As part of its ongoing Black Culture Experience, The Arts Council of Fayetteville and its subsidiary, We Are The Arts, will host this year’s BlackLIT Book Fair on March 18 at the Volta Space in downtown Fayetteville.
Now in its second year, the BlackLIT Book Fair “continues to be an intentional effort to motivate, highlight, reaffirm, and empower cultures and the younger generation by making literacy relatable and relevant in communities of color.”

Working to close the significant reading gap present within the black community, the BlackLIT Book Fair works to showcase and uplift the lived experiences of African Americans as expressed through fiction, self-help, romance, empowerment, poetry, children’s books, and a variety of other genres.

Data pulled from the National Assessment of Educational Progress suggests an initiative like this couldn’t be more timely. In 2019, the Nation’s Report Card showed that only around 15% of Black 8th graders were at or above a proficient reading level.

The numbers don’t look much better after high school, as around 23% of Black adults are considered to be low literacy according to a 2019 report from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Boosting literary engagement is of crucial importance within the Black community and critical to its long-term success.

Literacy improves mental health, builds life-long learning and critical thinking skills, creates jobs, and is a powerful tool against poverty. The BlackLit Book Fair will host a number of activities, reading, panels and presentations for readers and writers of all ages throughout the day.

The Children’s Read-Aloud “inspires children and their parents to learn, grow and explore the world through the pages of a book,” shared Christy McNeil, Director of Marketing for the Arts Council of Fayetteville.
Six African American storytellers are slated to appear during this time and offer dynamic readings designed to grow the imaginations of their audience while fostering a love of reading and an expanded view of the world.

As an added incentive, all children in attendance will receive a BlackLit Voucher which can be redeemed for one free children’s book of their choosing at participating vendors as long as supplies last.
For poetry enthusiasts, The Literary Cafe: Poetry By The Hour will create an opportunity for authors and aficionados to engage in conversation over refreshments as “poetic expressionists read excerpts from their books.”

And for those writers of color, both emerging and established, the BlackLIT Book Fair will offer a Professional Writers Panel to offer advice and guidance around the ins and outs of the publishing world. Topics include “distribution, access to funding and small business loans, and other aspects of artist development,” according to the event’s website.

The BlackLIt Book Fair is an opportunity to support Black authors, discover new perspectives, and bolster the audacious notion that stories of color are stories worth reading and the world is better served by sharing them.

The BlackLit Book Fair is free to attend and open to the public. The Volta Space is located behind 116 Person St. in downtown Fayetteville.

For more information about the BlackLit Book Fair, visit https://www.wearethearts.com/blackculture.

“Rhythm is our universal mother tongue. It’s the language of the soul”
– Gabrielle Roth

Music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up listening to music, singing in choirs and dancing to all kinds of beats. One of my favorite artists was Michael Jackson, who captivated me with his unique voice, smooth dance moves and the ability to tell stories through music and movement.

I have been following the rhythm, not only in music, but also in life, for as long as I can remember. That’s why I’m excited about the theme “Rhythm of a Story” for the Cumberland County Public Library’s 14th Annual Storytelling Festival.

Throughout March, library programs will promote storytelling through various lenses while celebrating diverse cultures. All events are free and will highlight rhythmic talents and stories from various cultures, encouraging children to explore, embrace and express their own stories through rhythm. Join us and enjoy story times, guest performances and arts & crafts during the month of March.

The festival kicks off at Festival Park on March 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be games, music and performances from local artists and organizations.
The featured presenter will be Carolina Storyteller, a bilingual performer born and raised in Cali, Colombia. Her stories explore the myths, legends, folktales, historical narratives and literature of Latin America and Hispanic cultures.

Carolina Storyteller will also perform March 3 at West Regional Library located at 7469 Century Circle in Fayetteville. Other performers for the festival include Lee Bryan, “That Puppet Guy” and Greg Whitt.

Bryan specializes in puppet performances and will be at North Regional Library, lcoated at 855 Mc Arthur Road, on March 6, and the Hope Mills Community Branch, 3411 Golfview Road in Hope Mills, on March 7.
Whitt promotes life in rhythm and harmony through an interactive experience called Drum for Change. He will perform at East Regional Library, located at 4809 Clinton Road, on March 23 and Cliffdale Regional Library, located at 6882 Cliffdale Road, on March 30.

The Storytelling Festival is supported by a mini grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, in part by contributions from community partners, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

For more information on these programs and more, call 910-483-7727, visit any of our eight locations or check out our website at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/library.

Cape Fear Studios is holding their annual military themed Alpha Romeo Tango show through March 21 at the Cape Fear Studios exhibit space in downtown Fayetteville.

“The artwork itself does not have to be military themed,” said Steve Opet, Cape Fear Studios board president.

“The artists themselves are military affiliated. The show is open to active duty, retired, veterans, all six branches of the military. It is also open to dependents and people 18 and over who are children of military affiliated people. We’ve accepted art from people who they themselves aren’t military but their fathers were WWII veterans.”

Alpha Romeo Tango is a show inspired by the nearby Fort Bragg and military community.

“Alpha Romeo Tango” spell “art” in the military phonetic alphabet. When artists submit their pieces for the A.R.T. show, Opet asks they attach a short bio telling how the artist is affiliated with the military.

“Right before COVID hit, the presenter for the awards was Col. Murray Mallett-Stein. When she was the presenter, she came down, put on her dress blues and gave a speech about importance of art in our community and the importance of art in the military community,” said Opet. “Last year was our first year since Covid having an in-person show. State Rep. John Szoka was the presenter in 2022.”

A.R.T. was held online for two years during the COVID pandemic, and during that time, Opet was the presenter for those who attended the online shows. Opet himself is also retired military.

“There are some really, really nice pieces (that get entered),” Opet said.

The work on display ranges from beginner to accomplished artists, all with one goal in mind: bringing together art and the military community.

A.R.T. is on display at the Cape Fear Studios on Maxwell Street until March 21. Cape Fear Studios is a nonprofit organization run entirely by the artists themselves.
For more information about Cape Fear Studios and A.R.T., visit https://www.capefearstudios.com/

The smell of fresh popcorn permeates the air as individuals line up for the snack, ready to purchase wine, beer, soda or candy as they prepare themselves to enjoy the Kaiju-Quest Film Series on Wednesdays at The Carolina Theatre of Durham.

Jim Carl, Senior Director of Film Programming at The Carolina Theatre of Durham, has curated a film series for kaiju film fans called, Kaiju-Quest.

What in the world is ‘Kaiju?’

The Japanese word ‘kaiju’ means “strange creature” or “giant monster.” There is a plethora of kaiju films.
Carl said American audiences think of Godzilla when they hear kaiju. He explained that there are many movies not necessarily from Japan that have “giant monsters” or “strange creatures” that can embody the word, kaiju.

“Kaiju can be a monster underwater or in space,” he said.

He said to think of the monsters in “Pacific Rim,” “The Host” or the queen alien in “Aliens.” The giant shark in “Jaws” can also be considered a kaiju.

“It doesn’t have to necessarily be a towering monster tearing down skyscrapers and national monuments,” Carl said.

Retro Film Series

In 1998, Carl started the Retro Film Series at the theatre.

“Throughout that series, we bring probably 100 films— classics — back to the screen that range from horror to action to westerns and sci-fi,” he said.

While a lot of classics are on streaming services, he said the theatre has cultivated an audience that enjoys coming back to see classics on the big screen. The requirement for a movie to be seen in the retro series: it must be 20 years old or older. There are other sub-series under the Retro Series where he hones in on niches like horror, noir and animated Disney films that are hard to find.

“At some point over the last few years, I started noticing that when I ran a foreign action film in its original Japanese version, attendance was huge,” Carl said.

He stated he wondered if there was an audience willing and clamoring to see some of the old Godzilla films.

“Not just to bring them back, but retro-rize them,” he said. “So I created the Kaiju-Quest Film Series.”

