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        Change Oregonians Believe In: The voters of Sodaville (pop. 290) elected Thomas Brady Harrington, 33, mayor in November, notwithstanding his criminal rap sheet showing robbery, eluding a police officer, felon in possession of a gun and other crimes (with his electoral success perhaps due to voters’ confusing him with his father, a respected town elder).
        And the voters of Silverton (pop. 7,400) elected as mayor Stu Rasmussen, 60, an openly transgendered, longtime resident who previously served as mayor while a man but who now sports breasts and dresses exclusively as a woman (especially miniskirts and cleavage-enhancing tops). Actually, Rasmussen still describes himself as a man and lives with his longtime girlfriend, but explained his switch as just his particular “mid-life crisis.”

    Compelling Explanations
        “I’m really sorry.... I thought he was just tired,” said Lynne Stewart, who was arrested in West Melbourne, Fla., in October and charged with stealing items from a 56-year-old, unconscious man who in fact had just suffered a fatal heart attack during sex with Stewart. She blamed her larceny on a cocaine binge that impaired her judgment such that (according to a police commander) she had sex with 20 men that weekend. (However, she was not charged with prostitution. Said the commander, “No, she just likes sex.”)
        Lame: A woman being interviewed for jury duty on a murder case in Bronx (N.Y.) Supreme Court in October asked to be excused for the reason that she was once murdered, herself, by her husband (but had somehow been revived by a doctor). (She was dismissed from the jury, but on other grounds.)
        In a recent report of DUI excuses in the Swedish newspaper, Nerikes Allehanda, a 56-year-old woman had asserted that, though she had been drinking, her driving was not affected because she had remembered to keep one eye closed so as not to be seeing double.

    Ironies
        Hummer H2 driver Yvonne Sinclair, 29, was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter in November in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., from a 2006 crash that killed two people and in which her intoxication was a major factor. Sinclair had bought the Hummer from proceeds of a lawsuit settlement over the 2003 death of her boyfriend, who was killed by a drunk driver.
        Strange Justice: The Saudi Arabia delegation to the United Nations sponsored a conference on religious tolerance in November. (Not only does the kingdom employ a police force “on the prevention of vice and the promotion of virtue,” but it is accused of widespread internal discrimination against disfavored Islamic sects.)

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        Want to make it a Merry Christmas for your favorite motorcyclist?
        Looking for that perfect gift for your Harley ridin’ guy or gal?
        It’s that most special time of the year at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson, and Parts Manager Duke Durham says the dealership, located on Sycamore Dairy Road, has something for every level of rider and every budget.
        “Some of our hottest sellers include bike covers and cleaning products,” said Durham. “And a big seller for us is a cycle dryer, which looks like a lawn blower and sells for about $40. It really gets the nooks and crannies of your bike dry after you wash it. I won a cycle dryer in a contest and I use it all the time.”{mosimage}
        Durham says that in the parts department, he finds that a lot of bikers come in this time of year to treat themselves to new exhausts or horsepower upgrades — he cited a customer who recently purchased $4,000 worth of new wheels.  Other items of note that are hot this time of year include new windshields, timer and derby covers, and, for the undecided or uninitiated in the world of motorcycles, Durham says gift cards are always a good idea, especially for the wives of bike owners.
        “A lot of wives come in and buy gift cards and other stuff for their husbands,” said Durham. “And we get a lot of secretaries who buy stuff for their bosses who ride, especially the cycle blowers.”
        Over in the customer service portion of Cape Fear Harley-Davidson, Sabrina Hunt says you can find just about anything you want affixed with a Harley-Davidson logo.
        “We’ve got Harley-Davidson-licensed versions of the board game Monopoly and Jenga, as well as clocks, cabinets and other unique gifts with the Harley-Davidson logo,” said Hunt. “Our collectibles are really hot sellers this year, as is jewelry, and, of course, there’s always gift cards.”
        Hunt says items such as helmets and leathers and other articles of clothing are often too “personal” to buy for riders, as they generally need to be tried on by the rider.But everything else is fair game, said Hunt.
        “If we don’t have it, we can order it,” said Hunt. “And you wouldn’t believe some of the things we can order that are licensed by Harley-Davidson. We can get pool tables, pool balls, juke boxes, refrigerators... you name it.
        “We’ve got everything for customers looking for that unique gift,” said Hunt. “And we strive to satisfy all our customers with the best possible customer service.”

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        You asked for it Fayetteville … and you got it! If you were one of the people looking for an upscale restaurant to enjoy a wonderful dinner, it’s here in the form of Morgan’s Chop House.
    Morgan’s Chop House is located on McPherson Church Road in a building that has housed several previous attempts at bringing upscale dining to Fayetteville, including The Vineyard and Trio Café.
    The outside looks basically the same as it has in years past, however, a new sign let’s people know that a change has come. Parking is plentiful.
        Things may look the same from the outside, but inside it’s a whole new ball game. The completely overhauled interior is fresh, modern and welcoming. There is a bar just to the right with oversized leather couches perfect for an afterwork get together. The bar offers a full martini and bar- food menu, as well as any type of drink you might desire. The dining area seats 150 and the restaurant and bar are completely nonsmoking.
        {mosimage}Service is a huge part of any dining experience. The waiter came to the table no more than three minutes after my dining companion and I were seated. He was professional, polite and seemed quite knowledgeable about the menu. After we ordered our drinks he returned almost immediately. He explained the featured menu items and gave us a minute to decide. We looked over the menu and ordered an appetizer — the spinach and artichoke crab dip. Shortly thereafter, the waiter returned with fresh bread with oil, vinegar and herbs for dipping. We decided to order the surf and turf. Professional, prompt service is a great part of a wonderful evening out. Our waiter definitely set the stage for the best part.
        The menu was clear and simple, displaying just the kind of food you would want to see on an American chop house menu. The appetizer dip was hot and fresh. A lot of vegetable dips like this tend to be juicy and runny this was not the case. The flavors were nicely balanced with a smooth, creamy texture.
        I am a steak snob. Once I tasted the steak, it was all over. I was hooked. The steak was wonderfully grilled and very, very tender. The seasoning on the steak was very unique, but not overpowering at all. There was a thought in my head that I was trying to fight back. Could I be eating one of the best steaks I have ever had? I didn’t want to admit it, but it was true. The six large shrimp that accompanied it were very good as well. They seemed pretty fresh considering they are really not in season right now. They were juicy and perfectly cooked. No one likes chewy shrimp. They were served on a few pieces of garlic crostini, which lent them good flavor and looked very nice. However, I could have done without the crostini which were soggy due to the juicy shrimp that had been sitting on them. The red potatoes we chose as our side item were a nice rustic balance to the rest of the meal. At this point I was very impressed. We finished off our meal with a piece of caramel cheesecake with ice cream and fresh strawberries. It was obvious by the presentation of this dish that the chef was creative, skilled, and passionate about his food.
        The food portions were plenty for two of us — I’m 6’2” weighing in at 205 lbs. and I like to eat.
        If I had to put a summary on my dinner at Morgan’s, I really couldn’t believe I was sitting in my hometown of Fayetteville enjoying a dining experience that would rival many fine restaurants in metropolitan areas. I was blown away. Out of the whole evening, there was only one thing I saw as a possible negative — the menu seemed pricey to me. The appetizers were $8 to $10. The feature we ordered was $24. The rest of the entrées ranged from $18 to $37. The dessert that was so nicely presented was $9. Add two sweet teas to it, and our grand total was $51 without gratuity. Of course, keep in mind this is a fine dining restaurant and you get what you pay for.
        All in all, if you were looking for a great place for a date, to celebrate an anniversary or simply to enjoy dinner with some friends, Morgan’s is it!

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    Con artists play God in Leverage

        It’s a Christmas miracle: a series that isn’t in reruns in late December. Not only does TNT gift us with a new episode of Leverage(Tuesday, 10 p.m.), but a great episode. Just three weeks old, this dramedy is already one of my favorite shows.{mosimage}
        Timothy Hutton is Nate, a former insurance investigator who turned Robin Hood after being betrayed by his company. And this wasn’t any old betrayal — the company denied coverage for his ailing son, who subsequently died. Nate’s grief gives Leverage poignancy around the edges, but at its heart it’s a con-artist comedy. Nate has assembled a team of grifters and thieves to foil corrupt millionaires and corporations Mission: Impossible-style. They construct elaborate scams involving disguises and deceit, and it’s pure pleasure to watch their plans unfold.
        In this week’s episode, a priest tries to save his church from an unscrupulous developer who plans to turn the property into a mall. The developer sends out thugs to scare him into backing down. That doesn’t sit well with Nate. “This guy beat up a priest,” he tells his team. “We’re not going easy on him.”
        They determine that the quickest way to save the church is to fake a miracle there. Pilgrims will flock to the place, the Vatican will declare it holy ground and the mall will be thwarted. They trick up a statue of a saint in which tears appear to drip from the eyes. Computer specialist Alec (Aidis Hodge), however, has grave reservations about the plan. “We’re all going to hell,” he says.
        Maybe, but TNT is going to heaven for bringing us this wonderful series.

