North Carolinians are just a few weeks away from seeing “I voted” stickers on the clothes of strangers at the grocery store.

One-stop voting, also commonly known as “early voting,” begins Oct. 20 and will continue through Nov. 5. All signs point to trends showing that the majority of North Carolina voters will take advantage of the two-week opportunity to cast their ballots. 

“In recent statewide and federal elections, in-person early voting has been the most popular way to vote for North Carolinians,” said Patrick Gannon, spokesperson for the N.C. State Board of Elections.

How early voting became a powerhouse

In the 2008 and 2012 general elections, roughly 56% of the state’s total ballots came from early voting. That number jumped to 62% in 2016 and 65% in the 2020 general election, according to the state Board of Elections.

But it took different pieces of state legislation proposed over the course of more than 20 years for early voting to become the powerhouse it is now.

Early voting in North Carolina dates to 1977, when the N.C. General Assembly amended absentee voting laws to allow residents already eligible for absentee ballots — people with disabilities or those who would be out of state on Election Day — to go to a county board of elections office, apply for an absentee ballot and cast their vote all in one location.

The next step toward the emergence of early voting, according to the University of North Carolina School of Government, came in 1999. Then, two separate pieces of legislation made any voter eligible for an absentee ballot and authorized counties to establish multiple one-stop voting locations, rather than only using the county board of elections’ office. 

The legislature solidified an early voting time frame beginning the third Thursday before and ending the Saturday before Election Day in 2001, and in 2007, lawmakers ruled that a person could both register and vote on the same day at an early voting site. 

Since then, as Gannon said, one-stop voting has become the most popular ballot-casting method, with droves of North Carolinians voting at early voting precincts.

“We anticipate one-stop early voting will be the most popular method of voting in the 2022 general election as well,” he said.

Who uses NC’s early voting option?

It’s not just presidential elections that rope in one-stop voters. In the most recent primary election in May, state data shows about 62% of voters utilized early voting. 

“This popularity no doubt derives from the convenience that early voting provides,” UNC professor Robert Joyce wrote in the School of Government’s blog in 2010. 

“Voters have a choice of many days (including at least one Saturday) to vote and a choice of several locations (not just their one assigned Election Day precinct voting place.)”

A closer look at the state’s recent voter turnout data shows that women took advantage of early voting more than men. During the primary election earlier this year, approximately 54% of one-stop voters were women. About 44% were men, and 2% did not specify a gender. 

White voters made up about 72% of those who used North Carolina one-stop precincts from April 28 to May 14, and approximately 23% of the more than 559,000 early voters were Black. Other races and ethnicities constituted the remaining 5%. 

Political party affiliation also appears to play a part in early voting turnout. During the 2022 primary, about 40% of one-stop voters were Democrats, 33% were Republicans, and 27% were unaffiliated.

These trends are a likely indicator for how the upcoming election Nov. 8 will play out, as similar gender, racial and political affiliation percentages have been evident in several recent elections.

For example, the November 2018 general election — which had similar congressional, state and local contested races — essentially mirrored the demographic percentages of one-stop voting in May 2022. 

The only major difference was with Republican voters. In 2018, they made up only about 30% of all early votes cast. In 2022, that percentage grew to 33%.

Democrats, on the other hand, constituted about 40% of all one-stop ballots in 2022 while in 2018, that percentage was roughly 42%.

How do I vote early?

Any eligible voter in North Carolina can vote early by going to one of the state’s more than 350 one-stop voting sites, which are frequently in libraries, schools and community centers. 

For the Nov. 8 general election, early voting will be from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5. One-stop voting locations are typically open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Some sites are not open on Saturday. 

To find details on locations and hours of operation of early voting sites in your county, visit this N.C. State Board of Elections website.

Eligible individuals are able to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day at a one-stop voting location. Registered voters can modify their current registration at early voting sites — except for changing political affiliation.

Still have questions about voting in North Carolina? Check out Carolina Public Press’ in-depth guides for absentee and new voters, and test your knowledge about voting in the state with our quiz.

Grading work is underway for an expansion of Veterans Park, according to a city of Fayetteville news release.

The city recently acquired surplus property from the N.C. Department of Transportation that will be used for the expansion, according to the release. The 8-acre site is near the intersection of Bragg Boulevard, Rowan Street and Murchison Road and became available after DOT replaced the Rowan Street bridge.

Design for the project, known as Veterans Park II, is nearing completion. Construction is expected to begin after bids are awarded and to be completed within a year, the release said.

The park will include green space and a parade grounds, a “hero’s walk,” parking and a pedestrian bridge connecting to the existing Veterans Park.
Excess soil from the grading process will be used for other parks and recreation projects, including Senior Center East, Mazarick Park Tennis Center and Mabel C. Smith Park, the release said.

Those projects and the Veterans Park expansion are being financed by a $35 million parks and recreation bond package approved by city voters in 2016, according to the release.

Another project financed by that bond package, the Bill Crisp Senior Center, is scheduled to open at the end of October near Lake Rim.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $247 million contract to widen an eight-mile section of Interstate 95 north of Lumberton.

Flatiron Constructors Inc. of Morrisville will widen the interstate from four lanes to eight from just south of Exit 22 to mile marker 29, the state Transportation Department said in a release.

The project will include reconstructing Exit 25 with a longer, wider and taller bridge and new ramps with roundabouts, the release said. Two overpasses — Powersville Road and McDuffie Crossing Road — will also be replaced.

Exit 22, which was recently rebuilt as a diverging-diamond interchange, will not need to be replaced, the release said.

The department said the project is needed to reduce congestion, plan for anticipated growth in traffic volumes and improve safety.

Work can begin by Nov. 1. The contractor will have toward the end of 2026 to complete the project, the release said.

The project will require the installation of concrete barriers for safety; reduced shoulder access; and occasional lane closures overnight with reduced speed limits.

This is one of several state highway contracts for widening I-95. The improvements will help it meet modern interstate design standards, the department has said.

You can expect to hear some “booms’’ starting this weekend as the 10th Marine Regiment returns to Fort Bragg for its semi-annual training.
The Camp Lejeune-based Marines will conduct their semi-annual field artillery section certifications, command-post exercise and live-fire training as part of Operation Rolling Thunder, Fort Bragg officials said in a release. The training began Tuesday and is scheduled to continue through Oct. 28.

“The training conducted at Fort Bragg is necessary to help maintain the 10th Marine Regiment’s readiness,” said Sharilyn Wells, a Fort Bragg spokeswoman. “We ask the communities surrounding Fort Bragg to be understanding while they are here training.”

The field artillery live-fire portion of the exercise is scheduled to start Saturday. The 10th Marines will fire M777 Howitzer 155mm ammunition from 18 M777 Howitzers, which can be associated with loud explosions and reverberations upon detonation, the release said.

Fort Bragg units also will be conducting live-fire training, adding to the loud explosions and reverberations. That training will involve field artillery units from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Field Artillery Brigade, the release said.
The units will comply with requirements that prohibit them from massing fires larger than battalion size between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily or from firing during the hours of 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays, the release said.

A homeless man has been charged in connection with a string of fires in vacant buildings in Spring Lake over the past week, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Thomas Reilly, 50, of Spring Lake, is charged with three counts of burning certain buildings, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release. The charge means the structures were unoccupied, said Sgt. Mickey Locklear.

