Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends and reflect on one’s blessings.

In anticipation, here are some interesting facts about the Thanksgiving celebration that some may not know.

1. American Thanksgiving is largely modeled on a 17th century harvest feast shared by the English settlers and the Wampanoag tribe.

2. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. It is based on European harvest festivals.

3. The National Turkey Federation says around 45 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, which equates to about 720 million pounds of turkey being consumed (with the average turkey size being 16 pounds).

4. The Butterball hotline answers roughly 100,000 calls every year on its turkey question hotline.

5. In 1953, the Swanson company overestimated the number of frozen turkeys it would sell for the holiday season by 26 tons. Rather than waste the meat, Swanson sliced it up, repackaged it and created the first frozen TV dinners.

6. Thanksgiving in America may be older than many recognize. While Thanksgiving is largely tied to the 17th century settlers, the National Parks Service says in 1565 Spanish settlers in St. Augustine (now Florida) celebrated by having a meal to which they invited the native Seloy tribe. The Spanish served pork stew, sea biscuits, red wine and garbanzo beans. Some say the Seloy contributed turkey, venison and maize.

7. Thanksgiving didn’t become a civic holiday until Abraham Lincoln made it one after the Civil War. Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday on October 20, 1864.

8. The Pilgrims did not refer to themselves as pilgrims. They used the word separatists as they were separating themselves from a larger belief system.

9. In addition to Canada and the United States, Grenada, Liberia, the Philippines, Saint Lucia, and the Netherlands celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving.

10. Each year, the American president pardons a turkey from slaughter on Thanksgiving. This tradition dates back to when Abraham Lincoln’s son was upset that his family's turkey was going to be killed for Thanksgiving dinner.

11. According to the U.S. Calorie Control Council, an average American may consume 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day.

12. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual tradition. People line the parade route in New York City or tune in to watch the parade on television. It originated in 1924 and the famed balloons were added in 1927.

13. Apple pie is the pie of choice for Thanksgiving, even though pumpkin pie is prevalent during this time of year.

Thanksgiving is a popular holiday and serves as an intro to a celebratory season that runs through New Year’s. Many traditions have been borne of the holiday, and it is a favorite time of year for many people and families. It has become a time to share in the spirit of gratitude.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

One reason is that it is a time for lots of plentiful food on the table. And time to remember favorite people, now gone.

We lost author Randall Kenan last year. I liked his beautiful writing best when he wrote about food when families came together to celebrate or to mourn.
For instance, he edited “Carolina Table,” a beautiful set of essays about food in the south. In that volume, he wrote about the foods that were served at funerals in his home in Duplin County, specifically what his neighbors brought when his great uncle died.

“People showing up heavy-laden with food to the homes of the recently deceased. Hams, fried chicken, oven-baked barbecue chicken, pork chops smothered in gravy, dirty rice, Spanish rice, potato salad galore, slaw, sweet potato casseroles, candied yams, hushpuppies, cornbread, soup, chopped pork barbecue, collard greens, pound cake, chocolate cake, coconut cake, pineapple cake, red velvet cake, sweet potato pie, lemon meringue pie.”

Another author from rural North Carolina who can describe food deliciously is Jason Mott from Columbus County. His latest, “Hell of a Book,” won the National Book Award.
Here is an excerpt from that book in which the parents of a little boy who has hidden himself somewhere in the house try to entice him to reveal himself by cooking his favorite food.

“Before long, the house billowed with the smells and sounds of the boy’s favorite food. The chicken fried in a heavy black skillet and the macaroni bubbled and baked in the oven. There were sugared strawberries, and muscadine grapes, and leftover pound cake that the boy had forgotten was still in the house. Even though he was still hidden, his stomach growled so loudly that he feared it would give him away. But his mother and father didn't seem to hear and so he was able to continue to sit-even with the hunger in the pit of his stomach-and close his eyes and smell all of the dancing aromas. In that moment, invisible and buried in his parents’ love, he was happier than he had ever been. And soon, in spite of his hunger, he was asleep.”

Our great authors’ descriptions of food remind me how much I love the plentiful delicious food that is prepared and consumed at Thanksgiving.

But there is much more to Thanksgiving than the wonderful food.

What I like even more is the time we still save just for families and friends. There is, of course, competition for that time. Football games, parades, concerts and films. But we have to struggle to avoid them or figure out some way to blend them into the family program.

We try to honor Thanksgiving’s central theme of the happy ritual of the family meal. It brings back a time when we sat down together more often, serving each other, passing the food, carving the main dish, saying prayers of thanks, and listening to each other’s stories.

Thanksgiving can be our own private family sacrament of remembrance, reunion, renewal of connections, and thankfulness for life’s blessings. Of course, some will argue that this idea of Thanksgiving is merely a remnant of times past.

They say that, like Christmas, Thanksgiving is becoming a time of selfishness and consumption. If so, it would be a tragedy. If this is a trend, let’s fight it.

We can start by remembering the original Thanksgiving and how thankful the Pilgrims were for food and shelter, showing us how much more blessed we are than were the Pilgrims.

As long as thankfulness is at the center of our Thanksgiving, its celebration will be a blessing to us.

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

Cookie decorating, Christmas crafts and pictures with Santa are just a few enticing things to do at A Very Merry Christmas at the Studio on Dec. 2. Jessica Lallier of Lallier Event Design and Taryn Corrado of Studio 215 are hosting A Very Merry Christmas at the Studio for families in Fayetteville.

The cost is $20 a person. Children under 1 are free. Studio 215 is located at 215 Williams Street in Fayetteville. Proceeds from the event will go to Wreaths Across America to lay wreaths at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.

“Fayetteville does not have a lot of family-friendly events,” Lallier said. “We wanted to change that! This will be full of family fun including pictures with Santa, letters to Santa, cookie decorating, Christmas crafts, Christmas movies and popcorn, hot chocolate and s’mores and so much more Christmas cheer.”

Corrado added: “Christmas is the happiest time of the year and my favorite holiday. The biggest reason why is because it is the time of the year I am able to spend time with my family. Military families know all too well what it is like to not have loved ones near for the holidays.”

The placement of wreaths holds special meaning for Lallier.

“I have been passionate about Wreaths Across America for the past five years,” Lallier said. “My sister died on active duty with the Army and is buried at Sandhills. The first Christmas after her passing, we laid wreaths and I realized that if enough funds aren't raised then not every veteran gets a wreath and I couldn't imagine my sister not having one.”

Corrado comes from a military family and has always supported veteran events and causes. Her dad, retired Army, has many "brothers" buried at Sandhills.

“We have the pleasure and honor to be able to give back to Wreaths Across America, plus proudly support other military and veteran nonprofits and organizations,” Corrado said.

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The effort began in 1992 by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester. The organization’s mission — Remember, Honor, Teach — is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. To sponsor a wreath specifically for Sandhills States Veterans Cemetery, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/166832.

A committee of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday. Nov. 17 approved a staff-recommended architectural firm to design a new events center.

The center would replace the theater and arena at the Crown Coliseum Complex. Those facilities are scheduled to close in 2025.
The Crown Event Center Committee voted 2-0 to send the recommendation to hire San Diego-based Ewing Cole to the full Board of Commissioners.

The vote came during a called meeting of the committee at the Cumberland County Courthouse.
Ewing Cole is a national architectural firm with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Members of the county selection committee received 11 proposals for the contract from architectural firms. Those were narrowed down to five firms that were invited to interview for the contract. The selection committee includes County Manager Amy Cannon, Assistant County Manager Brian Haney, Chief

Finance Officer Vicki Evans, County Engineering Director Jermaine Walker, and Assistant County Engineer Rick Bryant.

The selection committee spent two days interviewing architectural design candidates and ranked them. Ewing Cole ranked first among the five finalists. Cannon told the commissioners that Ewing Cole initially did not rank as high in her opinion until she heard its presentation. That, she said, put the firm a cut above the remaining four contenders.

Matt DeSilver, of MBP Carolinas, the county’s project manager and owner’s representative for the Crown Event Center project, said the finalists were scored on these criteria:

• Team roles and responsibilities and communications plan.
• Relevant project experience of team members.
• Approach to design in urban location.
• Approach to schedule management.
• Experience with construction manager at risk delivery method.