    WWE Tribute to the Troops
    Saturday, 9 p.m. (NBC)
        Professional wrestling stars head to Iraq to salute the troops in their own special way. Nothing says “we love you” like slamming someone head-first to the mat, grinding a foot into his neck and twisting his ankle 360 degrees.

    Million Dollar Password
    Sunday, 8 p.m. (CBS)
        William Shatner, the aging oddity who’ll do anything for a buck, is this week’s celebrity contestant. The password is: “shameless.”

    10th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill
    Tuesday, 7 p.m. (CBS)
        Faith Hill, Melissa Etheridge, Martin Short, Tim McGraw Gavin Rossdale, Kristin Chenoweth, Rene Russo, Patricia Heaton and Jamie Foxx appear in the annual special that raises awareness of foster-care adoption. The broadcast is usually pretty solemn, befitting the subject. If Martin Short can get any laughs from a foster-care theme, I’ll proclaim him a comic genius.

    Rediscovered
    Tuesday, 9 p.m. (ABC)
        The guy who discovered Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell and JC Chasez created this showcase for wannabe child stars who never made it big. Now all grown up, five could-have-beens have a chance to perform for a $50,000 prize and a fresh chance at fame.     Creepy hosts Donny and Marie Osmond are on hand to suggest that, hey, maybe child stardom wouldn’t have worked out so great anyway.
        To fill out the hour, Rediscoveredshows the kiddie audition tapes from Spears, Timberlake, Aguilera, Gosling, Russell and Chasez. Just think of all the pain we would have been spared had Spears been rejected at square one.

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       Four Christmases (Rated PG-13) 3 Stars

        Critics HATED it. It opened the week after Twilight, which is number three in pre-sold ticket sales on Fandango. The plot is actually pretty stupid, yet somehow, Four Christmases (82 minutes) is maintaining its number one earner spot from week to week. It shouldn’t be. On the surface, this showed all the makings of a disaster…director Seth Gordon’s only major previous credit was The King of Kong (a documentary about an arcade game) and there are four writers, which is never a good sign. It should have quietly disappeared, and after watching it, I really wonder why it hasn’t. {mosimage}
        Of course, there are some powerful forces at play here. Last year’s writer’s strike slowed movie production, and there are fewer movies out than usual, which means less competition. It’s a Vince Vaughn movie, and that name alone will bring out a sizeable chunk of audience. It’s a holiday movie with no competition, and it works as date movie. So, for those of you biding your time between holiday parties while you wait for The Day the Earth Stood Still(and I hate to break it to you, but no way will the remake be as good as the original) and The Tale of Despereaux, you could do worse. 
        The film introduces Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) as two strangers meeting at a party. There is some not very clever shtick, VERY Vince Vaughn, which Witherspoon doesn’t quite manage to pull off. We transition to a nice plot build-up with Brad and Kate scaring other singles about marriage and expressing their “exit strategy” for holiday gatherings. 
        The pair head to the airport, but as expressed so succinctly by the title of the movie their flight is grounded and they end up headed to four Christmases in order to appease the family they avoided for so long. It is during this scene that the audience must take a moment to pause and realize that Witherspoon is a very little person. Seriously, she is in six-inch platform sandals and she doesn’t even hit Vaughn’s shoulder. He’s monstrously huge!
        First, they head to Brad’s dad’s and a set of family stereotypes lifted straight out of Talladega Nights. Brad’s dad is played by Robert Duvall, and slimmed down/buffed up Jon Favreau cameos as one of the brothers. Next, it’s time to visit Kate’s mother in her “cougar den.” Wow. OK. Mary Steenburgen should never, ever, ever, attempt to play the sexy older woman on the prowl. I feel a little sick. Wait!  It’s Kristine Chenoweth playing the sister! I like her! 
        Once Brad and Kate wrap up some awkward moments, they head to his mother’s place. Sissy Spacek plays the mother, and she seems as out of place as every other female character in this movie (Except Chenoweth, who holds her own). In a shocking and completely unexpected twist, they finish up their evening with a big fight about their relationship. Kate ends up with her Dad (Jon Voight) and the rest of her family for Christmas dinner. Which begs the question: if her entire family was just going to head over to her father’s, why not just call the movie Three Christmases? Bottom line, there are a few legitimately funny moments, but five minutes after you leave the theater you won’t care about the plot of the characters.  

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        {mosimage}This time of the year, the strains of Christmas music echo through the air in stores, offices and homes. Some of it is good, some of it is not so good. Some of it — usually the loops you hear playing over and over in stores — really gets on your nerves. I have a suggestion for those stores: Get rid of your pre-recorded tracks and slip in Faith Hill’s Christmas album, Joy to the World.
        Hill, who is without a doubt one of country’s shining stars, has put together a solid Christmas offering that reasonates with the true spirit of the Christmas.
        “I had a very clear vision for the type of Christmas album that I wanted to make,” said Hill of the album at its release in September. “Indicative of the big band orchestras of the ‘40s and ‘50s, with a full compliment of horns, stings, woodwinds, percussion and chorales. (The) orchestrations were a gift. They embodied everything that I could have imaged; unique and beautiful, and yet they seem as though they were always intended for these songs.”
        To get the sound she wanted, Hill reached out to The Nashville Orchestra as well as the London-based choirs Metro Voices and The London Oratory School Boys Choir. This album definitely isn’t your grandmother’s idea of a country music Christmas album. That’s not to say that it isn’t chock full of Christmas classics, because it is. The 11-track album has 10 of the most beloved Christmas songs in the world, and its 11th track is probably destined to become a Christmas classic.
        Hill’s voice soars on songs like “O Holy Night” and “Joy to the World.” I was not expecting the anthem-like rendition of “Joy to the World,” but the symphony’s backing, coupled with the majesty of the choir truly announces the joy of the birth of the Christ child.
        Hill’s voice doesn’t need a lot of trappings to help it soar. Take her execution of “O Holy Night.” The only instrument used in the majority of the song is Hill’s voice, and it is breathtaking. It is perhaps one of the best versions of the song I have ever heard.
        I have to say that while the traditional Christmas carols that celebrate the birth of Jesus are among my favorites, I am also a big fan of the secular songs as well. I am the first to belt out “Blue Christmas” or “Rudolph.” Don’t believe me, sit down and watch a Christmas show with me. But the inclusion of three of those songs — “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” — is a little jarring. Not because they aren’t good. They are great. They are playful, and are enthused with a swing beat that leaves you wanting more. It’s more where they are in the CD that makes them problematic. You have these beautiful, heartfelt songs of adoration and then BAM — just like that — you’re hearing “You better watch out, you better not pout.” It just doesn’t flow. I think Hill should have committed to either having one or the other — but not both.
        But back to that song that I think is destined to classic status: “A Baby Changes Everything.” The first few lines of the song lead you to believe it is going to be a country song about an unwed mother. And, to a certain extent, it is. But it’s not about an unwed mother in our time, but rather an unwed mother who makes a trek to Bethlehem.
    The song begins with these words: “Teenage girl, much too young / Unprepared for what’s to come / A baby changes everything;” and ends this way: “My whole life is turned around / I was lost and now I’m found / A baby changes everything.”
        To quote Faith, “Hallelujah.”
        Check out Joy to the World, you may find that it’s a favorite in your family, just as the songs are favorites with the Hill-McGraw family.

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        Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that palm oil, common in snack foods and health & beauty products, is destroying rainforests? If so, what can consumers do about it?             
                   —Emma Miniscalco, via e-mail

        It’s no wonder that worldwide demand for palm oil has surged in recent years. Long used in cosmetics, palm oil is now all the rage in the snack food industry, since it is transfat-free and therefore seen as healthier than the shortening it replaces.
        {mosimage}But to produce palm oil in large enough quantities to meet growing demand, farmers across Southeast Asia have been clearing huge swaths of biodiversity-rich tropical rainforest to make room for massive palm plantations. Today palm oil production is the largest cause of deforestation in Indonesia and other equatorial countries with dwindling expanses of tropical rainforest. Indonesia’s endangered orangutan population, which depends upon the rainforest, has dwindled by as much as 50 percent in recent years.
        The clearing of these forests is a big factor in global warming, given how much carbon dioxide (CO2) trees store when left alone. Once forests are cut, tons of CO2 heads skyward where it does the most harm. Also, when not replaced by palm oil plantations, rainforests help maintain water resources by absorbing rainfall and then releasing it into streams and rivers, thus minimizing flooding and soil depletion.
        Simply boycotting palm oil and the products containing it may not help, as reduced demand could force the companies behind the plantations to instead initiate more intensive timber harvesting and a widespread conversion of the land to agriculture, which would add a heavy pollution load onto the already compromised land, air and water. It is up to the countries involved in palm oil production to regulate the industry and budget sufficient funds for enforcement. But with huge profits coming in from the sale of palm oil, public officials in Indonesia and elsewhere are loathe to clamp down on their golden goose.
        Several of the largest palm oil producers have joined forces with banks and nonprofit groups to try to green up the industry. In 2003, some 200 commercial entities in the global palm oil supply chain met and established the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to promote the growth of palm oil in an environmentally friendly manner. RSPO works to develop definitions and criteria for the sustainable production of palm oil, while facilitating the adoption of more green-friendly practices throughout the industry. The group celebrated its first shipment of “sustainable palm oil” to Europe this past November.
        Despite progress, many green leaders are skeptical that RSPO has the teeth to make a positive impact on the fast-growing palm oil industry. Greenpeace International considers RSPO to be “little more than greenwash,” pointing out that at least one RSPO-certified producer — United Plantations, a supplier to Nestlé and Unilever — is deforesting Indonesia’s vulnerable peat land forests. And Sinar Mas, another major RSPO player, has cleared tropical rainforest all over the country for its palm oil plantations, and is still expanding rapidly. Greenpeace is calling for a moratorium on deforestation throughout Indonesia so that the RSPO and the government can take stock and then proceed accordingly.