“If they had been occupied then it would have been arson,’’ Locklear said.

Around 5:30 p.m. Monday, the Sheriff's Office responded to 107 N. Betty St. in Spring Lake in reference to a vacant structure fire, the release said.

Arson detectives identified Reilly as the suspect and also linked him to two other structure fires, the Sheriff’s Office said in the release. One occurred Sept. 28 at 114 Pine Tree Lane and the other occurred Sunday at 1255 Spring Ave., the release said.

The fires were at two mobile homes and a residential structure, Locklear said. No one was living in the structures at the time, he said.

“With the quick response and hard work of the arson detectives, Reilly was quickly taken off the streets and prevented any further damage to the town of Spring Lake,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said in the release.

Reilly is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $250,000 secured bond. His first appearance was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the detention center.

The “Remember My Name’’ domestic violence vigil is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6 at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville.

The vigil, which is meant to raise awareness of domestic violence, begins at 5:30 p.m.

Elenah Kelly, the Air Force violence prevention integrator at the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Pope Army Airfield, will be the keynote speaker, according to a release from Cumberland County court officials.

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.

Others who are scheduled to participate include Chief District Court Judge Toni S. King, Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons, District Attorney Billy West, Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. John Wilcox and the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus, the release said.

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

There are several community resources available to victims of domestic violence, including:

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 www.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 www.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.

Volunteers are being sought for Fayetteville Beautiful, a citywide litter cleanup scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 8.
Volunteers should meet at the Cumberland County Courthouse, 117 Dick St., according to a city news release. Trash bags, gloves, water, snacks and T-shirts will be distributed.

Registration forms, rules and a photo gallery can be found on the Fayetteville Beautiful webpage.

Fayetteville Beautiful is held once every spring and fall. Volunteers collected 1.3 tons of litter last spring, the news release said.
The city’s “Put Waste in Its Place” campaign to reduce litter and other pollutants on streets and in stormwater systems is a reminder to residents and visitors of their role in keeping the city clean, according to the release.

New anti-litter signs will be posted in communities where litter is a significant problem to remind residents about fines associated with littering, the release said.

“Fayetteville truly is a beautiful place, and your city leaders want to keep it that way,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said in the release. “The new signs should remind us of our common goal to have a clean city and a place where we all come together to do our part. If each of us continues to put waste in its place and makes a commitment to keeping Fayetteville beautiful, we can positively impact our streets and neighborhoods, making our home a place where we all want to live, work and play.”

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation crews regularly collect between 1.5 and 2 tons of litter each week, according to the release. Litter and pollutants blown into stormwater systems can block the flow of rainwater.

The city also encourages residents to participate in its recycling program to reduce waste.

Other cleanup efforts include Five for Friday, through which volunteers pledge to collect at least five pieces of trash and recyclable items each Friday.
Community groups and individuals can sign up for Adopt-a-Street or Adopt-a-Site by committing to clean at least 2 miles of roadway or a green space for a year. Visit www.fcpr.us for an application and guidelines.

A woman who was forced at gunpoint to get into a vehicle was sexually assaulted early Sunday in the 100 block of South Eastern Boulevard, according to Fayetteville police.

Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department’s Special Victims Unit are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect, according to a news release.
The sexual assault was reported about 1 a.m. Sunday, the release said. The woman told investigators that she was in a parking lot in the 700 block of Blue Street about 12:30 a.m. Sunday when a man pulled up in a black car. He flagged down the victim and pointed a silver and black handgun at her, forcing her to get into the vehicle, the release said.

The man drove to the 100 block of South Eastern Boulevard and sexually assaulted the woman, the release said. He forced the woman to get out of the car, and she called police from a nearby motel.

The woman told investigators that she could not identify the man, the release said.
The suspect was described as a white man, possibly in his 30s, with a “chunky” build, the release said. He is bald and has tattoos on his chest and neck area and on one arm. He was wearing a silver chain and a tank top, the release said.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the reported assault is asked to contact Detective D. Bell of the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-929-7504 or Fayetteville/Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477) or http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org.

The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday night voted 4-1 to delay a vote on an apartment complex proposed for Elk Road.

Commissioners Bryan Marley, Joanne Scarola, Grilley Mitchell and Jerry Legge voted to delay the vote; Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray voted in opposition.
The issue drew a number of concerned residents from the Pinewood Lakes subdivision, which is next to the proposed apartment complex. The Pinewood Lakes development was built in the 1960s and is home to many retirees.

Board members delayed a vote on the project until their next meeting, saying they want more information about the project from the planning department, specifically information about a proposed secondary exit.

The board was scheduled to consider and review the development of The One at Hope Mills apartment complex submitted by The Charleston Group on behalf of Fayetteville Christian Schools Inc.

The plan, which began in February, calls for 360 units of a three-story garden-style apartment complex with a clubhouse, pool area, 70 garage spaces and 624 parking spaces.
The grounds also would have two retention ponds.
The main entrance would be on Elk Road, but N.C. Department of Transportation regulations require a secondary egress. The emergency, or secondary egress, is scheduled to connect to the Pinewood Lakes subdivisions via Sycamore Drive through an emergency gate.

Pinewood Lakes residents voiced concerns about noise pollution, lower property values, increased traffic and flooding. But the gate was also a big concern.
Pinewood Lakes resident Denise Schmude did not speak at the meeting, but she said she attended because of her concerns about traffic and noise pollution the complex would bring. Schmude, who has lived in Pinewood Lakes since 2015, said she didn’t want that traffic going through her neighborhood.

“One of the reasons we purchased our house there was that it wasn't densely populated. When you get apartments, you get more people,” Schmude said.

Some people also expressed concern about the retention pond. Some residents told the board that their yards already flood whenever it rains due to a nearby Walmart retention pond.

“I’m here to oppose the apartments,’’ resident Jason Hulon said. “I truly hope the council can stop the entrance and flooding from coming into our neighborhood.

Something is gonna have to be done.

“Everyone sits here and says they are going to fix it and we’re gonna make sure that’s not going to happen, but that’s what you told us about Walmart.”

“Right now Walmart floods my house,’’ Hulon told the board. “My house is the one with 2 feet of water in it every time it rains.”

Hulon told a reporter later that he complains but nothing is ever done. “We need to have a solution for the problem before it exists,” he said.

Wendy Soto has lived in Pinewood Lake for 24 years. She told the board that her property also floods due to the Walmart retention pond, which she said everyone promised wouldn’t happen.

“With this apartment complex coming in, are we going to get the same thing?’’ Soto said. “Everyone is kind of feeding us stuff —- it’s going to be OK. We’re going to put a wall up, you’re not going to get traffic, you’re not going to get flooding. How are we to believe any of that? I don’t.”

After residents spoke, Chancer McLaughlin, the town’s Planning and Economic Development director, presented the development review to the board before its scheduled vote.
McLaughlin said his department understood the concerns of the Pinewood Lakes residents and took them into consideration when it laid out the regulations for the developer’s permit requirements.

McLaughlin said nothing would be built or allowed to proceed without the developer first satisfying the regulations required from the town, the state Transportation Department and the Public Works Commission.
McLaughlin also said the plan for the gate that would connect the apartment complex and Pinewood Lakes was only accessed by emergency vehicles.

“No vehicle will ever pass through that gate if it is not an emergency vehicle,” McLaughlin said.