Retro-rize

To those in Fayetteville who are worried about the hour-and-a-half drive to Durham on Wednesdays, the experience may be worth it. When they screen Kaiju-Quest titles at The Carolina Theatre of Durham, they are not just showing you a classic film on a screen. Carl’s goal is to provide an experience.

Before the film starts, audiences are given an introduction to the film, door prizes, movie trivia and trailers from the film’s opening night in Japan. You read that correctly. He has trailers from when these kaiju films first opened in Japan. He researches the trailers and compiles them for the series.

For example, if the theatre showcases “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” which premiered July 24, 1971, attendees will get a “retro” experience. Attendees will watch montages of happenings related to the 1971 premiere. They will get an introduction from Carl, the door prizes and the trivia about the film. A title card comes up on the big screen which reads, “Tonight is July 24, 1971. It is the opening night of ‘Godzilla v. Hedorah’ at theatres across Japan.

Then a title card appears on screen announcing audiences will see trailers of Japanese movies which were playing in theatres during July 1971. As if you were indeed in attendance on that film’s opening night.
Then the featured film will begin.

Toho’s Agreement

This current season’s edition of the Series began in January and ends June 21, with eight films being shown. The reason Carl is doing this is because of Toho.
Toho, a production studio company in Japan (imagine Warner Bros or Disney), owns the rights to the original, uncut Japanese Godzilla films. According to Carl, very few of these movies have been available in America for theatrical screenings for decades. He said while there are uncut, original Godzilla films that can be found on some streaming services, some people have never had a chance to see these classic films on the big screen.

Two years ago, Toho entered an agreement with an American distributor named Janus Films. The agreement outlines that for a certain number of years, Janus will have theatrical rights to screen many of the original Godzilla films in America.

Carl said at some point in the future, the agreement with Janus Films will expire and these movies will no longer be available for exhibition in the United States.

“While that agreement is still in place, I’m trying to screen as many of these original Japanese language, uncut films. There are so many of them.”

He does his best to spread them out during a typical six-month season.

“You want to spread them out over a few months to give audiences a chance to discover the Series and tell their friends,” he said.

If they miss one kaiju film, there’s another one coming down the pipeline. In the inaugural season of Kaiju-Quest, he screened 10 films from July to December 2022. Between January and June 2023, he will showcase eight films. Another installment will run from July to December 2023.

Carl does occasionally make exceptions to his 20-year rule for films such as Toho’s 2016 “Shin and Godzilla.” He explained many people didn’t have the chance to see it at movie theaters during its brief theatrical run in the United States.

Picture Perfect

The theatre has a photo booth where guests can stand in front of a green screen for free photos. Stills from that evening’s films can be utilized as the backdrops. They can email or use a QR code to access their photos.

Carolina Theatre

Carolina Theatre has live events, film festivals and a two-screen arthouse cinema. They do present first-run Indie movies like Oscar contenders and Oscar shorts. They are a repertory theatre — bringing back classic movies to the big screen for new generations — like “E.T.,” “Casablanca,” and “The Goonies.”
All these Series are curated and produced by the Carolina Theatre and are not a traveling series. For more information about the Series, visit https://carolinatheatre.org/series/kaiju-quest- film-series/.

Assisting and empowering local women are goals of the Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville at the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development. As part of a new annual tradition, the event, HERFayetteville aims to empower women through mentorship, education, networking and collaboration. These events are being organized by the Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville.

Efforts to celebrate #HERFayetteville will focus on Heart, Equality and Resilience while celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
Suzy Hrabovsky, the Executive Director of the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, said that she is excited to bring this event back after a successful launch last year.

“This is a week long celebration of what women have done, what they can do, and celebrating each other and coming together. So often we hear negative things about women empowerment, but this is just an inclusive, celebratory pat on the back and a time to just be happy and excited about what we've done and to continue to move forward and just take a little time to catch our breath,” Hrabovsky said.

The event starts on March 5, and each day has a specific theme. The themes are correlated as hashtags, so if people go or participate in the event, they can use the hashtags when they post about it on social media.

Day One: #HERImpact

Join CEED and the Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville on March 5 at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden for a morning full of delicious brunch and motivation. In honor of the launch of #HERWeek, they will be hosting inspiring female leaders in our community to celebrate the accomplishments of women in Fayetteville.

“We will have someone there from the SBA talking about the women in business. And we'll have a panel that’s talking about impacts women have made here locally,” Hrabovsky said.

At the time of publication, the panelists had not been named yet. Meraki Creative will also be at the brunch with interactive booths. The brunch starts at 10 a.m. Individual tickets are $35.

Day Two: #HERHealth

As the name suggests, the day is focusing on women’s health. CEED is offering Women's Health Expo sessions with Origins Naturopathic Health and Wellness — holistic team and medical partners from Fayetteville throughout the day. They will be highlighting not only physical health but also focusing on women’s mental and spiritual wellness.

Topics that will be discussed include breast health, the lymphatic system, movements, hormones, sleep, diet, general health and chiropractic health. Tickets are $25.

Day Three: #HERPitch

Join the Women’s Business Center at Volta Space March 8 to listen to aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their amazing business ideas to a panel of Fayetteville professionals. Think of it like “Shark Tank,” but for local women entrepreneurs. CEED Capital and Women of Power Society will award up to $10,000 in prizes to the entrepreneurs with the best pitch. Last year, eight competitors presented plans. Three business owners were awarded grants in the competition.

For more information about registering call 910-323-3377.

Since March 8 will be International Women’s Day, HERWeek Fayetteville will celebrate with an International Women’s Day Parade. The parade will be celebrating women from different cultures, nations and heritages. There is a $5 fee for parade entry.

Day Four: #HERBuild

The Women's Business Center of Fayetteville is partnering with Habitat for Humanity as part of the annual Women’s Build event. This event on March 9 will have stations where women can learn how to build and construct a home. Participants can learn the basics of plumbing, drywall and electrical work.

The class aims to give women the confidence to make home repairs and home improvements without having to spend hundreds of dollars for a professional to do it for you. No experience is necessary. There will be lunch, speakers, raffles and more to celebrate female entrepreneurship by learning new abilities, and sharing your support using the #HERFayetteville hashtags!

There will be a $25 fee. For more information and to sign up, go to https://www.fayettevillenchabitat.org/womensbuild2023.

Day Five: #HERService

This day is completely virtual. The Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville will be showcasing the female workers who support our local community. On their social media pages, the Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville will highlight firefighters, EMS workers, teachers, police officers, and military service members.

“We’ve done a bunch of interviews with different women in the community, from teaching to veterans to women who are firefighters, women who are at the 911 station, just women doing different services in our community,” Hrabovsky said.

For more information about the events during HERWeek Fayetteville, go to https://www.wbcfay.org/

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 670 is hosting the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Luncheon Thursday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held at VFW Post 670 on Doc Bennett Road.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of American combat troops withdrawing from Vietnam on March 30, 1973,” said Amelia Smith, VFW Post 670 quartermaster and point of contact for the event.

“I am the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and I can remember the bitterness my father sometimes expressed about the treatment that he and others in his community received upon their return from Vietnam.”

She added, “A few years ago, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted a huge Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event and it was overwhelming to watch the guys who did not know one another act as if they had known each other for years. I have not seen any event like that before nor have I seen or heard of one happening since.”

“I realized that nothing was happening in Fayetteville for Vietnam Veterans, so last year we put together a luncheon and about 75 people attended,” said Smith.

“We did not have an official guest speaker, but we did have some awesome support from the local community.”

Smith added, “The one thing that I noticed during last year’s luncheon is there were not any females that claimed to have been in Vietnam during the war.”

This year’s goal is to have women who were in Vietnam during the war attend the luncheon so they can be recognized and appreciated.

“These ladies suffer from the same health problems as the men, have similar or the same mental health concerns and deserve to be recognized,” said Smith.

“For this year’s event, we have the support of Methodist University’s ROTC, The Fayetteville Sound, Rolling Thunder and a special guest speaker.”

