $9 billion.
        So we get the connection. Collect $9 less in taxes from each American family per month for three months, give it the old Washington money hide-and-seek and presto it is new money from taxes not collected for more research on a terrible idea. You read that correctly. That is what she has said and what she is saying, more money to study how to convert cropland to fuel land. Ethanol from corn and biodiesel from beans are ideas that are creating serious consequences on the world food supply. Mrs. Clinton wants to do more cropland conversion. With her vast experience and compassion she should be less enthusiastic about subsidies for ethanol producers and more for families paying 25 percent more for food in just one year because of the ethanol craze. 

  • Details

    “Many of my young patients think about getting plastic surgery the way they’d think about getting their hair done,” explained Dr. David Alessi of Beverly Hills, Calif., who is still amazed at a woman’s willingness to endure “extreme” cosmetic alterations. “Vaginal rejuvenation” (labiaplasty) might be the most sensational procedure, but surgeons also do “forehead implants” and ankle and shoulder liposuction, break and reset jaws to tweak smiles, and lengthen or shorten toes (for “toe cleavage” with certain shoes). Alessi told aGlamourmagazine writer for an April story that one 25-year-old recently asked him to “remove” her navel (whereas most umbilicoplasty patients merely request reshaping). Said a bemused colleague, “There’s some consensus about what makes for an attractive... face, but we have no definition of the ideal navel.” 


    Chutzpah! 

    Gulfport, Miss., resident Michael Petro pleaded to a documentary filmmaker (in a clip later uploaded with his permission to the Internet) for help in recovering from his shattering loss during Hurricane Katrina, when his 115-year-old house was destroyed. Since then, he said on the video (reported by WLOX-TV in April): “Church groups have not come through, the government has not come through, insurance has not come through like was promised,” and “(S)omebody has to fight to get these things back and going.” According to WLOX-TV, the house that stockbroker Petro lost was 2,500 square feet, and the replacement he’s pleading for help with is 6,000 square feet. Said Petro to the station, “I’m not too proud to ask....” 

    Jerome Kerviel told reporters in April that he is planning to sue Societe Generale bank in Paris for unfair dismissal, even though he is the “rogue” derivatives trader the bank says cost it the equivalent of about $7.5 billion by making risky, unauthorized deals that came to light in January and for which he is under indictment for fraud. Kerviel pointed to an independent investigator’s conclusion that SocGen management had ignored 75 warning signs about Kerviel’s trades and continued to support him, but SocGen said Kerviel doctored paperwork to disguise trades. 


    Ironies 

    Cumberland County (Pa.) Commissioner Bruce Barclay resigned in April after disclosure that he had built a hidden video system in his home and recorded as many as 500 sexual episodes with unknowing men. While the videos may have violated state law (investigation is under way), one of them has exonerated Barclay of a separate rape charge filed by a 20-year-old man, in that the video evidenced a consensual relationship. (The young man has been charged with making a false police report.) 

    Instant Karma: In March in Leesburg, Va., driver’s license test-taker Nita Sureka was told by the examiner to park beside the Department of Motor Vehicles building, but she accidentally crashed into it, tearing a hole in the wall and forcing the department to close for the day. 

    The Manitoba (Canada) Bar Association, which was hoping to file a brief in a controversial police investigation case in Winnipeg in March, announced it would have to forgo participation because it lacked sufficient funds to hire a lawyer.


    Compelling Explanations 

    Well, That Explains That!: Gene Morrill, 57, hoping for a shorter sentence after his conviction for soliciting sex from teenage boys over the Internet, told a court in Fredericksburg, Va., in March about his rough life as a child, beginning with the time he was sexually molested by Bigfoot. 


    COPYRIGHT 2008 CHUCK SHEPHERD   

  • Details

    {mosimage}For more than 68 years, bikers have been donning their leathers and heading down to Myrtle Beach for Bike Week. Drawing more than 300,000 visitors annually, Myrtle Beach Bike Week is one of the top motorcycle rallies on the East Coast, and some would argue the third largest rally in the United States.

    From May 9-18, bikers will take to the strip to enjoy the sun and fun on the South Carolina coast; however, due to the large number of participants, the event has moved away from a central location on the strip to encompass 60 miles of coast from Little River to Georgetown. The Bike Week has moved up the coast to Wilmington and further out into Horry County. The event features motorcycle racing, concerts, rides, parties and street festivals. 

    If you can’t find something fun to do at Bike Week, then your funny bone must be broken. Events start at 7 a.m. in the morning and run through midnight, each day of the week-long rally. Everything from motorcycle rallies to pudding wrestling is on tap at various locales along the strip. Both MTV and CMT are getting in on the action, with MTV’s Pimp My Ride’s Buck Wild and CMT’sTrick My Truck taking over the Grand Strand.