Bret Andres, another concerned resident, gathered signatures from neighborhood residents who are opposed to the apartment complex and presented them at the board’s last meeting. He presented new signatures Monday night.

At the last meeting, Andres told the board that apartment complexes lower the value of the property around them.
Andres told a reporter that he feels like McLaughlin’s department is “pushing for the developer’s plans.”

“That’s how I feel, and I think most of us think and feel,’’ Andres said. “But I’m happy about tonight’s meeting. There’s strength in numbers.”

McLaughlin, Town Manager Scott Meszaros and the town attorney told the board that the comments were not a public hearing. The town board must legally vote yes if the developer has met all of its requirements. McLaughlin told the board it had and his department recommended approval.

Jason Canady covers Hope Mills for CityView. He can be reached at jcanady@cityviewnc.com.

The Cumberland County Public Library is participating in the “31 Days of Love” campaign. Every library location is accepting donations of pet supplies for animals that are sheltered at Cumberland County Animal Services.

Donations can be delivered to any library location and may include pet food, toys, blankets, newspapers and other animal-related supplies.
Cumberland County Animal Services also has a donation wish list on the Cumberland County Animal Services website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/animal-services-group/animal-Services/volunteer-foster-donate!/donation.

Pet adoption programs will also take place throughout October at different library locations.

The pet adoption programs will be at:

•Oct. 8 at Hope Mills Branch Library from 9 a.m.
to 12 p.m.

•Oct. 15 at Headquarters Library from 1 to 3 p.m.

•Oct. 18 at Cliffdale Regional Library from 9 a.m.
to 12 p.m.

•Oct. 28 at North Regional Library from 9 a.m. to
12 p.m.

Responsible individuals can make a difference by adopting animals at the shelter who are looking for a home. Adoptions occur Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m.

You can also see the adoptable animals through Cumberland County Animal Services website Adoptable Animals https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/animal-services-group/animal-Services/pet-adoption/adoptable-animals . If you are interested in adoption, please call Animal Services at 910-321-6852.

Cumberland County Animal Services is located at 4704 Corporation Drive in Fayetteville. They accept donations of pet supplies year-round during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information about the library, please visit the library’s website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library or visit them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/CumberlandCountyAnimalShelter/.

After previously going forward with an AI-powered gunshot detection system, the Fayetteville City Council was split 5-5 at its Sept. 26 meeting after reconsidering the contract with ShotSpotter.

The proposed one-year contract with ShotSpotter, the private company that operates the gunshot detection technology, would cost the city $197,500.

Other cities in North Carolina — including Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Greenville, Wilmington, Durham and Winston-Salem — already have the system in place.

To detect gunshots, the company uses acoustic sensors placed in a specific coverage area. Sounds from those sensors are analyzed by artificial intelligence to determine if the noise is a gunshot.

The data is then reviewed by analysts, and the police respond, if appropriate.

Mayor Mitch Colvin, Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins and council members Kathy Jensen, D.J. Haire and Derrick Thompson voted in favor of the contract.
Council members Shakeyla Ingram, Mario Benavente, Brenda McNair, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and Deno Hondros were opposed.

Given the tied 5-5 vote, the contract with ShotSpotter is not currently approved. The issue would have to be considered at a future meeting for more concrete action.
It is not clear, however, what will happen next with the proposal. Mayor Colvin’s office did not respond to emails from Carolina Public Press asking if the City Council would consider the contract again at another meeting.

ShotSpotter did not comment about Monday night’s council action.

ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection system is controversial, as some studies show it can be ineffective while others have found it to reduce incidents of gun violence, Carolina Public Press reported.

In an email to Carolina Public Press, a ShotSpotter spokesperson cited a study from the Brookings Institution that found just 12% of gunfire incidents are reported through a 911 call.

“ShotSpotter is an acoustic gunshot detection system that fills that data gap by alerting police of virtually all gunfire in a city’s coverage area within 60 seconds,” Ron Teachman, director of public safety solutions at ShotSpotter, said. “We’re confident that our technology is effective in helping to save lives and capture critical evidence.”

A 2021 report from the Chicago Office of Inspector General, however, found that the alerts from the ShotSpotter technology “rarely produce evidence of a gun-related crime, rarely give rise to investigatory stops and even less frequently lead to the recovery of gun crime-related evidence during an investigatory stop,” though the report did conclude that the technology may increase police response time.

Council criticism of contract

The council originally voted 8-2 on Aug. 22 to approve the contract with ShotSpotter. Benavente and Ingram opposed the move.

At the council’s Sept. 12 meeting, however, newly elected council member Hondros made a motion to reconsider the contract. The motion passed 6-4 with support from Hondros, Benavente, Banks-McLaughlin, McNair, Ingram and Thompson. This led to the most recent discussion this week on the contract.

Benavente has spearheaded the move to deny the ShotSpotter contract, speaking against the action on Aug. 22 and at the Sept. 26 meeting

“We’re all under a lot of pressure to do something important and worthwhile as [it] relates to improving public safety. And I think that direction should be investing in our communities, not necessarily investing in private corporations,” Benavente said at the meeting.

Benavente said that he had emailed Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins about any potential negatives related to the technology but had not received a reply. He also asked the same question at August’s meeting, but Hawkins said she could not answer at that time.

“If we want to make it work here in Fayetteville, let’s learn from the mistakes that other municipalities have gone through,” Benavente said. “Let’s make sure that we’re not manufacturing consent for the police to overpolice certain neighborhoods. Let’s make sure that we’re not violating people’s Fourth Amendment rights. And let’s also make sure that we’re getting the data back to make sure this is actually a viable company.”

No members of council who voted for the contract spoke Monday during the meeting.

Mayor Colvin also did not respond to emails from Carolina Public Press about his support of the ShotSpotter contract.

At the August meeting, Colvin said the technology would give the city “an extra tool in the tool belt” to stop gun violence.

It’s hurricane season, and with it comes the potential for severe weather in North Carolina. It’s also the time of year that gray squirrels, North Carolina’s state mammal, are raising their second brood of the year.

Storms that produce high winds and heavy rain, as well as tree-cutting and trimming activity, can lead to young squirrels and their nests falling out of high perches. When this happens, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission receives an influx of reports from concerned citizens who have found grounded young squirrels and want to know how to help.

“A good practice is not to assume immediate intervention is the best way to help,” explains Falyn Owens, extension biologist for the Wildlife Commission. “Pausing long enough to consult a wildlife professional before moving or caring for the animal can greatly increase its chance of survival.”

A directory of licensed wildlife rehabilitators who specialize in caring for injured or orphaned wildlife can be found on the Wildlife Commission website. These professionals help people take the right action in a wildlife encounter, including when it’s best not to intervene. When it comes to a young squirrel that has fallen out of the nest, they’ll usually recommend allowing some time for the mother to retrieve it.

“Humans simply are not as good at taking care of young wildlife as their mothers and not all young animals found by themselves have been abandoned,” stated Owens.

She described that when a squirrel’s nest is disturbed and the young fall out, the female works as fast as she can to find her young and carry them back to the nest. If the nest is destroyed, she’ll build a new nest first, then bring them to the new nest. If a young squirrel is removed from the area before the female retrieves it, the chances of it surviving are significantly reduced.
Although people mean well, handling wild animals, particularly very young ones, can do more harm than good — and taking one home is illegal.