Sponsors for the event include the Cumberland County Veterans Council, BluSky Restoration and Tom Biggerstaff.

“The sponsors and groups have definitely made it a lot easier to pull this event together,” said Smith. “I am so excited to see the Vietnam Veterans, both men and women, come out and have a couple of hours to feel appreciated on the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal from Vietnam.”

The event is free and space is limited. The deadline to RSVP is Wednesday, March 8.
According to the national website, the mission of the VFW is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans.

The VFW vision is to ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

For more information or to RSVP, call or text 910-709-8306, email 670vfw@gmail.com or stop by VFW Post 670 to let the bartender know your name and that you want to RSVP for the event.
For more information about VFW Post 670 membership and events visit https://vfw670.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp?nid=1.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. There are three qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in the National Bylaws. An individual must meet all three in order to become a member.

• 1: Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.
  
• 2: Must have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently serving.
  
• 3: Service in a war, campaign or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters*. This can be proven by any of the following:
  
  • An authorized campaign medal
    
  • Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military pay statement)
    
  • Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days

This information is usually available through a veteran’s DD-214. If other information is needed or if a veteran’s DD-214 is not complete, they can contact the National Personnel Records Center online or at 314.801.0800 to request more information.

More detailed information on VFW eligibility can be accessed at https://www.vfw.org/join/eligibility.
If you are not eligible for membership in the VFW but you have a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling or spouse who would be eligible then you may apply for membership in the VFW Auxiliary. You can learn more at www.vfwauxiliary.org.

Each March, Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of women throughout history.

Women have played a vital role throughout the history of the world, even during eras and in countries where they have been marginalized and their freedoms limited.

There’s no shortage of milestone moments in women’s history, and the following are some everyone can appreciate and commemorate this March and beyond.

Marie Curie wins the Nobel Prize: In 1903, chemist and physicist Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work involving radiation. Curie became the first woman to win the distinguished prize, but she didn’t stop there, winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911. That made Curie a trailblazer of a different sort, as she became the first person to win or share two Nobel Prizes.

American women are granted the right to vote: The passage of the Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution on August 18, 1920, guaranteed all American women the right to vote. The passage of the amendment, which was a byproduct of the hard work of women who had been fighting for suffrage for decades, enfranchised more than 25 million American women in the months ahead of the 1920 presidential election.

Though this was a momentous event for American women, the United States was not the first nation to grant voting rights to women. That distinction belongs to the colony of South Australia, which allowed women to vote in local elections in 1861.

Women serve in the armed forces during World War II: WWII has inspired countless books and Hollywood productions, but few have recognized or emphasized the role women played in that conflict.

That’s unfortunate and misleading, as the U.S. Army established the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps on May 15, 1942. Later known as the Women’s Army Corps, or WAC, this women’s branch of the U.S. Army was initially led by Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, who later became just the second woman to serve in a presidential cabinet.
Roughly 150,000 women served in the WAAC or WAC during World War II, with some stationed in Europe, North Africa and New Guinea.

The National Organization for Women is founded: An American feminist organization, NOW was founded on June 30, 1966 and has since left an indelible mark on American society. Since its inception, NOW, which has an estimated membership of roughly half a million, has fought against discrimination and for equal rights for women.

Iceland makes equal pay the law of the land: In 2018, Iceland became the first country in the world to mandate that men and women in the same job be paid the same amount. This marked a major step forward for women, who have historically been paid less than their male counterparts holding the same positions.

Women’s History Month is a great time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions women have made throughout world history.

Dating back to social media usage that began in 2006, the social movement often referred to as “#MeToo” has done much to draw attention to violence against women.

Such violence was perpetrated prior to 2006 and has persisted even as the #MeToo movement has inspired women across the globe to share their stories in public.

Greater public understanding of the scope of violence against women may compel further action to combat such brutality.

• Estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that three in 10 women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
• WHO data indicates that 27% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 who have been in a relationship report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner. The organization UN Women indicates that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 243 million women in that age bracket experienced such violence.
• A WHO analysis of prevalence data from 2000-2018 found that as many as 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners.
• Data regarding non-partner sexual violence is more limited, but the WHO indicates 6% of women across the globe report having been sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner.
• A 2013 study from the WHO examining the health burden associated with violence against women found that women who had been physically or sexually abused were 1.5 times more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection compared to women who had not experienced partner violence.
• A 2021 report from the United Nations indicated that domestic violence against women increased to unprecedented levels in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Commission on COVID-19 and criminal justice indicated a greater than 8% increase of such violence following the onset of lockdown orders in 2020.

Violence against women remains a significant yet wholly preventable issue.
Women in need of assistance in the United States can contact the National Domestic Violence hotline 24/7/365 at 1-800-799-7233.

Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Seymour assumed responsibility as Fort Bragg’s Garrison senior non-commissioned officer, Feb. 24 at the Main Post Chapel — the same chapel that he married his wife, Candace,17 years ago.

“My family and I are truly humbled to be here today,” Seymour said. “However, in 1997, if you had asked that 19-year-old paratrooper from Augusta, Georgia that if he ever thought he’d be a command sergeant major, let alone the Fort Bragg garrison command sergeant major — he probably would have told you, you’re crazier than two squirrels in a walnut tree. My family and I are excited to get to know and serve you. I look forward to continuing the collaboration and innovation efforts in improving the quality of life for service members and their families on this installation.”

Having served on Fort Bragg most of his career, Seymour joins the Garrison Command team after serving as the operations sergeant major for the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery. Other previous assignments include cannon crewmember, ammunition team chief, gunner, howitzer section chief, Chief of Firing Battery/Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant at Fort Bragg. He also served as the Operations Sergeant Major, 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment at Camp Casey, Korea.

Seymour deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve.

“I’m excited for the next chapter,” Seymour continued. “This is the crown jewel — the centerpiece of this power projection platform that we call the center of the universe. And what makes the center of the universe great? The people. This is a phenomenal team who works hard, around the clock, every day to help meet the needs of our service members and their families, veterans and retirees.”

The assumption of responsibility ceremony is rich in symbolism and heritage within the military. It reinforces the role of the noncommissioned officer in the Army, highlighting his or her role as a bridge between the commander and the formation's enlisted soldiers.

“The people of this installation have made Fort Bragg what it is today,” Seymour said. “It’s more than just a name, it’s the people who have served on this installation and continue to live the legacy of Fort Bragg as we transition to Fort Liberty. The biggest thing to take away from this, is that that legacy of you unit or organization is still alive. Fort Bragg lives in this room, Fort Bragg is shown through our comradery, and the honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy. That is the reason why Fort Liberty will continue to live.”

Seymour’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with two oak-leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze service star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, Combat Action Badge and the Master Parachutist Badge. He was also awarded the 3rd Brigade Combat Team Jump Master of the Year 2010.

“As the Fort Bragg Garrison looks to the future — a future with a new name and a new focus, I cannot think of anyone better than CSM Seymour,” said Col. John Wilcox, Fort Bragg garrison commander.

“Together we will set the standards of the garrison team to be part of the installation of the future — one that is ready, relevant and resilient; and above all one that is innovative.”

During a Fayetteville Public Works Commission meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 22 City Councilman Deno Hondros asked the utility board to forgive repayment of $4 million that PWC loaned to the city in 2020.
Hondros, who is also the City Council’s liaison to PWC, clarified in an interview after the meeting that he was speaking for himself and not representing the city or the City Council as a whole.

The loan was intended to help the city through the economic struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last month, PWC Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Haskins wrote to city Chief Financial Officer Jody Picarella asking the city to “promptly repay the $4 million to PWC.”
According to the initial written loan agreement, the city would have to repay PWC’s loan if it received pandemic relief funds from another source. Fayetteville has received more than $40 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, federal legislation enacted in March 2021 that sent money to state and local governments as a way to help recovery from the pandemic.

Hondros asked that PWC rescind this part of the agreement.