    Restaurants and hotels have a variety of special packages for bikers, with several restaurants offering specials directed to bikers. 

    Vendors will be set up at various locales at the beach, with motorcycle products on display at Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing and area malls. You can see everything from custom bikes to leather wear and jewelry. Other vendors will be set up all around the strand. 

    And if music is your bag, Bike Week is sure not to disappoint. One of the big attractions throughout the week will be a performance by Kid Rock at the Hard Rock Park on Tuesday, May 13. Other big names include Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Confederate Railroad, the Marshall Tucker Band, David Allan Coe and Skid Row.

    So, if you haven’t already decided to jump on your bike and head to the coast, what are you waiting for? Bike Week offers a little something for everyone. Just remember to ride safe, share the road and if you choose to participate in cool libations, do it after you park your bike.

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    {mosimage}They’ll be puttin’ on the ritz at the Temple Theatre in Sanford, May 29 through June 22, as a production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ comes to town.
    The musical, first performed in 1978, features the songs of jazz great Fats Waller. The musical also has been a stepping stone for such major performers as Nell Carter, Irene Cara and Debbie Allen.
    Waller reached his fame in the ‘20s and ‘30s and is perhaps best known for two songs that are featured in the musical — title track Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Honeysuckle Rose.
    The musical has a cast of five actors and a seven-piece band. It has won many honors, including Tony awards for Best Musical, Best Choreography and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Nell Carter).
    Peggy Taphorn, artistic director for the Temple Theatre, says the production has been in the works for months, featuring some nationally known talent behind the scenes.
    “It’s going to be a great show because we have great people working on it,” said Taphorn. “We have a great director in Ray Kennedy, a great cast and our musical director Jan Powell is awesome.”
    Powell, who has been the Temple Theatre’s musical director for a year, says Ain’t Misbehavin’ is one of the most technically difficult projects he has worked on in his 40-year career in the theater... mainly because of the musical proficiency of Waller.
    “It’s really, really hard,” said Powell. “Fats Waller was a great, great musician — a classically trained musician who sort of fell into jazz.
    “This is the first time I’ve worked on a production of this musical,” said Powell, “but from the first time I saw it I wanted to be a part of it.”
    Powell is playing the piano himself. Other instruments in the band include drums, bass and a horn section.
    He has praise for both the theater and the young cast.
    “I love the Temple,” said Powell. “I think it’s one of the great, undiscovered gems in North Carolina. Despite seating more than 300 people, it still has an intimate feel.
    “And this cast is so good,” added Powell. “They’re extremely young, but they all sing and dance very, very well.”
    The five members of the cast are Christopher Berry, who plays Ken; Terren Wooten, who plays Andre; Brittany Carrie as Armelia; Cindy Hespedales as Charlane; and the role of Nell is performed by Mitzi Greshawn Smith.
    Berry, who is a recent graduate of North Carolina A&T, has an impressive background in theater, having participated in productions of Smoky Joe’s Cafe, A Christmas Carol, Raisin in the Sun and Dreamgirls. However, he says he is as excited about performing in Ain’t Misbehavin’ as any other musical he’s been involved in.
    “I think it’s going to be great,” said Berry. “The director, Ray Kennedy, has an excellent reputation in the theater world, and the rest of the cast is awesome.”
    Berry, a native of Westbury, N.Y., has never performed at the Temple Theatre, but he’s looking forward to his run in Sanford.
    “I think the people are really in for a great show,” said Berry. “The music and choreography of Ain’t Misbehavin’ just fits together so well. It’s been a lot of fun working on it.”
    The performance schedule is 2 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 29; 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The production runs through June 22 and tickets are $16 and $20. There will be a dress rehearsal on May 28 that is open to the public for $5 per person.
    “We’re hoping to get people who have never been to a musical interested in the theater with the dress rehearsal,” said Taphorn, “and get the folks who go to the dress rehearsal to come back for the real thing.”   