    CONTACTS: RSPO, www.rspo.org; Greenpeace, www.greenpeace.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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        N.C. State University economist and Carolina Journal columnist Mike Walden is one of North Carolina’s most-influential public intellectuals. Through print, radio, television, and personal appearances, Mike works tirelessly to educate the public about basic economic concepts and their application to the issues of the day.
        {mosimage}His new book, North Carolina in the Connected Age: Challenges and Opportunities in a Globalizing Economy, represents Mike Walden at his best. You won’t find a better primer on our state’s economic past, present, and future.
        The heart of the book is his discussion of what he terms the Connected Age, the period beginning in 1970 during which a combination of new technologies, expanded international trade, and demographic changes transformed N.C.’s economy. The familiar strategic triad of the state’s manufacturing base — furniture and wood products, textile and apparel, and tobacco — declined in employment and share of output during the period, for myriad reasons. As late as 1977, these industries made up 20 percent of the gross state product and nearly a quarter of total employment. By 2005, they accounted for only 7 percent of GSP and 5 percent of employment.
        So what are the core private industries in today’s North Carolina economy? Mike describes a Big Five consisting of banking and finance, information technology, pharmaceuticals and other chemical products, food processing, and vehicle manufacturing. Collectively, they made up almost as much of the GSP in 2005 (17 percent) as the traditional industries did in 1977. But their share of employment is modest at 7 percent. In the labor force, the real explosion has been growth in the service sector, including health care, along with relatively rapid growth in construction and government employees.
        Using data such as growth rates of employment and economic output, Mike puts these 21 regional economies into three different categories: New Economy, Transitional and Stagnant. The New Economy category includes urban regions such as the Triangle and Greater Asheville, small city regions such as Greater Boone and the Northeast, and rural regions such as the Highlands and the Far West. Transitional economies also span the spectrum from urban (e.g. Greater Greensboro) to small city (e.g. Greenville-Jacksonville) to rural (e.g. Greater Wilkes). There is only one Stagnant region, the Roanoke (Halifax, Northampton, Hertford and Bertie). That helps to explain that whole Randy Parton Theater thing.
        While there are public-policy insights to be gleaned throughout North Carolina in the Connected Age, Mike provides an extended discussion of policy implications in his next-to-last chapter. His general observation is that N.C.’s fiscal house is in a tremendous state of disorder.
    The cost of desired spending programs — ranging from educational improvement and infrastructure investment to universal health care — greatly exceed projected revenue from our current tax system. He describes three approaches that N.C. leaders could choose in response to the dilemma:
    Finance future public services through higher general tax revenues, to be generated by hiking tax rates, broadening tax bases or adding new forms of taxation.
    Finance future public services to a greater degree than the state currently does through user fees and other pricing mechanisms.
    Finance future public services through productivity gains, rather than a more rapid growth through revenues.
    I like Door Number 2 and Door Number 3, personally. But you don’t have to agree with me to enjoy Mike Walden’s interesting new book.

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        I always tell my wife I love her and buy her gifts I can’t afford. I know she loves me. She works so hard at school, and works to pay her tuition, and still washes my clothes, cooks and cleans. And I never ask her to. When I buy her things, I don’t expect anything in return; I just like to see her happy. I buy her roses for no reason. Recently, because her friends wear so much jewelry, and I know she wished she had some, I bought her a second diamond ring. For our four anniversaries, I’ve given her a gold bracelet, an iPod, a laptop, and most recently, a cell phone she really wanted. In return, she gave me a card with a letter promising to go to the gym and get back in shape. (She’s not fat, but knows it means a lot to me when she’s looking good.) I loved the commitment, but this is something she owes herself, not a real gift. I’m not materialistic, but it hurt that she didn’t take the time to get me something...I don’t care what...a couple T-shirts.
    — Let Down

        What does this woman have to do to show she loves you, put a big red bow around your neatly folded tighty-whities? Leave a gift card floating in the sparkling bowl? Here she is cooking, cleaning and doing your wash while going to school and working to pay her tuition, to boot. Yeah, clearly she’s all take, take, take. You, on the other hand, went to the mall and got her gold, diamonds and portable electronics, and picked up roses on the way home. You are sweet to always be thinking about what she might need at the jeweler. But now, you’re actually feeling bad because she’s trying to look good for you instead of looking for a shirt for you? Hey, just say the word, and she could be waddling around Target.
        There are a lot of men out there who’d line right up to be taken for granted the way you are. Your mistake is expecting your wife to show she cares in the same way you do - tit for tat, iPod for iPod. If you think somebody is fundamentally cheap, that’s one thing. What you should look for is generosity of spirit. She seems to show it, and then some — even if “diamonds are forever” and those dinners she cooks for you are really just in one end and out the other.
        You claim you don’t expect anything in return, but it seems you do — maybe because you’re insecure, and your gifts aren’t just laptops and gold bracelets, but down payments on having her stick around. You might also consider the effect your giving has on hers. Buy a girl a diamond, and do you really think her first thought is “Wow! I can’t wait to dig through the clearance T-shirt bin and find something really special for him!”? You know your wife’s way short on time and money, and it sounds like she has a bit of a muffin-top. She can’t possibly do more for you around the house, so what better way to show you she cares than by offering to pick up a few things for you at the gym? You know, those 25-lb. iron things, 5,000 or so times.

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        The Brazilian designer Lucia Lorio introduced women’s lingerie in October containing a global positioning device to enable the wearer to be tracked by satellite. The creator said the password-protected lace bodice would make it easier for women kidnapped by thugs or terrorists to be located and rescued. Critics called it a virtual chastity belt, primarily of service to insecure males curious to know where their women are. (However, the wearer can manually turn the device off.)
        Another anti-terror lingerie product may also surface someday, based on a 2007 U.S. patent, issued to a Plainfield, Ill., company for a bra whose cups could also function as air-filtration systems in case of chemical attacks. 

    Government in Action
        Facing a state budget crisis in July, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger fired about 10,000 temporary and part-time workers and ordered the 200,000 permanent employees to be paid only the minimum wage of $6.55 an hour until the legislature passed a crisis-solving budget. However, a week later the State Controller John Chiang pointed out that state payroll records could not be changed to accommodate the cut because they were written in the antiquated COBOL computer language, and virtually the only state employees who knew the code were some of the part-timers Schwarzenegger had just fired.

        London’s Daily Mailprofiled two 10-children British families in October to illustrate the inconsistencies of government benefit awards. Sean and Anne Tate and their children live on Sean’s truck-driver salary of the equivalent of about $23,000 a year, plus the government’s standard per-child benefit. Harry Crompton has been out of work for 15 years, and his wife, Tracey, has never held a paid job, yet they receive the equivalent of $48,000 in various government benefits, which The Daily Mail said would require a tax-paying family to earn the equivalent of $68,000 a year to draw.

    Dying for Help
        Two of Oregon’s unique public health markers clashed dramatically for resident Barbara Wagner this summer when she was informed that the universal medical care available to everyone in the state (but with certain service restrictions) would not pay for her expensive lung cancer drug (because her five-year survival likelihood was poor), but was told, at the same time, that the state would pay for any necessary drugs under its Death With Dignity Law (i.e., suicide).

