As Russia’s full-scale war against the independent country of Ukraine approaches its 20th month, the role of the United States in arming, training and funding the Ukrainians has become a point of contention between Joe Biden and some of his potential GOP opponents, as well as among Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Does the issue deserve debate? Sure, and I say that as an advocate of America’s support for Ukraine. But if your primary concern is its cost to taxpayers, many other issues should concern you more.

Take benefit fraud, for example. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other entitlements are the main drivers of deficits. In 1973, federal spending amounted to 18% of the gross domestic product. Discretionary programs such as defense, transportation, and education made up 53% of the federal budget, with mandatory spending (primarily entitlements) at 40% and interest payments at 7%.

Today, federal spending makes up a quarter of GDP. The breakdown is now 27% in discretionary programs, 63% mandatory, and 10% interest. By 2053, if present trends continue, spending will approach 30% of GDP. Interest payments will more than double as a share of spending, to 21%, while discretionary will continue to shrink in relative terms.

The math is merciless here. Balancing the budget will require structural changes to entitlement programs. But even getting serious about benefit fraud — about individuals and companies receiving taxpayer money to which they aren’t entitled — would do much more to repair America’s finances than cutting off aid to Ukraine would.

Consider the case of unemployment insurance. I’ve written often about the faulty design and management of the UI system, including here in North Carolina. During the COVID pandemic, state and federal officials made it easier to obtain benefits — and fraudsters took advantage of that to bilk employers and taxpayers.

This happened to me, in fact. I teach at Duke University every other semester. A couple of years ago, someone stole my identity, claimed to have been laid off, and filed for benefits. Despite my best efforts to stop it, the crook got paid.

According to the Government Accounting Office, as much as $135 billion in UI benefits were awarded fraudulently during the pandemic. That’s probably a low-ball estimate. Matt Weidinger, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, applied the GAO’s formula to a broader base and estimated that improper payments may total as much as $240 billion.

By comparison, the United States has, to date, sent about $75 billion to Ukraine in the form of military, economic, and technical assistance. If we expand the category to include not only spent but requested funds — and not just aid to Ukraine itself but also aid sent to our allies helping Ukraine — the total comes to $135 billion, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Now consider Medicare and Medicaid fraud. It costs the federal treasury a minimum of $100 billion a year and likely much more. Farm programs, energy subsidies, grant and loan programs, targeted tax breaks for favored industries — these and many other federal policies are plagued by waste, fraud, and abuse.

The GAO estimates that the federal government made $247 billion in improper payments in FY 2022 alone (and that figure didn’t even include some welfare programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). In other words, benefit fraud costs American taxpayers much more than the war in Ukraine has or will.

That’s not an argument against strict oversight of foreign and military aid. Nor is it an argument that all the White House and Congress need to do to balance federal budgets is to cut out improper payments. That won’t be nearly enough, as I’ve also written about many times.

My point is simply that the political attention paid to the fiscal impact of aid to Ukraine is far out of proportion to its contribution to federal deficits. In a rational world, our leaders would set their priorities accordingly. Alas, that’s not the world we inhabit.

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

A breast cancer diagnosis affects every facet of a woman’s life.

While women and their families must prioritize treatment, a host of additional variables, including work, also merit consideration after a breast cancer diagnosis. Work is an important part of life, so it’s understandable if women are concerned about how a breast cancer diagnosis will affect their careers.

With that in mind, women can consider these tips as they share news of their diagnosis with their employers.

Prioritize your own comfort when speaking to an employer about your diagnosis. Breastcancer.org notes that a woman’s comfort level is the most important factor when sharing news of a breast cancer diagnosis with an employer.

Some women may want to inform only a few coworkers they’re close with, while others may find it easier to let everyone know. There’s no wrong or right way to share a diagnosis, so women should prioritize their own comfort when choosing which way to go.

To ensure things go smoothly and your wishes are honored, consider first breaking the news to a supervisor in a private face-to-face meeting or Zoom call.

Decide what you want to share. The Australia-based Cancer Council notes that individuals must decide what they want to share regarding their diagnosis. Women can speak to their physicians to determine how long they will continue working, if their ability to work full-time will be affected by treatment and the projected length of treatment.

Answers to these questions can help women decide how much to share with their employers. If treatment is lengthy and require time off to recover, then sharing such information can help employers arrange to cover your responsibilities.

Take additional measures to overcome side effects of treatment. Breastcancer.org notes that treatment can produce cognitive side effects such as memory loss or difficulty concentrating.

Successful professionals will undoubtedly want to maintain the standard they have established for themselves, and that can be done by taking a few simple steps to overcome any cognitive issues that may arise during treatment.

Record Zoom calls so you can go back and view them, if necessary. Take copious notes during strategizing sessions. Begin using a planner so you can stay on top of deadlines. These simple measures are easy to employ and can ensure women don’t miss a beat during treatment.

Take time off, if necessary. Time off should always be a consideration during cancer treatment. Breastcancer.org notes that various programs can help women meet their financial obligations if they’re no longer earning income.

Some employers may pay full salaries during treatment and not count time off as vacation or personal time, while others may grant short-term disability benefits that can provide some income during extended time off. Explore all your options with the human resources staff at your firm.

A breast cancer diagnosis may require women to alter their work habits and schedules.

Even the simplest tweaks can have a profound impact and allow women to direct much of their energy and focus on their treatment.

How did The Lost Colony fit in the founding of the English colonies in North America?

Virginia Dare was born at the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, the first child of English parents in America, and that gives North Carolinians a strong claim to be a critical part of the English colonization effort. But since that colony disappeared without a trace, can we claim that this unsuccessful colonization effort was part of later permanent colonization efforts in Virginia and New England?

The answer: Absolutely, says John May, author of an upcoming book to be titled “English America: An Introduction to The Lost Colony and Jamestown.”

It is scheduled for publication next year by McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books.

May argues that the “founding of the first enduring English American colony was one continuous effort interrupted by war with Spain. The Roanoke Island and Jamestown colonies constitute the selfsame history in all meaningful respects.

Think of Jamestown as the second act of the two-act play but under new direction and with it an all-new cast of characters.”

In October 1584, at the request of Sir Walter Raleigh’s supporters, a young scholar, Richard Hakluyt, prepared a prospectus outlining the “potential political advantages of a colony in the part of North America that had been named Virginia.” Hakluyt delivered a copy to Queen Elizabeth.

The queen offered only minimal support for Raleigh’s venture.

But May argues that the objectives outlined in the prospectus “remained unchanged for the next twenty-five years. But in all those years of trial and error— of one heartbreaking failure after another — the one constant and central presence in the effort was Richard Hakluyt.”

Raleigh, the most prominent supporter of the first colonization effort on Roanoke, had the most to gain.

With a successful permanent settlement within seven years of his grant in 1584, Raleigh would be granted title to most of the eastern part of North America. But Raleigh had stepped aside and become involved in other adventures.

Efforts to establish a colony on Roanoke Island continued, and May tells the stories of that colony in engaging detail, beginning with their biggest problem, the unsuitability of our coast, to support a colonization effort.

“The coast of North Carolina was an inauspicious choice for a first colony. From the seashore island for up to fifty miles, the land is swampy or so low-lying it often floods, and much of it in the sixteenth century was thickly forested wetlands that were all but impenetrable.

“English galleons had an average draft of twelve feet but inlets into the Pamlico Sound — through which Roanoke Island is accessed — were blocked to such ships by shallow sandbars that shift with every major storm.

“Dangerous offshore shallows — Wimble, Diamond, and Frying Pan Shoals — extend miles out into the Atlantic, and seas off the Outer Banks are subject to riptides and cross currents caused by the conflicts of the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current.

These hazards have caused countless shipwrecks and given to this region of the North American coast the baleful epitaph’ Graveyard of the Atlantic.’”

In May’s detailed account of the Virginia Colony, his hero is John Smith, the rough-and-ready Daniel Boone character who also fought against the Native Americans and still gained their respect.