Voting to accept the staff committee’s recommendation were Commissioners Glenn Adams and Jimmy Keefe. Commissioner Jeannette Council, who chairs the committee, was absent.

The committee members viewed a presentation on conceptual interior designs by DeSilver.
The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to discuss the recommendation at its Nov. 21 meeting. It would vote on a proposed contract on Nov. 28.
Adams said he would like to see a representation of what the outside of the building would look like. If it does not appeal to the public, people won’t attend events held there, he said. Cannon assured Adams that according to the design proposal, it will have a “wow” factor both outside and inside.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and Chemours Fayetteville Works earlier this week agreed to end litigation over a required water filtration system that is supposed to significantly reduce chemicals leaching into the Cape Fear River.

The N.C. DEQ in September issued the discharge permit to Chemours for a treatment system to remove PFAS compounds from contaminated groundwater on the Chemours Fayetteville Works site. The site is along N.C. 87 at the Cumberland and Bladen County line.

The treatment system is part of a larger barrier wall under construction that is designed to reduce PFAS getting into the Cape Fear River and contaminating potential drinking water for communities downstream.

The DEQ’s Division of Water Resources issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for a granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration treatment system. However, after holding public hearings and gathering comments, and after further reviewing data and information contained in the permit record, DEQ changed the permit limits to more stringent removal requirements beyond the 99% required in a 2019 consent order.

A month later, Chemours appealed the DEQ ruling in a Bladen County administrative court. A statement by Chemours stated that it “regrets that we must file an appeal of the final NPDES Permit (NC0090042) issued by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources (NCDEQ) dated September 15, 2022, related to the water treatment system for our mile-long barrier wall designed to further reduce PFAS loading from groundwater into the Cape Fear River.”

Chemours stated that late changes to the permit as issued included future effluent limits that exceed the capabilities of the proposed treatment system. The increased chemical compound removal requirements would subject Chemours “to compliance uncertainty.”

“Chemours takes compliance with our permits and the commitments we make seriously; we are unable to agree to permit terms when we are uncertain if such commitments can be met or exceeded,’’ Chemours said in the statement. “We continue to pursue ambitious timelines to complete and start-up the system to reduce PFAS loading to the river. We are hopeful that we can work with NCDEQ to quickly resolve this matter to continue realizing the significant reductions we have been achieving.’’

Chemours said that for 15 months, it had worked with the DEQ on the design of the water treatment system for the mile-long barrier wall that is under construction and submitted its initial permit application for the system in June 2021. Based on the requirements agreed on under the consent order addendum with N.C. DEQ and Cape Fear River Watch, the water treatment system was designed to remove 99% of PFAS compounds associated with the site before the captured, treated water was discharged.

The nine-page agreement is signed by Dawn Hughes, Chemours plant manager; Sushma Masemore, DEQ assistant secretary; and Kenneth Waldroup, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority executive director. The agreement consists of 14 conditions the parties agree on. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority intervened in the litigation in support of the DEQ permit requirements.

For the initial six months after the commencement of discharge (the “optimization period”), Chemours agrees that it will optimize the operation of the treatment system and make any modifications or improvements that are technologically feasible to reduce PFAS discharges to the Cape Fear River and to meet all requirements of the NPDES Permit.

Also, starting 45 days after discharges into the Cape Fear River have started, Chemours “shall” provide DEQ and CFPUA monthly reports on the optimizations and technological improvements to the system. The fourth monthly reports must include an assessment of whether Chemours projects its optimizations to the system undertaken during the optimization period will make sure it complies with the final effluent limits for PMPA and PFMOAA.

The agreement also gives DEQ enforcement discretion in the event of any violations due to the treatment system failing effluent limits for chemicals discharged.

If Chemours can demonstrate to DEQ that complying with the effluent limits for PMPA and PFMOAA chemical components is not technologically feasible within the time frame established in the NPDES permit, Chemours may apply for a modification to the NPDES Permit.

North Carolina State University environmental researchers earlier this month announced that blood samples taken from among residents living adjacent to the site have a higher degree of PFAS in their bodies than the national average.

N.C. 59 is being eliminated in Cumberland County and will be redesignated as a secondary route, the North Carolina Department of Transportation said in a release.

The state route consists of about 8 miles that runs through portions of Hope Mills and Fayetteville.
At the request of both municipalities, the N.C. Department of Transportation is re-designating the route from N.C. 59 to Secondary Route 1596, the department said in the release.

“However, the route’s street names will be retained – Main Street within Hope Mills, and Hope Mills Road within Fayetteville,’’ the state DOT said.

The department’s traffic services unit began removing about 40 “N.C. 59” signs this week, the release said.
Locally, elected officials asked for the change in an effort to redirect commercial truck traffic, which prefers using state or U.S. highways, the release said.

“The goal of the two cities is to make this route less congested and safer for pedestrians,’’ the release said.

“We are happy to work with our local partners, who suggested this change to help make this route more neighborhood friendly,” said Drew Cox, the Division 6 engineer. “We evaluated their recommendation and agreed this highway designation is no longer necessary.”

Commercial trucks will continue to use N.C. 162 and Interstate 295 to better navigate this area of the county.

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center has put restrictions on which units people under age 16 can visit because of the continuing high number of RSV and flu cases in the Fayetteville area.

The restrictions also apply at Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn, which is part of the Cape Fear Valley Health system.

The restrictions affect anyone younger than 16 with the exception of parents and patients, according to a news release.
As of Nov. 17, the medical center reported 23 patients with the flu, 11 patients with respiratory syncytial virus, and 13 patients with COVID-19, the release said.

Visitors younger than 16 will not be allowed in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s Family Centered Care Unit; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; pediatrics or pediatric intensive care unit; or the labor and delivery unit. At Betsy Johnson Hospital, the restrictions apply to the labor and delivery and pediatrics units.
Other areas of the hospitals remain open for visitors 12 and older who are with a parent or guardian, according to the release.

“We feel this is a necessary step to protect the vulnerable populations in these units at this time,” said Susan Dees, chief nursing officer of Cape Fear Valley Health.

Cape Fear Valley’s current visitation policy is available online at www.capefearvalley.com/visit.
Under current policy, most patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19 are allowed as many as two visitors at a time between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., the news release said. Some units have more restrictive visitation rules. All non-COVID patients are allowed to have one visitor stay overnight in the patient’s room if space allows, but overnight visitors cannot leave and return after 8 p.m.

COVID-19 patients are allowed one visitor per day between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., the release said. They must wear masks and gowns during their visit, the release said.

In the Emergency Department, visitors are not allowed in the waiting room, but one visitor is allowed when the patient has been assigned a room.

Time to rake those leaves to the curb.

Loose-leaf pickup will begin Monday, Nov. 21 in Fayetteville, according to a city news release.

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation workers will use special equipment to collect piles of loose leaves outside residences. The pick-up schedule will be based on ZIP codes and starts with ZIP code 28314, the release said.

Residents should pile loose leaves and pine straw at the curb on the first date of their assigned pickup window.

The pickup schedule is:

• 28314, Nov. 21–Dec. 2.
• 28311, Dec. 5–16.
• 28306 and 28312, Dec. 19–30.
• 28305 and 28303, Jan. 2-13.
• 28301, Jan. 16-27.
• 28304, Jan. 30–Feb. 10.

Residents are asked to follow these guidelines:

• Place leaves and pine straw curbside before your first scheduled day of pickup.
• Piles should be leaves and pine straw only. Tree limbs and other yard debris are prohibited.
• Leaves and pine straw should be on the curb and away from the road and storm drains.
• Leaves should not be left over yard decorations, meter panels or any other utility equipment close to the ground.
• Leaves that are put out in sturdy bags or containers on your regular yard debris pickup day will be collected weekly.

Visit loose leaf collection policies for details on loose-leaf collection dates by ZIP code; to track the progress by ZIP code; and to learn about more options for yard debris pickup. Bad weather may cause delays in pickup, the release said. For more information, call 910-433-1329.

Diabetes affects millions of people across the globe. Data from the International Diabetes Federation indicates that the number of adults with diabetes reached 537 million in 2021.
Despite a growing awareness of the disease and ad campaigns designed to educate individuals about diabetes prevention, the number of people with diabetes is predicted to rise by more than 100 million by 2030 and reach 783 million by 2045.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin or cannot effectively utilize the insulin it produces. When an individual has diabetes, various parts of that person’s body can be affected. Recognizing how diabetes affects the body can shed light on just how debilitating the disease can become.