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        Finally, winter is upon us and it’s time to look into how you can keep nice and warm while wheeling around on your bike.
        Hypothermia can happen very quickly if you’re not dressed properly. What happens is your body senses the core temperature drop and begins cutting off blood supply to your hands, feet and your head. When the blood flow to your brain slows down, your decision making abilities start to slow down as well. Just like an intoxicated person has problems performing two tasks at the same time, as in clutching and braking, so does a person with the beginnings of hypothermia. You would usually first notice your hand getting numb then your feet, and last but not least, your forehead, which can even make you feel like you’ve eaten ice cream too fast. If you’ve got all these symptoms, I guarantee your judgment has become impaired. If you prepare for a cold weather ride, you should never have to worry about or suffer from hypothermia.{mosimage}
        First, start with a good pair of insulated gloves. Cold, numb fingers can make for a miserable ride. I’ve got three pairs of gloves — lightweight, uninsulated medium leather with Thinsulate and a somewhat bulky leather pair with heavy insulation. If using the bulky type gloves hurts your throttle clutch and braking abilities, get yourself some heated grips. Heated grips work wonders and may be enough with just a pair of light leather gloves. The warmest thing you can put on your hands are electric gloves but they can be a little bulky.
        For your feet, the best boots I’ve found are Cruiserworks. These boots have a special waterproof insulation which not only keeps your feet warm in the winter, but they’ll keep you cool and dry in the summer and they’re extremely comfortable.
        To keep your face and head warm, a balaclava or ski mask will do the trick, especially when combined with a full face helmet.
        To keep the wind from getting inside your jacket, there are many types of neck wraps available, from fabric to leather — even a bandanna helps. Your main concern is the jacket. When your chest is warm it’s much easier to keep all your extremities warm. A thick leather jacket or one made of Cudora, which is also waterproof, along with a couple of layers underneath, is the way to go. An electric vest will keep you warm as toast in even the coldest weather and eliminates the layers you’ll otherwise need.
        If you’re ever caught without all the necessary gear and find yourself shivering, pick up a newspaper and a plastic bag. Shove the paper down your jacket and wrap your neck with the plastic bag and grab a hot cup of coffee. That should make the ride home at least bearable.

  • Details
        If you’re anything like my family, breakfast is one of your favorite meals of the day. I’m not talking the breakfast you eat when you first get up — I’m talking the breakfast you eat when the craving hits you for BREAKFAST.
        There are a few restaurants in town that offer you the chance to get breakfast any time of the day and there’s a new restaurant to add to the list: Langley’s Famous Pancakes.
        The restaurant, located at 1424 Bragg Blvd., is a little off the beaten path — it’s located in the old International House of Pancakes building. A couple of other restaurants have come and gone in that location — but it is our sincere hope that this one stays in business a long, long time.
        Langley’s isn’t your run-of-the mill restaurant. The folks who own and operate the restaurant really, really believe that their customers come first. On my first visit to the restaurant, the owners brought out free pecan pie to all of their guests. I quickly found out this wasn’t a one time thing. When the Up & Coming Weekly staff put an order in for breakfast, the restaurant staff was completely willing to go off the menu to cook whatever the staff wanted.
        Up & Coming Weekly’s administrative assistant, Suzy Patterson, craved a little something different, and the restaurant staff was only too happy to oblige. Suzy ordered a scrambled egg sandwich, with melted cheese, topped with a tomato. (I know, it sounds a bit odd to me, too.) But the folks at Langley’s didn’t blink. “It absolutely melted in my mouth,” said Patterson. “It was so good.”
        On that particular morning, Up & Coming’s graphic artist Shani Lewis was particularly hungry, she was also particularly busy, so her breakfast had to sit a while before she got a chance to eat it. “You know when you eat your breakfast, and it’s cooled down, and it’s still really good... that it’s really good,” she said.
        Lewis ordered a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. “It was delicious,” she said. “A lot of restaurants skimp on the bacon — but they didn’t skimp. My sandwich was covered with it.”
        Now, so you don’t get it in your head that the only thing you can eat at the restaurant is breakfast, I have to tell you about my experience. I met Up & Coming’s publisher, Bill Bowman, at the restaurant one day for lunch. He chose breakfast, while I chose to order off the lunch menu.
        I ordered a hamburger, and while I was debating on what kind of side, our waitress, Abbey, quickly informed me that the breakfast potatoes couldn’t be beat. I took her at her word, and ordered them as a side. Boy, was she right.
        The potatoes are cut fresh into chunks, and seasoned with a delightful mix of seasonings. One bite and I was sold. I am not alone. The entire Up & Coming staff is hooked on the breakfast potatoes.
        My hamburger was also a surprise. Instead of the expected frozen patty I had anticipated, I received a fresh, hand-patted burger. It was cooked to perfection, and was one of the juiciest burgers I’ve had in ages.
        I found out that Langley’s purchases all of its meat fresh from a local butcher — including the T-bones, which is one component of their breakfast special. In addition to the freshness of the food, there is also a plenitude of it. There is more food on your plate than you can shake a stick at, but don’t let it deter you from sticking your fork in it.
        The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., so make a run down the boulevard, you’ll be glad you went off the beaten path.

  • Details

       America Falls for Football in The Greatest Game Ever Played

        The Greatest Game Ever Played(Saturday, 9 p.m., ESPN) uses archival TV footage and radio broadcasts to re-create 1958’s National Football League championship game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts. Glancing at the title, you say, “No way.” But ESPN emphatically answers, “Way.” With its dramatic reversals, its unprecedented sudden-death overtime and its titanic players (Johnny Unitas, Rosy Grier, Alan Ameche), this was the game that made America fall in love with pro football.
        {mosimage}In interview segments, current players from the Colts and Giants chat with survivors of the ’58 game. They marvel over the differences between then and now: few red flags, goal posts right on the goal line, more mud than grass on the field, no instant replay, fans who stream out of the stands, and a dorky halftime show with cheerleaders dressed up as reindeer. But there’s nothing dorky about the game itself, which pitted the Colts’ irresistible offense against the Giants’ immovable defense. We see stunning throws, impossible catches and thrilling goal-line stands. ESPN even brings in a forensics expert to analyze a first-down decision that’s been contested for the past 50 years.
        Super Bowl ’09 has its work cut out for it if it hopes to match this exciting broadcast.

    It’s a Wonderful Life
    Saturday, 8 p.m. (NBC)
        Once again, NBC broadcasts the 1947 movie about a small-town Job who triumphs over hardship; once again, we all cry. As if the financial crisis weren’t enough, here’s yet another reason to hate evil bankers.

    The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
    Saturday, 9 p.m. (Hallmark Channel)
        A beautiful single mom wastes her time with a soulless businessman (you know he’s soulless because he’s always taking cell phone calls). She has a lovable uncle (you know he’s lovable because of his thick Brooklyn accent), who meets a free spirit in the airport (you know he’s a free spirit because of his vest and stubble). The free spirit follows the uncle home for the holidays, but he perceives that Christmas isn’t what it ought to be in this household (he knows because of the artificial Christmas tree). Can he set things right by…oh, I don’t know, winning the mom away from the bad boyfriend, even though she initially hates his guts?
        No, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year doesn’t miss a single cliché. Any other time of the year I’d flatten it like a pancake, but the holidays must have put me in a forgiving mood. Henry Winkler is a lively presence as the uncle, and Brooke Burns and Warren Christie are so gorgeous as the couple-to-be that two hours pass before you know it.
        I’m gonna let The Most Wonderful Time of the Year off the hook, Hallmark Channel. But don’t get too smug, because after Christmas it’ll be back to scathing reviews as usual.

    Cat Dancers
    Monday, 8 p.m. (HBO)
        Married dancers Ron and Joy Holiday started one of showbiz’s first exotic-tiger acts in the 1960s. They hired a circus guy named Chuck Lizza, who became the lover of both Ron and Joy. This documentary chronicles the unique relationship of the three entertainers with home video footage and TV interviews. Their careers were going great until a white Bengal tiger ate Chuck in 1998. Five weeks later, it ate Joy.
        Bummer of an ending, unless you look at it from the tiger’s perspective.

    DRAMA High: The making of a high school musical
    Monday, 9 p.m. (ABC)
    ABC milks the High School Musical phenomenon with this two-hour special about a real Virginia high school mounting a production of The Wiz. We’re privy to casting calls, rivalries, triumphs and disappointments — in other words, stuff that is of no interest to anyone but students from this particular school. Unless the star of the show is as charismatic as Zac Efron, it’s gonna be a long two hours.