    Contact Tim Wilkins at: tim@upandcomingweekly.com    

  • Details

        This weekend, families across the nation will spend time honoring mothers. Countless cards, bouquets of flowers, breakfasts in bed and spa treatments will be purchased or made, and on Sunday morning mothers (no matter where they are) will smile appreciatively and say, “Thank you, that’s just what I wanted” — even if the eggs are burned, the flowers came out of the front yard and the card is colored in crayons and smells of paste.
    In our community, many mothers have great reason to be celebrated.
        They are the mothers who leave their children in someone else’s care, put on their boots and sling their weapon to stand a line in defense of our freedom. They watch their children grow via the Internet and photos. They can’t be there to hold their children when they are sick, because they are holding a wounded comrade. They see school plays and projects via camcorders. They are the mothers who sacrifice spending birthdays and Christmas with their children, so that others can do so.
        There’s another set of mothers who sacrifice as well. They are the mothers who carry the load of their families while their husbands are deployed in support of our nation. They are the mothers who spend countless hours ensuring that their children do not worry too much about their dads. They are the mothers who tell their children their dads will be just fine, and after they put them to bed either cry themselves to sleep or don’t sleep at all because they are too worried about their spouses.
        They are the mothers who volunteer to be T-ball and soccer coaches — even though they don’t know what they are doing — because it’s important to their children. They are the mothers who spend all day at work, only to go home to cook dinner, do homework, mow the yard, pay the bills and climb into a lonely bed. And then, they get up the next day and do it all over again.
        Military wives and soldiers (who are mothers) are some of the strongest women I’ve ever met. They put on a brave face and do what needs to be done — even though their hearts jump into their throats every time the phone rings or someone knocks on their door or they receive a deployment notice.
        They are never too busy to help a friend out — even though their hands are already filled to overflowing, and when it gets to be too much, they have a quick cry, which usually ends in laughter, and get back up on their feet.
    I’m proud to be in their number. Unlike some military wives, I had a head start. I was raised in a military family. I saw my mother carry the load. I watched her stretch a dime until it screamed, keep five children spit and  polish clean, keep an immaculate house and be the first one to go visit or take care of someone who was sick. I learned from her example.
        I look at my hands now, and I see hers. My mother’s hands were always busy (with five kids how could they not be?). No task was too unimportant to be seen to, and no event unworthy of notice. No lesson was too small for her to take the time to teach her children. Lessons on hard work, compassion, independence, faith and love were not only spoken, they were seen in her everyday life.
        She died shortly after I turned 18. I often think about all the times she was both mom and dad — and how easy she made it all seem. I wonder what she would think about me.
        I see my hands, which look so much like hers, but I’ve yet to see the grace hers carried in their every move. But if I’m lucky, when my son looks back, maybe he will remember them that way.

        Contact Janice Burton at: editor@upandcomingweekly.com

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        {mosimage}Fayetteville will see an explosion of red, white and blue on May10-27 as more than 1,500 American flags fly at Festival Park and the Airborne Museum (extending all the way to Freedom Memorial Park) in honor of our Veterans — retired, active duty and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
    This galaxy of stars and stripes is a result of Fayetteville being named the host city for the 2008 Field of Honor, which is going on in conjunction with the 8th Annual Glory Days Festival.
      Each flag measures three-feet-by-five-feet and will fly eight feet above the turf in perfect rows, with a yellow ribbon affixed to each flag pole. Set-up will begin May 9 and take just one day, but, according to Suzy Hrabovsky — one of the organizers of the event — it’s an idea that’s been a year in the making.
        Hrabovsky says individuals and corporations have paid to sponsor the flags; in fact the demand has been so high to sponsor a flag that Hrabowsly said an additional 300 flags were ordered when the original goal of 1,200 was surpassed. Individuals paid $25 to purchase a flag and the aforementioned yellow ribbon will bear the name of the flag’s sponsor as well as the flag’s honoree.
        And for each flag there is a story behind the stars and stripes  — often heartbreaking.
        “Flags have been bought by parents and spouses of victims, even children,” said Hrabovsky. “A father{mosimage}{mosimage} died in a helicopter crash.
        “One of the ladies I talked to bought a flag because she was excited that her son was coming home,” said Hrabovsky. “In a lot of instances, flags were purchased in honor of soldiers who are coming home.”
    Hrabosky says folks have called from all over the country to sponsor a flag — there was even one call from Russia.
        All proceeds from the flag sponsorships go to Fayetteville Cares — a local organization that provides assistance to military personnel and their spouses before, during and after deployments.
        “It’s a great organization,” said Hrabovskyy. “If a military spouse needs money for an emergency or a soldier is in trouble, Fayetteville Cares is there for them.”
        The flags will be set up on May 9 by an army of volunteers, including 100 Boy Scouts led by Mike Archer.
    On May 10 at 11 a.m., there will be a dedication ceremony at Freedom Memorial Park. The dedication will include music, a color guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, and speakers made up of state and local officials, as well as the military. The color guard band will finish things off by playing The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
    The dedication kicks off the Glory Days Festival; this year’s theme for the festival honors military vets of the Vietnam War. Events include: A classic car cruise-in at Festival Park; a bake sale; live music at Festival Park; the N.C. State Cyclists Criterion Championship; The Fayetteville Swampdogs baseball team; ‘Patriot’s Crit’ on Hay Street; a Sunday Movie in the Park featuring, showing Good Morning Vietnam (May 25); which will feature free admission and free popcorn; a vintage military equipment and gear exhibit; carriage rides; foods, arts and crafts, and concessions.
        “This is just our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the men and women in the military who protect us,” said Hrabovsky, “and the ones who never made it home.”

      Contact Tim Wilkins: tim@upandcomingweekly.com 

     

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