Eyes

The National Eye Institute notes that chronically high blood sugar from diabetes can cause damage in the retina that ultimately leads to diabetic retinopathy. That’s because excessive sugar in the blood can lead to the blockage of tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. That blockage effectively cuts off the blood supply to the retina, prompting the eye to attempt to grow new blood vessels. However, the Mayo Clinic notes that these new vessels do not develop properly and can leak easily. The longer a person has diabetes and the less controlled their blood sugar is, the more likely they are to develop diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness.

Heart

According to the Michigan-based Beaumont Health, individuals with diabetes are at a higher risk for developing heart disease at a younger age and in a more severe form than those without diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that this link is due to the damage that high blood sugar causes to the vessels and nerves that control the heart. In addition, people with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure, too much LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol in their bloodstream and high triglycerides, which is a type of fat in the blood. Each of these conditions increases a person’s risk for heart disease.

Skin

Diabetes also affects the skin. In fact, the Michigan-based not-for-profit group Beaumont Health notes that a skin issue is often the first sign that a person has diabetes. That’s because diabetes damages blood vessels in the skin, leading to issues such as diabetic dermopathy. Diabetic dermopathy is characterized by brown, raised patches of skin, typically on the legs. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that, when diabetes affects the skin, this is often a sign that blood sugar levels are too high. The AAD offers a list and brief rundown of the various ways diabetes and prediabetes can affect the skin at aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/diabetes-warning-signs.

Kidneys

The National Kidney Foundation notes that diabetes damages small blood vessels throughout the body, including in the kidneys. When vessels in the kidneys are damaged, the kidneys cannot clean blood properly. As a result, the body retains more water and salt than it should, which produces a host of negative consequences, including weight gain and the buildup of waste materials in the blood. In addition, elevated blood sugar levels force the kidneys to work harder. Over time, all that extra work can lead to kidney failure.

Diabetes is potentially deadly, yet often preventable. By taking measures to safeguard themselves against diabetes, individuals also are protecting various parts of their body from the ripple effects of the disease.

Once again this year, Beth Israel Congregation, where I serve as rabbi, will be participating in a local Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with several nearby faith communities. In thinking forward to this wonderful tradition, I’d like to share a memory from several decades ago when I was part of a central New Jersey interfaith group and their annual Thanksgiving service. Like here, it too would rotate among different houses of worship.

One year the local Roman Catholic Church, having just completed construction of a new building, was pleased to host the event and show off their new facility to the broader community.

At the time, my family and I lived in a townhome development and had become friendly with our next door neighbors — a single mother and her daughter who was a year or so older than my eldest son. The kids, about 5 and 6 years old, often played together. Coincidentally, this mom and daughter were also active parishioners of that particular Catholic Church. We all decided to travel together to the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, and in preparation we told my son, Amiel, just to behave respectfully and in a similar manner to his friend Angela, since it was her congregation.

As we entered the building the kids were excitedly rushing ahead of us into a large reception lobby. After a moment I realized where Angela was headed with Amiel close behind — straight to the holy water. Not knowing whether it was considered sacrilegious for a non-Catholic to touch the holy water, I recall chasing after them, calling my son’s name to try to stop him. In my vain chase, I distinctly recall feeling like the old TV image of actor Lee Majors as the Six Million Dollar Man, depicted moving in slow motion. Unfortunately, unable to catch him in time, he dipped his hand into the holy water just as Angela did; although, I was successfully able to reach him before he emulated her by crossing himself.

After the interfaith service I introduced myself to one of the younger priests at that large parish, and told him what had happened earlier. He was exceedingly gracious and assured me that no harm or ritual defilement had occurred. Indeed, he gave us all a private tour of the new church and all of us its facilities, describing various parts of the building and its accoutrements, and patiently answering numerous questions.

That story always brings a smile to my lips — and allows me to tease my son as to how he was almost “baptized” a Catholic. More importantly, it also serves as a small reminder to me of the kind of attitude we should always bring to interfaith occasions; respect for and even interest in each other and our unique differences, kindness and generosity towards one another, and especially tolerance for the ignorance and misunderstandings which we all are bound to exhibit unintentionally in unfamiliar settings. Thanksgiving should be a time not only of gratitude for what we have and who we are, but for the glorious diversity of the world and people around us.

Editor's note: The Interfaith Thanksgiving Service this year will be on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at Beth Israel Congregation at 2204 Morganton Road. Participants who will be represented at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service include the Fayetteville Friends Meeting (Religious Society of Friends-Quakers), Beth Israel Congregation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Courtyard Church of Christ, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Masjid Ibn Omar Sayyid, and the St. James Lutheran Church. The Interfaith Council of Fayetteville asks that everyone bring a nonperishable donation to share with the Fayetteville Urban Ministries.

As inflation continues to put a strain on budgets, talk of an upcoming recession has Americans worried about their finances.
Prices on everyday items continue to rise and consumers are trying to find ways to make their dollar stretch further while safeguarding their money against the potential challenges a recession may bring.

The future may be difficult to predict, but preparing now can help consumers protect their financial health during a recession.

A recent Experian survey found that two in three U.S. adults are concerned about a recession occurring in the United States. Consumers are most worried about the affordability of routine expenses, with 73% concerned that the price of everyday items like gas, groceries and rent will continue to rise to a level they can’t afford.

Meanwhile, 55% harbor supply chain concerns and 38% are stressed about the affordability of big, planned purchases such as a home or a car.

As recession worries grow, more Americans are sizing up their finances to see where they stand. Only 48% are confident that they can financially handle a recession, and two in five believe that they’ll need to rely on credit to cover essential and unexpected expenses over the next three months.

In fact, 27% have already increased their credit card debt within the past three months.
This trend is accompanied by additional anxieties: two in three survey respondents are concerned to some degree that their credit score will negatively affect their ability to access credit in the next three months.
Being proactive is key to weathering financial storms, yet less than half of consumers have prepared for a recession when it comes to their finances and credit.

Those who have are finding different ways to do so: 49% have cut non-essential expenses like entertainment and vacations, 45% have created a budget and 40% have paid down debt.
While these are effective actions, there are other steps consumers can take to understand their credit history and safeguard their credit.

Consumers should check their credit report and credit score regularly to know exactly where they stand in the event that they need to apply for credit, or simply to be better informed as they prepare to pay down their debt ahead of an economic decline.
They can get a free credit report and credit score from Experian (Spanish-language credit reports are also available) as well as access to free financial tools, an auto insurance shopping service and credit card marketplace.

Those who need help increasing their credit score can sign up for Experian Boost. This free feature enables consumers to add their monthly payments for cell phone bills, utility bills, rent and video streaming services to their credit history to potentially increase their FICO Score instantly. To learn more, visit experian.com/boost.

“Inflation and recession fears are putting pressure on consumer’s finances, but proactively planning for the worst can help consumers make it through potential challenges. Many consumers are already taking great steps to prepare, like creating a budget and paying down their debt, and we encourage them to utilize other available resources and tools to help,” says Rod Griffin, senior director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian.

The official schedule for the 28th annual Cucalorus Film Festival has been released and tickets are now on sale for all events.

This year’s festival will take place Nov. 16-20 in downtown Wilmington and will showcase 136 films, beginning with the Wilmington-made opening night feature film, “The Devil’s Stomping Ground.”

Other features include thought-provoking documentaries like the closing night film, “Rise and Rebuild: A Tale of Three Cities” and the strange-but-true tale of “The Pez Outlaw.” From dark comedies like “Sick of Myself” to the crowd-pleasing “Sarcastic Fringehead” comedy shorts block, this year’s lineup has something for every film-goer.

Screenings take place at Thalian Hall, on campus at UNCW and also at the recently renovated community cinema, Jengo’s Playhouse.

Film selections range from “Butterfly in the Sky,” a documentary about the beloved children’s literary TV show “Reading Rainbow,” to “Our Father, the Devil,” a psychological thriller about trauma, power, guilt, and the devils hiding within us all. Featuring Oscar-worthy performances, “Our Father the Devil” has taken home awards at every festival, including Best Narrative Feature at Sidewalk Film Festival and the Audience Award at Tribeca Film Festival. Director Ellie Foumbi will be in attendance during Cucalorus and will participate in Q&A sessions following both screenings.