“The possession of live, native wildlife is illegal in North Carolina, except particular circumstances that usually require a license or permit,” Owens said. “Despite a person’s best intentions, a wild animal is best left where it was found, or in the hands of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.”

For example, while giving a young animal food or water is often a person’s first instinct, it can be quite harmful and even deadly for the animal if done without proper training. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators have this training and are legally able to take in and care for wildlife so they can successfully be released back into the wild.

If a wildlife rehabilitator doesn’t answer the phone right away, Owens advises to leave them a message rather than calling multiple times. They often have their hands full feeding or checking on the wildlife already in their care and may need a few minutes to get to the phone. When in doubt, even a rehabilitator in another county can provide solid advice on what to do in the short term.

People can also contact the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 or hwi@ncwildlife.org for advice on how to help injured or orphaned wildlife, handle wildlife conflict issues and more. Helpline hours are Monday — Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on gray squirrels visit www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mammals/Gray-Squirrel.

The North Carolina of my childhood had an economy very different from that of the average state. Today our economy remains distinctive, though not by as much.

When I started my first paid job in 1979 — teaching four-year-olds how to tap dance — manufacturing accounted for fully a third of North Carolina’s gross domestic product, 10 points higher than the national average of 23%. On the other hand, our financial sector had not yet vaulted into national significance. Banking, insurance, and real estate accounted for 11% of North Carolina’s GDP in 1979, vs. the national average of 15%.

Forty years later, in 2019, our state’s manufacturing base was still larger than that of the average state: 16% vs. 11%. (That’s the last year for which a clean comparison is possible. The onset of COVID skewed the 2020 figures, and we don’t yet have granular data for 2021.)

If you work out the ratios, you’ll see that the relative contribution of manufacturing to GDP in North Carolina and in the nation as a whole didn’t change much during this period. But the actual shares of GDP are much lower. That’s not because manufacturing cratered. Output went up significantly. In inflation-adjusted terms, the output of manufacturing businesses in North Carolina was about $64 billion in 1979. It was $98 billion in 2019.

What really happened is that service industries exploded. Look at the aforementioned financial sector. Banking, insurance, and real estate now account for 21% of the country’s GDP. North Carolina’s overall proportion is the same, while our banking share is a bit higher than the national average.

To broaden the story a bit, North Carolina is more populous and prosperous than it was back when I was attempting to corral the rambunctious preschoolers sliding across my dance floor. In 1979, some 5.8 million lived in the Tar Heel State. Their average personal income was an inflation-adjusted $26,665. By 2019, our population totaled 10.5 million and personal income averaged $48,261. Over those four decades, then,

North Carolina’s per-capita income rose about 81% in real terms, somewhat outpacing the regional (77%) and national (71%) averages.
I think these statistics are useful for level-setting. They are difficult to square with the extreme claims of partisan activists, professional boosters, or professional worrywarts.

For example, contrary to what you may have heard, North Carolina has not seen its manufacturing base disappear, or the formerly sunny prospects of its “working people” fade into a depressing dusk. These are gross exaggerations. Mainstay industries such as textile, apparel, and furniture did shed lots of employees — primarily because of technology-fueled gains in productivity, not trade deals — but other manufacturing enterprises began or expanded in our state during the same period, as did many other sectors that hire many people to make, sell, or deliver many wonderful goods and services.

On the other hand, it is also true that North Carolina has not always outperformed the rest of the Southeast or United States over the past 40 years. It is true that some communities and groups within our state are clearly struggling to make ends meet. It is true that North Carolina’s progress remains hampered by a long list of problems that can sometimes seem intractable. These problems include educational deficits, infrastructure woes, legal and regulatory impediments, declines in family formation, increases in violent crime, and rampant substance abuse.

Some of these problems are worse than they were back then. Some are better. When I was a teenager of modest means in 1979, however, I was largely unaware of broader social conditions. I thought primarily, and optimistically, about my own future and that of my peers. I figured we’d live more comfortable lives than our parents or grandparents had. I figured I’d find a fulfilling career that paid enough to support my future family (though even then I suspected that career might not be tap dancing). For the most part, I figured correctly.

Are today’s teenagers so optimistic? Should they be?

What would you do with an extra $700 in your pocket each month?

This is the question families across our nation should be asking, as the highest inflation in four decades is costing the average household an estimated extra $717 each month compared to January 2021.

As I travel across our region, I constantly hear how this inflation crisis has impacted every community and every part of our lives. Just last month, grocery prices spiked at their fastest pace since 1979. Household electricity prices are up nearly 16% from one year ago. And the average price of gas remains close to $3.80 a gallon, up from $2.38 on President Joe Biden’s first day in office. I am really concerned too about increased costs to heat your home this winter — especially for folks on a fixed income.

These economic challenges have been primarily driven by out-of-control spending in Washington and the Left’s war on American energy production and jobs. The consequences of these actions are forcing families to make hard decisions around the kitchen table.

Yet, the challenges facing you and our nation unfortunately do not stop there.

At our border, roughly 5 million illegal immigrants, including nearly 80 people on the terrorist watchlist, have crossed since President Biden took office and stopped deportations, the wall, and the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. In August alone, more than 203,000 migrants crossed — almost the entire population of the city of Fayetteville.

This border crisis is a threat to every community, especially through the increased flow of deadly drugs.

Due in part to record amounts of fentanyl crossing our border, overdose deaths hit an all-time high last year, becoming the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.

North Carolina alone had 3,759 deaths from opioid overdoses. This includes 183 in Cumberland County — 100 more than in 2019.

On top of this, our communities continue to be plagued by a rise in violent crime. National homicide and aggravated assault rates have risen roughly 50% and 36% respectively, compared to this time in 2019.

Tragically, these come as intentional killings of law enforcement have reached a 20-year high.

Under one-party rule in Washington, it is clear that America’s economy, safety, freedom and strength are all under threat like never before.

I have opposed Washington Democrats’ agenda which will only worsen these crises, such as their so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ that will raise your taxes and hire 87,000 more IRS agents to come after you.

Washington Democrats are ignoring the crises they have helped create and don’t have a plan to fix them. House Republicans, however, have a plan.

Called our “Commitment to America,” House Republicans have recently released a detailed plan to take our country in a new direction and establish a future of security, freedom and prosperity for you and your family. You can read our plan at CommitmentToAmerica.com.

First, we have a plan to create an economy that’s strong. The economy remains the most pressing issue facing families across this country. We are committed to getting it back on track by curbing reckless spending, making America energy independent again, and creating an economic environment that encourages growth, job creation, and lower costs.

This involves bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and standing up to adversaries like China that feel emboldened after last year’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

We also have a plan for a nation that’s safe. We will work to tackle the crime wave plaguing our communities by rejecting anti-police and soft-on-crime agendas. Our plan hires an additional 200,000 police officers and gives law enforcement the resources and support they need to get the job done.

We will also work to secure our border and stop the flow of fentanyl through proven measures such as ‘Remain in Mexico,’ finishing the wall, and by implementing my HALT Fentanyl Act.

Finally, we are committed to keeping our nation safe by supporting our troops and their families.

We also have a plan to secure a future built on freedom. This means giving you control of what happens in your kids’ school and confronting big tech censorship.

It also means personalizing your health care to provide affordable options and better quality.