  • Details

       Bolt (Rated PG) Rated: 4 Stars

        True confession time. Every time the trailer for Bolt(96 minutes) appeared, I giggled like a 6-year-old. It’s the cute lil’ hamster in his cute lil’ hamster ball that really makes the movie for me. My husband fell asleep in the middle of this one…while I was clapping my hands (literally) and repeating all the hamster’s lines. I cannot even explain why this movie captured my imagination so thoroughly. Perhaps that lil’ hamster represents the lil’ hamster hiding in my heart. Perhaps the story of a cute-beyond-all-reason orphan puppy dog appeals to the remnants of the childhood idealism I though I’d lost. Or maybe I’m just a big geek who salivates at the thought of anything in 3-D. {mosimage}
        Disney is not breaking new ground here, going with directors, writers and animators from its reliable stable. There is nothing wrong with dependability, but I am ready for the next great evolution in animated flicks…and this ain’t it.
        Penny (Miley Cyrus) and her cute little doggie Bolt (John Travolta) are the stars of the hot show Bolt, which involves a super-powered dog saving his person from mishap after mishap, similar to the CLASSIC Inspector Gadget(whose daughter, coincidentally enough, was also named Penny). Starring in the show opposite Penny and Bolt is Dr. Calico, AKA the green-eyed man (Malcolm McDowell, in a lamentably small role). Much like Truman of The Truman Show, Bolt is completely unaware that he is on television. He hasn’t been off the sound stage in years, and he believes that his sole purpose in life is to use his superpowers to protect his person. 
        One day, Bolt escapes from this trailer and ends up in New York. Once there, he meets a scraggly little kitty cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and captures her, believing her to be in cahoots with the green-eyed man. As was shown so hilariously in the trailers, Bolt tortures the sweet helpless little kitty for information, and it works out splendidly, just like in real life. Meanwhile, Penny is forced by her agent (Greg German) to continue filming with a duplicate Bolt. Her mother fails to fire or press charges against the borderline emotionally abusive agent, and the show goes on.   
        Bolt gradually realizes something is wrong with his superpowers, but he manages to delude himself for several states. On their cross-country journey the two hook up with RHINO THE AWESOME HAMSTER IN HIS AWESOME BALL (Mark Walton). After several hijinks, the three end up in Hollywood, just in time to save Penny from disaster.      
        This is good for a movie aimed at children, but you probably want to check your brain at the door. The film itself is endlessly derivative, calling to mind much better cartoon plotting and animation, but somehow failing to distinguish itself from other, similar movies. The 3-D is a nice gimmick, but it really does seem like a gimmick, rather than an artistic choice specific to this movie. It’s Disney. You get exactly what you expect, a kid-friendly, formulaic, road movie. Having said that, I certainly enjoyed the movie, since I didn’t attend the theater expecting to see anything revolutionary or envelope pushing.

  • Details
        On Saturday, Dec. 13, Taproot, a Michigan-based band that has toured with the likes of Korn, Disturbed and Linkin Park (not to mention writing briefly with Billy Corgan), will hit the stage at Jester’s Pub for a wild night of rock.
        {mosimage}Fans of Taproot will get a chance to see and hear the band’s performance of its latest release Our Long Road Home during the concert. And, if you know anything about Taproot, you’ll know that the title of the album says a lot.
        The Ann Arbor-based band formed in 1998, and got its first shot at a record deal after sending a demo to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Durst liked what he heard and tried to help the band get a contract with Interscope Records. As is often the case, the negotiations became mired, and the band looked elsewhere, finally landing on the Atlantic Records label. The switch-up caused a little friction in the rock community, with Durst laying the blame on the jump to Atlantic at the feet of System of a Down, who helped Taproot out with the Atlantic deal. That didn’t bode well for System, as Durst kicked them off the 1999 Family Values Tour. The controversy didn’t stop Taproot from doing what it does best — rocking its fans.
        In 2000, the band released Gift, which gained heavy exposure through MTV2. The band also landed a spot on the 2000 and 2001 Ozzfest tour. In 2002, the band released Welcome, which debuted at 17 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 51,000 copies in its first week. The second release off the album, “Poem” shot to number five on the mainstream rock charts.
        Returning from a two-year break from heavy touring, the band released its third major album Blue-Sky Research in 2005. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins frontman) assisted in songwriting on the album, which was produced by Toby Wright. In May 2006, Taproot parted ways with Atlantic Records following disappointing sales of Blue Sky Research.
        Long Road Home as been a couple of years in the making. The album was released independently through the independent label Velvet Hammer.
        So, if you’ve been jonesing for some new Taproot music – here’s your opportunity. Go over to Jester’s and get your hit of rock.

  • Details
        {mosimage}Is Beverly Perdue thinking big? Really big?
        That’s the indication you get after reading a Triangle Business Journal interview last week with the incoming governor. Citing the model of Max Gardner, who served from 1929 to 1933, Perdue suggested that the multi-billion-dollar budget deficit facing North Carolina should prompt policymakers to rethink the fundamentals of state government.
        With numerous local governments headed for bankruptcy in the early years of the Great Depression, Gardner famously fashioned a grand deal in which the state assumed primary control over education, transportation and the judicial system, while levying new statewide taxes to replace local levies. Now, Perdue told TBJ, “maybe it’s time to give (those programs) back. I don’t know the answers. But the box is so broken, the timing could not be more perfect for folks to do some things differently.”
        I doubt that the governor-elect truly meant to send a signal to state and local leaders that a radical devolution of North Carolina government will happen. It was probably meant as an example of the kind of sweeping changes that might be in the offing.
        On the Left, the operating assumption is that even after years of rapid growth state government is still too small, so the deficit is the result of North Carolinians keeping too much of their own money. That’s not how the lefties put it, but that’s what they believe. They have suggested that the incoming administration increase sales taxes (albeit through base-broadening rather than a higher rate), increase the business-tax burden, hike taxes on alcohol and tobacco and eliminate the requirement that counties submit new sales taxes to a vote of the people, since the people keep inconveniently saying no.
        On the Right, the operating assumption is that state government is at least a couple of billion dollars too big, that North Carolina taxpayers don’t get nearly enough benefits to justify the extra cost compared to nearby states with less-expensive governments. They recommend significant changes in Medicaid, university subsidies, non-teacher expenses in public schools and the crazy quilt of state agencies and departments.
        Although I suspect that the impulse of the incoming administration and legislative leaders is to side with the Left in this dispute, there’s at least some compelling evidence that they haven’t quite decided what to do. A few days ago, in response to a question about whether the general assembly would enact tax hikes to close next year’s budget deficit, House Speaker Joe Hackney was less than enthusiastic. Another key legislator, Rep. Mickey Michaux, was even clearer in stating that the budget could be balanced without tax increases. As for Perdue, she told TBJ that she was “against a new tax to fix a hole.” She did leave open the possibility of some kind of grand deal on reforming the entire revenue structure, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the resulting plan would significantly increase net revenue in the short run — because major tax reforms are easiest to pass when they are at least revenue neutral.
        A key reason the aforementioned impulse to increase taxes may not actually translate into higher taxes is, to put it bluntly, electoral politics. State officials are already looking ahead to the 2010 cycle, when control of the General Assembly will again be up for grabs, as will the power to redraw legislative and congressional districts after the 2010 census. Democrats are loath to give Republicans a powerful election issue by seeming to mismanage the budget crisis or increasing the tax burden on households and businesses already coping with economic recession.
    Perdue’s not up for reelection until 2012. But she doesn’t want to play a state version of Bill Clinton to a 1994-like Republican resurgence in two years. So, she’s downplaying talk of major new initiatives and emphasizing talk of budget savings and reform.
        “Are state employees, teachers, parents and elected officials going to yell and scream at me? Yes,” she said. “But I have been yelled and screamed at before. It doesn’t bother me, and I am going to do what’s right.”
    Interesting.

  • Details
        Excitement and anticipation reigned everywhere as a young African American campaigning on a promise of change won a groundbreaking election victory.
        The winner, having promised change, confronted the awesome responsibility of delivering it. Some of his African-American supporters expected him to quickly redress hundreds of years of the consequences of their second-class citizenship. Meanwhile, whites watched every step for evidence of preferential attention to African Americans.
        The spotlight that shone upon him would be uncomfortably hot — so hot that it demanded from him an extraordinary coolness.
        It sounds like the story of Barack Obama’s recent election, doesn’t it?
        No. It is 1969, when Howard Lee won the mayor’s election in Chapel Hill, becoming the first African American to win the top job in a majority white Southern town or city. It was more amazing, perhaps, than the recent presidential election. Lee’s victory came in at a time when the civil rights struggles were ongoing, and the legacy of centuries of discrimination was very fresh.
        {mosimage}Lee’s new memoir, The Courage to Lead: One Man’s Journey in Public Service (Cotton Patch Press, distributed by John F. Blair), begins with his memories of the night of May 6, 1969, when his victory propelled him into the national and international news, and as he says, “My name was written in history.” His moving recollections of that night, the campaign that proceeded it and the first days of his service as mayor give compelling insights into our country’s history as well as a portrait of Lee at that moment in time.
        Even better than his memories of the election are Lee’s recollections about how he got to that victorious on that evening.
        In Lee’s story of growing up on a sharecropper’s farm and in a small Georgia town, readers can share his growing up pains and joys in the days of strict segregation and subservience.
        His account of losing his beloved horse to the landlord when his grandfather gave up his tenant farm will bring tears to anyone who has ever loved — and lost — an animal. So will his story of losing his best friend, a white boy named Lukee. Lukee’s father told him to break off the friendship because the neighbors did not like Lee “hanging around their house” and that self-respecting whites did not associate with “niggers.”
        Lee excelled in his hometown’s segregated schools, but they did not prepare him for his struggle with college. His determination and resourcefulness overcame his lack of preparation and inadequate financial resources. That success gave him a bedrock of self-confidence on which he built the rest of his life
    His army experience may have taught him his most important lessons. As a low level private, he was chosen to lead the soldiers in his barracks, the majority of whom were white. He found two things:  He was smarter than most of them and he could lead them.
        These lessons gave him the confidence to stand up to his superiors in the army. He wrote President Ike Eisenhower to protest the army’s “under use” of his talents. He refused to back down when his commanders sought to pressure him to give up his efforts to get served at a segregated café near his base.
        Foolhardy as these efforts may have seemed, Lee developed the determination to resist authority when its actions unfairly discriminated against him or others on account of race.
        There is much more to Lee’s story, including how he became an important “insider” in North Carolina political life, serving today as chair of the state’s Board of Education, a member of the Utility Commission, and a part of Governor-elect Bev Perdue’s transition team.
        Everyone who wants to learn about North Carolina political history should study this book. They will get a bonus — a very good read.