As always, the festival offers up a sweet selection of short films curated into blocks named after weird animals like “Leafy Seadragon” (docs about land) “Pleasing Fungus Beetle” (short docs about family), and of course our annual short comedy showcase this year is called “Sarcastic Fringehead.”

Taking cinema beyond the screen, the Cucalorus Performances program welcomes Isabella Rossellini back to Wilmington to perform her one-woman show, “Darwin’s Smile." This ultimate Bus to Lumberton experience has been 25 years in the making, tickets are limited, so grab yours now at cucalorus.eventive.org.

Fan favorite Alex Tatarsky returns to the stage with her new show “Dirt Trip.” Julia Desmond’s “Acme Revue” brings a dynamic combination of visual art, comedy and music.

The new Conversations program highlights the ability filmmakers have to generate discussion and connection within their storytelling. This year’s Conversations program explores Black history in Wilmington with wilmingtoNColor, the OUT Dance Project, and “The Making of the Nuevo South," a television series about the Latino immigrant experience in the South.

The full lineup of films is available at cucalorus.eventive.org/schedule. Grab a Pegasorus Pass to gain access to the whole film festival, plus parties, conversations and other events. Access to “Darwin’s Smile” is not included in the Pegasorus Pass.

Cucalorus is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, City of Wilmington, New Hanover County, University of North Carolina Wilmington, the National Endowment for the Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council and over 70 businesses.

Cucalorus is a multi-disciplinary organization supporting emerging and innovative artists through an annual film festival, two regional festivals, a residency program, a community cinema, an outdoor film series, and youth education programs. Cucalorus brings people together to celebrate, discover, and create. The annual festival provides a non-competitive environment to support independent filmmakers, performance artists, and community organizers who use storytelling to transform our world. More information is available at www.cucalorus.org.

It’s finally the perfect time of year to get outside. The beautiful North Carolina foliage acts as a colorful backdrop for families all over the Sandhills wanting to don their lightest jackets and enjoy weather that’s beginning to lean toward crisp in the early morning and evenings. The only question is: what is there to do?

The Fayetteville History Museum has put together a “unique, self-serve, downtown history adventure” to satisfy anyone looking for something different to do outside this season. Throughout November, a map full of clues will lead big and little sleuths around downtown Fayetteville to discover its architecture and history with new eyes.

“It’s a great way to use your brain power and your foot power to experience downtown,” Heidi Bleazey, Historic Properties Coordinator, shared.

While the Fayetteville History Museum is known for its knowledgeable staff and informative guided tours, a scavenger hunt of this scope is new territory for the museum. The Downtown Cornerstone Scavenger Hunt is an opportunity to show just how fun history can be.

Participants can grab a guide from the Fayetteville History Museum Tuesday-Saturday during regular operating hours and begin their search for cornerstones embedded in the historical buildings around the city. A cornerstone is a stone that traditionally forms the base corner of a building, joining two walls. As many historic buildings in downtown Fayetteville date back over a century — participants can find these architectural gems in some of downtown’s oldest structures.

Bleazey is especially excited for people to get out and about in Fayetteville to see “nuggets of history” for themselves.

“I love that the hunt is taking people beyond the core of Hay Street,” she explained. “We’re taking them off the dine-shop-eat path and inviting them to stand right where people stood over 100 years ago. These buildings we go by on our daily business are what remains of those who wanted to see change and bring change to this area.”

The self-guided scavenger hunt can be completed all at once or broken up over several days throughout the month. Once all items have been located, participants can return their completed sheets to the history museum for a prize.

Although the Downtown Cornerstone Historical Scavenger Hunt is designed for history lovers aged six to 96, Bleazey believes it’s a great outing for anyone looking to experience history up close.

“It’s a perfect hunt for anyone who wants to experience downtown and get a taste of our local history,” she said.

The hunt is ideal for family outings, team building, or a newly stationed soldier wanting to learn more about the area. Participating also creates an opportunity to discover new shops and restaurants in the bustling downtown area.

Ultimately, through this event, Bleazey hopes people develop an appetite for Fayetteville history, a topic she feels very passionate about and is proud to share with others.

“From its roots, Fayetteville has been a community that doesn’t always follow textbook history. The more you look, you see people and events that don’t follow standard American history. I love being a go-between for people from the past and people of the [present] community.”

The Downtown Cornerstone Scavenger Hunt is free and open to the public. Participants can pick up their blank Scavenger Hunt guide sheets Tuesday-Saturday at 325 Franklin St. in downtown Fayetteville.

Indigenous culture is here, and it’s thriving. That is what the latest art exhibit at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County shows. Still Here, Still Native: A Native American Art Exhibit is a special exhibit for the Arts Council to mark Native American Heritage Month.

The curator, Savanna Davis, came up with the idea to host a space where indigenous people could share their own stories. She went to the Office of Indian Education— which is part of Cumberland County Schools — and they agreed to partner for the exhibit.

“I came to them with the concept, they said they loved it, and we [worked] it out together, and it all came together,” Davis said.
Eighteen indigenous artists have contributed to the collection of native-based artwork. Davis said that many of the submissions seemed to surround similar themes of identity.

“There are pieces about identity... living in two worlds,” Davis said. “You have a tribal identity, and then you have a present-day identity, and those may not overlap all the time.”
Some pieces are heirlooms like a piece of local Lumbee Regalia, a quilt made for a couple on their wedding day, and bead embroidery. Then there are new art pieces, like a traditional cape made out of plastic bags and moccasins made out of plastic.

“It’s kind of new world technique meets old world tradition,” Davis said.

The artwork also shows the not-so-nice side of history. For example, one piece of art, “The Broken Necklace,” is about residential schools and how indigenous children were taken away from their homes and forced to abandon their culture and language.

A couple of other pieces of art focus on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic. According to the National Crime Information Center, 8,162 Indigenous youth and 2,285 Indigenous adults were reported missing. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women according to the Urban Indian Health Institute.

“We wanted to take the time to give it its own space,” Davis said.

In this corner of the gallery hangs a woman’s shawl with red handprints — the symbol of the MMIW movement. In the gallery booklet, there are also resources people can look up to learn more about the movement.

One interesting thing about the exhibit is that next to each piece of art is a QR code. That QR code leads visitors to a Wikipedia page that gives more information about the tribe where that piece of artwork comes from.

When you take a step back and look at the gallery as a whole, you see that this art reflects a thriving culture — not a history textbook.

“I hope people come in and learn something. I hope that it challenges what they think of when they hear Native Americans or Indigenous people. I hope it helps to make these cultures real and relevant and present. The way we traditionally encounter these cultures is in the dinosaur bones section in the museum so I hope this reverse that,” Davis says. “They are still thriving. It’s gorgeous, it’s incredible.”

The exhibit will be on display at the Arts Council until Nov. 27. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

All are invited to downtown Fayetteville the day after Thanksgiving. Locals, visitors, families, and friends gather to kick off the holiday season and share in a spirit of goodwill and gratitude.

This year, the Downtown Alliance is producing A Dickens Holiday in partnership with the Fayetteville History Museum, generous sponsors, and downtown businesses. It will take place on Nov. 25 from 1 to 9 p.m. on Franklin Street, centered where the Downtown Market is held every Saturday year-round. Shoppers are invited to come earlier to take advantage of the downtown shops’ Dickens Holiday Deals.

A Dickens Holiday is a 22-year beloved Fayetteville tradition that was created to draw people downtown to shop for the holidays while enjoying “A Christmas Carol” brought to life in a festive generosity of spirit. It’s a fun way of reminding people that there is a great downtown with a variety of local establishments here in Fayetteville that shouldn’t be overlooked in favor of chain stores, said Hank Parfitt, one of the Downtown Alliance volunteer organizers.

Inspired by Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the day will feature reenactors stationed throughout “Dickens Village” dressed as street urchins, the ghost of Jacob Marley, miser Ebeneezer Scrooge, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, Queen Victoria, Princess Bonetta and other characters from the book
and period.

Throughout the day, there will be strolling musicians, magical acts, ax-throwing, a balloon artist, the Victorian Llamas and even Father Christmas. Visitors can enjoy the musical entertainment of the Coventry Carolers, the Oakwood Waits, the Cross Creek Pipe and Drums and the Highland Brass Quintet who will perform Christmas music in costume throughout the day.