In Congress, I have helped move us in the right direction by voting to cap insulin costs at $35 and advancing my bipartisan MOBILE Health Care Act, critical legislation to expand access in rural and underserved communities.

Finally, we have a plan to build a government that’s accountable. This starts by standing up for your God-given rights like life, and the First and Second Amendments. It also means making sure the government in Washington fulfills its obligations to you through oversight and transparency.

It is an honor to serve you, Fort Bragg, and our community. In Congress, I have always sought to work across the aisle on commonsense solutions to the problems facing you and your family.

However, it is clear that two years of one-party rule in Washington have put our economy, safety, and prosperity — as well as an extra $700 a month — in peril.
Instead of electing more rubber stamps for President Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the choice this November is simple: If you want an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable — then we Republicans are prepared to deliver on our Commitment to America.

Will you join us? 

Editor's note: Rep. Richard Hudson is serving his fifth term representing North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and in House leadership as the Republican Conference Secretary.
Rep. Hudson grew up in Charlotte, graduated from Myers Park High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
He and his family live in Moore County.

Walmart is hosting a Driver Open House event across the country and hiring up to 8 CDL-A drivers in the Hope Mills area.

Each year, Walmart’s nearly 13,000 drivers travel over 900 million miles and deliver millions of cases of merchandise to 4,700 Walmart and Sam's Club locations across the nation — all while remaining one of the largest and safest fleets on the road.

Walmart truck driving jobs are considered among the best in the industry, and the company is recruiting the best and safest drivers to join its team as the business continues to grow.
Across the country, Walmart is planning on growing its private fleet, which includes 8 drivers in Hope Mills.

While there are different factors that make up a driver’s pay, new drivers can earn up to $110,000. Drivers also have access to company benefits on day one and can earn as much as 21 days of paid time off in their first year.

To drive for Walmart, a commercial driver must have at least 30 months of full-time experience with no serious traffic violations in the last four years.
Walmart benefits also include medical coverage, a 401(k) match, an associate stock purchase match, paid maternity and parental leave, various associate discounts and no-cost college, with Walmart paying for 100% of the cost of college tuition and books through its Live Better U program.

The Open House will give people a chance to learn about driving jobs with Walmart, information on pay and benefits offerings, meeting local management, touring offices/shop and checking our equipment and asking current drivers about their careers with Walmart.

OPEN HOUSE DETAILS:

Interested CDL-A drivers are invited to attend the open house Oct. 3 – 7: Monday/Wednesday/Friday in person from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. On Tuesday, a virtual event will be held at 8 a.m. On Thursday, the virtual event is scheduled for 2 p.m. at 1057 Sand Hill Road in Hope Mills. The job fair will be on-site. Applicants can register at wmtcareers.com/drivers.
To learn more visit www.drive4walmart.com.

I support Vote Yes Fayetteville because this structure change would give every citizen more voice in our city council with six council members accountable to them versus just the current two.

I served on City Council under both structures as an at-large and district representative, like most of the major cities in North Carolina. During my service when the council had at-large seats as part of the structure, I saw that the major issues of the city were given adequate attention.

While serving as a district representative, I witnessed continued infighting over what benefited the elected person’s district and less attention to the big picture.

For example, it took over eight years to get the Parks & Recreation bond to a vote while we argued over which district received what new facilities.

Even today, commitments made to District 2, like the Fields Road Park and the Cape Fear River Park, remain undone because money gets moved to other districts.

We were never able to fully fund stormwater to protect our most exposed citizens from the next flood because flooding only threatens a few districts but is costly to everyone.

Our major gateway to Fort Bragg continues to include the Shaw Heights blight because of City Council’s unwillingness to spend the funds to address this citywide issue.

Our community has changed over the years. There are 38% more Black voters than white in Fayetteville today. Both Blacks and whites have a similar voter turnout, and Black candidates continue to be elected in many at-large seats, including the fact that two of our last four mayors were Black.

I served alongside Marshall Pitts, who was first elected at-large and then became mayor.

We have tried the current model for over 20 years and can clearly see that Fayetteville is not keeping up with the rest of the state.

Our growth rate is lower than NC’s other major cities while our crime and poverty rates are higher.

We should recognize that the progressive cities in our state use a model that provides more representation for every citizen and more balanced attention to city-wide issues.

Most recently, we have seen our mayor and some council members spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to keep this referendum off the ballot. They were unsuccessful as the courts ordered the referendum be placed on the ballot and citizens be given the right to vote.

I encourage each of you to support this Charter Amendment and to Vote Yes Fayetteville on Nov. 8 to provide for more representation on our City Council.

More representation. Not less.

Editor's note: Bobby Hurst served on Fayetteville City Council from 2007 - 2017.

The Cumberland Choral Arts season is kicking off with a theme of “Connections.” Throughout the 2022-2023 season, the CCA will be making connections with their audiences, community and businesses.

To kick off the season, CCA will be performing “The Sacred Veil,” a 12-movement work and the most recent collaboration between Eric Whitacre and poet/lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri. It tells a story of life, love and loss. The piece was inspired by Silvestri's wife, Julie, who died of ovarian cancer at age 36.

Dr. Michael Martin, the Artistic Director for the CCA, chose the piece because of its ties to cancer and because October is Cancer Awareness Month.

“So Eric Whitacre set in motion the idea of writing music to some of her blog posts, to the poetry that her husband wrote to try and cope with her passing and kind of put it together,” Martin said. “The best way to describe it is like a modern requiem to a person who passed of cancer. And it just seemed like the most appropriate type of music to dig into for cancer awareness.”

The choral piece will be backed by cellist Paul Kirkpatrick who has worked with the CCA before.
Martin did say that this piece may not be fully appropriate for children, but do bring a pack of tissues.

“Be prepared. It's something relatively very new. It's not the kind of thing where you're going to be able to stand up and start dancing to this kind of thing. I mean, some choral music is great and it's uplifting and it's very rhythmic. And then there's some that pay tribute to people and can be quite moving. This is certainly that kind,” Martin said.

In honor of the music and its inspiration, Cumberland Choral Arts decided to partner with local health organizations to host CHOOSE HEALTH, a free community health and wellness event on the same day as the concert.

Kathy Thaman, the event coordinator of the CHOOSE HEALTH event, says that they hope to get a great turnout for the event.

“We really want more connection with our community. We want our choir there to look like our community. Come for the health fair, get all those services for free. Find out more about our organization and consider joining us,” Thaman said.

This event will offer activities and health information for all age groups. Partners include Cape Fear Valley Regional Medical Center, Better Health, the Care Clinic, Fit 4 Life, Guiding Wellness Institute, Earth Monkey Energies, and more.

There will be opportunities to donate blood through the Cape Fear Blood Mobile, attend free Qigong (a type of Tai Chi), Chair Yoga and Mat Yoga classes, make a ribbon in honor or memory of a cancer patient, win a free Reiki session, and get healthy snacks for the kids.

The health event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 1601 Raeford Road on Saturday, Oct. 15.

“The Sacred Veil” will be performed that night at 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children and students with ID.

Tickets can be purchased at cumberlandchoralarts.org, through their Facebook page, or at the venue beginning at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

The Sandhills Orchid Society is open to people who love orchids and enjoy growing them. Whether you just bought your first orchid and have no idea how to care for it, or you are a seasoned grower, SOS offers something for everyone. The club strives to facilitate the understanding of orchids and their care and provide opportunities to meet other people with similar interests. Anyone interested is welcome to attend as a guest.

