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        You can tell a lot about a person by taking a look at their home. What’s hanging on their walls or tucked away on their shelves shines a light on their personality: Is it whimsical, traditional or off the wall?
    Fayetteville residents will get a chance to learn a little more about members of its art community during 4th Friday. The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is hosting Off the Wall, an exhibit of art works literally taken off the walls of its staff and board members.
        “It’s a fun show for staff and board members,” explained Calvin Mims, the arts services coordinator at the council. “People will bring something in from their personal collection. It can be from a very serious collection or piece from a child’s collection or a whimsical piece. We want something with an interesting story, background or history. We think this will give our community some insight into our staff and board members.”
        As of this writing, pieces were still coming in, but a pretty eclectic bunch of art work has already made its way into the exhibit.
        “We have a couple of pieces from C.J. Malson, the former owner of Art and Soul Gallery,” said Mims. “She is bringing in a couple of pieces — one a work by Roseanne Brida who did the façade of Art and Soul and a  pencil drawing by her late grandmother which absolutely has tremendous sentimental value, but is not marketable. So we’re getting things like that.”
        William Brooks, a board member, brought in four works of art by his two sons, who take art instruction from Becky Lee, a Fayetteville artist and art teacher. “They have done some very interesting drawings, and he has submitted those,” said Mims, who added that many board members are bringing in collectible pieces by a Fayetteville artist.
        Among that group is Deb Mintz, the director of the Arts Council. Mintz has an eclectic collection of works by area artists. Some of the works she is sharing are from some very prominent local artists, while others are from artists who are just making their way in the art community.
        Mims, an acclaimed artist in his own right, is also contributing art to the show. “I’m bringing in a very special piece by Elizabeth Catelett,” he explained. “It’s a linoleum block print called Two Generations. Elizabeth Catelett is one of our African-American masters who is internationally renowned for her paintings, sculptures and drawings.
        “I purchased this piece about 20 to 22 years ago when I had an opportunity to meet her,” he continued.  “It’s one of the few collectible pieces I have where I’ve met and engaged the artist.”
        In addition to the great art, music lovers will also be in for a treat at the Arts Council, as the cool music of the Roy Roach Orchestra takes them on a sentimental journey with the big band sounds of Glenn Miller, Count Bassie, Woody Harman and Benny Goodman.
        The event kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22 at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County located at 301 Hay St.
        “This is going to be pure fun,” concluded Mims. “The exhibit is going to be an interesting insight into the hearts and minds of all our art lovers.”
        The fun doesn’t stop there. Be sure to wind your way through downtown and take a peak at the other venues in the 4th Friday lineup.
        Just down the street from the Arts Council, Cape Fear Studios will be featuring The Collective Works of Lawrence Favorite, a wood turner from Mebane.
        Favorite notes of his works, “I derive my greatest satisfaction as an artist from the sheer joy of doing — of being at one with the wood and releasing the beauty that is within. I love the challenge of looking at it and listening to a piece of wood and letting it reveal to me what it should become,” he said in an artist statement.
        {mosimage}Favorite knows a lot about listening. In the early ‘70s, he was working as a mechanical engineer with a manufacturing firm in Arizona. His work was leaving him empty, and after a period of reflection, he dropped it and decided to pursue his growing interesting in art.
        In looking for a way to express himself, he began a period of work with desert ironwood, a species of wood that is only found in the Sonora Desert. That love affair continues today, .
        Additional 4th Friday Venues:
        •CJ Designs – Local Impressionistic Artist, Leigh Ann Withrow.
        •Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum Annex: Special Exhibition of SCCA Formula race cars.
        •Hay Street United Methodist Church: In One Accord, a local Christian vocal group, performing a wide variety of musical selections, ranging from the traditional to the contemporary and from hymn tunes to gospel numbers. 
        •City Center Gallery & Books: Winners of the Field of Honor photography contest.
        •Cotton Exchange: Spontaneous Combustion jazz ensemble, refreshments.
        •Fascinate-U: Children will be creating buses with art supplies. Free admission and refreshments.
        •Market House: Exhibition of artifacts, period weapons and uniforms from the Spanish-American War and the role our region played in it.
        •Headquarters Library - Big Medicine, string band music of the rural South: Old-time melodies, mountain harmonies, ancient ballads and archaic fiddle tunes, heart songs, hollers, hymns, and a touch of early bluegrass. Refreshments.
        •Olde Town Gallery will host its 2nd Food Show Art Competition.
        •Rude Awakening will host photographer Jennifer Seaman and her work.
        •SfL+a Architects Gallery: Art by the Communicare Kids, music by Tad Dreis.
        •White Trash will feature hand scrimshawed bangle bracelets by Jessica Kagan Cushman.

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        Years ago when the Dicksons were still ferrying junior family members to and fro for summer camps, we found ourselves at a large table in a loud and busy pizza parlor with two other young families one night before the opening of a sports camp the following morning.
        Those in our own boisterous crowd included the five Dicksons, my favorite Raleigh cousin, her husband and their four sons, and a family we had not met before but who turned out to be a successful Raleigh attorney and his wife and their two children: A daughter and a son who would be attending the sports camp.
    A fine evening and lots of pizza were had by all.
        The whole world now knows the third family as John and Elizabeth Edwards and their children, Cate and Wade, who died several summers later in a car accident on I-40. In the curious way of the world, I bumped into them again the following weekend at a camp for girls where we were both dropping off our daughters.
        Our camp trips seem now, just as they did then, normal summer activities for families with active young children. No one had any inkling that John Edwards would become first a United States senator and later a candidate for president, or that Elizabeth would remain a private citizen and still become one of the most admired women in America.
        {mosimage}We had absolutely no idea that John Edwards would go on to become yet another poster boy for excruciatingly bad behavior by a well-known politician. 
        I am reading and hearing all the same outrage toward Edwards that everyone in this nation is absorbing these days. There is speculation about when the affair between Edwards and a hired videographer began and how long it lasted. Who knew about it? Edwards has said he told his family but when? Was it before or after his wife of more than three decades and four children, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer, which is now incurable. Is Edwards still in contact with his mistress, and, above all, is he the father of her infant daughter whose birth certificate lists only the mother’s name?
        What about the married Edwards’ staffer who seems to be taking the fall on the paternity issue?
        Some, if not most, of these questions will probably never be answered publicly, and perhaps they should not be since Edwards is no longer an elected official charged with the public trust. Perhaps this entire affair is no more our business than if the situation involved a perfectly ordinary private family down the street.
    Do women elected to high office behave this way? Maybe so, but I have never heard about it.
        Some men in high office, however, have made astoundingly bad decisions. 
        Think former Colorado senator and one-time 1988 Presidential frontrunner in Gary Hart. With rumors of womanizing circulating, Hart challenged the national media. “Follow me around. I don’t care. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They’ll be very bored.” 
        They did and they were not.
        An attractive young model was spotted leaving the senator’s apartment, and the two were later photographed aboard a yacht named — of all things, Monkey Business. The frontrunner dropped out of the presidential race. 
        Think President Bill Clinton.
        In a historic second term, with a strong economy and a balanced budget, he took up with a White House intern only slightly older than his own daughter. In a particularly creepy twist on degrees of separation, my favorite Raleigh cousin’s brother had somehow arranged a special tour of the White House for his family during that time. They were viewing the Oval Room one quiet Saturday afternoon when the Secret Service suddenly hustled them out, saying the president had an unexpected meeting. Much later, the investigative Starr report published the White House visitors’ log for that day.
        The only meeting participants that afternoon were the President and the intern.
        Think Elliot Spitzer, New York’s crusading and seemingly fearless prosecutor turned governor, who lost his job and his credibility in Washington’s elegant Mayflower Hotel with a high-dollar call girl.
        And now we have our own John Edwards whose story of betrayal and deception is still unfolding and whose family and loyal political supporters feel angry, disappointed, and deeply betrayed.
        What were these men thinking? 
        Each of them is clearly talented and each clearly wanted to use his intellectual gifts and political skills for the betterment of our nation.
        Was what brought them down arrogance, a feeling that they were so special they could behave in ways the rest of us cannot? Did they believe they were so vastly different from the people they served? Was it what we call in our family, “high self esteem?”
        Countless lessons wait in all of these sad and tawdry tales, but one stands out to me. 
        None of us — wife or husband, mother or father, daughter or son, colleague or confidante - can ever truly know another’s heart.