The Victorian era denotes the 63 years Victoria was Queen of England, lasting from 1837 to her death in 1901. “A Christmas Carol,” written by Charles Dickens, captured the characteristics of the mid-Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday. Visitors are welcome to attend wearing their own Victorian era garb. Helpful tips regarding the best way to create that perfect Victorian era look without breaking the bank or doing any sewing can be found at the Downtown Alliance website www.faydta.com/ADickensHoliday/. Top hats and capes will be for sale at the Dickens Merchandise Booth.

“The whole downtown is happy during the event, and you have this strong feeling of community,” Parfitt said. “That’s what we call the ‘magic of Dickens.’”

Like Market Days in Victorian England, there will be vendor stalls lining the streets, who along with downtown’s unique shops, will offer plenty of opportunities to pick up Christmas gifts while being entertained by the sights and sounds of the holidays. A Dickens Holiday is “probably Fayetteville at its best,” Parfitt added. “For many merchants, they have their best single day of sales” during the event.

“I’ve been involved with Dickens for a dozen years or more,” said Heidi Bleazey, historic properties coordinator for the Fayetteville History Museum. “And I’m just always impressed at how much the community comes together and how much downtown shines.”

With 25 locally owned eateries and drink purveyors within walking distance of the event, it’s easy to relax and enjoy a variety of food and beverages, along with shopping at the 30 specialty retail shops, while downtown.

The Fayetteville History Museum will co-host and serve as the center of the festivities. During the day, the museum will be known as “Victoria Station,” the perfect conduit between the present and the past. Two horse-drawn “Cinderella” carriages, sponsored by the Cool Spring Downtown District, will take revelers for a 15-20 minute ride around the museum along the adjacent streets. This is a private ride in an elegant carriage for a romantic couple — or for the whole family if they wish. The cost is $75 no matter how large the family. Tickets are being sold in advance and can be purchased at VisitDowntownFayetteville.com.

“The Fayetteville History Museum is housed in a national-register property,” Bleazey said. “It’s the 1890 Cape Fear and Yadkin Railway Depot. Multiple aspects of the Victorian-era life and the period are going to be featured, and Dickens is going to be highlighted in our museum as well.”

Around 5:15 p.m., there will be a “Lighting of the Candles” to mark the arrival of the holidays and to greet Queen Victoria and other character actors as they appear on the performance stage along with the musical performers, and Sir John, the emcee.

“We will have Scrooge on stage, too,” Parfitt said. “And I rather suspect he will tell the audience that, after he’s seen man’s love for one another in downtown Fayetteville, he has become a changed man.”

The ceremony will end at 5:45 p.m., in time for the crowd to attend the tree-lighting in front of the Arts Council. All of downtown will be a lively evening venue for shopping and activities to include Franklin Street.

The event will continue with the “Dickens After Dark” market and activities and Carriage Rides from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Arts Council will hold the annual tree lighting ceremony at about 6:15 p.m. as part of its Holidays on Hay... A Season of Light celebration. The beautiful Cool Spring Downtown District tree is 22-feet-tall. It makes a perfect holiday picture backdrop, so be sure to return downtown to take photos.
Later the Arts Council will feature a light show of more than 200 drones displaying gigantic holiday images in the sky for approximately 15 minutes, visible from up to four miles away.

“We anticipate that people will want to go back and forth between the two events and enjoy all the festivities,” Parfitt said. “We look at this as a giant celebration with two big parts.”

A Dickens Holiday will be 1 to 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25 — the day after Thanksgiving — in downtown Fayetteville. The Fayetteville History Museum is located at 325 Franklin Street.
Parking is available in the Franklin Street deck and parking lots.

Santa and his elves are coming early this year, thanks to the Fayetteville chapter of the Jack and Jill of America Foundation.

The organization’s second Pop-Up Pictures With Santa Just Like Me fundraising event will take place on Nov. 19 at Honeycutt Recreation Center from 1 to 4 p.m.
Big kids, little kids and believers of all ages are invited to enjoy hot cocoa and cookies with a few elves and have their picture taken with a Santa Claus of color before the holiday season gets fully underway. It’s the perfect time to get a jump start on holiday cards while celebrating diversity.

A team will be ready to greet visitors upon arrival, available to answer questions about the organization and opportunities to get involved.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Fisher House Foundation Inc. and Raeford Cares Mentoring Movement. Additionally, P3 Weddings and Events will sponsor five families identified by Raeford Cares to have their photos taken.

Up & Coming Weekly spoke with Ericka Whitaker, foundation chair of the Fayetteville chapter of the Jack & Jill Foundation of America, about the event and its intended impact on the community.

“We just want to get a jump start on all the other Santas,” Whitaker joked.

On a more serious note, Whitaker shared the foundation’s hope to increase visibility and representation in the African American community for leaders and heroes that look like the children and families they serve.

“What we have historically seen is that children of color don't often see Santas that look like them,” Whitaker explained. “We want to make sure our children are aware of their culture.”

"The desire to promote images of positivity and success within the Black community is at the heart of the Jack & Jill Foundation of America's mission to “transform African American communities one child at a time.”

Comprised mostly of African American mothers, the national organization represents over 242 chapters and 40,000 family members. Jack & Jill of America Foundation is dedicated to “stimulating children’s growth and development through educational, cultural, civic, health, recreational, and social opportunities,” particularly for African American children aged two to nineteen.

Established in 1938 by Black socialite and civic organizer Marion Stubbs Thomas, the Jack & Jill of America Foundation has spent the last eight decades cultivating leaders with a strong sense of duty and integrity, which led Whitaker to join the Fayetteville chapter seven years ago.

“I wanted my daughter to be involved in giving back to the community,” Whitaker shared. “I wanted her to understand there are professionals that look just like her. I believe the Jack and Jill Foundation has a strong impact because we really invest in our children's education and leadership. This organization is another tool in our toolbox to develop her as an individual.”

The Fayetteville chapter, which falls under the mid-Atlantic region, serves 23 members and families locally. The local chapter is involved in several programs within the community, like serving meals, partnering with local schools to provide needed resources, and volunteering with local food banks. The goal is to focus on and inspire children to become well-rounded individuals with a practical understanding of their culture.
While promoting positivity within the African American community, Whitaker emphasized that the Pop-Up Pictures With Santa Just Like Me event is for everyone.

“We aren’t just inviting children of color," she clarified. “We want the entire community to come out if they can.”

Digital photograph packages are priced as follows: one shot/$30, two shots/$45, and three shots/$60; only cash and Cashapp are accepted.

Honeycutt Recreation Center is located at 353 Devers St. in Fayetteville.
To learn more about the Jack & Jill Foundation of America, visit www.jackandjillfoundation.org/.

Of the 89 public and 36 private schools in Cumberland County, only one is solely dedicated to providing a holistic education for autistic students — the School of Hope: the “perfect place to wonder, learn, and grow.”

Situated in Fayetteville, the small but sunny private school opens onto a beautiful mural of the school's logo: a puzzle-piece schoolhouse of primary colors upheld by two loving hands.
For the past six years, the School of Hope has been a haven and, for some, the last stop on a long road to quality education for their exceptional children. Rob and Amy Sparks, co-founders of the School of Hope, understand that journey all too well.

As parents who struggled to access free and appropriate education for their autistic son, Jarred, the Sparks filed and won a lawsuit against Fort Bragg Schools, which ended in federal district court in 1997.

“We fought hard for our son because we wanted him to be educated, not babysat,” Sparks expressed with passion. “These students have a right to an education, and that’s exactly what we fight for here. The School of Hope is built from the heart — it’s not about money, it’s not about numbers — it's about quality.”

While Sparks, a former primary school teacher for Cumberland County, and Rob, retired Air Force, always dreamed of opening a school for children with autism, it wasn’t until the passing of their son, Jarred, in 2011, that the reality of the school began to take shape.

“I loved [teaching], but I made a promise to my son,” Sparks shared. “I said to him: ‘Jarred, I promise I will never let your death be in vain — we will open the School of Hope.’”