The club was formed by Southern Pines resident Jack Webster, a man who had lived in South America for several years and had developed an encyclopedic knowledge of the many species found in that area. Passionate about teaching others about growing orchids, Jack mentored novices and experienced growers alike and eventually brought a group of enthusiasts together into a vibrant, active organization dedicated to the spread of information about orchids.

Today, the Society meets monthly on the Tuesday following the second Monday of the month. Most meetings feature a guest speaker with expertise with a specific type of orchid. Presentations focus on the “how to” for these specific plants. This year, our speakers will come from New Mexico, California, Montana and South Carolina. Generally, the speakers bring plants related to their specialties which Society members can purchase.

Monthly meetings also feature the Show Table — a space made up of blooming orchids that members bring to the meeting to share their successes. As many orchid growers strive to grow bigger and better plants, their competitive spirits are recognized when our guest speakers or experienced club members pick out the outstanding plants in the exhibit. The membership then votes on their favorites from these selected plants and the grower is awarded points towards an annual tally. Members with the most points at the end of the year are rewarded with a monetary award.

Per club bylaws, one of the primary objectives of SOS is to provide education regarding orchids. As part of that mission, the Society hosts an annual Grower’s Day. This year, the one-day tutorial will be held Oct. 22 at our regular meeting place, Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church on Raeford Road. Steve Arthur, an entertaining and charismatic speaker, accredited American Orchid Society judge and a commercial grower is the keynote. He will present a full day of growing information geared to beginners through experienced growers. This annual event, which includes lunch and a blooming plant to take home, also features the raffle of specimen plants.

The most meaningful function of SOS is the mentoring that experienced growers happily provide to less experienced growers. Members are always anxious to show off their personal growing conditions, demonstrate how to repot orchids or simply answer questions about growing conditions for a specific type of orchid. Orchid enthusiasts of all levels of expertise bond and connect through this ethos of mentoring and sharing.

There is always something new to learn at every meeting. Join us for a meeting or the annual fall Grower’s Day and learn more about the Sandhills Orchid Society. We promise you a blooming good time!
Editor's note: A version of this article first ran in the September issue of Women's View Magazine.

The Soul Food Funk Fest II is set for Oct. 8 at the J. P. Riddle Stadium.

“This is the second annual Soul Food Funk Fest,” said promoter Reginald Lewis, owner of Cladom Enterprise and festival creator.

“It’s just something that I wanted to put together because... I used to be stationed at Fort Bragg... and Fayetteville is my life.”

The Soul Food Funk Fest II is Fayetteville’s chance to enjoy mature music in a family-oriented environment. Guests include national recording artists.

Freddie Jackson is best known for the 1980s Capitol Records mid-tempo soul hits “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake),” “You Are My Lady” and “Have You Ever Loved Somebody.” Nominated for two Grammy awards, Jackson continues to record music.

Case had a string of 1990s hits such as “Touch Me, Tease Me” (featuring Foxy Brown and Mary J. Blige), “The Best Man I Can Be” (featuring Ginuwine, Tyrese and R.L.) and “Happily Ever After.” Russel Simmons signed Case to Def Jam Records in 1996.

Tom Browne, a multiple gold record certified trumpeter, is best known for the early 1980s tunes “Funkin’ for Jamaica (N.Y.),” which peaked at number 1 on Billboard Magazine’s R&B chart, and “Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move),” which made it to number four.

Cherrelle is an R&B singer known for “Everything I Miss at Home,” “Where Do I Run To” and “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On,” plus the duets “Saturday Love” and “Never Knew Love Like This,” with Alexander O’Neil. She has worked with music producer (and renowned fusion drummer) Narada Michael Walden and toured with Luther Vandross.

“The stage is going to be set up on the second base... and only [customers] with field tickets can come on the field,” Lewis said. If you don’t have a VIP field level ticket, seats will be in the upper level [general admission] bleachers or the reserved lower level seating behind home plate, he said.

VIP tickets are $65, reserved seating is $55 and general admission is $40. There is a surcharge of $10 per ticket and $10 up-charge the day of the event.
The Soul Food Funk Fest II opens its gates at 4 p.m. There will be food vendors serving pulled pork, Cajun-style seafood and barbecue chicken and turkey. Tickets do not pay for food or drinks. The show begins at 5.

Tickets for the Soul Food Funk Fest II are on sale in Fayetteville at both Super Beauty World locations, Rhudy’s Pawn Shop and Lavish Beauty. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.MyEvent.com/SoulFoodFunkFest2.

Cladom Enterprise is promoting this event and can be reached at 800-341-6672.

J.P. Riddle Stadium is located at 2823 Legion Road.

Like moths to a flame, most of us are interested in seeing original works of art by our favorite celebrities. What would be the subject of a painting or drawing by Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash or Mohammed Ali?

What art style would Jimi Hendrix prefer that reflects his musical genius or Richard Petty when he was not racing cars?

From sophisticated paintings to whimsical watercolors, the newest exhibit at Gallery 208, The Alex Munroe Collection: Artwork by Celebrities, which opens Oct. 11, reveals what multitalented superstars have chosen to create in paint, colored pencils or watercolors during their private life.

The exhibit is also as much about the collector as it is about the exhibition. The Alex Munroe Collection: Artwork by Celebrities reveals much about the collector's personality, his personal life choices, and why he has chosen to collect over 200 works by celebrities.

Curiosity will bring you to the gallery to see the original works by the following celebrities: Janice Joplin, John Lennon, Grace Slick, Mohammed Ali, Jacques Cousteau, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Sid Cesear, Nancy Wilson, Red Foxx, Jimi Hendrix, Tony Curtis, Johnny Cash, Michael Jackson, Charleston Heston, Phyllis Diller and Richard Petty.

You will leave the exhibit with an unexpected and surprisingly pleasant experience. We can compare what we have already experienced, the mass media way of knowing a celebrity, juxtaposed with something that feels personal and private. The more you know about each star, the more you will appreciate the experience of seeing the exhibit.

For example, Jimi Hendrix's career gained popularity with his first single, “Hey Joe,” and his follow-up, “Purple Haze.” A pioneer as one of the most outstanding instrumentalists in rock music history, Hendrix manipulated the distortion and feedback from an electric guitar into a type of fluid language.

While superstar Hendrix is on the road traveling, in a motel room waiting for a concert, or home — what and why did he choose to paint, and what style best suits the fluid language of his music? Would it be a narrative story and have a figure in the painting? What would the figure be doing?

Hendrix was likely sensitive to seeing color as sound. Instead of a narrative style, Hendrix selected patterns and abstract-colored shapes to create movement across the surface of the page. Each color chosen creates a rhythm: the color yellow pops forward, sky blue slows down the repetitive beat and holds us in a musical pause, while the color deep red, like a symphony slowly increasing in volume, gains momentum in the overall composition.

Hendrix didn't need to know Chromesthesia is the name of a neurological phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to an involuntary experience of another sensory way. If we are familiar with Hendrix, all we need to know to enjoy his work is that a musical genius chooses only colors to create mood and rhythm in his design.

It's noteworthy that country singer Johnny Cash, like Jimi Hendrix, also abstractly uses patterns of color. Unlike Hendrix, whose design does not reference an object or person, the color mosaic patterns of Cash result in the image of a bird in movement. Centered on the page, Cash's bird seems to be ascending upward.