“My ask,” Hondros said at Wednesday’s meeting “is to rescind the ask or to reconsider the ask of the repayment of that.”

Hondros argued that the city and PWC’s money all comes from Fayetteville taxpayers.

“At the end of the day, it’s the same pot of money — whether the county raises taxes, whether PWC raises rates or whether the city raises taxes,” Hondros said.

After Hondros’ request, PWC Treasurer Wade Fowler said that under the PWC charter, the $4 million, if not repaid by the city, may be considered an impermissible transfer.
PWC spokeswoman Carolyn Justice-Hinson, in an email, echoed Fowler’s comments. She said the loan was made in compliance with the charter.

“That is a factor that will affect whether consideration can be given to the request,” Justice-Hinson said.

Fowler said during the meeting that it may be possible to extend the date for repayment.

In March 2020, Mayor Mitch Colvin declared a state of emergency because of COVID-19. That April, the mayor requested relief funds from PWC to help address the city’s hardships in addressing the pandemic.

Typically, PWC’s charter does not allow additional transfers of cash from PWC to the city, but a state of emergency order, along with a written agreement between the parties, allows for an exception. Colvin requested the money under this exception in the charter.

The city and PWC agreed to terms of the loan that May on the condition it be repaid.
Hondros said at the meeting that he was requesting forgiveness of the repayment in an effort to build a partnership with PWC.

“I think it will show a good-faith effort on PWC’s part,” Hondros said.

PWC Chairwoman Ronna Garrett thanked Hondros for his request.

“It takes a lot of courage to come before the board to ask for something like that, so thank you for your courage and representation,” Garrett said. “I appreciate the courage and the transparency and the intent to partner and break down silos. We, too, have the same goals and vision.”

We will probably never know how much of our money was squandered during the pandemic by reckless politicians. But here are two damning numbers to start with: $400 billion and $855,000 per job year.

The first is a reasonable estimate of unemployment-insurance payments either improperly paid or stolen by fraudulent claimants. As you may remember, one early congressional response to the onset of COVID-19 was to add a bonus of $600 a week to UI checks and to make it easier for people to claim those benefits.

Essentially, politicians turned UI into an honor system. Of course, dishonorable people pounced.
A few days ago, the U.S. Department of Labor’s inspector general announced that at “the low end” $191 billion was paid to people who didn’t qualify but that missing data and delayed reporting prevented a full accounting.

Matt Weidinger, an American Enterprise Institute scholar and former staffer at the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, puts the total amount of improper UI payments at closer to $400 billion, or 40% of the total.

“Significant shares were likely stolen by overseas criminal gangs, including in China and Russia,” Weidinger observes, and their schemes often began by stealing identities.

That’s what happened to me. I teach part-time at Duke University. A couple of years ago, university officials contacted me to ask why I, an adjunct faculty member, had filed an unemployment-insurance claim. I assured them I’d done no such thing. I submitted paperwork to Duke and reported the incident to law enforcement. Alas, it is my understanding that at least some UI payments were paid to my identity thief, anyway.

Now for the other number: $855,000 per job year. That’s the estimate AEI scholar Stan Veuger and University of California-San Diego economist Jeffrey Clemens put on the amount of COVID-era federal aid distributed to states and localities to prevent government layoffs divided by the number of positions that could reasonably be construed as “saved” per year by that aid.

As I’ve argued many times before, the federal government’s multi-trillion-dollar fiscal response to the pandemic was panicky and excessive.
North Carolina was among the jurisdictions that received far more (borrowed) federal cash than was needed to cover revenues lost or new expenditures truly necessitated by the disease itself and the economic consequences of COVID-era shutdowns.

The best defense of all this is that politicians were mistaken but acting in good faith, that hindsight is 20-20. It’s a poor defense.
Critics warned at the time that expanding the eligibility and amounts of UI benefits would have adverse consequences, both wasting money and slowing reemployment, and that states and localities didn’t need the massive sums Congress was about to throw at them.

But many politicians had long sought to expand unemployment insurance and the federal government’s role in funding state and local governments. They capitalized on the crisis — with other people’s capital.
The only way to prevent this from happening again is to erect legal guardrails.

Veuger and Clemens suggest, for example, that Congress should either institute preset formulas instead of a discretionary process for granting aid or that federal grant programs should be converted to loans that states and localities must repay.

Such steps are worth taking but we need to be thinking even bigger.

With unemployment insurance, for example, we ought to devolve the program more comprehensively to state governments, forbid any extended benefits funded by Washington, and make it more expensive for states to borrow federal funds when their UI trust funds run out.

That will encourage state policymakers to police fraud more aggressively and keep their benefits in line with fiscal realities.

More generally, we need to get the federal government’s finances under control.

There should be a constitutional requirement that its operating budget be balanced, and that it borrow only to fund physical capital such as federal buildings and military assets.

Let’s do something. The next crisis will again test the willpower of politicians. They’ll fail again.

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

Spring is on the way, and here in Fayetteville, that usually has us looking forward to participating in and celebrating the 41st Dogwood Festival.

This award-winning Festival has quite a history in our community, and anyone who claims to be a true Fayettevillian has some time or somehow participated in, sponsored, or in some other way supported this event.

The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival should be something our city leaders are proud of. City leaders should implement ways to take advantage of its decades of success and notoriety. Competent Fayetteville leadership would be rallying around the Festival and using it to promote, market and brand our community throughout the state.

Unfortunately, Mayor Mitch Colvin and his Council colleagues only pay lip service to supporting this successful community event while their actions of late reveal how they feel about the event, its organizers and the community.

Actions always speak louder than words. Many may remember last year when Mayor Mitch Colvin and Council members Shakeyla Ingram, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, and former Councilman Larry Wright criticized and berated the young Dogwood Festival Director Sarahgrace Snipes Mitchell.

The assault on Mitchell came when she went before them to request a measly $15,000 in support of this citywide event. An event that will cost hundreds of thousands to produce. The council's verbal assault on her was unprofessional, mean-spirited, and passionate, centered around the concerns that musical entertainment acts were not "diverse" enough and failed to reflect the city's population.

It's a noble cause to look out for all the citizens of Fayetteville and to be passionate about it. But it is not becoming for Mayor Colvin and Council members to gang up and criticize someone trying to do their job. And all she was asking for was $15,000.

How much do Mitch Colvin and the City Council really care about this city or a 41-year tradition that has brought joy, fun and quality entertainment to hundreds of thousands of people, not to mention the positive economic impact on the city, especially those who have invested in our historic downtown area?

On Feb. 15, at the Aevex Veterans Club in Segra Stadium, Sarahgrace Snipes Mitchell and the Dogwood Festival Committee held their official Festival Media Night where they recognized the corporate sponsors and thanked the dozens upon dozens of businesses, organizations, vendors, craftsmen and artists for coming together with their time, talent and financial resources to make this year's event a huge success.
It was a lovely gathering, but it lacked a “WOW factor” that gets everyone excited for an upcoming event. It is my opinion that the “WOW factor” element was absent from the event because the CITY WAS ABSENT FROM THE EVENT!

Actions speak louder than words! That evening Mitch Colvin and the entire City Council were missing from the most significant Fayetteville event announcement of the year.

Not a single member of the Council took the time to support, recognize or thank the efforts of hundreds of citizens that came together to showcase the assets, personality and hospitality of our city. That behavior speaks volumes to the leadership they are NOT providing. Our city is at a critical crossroads.

If you follow what actions (and non-actions) occur in City Hall, it's evident that collectively the Council lacks integrity, intelligence and common sense. Several critical and highly sensitive issues are being decided on concerning our city, and I see bias, racism and good ole boy politics taking precedence over what is right and good for the citizens of Fayetteville. Fayetteville deserves better.

We are becoming a media desert. Real critical news is still not getting out to the public. Yes, now we have better coverage of boards, meetings and what goes on in City Hall, but this is far from investigative reporting.