  • Details
        I teach College Freshman Composition, also known as English 111, at Fayetteville Technical Community College. It is the course that is required for most degrees, and is important instruction for students who need to learn to write for college. Each semester I am dismayed by the fact that many, if not most of my students are completely unprepared to write a cohesive unified essay in the third person. And although we at FTCC do teach individuals from all over the United States, many of my students have graduated from schools here in Cumberland County. It is appalling to know that an incoming freshman who has graduated from one of our high schools and who has taken and passed all required English courses, is still not prepared to write in the approved manner. Why is this?
        {mosimage}The North Carolina Standard Course of Study may shoulder part of the blame. An analysis of this document shows that it is reading and not writing that is emphasized in the competency goals. There are six such goals listed for high school students, and they read about American, British and World Literature. They analyze literature, identify story elements, and respond to issues in literature — according to this course of study — but it is not until “Competency Goal 6” is reached in all four years, that conventions of writing are even addressed. This must change.
        The reluctance of high school teachers to read and respond to student writing may be another part of the problem. I understand this because it is not easy to slog through the muck and muddle of student writing. It takes time to read two and three page essays — time that teachers are not compensated for by the way. However, if students write and are not corrected, what is the point of their writing? Is it just to say that they did indeed write? High school is the time to correct sentence fragments, run-on sentences and yes, improve spelling and vocabulary. When they get to college, students should not still be making these mistakes. As a college instructor, I should not have to teach these basic skills — but each year, I spend time doing this. I take home stacks of essays to grade, and sometimes it seems as if I am writing more than the student did. If high school English teachers are not also taking time to read and correct papers, it is no wonder that the level of writing skill is deficient. This too needs change.
        It almost goes without saying that television and gaming have had a deleterious effect on most students’ ability to write clearly and concisely. Reading good books and magazines does help students to write better by exposing them to a variety of writing styles. When did reading become a dreaded chore?
        Lastly, students must claim their share of responsibility. It is just too easy to go to the Internet and Google the topic the teacher may have assigned, and then copy and paste. Voila! Complete essay with little or no effort. And all the student had to do was access the Internet. Where are the parents while this theft of intellectual property is occurring?  Where is the alert teacher who recognizes that the student who “wrote” this, was not capable of producing such sophisticated writing, and called the student on it?
        School will begin very shortly. I implore all teachers — not just English teachers — to take time and have students write. Look for badly structured sentences and ask the student to correct them. Find ways to expand vocabulary and improve spelling. Take home papers and grade them. The NC Standard Course of Study does allow for the teaching of writing. Teachers, principals and the state of North Carolina just need to make it, rather than reading literature, a priority.

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        Declining circulation, revenues and profits have not stopped the Fayetteville Observer from selectively rejecting good business and advertising revenues. Last week, in an unprecedented move, they invoked a policy selectively rejecting employment opportunity ads from our company F & B Publications. Since 1996 we have published a community weekly newspaper in Fayetteville/Cumberland County. We also publish PrimeLife Magazine for area seniors and, in 1998, we created and introduced Kidsville News!, a children’s newspaper and educational resource to Cumberland County. It is unconceivable and unbelievable that after a 13-year history of doing business with the Fayetteville Observer and with a journalistic mission to promote local “quality of life” venues for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community, we are shocked and disappointed that our only daily newspaper would intentionally obstruct and curtail the potential employment opportunities of local residents.
        Over the years we have created media sales & marketing, advertising, graphic design, delivery and administrative jobs and career opportunities for hundreds of people over a last decade. So, what gives here? Making this situation even more ironic, last week they (Fayetteville Publishing Co.) offered its employees voluntary buyouts in an effort to reduce operating costs and adjust for declining revenues.
        So, what message is the Fayetteville Observer trying to get out? “You can’t work here…… but you can’t work anywhere else (either).” If this is true, how sad. Sad, but not surprising.
        This policy was engineered and implemented by Jeff Green, chief marketing officer and Fred Benson, sales and marketing director. Benson did not return my phone call. Their new policy was supported and endorsed by Publisher Charles Broadwell (who did take my phone call). He said, without explanation, that he was going to support the new policy decision of Green and Benson. Hmmmmmm. Go figure? Just a few months ago Broadwell told me personally that there never has been a policy at the FO to bar or exclude “other media” from advertising for local employment. That same day, I received a personal phone call from Mr. Benson himself apologizing for the rejection and “misunderstanding.” He gladly accepted my employment advertisement and my money. We have continued to do business. That is, until last week, when this issue again conveniently resurfaced.
        It just doesn’t seem conscionable, responsible or respectable that Broadwell, Green and Benson would block employment opportunities and reject advertising revenues while asking their employees to voluntarily take early retirement. In a letter to their employees they also acknowledged that layoffs may be looming in the very near future. Again, how creepy, “you can’t work here……but you can’t work anywhere else (either)”.
        This is only one example of why newspaper monopolies all over the country have always been a very bad thing for the public in general. Monopolies lack a conscious. Sure, they talk local but strive to focus and invest in their own long-term well being. And, at what cost? I am not faulting the daily newspaper for trying to survive in these trying times. That’s business. But, to keep job and career opportunities out of the reach of qualified local professionals just because they can is beyond shameful behavior.
        Here at the Up & Coming Weekly we believe in daily and community newspapers. We also believe that good, honest business and journalist practices by the media is what keeps our economy vibrant and our residents informed. These days every business organization and industry is faced with rising costs and tough economic conditions. The FO needs to deal with its own demons. We are dealing with ours. In the meantime, they should let everyone one else evaluate whatever marketplace opportunities are available.
    Notice: We are hiring. Sales managers, classified managers and sales and marketing professionals. We provide benefits, health care and 401k and we are a great place to work. Send your resume with a cover letter to Publisher, F&B Publications, PO Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 E-mail bbowman@upandcomingweekly.com
        There, I just saved $300.
        Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

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       {mosimage} It’s no bull — the Syndicate is coming to town.
        Bull City Syndicate, a nine-piece band featuring a four-piece horn section will bring the funk to Festival Park on Thursday, Aug. 21, as part of the Fayetteville After Five concert series.
        The Raleigh-based band has been together in one form or another for eight years. Trumpet player Steve Baker says the band’s horn section makes it unique.                                                                                            “We’re a horn band, not a band that uses horns,” said Baker. “And there is a a difference. There are a lot of beach music bands in North Carolina that implement horns but don’t play music centered around the horn.
        “Songs based around a horn section have pretty much disappeared,” said Baker. “So there aren’t a whole lot of bands playing the old songs like we do.”
        The Syndicate’s music includes original songs as well as covers by such famous horn bands as Earth, Wind and Fire, the Tower of Power and Chicago.
        Included on the band’s set list are such classics as “Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park,” and “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire.
        Lest you think they are just a golden oldies band, the Syndicate also covers more modern tunes, such as Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” and “Hey Ya’” by Outkast.
        “Our biggest demographic is the 35-50 crowd,” said Baker, “mainly because that generation grew up listening to the classic horn-based songs. But we do perform a lot of songs for the younger generation.”
        Baker said the band plays about 100 gigs a year, mostly weddings and corporate events, though the band does enjoy playing the clubs and other venues; he said the Syndicate has gigged in Fayetteville, but only at private functions.
        “We would love to play in some of the Fayetteville clubs, but most clubs don’t want to pay for a nine-piece band when they can get a three- or four-piece band cheaper. Plus, we’re such a large band that there aren’t many venues where they can fit us all on the stage.
        “We are looking forward to playing Festival Park, though,” said Baker. “I’ve heard it’s a good venue.”
    While Baker said the band is performing as many gigs this year as in the past, he says the state of the economy and high gas prices have affected the group economically.
        “Because gas prices have gone up so much, our operating costs have increased,” said Baker. “However, we’ve had to actually lower our asking price to get gigs. Corporations aren’t having as many parties because of the economy and people having weddings have cut back on what they will pay for a live band.”
        Despite the downturn in the economy, Baker said the Syndicate will definitely lift the spirits of everyone attending the show. Also, Baker said that so far, Bull City Syndicate is the only band on the bill, which means the group will play three one-hour sets.
        However many sets the band plays, the concert series has been a huge success, especially, for the Fayetteville Museum of Art, which sponsors the free shows and uses the proceeds as a fundraiser.
        “It’s been extremely successful,” said Michelle Horn, the museum’s assistant director. “The series has been met with more success than it had last year. It continues to grow, which means as a fundraiser it is more and more successful.”
        Horn added that the series has been extended through October; traditionally, the series only runs through September.
        The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. and wraps up at around 9:30.