The story about the Native American emperor Powhatan’s daughter rescuing Smith from execution is based on Smith’s later written account. May says that, although this account is probably not completely accurate, Pocahontas had a real expectation that Smith would become a part of the Powhatan family. Smith’s failure to meet this expectation was a great disappointment to her.

May’s copious research, combined with his great storytelling gifts, make his story of the Lost Colony and Jamestown histories a reading pleasure.

The Lost Colony itself had disappeared without a trace, but there were others who were “eager to take up the baton and see what profits could be squeezed from the great unknown of North America about which Hakluyt promised so much.”

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

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra presents Spooktacular. Families can enjoy the sounds of the spooky season, all dressed up, on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University.

The night will feature music by notable composers John Williams, Michael Jackson, and Hector Berlioz and more.

Attendees will “Experience spooky selections from nostalgic classics like Superman, Batman, Ghostbusters, the Incredibles, Hook, and more.” according to the FSO Facebook page. The night promises to be filled with fun and recognizable songs, a great addition to any Halloween plans,

”This year, attendees can look forward to an incredible program featuring the entire orchestra. Selections include Superman March, Batman Theme, Dead Elvis, Thriller and more,” said Meghan Woolbright, marketing and office manager, FSO. “In addition to the programming, we will be having a costume contest with giveaways from The Sweet Palette and Triangle Rock Club along with a spooky photo booth. Come early to the performance for a chance to meet select musicians and experience our instrument petting zoo.”

An exciting new addition to this year’s event is the costume contest with giveaways for the winners.
Woolbright is excited about the future of FSO events.

“By having a family-themed program to start off our season, we hope to see children and their families excited about symphonic music for future family concerts this upcoming season. Visit fayettevillesymphony.org to learn more about our exciting season filled with family and community concerts, season concerts, Symphony on Tap events, and more,” she said.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 with the mission to “educate, entertain, and inspire the citizens of the Fayetteville, North Carolina region as the leading musical resource,” a mission they keep through several programs.

Along with the Spooktacular event, the FSO puts on seven seasonal concerts, free community concerts and a free concert series called Symphony on Tap.

Young musicians can audition for the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra programs. The FSYO is a way for the FSO to educate the next generation of musicians. Made up of five ensembles, young musicians are encouraged to go beyond the four walls of the classroom to master their craft.

FSYO ensembles include Youth Orchestra, Concert Band, Chamber Strings, Cello Choir and Sting Sinfonietta. The FSYO “seeks to enhance music education for young musicians in the greater Fayetteville area by providing quality training, ensemble playing experience, and unique performance opportunities.”.

Fans of the orchestra can follow them on their social media platforms and check out their next performance in November of The Four Seasons at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Ticket prices range from $5 to $32 and can be purchased online at https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org, at the door, or by calling 910-433-4690. Infants to children five years old are free.

No adult over the age of 35 doesn’t recognize the sweet melodic voice of Maxwell as soon as the first note is dropped. Maxwell Night: The Trilogy Show is coming to the Crown A on Oct. 20. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $59 to $200 for premium front-row seats.

For those interested in a VIP experience, seats are still available. VIP ticket holders will be seated in the first 12 rows and receive a specially designed Maxwell tour shirt, an exclusive Maxwell merchandise item, a commemorative tour laminate and an on-site VIP host. Attendees will have a large selection of cocktails, wine and beer from multiple bars around the coliseum and hot, delicious food. Fans will be able to purchase exclusive Maxwell merchandise in the concourse during the concert.

Maxwell has been serenading music lovers for over two decades, continuously pumping out hit after hit. The perfect date night or girls’ night option, Maxwell will set the mood for an elevated evening of music and nostalgia.

For those who follow the artist on social media, he is fully prepared to put on a show for his faithful fans. The concert is set to be an R&B lover’s dream.

Opening for Maxwell, but not an afterthought, is the multitalented Alex Isley. Alex’s sound is smooth and sultry, entrancing listeners with her poetic lyrics and soulful voice. The daughter of famous singer Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers, performing for an audience is in her genes. Maxwell is a big name for Fayetteville. There was also a substantial amount of work put in to make this concert and more events like it.

“Our General Manager, Seth Benalt, works all year to line up talented performers like Maxwell. This process involves building positive relationships with promoters and helping to educate them about the potential that exists in our market,” said Maddy Eversole, marketing director at the Crown.

“It isn’t just a one-person job though. A huge part of the equation when it comes to securing big acts at our facilities rests with our community. The support of our community coming out to these shows is what will help us continue to bring impressive shows to Fayetteville.”

The Crown Complex has more in store for area residents.

“This fall in the Crown Theatre we have a full lineup of shows including Gladys Knight and The Ville City Blues Festival featuring Tucka, King George, Calvin Richardson, Pokey Bear, Theodis Ealey and J-Wonn,” said Eversole.

“In the Coliseum, we have Jeezy & Friends taking place on Nov. 25. We are also starting to announce our Spring lineup, so guests should follow our Facebook page, facebook.com/crowncomplexnc, to get updates about all the exciting shows we’re bringing to the area.

Attendees can also visit our website to view our entire show calendar for all our facilities.”
Concertgoers are reminded of the clear bag policy at the Crown Coliseum. More information about that and other policies can be found at https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/visit/venue-policies.
For tickets and more information, call 910-438-4300 or visit https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/ticket-office.

The story of jazz has been the story of change. Originating in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the hybrid genre has evolved from blues, ragtime, hot jazz, swing, bebop, smooth jazz and the list goes on.

When I think of the “who’s who” of jazz giants Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and my personal favorite, Miles Davis, come to mind, they were fearless musicians who showed the world where music came from and what music could be.

Jazz is coming back to Fayetteville. Up & Coming Weekly, Beasley Media Group and The Sandhills Jazz Society present the All-American City Jazz Festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville.

“The purpose of the jazz festival is to raise money for the Sandhills Jazz Society and our mission is to bring music back in schools,” said Tina Turner, event director of the All-American City Jazz Festival. “We want to start doing workshops for high school and middle school students.”

“Our first jazz festival was in 2019, but due to the pandemic this is the first year that we are able to bring it back. We really believe that jazz is one of the original art forms as far as music goes,” said Turner. “A lot of music has derived from jazz and many people do not realize there are so many types of jazz out there.”

The event features Brian Simpson, Lindsey Webster, Jeanette Harris and Terence Young. Up and Coming Weekly had the pleasure of speaking with Terence Young, smooth jazz guitarist and Brian Simpson, jazz pianist.

Born in Elko, South Carolina, with roots in quartet gospel music, Terence Young has been playing the guitar for 40 years.

His passion for music began at the tender age of 5, and he credits his uncles, who are musicians and influencers of his musical journey. Over the course of 40 years, 14 albums and scores of concert performances, fans travel from all over the world for the Terence Young Experience. His latest album, The Playlist, was released in April 2022.

“The Playlist is a collaboration of songs that people have been requesting me to play through my years of performing that include cover songs and original songs that people love to hear me play,” said Terence Young. “I like my music to feel good and I make it melodic so that people are able to process it in their mind and spirit.” He added, “My uncles taught me that if you don’t feel what you are playing, you can’t expect anyone else to feel it.”

And what can the audience expect from Young at the jazz festival?

“They should expect an experience that is a bit different from the norm,” said Young. “It is going to be real intense, funky and sensual,” he said.

For more information about Terence Young, visit https://www.terenceyoungmusic.com/.

With humble beginnings in Gurnee, Illinois, Brian Simpson had a love for music and the piano.

“Both of my parents loved jazz and my dad had a sizable record collection,” said Brian Simpson, jazz pianist and artist at the All American City Jazz Festival. “I grew up where we would have a weekend party and there would be a couple of jazz guitar players who were his friends in the yard jamming away.”

Simpson added that one of his dad’s musician friends would take him to music stores and on gigs where he would perform in the city, allowing him to see what it was like to be a working musician.
Simpson started taking piano lessons at the age of 10.