Reminders of Jarred are found throughout the school, and it seems no part of the space is untouched by his influence. A beautiful quilt made of his clothing hangs from the wall outside the office. A display case of his athletic accomplishments greets visitors as they walk inside. A handsome young man posing with his family, a strong swimmer standing with medals around his neck — his face stares back from several framed photos around the office. It’s clear the hands holding up the little painted schoolhouse belong to him.

“This school is so personal to me,” Sparks expressed. “Jarred is my son, and I want him to be proud of me.”

In honor of Jarred’s beautiful spirit, the Sparks have made it their life's mission to offer children on the spectrum a place to feel safe, loved, and educated.

“This is a very unique school,” Sparks shared with Up & Coming Weekly. “We know our students, and we love each and every one of them.”

An institution like the School of Hope couldn't come at a more crucial time. According to the CDC, around 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A mere 20 years ago, the numbers were around 1 in 500. The sharp increase in diagnosed cases creates questions about best practices when serving the varying needs of children and students within this very specific population, particularly regarding education.

Many families of children with autism have indeed found success within the public school system through Individualized Education Plans, caseworkers and self-contained classrooms. Many others are frustrated with a system that, even before COVID, often struggled to meet the needs of students with autism spectrum disorder.

It is precisely due to these challenges that the School of Hope has gone from a student body of five to around 52 in the last six years. The K-12 school offers all the standard subjects, small class sizes, and an emphasis on life skills and socialization. Unlike public institutions, the School of Hope allows Personalized Education Plans, on-site ABA therapists and Registered Behavior Technicians, making them a highly sought-after choice for families moving into the area. As their renown spreads and their services become more necessary, the need for School of Hope’s expansion becomes increasingly urgent.

To make their dreams of building a bigger school a reality, the School of Hope has initiated their Hope 200 campaign, which seeks to raise $500,000 to purchase a modular building with eight classrooms that would allow them to take in 160 more children.
The Sparks, in particular Amy, as the school’s charismatic leader, have hit the fundraising trail to bring their story, message and dream for the school’s future to the community and even those outside Cumberland County.

“When you hear Amy speak about her son and the goals for this school, you immediately want to raise money for this cause,” shared Sandy Holland, an organizer of a recent fundraiser on the school’s behalf.
The “Roaring 20s” themed fundraiser/luncheon held in October, coupled with outside donations from the community and out-of-state benefactors, raised nearly $10,000 toward the school's Hope 200 campaign.

“God was laying it on my heart that our group needed to do this,” Holland explained. “The ladies of our church — so many of them have children and grandchildren on the spectrum, and we know their struggles. Several children at our church are on the spectrum — you see the need.”

It’s a need the Sparks hope to impress upon as many people as possible as the school creeps toward its goal.

“No donation is too small,” Sparks admitted. “Until autism touches people’s lives, they don’t think about it. Most people who give have a personal story they want to share. When people come to this school and see what's happening, they’re touched.”

As for Sparks, her dreams for the school extend far beyond her lifetime; ultimately, she and her husband are working to build a legacy.

“I dream that one day when I’m no longer here on this earth, the School of Hope will forever help children with autism and will continue to go on.

I hope that thousands of lives will be touched and when I get to heaven, Jarred and I can have our first conversation, and he'll say to me: ‘you did it, Mom.’”

The School of Hope is located at 111 Burns Street in Fayetteville. To learn more about the School of Hope or to donate to the Hope 200 Fund, visit www.theschoolofhope.net/,
or call 910-339-5683.

A brand new coffee shop will be opening soon in Cumberland County, and this coffee shop plans to put purpose into every cup. Miller’s Brew, operated by Kim Molnar and Miller’s Crew, is planning a soft opening in December.

Molnar worked at Cumberland County Schools for almost three decades as a speech-language pathologist and specialist. She noticed that children with developmental disabilities, particularly high school students, weren’t given much-needed resources to qualify for jobs in the community. She saw this within the schools and with her son, who is autistic.

The first goal for Miller’s Crew, named after Molnar’s son, Miller, was to create vocational work labs in high school special needs classrooms. Miller’s Crew met their initial goal in just three and a half years. Now they have installed or helped donate fully functioning training labs in ten different high schools across three counties.

Phase two was the Miller’s Crew food truck, which launched last year.

The Cooking With The Crew food truck was established with the goal to provide job training, apprenticeship programs and employment opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities.
It has become a staple at many events around Cumberland County. The food truck serves hot dogs, fries, grilled cheese, and tried and true food favorites, offering simple but delicious lunches.

“With the food truck, we are able to take adults with special needs and train them with skills that they can use in some kind of employment,” Molnar said. “We use our food truck as a training lab. We serve really good food, and we love being out in the community.”

Since the food truck launched, there has been a sharp increase of interest from families and individuals who could benefit from the work Miller’s Crew does. Molnar tells Up & Coming Weekly that when they launched, they were working with two crew members. Now, 15 families are interested and wanting to be involved.
The plan was always to find a hub for Miller’s Crew, but the large amount of interest from the community hurried the timeline.

“We really wanted that phase three could accommodate more adolescents and more adults with special needs to carry on with that skill set and then pipeline them to the businesses that we partner with,” Molnar said.

That dream was still a few years away. But with the success of the food truck and the large amount of interest from not just families, but also the community, phase three is coming a lot earlier that Molnar was planning.
When the building they were looking at in the Haymount area became available to rent, Molnar said that they jumped on the opportunity.
The new hub will be a coffee shop, called Miller’s Brew. Their tagline: Purpose in Every Cup.

“We believe everything they do in that building at that particular time with the training that we're providing, you know, there is purpose and they are learning a task that’s going to carry over to something meaningful, whether it’s in our coffee shop or in another coffee shop or another place of business. Everything we do while they’re there is teaching and training,” Molnar said.

Molnar said she hopes families can see their training center, see their crew members, and know that their loved ones with learning and developmental disabilities will be okay.

“It’s my goal and my passion and my belief that if a family walks into our training company and gets a cup of coffee, talks to a speech therapist, but sees Miller at 23 years old making a cup of coffee, interacting with customers, learning how to do things that, you know, at three years old, we never would have dreamed that he would have done. Our training center will be the visual pathway for those families that they can look and go, ‘Oh, he has autism or he has Down syndrome, or he has another developmental disorder. The future is not going to be so bad that I have to keep working,’” Molnar said.

“We are hyper focused — we train and we teach to the caliber of what somebody would get if they're going into a 30 minute or 45 minute or an hour PTO/speech session. When they come in to see the staff at our training company, that’s what they’re getting. They’re getting really good opportunities to grow and learn.”

The coffee will come from a roaster in Aberdeen. They will be serving basic coffee drinks, pastries and their famous food truck smoothies.
There is a plan for a soft opening in December and a grand opening to the public in January.

The shop is located on the corner of Olive Road and Morganton Road, where the old BB&T bank was located.
To find out more about Miller’s Crew, where you can find their food truck, or how to get involved, visit their website at www.millerscrew.com.

Two years ago, cases of RSV plummeted dramatically across the nation as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools, daycares and businesses.
Once restrictions started easing in the summer of 2021, physicians are said to have seen an alarming increase in what is a normally fall and winter virus.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people recover in a week or two, but it can be very serious, especially for infants and older adults, the CDC says.

The virus has rebooted, and it’s back again.

As a result, doctors have concerns about the possibility that RSV, flu and COVID-19 could combine to stress hospitals.
The adult and pediatric emergency departments at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center have experienced higher than normal patient volumes. Doctors cite a rise in flu and RSV as the cause.
Dr. Jennifer Green, the Cumberland County health director, said that the county has been seeing a surge in flu and RSV just like the rest of the country.
Statewide, there have been five adult flu deaths and a pediatric death in recent weeks, she said. Cumberland County has not reported a death from those illnesses.

“It’s circulating more than we’ve seen before,” Green said, citing the fact that fewer people are wearing masks, fewer people are practicing public health measures, more people are traveling now than they were in the last year, and more are gathering and not social distancing as they did during the apex of COVID.

”It’s unusual this year after a couple of years of calm seeing this level this early and the amount of flu and RSV we’re seeing," she added. "This is kind of the flu season, but the volume is a little unusual.”

People have not built up an immunity at this time, according to Green.
Hospital physicians and staff were unavailable for comment due to the high demand of attention from patients experiencing respiratory illnesses, a hospital spokeswoman said.
But in a news release last week, Chief Clinical Officer Michael Zappa talked about the impact of flu and RSV.