As a result, the bad guys keep getting badder, and the residents continue to be the victims without a voice. Actions speak louder than words!
Our leaders are NOT showing up in the community. They are not at the theatre or the art openings; they are basically AWOL from the community. Why? Because they don't want to face the public in fear that they may have to state their position on a proposal or, heaven forbid, explain why they voted the way they did on an issue.

They are AWOL from the community because they do not want people to know how out of touch they are with the community. Fayetteville has a leadership problem that must be addressed and remedied if our community is to take on the challenges of the 21st century.

I close by saying we have a Fayetteville election in November. Pay attention to the leadership decisions now and ask yourself if we can do better. We can. We must.

I love this community as much as you do, or you wouldn’t be reading this newspaper.
Again, I want to thank Sarahgrace Snipes Mitchell and her staff for a job well done. The 2023 Dogwood Festival will be a great event!

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Jan. 27 was International Holocaust Remembrance Day, established 17 years ago by the United Nations. Jewish communities tend to put more emphasis on Yom HaSho’ah [in April], in Hebrew “Holocaust Day,” which was inaugurated in 1951, just 6 years after the collapse of Nazi Germany and the liberation of their concentration and death camps spread across Europe.

Beyond being older, it may make sense for the Jewish community to have a unique day for commemorating the Holocaust, which includes its own religious elements. Yet, there may also be a value in an annual occasion dedicated to its recognition and education under the auspices of the nearly universal international organization of nations.

Being in February, and coming just two weeks after Martin Luther King Day, we Americans find ourselves in the midst of Black History Month. Our nation, even before its founding, has had a long, complicated, and far too often profoundly troubling history with those of African heritage. We continue to wrestle with the challenges caused by what is frequently referred to as America’s original sin.

Undoubtedly, there is real value in recognizing both the many, usually unappreciated, contributions of African Americans to our nation, as well as in understanding the historical reality and ongoing suffering caused by slavery and its aftermath, which has impacted not only the Black community, but whether we realize it or not, the United States as a whole.

At its best, times dedicated to remembering, highlighting, and better comprehending the suffering endured by any group, should help us not only to improve our understanding of them, but also to recognize and respond appropriately to all who suffer.

Alarming to me, especially since I perceive it to be on the rise, is the seeming need among some in the Jewish and Black communities to debate whose suffering has been the greatest. And this debate is shared by other communities, here and around the globe, who also have experienced too much suffering.

But, it is a pernicious and pointless exercise. It is impossible to settle definitively such an argument. Even worse, I find it perverse for anyone to want to win the battle for the greatest suffering.

Yet most disturbing to me is the accompanying implication of this absurd competition, which minimizes the suffering of another community if I can “prove” that my community has suffered more.

No one has a corner on the market of suffering. There is plenty of suffering here and around the world, now and in the past, and we should have sufficient compassion for all who suffer, without feeling the need to quantify the depths of someone’s pain before we will deign to accord them a morsel of sympathy.

It is true that different cases of suffering may require different approaches to attempt to alleviate them. It may even be true that in a world with finite resources, we may have to make hard choices about how and when to allocate the resources we do have. But, we should care about everyone’s suffering, whether or not we are always yet in a position to deal with it as we would like.

Let us never undermine the reality and genuineness of pain and suffering; whether our own or anyone else’s. We are all entitled to compassion and caring; and we should both give it and accept it freely.

The nature of humanity seems that one or another form of suffering will always be with us. Yet, let us also make it the nature of humanity that we always seek to combat suffering, to the best of our ability, wherever it exists.

This spring, Cumberland County Public Library will take part in North Carolina Reads. This annual series features five books that explore issues of racial, social and gender equality as well as the history and culture of North Carolina.
Monthly discussions of the selected titles will take place at Headquarters Library, 300 Maiden Lane in downtown Fayetteville. All sessions are scheduled on Saturdays.

Participants will receive free copies of each book in the series, and light refreshments will be available at the meetings.

The series kicked off Feb. 18 with “Carolina Built” by Kianna Alexander. This novel is based on the life of Josephine N. Leary, an American entrepreneur who was emancipated in 1865 and set out to build a life of her own and a future for her family.

The remainder of the 2023 schedule is:

• 2 p.m. March 18: “Game Changers: Dean Smith, Charlie Scott, and the Era That Transformed a Southern College Town” by Art Chansky. This is the story of how basketball coaching legend Dean Smith and Charlie Scott, the first Black scholarship athlete at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, helped transform a university, a community and the racial landscape of sports in the South.
• 2 p.m. April 15: “Money Rock: A Family’s Story of Cocaine, Race, and Ambition in the New South” by Pam Kelley. This gripping tale of a family swept up in the 1980s cocaine epidemic shows how racism, segregation, the war on drugs and mass incarceration help shape individual destinies.
• 2 p.m. May 20: “Under a Gilded Moon” by Joy Jordan-Lake. Set near the turn of the 20th century, this novel explores community tensions arising out of the construction of the Biltmore Estate in western North Carolina, as seen through the eyes of a young woman with a foot in both the Appalachians and New York.
• 2 p.m. June 17: “Step It Up and Go” by David Menconi. This book’s subtitle is “The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, From Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk.” The author explains how original music is as integral to the Tar Heel State’s character as barbecue, beaches and basketball.

North Carolina Reads is a program of the North Carolina Center for the Book and provided by North Carolina Humanities. NC Humanities will also host virtual monthly events featuring guest speakers, including book authors and topic experts.

To register, visit www.nchumanities.org/program/north-carolina-reads/. For more information about Cumberland County Public Library’s series or to arrange pickup of the books, contact Amanda Dekker at 910-483-7727, Ext. 1409. To learn about all library programs, call 910-483-7727 or visit www.cumberlandcountync.gov/library.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. You can decide to exercise these rights and stop answering questions at any time. Do you understand each of these rights as I have explained them to you?

Many of us have heard those statements, but few of us fully understand them.

On March 13, 1963, police arrested Ernesto Miranda on charges of rape and kidnapping after a witness identified him in Phoenix, Arizona. Following his arrest, the police brought Miranda in for questioning on a larceny charge.

During his two-hour interrogation, police did not advise Miranda of his constitutional rights to an attorney or to remain silent. Nonetheless, Miranda signed a written confession affirming knowledge of these rights and admitting to the crimes.

On June 27, 1963, Miranda was convicted of rape, kidnapping and robbery.

Miranda appealed his conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reviewed the case in 1966. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice Earl Warren, ruled that the prosecution should not have introduced Miranda's confession as evidence because the police failed to first inform Miranda of his right to an attorney and his right against self-incrimination.

Today, the Miranda Rights remain, in the words of Chief Justice Earl Warren, “the essential mainstay” of our legal system.
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the arrest of Ernesto Miranda and the start of a three-year saga that culminated in the Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona, Fayetteville Technical Community College filmed a historical reenactment of the key moments in the Miranda ordeal.

Please join us at Cumberland Hall Auditorium, located at 2211 Hull Road, on the FTCC campus on March 7 from noon to 3 p.m. for “Making Noise About Silence,” the world premiere of FTCC’s educational film about the Miranda decision.

After playing the short film, legal and law enforcement experts from our community will share their thoughts on the Miranda case. Members of the panel will then answer audience questions.

Why is this educational event significant? What you learn at this event might be the only thing that keeps you — or someone you love — out of jail.

The event is open and free to the public. Guest speakers include:

• Hon. James F. Ammons, Jr., Resident Superior Court Judge, 12th Judicial District
• Chief Deputy Casper “Jack” Broadus, III, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office
• Billy West, Cumberland County District Attorney •Cynthia P. Black, Esq., Cumberland County Public Defender
• Larry Vick, Esq. Col (Ret.), U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps
• Chief Kimberle Braden, Fayetteville City Police Department

For more information about this event or to reserve a seat, call 910-678-0043.

The Greater Sandhills Chamber announced the opening of the Enclave Stress Recovery Center in Southwind Plaza in Spring Lake. The center provides a restorative environment for individuals seeking to manage stress and improve their mental health.