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        {mosimage}With gas prices soaring, you might not want to take a drive down to the beach, but you can take a short ride to J. Wesley Vineyards where the sounds of the beach will come to you as the Tams perform on the lawn at the vineyard on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 7 -10 p.m. 
        “Our goal is to entertain the people and do the best show we can do,” said Dianne Cottle-Pope, manager of the Tams. “We have performed at a lot of vineyards in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.”
    Cottle-Pope added that the Tams also perform at the Fayetteville After Five series and the group loves to interact with the crowd.    
        So get out of your chair and bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the rhythmic sounds of the Tams. The Tams were formed in Atlanta, Ga., in 1962. Its members were Joseph Pope and Charles Pope (founders), Horace Key, Floyd Ashton and Robert Lee Smith. The current members include Charles Pope, his son Li’l Redd — better known as the fastest feet in the South — Joe Jones, Robert Arnold and Reginald Preston. Despite the unfortunate passing of the legendary Joe Pope, the Tams have continued to be as popular as ever. 
         accolades include being inducted into the Georgia Hall of Fame, Atlanta Hall of Fame and the Beach Music Hall of Fame. The Tams were given the title Beach Band of the Decade. Their recently released singles “My Main Squeeze” and “This Love Will Last” are from the latest CD The Tams Comin’ At Cha’. They have released more than 15 albums and have been honored with one platinum and several gold records. The group has toured and recorded with Jimmy Buffet and performed with Gladys Knight, Jackie Wilson and many more.                   
         “Lil Redd loves to dance and get the crowd involved,” said Pope. “We are going to have a great time.”         
           J. Wesley Vineyards has brought the spirit of winemaking back to Cumberland County. The family is growing three different varieties of muscadines on 8 acres of the vineyard. Their goal is to host good company, good food and fine wine.          
         “We are looking forward to bringing some fun, family entertainment to Fayetteville,” said Alan Egerton, manager of J. Wesley Vineyards.  
       Food, wine, beer and drinks will be available for purchase. J. Wesley Vineyards is located at 9340 Chickapee Drive in north Fayetteville. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the

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        Brotherhood will be the word of the day on Saturday, Aug. 16, as members of the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity hold an “Achievement Luncheon” to honor five local African-American men and women of distinction.
        The luncheon will start at noon and be held at the Fort Bragg Officers’ Club.
        Those recognized at the luncheon include: North Carolina State Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson; Billy R. King, Cumberland County Board of Commissioners; C. Mason Quick, M.D. (posthumous); Charles W. Cookman, president/owner-WIDU Radio; and Dr. Allen S. McLauchlin, president of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Ministerial Council.
        According to Floyd Shorter, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, as well as director of the Fayetteville Business Center, “all of the honorees have distinguished themselves as community leaders and exhibited outstanding achievement in the respective award categories of service, business and economic development, leadership, civic involvement and spiritual empowerment.”
        Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate fraternity with a predominantly African-American membership. The fraternity was founded on Jan. 5, 1911, at Indiana University-Bloomington and has more than 150,000 members with 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the Union, and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, Japan, the Caribbean and South Africa.
        The local chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi has about 150 members said Shorter, and is active in providing mentoring and leadership to young African-American males in Cumberland County.
    “We teach them etiquette and how to prepare themselves for collegiate life as well as fitting into society,” said Shorter. “The kids are very enthusiastic and excited to be networking with other kids. It helps boost their confidence.”
        {mosimage}Shorter said Kappa Alpha Psi also provides food for the needy.
        The fraternity was the first predominantly African-American Greek-letter society founded west of the Appalachian Mountains still in existence, and is known for its “cane stepping” in NPHC organized step shows.
        The president of the national fraternity is known as the Grand Polemarch; Dwayne M. Murray, an attorney and the 31st Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., will be the guest speaker for the luncheon.
    Murray, an experienced bankruptcy attorney, was the first African-American lawyer appointed to the Chapter 7 Panel of Trustees for the United States Middle District Bankruptcy Court.
        “It’s a huge honor to have Grand Polemarch Murray at our luncheon,” said Shorter. “And it’s an honor to recognize the achievement of five African Americans so involved with and so important to our community.”
        The cost of the luncheon is $35 per person. Proceeds will support scholarships for high school young men upon graduation who are involved in the Kappa League program, an ongoing program of the fraternity that focuses on the mentoring and personal growth of young males.
        “We’re looking forward to seeing many members of the public at our luncheon,” said Shorter, who added that non-active members of Kappa Alpha Psi are encouraged to get back on board with the local chapter.
        For ticket requests, contact Lee Beavers, chairman of the Achievement Awards Luncheon by calling (910) 527-3707, or inquire via e-mail to lbeavers141@embarqmail.com.

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        In July, the Obama Grassroots Committee rocked Fayetteville; and now, the Democratic Party’s Party will rock Festival Park on Friday, Aug. 15.
        The event designed to keep the excitement level high during the doldrums of the summer, will feature great music, food and fun, as well as provide information about the upcoming elections and give unregistered voters a chance to register to vote. “It’s about keeping people informed, involved and excited,” said Grainger Barrett.
        {mosimage}The event will mirror the Obama Jam in some ways, with Rahmeka Cox, Miss North Carolina Junior Teen, singing the National Anthem. Cox wowed the crowd during that event and is sure to entertain again. Also joining Cox for a repeat performance are Dan Speller and His Bluespell, which headlined the Obama Jam. Speller has long been a Fayetteville favorite and the mellow sounds of his blues will definitely get the audience excited. Speller, a retired Army noncommissioned officer, plays all around the region and the local area.
        A native of Flushing, N.Y., Speller has been playing music all of his life; he maintains it all started with the “beat of his mother’s heart.” He developed an interest in music while listening to his older brothers’ records and attempting to sing and play along with them in the ‘60s and ‘70s. He moved to the mountains of North Carolina at the age of 13, where he developed his musical craft, learning to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and the harp.
        In 1975, he joined the Army and spent some time seeing the world. That time was put to good use, acquiring musical inspiration from different countries and cultures. Upon retirement from the military in 1996, he committed all his time and energy to his music. His musical taste is as varied as his background — he likes blues, rock, jazz, country, beach, reggae, funk and classical. He is currently recording, composing and producing his own CD on his Bluespell record label. You’re definitely not going to want to miss his set at the jam. Joining Speller in the lineup is the gospel group Unbridled Praise and the rock group D.L. Token.
        In addition to the music, attendees will also have the opportunity to meet Democratic and independent candidates for office. That’s part of the informed portion of the show. The candidates will be on hand to discuss issues and to hand out information about their campaigns. For the involved portion, attendees will have the opportunity to volunteer to work in various campaigns or register to vote if they are not registered already.
        The Party’s Party will begin at 6 p.m. and run through 8:30 p.m. Don’t worry about what you’ll have for dinner, as food vendors will be on hand throughout the evening. The event is free and open to the public. So come out and get informed, involved and excited at the Democratic Party’s Party.

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        {mosimage}Serious runners will tell you it takes blood, sweat and tears to excel at their sport.
        The local chapter of the Red Cross will tell you it takes blood... lots of it... for the organization to excel at its mission of saving lives.
        On Saturday, Aug. 16, at 101 Robeson St., in downtown Fayetteville, there’s a collision of sorts between these philosophies when the American Red Cross Highlands Chapter sponsors its 2nd Annual Road Event and Family Fun Walk. Though copious sweat is expected, the only blood the Red Cross wants to see is the donated variety, and the only tears are those of joy as contestants cross the finish line.
        Last year’s inaugural event drew more than 400 participants for the Red Cross fundraiser.
        Marlita Suggs, media spokesperson for the Highlands Chapter, said this year’s event is looking even bigger with more than 500 folks already registered to participate.
        “It’s shaping up to be a tremendous event,” said Suggs. “The people who participated last year had nothing but positive reviews of the run and family walk. We have not just locals registering, but runners from across the state.”
        The Road Event and Family Fun Walk is one of several fundraisers sponsored by the Highlands Chapter of the Red Cross. It is the largest road race in Fayetteville. There will be three events: the 2008 RRCA North Carolina 10K State Championship, the 5K Road Event and the 1Mile Family Fun Walk.
        The starting point is across from the Airborne & Special Operations Museum; a detailed route is a available on the ARC Web site, www.highlandsarc.com.
        Starting times are 7:30 a.m. for the 5K, 7:50 a.m. for the 10K, and 8 a.m. for the Family Fun Walk.
        There will be awards for the top three overall male and female runners in the 5K and 10K and in the following age groups: 9-12, 13-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and over.
        Prizes will be awarded to the top three wheelchair entrants and to the youngest and oldest walker. Awards will also be given to the school/club with the largest participation in the 5K and 10K category.
        Race day registration will start at 5 a.m. at the race location and end at 7 a.m. Race packets will be available for pick up onsite at 5 a.m. on race day and end at 7 a.m.
        There is a $20 race day adult advance registration fee for all age groups; $15 advance registration for ages 3-18; $20 late registration for all age groups; free for ages 12 & under. All registration fees are nonrefundable.
        Should rain be predicted for race morning, all three events (5K, 10K, and Fun Walk) will nevertheless go forward as planned.
        Strollers, kids’ wagons and dogs on leashes are allowed. All participants will receive a T-shirt and goodie bag. Additional T-shirts may be purchased for $8 online or at the event on race day.
        Register online at www.highlandsarc.com. For more information, call Marilyn Martinez at (910) 867-8151.