  • Details

        You’d have to be a combination of Scrooge, the Grinch and the Abominable Snow Monster of the North to find fault with the Gilbert Theater’s production of A Christmas Carol.
        Produced by first-time director Elysa Lenczyk and starring a cast of local actors — including a group of children who pop up here and there like a Yule version of the Greek chorus, peppering the play with adorable renditions of traditional Christmas carols — A Christmas Carolis a pitch-perfect, faithful retelling of the Dickens’ classic. It’s all here: old Ebenezer in all his crotchety glory, played by Fenton Wilkinson; the ghost of Marley as interpreted by Evan Bridenstine; Bob Cratchit, portrayed by Charles Lee; and, God bless us every one, Tiny Tim, more than ably played by the cute as a dickens Matthew Kafel.
        {mosimage}There are many other excellent players making up the large cast, each turning in a bravura performance, and it is all kept on balance by the soothing narration from veteran actress Joyce Lipe, who serves as the play’s moral barometer.
        With the exception of perhaps a few billion Chinese, Muslims and secluded Borneo headhunters, everyone knows the storyline of the stingy, insufferable Scrooge and his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas’ Past, Present and Future, so I’ll not spend a lot of time outlining the plot. Suffice to say, Wilkinson is the real thing as the old miser in dire need of an injection of Christmas spirit. He is led through a series of striking and authentic looking set changes as the well-worn story unfolds. It’s no wonder the sets are so wonderful, as director Lenczyk is in her third season as the theater’s resident stage manager; not only did she direct and help supervise the props, she served as stage manager, was part of the stage crew and designed the lighting. She wore as many different caps in the play as the male characters doffed Victorian-era top hats — which reminds me, I need to give props not only to the excellent props, but also to the wonderful Victorian costumes, ably maintained and created by seamstress Ivette Feliciano.
        However, all the props and costumes and seamless set changes would mean nothing if there was not the proper dose of humanity in this retelling of the old Dickens’ Christmas chestnut — and there’s as much humanity here as one would expect to find coal in old man Scrooge’s stocking. As mentioned, Wilkinson is a true standout as Scrooge, while Bridenstine’s Marley is as fine a portrayal as you’ll find on any stage.
        Lee’s Cratchit is perfectly subservient, yet loyal to his overbearing and ill-humored boss, while Jonathon DeArujo displays great acting chops in a dual role as Scrooge’s nephew and Spirit No. 3.
        As mentioned beforehand, all of the characters are wonderful, especially the child carolers. And I heard more than one sniffle in the crowd during the scene from Christmas Future when Tiny Tim’s crutch sat alone next to his grieving family, the child having departed to a better place.
        And you won’t find a better time or better way to get into the Christmas spirit this year than checking out A Christmas Carolat Gilbert Theater. The play runs through Dec. 14, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. For information or reservations, call the Gilbert Theater at 678-7186, or online at www.gilberttheater.com. 

  • Details
        Live Oak United Methodist Church in White Oak will truly come “alive” Dec. 12-13 when the church presents a live nativity scene entitled “A Journey to Bethlehem.”{mosimage}
        Sixty to 65 actors will portray characters from the birth of Christ — a portrayal that attracted more than 1,000 visitors last year.                                                                                                                                                                “This is the fourth year we’ve done this and it has really grown,” said Karen Valenzuela, a member of Live Oak United Methodist Church, and the brain trust behind the event, which is not held at the church, but on the grounds of her family farm.
        “It came from a dream,” said Valenzuela. “We have about 50-60 acres on our family farm and we thought it would be a great place to have a live nativity. So from that we took it to our church and our church said ‘yes, let’s try it.’”
        The story of the nativity is spread across nine stations, with groups of actors portraying such scenes as the angel Gabriel telling Mary she will have a child, as well as the scene in which Joseph and Mary are turned away from the inn.
        Church members portray the characters, and church members also sewed the costumes and built the nine stations that make up the presentation.
        “It gives you a place to go where you can reflect on the true meaning of the season,” said Valenzuela. “We spend so much time in the hustle and bustle that we forget the reason for Christmas.”
    The event is free, though donations are accepted to help put on the event the next year. It is a walking tour and Valenzuela reminds folks to bring a coat.
        “Our actors do get cold just standing there,” said Valenzuela, “but they are all real troopers.”
        A golf cart will be provided for those unable to walk, and there will be hot cider and coffee and homemade cookies available following the tour. You are allowed to take pictures.
        In order to get to the living nativity, which starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 8:30 p.m., follow Hwy. 53 South across the Bladen County line and take your first left onto Dennis Harold Simmons Road. There will be luminaries lining the road, which you will follow about 3/4 of a mile to the site. A census taker will greet arrivals and pass out programs.
        “It’’s very easy to get into and out of,” said Valenzuela. “And everyone is welcome to come and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.”

    Singing Christmas Tree at Green Springs Baptist Church

        For several years, the Singing Christmas Tree at Green Springs Baptist Church has been a great way to celebrate the Christmas season. The tree, which spans from the floor of the church sanctuary to the top of the ceiling and has thousands of twinkling lights, comes to life as the choir of Green Springs and other community members climb it.
        This year, the choir will present a compilation of Christmas songs around the theme Joy!Joy!Joy! Under the direction of Charles and Laura Stevens, the program will be presented on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. There will be a reception with finger foods following the Friday night presentation.
        The event is free and open to the public. It is requested that attendees bring one canned item as a donation to the Gray’s Creek Christian Center.
        Green Springs Baptist Church is located at 1095 Green Springs Road, off U.S. 301. From Fayetteville, take All American to Owen Drive, turn right on U.S. 301, take the Parkton exit and make a right turn on Green Springs Road. The church is on the right.

    The Nutcracker Put on by Fayetteville Dance Theatre

        More than 90 children from age 7 on up to college students will put on the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. at the Garner Historic Auditorium in Garner.
        {mosimage}The musical is performed by the Dance Theatre of Fayetteville — a nonprofit group dedicated to bringing entertainment to the masses. Participants audition for a part in The Nutcracker, which follows the traditional storyline — a fairy tale-ballet in two acts, three scenes, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
        Tickets for the performance are $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12, and free for children under 4.

    A Jazzy Christmas at Highland Presbyterian

        It’s time to get all jazzed up about Christmas.
        In order to help you get into the holiday spirit, Highland Presbyterian Church is presenting a “Jazzy Christmas” featuring members of the church’s choir, as well as the North Carolina Brass Ensemble on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m.
        In addition to the choir and brass section, there will be hand bell performances and 60-65 percussionists.     There will be traditional songs given a spiritual, African-American tinged spirit — songs such as “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” as well as traditional Christmas tunes. The event is open to the public and free of charge, though visitors are asked to bring a can of food and/or make a monetary donation to go toward the church’s food pantry.