“Normally piano players learn classical music first, but I have a zero classical background in music,” said Simpson. “My early books were fake books with chord symbols and a melody and this is what jazz musicians would use to do a gig.”

“This was my early learning about jazz and I did not know if I was ever going to make a living out of it, but I certainly was going to try,” he said.

He graduated as a music major from Northern Illinois University and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1986 to pursue a career in music. His latest album, Soul
Connection was released in June 2023.

“When it came out it was the number one jazz album on iTunes Jazz,” said Simpson. “The magic behind romantic songs is when you find these harmonies and I know that if it is making me feel something, then it is probably going to do that to other people.”

For more information about Brian Simpson, visit https://bsimpsonmusic.com/.

The Sandhills Jazz Society is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit arts/educational organization whose mission is to promote interest in jazz music across multiple generations, to actively engage a new generation in the efforts of the Society and to have fun producing a financially viable annual All-American City Jazz Festival.

“Three of us started the Sandhills Jazz Society in 2018 and we knew that we wanted to do something but we could not figure out what it was,” said Turner. “We knew there was a need for it so we started the nonprofit with a main focus in music education and appreciation.”

“The audience should expect to have a good time and it is going to be a lot of fun,” said Turner.

“We are getting a lot of calls from people in other states who have purchased their tickets and hopefully the community will embrace the out-of-town visitors that are coming to town for it.”

Gates open at 4 p.m. for this rain-or-shine event. General admission is $35 and VIP is $100. For tickets and information, call 910-987-2426 or visit www.SandhillsJazz.com.

This weekend, we witnessed a savage and unprecedented attack on our greatest Middle Eastern ally, Israel. The senseless violence in Israel is sickening, but we must be clear-eyed that this is an unprovoked act of war on a sovereign ally.

There should be no doubt that Israel has every right to defend itself, and the United States should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friend in this terrible time.

Reports that Americans are among the hundreds killed or taken hostage are worrying. I am also outraged by the possibility that the Biden administration’s eagerness to give legitimacy and over $6 billion to Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorists, including Hamas, may have contributed to this attack. I will continue to monitor this situation and will always stand with Israel.

These have been a challenging few weeks in Washington. Our House Republican majority is the only firewall against the extreme agenda of Washington Democrats.

I am doing anything I can to remind my colleagues of this and find a way forward by electing a new Republican speaker. My focus remains on cutting spending, securing our Southern border, and working on behalf of you and your family.

As the crisis at the border rages, Senate Democrats refuse to take any action on the House-passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security bill in history.

This legislation restarts construction of the border wall, deploys technology to the Southern and Northern border, increases the number of Border Patrol agents, and provides them with bonus pay. The ongoing humanitarian and national security crisis at our Southern border continues to escalate as record numbers of illegal migrants cross into the United States. In August alone, there were 232,972 encounters at the Southern Border — a 27% increase from July and more than double the population of Moore County.

While Washington Democrats allow thousands of illegal immigrants into our country each day, they also refuse to acknowledge the ways their failed economic policies are impacting hardworking families.

Washington Democrats borrowed and spent at record levels under their one-party rule, fueling inflation and propelling our debt to an astronomical $33 trillion.

Because of this, new polling data shows only 28% of Americans are satisfied with the state of the economy.

These are serious issues facing our nation today — yet we have seen troubling times before. In the face of previous conflict and uncertainty, President Ronald Reagan believed that America’s best days were always ahead.

He also knew that uniting under conservative leadership was the only way to secure our freedoms for future generations. I believe in that, too, especially because House Republicans have solutions to each of the challenges we are once again facing today.

House Republicans are focused on cutting wasteful spending, fully-funding programs for seniors, military families and veterans, securing our border, and passing solutions that fulfill our commitment to the American people.

As your Congressman, I am committed to building a safer future for you and your family. As internal debates continue in Congress on how our majority can achieve those goals, know that I will always stay focused on the big picture and the issues that matter most to you.

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

My dedicated staff in our Southern Pines and Fayetteville district offices are here to serve you.
To find out our office locations and office hours, visit Hudson.house.gov or call us at 910-910-1924.

As your Congressman, I will never stop working with my House colleagues to advance common sense solutions that grow our economy, keep us safe, and help you and every American family succeed.

Editor’s note: Rep. Richard Hudson represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District.

The undead are coming. For the 13th year, the Zombie Walk is taking over downtown Fayetteville. A free, family-friendly event, the Zombie Walk convenes the undead on Oct. 27 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Zombies of all ages are invited to come and enjoy the festivities.

For this year’s event, the Cool Springs Downtown District Zombie Walk is bringing back old favorites and adding some new, soon-to-be favorites: food, fun, music and a little of everything in between.
Returning this year is a performance stage on Person Street. Tan & Sober Gentlemen, Tumbao and Stone Dolls are set to entertain the undead. Each band will bring its own vibe and style of music, a sure win for the zombies set to attend.

According to their website, “The Tan & Sober Gentlemen aim to bring these traditions full circle.
They play Irish tunes, ballads and pub songs right next to the Appalachian fiddle tunes of their youth, melding the two into what they call “Irish-American hillbilly music.”

Bringing some Latin fusion is Tumbao. “¡Tumbao! offers a taste of Salsa, Funk, Cumbia, Latin rock, Reggae, and R&B, all loaded with brass - truly one of the best night parties around.” The all-female Stone Dolls will bring the best of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today.

This year, another new attraction will be introduced: wrestling. Catch a show by Ring Wars Carolina Pro Wrestling team on the corner of Ray Ave and Hay Street.

But the most anticipated new addition is the Rocky Horror Sing-A-Long Trolley. Riders will hop on for a Time Warp of a time, singing along to all their Rocky Horror Show favorites. The only experience that is not free, tickets are $30 per rider. There are two trolley rides to catch, 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The trolley picks up riders from the Bright Light Brewing Company at 444 W. Russell Street. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Cool Springs Downtown District’s office at 910- 223-1089.

Zombies will have more than brains to fill their tummies at the food truck rodeo and an opportunity to explore “Artist Alley” on Anderson Street and purchase new goodies from local vendors.

Zombies traveling by car can find spaces in the two downtown parking decks, Franklin Street Parking Deck, 208 Franklin Street, and Hay Street Parking Deck, 472 Hay Street.

Remember, it’s a takeover, so Hay, Anderson and Person Streets will be closed to traffic.

Don’t forget, wear your best costume for a chance to win a prize as the top undead of the night. Organizers ask that attendees refrain from bringing functioning or previously functioning weapons.

Lauren Falls, Marketing and Events Director for the Cool Springs Downtown District, is excited about this year’s event, recognizing all of the amazing sponsors who make this event possible and free.

“The Cool Spring Downtown District would like to thank BackARound Records, City of Fayetteville, Healy Wholesale, The Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, Metronet and First National Bank for sponsoring the Zombie Walk,” Falls said.

While vendor spots are officially closed for this year, Falls encourages those interested in being a vendor for 4th Fridays in the 2024 season to send an email to info@coolspringfay.org.

Who is Antoinne Duane Jones? That is the question on everyone’s mind as his upcoming Arts Council exhibit takes place on Oct. 20.

A Fayetteville State University alumnus, father of three, culinary connoisseur, ex-teacher and award-winning photographer, Antoinne Duane Jones has spent nearly the last twenty years of his life capturing the essence of the people in front of his camera.

From the sets of television shows to the yearbooks of children, Antoinne Duane Jones has left his mark as a prolific photographer and entrepreneur.

He has written his own book, filled with the lessons and habits that have helped him grow his business and in his endeavors titled, “The Down Entrepreneur: A Blueprint to Business Rejuvenation.”

A jack-of-all trades in his own right, Antoinne was even a teacher at Jack Britt High School for five years before starting his career in Fayetteville when his wife and mother suggested he pursue his passion of photography.