    Tim Wilkins, Associate Editor
    COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 105 or tim@upandcomingweekly.com

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    {mosimage}    Fayetteville’s new household pick-up recycling program, which began July 7, has been a smashing  success, with a tremendous 75-80 percent participation rate by residents. In the very first week of the program, more than 275 tons of recyclable goods were collected by Waste Management trucks.
        However, as successful as the program has been, Fayetteville owes a huge debt of gratitude to Cumberland County’s Solid Waste Management Department, which has been serving as a “holding pen” or transfer station for the recyclable materials, while the company contracted to transport and convert the recyclables — Pratt Industries — continues construction of its new transfer station.
        Janice Albert, the county’s recycling coordinator, works out of the Ann Street Landfill — one of 17 recycling sites in the county. She says the facility is sending out approximately 25-30 tons of recyclable goods a day that Pratt  picks up and transfers to Charlotte for recycling.
      And she says that for the most part, Fayetteville’s residents have been very vigilant in sorting their recyclables.
    “Recyclables have been very clean. There’s always going to be examples of people throwing trash in the wrong can or putting in items that can’t be recycled, but overall, it looks like it’s been a pretty positive thing... Better than was expected, I’m sure,” said Albert. “Even without counting the city’s material, we get quite a bit here. A lot of it comes from people who don’t live in the city. And we get businesses and such that come out here with their cardboard.”
        Albert says the 17 landfills help fill in the gaps that Fayetteville’s recycling program misses, such as the recyclables generated by multifamily units, including apartment complexes.
    So far, the landfills — all of which were purposely built to be located within seven miles of any home in Cumberland County — have easily handled Fayetteville’s recyclables; and Albert says it will be a long time coming before the Ann Street landfill runs out of room.
        “Depending on how we expand, we can probably make it last for up to 20-25 years,” said Albert of the landfill, which covers more than 300 acres.
        The county’s recycling sites accept a long list of recyclable material, including:
        •Aluminum/Aluminum Cans
        •Batteries (automotive)
        •Cardboard (corrugated and food boxes)
        •Metals (must be able to put in container box)
        •Newspaper (no plastic wrap or string)
        •Magazines
        •Yard Waste (grass, leaves, pine straw, brush & limb clippings — may not exceed 4 cubic yards per week; limbs larger than 3 inches in diameter and 3 feet long must be taken to Wilkes Road)
        •Computers
        •Plastic (bottles, jugs and jars)
        •Glass (brown, clear, green separated)
        •Office Paper (accepted at Ann Street only)
        Of course there are some items that can’t be recycled, such as Styrofoam, acids, compressed gas cyclers, commercial or industrial waste, dead animals, hot ashes, liquids (other than waste oil) and furniture.
        Despite the restrictions, Albert says hazardous waste does sometime slip through, often with unpleasant consequences.
        “We get those (hazardous chemicals) quite a bit,” said Albert,  “and a lot of times if we don’t see them we’ll have stuff blow up and start fires. We also get some compressed gas cyclers... We’ve had people gassed out here.”
    In addition to the regular services, one landfill is helping out the environment both organically and cosmetics wise.
        “Wood that’s not treated or painted is loaded in boxes and taken to the Wilkes Road site where it’s ground up and dyed red to sell for landscaping mulch,” said Albert.
        While a set price has not yet been decided on, Albert says it will probably sell for about about $10 a truck load.

  • Details
        Remember the opening monologue on the old television show The Six Million Dollar Man, where, as scientists turn the severely injured Steve Austin (Lee Majors) into a bionic man, Richard Anderson recites, “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability.” ?
        {mosimage}Fayetteville has an opportunity to rebuild its transportation system, to make it “better, faster, stronger.” However, such improvement has nothing to do with bionics or Farrah Fawcett-Majors’ ex-husband; the city’s powers-that-be could dramatically change how people travel from point A to point B by installing a light rail transportation system that some say could boost Fayetteville’s economy and reduce traffic gridlock.
        Light rail is a type of urban rail transportation that generally has a lower occupancy rate and lower speed than typical heavy rail trains and subway systems found in larger cities. It is also usually powered by electricity, sometimes utilizing overhead power lines in the same manner as a trolley car.
        There are many question marks surrounding the implementation of a light rail system in Fayetteville, such as: Do we have the technology? Do we have the infrastructure? Do we have the need? What are  the benefits? Do we have the money?
        The answer to the first two questions is an unqualified yes.
        Many cities across the nation have turned to some form of light rail system, including Charlotte, which operates light rail under the umbrella of its citywide transportation service, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS).
        Charlotte’s light rail began operation of its 9.6 -mile route in November 2007. It uses the abandoned Norfolk Southern Railroad right of way, part of which runs alongside NS tracks that remain in freight service.
         1999 study undertaken by the city of Fayetteville and the consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates investigated the feasibility of a light rail system. Under the aegis of the Fayetteville Metropolitan Planning Organization, it was determined that the best place for a light rail system would be an approximately 10 plus-mile route along the Cape Fear Railway and Aberdeen & Rockfish railroads that travels, for the most part, parallel to Bragg Boulevard and Skibo Road. Light and heavy rail systems use the same gauge track.
        However, the study alsofound that such a route was not yet economically feasible for Fayetteville, though it did recommend the city preserve the right-of-way on that route for future consideration.
        Don Stewart, chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the project, said he wasn’t surprised that the study found Fayetteville wasn’t ready for light rail; however, he does agree with the study’s recommendation that the city take steps to be prepared for a rail system down the road.
        “What you do is undertake a study to tell us how to prepare for light rail,” said Stewart. “You need to make sure you have the right of way that might get sold to a private entity; you have to purchase and preserve that right of way to prepare for the future. When you get the density of population where you can do this, then that’s why it’s so expensive because you’re having to buy up expensive real estate and you can’t put it where you want it.”
        As an alternative to that light rail system, the study also recommended a trolley system for downtown Fayetteville — comparable to systems found in Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash. — that would be “strategically planned and tied to the economic revitalization of the central business district.” A trolley would be much smaller and much less expensive than a light rail system.
        The study does conclude that either system could eventually provide an economic shot in the arm through real estate investment along the light rail corridor, as well as increased tourism in downtown Fayetteville.
        Of course, this increased investment and tourism comes at a cost. Stewart says that typically, light rail costs about $10 million per mile — a figure which includes everything: passenger cars, new track, signals, utilities, maintenance, etc. That number is considerably less than a previous figure given to town officials which left them with a severe case of sticker shock.
        “When consultants said it would cost $23 million per mile a couple of guys from Fayetteville just about jumped out the window,” said Stewart. “But that figure was based on the system in St. Louis that is much, much more grandiose than what we were considering at at that time.
        “Would it cost $10 million a mile? I don’t know,” said Stewart. “But when you go and look at what a highway costs compared to light rail, it’s almost dimes to the dollars.”
        Stewart estimates a downtown trolley system would cost about  $20 million, though such an investment would be greatly offset by various real estate investments.
        “I’d be willing to bet that if you put a trolley line like we proposed that it would drive a business investment of $200 million worth of private investment,” said Stewart.
        Stewart says you also need to consider the other benefits of light rail and/or a trolley system, such as decreased air pollution, decreased traffic, the revitalization of downtown and cheaper gas bills for both the city and individuals.
        Also, a light rail system would not mean that the city buses would or could be retired. Stewart says the bus system will still be needed to distribute the passengers when they get off the trolley or rail, and he realizes that a rail or trolley would not serve the transportation needs of all.
        That was good news for a group of Fayetteville bus patrons waiting at a bus stop on Ramsey Street.
        “I’ve been riding a bus to work for a couple of years,” said Anastasia McLean of Fayetteville. “I don’t want to have to learn a new route.”
        Linda Hunt, also of Fayetteville, said she thinks a street trolley would be a nice thing for the downtown, but she’s not as optimistic about a light rail system.
        “I’ve been to San Francisco and I loved the trolleys,” said Hunt. “But I don’t think we can afford a new train system when we can barely afford to keep our buses running.”
        Hunt isn’t alone in questioning the viability of light rail. A study commissioned by Reasonmagazine makes numerous points against light rail:
        Air Quality: Light rail would not take enough cars off the road to make any real contribution to air quality improvement. For example, the Charlotte system expects to reduce regional auto travel by only 1/10 of 1 percent;
        Economic Development: North Carolina’s population density and high rates of auto use make rail’s ability to generate economic gains all the more unlikely. Those who would provide revitalization — homeowners and business leaders — favor more straightforward approaches to greater economic development. For example, improving schools and keeping business taxes at a reasonable level;
        Cost-effectiveness: Hefty cost overruns have plagued urban rail for decades. Both the Charlotte and Triangle proposals have exceeded initial cost projections. In Charlotte, a proposal that once cost just over $200 million ended up costing more than $400 million, while in the Triangle, a proposal that was long thought to cost $250 million now stands at well over $800 million;
        Mobility improvement: Even though the Triangle rail proposal would cost nine times more than the next most expensive alternative, it would decrease congestion by less than 1 percent. Moreover, the annual cost per new rail passenger would be very high: $6,747 for Charlotte and $10,358 for the Triangle.
        Despite such objections, Stewart remains positive about the future of light rail in Fayetteville.
    “People don’t understand what light rail could do for Fayetteville,” said Stewart. “Some folks think the only people riding the rail would be from a lower economic demographic. If you catered to just that demographic you’d never make any money with a light rail system.
        “And what’s not understood is that a lot of those people will be riding to work, which puts more money into the pockets of the fat cats,” said Stewart. “If we want to grow as a city, we’ve got to think about the future and have a vision — a vision that includes, I believe, some sort of light rail.”