“Flu season came early this year, as did RSV, and the numbers of cases are high everywhere,” Zappa said in the Cape Fear Valley Health news release.

“Hospitals throughout the state are filling their pediatric beds with children with RSV or flu. A large portion of what we’re seeing in the adult (emergency department) are respiratory illnesses,
as well.”

Fayetteville is no different from other places nationwide.

The Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Emergency Department is experiencing high pediatric volume flu and RSV, which are said to be driving the majority of emergency department visits.
On Nov. 10, Cape Fear Valley reported 29 cases of flu systemwide, with 19 listed as hospitalized at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville. Six cases were listed in the pediatrics department.

Also on Nov. 10, 16 patients were hospitalized systemwide with the flu, including 15 at the central medical center. Total numbers of COVID patients were reported as 10 cases across the system and seven hospitalized at Cape Fear Valley.

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s 25 pediatric inpatient beds have essentially remained at capacity.

Late last week, the system said roughly 80% of the children admitted to the hospital recently have tested positive for RSV.
According to the news release, Zappa said that many of the children being brought to the emergency department are able to be seen and sent home and could also receive the same testing and evaluation at one of Cape Fear Valley’s ExpressCare locations. Some children may also need a breathing treatment, which the emergency department can provide, without needing to be admitted.

“I strongly encourage adults and children to get vaccinated for the flu this season, as well as getting their COVID-19 booster,” Zappa said in the release.

The same precautions that are recommended for COVID-19 are suggested for the prevention of
flu and RSV – masking, hand washing, cleaning frequently-touched surfaces and avoiding close contact.

Though a vaccine is available for the flu, there is no vaccine for RSV. Pfizer has announced that it is working on one.
The news release said that adults can contract RSV, but it generally impacts children much more often than adults. With the flu, children and geriatric patients are at a higher risk for complications.

“We don’t want to discourage anyone who is having an emergency from coming to the emergency department,” Zappa said in the release. “If an adult or a child is having difficulty breathing, they should come to the emergency department. We do ask that people consider our ExpressCares for non-emergencies, and for people to extend their patience if they experience extended wait times in the emergency departments.”

RSV is a common disease, Green said. And not one you typically think about unless you have younger children or older folks around. She said it’s similar to the common cold, and just another respiratory virus.

“Their symptoms overlap quite a bit,” Green said.

Did you know?

Public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocate for annual flu shots as an effective way to avoid potentially serious complications that can arise when individuals get the influenza virus.
But why the need for annual vaccinations? According to the CDC, flu viruses are constantly changing, so a vaccination that might have been effective one year will not necessarily provide significant protection in the following year.
In addition, the protection provided by the flu vaccine wanes over time, so people won’t necessarily be well fortified against the flu if they aren’t vaccinated each year. Researchers work to determine which flu viruses are likely to be common in a given year. The vaccinations administered in that year reflect that research and provide the greatest protection against the viruses that are likely to be circulating throughout flu season.

What the world needs now more than love sweet love, are smarter, more socially attuned rats. Mr. Science has developed a method to put human brain cells into rats. What could possibly go wrong with this interesting development?

Today we enter the door that opens into this brave new world of improved rats. Quoting the The New York Times: “Scientists have successfully transplanted clusters of human neutrons into the brains of new born rats…” As Flounder said in “Animal House” — “Oh Boy! Is this great!”

Let us ponder the how, then the why, and the what this might mean for ratkind and humankind. Like many occasionally startling trends, poking human brain cells into rat brains originated in California. Our friends at Stanford not only left the cake out in the rain at McArthur Park but found the recipe again.

First, you put a bunch of human skin cells into a petri dish. Gently mix in some chemicals to cause the skin cells to morph into embryo cells. The newly hatched embryo cells can grow into almost anything except a Mercedes Benz. Fold in some more chemicals that cause embryo cells to develop into nerve cells, AKA neurons. Put the neurons into a commercial grade Commando 1500 E Class 10,000-watt Food Processor. Add Stanford’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices. Spin for two hours until the cells form large clumps of neurons called progenitor brain cells.

These brain cells become three types of nerve cells called Organoids. These new improved brain cells do not develop into regular or extra crispy Organoids, but come in three delicious flavors: brain cortex cells, spinal cord cells and muscle cells.

Now comes the fun part. Mr. Science implants the human nerve cells into the brains of volunteer two-day old baby rats to see what happens next. The Organoids are put into the part of the rat brains that understands pain, touch and bodily signals. Rats get a lot of information about the outside world from their whiskers. Human Organoids can speak Rat Whisker. Once at home in the baby rat brain, the Organoids flourish and grow to take up about 1/3 of the rat’s cortex.

Party on, Organoids! Mr. Science discovered the rats with human Organoids learned much more quickly than mere rat brained rats. We now can produce intellectually gifted rats who will require private schools.
Why do we want better rat brains? By Mr. Science studying the new improved rat brains, medical advances may be made into understanding autism, brain injuries and other neurological disorders. Some soreheads have ethical questions about implanting Organoids into rats. At this point, apparently Organoids have not been implanted into chimpanzees or border collies. But if winter comes, can blizzards of new improved animals be far behind? Stay tuned.

Eventually PETA is likely to object to the biological downgrading of rats by diluting their rodent identity through injecting human brain cells. Rats will become less than fully rat, declining into mere Ratoids adulterated by human brain cells. Humans have done a lot of things, and not all of them were good. Introducing human brain cells into rats is species colonialism. The insertion of human brain cells into rats is the first step on a slippery slope of cultural appropriation of rat history.

Will Ratoids become addicted to following the latest antics of Kardashians or the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Will Ratoids become influencers on social media? Will Ratoids become Democrats or Republicans, or form a new Party of Ratacrustians?

Not everything must be bleak in the coming Ratoid future. What is sauce for the rat, is sauce for the human. If human brain cells can be injected into rats, then rat brain cells can be injected into humans. The insertion of rat brain cells into humans would improve a lot of humans.

Consider Putin with a new improved rat brain. Vlad would be a kinder, gentler, murderous dictator. There are some things that even rats won’t do. Putin has shown there is nothing he won’t do. Rat Brain Putin would be an upgrade. Rat brain cells would improve Kanye West by slowing his spew of antisemitic comments, thereby allowing him to focus on finding cheese instead of vomiting hatred. Elon Musk clearly would benefit from rat brains. Former Dook Coach K’s disposition could be upgraded to almost semi-catatonic with an infusion of rat brains. Coach K already resembles a rat. His transformation from almost human to rat would not be a stretch. In a display of almost superhuman restraint, I will refrain from suggesting whether an infusion of rat brain cells would improve the Former Guy.

So, what have we learned today? Who put the rat in rational and irrational? Who knows? Boys will be boys. Rats will be rats. Until now, never the twain shall meet. Once humans comingle their brain cells in rats, we will end up with a nation of Dook fans. As Colonel Walter E. Kurtz in “Apocalypse Now” once said, “The Horror. The Horror.”

Contrary to what North Carolina progressives seem to think, the truth is that the Republican-controlled General Assembly now has a governing supermajority. This dynamic threatens Gov. Roy Cooper’s ability to continue building upon his record of having the most vetoes of any state governor.

Tuesday’s electoral results also put state public policy outcomes in North Carolina into a favorable position for those who value limited government.
The social media politico echo chambers are spiking with analysis after Tuesday’s election. Folks on the left and right are giving their thoughts about what the results mean for our political landscape. Overall, it is fair to conclude that what should have been an environment where Republicans saw a massive red wave across the country turned up short, but here at home, they secured critical victories.

The NCGOP took a sweeping victory over the judiciary, gaining the majority on the North Carolina Supreme Court for the foreseeable future. This will positively impact conservatives and those who value constitutionality in how judges interpret the law rather than judicial activism. Likewise, this will potentially impact redistricting, righting the wrongs of previous activist judges.

Most notably, Republicans gained a supermajority in the state Senate, bringing them to 30 seats in the upper chamber and a “functional supermajority” in the NC House, coming up short only by one, with 71 seats.
Nationally, the GOP did not do as well as many pundits predicted. There are potentially many reasons why that happened. One can speculate that this could be seen as a referendum on Trumpism — that it’s time for Republicans to move beyond Donald Trump and that populist rhetoric is not necessarily the catch-all winning strategy for conservatives moving forward. With what we saw in this election cycle in North Carolina with the loss of the three Trump-endorsed congressional candidates (Cawthorn, Hines and Smith), even with a Budd victory, that seems to be a good argument.