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        {mosimage}The great, puncuation challenged poet ee cummings once wrote, “For every mile the feet go, the heart goes nine.”
        For Roberta Humphries, who is sponsoring the third annual Ryan’s Reindeer 5K Run — a race that she started in memory of her 18-year-old son, Ryan, who died of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma — her heart has crossed the finish line a thousand times.
        “Ryan was very athletic,” said Roberta, “so I thought that this race would be a good way to remember him.”
        But let Ryan tell you in his own words. Three days before Ryan passed away at Duke University Hospital, he wrote these words from his hospital bed: “The cold sores are coming, I get feverish every couple of hours, and other than that my body is in sort of this slow down where I don’t feel like doing much of anything active. So do a favor for me, and whatever you’re doing today, just go out and RUN, somewhere, anywhere, just RUN because you can. Those are the things I miss, the things I have been raped of.  So protect them and nurture them while you are able. Don’t wait until you are 80 and the grains of sand are almost gone to begin to live. Make sure you use life as a means to live, not just as a means of postponing death. Don’t be afraid to live because sooner or later, the one chance you have is gone.”
        The race, which will be held Dec. 20 at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Fayetteville, honors Ryan by lining up legions of runners — more than 350 competed last year — and raising money to fight the disease that left him unable to run: Last year, more than $14,000 was raised to help fund the Ryan P. Kishbaugh Memorial Foundation, Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit, and Friends of the Cancer Center at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
        “I can’t say the race has given me closure,” said Humphries, “but it does give me some satisfaction knowing that this is something that Ryan would have definitely wanted.”
        The run will start and finish at the Medical Arts Building Parking Lot Entrance on Hay Street; the Medical Arts Building is located at 101 Robeson St. Prizes will be awarded to the top overall male and female finisher and the top three male and female finishers in the following age divisions: 13-19, 20-29, 30-39,40-49, 50-59 and 60-plus. Prizes will also be presented to the top three family finishers and the best costumed runners. A trophy will be presented to the group with the most number of participants. All under 13 participants receive a finisher’s award. Prizes will be awarded to the top three pet finishers and their owners. Packet pick-up and registration will be 5-8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19 at the Clarion-Prince Charles Hotel, Azalea Room No. 1.
        “The run continues to grow every year,” said Humphries, who started the race with the aid of her husband, Paul Humphries. “The runners come from across the state and all of them have told me that it’s a great race.”
        Registration fee is $25 for individuals, which includes a T-shirt and reindeer ears, and $75 per family, which includes four T-shirts and four reindeer ears. Registration will be available on the day of race beginning at 7:30 a.m. On-line registration is available at www.active.com or www.runbecauseyoucan.com.
        Ryan’s book, Run Because You Can, My Personal Race with Cancer, has been published and is available for order at the Web sit www.runbecauseyoucan.com.
        “I know this is exactly what Ryan would have wanted,” said Humphries. “It’s a great cause in memory of a great kid.”

  • Details
        The newest exhibit at the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County directs us away from the pervasive genre of painting and drawing. Instead, the works in the exhibit titled Woven in the Fray communicate the power of needle and thread, fabrics, yarn and lure of the tactile.
        The exhibit is a welcome relief from gallery walls usually lined with paintings and framed drawings. Instead, the Arts Council is hosting an exhibit that celebrates the continued endurance of fiber arts, a revival that began in the 1970s. It is apparent that fiber arts are well and thriving in Fayetteville.
        {mosimage}Quilts, fabric wall hangings, batik paintings on silk, and hand-dyed fabrics fill the gallery walls. The fiber arts in this exhibit give evidence to the range of talent and styles for contemporary fiber artists. Calvin Mims, the curator for the exhibit, said it best: “The exhibit is designed to take the viewer on a journey through the broad range of rich textile arts that are available in North Carolina.”
        So many of us have special associations with a handmade quilt. Perhaps it was something made for you by a special relative, friend or caretaker, something you may have created yourself or a magnificent quilt you have admired in a folk art museum or hanging on someone’s wall.
        I have been fortunate to have experienced all of the above, plus I view the exhibition from another dimension. When I see quilts being honored in a gallery I often think of the artist Miriam Schapiro. A feminist artist in the early ‘70s, Schapiro embraced the use of textiles in her work as a symbolic reference to the history of feminine labor. Since most women were historically excluded from “high art” and relegated to domestic chores, Schapiro celebrated this tradition by making works of art in a quilting format.
        Credited with establishing the movement called Pattern and Decoration (or P & D), Schapiro began an art movement that challenged the traditional Western European “high” art hierarchy of painting and sculpture. The consequence of raising quilting to high art can be seen in the art council’s exhibit. The traditional hand-sewn work (such as embroidery, quilting, cross-stitching, etc.) still crosses over into works of fine art, highly valued for their craftsmanship, design, details and beauty. Fabric has become the medium of choice for many fine artists.
        The wall hanging by Hollis Chatelain titled The Change will certainly make anyone pause, the pause quickly turns into a lengthy study in design and craftsmanship. The wall hanging is nothing short of remarkable! Chatelian changes the color of her thread and subtle changes in material like a master painter. From across the gallery floor, the wall hanging looks like a painting!
        Visitors to the gallery will readily see Chatelain’s talent. A background in design and photography has been converted to textiles. She began as a textile artist living in parts of Africa; after living abroad, she now calls Hillsborough home. Her work can be found in public and private collections in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and North America
        Tricia McKellar is exhibiting several wall hangings which focus on the subtle power of hand-dyed fabric. Stitching takes a backseat to her painterly composition of color and movement in her-dyed fabrics — subtle and atmospheric. 
        For the more traditional quilter, Tulip Dance by Annette Ornelas is one of four quilts being exhibited by the fiber artist. Very large in scale, Ornelas uses the value of black for the background to set off her brightly colored patterns. Traditional quilt patterns beam, patterns of colored lights against a night sky.
    Anne Francis is exhibiting two very different styles of quilted wall hangings. In Dancing Deer, her highly detailed Art Deco deer is repeated amid subtle natural shades of greens, tans and browns. This work is in sharp contrast to her crisp lines and stark shape-colors in Victorian Window, a wall hanging made to look like a stained glass window. 
        Ann Flaherty, a local fiber artist who spearheads the Fabled Fibers quilt group, is also exhibiting. Although she does traditional quilting, in this exhibit she is exhibiting works which are more abstract and combines textiles with mixed media.
        Flaherty was an important contact for Mims. He commented, “When I was looking for artists to be included in the exhibit, I was given Flaherty’s name as someone to contact. I made one call to her and she ran with the idea of making this exhibit happen. She knows so many quilters and has so many contacts; she simply called artists and they sent the work directly to me at the council to select for the exhibit. I attribute much of the success of this show to Ann’s efforts.”
        A familiar local artist, Edwina Clark, is exhibiting seven of her batiks. Known for her distinctive style, Clark exploits the ancient medium of batiks to focus on women and children as a subject. Clark’s works are always well received and will be enjoyed by anyone visiting the gallery.
        Of the 17 artists in the exhibit, Maria Marois is the only artist who mixes printmaking with fibers. A printmaking student at Fayetteville State University, Marois is exhibiting stuffed dolls and prints sewn with yarn. Her dolls are made from fabric she prints by hand from her original relief prints (large linoleum plates were gouged and inked).
        Two of Marois’ images are framed monoprints, both made with layers of ink on heavily weighted intaglio paper. Each print is then hand sewn with various yarns to create texture and movement. In the work titled The Three Graces, three women appear and disappear on the abstracted surface of the paper, orange and green sewn yarn is sewn around each figure to separate them from the background. Marois’ images are unique and haunting.{mosimage}
        The Woven in the Fray textile exhibit, at the Arts Council should be a stop for the holiday season. Visitors to Fayetteville will enjoy seeing a quality exhibit that merges technique with style and mastery with creativity.     The exhibit stays open through Jan. 17, 2009. As always, the art council exhibits are free to the public, but please call for holiday hours at 323-1776.

  • Details
        The annual Christmas presentation by the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is a much anticipated event in our community. On Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., the symphony will present its “Holiday Celebration” concert at Berean Baptist Church. The production will be conducted by music director Fouad Fakhouri.   
        The spotlight of the concert will be three soloists.  Denise Payton, soprano soloist, will perform Adam’s “O Holy Night,” MacGimsey’s “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” Wagner’s “Du bist der Lenz” and Yon’s “Gesu Bambino.” 
        {mosimage}Payton is a native of Spring Lake, and attended North Carolina A & T State University and Fayetteville State University and is pursuing her doctorate in music education at Boston University. She is the director of the university choir and teaches applied voice at Fayetteville State University. Payton’s accolades include founder of the Heritage Restoration Chorale, performing with the Fayetteville State University Concert Choir on its first European tour and being featured on the CD What A Mighty God We Serve recorded in Belgium.     
        Dominic Mercurio, piano soloist, is the 2007-2008 Harlan Duenow Young Artists Competition Winner.  Mercurio is a junior at Southview High School and has been studying the piano since the tender age of four. 
        He will perform Mendelssohn’s “Capricciio Brilliant” at the concert. Mercurio has won many competitions such as the Raleigh Music Piano Teachers Scholarship Competition and the National Guild of Piano Teachers auditions in which he consistently received superior ratings.      
        Flutist Lindsay Leach hails from Pittsburgh, Penn., and will perform Ibert’s “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra.” She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory as well as a Post-Graduate Performance Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in London. 
        Leach is the recipient of the Cumberland County Arts Council Regional Artist Grant and has produced her premiere CD One of a Kind.   
        Tickets are $25 adults; $20 for seniors 65 and older; $20 for members of the military; and $8  for students. Berean Baptist Church is located at 517 Glensford Drive. 
    For more information call 433-4690.