  • Details
        Among the enduring memories of my childhood is finally being allowed to ride my bike to Haymount Elementary School from our neighborhood, maybe a mile away.
        I was in the fourth grade and extremely proud of my new bike, which I had received for Christmas that year. Every other child in our neighborhood had also received a bike. All the girls’ models were identical, as were the boys’. We all thought that Santa had directed the elves to make them all the same as a special treat just for us. I later learned that the coincidence stemmed from the fact that one of the fathers in the neighborhood had an importing business and bought them all at the same time and that all the daddies had stayed up together on Christmas Eve putting all those bikes together.
        We rode to school as a group, but I still remember the exhilaration of that freedom of being on my own, or at least thinking I was. I remember the wind blowing against my face and the sense that I could ride anywhere in the whole world, if my parents would only let me.
        {mosimage}I still love to ride a bike and have actually taken a couple of cycling vacations, which is probably why the high price of gasoline tempts me to use a bike more and more often. The problem is biking in an urban, even in a suburban, setting can be dangerous. Our community, like thousands of others throughout our nation, is not biking-friendly, not intentionally, but because we have never planned for it. We have precious few biking trails, nor do we have wide outside lanes to accommodate bikes. Our major arteries are crowded, especially during rush hours, and our paved surfaces can be a bit bumpy for bicycles.
       All of this adds up to some scary rides for bikers brave enough to try to pedal to work or to go about their daily routines. 
        Some cities, however, are really trying to welcome cyclists. Portland, Ore., comes to mind as a haven for bikes with a 260-mile network of biking trails. In Boulder, Colo., 95 percent of the streets have special bike lanes or bike trails, and in Davis, Calif., about 17 percent of the workforce pedals to the job.
        We are a long way from any of that, of course, but as we plan for future area transportation I hope we will keep cycling in mind as one option. This is a long term issue, but so is our energy problem and the high prices which come with it. Cycling is not for everyone, but for those who enjoy it, it is quiet, healthy, low cost and efficient.
    And, oh my word! That wonderful sense of freedom and possibilities that carry us back to childhood.
           
        More on Matrimony
        The Dicksons have been to another wedding. 
        The latest was a decidedly casual affair on one of North Carolina’s lovely ocean beaches. Unlike more formal occasions, these guests were comfortable in shorts and sun dresses. The bride wore a wedding gown over bare and sandy feet, and the groom was in his shirt sleeves. After the ceremony, we all retired to a beach club for refreshments, dancing and good cheer, and to wish the young couple well before he departed for the additional military training that may very well land him on foreign soil in coming months, while she remains at home for a few more weeks.
        As we have attended the various weddings this spring and summer — large ones and small ones, formal ones and barefoot on the beach ones, ones with chardonnay and shrimp and ones with barbecue and coleslaw — I have been struck by the common thread in all of them. Each of these young couples is committed to building a life together and excited about the prospect of doing so. Each of them has eyes only for the other, and I hope each of them stays side by side until death do them part, although I know that for some that will not be the case. But for now, each of them is just as married as all the rest of us old married folks.
        The Dicksons next wedding is in September, and the invitation looks like there might be some shrimp on the menu.

        A Service I Hope You Never Need
    S    everal weeks ago in a column about domestic violence, I mentioned the Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County where I volunteered for many years. My old chum, Sharon Hux, who continues to be active with RCVCC, reminded me that there is a new office location at 109 Hay St. downtown. The phone number is (910) 485 7273. I hope neither you nor anyone you care for will ever need its services, but RCVCC has been a blessing for many people who have needed their counseling and care.

  • Details
        It seems to be a new day in Fayetteville. The people have spoken and community leaders are being responsive. Or at least it appears they are being responsive. That’s the feeling we get from the decision by the Fayetteville City Council and the Fayetteville Museum of Art to open dialogue about the placement of the museum in Festival Park.
      That word came after freshman Fayetteville City Councilman Ted Mohn put the subject on the table at a recent city meeting. Mohn, who was not on the council when the land was given to the museum, took to heart the questions and concerns of local residents. He did readership and asked for input. He looked for options and ways to compromise. That’s good government. Then he went a step further and made other city leaders listen. Mohn pushed the issue even though no one else really wanted to listen. He made an argument that couldn’t be ignored. That’s better government.
       The city may have gotten more than it reckoned for in this past election. The freshmen members of the council care more about doing the right thing and serving their constituents than making sure they have a seat on the council. And that’s good government.
        The new members of the council have chosen not to sit back and follow the lead of the older council members. Instead they’ve taken the lead in bringing up important issues for the city and for the council. They come to meetings prepared, having spent a lot of time researching the issues, listening to their constituents and consulting with city staff on issues they may not understand.
       {mosimage} It says a lot when more experienced members ask them what they should look out for in the upcoming meeting. In a recent conversation with Val Applewhite, she explained the process she undertakes to prepare for a meeting: First, she reads everything sent out in the agenda packet. Then she goes back and makes questions about the things she’s unsure of, which results in calls to city staff and the city manager. It takes hours, but she puts in the time, because it was what she was elected for.
        She isn’t alone. Many members of the city council invest more than just the hours in council — they spend time at community meetings, at events and replying to countless emails and phone calls.
    These members are breathing a new life into the city council. In fact, it’s a breath of fresh air.

  • Details
        What would you think if your boyfriend asked you about a particular woman at a barbecue after you both left? He claimed he was just curious — he’d seen her at my son’s barbecue, and wondered how she knew the family — but, of course, she’s young, beautiful and half my age (I’m 53). In our four years together, he’s gotten better about not visibly showing interest in other women, but I know he admires women, especially tall blondes. He’s a big, sweet, good-looking guy, but doesn’t have a house or much money, although he’s a hard worker. I doubt he has the confidence to pursue hot women, but I can’t help feeling worried.
                                       —Bothered     

        What would I think if my boyfriend asked me about a particular woman at a barbecue? I’d just know he wanted to have a torrid affair with her. I’d think back to when he excused himself to use the bathroom, and decide he really went to call and reserve a motel room. I’d wait till we hit my driveway, pitch a screaming fit, claw off all his clothes, throw them on the lawn, light them on fire, bolt the door, make him sleep naked in the bushes, and then stay up all night praying he’d be gnawed to death by a family of hungry wolverines. You?
        Of course, should I have an attack of sanity and rationality, I’d probably assume he noticed the girl because he’s male, heterosexual and not in a coma or dead. Chances are, your boyfriend is attracted to this chickie — as he is to dozens of hot young things and a few still-warm middle-aged things he sees throughout his day. There are ways to prevent this sort of unauthorized lust: 1. Chain him to your living room media center for the rest of his natural life. 2. Only date men who are legally blind.
        The truth is, beauty is eyeball-grabbing. I’m as straight as plate glass, and I ogle beautiful women. Straight guys sneak glances at Jude Law. Purty is purty. Meanwhile, on a Crimes Against The Relationship scale, your boyfriend merely asked you about this girl.”
        With every passing year, more and more women will be younger and hotter than you. If your boyfriend wants to run off with one of them, there’s nothing you can do. All you can do is keep up your “curb appeal,” be confident about what you have to offer, and make your relationship someplace you both want to be. He seems to be making an effort, at least to look like he isn’t looking. Let him have his secrets and you can have yours — like, that the catalog of Victoria’s doesn’t actually come in the mail looking like a classified document: blacked-out pictures with only sizes and descriptions, an errant manicured hand or toe, and the return policy.

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

  • Details
        Among President Sarkozy’s recent moves to trim the size of the French government was the layoff of half of the 165 physiotherapists at the taxpayer-funded National Baths of Aix-les-Bains. The pink-slipped masseurs warn that the country’s health will be at risk if people are unable to get the mud wraps, thermal baths and deep-tissue massages covered by national health insurance (along with subsidized transportation and lodging for the visits). In fact, 27 of the physiotherapists immediately went on sick leave for depression. Among Sarkozy’s other targets of government bloat, according to a July Wall Street Journal dispatch: figuring out why France employs 271 diplomats in India but more than 700 in Senegal.

    COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS
        Edward Defreitas, 36, was arrested in Toms River, N.J., in June and accused of causing a three-vehicle collision that injured two men in a car and sent two others (paramedics riding in an ambulance) to the hospital. Defreitas told police that he had been drinking and had decided to drive around until he sobered up: “He (said he) was afraid to go home and his mother finding alcohol on his breath.”

    COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS
        School custodian Anthony Gower-Smith, 73, was awarded the equivalent of about $75,000 in June in London’s High Court after suing Britain’s Hampshire County government when he hurt himself falling off a 6-foot stepladder. Gower-Smith claimed that he had not been properly “trained” on how to use it, despite his long-time experience with such ladders, and despite his signed acknowledgment that he had indeed received training, and despite his having blamed himself just after he fell. (He disavowed the self-blame by saying that, at the time, he was woozy and didn’t remember what he said.)
     
    COMPELLING EXPLANATIONS
        People would hardly expect a brawl at the Guilford (Maine) Historical Society, but in May, member Al Hunt, who was irate that rare photographs of the town had been loaned to a local restaurant, might have bumped against the society’s secretary, Zarvin Shaffer. According to witnesses, Shaffer then punched Hunt in the face, Hunt’s wife grabbed a chair, and Shaffer’s son yanked Mrs. Hunt away by her hair.
        In April, the Sycamore (Ill.) City Council voted to quadruple the fine for overstaying a parking meter (from 25 cents to $1). The city’s 360 meters themselves will remain at a penny for 12 minutes, a nickel for an hour and a dime for two hours.