The Enclave features a Himalayan salt suite, an indoor garden, a beach room and an open floor for co-working and group sessions.

“Stress is a growing problem that affects everyone at some point, so we are thrilled to bring our unique services to Cumberland County,” said Executive Director Taneshia Kerr. “At The Enclave, we believe that wellness is a holistic journey, and we are committed to providing quality care, while helping our members achieve their best selves.”

The Enclave Stress Recovery Center offers a variety of immersive therapy suites, and other evidence-based therapies, including Christian counseling, aromatherapy, mindfulness practices, art therapy and stress management events.

“Each suite gives you the chance to immerse your senses,” Kerr said. “You can experience a relaxing time away, minus the road trip.” Enclave members can move from suite to suite at their own pace, alone or with friends. Members can enjoy a chair massage, do yoga, use meditation to refocus, have a complimentary drink with a book, or lay back and actively do nothing.

Speaking on behalf of the Greater Sandhills Chamber, Executive Treasurer Nisla Love described Kerr (who serves as President of the Chamber) as a giver. “It is an honor that you’re able to share and pour in to [the community] in this way,” Love said.

Mayor of Spring Lake Kia Anthony expressed gratitude for being at the site of the first location of the stress recovery center. “Mental health is very often overlooked so our town needs this place,” Anthony said. “I am so excited as the mayor of this community to see us growing and bringing in new businesses. I am excited to see such a need being filled with access to a safe place.”

The Enclave is also home to Fayetteville Christian Counseling. The Center is now accepting new members and they are available for private events and use by other wellness instructors and therapists.

The Enclave hosted a Galentine’s event earlier this month and plan a variety of events in the future, typically aimed at de-stressing and self-care. Up next on March 12 is Take Care Sis: A Day of Rest! The event, hosted by Ki and Kiki of Take Care Sis will include yoga, massages, sound bowl healing, self-care tips and more fun surprises. Each participant will also receive a swag bag.

Take Care Sis will be Sunday, March 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/take-care-sis-podcast-presents-a-day-of-rest-tickets-541979704887
For more information about Enclave Stress Recovery Center, call 910-339-0437 or visit www.EnclaveStressRecovery.com.

The Enclave is located at 1169 N. Bragg Blvd. in Spring Lake.

The Cape Fear Kiwanis Club is once again bringing breakfast to locals for a good cause. From 7 a.m. to noon on March 3 and 4, guests can enjoy some tasty pancakes and sausage. Guests will be able to either eat in at the Greek Orthodox Church and Hellenic Center, located at 611 Oakridge Avenue in Fayetteville or take their food to go.

Tickets are $7 per person and all proceeds benefit our children and community! The Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear’s annual Pancake Breakfast was started by John S. Poulos.
Poulos is also the founder of Superior Bakery, located in Hope Mills, which is now run by his son, Nicko.

Since the first pancake breakfast, the turnout gets bigger and bigger every year, according to Steve Goodson, this year’s chairman of the Pancake Breakfast.

“It’s just a fun thing for everybody to socialize, eat, meet and greet each other, and have a good time, ” says Goodson.

Goodson is responsible for making sure that everyone eats well and has an enjoyable experience at the pancake breakfast. Participants that would like to order for a large group can call ahead and the order will be ready for pick-up the days of the event. There are also sponsorship opportunities for local businesses and organizations. If you would like to promote your business on the days of the event, banner spots are available for $100.

Kiwanis Club
Kiwanis is a worldwide service organization appealing to people with a desire to be personally involved in making their community a better place to live.
The Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear was organized in 1960 and is one of more than 7,000 clubs in over 80 countries.
The Kiwanis Club is focused on serving the children and youth of Cumberland County. They do this through service projects, fundraising events, sponsoring school-based service leadership programs, grants to nonprofit organizations, and scholarships for college-bound students.
For more info visit the Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear’s Facebook Page at https://m.facebook.com/people/Kiwanis-Club-of-Cape-Fear/100057491266577 or call 910-624-4949.

Blake Shelton is back on the road this year and is bringing his Back to the Honky Tonk Tour to Greensboro Coliseum Thursday, Feb. 23. Joining the superstar on the tour will be Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean.

Blake Shelton

Shelton has ranked among Pollstar’s Top 200 North American Tours nearly every year for the past decade. The beloved recording artist is indeed going back to the honky tonk with his latest single “No Body,” which became the most added song at country radio when released. The song is “soaked in ‘90s country vibes,” according to Billboard, and its official music video features line-dancing at a country bar — complete with Shelton sporting his signature mullet.

This latest single continues to add to his impressive resume of music. The song comes on the heels of his album “Body Language Deluxe,” which features his Platinum-selling 28th country radio chart-topper, “Happy Anywhere” featuring Gwen Stefani.

As a coach for the Emmy Award-winning television show “The Voice,” Shelton is an eight-time champion. He and Carson Daly teamed up to executive produce and star in a new celebrity game show,

“Barmageddon,” which finished its first season on USA Network in January.

Carly Pearce

Rooted in the classics, Carly Pearce left her Kentucky home and high school at 16 to take a job at Dollywood. She has grown into an artist who embraces the genre’s forward progression. Confident in what she wants to say, the committed songwriter has resonated with fans and caught the attention of music critics from Billboard, NPR, Rolling Stone.

The New York Times included “29: Written In Stone” on their 2021 year-end Best of Lists. Pearce performed the collection in its entirety throughout her sold-out The 29 Tour. She also appeared on Kenny Chesney’s Here And Now Tour 2022.

Lighting a fire with her debut album “Every Little Thing” and the Platinum-certified history making title track, Carly’s 2X Platinum- certified “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Lee Brice won both the CMA Musical Event and ACM Music Event, plus ACM Single of the Year.

Returning to host ACM Honors, the reigning ACM/CMA Awards Female Artist/Vocalist of the Year and Grand Ole Opry member (fittingly invited by Dolly Parton) is clearly living out her childhood dream. For more information, visit carlypearce.com.

Jackson Dean

Odenton, Maryland native Jackson Dean is a singer/songwriter known for his old school, gritty style of country. Jackson has a daring and carefree spirit, having moved out at 18 years old to live in a cinderblock, concrete floor, one-room shack on the back of his grandfather’s property with no heat and no plumbing. Bringing that same sense of adventure to his songwriting, Jackson writes both independently and alongside the likes of Luke Dick and Casey Beathard.

Following the release of his debut collection “Jackson Dean,” Jackson continues to show people how real music can be with atmospheric, musically forward album “Greenbroke” out now. Featured on the soundtrack for Netflix’s “The Ice Road” and in an episode of Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” the stomping “Don’t Come Lookin’” made its mark as his first single at country radio.

Following an early career of local performances in his hometown, Jackson has joined bills with superstar acts like Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, Kane Brown, Jake Owen and Brothers Osborne. For more information, visit www.jacksondeanmusic.com.

More information and tickets to the Back to the Honky Tonk Tour, visit www.blakeshelton.com.

Common Roots: Many Branches is a touring exhibition featuring artists who are members of the National Alliance of Artists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The exhibit has more than 75 pieces on display in the Rosenthal Gallery at Fayetteville State University and the Ellington-White Contemporary Art Gallery in downtown Fayetteville. Rosenthal Gallery has more of the works on display.

The show is curated and coordinated by Dwight Smith. An artist himself, Smith has some of his works displayed in this show. He’s been a professor at Fayetteville State University for 15 years, where he teaches a variety of subjects from Renaissance to modern art and painting. Smith runs the Ellington-White Contemporary Art Gallery and curates shows at the Rosenthal Gallery.

Up & Coming Weekly had a chance to sit down and discuss the Common Roots exhibition with Smith. We asked him why he felt it was important for this exhibit to be held at the Rosenthal Gallery.