“When I was little, I would always be buying those little, small three button cameras from Walmart and just be taking pictures of everywhere I went,” said Jones.

Since then, he’s gone on to grow his brand from Fayetteville to Atlanta, all while focusing on his favorite job of being a parent. Speaking on his passion, Antoinne noted how fulfilling it felt to be able to help support the growth of the next generation.

To this end, he has even helped create an amazing new opportunity for the future students at Fayetteville State University: a scholarship.

Jones is one part of a brand-new scholarship program for students at Fayetteville State University that is being announced at his exhibit and book signing event.

An astonishing 40% of the proceeds from his exhibition and book signing will also be going directly to the funding of tuition to scholarship awardees.

“To be able to come back, and give back, to the place I call home, it’s amazing,” he said.

Being an alum of the historically black college FSU, I asked Antoinne what his thoughts were on how his experiences there shaped and molded him as an artist.

“Being able to be around people who look like you, speak like you, and have had similar experiences to you, I think is so important. It allows us to be able to feel that sense of community and be able to go out into the work force and society and represent the positive impact those historically black colleges have had on our lives,” said Jones.

The exhibit, being aimed as a celebration of those who supported him coming up, is split into three parts.

With aspects of a potentially dark future of our own design, the advanced technologies of the Wakanda nation and superhero cosplays, Antoinne Duane Jones plans to show us photorealism, conscious consumption and a passion for photography two decades in the making.

“I wanted to still be able to express my creativity while also being able to tell people something about the direction we’re heading on our planet, you know, the ‘what if’ of if we keep treating our planet this way,” Jones said. “I asked myself, ‘what would prom look like for my great-granddaughter’.”

Nestled beside city staff buildings, where Lamon and Ann streets meet, is a local treasure trove of history. Cross Creek Cemetery #2 is a municipal cemetery owned and primarily maintained by the city since the 1870s.

It is the second oldest of the five sections of Cross Creek Cemetery. The plots are privately owned by the families whose loved ones call the cemetery home. Though flanked by modern roadways, the cemetery has a marked quintessential southern feel.

Trees draped in Spanish moss shade stones bearing the names of families also reflected through business names, buildings and street signs across Fayetteville.

Cross Creek Cemetery #2 captures a unique part of Fayetteville’s history. The cemetery comprises three prominent late 19th and early 20th-century communities. Brookside is representative of Fayetteville’s flourishing affluent African Americans.

The “old” Beth Israel cemetery was donated to the local Jewish community by the city and is the final resting place of merchants, among others, spanning the late 19th century to the 1970s.

The area of the cemetery abutting Ann Street is the burial site of prominent white Fayettevillians. While burial plots in this area of the municipal cemetery have long since been wholly purchased, empty spaces in those plots are still being filled by the occasional modern burial.

Each community is represented in the same broader cemetery, separated by choice or discrimination, reflecting societal norms in the late 19th to early 20th century.

Local historians from the Fayetteville History Museum invite the public to join them on Fridays, October 20 and 27, to travel through the cemetery and learn all about the individuals buried in Cross Creek #2’s storied plots.

Attendees can expect to join tour guides on a walk that spans the cemetery, meeting cabinet maker and undertaker Silas Sheetz, educator, leader and statesman E.E. Smith, and Jewish merchant Jacob Stein, to name a few.

In addition to meeting Fayetteville’s past citizens, tour-goers can expect to learn about the cemetery’s vast array of art and symbolism.

Mother nature and human activity have caused significant damage to the cemetery, and the Fayetteville History Museum staff see these tours as an opportunity to educate and engage the public on how the community can help protect and support this unique historic space.

“We are excited to offer the public an opportunity to appreciate these unique spaces and hope that through programs, like our cemetery tours, we will inspire people to help care for them and feel invested in their care,” Fayetteville Historic Properties Manager Heidi Bleazey said.

During the final tour on October 27, museum staff are encouraging attendees to join them dressed for the season in costume for a special seasonal fact-or-treat tour. Participants can fact-or-treat for Halloween goodies by answering historic true or false prompts.

The Fayetteville History Museum and the Cross Creek Cemetery #2 tours are open and free to the public. The tours are recommended for individuals ten years and older.

To attend a tour, participants need only meet at the corner of Ann and Lamon Street near the Cross Creek Cemetery #2 sign at noon on any remaining Friday in October. No registration is necessary for this event.

“With the noon start, we hope to capture the lunch crowd,” Bleazey explained.

The tours will run for approximately an hour and a half. Those attending are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the day’s weather forecast.

The Fayetteville History Museum is located at 325 Franklin Street and is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For any additional information, museum staff can be reached by calling 910-433-1457.

Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity is reaching out to the local community, calling for volunteers to join hands in their upcoming Veterans Build event.

The opening ceremony is set to take place on Nov. 3rd at 9 a.m. at 607 Link Street, and the organization is inviting residents to actively participate in this noble cause.

Veterans Build is more than just constructing houses; it’s about building bridges, creating opportunities, and showing gratitude to the brave men and women who have served our country.

By volunteering for this event, community members can contribute directly to providing affordable and comfortable housing solutions for our deserving veterans.

“We believe in the power of community. When we come together, amazing things can happen,” said Rick Callaway, veteran and chief operating officer of Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.

“We are inviting the community to join us in this meaningful initiative. Your time and effort can make a significant impact on the lives of our veterans.”

Volunteer opportunities are available from Nov. 3rd through the 9th. No prior experience is necessary, as training and guidance will be provided on-site.

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals and groups to give back to the community, learn new skills, and forge connections with fellow volunteers who share a passion for making a difference.

The opening ceremony on Nov. 3rd will not only be a celebration of the progress made but also a launch pad for future endeavors. Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity encourages everyone, regardless of their background or expertise, to join the cause and be part of this transformative experience.

To volunteer for the Veterans Build event or to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact Kelly Rodriguez, Faith and Community Relations Director, Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity, at fcr@fayettevillenchabitat.org or by calling 910- 483 – 0952.

I always tell clients it doesn’t matter how good your insurance is on paper if you can’t use it.

In July, I attended a meeting at Cape Fear Valley Hospital where CEO Mike Nagowski and Vice President of Managed Care Bart Fiser announced that due to critical grievances in service, CFV was terminating the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage network at the hospitals and in 2024, all their other providers as well.

Hospitals often have these disputes with insurance carriers. Last year, Duke Wake Med terminated their relationship with UHC for about six months.

This past February, Charlotte Ears, Nose and Throat also announced that they would be terminating UHC unless negotiations were made.

There are plenty of examples in North Carolina alone, but the situation at Cape Fear Valley has one major difference from what is typical in these situations: it isn’t about money.

Mr. Fiser painted a grim scene of doctor frustration and administrative nightmares, and he claimed that Cape Fear Valley patients were receiving around a 30 percent decline rate of services with UHC Medicare Advantage plans, including things like pacemakers.

Furthermore, prior approval was being downgraded months later. A diagnosis of sepsis being downgraded to pneumonia because it didn’t meet the carrier definition was an example I was provided with.

Mr. Fiser also explained that transmitting medical records to UHC was particularly vexing because the online portals often won’t accept files as large as necessary to transmit data.
Oftentimes, CFV must mail paper copies costing as much as $800 and increasing the turnaround time on decisions.

These high declination rates, administrative difficulties, and reneging on prior approval have been so detrimental to patient care that the executive team felt forced to cut ties.

“I didn’t ask for a single penny. We get higher rates with UHC. We were in partnership with them on shared savings. Denials just got so crazy.” said Fiser.

On October 5th, I met with Mr. Fiser again to see if there were updates that would provide me with insights I could use to better serve my clients. One of my questions centered around PPOs. I had spoken with agents and people in the community who had voiced that if they switched to a UHC PPO plan, they would be fine.

Mr. Fiser stated they “absolutely would not be fine.” While the hospital would accept the PPO plans, they would only do so at an out-of-network rate.