  • Details
        It’s clearly no secret. Gas prices are increasing the sales of motorcycles and scooters across the nation. And while simply making the purchase and moving to a two-wheeled transportation vehicle will change the amount of change in your pocket after leaving the fuel pumps, you can get even more. {mosimage}
    Employing a few of these tips and tricks will enable you to extract even more fuel mileage from your already great fuel mileage machine. This is all with the goal of leaving more money for you and less money for the oil companies.
        •The way you ride . Yes, the way you ride will affect your fuel mileage perhaps more than anything else. The less gears you shift, the less jerking back and forth you do.
        • Try to keep your RPMs within the power band. In different makes and different models this will be slightly different — experiment a bit to find that sweet RPM spot where your bike operates optimally.
        •Cut down on the revving. Yeah, I know, it sounds great. It’s sweet to hear and makes your heart pump a bit faster. This is one of the best ways to save on gas consumption.
        •A clean air filter. It doesn’t take that much extra effort to keep your air filter clean. •Tire pressure. When was the last time you checked the air in your tires? Believe it or not, many people over look this — particularly those who do their own maintenance. Not only is a properly inflated tired a more safe tire, but it also boosts your MPG. So, get out the gauge  and check your tire pressure.
        •Make your bike lighter. How many unneeded accessories do you have on your bike at the moment? Take ‘em off. If they’re something you use on a regular basis, OK — keep ‘em on. But if they’re not essential to the use of your bike or where your going or what you’re doing, take ‘em off and only put them on when they’re needed. The lighter your bike, the less the engine needs to work to propel you and the less fuel you’ll burn.
        •Tighten up. Zip your jacket and if your helmet has a face mask pull it down. Clothes flapping in the wind, or anything for that matter, will increase your air friction and decrease your fuel mileage.
        •Plan your rides. Do your best to avoid traveling when the highways are going to be packed and filled with other traffic. The more obstructions on the road, the less you’ll be able to adhere to other fuel saving tips and the more fuel you’ll be burning.

  • Details

    The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Rated PG-13) 1 Star   

    {mosimage}Godfather 3. Alien 3. Batman Forever. Did Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (112 minutes) manage to equal these famously horrendous missteps? No, primarily because the former three franchises started out totally punk rock. Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is the lackluster final entry in a franchise that wasn’t all that interesting to begin with. What is especially painful about this particular series is all the wasted potential. The mummy is a great villain, and everyone loves a nice Indiana-style adventure. Sadly, director Rob Cohen and the writers manage to hack out even the marginal charm offered in the first two movies. This may be called The Mummy, but the protagonist is actually, (eyeroll) a terra cotta warrior.
        The film begins by ripping off a few Ang Lee movies — and it is very pretty to look at, especially when Zi Juan (Michelle Yeoh) appears. Zi Juan is a witch and the villainous Emperor Han (Jet Li) wants her to make him immortal. He instructs his loyal general, Ming (Russell Wong) that no one is to touch her. The two fall in love (duh) and the Emperor Han takes his revenge just before Zi Juan reveals that she has not made him immortal, she has cursed him and his army.
        Is it over yet? Sadly, no. The film skips ahead to 1947, where retired phallocentric explorer Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) and his vapid eyed, poorly characterized wife Evelyn (Maria Bello) are bored with civilian life, while their son Alex (Luke Ford) is digging up tombs in China. Alex successfully unearths the tomb of the Dragon Emperor, and the British government calls his parents out of retirement to escort a valuable jewel from Britain back to China. After the elder O’Connell’s arrive at the Shanghai nightclub owned by Evelyn’s avaricious brother Jonathan (John Hannah), the family O’Connell head to the museum housing Alex’s finds. There, they discover a General Yang (Anthony Wong Chau-Sang) with his second command Choi (Jessey Meng) engaged in a plot to raise the evil Emperor Han.
        As the insipid, lifeless dreck called a movie enters the third act I am tempted to leave, but I stay despite the growing agony I experience as my brain tries to find sense amidst the jumble of different mythologies thrown together on the screen. And what is that smell? Oh, it’s the climax of the film! Despite the conveniently numerous powers displayed by the Emperor (shape-shifting, elemental control, flight, super strength, regeneration), he is unable to kill the O’Connells. If I had the power to control ice and water, it would take me about five seconds to freeze the blood in their bodies — which would have shaved a good hour off this padded beyond belief movie.
        This joyless (and pointless) exercise in mediocrity cannot even be enjoyed on an ironic so-bad-its-good level. The plot holes are big enough to drive a truck through, the dialogue is moronic, the acting is sophomoric and the plot is convoluted. Bottom line: waste of their time to make it, waste of my time to see it. Where’s the Scorpion King when we need him?

  • Details

    Myths and Legends Combines Oprah with The King
       

        On the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, TV Land’s Myths and Legends (Saturday, 8 p.m.) delves into the mysteries surrounding his life. But it doesn’t do so with what you’d call journalistic rigor. What of the idea that Elvis and Oprah Winfrey are distant cousins? After suggesting that Oprah’s people “may have been” owned by Elvis’ people pre-Civil War, a reputed authority observes that plantation owners “often” fathered children by their slaves. It’s not exactly an airtight case, but that doesn’t stop TV Land from hauling a former Elvis girlfriend in front of the camera to observe, “Elvis would have been thrilled and honored to be tied to Oprah in any way.” Never mind that he hadn’t heard of Oprah before he died in 1977.
        {mosimage}Then there’s the perennial question of Elvis’ death. Did it really happen? “I still don’t feel him gone,” says a former backup singer. That doesn’t really prove anything, but then author Gail Giorgio drops the bombshell: Elvis’ corpse was really a wax dummy. The famous National Enquirer coffin photograph appeared to show beads of sweat, and Giorgio notes that “wax will bead up in the hot sun.”

    SCARE TACTICS
    Wednesday, 10 p.m. (Sci Fi)
        Sci Fi’s sadistic candid-camera series used to be funny every once in a while. Folks would give the producers permission to scare their unwitting friends with horror-movie scenarios. An alien would appear at a car window, the friend would scream, and everybody would laugh, including the relieved friend.
        But this season, I haven’t been laughing. The setups have crossed the line from cruelly amusing to just plain cruel. A female college student cowers as a homicidal stalker breaks into an office and advances on her. Who thinks up sick stuff like that?
        Wait a minute — what’s that behind you, Scare Tactics? Oh my God, it’s the president of the Sci Fi network, and he’s going to cancel the series! Run! Run!

    OLYMPICS
    Through Aug. 24 (NBC)
        I’ll be waving a little American flag during this week’s basketball, gymnastics and boxing competitions. Let’s hope our steroids are stronger than their steroids.

    10 MOST SHOCKING MENTAL DISORDERS
    Friday, 9 p.m. (E!)
        E! takes a break from counting down the hottest bodies and the hottest billionaire’s daughters to get serious for a minute. “10 Most Shocking Mental Disorders” counts down the hottest celebrity breakdowns, from Mary-Kate Olsen’s eating disorder to Katharine McPhee’s bulimia to Kirsten Dunst’s depression.
        Did you know that the American Psychological Association now recognizes Being Driven Mad by E! Countdowns as an authentic mental disorder?

  • Details
        Transplanted Maine recording artist Sarah Hockridge, along with bassist Daniel Coffin, make up local acoustic rock act Ophir Drive.
        Actually, that’s not quite right. According to Hockridge — who works at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum — she performs “rockoustic,” a mixture of rock and acoustic with just a little bit of her own unique style. {mosimage}
        And while the 24-year-old native of Maine has music that’s much more than simply the sum of its acoustic rock parts, she is also much more than just a singer/songwriter who plays the local coffee house scene, performing original songs mixed with covers: She is a classically trained opera singer who excels on the piano and earned her chops in New York’s music clubs, including the legendary CBGBs, the birthing ground for such iconic bands as Blondie, the Talking Heads and the Ramones.
        However, she’s a long, long way from the Big Apple and its big, diverse music scene.
        “Fayetteville’s definitely different from New York,” said Hockridge. “But the people who have come to my shows have been very, very supportive. The tough thing is finding venues that are open to original music.”
    Indeed, Fayetteville’s clubs — long known as bastions of heavy rock and cover bands — can be a tough nut to crack for a female act playing original songs on an acoustic guitar. Hockridge has resorted to performing in intimate settings that suit her style, especially coffee houses such as The Java Bean and The Coffee Scene, though her influences include bands not known as standard bearers of sensitivity.
        “My favorite bands and musicians include Led Zeppelin, Ben Harper, Pink Floyd, Shakira and Sarah McLachlan,” said Hockridge. “I like a pretty eclectic mix of music, though it’s hard to hear those influences in my music.”
        And that’s not to say Hockridge’s music is the stare-at-the-floor-while-you-cry-into-your-beer type of stuff; she says as the word spreads about her shows she’s seeing more of our local hard-as-tacks soldiers at her shows tapping their feet and cheering her rhythmic brand of rockoustic.
        And she’s not strictly acoustic; the self-taught guitarist owns a Gibson ES-175 — an ax used by past and present jazz greats, as well as rockers such as Steve Howe of Yes.
        And like all things worthwhile, finding her dream guitar came at quite a cost.
        “I was in a vintage guitar shop in New York and walked up some stairs and there it was,” said Hockridge. “It was like angels were singing and halos were everywhere and I knew it was mine. It cost so much that I had to eat Ramen noodles for three months afterwards.”
        While Hockridge hasn’t yet shifted her gastric gears from noodles to caviar, she has found critical success with her work. Her song “Write Me Off” made it into Billboard Magazine’s year-end top 10 list, while her newest CD, Harmonic Half Life, is taking off and is available for purchase at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum gift shop.
        As for her long-term goals, Hockridge harbors bigger hopes for the future.
        “I would like to eventually perform for the USO,” said Hockridge. “One of my dreams is to surprise my husband by showing up at place he’s stationed and play. That would be awesome.
        “Of course, ultimately, it would be nice to not have to work and be able to write songs all day,” added Hockridge.
        If you want to catch Hockridge before she begins climbing the charts or boarding a jet for faraway locales such as Iraq and Afghanistan, she is playing a free show at The Coffee Scene on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 9 p.m.
        In addition to original music, she performs such covers as Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah,” and 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up.”
        “I play about a 60/40 mix of originals to covers,: said Hockridge. “And if I make just one person at a live show feel something, then I’ve done my job.”