“We don’t have a lot of artistic venues in this area for our students to see high quality art,” he says. “Working with Black organizations like the NAAHBCU and National Conference of Artists, I’m able to create more opportunities and I’m always trying to find ways for our students to view high quality artwork from a variety of artists.”

This touring exhibition features artists from HBCUs all around the country, especially North Carolina. Common Roots is on display until March 4, and is free and open to the public.
The doors to the exhibition stay open throughout the day, allowing students and faculty to see high quality art at any given time. Moments like this mold artists and allow them to stay inspired throughout their educational journey.

Celebrating Black History Month

The Common Roots exhibition couldn’t have been held at any better time — in the middle of Black History Month, a time to celebrate, recognize and appreciate Black history and the impact it has on our country. There are many ways to celebrate this month, and one way to celebrate is to see Black creativity through art.

U&CW asked Smith what he hopes students take away from this exhibition. He says, “I hope that the students see the potential for artistic growth and I hope this provides them with security within themselves to create the artwork they’re going to create. I really want them to understand that there are a lot of different styles and ways to make art in this exhibit, and they all work.”

Smith has been an artist for more than five decades, celebrating his 50th year of art a couple years ago at the Arts Council in downtown Fayetteville. His love for art grew as a child in school where he was able to have an art curriculum that allowed students to take art classes in elementary, middle and high school. He had his first art show when he was 19, then went on to further his education and received his Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts.

Being involved with art most of his life, Smith acknowledges that being an art professor and being able to help his students grow as artists can feel like a full circle moment for him. U&CW asked if he gets more joy from showcasing his own work as an artist or teaching his students and watching them learn.

“I like both! I never thought I’d be an art teacher. I was asked to be a guest painting instructor back in 2007. I’ve enjoyed being able to work with the students and I really love being able to teach the knowledge to my students that I’ve gained over the years from people that have helped me grow and become the person that I am today,” Smith says.

“I love showing my work and exhibiting, it gets me to a lot of different places round the world, but I love teaching the student, too.”

Representation Matters

Having representation in the Black community is extremely important. So often, the African American community gets boxed into what they can or can’t do or can and can’t be. Smith’s active involvement in so many artistic ventures in the city paired with his academic accolades, he is able to be that representation for his students at a historically Black university, as well as younger artists he encounters while networking in the community.

Smith doesn’t take his duty as a Black role model in art and the teaching profession lightly. “My responsibility is to Black people, and the Black community. As a senior Black man, it’s my job to show and present the highest quality of art possible to the Black community and Black students to help them grow and to enrich their opportunities and exposure to things. Many times, we don’t have the exposure that we need to grow, but our job is to ensure we give as much exposure as we can. It’s my job to be a role model to my students.”

There are many talented Black artists on display in Fayetteville during this Black History Month by teachers, students, freelancers and hobbyists. It’s truly amazing to see art being celebrated this way in our city and we know the art scene will continue to thrive with great artists and teachers at the forefront.

Common Roots: Many Branches is filled with all kinds of art mediums including large scale photography prints, mixed media paintings and even sculpture work. Rosenthal Gallery is located on the FSU campus at 1200 Murchison Road. The Ellington–White Contemporary Art Gallery is located at 113 Gillespie Street. For more information call 910-483-1388.

Country vocalists, post-grunge bands and a Michael Jackson tribute highlight performers coming for the 41st annual Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, organizers announced Feb. 15.

Ax throwing and a giant rock wall will also be part of the fun at the April 27-30 festival. Executive Director Sarahgrace Mitchell and the festival board of directors presented a preview of the three-day festival at Segra Stadium.

Live music, food vendors, a BMX bike stunt show, and a street fair with local performers are on tap throughout downtown Fayetteville as local restaurants and shops welcome thousands of visitors.
Musical acts are among the best draws for Fayetteville’s biggest festival, including local acts and national names who will perform on the main stage at Festival Park.

Ashland Craft and David Nail will be the main acts on Friday night, April 28.

With hits like “Make It Past Georgia” and “I Smoke Weed,” Craft has made a name in country. She will hit the stage at 8 p.m. with her deep, bluesy voice and guitar-heavy set. Her modern country blues style is likened to her influences, Miranda Lambert and Bonnie Raitt.

Friday night headliner David Nail hit it big with fun-loving songs like “Let It Rain,” “Whatever She’s Got” and “Red Light.” His style of country music will have fans on their feet.

The fireworks show Boom and Bloom will follow Nail’s performance. Saturday will bring local acts starting at 2 p.m. in Festival Park before the night gets a post-grunge edge with rock bands LIT and Buckcherry.

“My Own Worst Enemy” was a hit for California-based LIT in 1999, and the band has maintained a strong radio presence since.

Another California band, Buckcherry, will take the stage at 9 p.m. with well-known hits like “Everything.” On Sunday, the national tour of “Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience” will kick off at 7:30 p.m. after a series of local acts beginning at 2:30 p.m.

One of the local acts on Sunday will be the Throwback Collaboration Band, featuring lead singer Adolph Thomas and guitarist Duce Thomas playing R&B and soul. Based in Fayetteville, the band has been together four years and has played at festivals across the state.
 

“We play ’70s and ’80s Motown dance-style music,” said Adolph Thomas.

A limited number of front-row seats are on sale at www.thedogwoodfestival.com. Of course, the music is just one part of the fun at the festival, as activities will extend throughout the downtown area.
A festival tradition, “The Cork and Fork: A Premier Food and Wine Event,” is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. April 27 at Festival Park. Tickets can be purchased at the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival website. A silent auction will benefit this year’s nonprofit partner, Fayetteville Urban Ministry.

Other favorites returning to the festival include the Airborne Aerial entertainers, performing Saturday near the Festival Park Plaza food court. On Saturday and Sunday, BMX stunt shows will take place on Hay Street, between City Hall and the Hotel Prince Charles, and Ring Wars Carolina will stage wrestling tournaments at Ray Avenue and Hay Street.
 

A car, motorcycle and truck show is scheduled on Sunday at Market Square, Person Street and Green Street. Interested motorists can register their vehicles for the show at the festival website.
Two children’s areas, the KidZone sponsored by Carolina Fun Factory and the Midway, which will host carnival rides for children and adults, will be at the corner of Mason Street and Ray Avenue.

New activities planned this year include the Axes and Armor Hatchet House, where the adventurous can throw axes for free. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on Gillespie Street.
For more information about the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, including how to purchase tickets for front-row seating or the Cork and Fork event, visit www.thedogwoodfestival.com.

Actress, director, and activist Nadine Labaki said of filmmaking: “Cinema is not only about making people dream. It’s about changing things and making people think.”

Throughout its 130-year history, film has been a universally beloved form of entertainment and a crystal clear lens by which to view society.

A film can be a window to another world, far away places, and an opportunity to see into the lives of others. In collaboration with The Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County and its Black Culture Experience, The North Carolina African Film Festival is coming to Fayetteville from Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Volta Space in Downtown Fayetteville.

The Black Culture Experience, which runs from February through March, is “a series of compelling programs selected by the Arts Council that educate, uplift and empower communities of color,” shared Christy McNeil, Director of Marketing for the Arts Council.

The festival focuses on filmmakers from Africa and the African Diaspora who bring stories from the continent to life in innovative, compelling ways. According to their website,

“The art of cinematic storytelling manifests through treasured tales of social issues, economic disparities, conflict resolutions and global inequalities faced by communities of African descent to learn from the past and visualize all the possibilities that advancement brings.”

Film festivals, at their core, are a celebration of art and an opportunity for audiences to experience stories that might go otherwise unseen. The idea of “connection,” using the past to inform the future, and closing cultural gaps are just a few of the festival’s aims since its debut in 2020.

This year’s films offer an exciting array of languages, settings and issues that are perhaps specific to African culture but speak to humanity as a whole.
Olive Nwosu, in a blend of Yoruban and English, explores the complexity of returning home after the death of a parent in her film “Egúngún.”