While the red wave may not have been felt at the national level, and social media rhetoric reflects that sentiment, #NCPOL Twitter is seemingly different from the rest of the country, as we did see positive gains for Republicans on the state level and, of course, with Budd’s U.S. Senate victory.

So, as for the General Assembly, what does a “functioning or governing supermajority” mean for legislating and the governor’s veto power?
Republicans in the General Assembly only need one House Democrat to align with them to override Gov. Cooper’s veto. House Republicans have a rich environment of moderate Democrats to vote with them on a wide variety of policies, especially now that Democrats do not have to worry about the wrath of Cooper’s vengeance since his time as governor is coming to a close. Senate Republicans have the votes to override a veto even without Democrat support.

On a vote-by-vote basis, and almost every issue imaginable, Republicans in the General Assembly can expect to have practically no problem finding Democrats to effectively caucus with them on votes, thus making Cooper’s veto no longer safe.

It would be politically savvy for moderate Democrats to deliver on being moderates and work in a bipartisan fashion. Likewise, this also means Republicans will have to moderate, albeit only slightly, on some issues to win the hearts of their colleagues. Overall, this is arguably not bad for a good and balanced government.

Editor’s Note: André Béliveau is the strategic projects and government affairs manager at the John Locke Foundation. He is an M.A. in government candidate at Johns Hopkins University and previously served as a policy advisor in the North Carolina Senate.

A Fayetteville man has been charged in a fatal shooting at the Carolina Motor Inn on Saturday night, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Bobbie Colston Farrior, 41, was arrested Sunday, Nov. 13, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

He is charged in the fatal shooting of Rafael Ramon Purdie 39, of Hope Mills.

Farrior is being held without bond at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a charge of first-degree murder, the Sheriff’s Office said. His first appearance is set for 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Deputies were dispatched to the motel at 2533 Gillespie St. around 11:10 p.m. in reference to a shooting, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Purdie was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, the release said.

The Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit is investigating.

Anyone who has information about this investigation is asked to call Detective Sgt. R. Brinkley at 910-677-5463 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

This is the second fatal shooting in the county in three days.

Carlos Runquiz Whitted, 40, of Hope Mills, died after a shooting Thursday night on Lawndale Street.

The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen is expected to swear in Fire Chief Jason Williams as interim town manager Monday night, Nov. 14, as it continues to search for a permanent town manager.

“It looks like I will be in this position for a little longer than when I was first appointed as the acting town manager,” Williams said.

Williams was appointed interim town manager on Oct. 24 after state Treasurer Dale Folwell said he would not approve funding to hire Justine Jones as Spring Lake town manager.

After a two-month search, the board voted 3-2 on Oct. 10 to appoint Jones as permanent town manager on conditional approval of the contract by the Local Government Commission, the Board of Aldermen and the town attorney, and acceptance of the contract terms by Jones.

Folwell issued a news release on Oct. 13 saying he would not approve the funding for Jones, who had recently been fired after 90 days from her first job as town manager in Kenly. She was let go after the entire full-time Police Department, including the police chief and two other employees, quit making headline news. They said she created a hostile work environment.

Folwell cited past employment history, concern for potential legal and financial liabilities and the potential adverse impact on town morale as his reasons for not supporting the hire.

Folwell said in an interview earlier this month that the ability to budget and manage the finances of a large organization should be at the forefront of the board’s decision-making when selecting a town manager.

Folwell also serves as chairman of the Local Government Commission which took over Spring Lake’s finances in October 2021 amid concerns of potential budget deficits, longstanding fiscal disarray and an investigation of missing money.

According to Jones’ resume, she has one year of budget experience and 90 days of town management experience. Prior to her brief employment in Kenly, Jones sued Richland County, South Carolina, alleging gender and racial discrimination after she was fired. In between, she spent five years operating her own consultant company.

Mayor Kia Anthony and town attorney Michael Porter said Kenly hired a third-party private investigator who showed that the claims of a hostile work environment were unfounded.

Anthony announced at the Oct. 24 meeting after Williams was appointed as interim town manager that the town would be sending a contract to the Local Government Commission for Jones to be the next manager despite the opposition from Folwell.

Williams has served as the acting town manager for the last three weeks. He said he is hoping to make some good changes in Spring Lake. He has taken a proactive approach to running the town, working with all departments to get equipment working again to clean streets and improve the appearance of the town.

“We’ve gotten the street sweeper back and running and we are working on getting things moving forward,’’ Williams said. “We got the claw machine on the truck adjusted and fixed so employees have returned to picking up bulk trash items.”

Williams hopes that residents can see that employees are trying to get the town cleaned up.

“If we can get the streets cleaned up and the trash picked up, then hopefully the people in Spring Lake can take pride in the town,’’ he said. “We just put up the flags on Main Street. We are just going to keep working at it.”

Williams added that the town Christmas tree lighting has been scheduled for Dec. 1 with town departments once again coming out to man stations for children.

“Santa will be there and we are going to do things a little bigger this year,” Williams said. “It’s about community and what I want the most is positive things coming from this town.”

In other business, the board is expected to hear a rezoning case to build new townhomes off Chapel Hill Road. The board is also expected to go into closed session citing N.C. General Statutes for privilege-confidential-approval closed session minutes, attorney-client privilege and personnel.

The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Grady Howard conference room of Spring Lake Town Hall.

The Fayetteville City Council has a meaty agenda scheduled for Monday, Nov. 14 with topics that include the N.C. History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation and Reconstruction, execution of a contract for gunshot technology and the potential appointment of a Fayetteville Public Works Commission member.

“We’ve been working through stuff,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said Thursday. “We're trying to push them on. We’re trying to clear the plate before the end of the year when we break for winter.”

The regular monthly meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

In a consent item, the City Council will consider authorization to execute a memorandum of understanding with the history center foundation and adoption of a budget ordinance amendment 2023-7.

“We gave consensus for the manager, if certain conditions are met, to sign an agreement to fund it like a memorandum of agreement,” Colvin said. “It could be to vote to officially do that. I think we did that in a work session. It will appropriate the money with the passage of it but not disperse it until the conditions are met.”

Council voted 9-0 on Oct, 24 to allocate $6.6 million to the center, contingent on stipulations.

Another consent item involves approval of an interlocal agreement between the city and Cumberland County regarding the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park project.

The N.C. General Assembly appropriated $2.5 million to the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Committee, a nonprofit corporation, “as partial funding for a project to construct a memorial spire in a circular, stone meditation plaza” in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park owned by the city, meeting materials state.

Gunshot technology, PWC appointment

When it comes to the gunshot detection technology services, the awarding of the contract could be forthcoming when the council reconsiders the execution of the transaction.

“(We’re) trying to give authorization to sign a contract if certain conditions are met,” Colvin said when asked what he anticipated would take place regarding a potential contract with the gunshot technology company ShotSpotter. “And some of the council’s concerns were public engagement meetings and just one or two other points to the proposed contract. That was something I brought to the council because it was stuck in limbo. Now it’s moved back to the table for official vote. Either pass it or not.”

Council members also are expected to make an appointment to the Fayetteville PWC.

Downtown social district

In other business, the City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the adoption of Fayetteville’s proposed Downtown Social District.

Last year, the General Assembly enacted legislation allowing municipalities to designate social districts within their jurisdiction to allow alcoholic beverages sold by licensed premises to be consumed within the district, outside of the establishment where the beverage was purchased.

The city and the Cool Spring Downtown District, according to agenda materials, have worked together to propose a social district in the downtown area. Those two entities “believe that a social district is a valuable tool to increase economic activity and the vibrancy of downtown Fayetteville …”

As recommended by staff, the days and hours of operation for the city’s planned social district would be Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m.

Only alcoholic beverages purchased from a permittee located in or contiguous to the social district may be possessed and consumed, the proposed ordinance states.

Cape Fear River Park

A Cape Fear River Park update also is listed on the agenda for council discussion.
Based on meeting materials, the project area consists of about 13 acres of city-owned property between Grove and Person streets along the west bank of the Cape Fear River. More than 1,000 feet of riverbank is included in the project.