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        Dear EarthTalk: How does congestion toll pricing, used in some cities around the world, cut down on vehicle traffic and promote green-friendly public transit?       
                                    — Bill Higley, via e-mail {mosimage}

        Despite increasing green awareness and steadily rising gasoline prices, Americans and other denizens of the developed world — not to mention millions of new Chinese and Indian drivers hitting the road every week — are loath to give up the freedom and privacy of their personal automobiles. But snarled traffic, longer commute times and rising pollution levels have given city transportation planners new ammunition in their efforts to encourage the use of clean, energy-efficient public transit. One of the newest tools in their arsenal is so-called congestion pricing (also called variable toll pricing), whereby cars and trucks are hit with higher tolls if they access central urban areas at traditionally congested times.
        Singapore was the world’s first major city to employ congestion pricing in 1975 when it began charging drivers $3 to bring their vehicles into the city’s central business district. The system has since expanded citywide, with toll rates at several locations changing over the course of a day. Funds generated by the program have allowed Singapore to expand and improve public transit and keep traffic at an optimal flow. Some of the tangible benefits of the program, according to Environmental Defense, include a 45 percent traffic reduction, a 10 miles-per-hour increase in average driving speed, 25 percent fewer accidents, 176,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted, and a 20 percent increase in public transit usage.
        London implemented a similar plan in 2003 that was so successful it was extended to some outlying parts of the city in 2007. Today, drivers pay $13 to bring their vehicles into certain sections of London during peak traffic hours. According to the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, London’s plan has significantly reduced traffic, improved bus service and generated substantial revenues. Environmental Defense says the plan reduced congestion by 30 percent, increased traffic speed by 37 percent, removed 12 percent of pollutants from the air and cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20 percent.
        A 2006 congestion pricing experiment in Stockholm produced similar results, shrinking commute times significantly, reducing pollution noticeably and increasing public transit use during a seven-month test. The day after the trial ended, traffic jams reappeared, so Stockholm voters passed a referendum to reinstate the plan. Today the city has one of the most extensive congestion pricing systems in the world.
        Perhaps the next major city to implement congestion pricing will be New York, if Mayor Michael Bloomberg gets his way. In July 2007, the state legislature rejected Bloomberg’s first such proposal — which would have used funds collected to pay for expansions and improvements to the regional public transit system — but ever-increasing congestion and pollution might force lawmakers’ hand in the future.
        “A congestion pricing plan is the most cost-effective way to jump-start transit improvements and reduce traffic congestion,” says Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives, one of a handful of groups working with Bloomberg to craft a version of the plan that will fly with state lawmakers. With two-thirds of New Yorkers opposed, it looks like an uphill battle for now, but advocates say passing such rules is inevitable.

        CONTACTS: Environmental Defense, www.environmentaldefense.org; Transportation Alternatives, www.transalt.org.

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

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        In the game of North Carolina politics Democrats have some young star players who are, right now, just sitting on the bench.
        My son got me thinking about how strong that “bench” is when he sent me a link to the blog of Calvin Cunningham, a former state senator, who is now serving as an Army officer in Iraq. ( http://thefocalpoints.blogspot.com/” ).
        {mosimage}Cunningham, who will be 35 in a few days, was on a fast track to statewide and perhaps national office when he won election to the state senate shortly after he graduated from law school. But his career in the state senate ended when his district was “adjusted” to make it almost impossible for a Democrat to win.
    After his first round of elective politics, Cunningham focused on his law practice, his growing family, and service in the Army Reserve. That reserve duty has resulted in multiple tours of duty in Iraq.
        If the time comes again for him to run for public office, his political and military experience would make him a serious contender.
        There are others in my son’s and Cunningham’s generation whose initial forays in elective politics have not been successful. But in gaining the rare experience of running statewide campaigns, each of them showed strong character, attractive talents, and resilience.
        In 2000, a very young lawyer from Rockingham County ran against Beverly Perdue in the Democratic primary for Lt. Governor. Although, Perdue beat him soundly, Ed Wilson gained lots of friends and admirers. Today he is serving as a superior court judge and is also active in the Army Reserve. Perhaps, the judiciary will be his lifetime career. But should he feel the call to run for statewide office again, I would expect to see a very strong candidate.
        J.B. Buxton is another young unsuccessful statewide candidate who would make a strong candidate if he should try again. Buxton finished a strong third in the 2004 Democratic primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction, behind ultimate winner June Atkinson. Buxton remains active in state political and educational matters.
        More recently, Hampton Dellinger lost a hard-fought race to Walter Dalton in the 2008 Democratic primary for Lt. Governor. It might be too soon for him to think about another statewide race. But his campaign this year against a tough opponent proved that he has what it takes to be a winning candidate. Dellinger’s experience working in the offices of the attorney general and the governor give him assets that many aspiring candidate would covet.
        All these current “bench warmers” are about 40 years old.
        In the meantime, we should be thankful that such good people, these and many more, are “in reserve.”
    If they think that one political defeat puts an end to their political potential, they should remember the example of our current governor, Mike Easley. His first statewide run, a race against Harvey Gantt in the 2000 Democratic primary, ended in a loss. But he gained experience, supporters, and respect.
        Sometimes the lessons of defeat are better in the long run than those learned in winning. Dr. Charles Hamner, former president of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, told me that, when searching for business executives to lead start up biotech businesses, the best candidates were often those whose prior businesses had failed. Why? Because in dealing with the challenges of a struggling, ultimately failing, business, they had shown they could handle they worst situations without breaking or losing their spirits.

  • Details
        The proposed Employee Free Choice Act would deprive millions of American workers of their freedom of choice — proving, in case anyone ever doubted it, that there is no truth-in-labeling rule in politics.{mosimage}
        The federal legislation, pushed heavily by labor unions in Washington and the states, has been making waves in North Carolina politics, with state and federal lawmakers choosing up sides, mostly along predicable lines (Democrats in favor, Republicans opposed). The bill would among other things institute a system for union organizing that is innocuously referred to as “card check.” Rather than holding workplace elections by secret ballot, as is the current law, card check would require union organizers simply to collect enough signed cards to establish union representation in a given workplace.
        The unions want to change the rules of American labor law because they’re frustrated. Union membership in the private sector has been declining for decades. To union leaders, the trend proves that the rules must be rewritten.
    If you have young children or have spent much time around them at the playground, you’ve seen this behavior before. While they’re playing a given game, everything’s fine. But then a child loses, gets disappointed, and turns sullen. “That’s not fair!” he’ll scream out petulantly. You can explain that fair rules are meant to ensure that everyone gets a chance, not to ensure a particular result, but you’ll waste your time. Most kids just outgrow the phase.
    Unless, that is, they go to work for a labor union.
        Most Americans have no interest in joining a union, much less in being compelled to pay dues into a union whether they join or not. There’s no corporate conspiracy at work here — public-opinion surveys about unionization pretty much comport with the results of workplace elections, so the latter aren’t systemically flawed.
        Many of the politicians who advocate the card-check bill would be the first to complain if a state or foreign country got rid of secret ballots. They’d properly recognize the move as a precursor to ostracism, intimidation, or corruption. But when it comes to labor elections, they appear to believe that the end justifies the means. What they’ll really get is a voting system reminiscent of Zimbabwe or Turkmenistan.
        As it happens, I think the best policy for the federal government would be utter neutrality about the hows and wheres of labor organizing. Unions would be free to organize themselves in any way they wish, workers would be free to join or not to join them according to the unions’ rules, and employers would be free to recognize a union or disregard it altogether, without any governmental involvement. Workers would be free to withhold their labor if they wish, and employers would be free to terminate them and hire other workers if they wish.
        Unfortunately, that’s not the system we have, nor are we likely to get it anytime soon. Under decades-old labor law, unions can use the power of government to enforce their dictates and supervise their negotiations with employers. So it becomes necessary for policymakers to have a say in setting the rules for workplace elections.
        In North Carolina, Sen. Elizabeth Dole and other Republican lawmakers will speak out against the card-check legislation next month at an event in Hickory. The stakes are significant in our state, which has one of the lowest rates of unionization in the country. According to an analysis earlier this year by the Heritage Foundation, some 3.1 million North Carolina workers could lose their freedom of choice if the so-called Employee Free Choice Act were enacted into law.
        And all to satisfy the personal and political interest of a few.