“Mmam Moeketsi,” directed by Reabetswe Moeti, tells the brutal true story of wage politics in South Africa. Other films on the docket deal with the fear and uncertainty of being undocumented, strained family relationships, and mental illness — topics that should resonate with audiences from every corner of the globe.

In addition to the film screening, festival-goers can attend artist-talk sessions, various workshops related to film and filmmaking, and several networking opportunities.
For aspiring filmmakers, the North Carolina African Film Festival offers a chance to see the fine machinery of filmmaking up close and an opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade.

The North Carolina African Film Festival offers the audience an intimate gaze into the lives of Black people as told by Black people. These aren’t stories about Africa from the distorted lens of Hollywood but an opportunity to walk hand in hand on the streets of Soweto or the villages of Nigeria with the people who call them “home.”

For more information about the festival and a full list of films visit https://www.ncafricanfilmfestival.com/. The Volta Space is located at 116 Person St.

Free public book boxes have been popping up around neighborhoods over the past decade, giving kids and adults access to books. They can take a book or leave a book. Now imagine that same concept but with art.

The Little Art Box, located in the Haymount neighborhood, showcases local art from kids and adults alike. You can put in what you’d like and take something if you love it.

Meredith Talian, the creator and curator of the Little Art Box, came up with the idea after seeing a woman in Seattle do a similar project. Talian thought about making something similar for Fayetteville.
Last September, the Arts Council gave a mini-grant to the Little Art Box that supported a local carpenter to build the box and art supplies for the box. In January, the box was open for business.

“I've had people at it every single day,” Talian said.

People can put in anything they or someone else has created — a piece of art, a handmade craft, a child’s creation, a plant cutting, or anything creative.

This tiny community gallery is a place for professional artists, kids, hobbyists, amateurs, and just about anyone who can paint on paper, color a rock or make a cute little pot.

“I was most excited when the very first person put something in about, I want to say, like an hour after I posted that it was open. I had a lady come by and put cuttings in, and I thought that was really, really special."

"We've had a lot of bead art that's been really cute, like little keychains, and those have been really popular. So that's been really fun. And then I had my first piece by an actual artist,” Talian said.

Those who walk or drive by the box can also take a piece of art home with them.

“When you just take stuff like you don't have to keep it forever, [you can] just enjoy it. Do whatever you want with it, and kids are just going to keep putting it out there. So that's the biggest thing is just getting people to take stuff from it. But that's getting better too. People are taking things, so it's fun.”

Below the main box is a drawer with craft and art supplies for kids and adults.

Talian is doing themes for the different months for the art kits. For February, there are watercolor postcard kits, ideal for sending someone love.

“The art supplies go pretty fast,” Talian remarked. “I've gotten donations just dropped off at my door of art supplies. That's been great.”

People can also donate or buy supplies to help keep the Little Art Box stocked. These supplies can be paint, glue sticks, leftover construction paper, or whatever art supplies you want to donate. There is also an Amazon wishlist for their monthly craft kits, which can be accessed at https://amzn.to/3lcRnp7.

Updates on the Little Art Box can be seen on Facebook and Instagram at @thelittleartboxfayetteville. The Little Art Box, which is open at all hours, is located at 221 Woodcrest Road.

Progress has no patience. I recall my dad with his slide ruler. One day, he came home talking about a new invention called a calculator. Despite its limited functions of only being able to add, subtract, multiply and divide, he saw it as a passing trend, worrying that it would make people at school less intelligent and more reliant.

Little did he know, this “fad” would become a revolution of the 1970s. The 1980s brought us the personal computer, while the 1990s introduced the World Wide Web, and the iPod.

The 2000s saw the rise of the iPhone, YouTube, Facebook and the cell phone camera. By the 2010s, this thing called “privacy,” was dead.

Jumping to 2023, I want to explain two terms. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). AI is the demonstration of intelligence by machines, as opposed to humans and animals. (ML) is the study of building methods that can improve performance on tasks by using data. To further explain this, ask your phone or Alexa.

In November, a company by the name of OpenAI launched “ChatGPT” and it quickly gained popularity, with over a million subscribers in just five days. It is seen as a major disruptor in the information revolution.

For reference, it took Facebook about a year to reach that.

Last week, I set up a free account for ChatGPT to help me write this article:

Me: “Write a 300 word article for a newspaper about how communication forms have changed since the beginning of cave men and how ChatGPT and AI is a new change but we as humans have always evolved in different ways to communicate for clarity and speed.”

Within 30 seconds, ChatGPT’s response:

“Communication has come a long way since the days of cavemen. From simple grunts and gestures to written language and advanced technologies like ChatGPT and AI the way we communicate has continuously evolved to meet our needs for clarity and speed.

In the beginning, cavemen communicated through simple grunts and gestures, which were limited in their ability to convey complex ideas. As human civilization developed, so did the forms of communication. The invention of written language, such as hieroglyphics and cuneiform, allowed for more detailed and accurate communication. This was followed by the invention of the printing press, which revolutionized the way information was disseminated, making it more accessible to the masses.

With the advent of the digital age, communication forms have undergone yet another transformation. The internet and social media have made it easier than ever to connect with people from all over the world, and new technologies like ChatGPT and AI have introduced new possibilities for communication. ChatGPT, for example, is a powerful language model that can understand and respond to natural language inputs, providing more natural and human-like interactions.

But as technology has changed, so too have the ways in which we communicate. The rise of text messaging, instant messaging, and social media has made it easier for people to communicate quickly and easily, but it has also led to a decrease in face-to-face communication and an increase in misunderstandings due to the lack of nonverbal cues.

Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: the human desire for clarity and speed in communication. From cavemen to the present day, we have always sought ways to communicate more effectively and efficiently. And as technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more advancements in the way we communicate in the future.”

Me: “How will chat GPT change the job market in the next five years?”

ChatGPT: “ChatGPT and other AI language models are likely to have a significant impact on the job market in the next five years by automating many tasks that previously required human labor, especially in industries such as customer service, journalism, and data entry. At the same time, there will likely be new job opportunities created in areas such as AI development, management, and ethics. However, it is important to note that the exact effects of AI on the job market are difficult to predict and will depend on factors such as the pace of technological advancement, government policies, and the willingness of workers to adapt to new technologies.”

The U.S. has been in an information revolution since the invention of Morse Code. Today, our smartphones provide us with voice, data and video communications. It also provides music, navigation, Hollywood film quality, a mobile newsroom, entertainment, financing and a platform for the mobile office.

The use of language models such as ChatGPT raises concerns of potential cheating in the education system. As the model can generate text based on prompts, students may use it to generate answers to questions they do not know. Educators need to consider changing their teaching methods to encourage critical thinking and correct question-asking. Currently, AI is not advanced enough to provide reliable answers, but this may change in the future.

The CEO of Microsoft said they have already invested $1 billion into ChatGPT, with plans to integrate it into their applications. He also said they plan on investing up to $10 billion. The CEO believes the job market will shift, but it’s unclear who will adapt and who won’t.

How do educators stop students from using AI? I don’t think they will. It is probably hopeless because it answers questions based on how you ask the question and how the user refines its responses with each iteration, making it difficult to stop its use in education.

AI platforms like ChatGPT have the potential to enhance learning for anyone with basic knowledge by providing answers to questions. These platforms, along with Google, YouTube, and social media sites, can be used as a source of information and knowledge sharing.

Henry Ford had an eighth grade education.

Me: “What did Henry Ford say about a 6 grade education?”

ChatGPT: “‘Why is it every time I ask for a pair of hands, they come with a brain attached?’ He went on to say that he preferred workers with a sixth-grade education because they were trained enough to read and write, but not so much that they thought they knew everything and were difficult to train. In other words, Ford valued practical skills and a willingness to learn and adapt more than a high level of formal education.”

Author's Footnote: For this article, I used a Macbook Pro, Microsoft Word, Google, YouTube, the internet, ChatGPT, Grammarly, Alexa, a master’s degree, and 20 years of experience in IT. At no time did I use the Dewey Decimal System.