I inquired if any headway had been made to repair the relationship and was told there had been none but that “we would certainly listen if they addressed the issues because we want what’s best for the community.”

I point-blank asked Mr. Fiser if there was a carrier they did not have issues with, and he replied, “we don’t have issues with Blue Cross Blue Shield.” No others were specifically mentioned.

During this annual enrollment period, make an informed decision on your plan for 2024 because, to quote Mr. Fiser, “people don’t want to drive 75 miles for service.”

Honor is important in this military community that has trained and supported thousands of military personnel and their families for more than a century.

It is more than an intellectual concept. It is a living, breathing feature of everyday life here, shaping the conduct of our individual lives, how we treat each other, and how we raise our children. That is why what has happened to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, is so stunning, so sad, and so terrifying.

Milley retired voluntarily last month after a 44-year career that included command of the 82nd Airborne at what was then Fort Bragg. He ultimately held command and staff positions in 8 divisions and special forces.

His record of dedicated and stellar service to our nation led former President Donald Trump to appoint him to the highest-ranking and most senior position in the United States Armed Services. Milley served in that position for four years.

But Milley angered his boss, not because of his job performance, but because his honor required him to defend the US Constitution against capricious and vindictive rule by a strongman government.

Because Milley supports the rule of law over the rule of an individual, he has said he expects to be thrown into prison along with other like-minded Americans if the United States elects a would-be dictator.

It is worth reading Milley’s own words about the rule of law in our nation for almost 250 years. In his farewell address less than a month ago, Milley said this.

“Today is not about anyone up on this stage…. It’s about something much larger than all of us. It’s about our democracy. It’s about our republic…. It’s about the ideas and values that make up this great experiment in liberty.

“Those values and ideas are contained within the Constitution of the United States of America, which is the moral North Star of all of us who have the privilege of wearing the cloth of our nation….

“You see, we in uniform are unique…among the world’s armies. We are unique among the world’s militaries. We don’t take an oath to a country. We don’t take an oath to a king or a queen or a tyrant or a dictator. We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it.”

Earlier during his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs but after he apparently offended the then-President, Milley sounded the same theme in a message to the Joint Forces, reminding members of their oaths to the Constitution.

“This document is founded on the essential principle that all men and women are born free and equal and should be treated with respect and dignity.”

“It also gives Americans the rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly….As members of the Joint Force — comprised of all races, colors, and creeds — you embody the ideals of our Constitution.”

“We all committed our lives to the idea that is America. We all stay true to that oath and the American people.”

As the federal, state, and local elections of 2024 loom, we would all do well to remember Milley’s words born from long experience both in the Army and in life.

Last month, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a $30 billion state budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Gov. Roy Cooper, disappointed with many provisions but keen on the bill's expansion of Medicaid, allowed the $30 billion budget to become law without his signature.

That's how the event was widely described last month, not only by media outlets and affected institutions but also by many legislators. Alas, my initial paragraph contains a significant factual error.

The 2023-24 state budget spends way, way more than $30 billion.
For starters, this commonly reported number refers only to the appropriation of General Fund revenues, primarily income and sales taxes.

When the legislature enacts a budget, it doesn't just spend General Fund taxes and other revenues. It also spends federal grants, such as for Medicaid and public schools, and receipts from program beneficiaries, such as university students paying tuition.

Total spending on General Fund programs, from all revenue sources, will be $66 billion this year, not $30 billion. And if we add all transportation spending, regardless of source, the 2023-24 budget grows to more than $71 billion.

To describe only the net General Fund appropriation from state dollars as "the budget" is a standard convention — one that I've complained about ever since I began writing about the state legislature in the 1980s.

North Carolinians certainly deserve to know how much of the state taxes they pay are expended every year. But they also deserve to know how much their state government will spend in total. Otherwise, they have a distorted view of the size and scope of their budget — and of the extent to which their state government has become dependent on the fiscal irresponsibility of their federal government.

So far, I've discussed the ways in which the standard story of this year's state budget has been misreported within normal parameters. The problem can be rectified by encouraging lawmakers, other public officials, journalists, and interest groups to read and summarize the budget bill itself, which contains all the numbers I've mentioned, rather than just the committee report on the General Fund.

Unfortunately, in recent years lawmakers have increasingly moved major expenditures of public funds "off budget," to reserves that aren't always accounted for in the same way that General Fund appropriations are.

My John Locke Foundation colleague, Brian Balfour, has pointed out some $7.2 billion in such spending in the 2023-24 budget.

His figure includes items such as $2.4 billion for the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF), $1 billion for clean-water projects, $1.25 billion for regional economic development, $450 million for information technology investment, and $250 million for a private entity, NCInnovation, that seeks to commercialize research conducted within public colleges and universities.

There's nothing wrong with setting money aside in reserves. In fact, there's much right with the practice! I've praised the SCIF in the past, for example, as a mechanism for guaranteeing a steady, reliable flow of funds to build and maintain public assets.

The problem is that, for at least some of these accounts, neither the transfer of revenues nor the subsequent expenditure of funds is accounted for as part of General Fund appropriations. That has the effect of understating how much money our state government is spending.

Opinions may differ about the wisdom of these expenditures. Moreover, while conservatives have long advocated a fixed cap on annual spending increases — a combination of inflation and population growth is the most common version — critics say North Carolina should not follow so formulaic a rule.

What we should all agree on, however, is that every dollar spent by our state government should be clearly reported. In the case of reserves, if revenue transfers into them aren't going to be counted as spending, then the money should be counted as part of the General Fund appropriation in whatever year it is withdrawn and spent.

I don't think that's too much to ask. Do you?

Editor's Note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com)

The Remember My Name domestic violence vigil will be held Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse in downtown Fayetteville to raise awareness of domestic violence.

The keynote speaker will be Charnessa L. Ridley, who is the deputy director of the Council for Women and Youth Involvement.

Retired Chief District Court Judge Beth Keever will read aloud the names of the people who died as a result of domestic violence in North Carolina over the past year.

Other Remember My Name ceremony participants scheduled to appear include Chief District Court Judge Toni S. King, Fort Liberty Garrison Commander U.S. Army Col. John Wilcox and the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus.

Remember My Name is organized by the Cumberland County District Court, the CARE Center Family Violence Program, Cumberland County Department of Social Services, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Hope Mills Police Department, Army Community Services, Legal Aid of North Carolina and the Phoenix Center.

The vigil will also serve to highlight community resources for domestic violence victims, such as:

 • Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office: non-emergency 910-323-1500; Victim Assistance 910-677-5454 or ccsonc.org.

• Fayetteville Police Department: 910-433-1529; Victim Assistance 910-433-1849 or bethebadge.com

• Hope Mills Police 910-425-4103

• Spring Lake Police 910-436-0350

• Cumberland County Family Court: 910-475-3015 or nccourts.gov/locations/cumberland-county/family-court-administration.

• Clerk of Superior Court Lisa Scales, Safe-Link Domestic Violence Assistance Program 910-475-3000, Cumberland County Courthouse, Room 340

• Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office: 910-475-3010

• The CARE Center Family Violence Program: Crisis Line 910-677-2532 or office 910-677-2528

• Army Community Services: 910-396-8262 or myarmybenefits.us.army.mil.

• Legal Aid of North Carolina Fayetteville Chapter: 910-483-0400 or www.legalaidnc.org

• The Phoenix Center hotline: 910-485-7273

• U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program: 910-322-3148 or hotline 910-584-4267

For more information about Remember My Name, contact Court Manager Sanya Eller at 910-475-3222 or Sanya.T.Eller@nccourts.org.

“Hallowe’en Revels: Moonlight Mischief at the 1897 Poe House” spotlights live theater with a historical Halloween twist.

Hosted in partnership with the Gilbert Theater, the show runs Oct. 19 through the 21 and the 26 through the 27 from 6 to 10 p.m.