  • Details
        At the Fayetteville City Council work session on Monday, Dec. 1, the council tackled aspects of important upcoming construction projects: the site selection for the transit multi-modal facility and the granting of contracts for the next phase in the construction of the N.C. Veterans Park. It was the latter debate that turned into a tempest in a teapot.
        The issue brought before the board was the selection of architectural and engineering firms for the park. The selection process was overseen by city staff, who received bids from 14 different companies. That number was short-listed, and five of the companies went through an extensive interview process with the selection team.  By a unanimous vote, the team recommended the selection of the Urban Resource Group, a division of Kimley-Horne & Associates, Inc., a Raleigh-based firm. The team brought together by URG includes: Carol R. Johnson Associates, Clearscape, Penn., and the engineering firms of McKim & Creed, Fleming & Associates and S&ME, all Fayetteville-based firms. In addition to this team, the team of Vandewalle and Associates, the firm that created the master plan for the park, is to be awarded a contract not to exceed $2 million for all architectural and engineering services for the $15 million project.
        At contention was the inclusion of Vandewalle and Associates in the project. The request made by the city staff was to include Vandewalle in the ongoing phases of construction at a fee not to exceed 20 percent of the proposed $2 million fee.
        Councilman Wesley Meredith was the first to question the inclusion of Vandewalle in the ongoing project. “I want to be clear — Vandewalle will be supervising the entire project?”
        Craig Hampton, the city’s special projects director explained that Vandewalle would be working on master planning documents, overseeing designs, working with the content team and the creation of displays. In short, they would be working as part of the project management team. Hampton said the majority of their work would be concluded during the first year; however, they would still be involved in Phase II of the construction.
        He explained that the majority of the work would be done by the Urban Resource Team, with Vandewalle approving designs and concepts to ensure that they are consistent with the masterplan and theme of the park.
        Councilman D.J. Hare questioned why each segment of the A&E team could not approve its own work and keep it within the guidelines of the master plan. He further pointed out that the company is not in North Carolina and that there should be companies in the state who were capable to do the work Hampton said the key to success was in the programming and schematic and design development of the project. He explained that each of the entities in the Urban Resource Group would be working on different parts of the plan, and it would be up to Vandewalle to ensure that each component complemented the other pieces and stayed true to the master plan for the park.
        It was questioned whether the city had to stick with Vandewalle as the creators of the master plan or whether it could have looked for someone to do it at a reduced rate.
        Hampton explained, on several occasions, to the council that state statutes spell out that architects and engineers are attained through qualification, not through price. He said that Vandewalle had been chosen by the council at the outset of the project and that in order for the park construction to be consistent and true to its approved concepts, themes and ideals, it was the opinion of the staff that Vandewalle should be involved throughout the project.
        Councilwoman Val Applewhite questioned whether it was the industry practice to select a firm because they were involved in the initial development or should it have been bid out again.
        Hampton explained that it was the normal practice to use the originator of the concept to ensure concept and themes were carried through the entire project and were reflected in all of the work. He explained that as the planners of the park, Vandewalle & Associates met with 200 veterans and interviewed them to find out what was important to them, and then incorporated all of the information into the masterplan and then into a concept, which URG will design with the guidance of Vandewalle to ensure that it meets the concepts and themes.
        Councilman Ted Mohn questioned whether Vandewalle’s rates were consistent with industry standards. Hampton said the firm charges $120 per hour for their principal planner; which is much lower than the $200 per hour that is charged by Gantt and Associates, the firm which is in charge of the multi-modal project. “It’s a very favorable amount,” said Hampton.
        Meredith questioned whether Vandewalle was the only company considered at the outset of the project. Hampton said a second firm, Public Places, based out of New York, was also considered; however it was much more expensive.
        Mayor Tony Chavonne said he didn’t believe the council had a real problem with Vandewalle, but rather it was a problem with “transparency,” in that the project was not sent back out to bid and that the council did not know Vandewalle would have an ongoing role in the project.
        When asked about whether or not the project should have been sent back out to bid, City Manager Dale Iman said it was the industry standard to have the master planner involved in all phases of construction.
    Councilman Mohn also noted that this was not the first the council had heard of the groups inclusion. He noted that the board was apprised of it in August.

  • Details
        Walk into Cape Fear Studios on any given day and you will be greeted by an impressive display in the main gallery; sometimes it is a pottery show, sometimes a juried-art competition, other times there will be exhibits by guest artists. This month though, the focus is on the work of Cape Fear Studios’ members.
        “It is to highlight our artists and to highlight our members’ work,” said Chris Kastner, Cape Fear Studios administrator. 
        The show hangs until Jan. 21, 2009, but quite frankly the exhibit is geared towards providing shoppers with the opportunity to buy original works of art to give as gifts this holiday season. {mosimage}
    “I just think it is a really nice place to find truly unique gifts that you are not going to find other places,” said Kastner.
        There are more than 40 member artists at the studio, each lending a unique perspective to the upcoming show.  
        “There are a lot of personalities,” said Kastner. “We have artists from all over the world.”
    With such a fun and eclectic mix of people, the work they turn out covers a huge range of artistic tastes. Whether you are looking for a still life to hang in the dining room, or a hand-turned coffee mug, some earrings, a stained glass lamp, a decorative wine stopper with hand-torched lampwork beads or something in between, chances are you will find it at Cape Fear Studios this month.
        “We’ve got, not just paintings, but we’ve got a large selection of pottery this year,” said Kastner. There are some pottery angels for the holidays and some new colors in the pottery as well, a lovely celadon green being one of them.
        “We’ve got four jewelers in a variety of price ranges, but all original jewelry.”
        Prices on items in the gallery range from $8 for a pottery bowl to hundreds of dollars for some of the paintings, although Kastner pointed out that there is quite a bit available for $30 or less.
        Keep an eye out next month for the faculty show. Cape Fear Studios has invited faculty members from Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Methodist University, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Meredith University in Raleigh to exhibit their works in the main gallery from the end of January and into February.
        “We’ve been talking a lot about trying to set up more cooperative stuff between the educational facilities and Cape Fear Studios,” said Kastner. “I just think there is a tremendous opportunity there for both organizations.”
        In the meantime, on your quest for that perfect gift this holiday season, consider stopping by the studio at 148 Maxwell St. to check out the sugar plum fairies dancing in the windows and hopefully find the perfect gift for that special someone in your life. Cape Fear Studios is open Mon. - Fri., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., or give them a call at 433-2986 for more info.

  • Details
    {mosimage}There are two places in Fayetteville where “walk-ins” are welcome: barber shops and the performance of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers The Messiah! Sing Christmas performance scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20, 4 p.m., at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
        Anyone who wishes to participate in the recently reinstituted version of Handel’s Messiah, as performed by the Cumberland Oratorio Singers, just needs to show up with his sheet music and join right in... though there is a scheduled dress rehearsal to keep you on key — singers are free to “walk on” for the Messiah portion of the program at either the dress rehearsal on Dec. 20, 10 a.m. to noon, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, or at the performance itself. It is assumed that anyone who is interested in performing the Messiah has done it before, therefore, rehearsal is not required.
        The group has not presented the Christmas portion of Messiahfor the past few years and this year marks the reinstitution of the “walk on” performance in the Fayetteville community. COS’s new director, Michael Martin, received so much positive feedback that he felt compelled to return the Christmas tradition.     COS will offer a selection of holiday songs in the first half of the program: “Carol Of The Bells” — Leontovich; “Christmas Folk Song — Reese/James; “Bashana Haba’ah” — Manor/Hirsch arr. Leavitt; “Mary Had a Baby” — Dawson; “Sleigh Ride” — Parish/Anderson.
        Martin, a native of Maine, is an assistant professor of music and the director of choral activities and music education at Methodist University; he brings a wealth of experience in various fields of the performing arts to the COS. Martin replaced conductor and founder Alan Porter, who led the COS for its entire 17-year existence.
        “I’ve been a choral director of several community groups — different kinds,” Martin said. “I conducted a rather large choral group of 120 and I built that up from 35 while in New England. I also directed a semiprofessional group set up by audition.
        “And, I conducted men’s barbershop chorus, sang for 18 years in professional barbershop quartets,” said Martin, “and had the chance to travel all over the U.S. and Europe singing with them.”
    Martin sees the performance of Messiah as a way to reach out to and involve the community in the COS.
        “This (the Messiah) is an open gathering and everyone is welcome,” said Martin. “It’s almost like a church service when everybody in the audience starts singing.
        “So far, I think my experience with the Cumberland Oratorio Singers has gone exceedingly well,” said Martin. “People are working hard and doing a great job of recruiting singers in this transition year.”
        There will be a live orchestra backing up the COS singers, as well as the audience during the performance of Messiah.
        Maureen Yearby, who does marketing duties for the COS, first performed Messiah with the COS at the prompting of her husband.
        “He read the ad in the newspaper and talked me into doing it (the Messiah),” said Yearby. “It was such a wonderful experience that I went back and did it the next year and I’ve been involved with the COS ever since.”

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