The imaginative, whimsical and minimal watercolor by John Lennon hangs on the gallery wall in contrast to a large painting by a cultural icon, the actor Tony Curtis. An American film actor, well known for six decades, he was the most popular in the 1950s and 60s. Of the 100 movies Curtis made and always performed with award-winning academy actors, the pop culture generation may know him for his role as a supporting actor in “Spartacus” or by his daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis.

Curtis had a passion and talent for painting in the post-impressionist style. His choice of subjects were colorful still lifes, landscapes and portraits. His painting titled “Red Table” is in the collection of the media wing in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Seeing another of his works, the sizeable figurative painting at Gallery 208, visitors will easily recognize the influences of Van Gogh and Henri Matisse. Whereas some of the works in the exhibit reflect a relaxing hobby, Curtis created a large body of work during his lifetime and was very clear on his intent. Artnet quoted Curtis saying, “When I paint, I don't paint shapes; I paint colors.”

If you attend the Oct. 11 opening, you will not only be fascinated by the exhibit but also by the collector. Alex Munroe will briefly discuss the art of collecting at the opening reception. Gallery 208 only exhibits 18 of an extensive body of work — over 200 pieces in his collection.

What someone chooses to collect tells us a lot about the individual. All collectors like the works by the artist(s), but they also assume the work could appreciate. For many investors, their collection symbolizes success within social circles.

Attending the exhibit, you will not assume Munroe's eclectic collection is a way to affirm himself as a social success. Instead, it is easy to sense the collection represents the collector as having an entrepreneurial passion for the unexpected and a highly creative way of seeing the world and culture around him. Upon meeting Munroe, you will readily see the collection as a self-expression of a fun-loving personality with various interests and a positive outlook.

Munroe stated, “I buy art for the sheer enjoyment of sharing it with people. Research has shown that when people view art, the brain releases chemicals that make them feel secure and happy. My art takes this concept to an even higher level as a celebrity has the added benefit. To see a piece by Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney or Richard Petty adds an element of awe.”

So, how do you share over 200 works by celebrities with the public? Create the ambiance for a restaurant by hanging your framed original art collection stacked up on the walls and even hanging the work in the bathroom and bathroom stalls. That's easy to build and own a restaurant with good food but also has the restaurant's décor that exudes your outgoing and engaging personality.

This gallery and eatery exists in Elizabethtown, off Interstate 87, and is a combination restaurant, bar and ballroom. The stacked artworks filling the walls are in an 1850 Salon exposition style. The list is unexpectedly endless, while dining at the Cape Fear Winery, and includes works by Picasso, Salvador Dali, Matisse, Ron Wood, Ringo Starr, Dr. Suess, Jonathan Winters, Eric Clapton and more.

As noted earlier, the collector is just as curious as the collection is. Graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in Advertising, Munroe started his first company in Wilmington, in 2000, producing and selling detectable warning systems. Munroe then returned home to expand his company at the Elizabethtown Industrial Park.

Munroe states it best: “The abandoned winery was across the street from my office. It was a beautiful property, so that I would walk my dog there every day. I discovered it was in foreclosure, so I leased it the day I found out. Worst case, it was a beautiful property, so it was a valuable real estate to me. I asked around and decided the area needed an event venue, restaurant and lodging.”

The Cape Fear Winery expanded to include a restaurant, a distillery, a venue for weddings or special occasions, and a new gift shop and spa. With the collection always hanging, the restaurant is always the place to venture to when you are ready for good food and an eclectic dining experience!

Eventually, visitors to the restaurant will be able to see his most recent works, six more "Peanuts" pieces by Tom Everhart and an original by famous guitarist, Slash.
One would assume Munroe had lived in Los Angeles for many years and was directly influenced by celebrities to collect celebrity art. To my surprise, Munroe's brothers unknowingly influenced him to become a collector.

Munroe tells his story about going to New York City with his family as a young boy. He stated, “Coach Dean Smith was on the plane, and my brothers dared me to go get his autograph. I did, and my brothers thought I was so cool. So, to keep impressing them, I bought more stuff and suddenly had a nice collection. I have a broker in San Francisco who helps me acquire rare pieces when they come available, usually about a year after the celebrity passes away.”

What began as a “way to impress his brothers” became a sincere passion, enriching the area where he was raised as a child. Munroe believes “great art will be around forever, and long after I'm gone. I think of myself more as the current proprietor of the art instead of the owner. You usually have to go to a big city to see the caliber of some of the art I have, so I'm happy to be able to share it locally. Before I opened the winery, most of my art was in cylinders in my attic. I originally thought I'd display select pieces, but as people started coming and asking if I had more, I happily hung more pieces on the walls.”

The public is invited to attend the opening reception of The Alex Munroe Collection: Artwork by Celebrities on Oct. 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Gallery 208 on Rowan Street in Fayetteville.

Gallery hours are Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For anyone who cannot attend the opening, the exhibit will remain at Gallery 208 until Dec. 15. For information, call Up & Coming Weekly at 910-484-6200.

The International Downtown Association recognized Cool Spring Downtown District with the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for its resourceful approaches related to their inaugural event, Night Circus, a New Year’s Eve Spectacular.

A jury of peer professionals reviewed, deliberated and evaluated all entries in the 2022 Downtown Achievement Awards.
The Award of Excellence acknowledges an excellent response to an urban place management challenge, demonstrating application of industry knowledge and exceeds the jury criteria.

Night Circus was among 23 qualified entries in the category of Marketing, Communications and Events which IDA identifies as one of the seven professional urban place management practice areas. This category features unique organizational approaches and projects in the areas of branding, public relations, marketing strategies and communications plans.

“Being recognized on an international scale for our efforts is truly an honor. We love to bring positive recognition to our deserving city,” said Bianca Shoneman of the Cool Spring Downtown District.
The event, in partnership with the city of Fayetteville, was Fayetteville’s first self-curated New Year’s Eve production in over a decade. Headliners included four national touring acts — All-4-One, Rob Base, C + C Music Factory and Coolio.

Inspired by a novel of the same name, the circus showcased an array of acrobats, aerialists, fire dancers, live art demos and more, with a variety of delicious food to tempt the senses.

To transition from 2021 to 2022, the team hired a local production company, Blashfield Signs, to fabricate an eighteen-foot, multi-colored star dotted with over 150 LED lights. At the stroke of midnight, the star was lifted into the sky, accompanied by a spectacular burst of fireworks, ringing in the New Year.

“Coming out of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew we wanted something vibrant and exciting for our community as we celebrated surviving a tumultuous year and moving towards thriving in the next”, shared Director of Special Projects, Ashanti Bennett.

Cool Spring Downtown District has demonstrated skillful application of urban place management principles with their project Night Circus, said David Downey, IDA President and CEO. “The Night Circus should serve as a framework to all member communities within IDA.”

Sponsors for the event included: Piedmont Natural Gas, presenting sponsor and ABC11 as the title media sponsor. Healy Wholesale, the Public Works Commission, the Dogwood Festival, Cumulus Broadcasting, the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Beasley Media, City View Magazine and Fayetteville-Cumberland County Arts Council were also corporate donors. Various city departments, especially the Parks and Recreation Department, assisted with event management.