Proceeds from ticket sales directly fund this event and other programs at the 1897 Poe House.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Eventbrite https://MoonlightMischief2023.eventbrite.com.
Come join the Museum of the Cape Fear for a spirited visit to the 1897 Poe House and witness spooky vignettes complete with a few ghosts.

This is not your traditional Poe House tour. Guests will be transported back in time, witnessing a series of short vignettes while becoming immersed in early 20th century cultural norms, music, and poetry through this scripted short play.

This is a unique opportunity to experience historical theater in an actual historic home. For a more detailed look at the Poe House and family history, attend a tour during regular museum hours.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are only good for the time slot purchased. Ticket holders should arrive at least 15 minutes before show time; late arrivals cannot be admitted once the group enters the 1897 Poe House.

Due to tight space inside the house, shows are limited to 15 people per group. Ticket holders should be able to walk, stand, and navigate stairs for the duration of the 30 minute show. This is not a seated performance.

Trick or Treat at the Poe House

“Trick or Treat at the Poe House” will be held Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features Halloween fun for kids 12 and under.

Over the past several years, attendance for the Trick or Treat program has annually increased, reaching more than 1,000 guests and cementing it as a family favorite Halloween event.

Children attending this event explore Victorian Halloween in the Poe House, play vintage carnival games, enjoy a Halloween dance party with a local DJ, and witness balloon twisting and magic tricks with Joy the Clown. Hayrides in Arsenal Park will round out the fun. Don’t forget the costumes.
Concessions include funnel cakes, hot dogs and more. This event is free, and each child takes home a Trick or Treat goody bag.

This project is supported by the Arts Council in part by contributions from businesses and individuals and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources.

Matching funds are being provided by the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation, Inc.

Project Support Grants increase opportunities for access to arts, science, cultural and historical programming in Cumberland County. The grants are awarded to nonprofit agencies, universities, and government agencies in Cumberland County that demonstrate financial and administrative stability.

“I am not a dancer,” Marc De La Concha laughs.

He bends forward and throws his hands on his legs. His face, which is usually clean shaven, is adorned with a mustache.

It will go perfectly with a black pinstripe suit and a slick comb over. In just a week, he’ll be stepping on the stage as the passionate husband and father Gomez Addams.

“It’s a lot of tango stuff,” he says.

A few of the other actors sitting by him compliment him on his moves, and he lets out another laugh. De la Concha smirks.

“I’m a strong mover.”

De La Concha and the others are in Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s upcoming production of The Addams Family. At the table near De La Concha sits Tyce Diorio, the choreographer, Samantha Parada, who plays Morticia, and Alessandra Antonelli, who plays Wednesday.

In this production, Wednesday meets a young man and brings him home. She asks Gomez to keep the secret.

“He has never kept a secret from his wife ever,” De La Concha sweeps his hand in front of his face and laughs. “Chaos ensues.”

Parada and De La Concha are locals to the area. Antonelli lives in New York and requested to audition for the darkly braided teen. She says she is excited to play Wednesday and be here “in real life.”

Like De La Concha hinted at, the show will have a lot of musical numbers and dancing.

“This is such an ensemble show,” Parada says. “We will see an awesome, huge ensemble of creepy, kooky dancing. It’s a fun show for the Halloween season.”

The actors are currently rehearsing daily at the theatre, with each character bringing in their own quirky musical styles for the characters they are portraying.

The show’s director, Mary Katherine Burke, says while all The Addams Family plays are so different, the fact that each character has their own musical style is truly unique to this production.

She and the others are trying to find a balance between all the versions of The Addams Family, from the Wednesday series to all the movies, but still giving the production and the characters their all. One thing they can all agree on is that there’s a lot of fun in figuring this out.

“I am a huge fan of this show,” says Tyce Diorio. “I love the weirdness and the oddness. I can find my inner quirk and kookiness. And they are absorbing it so well. It’s a treat.”

A few of the actors give Diorio and his team compliments on how good they’ve been during rehearsals thus far and the way he makes moves “make sense” for them.

The Addams Family will start Oct. 19th and run through Nov. 5th. The theatre will host both a military and a teacher appreciation night, as well as a popcorn party on three other showings.

Tickets range between $19 to $37. The show is rated PG. When asked about the rating, Burke just said there’s some adult humor in the show and, of course, a hand that moves on its own.

“You should make your own decisions,” she says. “There’s dead people dancing. For everybody it’s different about what’s good … It is a dark musical comedy.”

For more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

Get ready for a mesmerizing blend of classical music and silent cinema as the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra presents a free symphony movie night featuring the iconic German silent film “Nosferatu” (1922).

This eerily captivating and enthralling experience is set to take place on Friday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Iron Mike Conference Center on Fort Liberty and Saturday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. at Dirt Bag Ales.
Nosferatu, a masterpiece of silent cinema directed by F. W. Murnau, first graced the silver screen on June 3, 1929. This seminal horror film was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s iconic novel, Dracula.

Despite facing legal battles and attempts to erase it from history, Nosferatu has stood the test of time and is now revered as a classic in the horror genre.

In this unique event, attendees will have the chance to witness the spine-chilling tale of Count Orlok, the monstrous vampire, as the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra performs a live musical arrangement arranged by the talented Peter B. Kay.

The orchestra’s enchanting melodies and evocative harmonies will heighten the suspense and drama of the film, providing a heightened sensory experience for the audience.

Both locations will transform into a cinematic and musical haven, where the flickering images of Nosferatu will come to life on the big screen. The venue will be adorned with an eerie ambiance, adding to the overall allure of the film and the live orchestral performance.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure their seats for this exceptional fusion of culture and entertainment.

The event promises an unforgettable night of chilling visuals, captivating music, and a shared experience that will stay with the audience long after the curtains close.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the convergence of history, art and music as Nosferatu graces Fayetteville with its timeless tale, enhanced by the evocative sounds of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Get ready for a symphonic journey into the heart of darkness.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 in Fayetteville and is a professional regional orchestra whose mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire the citizens of the Fayetteville region as the leading musical resource.

For more information about upcoming events, visit their website at https://www.fayettevillesymphony.orgFC6jFoYm3xs?si=vkSu8v6PuSCJVLaE.

Halloween is celebrated in various countries.

Halloween can trace its origins to Ireland and is based on the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, during which people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off spirits.
Halloween has since become a day to play pranks and don costumes while going door-to-door seeking treats from neighbors.

Each year, the National Retail Federation tracks Halloween trends. The figures and statistics shared by the NRF and other organizations paint a picture of just how popular Halloween can be.
Consumers will spend an estimated $9 billion on Halloween. The average American will spend $86.79 on the festivities, according to the NRF.

The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that there are 41.1 million potential trick-or-treaters aged 5 to 14.
Ninety-five percent of people surveyed by the NRF planned to purchase candy for Halloween. The next most popular purchase is decorations (74 percent).

Forty-five percent of respondents planned to carve a pumpkin for Halloween, says the NRF.
In Canada, there are 2,569 farms with pumpkin patches, according to the 2016 Census of Agriculture.

The top-ranked costumes for children in 2018 were princess and superhero. Adults planning to dress up were more likely to go as a witch or a vampire.

Data from domestic box office earnings of horror movies in 2018 totaled $752.2 million. This accounts for movie earnings in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam. “A Quiet Place” and “Halloween” were the top-grossing horror flicks of the year.

The ubiquitous “pumpkin spice” starts to turn up in various products as soon as there are hints of autumn. Nielsen says $6.9 million was spent on pumpkin spice products in 2018.

Candy corn is either loved or loathed. According to the National Confectioners Association, 42.7 percent of people who enjoy candy corn say they eat the narrow white part of the candy corn first.

The NRF states that, when looking for their ideal costumes, 33 percent of consumers will check online first, followed closely by 29 percent in stores.

Pet costumes remain incredibly popular. Prosper Insights, a marketing and analytics company states that 31.2 million Americans plan to dress up their pets, with millennials being the largest demographic to do so.