  • Details
        African dance has a unique beauty in its rhythmic action and is a form of communication that demonstrates emotion, sentiments and beliefs through movements. It can vary from the slowest movement to a movement so rapid that the eye cannot register what is happening. During the days of slavery the African slaves entertained themselves and others with musical and dance forms that contained elements they brought with them from Africa.       
        “My theory is if we understand different cultures we will not have a tendency to fear or be biased,” said Shea-Ra Nichi, instructor of African dance. “It would benefit everyone to have better clarity of other cultures and who they are.”                  
        {mosimage}Nichi is passionate about African dance culture and is launching her own dance technique. She teaches the movements and traditional music found in Haiti, Brazil, Cuba and the Congo, Africa, with live drumming. “It started in 2002 when I went away to Europe, France, Spain and Germany with a Haitian dance company,” said Nichi. “During this tour I learned more about Haitian dance.”
        Nichi added that when she returned people were interested in her teaching a class about different forms of African dance. This led to the development of her company.                       
    Niche’s dance classes will be held on Aug. 16 and Aug. 30 from 1:30-3 p.m. at the   Cumberland Dance Academy. “We will be doing ongoing classes in September,” said Nichi. “The maximum number of students I can have in one class is 32.”                    
        Nichi is an accomplished dancer, director and choreographer who has been performing professionally since age 8. She studied professional theater in New York City and has traveled to Haiti, Europe and Brazil researching and learning all forms of African cultural dance. Nichi has mastered these dance techniques for more than 15 years. Bennett Estaphane, dance partner, plays the drums and is the rhythm to Nichi’s dance technique. “He’s been with me since the very beginning,” said Nichi. 
        Future plans for Nichi include teaching classes at Elite Marshall Arts School located in downtown Fayetteville. She will teach a Brazilian Marshall Arts class and a Pilate’s class.      
        “I have a very strong influence in my natural movement,” said Nichi. “I have been doing it for a while and it is a very natural way for me to move now.”        
        The cost is $15 per class.  People of all ages and levels are invited. Cumberland Dance Academy is located in Hope Mills at 5470 Trade St. For more information call 862-5378 or 474-1134.

  • Details
        Year after year the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County has looked for ways to help artists flourish and to build a community enhanced by the arts. {mosimage}
        If you’re not personally involved in the local arts community, you may think the council’s exhibit at the 4th Friday gallery crawl is the pinnacle of its interaction with local artists and the community. Not true. Advocacy for artists and an artistic culture in the community is an ongoing process. Creation: the Acquisition Exhibition is a remarkable example of how the Arts Council and a local corporation lead the way in partnerships.
        In short, Creation was a result of a call for art by the Cape Fear Valley Health System to purchase original works for its new patient tower. In partnership with the Arts Council, CFVHS decided to host a competition and an exhibit which resulted in 34 works of original art being purchased by the hospital. The purchase of that many works of art at one time by a corporation is unprecedented in the area and demonstrates the positive changes taking place in our community.
        The action by CFVHS to purchase such a large body of work by artists reflects its commitment to support the diverse and extensive talent we have in our area. They singlehandedly have lead the way as an example of a substantial partnership between business and the arts.
        Something this large in scale does not just happen. First and foremost, a group or an individual has to believe in the talent of local artists and want to support local artistic commerce. William Avenel, vice president and chief information officer for the Cape Fear Valley Health System, was the individual who had the vision to support local artistic commerce. He approached the Arts Council looking at ways to buy work from area artists for the new building.
        Several key elements factor into the equation. Avenel has a background in the arts (a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of New Orleans and a master’s of fine art from the University of Alabama) and understood the importance of purchasing original works. He and CFVHS were ready and committed to monetarily supporting the local artistic community.
        In addition, the Arts Council was poised and prepared to undertake the partnership. Margo Jarvis, director of marketing and development for the Arts Council, said, “They had a budget and architectural plans in hand almost two years ago. After brainstorming ways to create a pool of original works to select from, a call for art and an exhibition was planned.”
        Jarvis also commented on how much the Arts Council “applauds the leadership of CFVHS and hopes other businesses will consider partnering with the Arts Council.”
        She added, “Although it may not seem like it at the time, purchasing just one original work from local and area artists means you are investing in the economic development of your community.”
        Avenal, the CFVHS, and Arts Council now lead the way in a win-win situation. Local artists were supported and the hospital has purchased some excellent work. Not only can the hospital pride itself on its support of the community which supports it, but many of those works will appreciate in value.
        To get the process started, the Arts Council issued a call for art for inclusion in Creation. As a result, nearly 250 pieces of artwork were submitted by 76 artists from 29 cities in North Carolina, with 44 juried into the show. Thirty-four pieces of artwork were selected for purchase and placement in the Valley Pavilion.
    Although representationalism dominated the exhibit, I was still very pleased to see some variety in style. For example, two abstract mixed-media works by Dwight Smith and two abstract paintings by Fayetteville State University art student Michael Romagano were purchased. In addition, a beautiful fabric wall hanging by Martha Sisk was purchased.
        Upon visiting the exhibit, visitors and artists will recognize many of the local artists whose work was selected for purchase.
        Already it seems as if more businesses have finally realized it is good business to support the local arts.     While in the process of reviewing the exhibit, I noticed Calvin Mims (art services coordinator for the arts council) showing the remaining works which were still available for purchase to Dr. Eric Roman and Dr. Clifton Cameron, dentists who are opening a practice in Fayetteville.
        Stephanie Robinson, an arts council board member, had mentioned the CFVHS initiative to the doctors. Both felt purchasing local art was an opportunity to support local artists. They hope to open Dental Works across from the Cross Creek Mall in early August with original local art work on the walls.
        Cameron said he was from Fayetteville and that Roman and he were “open to selecting different styles and media for their new office.” He further commented, “What is important for us as a business is to continue to support the arts and forge a long lasting relationship with the Arts Council.”
        Awareness for local talent doesn’t end with this exhibit. Mims informed me of a newly formed program he is coordinating at the Arts Council called “Art in the Workplace.” Mims stated, “The Creation competition has become a template for the Arts Council. At this time I am creating a library of images and information of local artists for businesses and individuals to view. The image library will be a way for visual artists to show their work on the Art Council’s Web site and sell work, or someone interested in their work can contact the artist directly.”
        {mosimage}For artists in the area, I personally hope you will continue or start to take advantage of the opportunities being made available to you by visiting the Arts Councils Web site, www.theartscouncil.com. The only way for more diversity in the arts to become a reality is for diverse artists to do their part in exhibiting and participating in the opportunities as they present themselves.
        Creation: The Acquisition Exhibition opened during the Fourth Friday activities, July 25 at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County; and will remain open to the public through Aug. 16. As always, the exhibit is free, for more information, visit or call (910) 323-1776.

  • Details
        There are many cities across the nation that are known for the blues. Memphis may be king, but Fayetteville musicians also know a lot about the blues, and on Saturday, Aug. 9, they’ll let the smokey notes and soulful blues tunes tell their story at the 4th Annual Local Artist Blues Showcase.
        Held at the Pate Room in the Headquarters Library downtown, the event will dedicate five hours to some of the hottest licks and soulful sounds around. Featuring more than 13 different artist, the show is definitely something you don’t want to miss.
        Organized by Claudia Swartz, the idea for the show first came up in 2005 over Swartz’s morning coffee. Swartz, a musician herself, came to Fayetteville from Germany as a military spouse. She quickly found her niche in the thriving blues community. What she found was the talent, but unfortunately not many venues to showcase it. “After noticing a total disregard for local musicians in the hiring process for the city’s large festivals I made hundreds of trips downtown and talked to everybody including the mayor,” she recalled. “Since no one gave me any viable solutions for this dilemma, I decided to organize the Blues Showcase.”
        {mosimage}The first event came together on Aug. 16, 2005. The library facility was almost overwhelmed as more than 400 people came together to celebrate the blues. “It was filled to overflowing with people from all walks of life, nationalities, age or race,” she said. “They were treated to the finest blues bands in Fayetteville and the showcase tradition was born.”
        This year’s event stays true to its roots spotlighting only local talent. The headliners will include some of Fayetteville’s music veterans Bob Steele, Robbie Reid and Corky Jones, but it will also shine the light on some up and coming acts such as In that Tone, Mighty Blue, Cape Fear River Blues, Dave Brown, John Lyman, Mandy Barnes, Ray King and Cool Hand.
        “Each of these artists will lend their unique talent to this show,” she said. “We love our music passionately and were it taken away it would probably devastate us more than any other tragedy could. Our music is an expression of soul and mind that slumbers within the human psyche. Creativity at its best is the motto.”
        The event begins at 1 p.m. and runs through 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

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