Washington, DC-based IDA is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. The Cool Spring Downtown District is the urban place management organization representing the interests of property owners in Fayetteville.

The Fayetteville Chapter of WoodmenLife will continue its community fellowship events in October and November. The events include something for everyone.

Saturday Night Family Life is open every other weekend, from 5 to 9 p.m. Come enjoy live music and local vendors selling food and crafts. There will also be bounce houses, a water play area and movies.
Most know WoodmenLife as an insurance broker, but the company itself encourages involvement within the areas that it serves.

“Woodmen of the World was initially started to care for those who worked in forestry and also to take care of their families if the need arose,” said Amanda Crew, who helps organize the Family Life events.

WoodmenLife continues to promote a commitment to care across all of its communities with various volunteer or socialization opportunities.
For the Fayetteville chapter, this means offering aid to those in need and constantly striving to improve the future of our local neighbors.

In today’s world of hustle and bustle, the local WoodmenLife chapter recognized a need for an event that would gather its neighbors to socialize in a relaxed and safe atmosphere.

The site is located on nearly three acres with plenty of room for children to play while parents and friends relax.
The event also offers local vendors a place to showcase their culinary expertise or artisan wares.

Admission to Saturday Night Family Life is free to the public. Invited vendors appreciate your patronage of their arts.
WoodmenLife has already had a busy start to the fall season as it makes way for a new Family Life Community Orchard. The orchard is being built by volunteers in the spot that used to house the swimming pool, a feature that was removed two years ago.

Volunteerism is a tenet of WoodmenLife and the group welcomes any and all who would love to lend a hand to this project.

“We had to close the pool during the pandemic and then it was too costly to re-open, so we are designing and building a community orchard in its place,” Crew said.

The Crew family already owns an orchard in the area, so leading this project at WoodmenLife was a natural fit for Amanda and her husband.
Saturday Night Family Life at Woodmen is located at 414 E. Mountain Drive in Fayetteville, and runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 8 and 22, and on Nov. 5.

If your fall calendar is already booked, check back in the spring as Saturday Night Family Life returns with each new season. For more information, call 910-364-6168.

Heart Breaker, a Heart and Led Zeppelin tribute band, will play at Gates Four Golf and Country Club Pavilion on Oct. 7. The concert was originally scheduled in May, but postponed due to inclement weather.
Last summer, they were part of a concert series held at Rock’n On the River on Person Street.

“These two girls look and sound like Heart; they are unbelievable. This crowd is going to be set back by this great band,” said Greg Adair, one of the organizers for the Gates Four Concert Series.

The Concert Series has grown in popularity as the music scene around Fayetteville has developed. This year, organizers added a sixth concert to the schedule. With multiple weather delays, the series has extended into the month of October.

“The whole concept of the concert series is to create a quality entertainment venue on that side of the county, the Hope Mills area,” said Bill Bowman, publisher, Up & Coming Weekly. Bowman is also a sponsor of the event.

“These bands coming up will knock your socks off,” said Adair. “You’ll think, ‘oh wow, I’m sitting here listening to Heart, or Lynard Skynard,’ or ‘I’m sitting here listening to AC/DC’.”

“There are so many really good bands going out there this year; it’s just phenomenal,” he said.

“To be able to have a quality concert in a classy environment like Gates Four is wonderful,” he added. “The bands appreciate the atmosphere as well.”

Heart Breaker won’t be the only musical act to take the stage. The concert will open with a local, up-and-coming singer/songwriter chosen every month before the show.

“The acts are chosen from a singer/songwriter event held every month at the Fayetteville Bakery and Cafe,” said Bowman. “It’s to give these young singer/songwriters an opportunity to perform in front of a good audience in association with a great band.”

The concert will conclude with an after-party at the Sand Trap, a bar on Purdue Street in Fayetteville. The opening act from the concert will perform at the after-party as well.

“The whole evening is centered around fun, good music, contributing to the community and giving young artists a chance to be seen,” said Bowman.

The concert will be free to attend for lawn seating. VIP tickets can be purchased for table seating within the pavilion itself. A single-seat VIP ticket is $38. An all-inclusive VIP ticket is $68 and includes food and beverage.

Part of the event proceeds go to the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, which provides education and reading resources to elementary-aged school children in Cumberland County.

“One of the reasons we are able to keep the concert series free is because of our sponsors who are helping fund all these quality bands,” said Bowman.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the local musical guest will perform at 6 p.m. Heart Breaker will take the stage from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The after party at the Sand Trap begins at 10 p.m.
For more information and tickets to the event, visit https://www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.

JML Piano has been in Fayetteville since 1987, located in the Bordeaux Shopping Center, where the Donald family has been selling musical equipment for the better part of 40 years. “JML” is made up of owners Jim (dad), Mike (son) and Linda (mother).

“We focus on being a family-owned and operated business, and a lot of people like that,” Mike Donald said.

JML Piano offers quality pre-owned grand and upright pianos from manufacturers such as Yamaha, Kawai, Steinway & Sons, Baldwin, Boston, and Wurlitzer that have been cleaned, adjusted, tuned and professionally prepared.

“We’re big on service after sale, and you don’t get that level of service with either an online company [or big chain store],” Donald said.

JML Piano specializes in Roland and Casio digital pianos. It is a “top tier” supplier for both, as well as a Roland “service provider.”

“[For instance], not long ago I had a customer that had a digital piano [for] about six months,” Donald said. “It was an $8,000 digital piano, top-of-the-line product, and, rather than fix it and put a bad taste in his mouth, I decided to replace it for him.”

Bear in mind JML Piano “only services what [it] sells” because digital piano circuitry is redesigned every seven years. This means manufacturers like Baldwin Pianovelle, GEM, Suzuki, Technics, Kurzweil, Samick, Williams, (some) Yamaha and a few others cannot be serviced because parts are discontinued seven years after the date of manufacture.

If you have a digital piano made by one of these manufacturers, turn that frown upside down. JML Piano offers “large discounts” to owners of unserviceable digital pianos. Roland and Casio are considered to be reliable and make replacement parts.

Roland and Casio just don’t break down, but, if they do, we can easily find the parts to fix them, Donald said.

JML Piano is also a professional moving company that is prepared to haul your piano locally or long distance. JML Piano owns a temperature-controlled warehouse where it can store your piano for as long as you want. Need a piano for school or church? JML Piano can help.

Also, JML Piano offers the occasional piano rental and a two-year 100% trade-in policy on items owned by JML Piano.

In addition to running JML Piano, Mike Donald is the front man for Reflections II, a local variety/party band that includes Mike on keyboard and bass, Paul Tyler on guitar and Vince Groves on drums. Each member delivers lead and backup vocals.

“[We play] beach music, classic rock, country, party songs, and we get the crowd involved. [We] entertain, not just play, [and] we’ve always been that way,” Donald said.

Jim and Mike Donald began Reflections in 1980. Reflections has withstood many familial line-up changes, and, so to speak, the band resurrected with its current line-up.

Mike Donald runs JML Piano alone and by appointment only in the Bordeaux Shopping Center, located at 1800 Owen Drive. Look for the miniature Eiffel Tower in front of the plaza.

To schedule an appointment to look at a pre-owned grand or upright piano, a brand new or used digital piano, talk about any of the services JML Piano offers or hire Reflections II, please visit JMLpiano.com or call Mike Donald at 910-977-0809.