There are potentially 120 million stops for trick-or-treaters to visit in the United States, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade Division in Canada says that there were 158 businesses engaged in formal wear and costume rentals in Canada in 2017.

Halloween is frighteningly popular, with scores of people taking part in the spending and antics of this entertaining day.

Approximately ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and another forty-four million have low bone density.

It is a primary public concern for women who are fifty or older. It is less prevalent in men, about five percent in those fifty and older. It is the most common bone disease caused by the weakening of bone structure and strength.

It is often located at the femur neck, lumbar spine, or both. It causes the bones to become weak and brittle; sometimes, people may be unaware that they have it until they fall. Fractures can also occur in the hip and wrist.

Bone is a living tissue that is continually being replaced, and osteoporosis occurs when the replacement of new bone is not able to keep up with the loss of old bone.

When we are young, our bodies make new bone faster than it decreases. Most people reach their peak bone mass by age thirty. It can affect men and women of all ages and races, but the primary population at risk are white and Asian women past menopause.

The chance of developing osteoporosis is influenced by how much bone mass was attained in youth, with genetics and race also being a factor. The higher your obtained peak mass during youth offers a better foundation for bone strength as you age.

A small body frame puts an individual at greater risk because there is less reserve of bone mass as we age. Dietary factors can also have an influence on bone loss, which include low calcium intake, restricting food intake with the avoidance of a balanced diet, and being underweight.

Lifestyle choices can also increase the risk factors for osteoporosis, which includes a sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Typically, there are not any symptoms in the early stages of bone loss, but once the bones become weakened, back pain can occur from a fractured or collapsed vertebra, loss of height and stooped posture.

It is also a bone condition commonly known as the term “hunchback.”

The medical term for “hunchback” is Kyphosis. Kyphosis is a forward rounding of the back and becomes exaggerated as the shoulders and back begin to round forward. The result of the rounding is a weakness in the spinal bones.

There are three types of Kyphosis: congenital (at birth), postural (beginning in childhood), and Scheuermann’s (when the spinal bones grow in an abnormal wedged fashion).

Good nutrition and regular exercise are essential for healthy bones in all stages of life.

Men and women between the ages of eighteen and fifty need one thousand milligrams of calcium per day and should increase to an intake of approximately twelve hundred milligrams per day when women turn fifty, and men turn seventy.

Good sources of calcium include low-fat dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, canned salmon, soy products, and orange juice. Calcium supplements can also be an additive to your diet; however, too much calcium intake may increase the risk of heart disease.

Vitamin D is also beneficial to the body’s ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in many ways, with sunshine being a source, as well as many types of milk and cereal fortified with vitamin D.

Exercise is good for your bones, especially weight-bearing exercises. The combination of strength training in conjunction with balance exercises helps to strengthen the muscles and bones in your legs, core, upper body, and spine. Other exercises include walking and stair climbing.

If you feel that you may be at risk, it is advisable to meet with your physician for treatment, medication, supplements and exercise.

Live, love, life, and movement.

The Cumberland County Golf Championship is the oldest and continuously operating golf tournament in North Carolina. The guiding principles of the CCGC are heritage, legacy and youth development.

In 1974, former Fayetteville resident and professional golfer Chip Beck began his amateur career playing and winning the Cumberland County Golf Championship.

As a professional golfer, Beck has had four major victories on the PGA Tour and was runner-up in two U.S. Open Championships and the Masters in 1993.

Beck undoubtedly has inspired thousands of Cumberland County golfers who have competed in the CCGC over the last fifty-five years.

Billy West and Gary Robinson are two talented and notable Cumberland County golfers who have served as mentors and role models for young people and adults spanning nearly three decades.
These two talented and competitive golfers have seventeen CCGC titles between them. Together, they have set local Cumberland County golfing records that will very likely never be broken. Gary Robinson won the CCGC eight times, and Billy West, the 2022 defending champion, has nine.
Undoubtedly, there will be plenty of excitement and competition.

Golf as West vies for his 10th CCGC win on Oct. 13.

West serves as Cumberland County’s district attorney and is the National District Attorney Association president. He has competed in the Cumberland County Golf Championship for over 25 years.

Gates Four Country Club will host this year’s tournament from Oct. 13 through the 15th. The event will open with a welcoming Champion’s Reception on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m., hosted by the CCGC’s premier sponsors, The Richardson Law Firm, Transworld Business Advisors, Healy Wholesale, and Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

Bill Bowman, U&CW publisher and owner and CCGC tournament director since 2016, is proud to work with Gates Four General Manager Kevin Lavertu to keep this Fayetteville and Cumberland County golfing tradition alive.

The CCGC is proudly the longest continuous golf tournament in North Carolina.
Bowman has expanded the tournament in the last couple of years by adding a Women’s and Youth Division.

This year, Fayetteville’s local utility, PWC, became a Youth Division sponsor, encouraging young middle and high school golfers to compete in the tournament, knowing these are the champions of tomorrow.

In addition to the Gross Score winner, there will be a Net Score winner in each division, another innovative change to the 2023 tournament. The CCGC is traditionally a Gross Score event played per USGA rules.

The lowest Gross Score determines the Cumberland County Champion. By allowing golfers with established handicaps to compete for the Net Score title, he wants to encourage more golfers to experience the fun, excitement, and enjoyment of this high level of competition.

Bowman assumed the Tournament Directorship of the Cumberland County Golf Championship 2016.

However, he insists the success of the CCGC rests on the support of its dedicated local sponsors: Healy Wholesale, The Richardson Law Firm, Transworld Business Advisors, and Gates Four Country Club, to name a few.

Bowman is also the publisher of the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.
The Cumberland County Golf Championship supports the Kidsville News Literacy & Education Foundation, donating thousands of dollars to the KVN mission in prior years.

KVN is a nonprofit 501-c3 organization that provides reading, literacy and educational resources free to young children in Cumberland County.

Spectators are welcome all three days. The 55th Annual Cumberland County Golf Tournament at Gates Four Country Club is Oct. 13 through 15th, located at 6775 Irongate Dr. Fayetteville.
For more information, contact Bill Bowman, Tournament Director, at bbowman@upandcomingweekly.com or call 910-391-3859 or Kevin Lavertu, general manager, Gates Four Country Club, at 910-425-6667.

Autumn has arrived, bringing with it the arrival of the spooky season. It’s the perfect time to discover the happenings in and around Fayetteville.

Fall & Halloween Events That Will Thrill the Whole Family

Looking for ways to entertain the entire family? Look no further. These Fall and Halloween activities are guaranteed to be a hit with both kids and adults alike.

Oct. 13 through Oct. 28: Zombie Hayride and Haunted House
Defend your vehicle from waves of zombies by blasting them with glowing ammo from your mounted turret! Black Ops Paintball.
https://bit.ly/3timDqV

Oct. 14: Fall Festival at
LaFayette Ford
There will be plenty of fun for the whole family with vendors, games, prizes, and lots of trucks on display! Free event at LaFayette Ford.
https://bit.ly/48yRHCJ

Oct. 14: Halloween Bazaar
50+ vendors, food trucks, music, and kid activities; come dressed up and do trick or treating at the booths! Free fall photos with a backdrop! Free event at East Hoke Middle School Field.
https://bit.ly/3tiD0nl

Oct. 19 through 21 & 26 through 27: Halloween Revels “Moonlight Mischief” at the 1897 Poe House
“Hallowe’en Revels: Moonlight Mischief” spotlights historic Halloween fun in an actual historic home. Not your traditional haunted house! $8 for tickets at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex.
https://bit.ly/3LKj6b2

Oct. 26 through 29: Halloween at the BOO-tanical Garden 2023
It’s a Monster Bash Dance Party at the 2023 Halloween at the Boo-tanical Garden, presented by Cape Fear Valley Health! $7 to $12 at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
https://bit.ly/3ZBKZYJ

Oct. 28: Harleyween at Fort Bragg Harley
Free food, vendors, trunk or treat, bounce house, & much more! Free at the Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson.
https://bit.ly/3tc2hzj

Oct. 28: Special Olympics Cumberland County Fall Festival
A day of fun with Local Vendors, Games, Community Resources, and so much more!! Open to the public, with all proceeds going to support our Local Special Olympics Athletes. Free event at 352 Devers St, Fayetteville.
https://bit.ly/48wdRpn

Oct. 29: Halloween Extravaganza
This year’s Halloween Extravaganza offers something for every age. Proceeds will support our Food Pantry that serves Cumberland County. $5 to $20 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
https://bit.ly/3ZHY4zS

Oct. 31: Fall Festival
Enjoy a parking lot full of festive trunks, carnival games, bounce houses, food and tons of candy. Free event at Village Baptist Church.
https://bit.ly/46f6KzX

Oct. 31: Trick-or-Treat Downtown
Join local businesses, merchants, and retailers in Downtown Fayetteville as they pass out candy to Trick-or-Treaters of all ages. Free throughout Downtown Fayetteville.
https://bit.ly/48Fx7Rs

Oct. 22: Halloween Golf
Tournament
Grab your clubs, grab a costume, and get a team together for the first Halloween golf tournament at Gates Four Country Club.

Unleash Your Inner Ghoul at These Adults-Only Events. Embrace the darkness and eerie ambiance at these exhilarating events tailored specifically for grown-ups.

Oct. 14: Spooky Sip & Paint
Girl’s Night spooky edition! Come out for a night of fun with art, music, food, and much more! Don’t forget to come dressed for the contest! $48 to $100 on Hay Street, Fayetteville.
https://bit.ly/3PEmXb0

Oct. 14: Cookie Crime Class: Halloween Themed
This is for those ladies who desperately need an evening out to unwind, take a mommy break, or hang with their girlfriends. $60 at Dirty Whiskey Craft Cocktail Bar.
https://bit.ly/45hna9V

Oct. 21: 2023 Pinwheel Masquerade Ball & Auction
Enjoy captivating dancing, exquisite cuisine, and exciting surprises. The event will include a DJ, dance demos, photo booth, auction, and mask contest. $75 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
https://bit.ly/45eeVLE

Oct. 26: Fang Tastic Feast Charcuterie Workshop
This board will be perfect to take home and share for a spooky movie night that weekend! $80 at The Downtown Market.
https://bit.ly/3rGrEZF

Oct. 26: The Stolen Recipe (Mystery Dinner)
Join us for an unforgettable evening of mystery, food, and fun. Free at Cooking4Fitness, LLC.
https://bit.ly/3F1IfdF

Oct. 28: HALO-Ween Party
The biggest party of the year! Cash & prizes to the best Halloween costume. Event at Club Halo.
https://bit.ly/3F2Sf6g

Oct. 28: Halloween Adult Costume Contest
Put on your best costume for a chance to win amazing cash prizes.
Event at Wana Navu Kava Bar.
https://bit.ly/3F2qta2

Oct. 28: Full Moon Meditate & Paint Class
The Full Moon is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of that which was started at the New Moon. $45 at Prima Elements Holistic Wellness Center.
https://bit.ly/3PIE1g0

Spend the night filled with horror and excitement; experience the thrills and chills at these haunted attractions!

Backwoods Terror Ranch
Experience the horrifying experiments of Dr. Surgeon through 3 Terrifying Haunted attractions.
Sweet Valley Ranch, 2990 Sunnyside School Road, Fayetteville
https://bit.ly/46f0xnN

Aberdeen Fear Factory
The dead are walking the grounds of Aberdeen Fear Factory, and they need to be put down. It’s up to you to make sure the zombies don’t break through the containment area.
10570 NC-211, Aberdeen
https://bit.ly/3RFwAbR

Hollerin Haunts Hayride
Featuring SIX thrilling attractions in one place, it’s the go-to destination for a spooktacular good time for family and friends! 2914 Bud Johnson Rd, Clinton
https://bit.ly/45gvUwI

Trunk-or-Treat Here! Here are a few of the local trunk-or-treat events taking place. It’s a great alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.

Oct. 13: 6 to 8 p.m. Exit Realty (250 Lindsay Rd, Raeford Location)
Oct. 15- 3 to 5 p.m. Haymount United Methodist Church
Oct. 20: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Crossroads Church
Oct. 21- 4 to 8 p.m. Legacy Athletics
Oct. 20: noon to 2 p.m. Stoney Point Fire Department
Oct. 25: 4 to 7 p.m. Harmony at Hope Mills
Oct. 26: 4 to 7 p.m. Fit 4 Life Health Club (210 Owen Drive Location)
Oct. 27: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Town of Hope Mills, 5763 Rockfish Rd, Hope Mills
Oct. 27: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hall Park
Oct. 28: 6 to 9 p.m. Fort Liberty Soldier Support Center
Oct. 28: 3 to 9 p.m. Seth’s Wish
Oct. 28: 2 to 5 p.m. On-After Pub & Grub
Oct. 28: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tabernacle Baptist Church of Rockfish
Oct. 29: 3 to 5 p.m. Fayetteville Christian Church
Oct. 29: 4 to 6 p.m. Northwood Temple Church, Pope AFB
Oct. 29: Dirtbag Farmers Market
Oct. 31: 4 p.m. Patriot K-Nine Training & Behavior
Oct. 31: 6 to 8 p.m. East Hoke Middle School

A fall fest with a truly remarkable cause, the Fayetteville Foster Care Fall Fest will take place on Oct. 21st at the Kiwanis Recreation Center located at 352 Devers Street from 2 to 5 p.m. This event is free, open to the public, and an opportunity for community members interested in becoming foster parents to learn about the process and provide support for those who are currently fostering.

The schedule of events includes a chili cookoff starting at 2 p.m., trick or treating and a kids’ costume contest from 3 to 5:30 p.m. All chili aficionados should try their skills for a chance to win an apron and trophy and sign up for the cookoff. There are plenty of spots open. Anyone interested in signing up can email Stephanie Miles, clinical supervisor for the LifeSet program at Youth Villages, at stephanie.colgrove@youthvillages.org.

“Personally, I do what I do because I want to be the help and change I needed when I was younger. I want to make a difference in a positive way to others and my community,” she said.

Entertainment will be provided by For You Sounds D.J. Entertainment. Attendees will also be able to enjoy games and vendors while learning more about the foster care program from local organizations that include Family Services of America, Cumberland County DSS, Fayetteville Urban Ministries and Carolina Treatment Center.

Vendor spots are available for local businesses and organizations. All those interested should email Miles as soon as possible.

Not only will this event be packed full of fun and food, but with a purpose. Stephanie Miles says, “Foster Care Fall Fest is intended to bring together the community to raise awareness and provide resources to and about foster care individuals and agencies,” said Miles.

“Its purpose is to provide information about available resources that can help the foster care community. This is foster youth, foster parents, group homes, adoptive parents and anyone that feels like they want to help and learn more.”

Youth Villages is hosting this year’s event.

“[The organization] is a force for families, nonprofit organization. Our mission is to help children and families live successfully. We value providing a safe space and always strive to achieve positive and long-lasting results,” said Miles.

“We are also an organization that’s committed to its staff, and we create new programs to meet the needs of children, families, and the community. We are currently in 26 states and Washington D.C. and have three programs here in Fayetteville. Intercept is our intensive in-home service with a well-supported ranking from the Family First Clearinghouse, LifeSet is our service that helps young adults who are aging out of foster care develop independent living skills, and the Hi-Fidelity Wraparound program.”

Events like these rely heavily on community support.

“Their hard work and collaboration are what makes this event happen. And I would like to thank my supervisor, Kyle Coleman, for the support and guidance with this event,” said Miles.

This year’s event is sponsored by Living Water Church, Fayetteville Cumberland County Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Kiwanis Rec Center, Falcon Children’s Home and the Home Study Services of N.C.

Come out and support the foster community, have some fun and eat some chili.