I'm one of those people who, based on no other evidence outside of my imagination, assumes I'll be pretty good at something the first time I try it.

I sit on my couch with a wry smile and watch as the people on my television build pools in their backyard, reupholster furniture or compete in triathlons. I think to myself: I could probably do that.

In my quest to try new things around our fair city, I've been looking for an opportunity to put this theory to the test.

I was recently taking a stroll around my Facebook neighborhood and came upon a local business I'd never seen before: Fahada Bellydance.

Oh, I could definitely do that, I foolishly thought to myself.

Her clean, minimalist website invited the user to “Discover Your Inner Dancer,” and I, for reasons unclear, decided my inner dancer was in desperate need of discovery. Besides, I had a belly, right? How hard could it be?

Fueled by visions of Shakira and I dancing side by side on the global stage, I booked an intro class through Fahada's website and waited for greatness.

I showed up to my Tuesday night class around ten minutes early to give myself time to check out the space. Fahada's studio is inside Bloom Apothecary at the bottom of Macpherson House on Hay Street. The intimate space and small class size instantly made me feel safe.

Fahada, who has been teaching belly dancing for around five years, was immediately welcoming. I felt myself relax as she led us through an easy warm-up.

Next, I was gifted my very own hip scarf, and I can honestly say my heart lit up. I selected a deep blue scarf adorned with gold coins and intricate embroidery. The charms’ musical jingle filled the little studio as I tied the scarf low on my hips, and in my head, I became Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin.”

Spoiler alert: I am no Princess Jasmine.

To say belly dancing is deceptively hard is an understatement. Everything I thought I knew about my hips, knees, and “abs,” and how they all work together to make me move around gracefully, were thrown completely out the window.

Fahada teaches Raqs Sharqi, a modern Egyptian belly dance, and wow, what a workout. Belly dancing can burn anywhere from 300-400 calories in an hour-long session, so you definitely feel it. Working step by step through hip shimmies, snake arms, and hip pops that likely have a fancier name, Fahada was patient, encouraging, and honestly a great teacher. Figure eights, a technique I won't dare attempt to explain here, posed the greatest challenge for me during the hour-long class, but at no point did I feel frustrated. Fahada's gentle positivity only made me feel more motivated. This is a great class if you're the kind of person who needs one-on-one help in a low-pressure atmosphere when learning something new.

The exotic sounds of Baladi Traditional Egypt Rhythm by Mizan Project played quietly in the background, and for a full hour, I wasn't even in Fayetteville anymore.

As we worked through the moves, I felt really connected to my body and was surprised at the sweat I'd worked up. Sure, I wasn't quite the belly dancing prodigy I assumed I would be, but I was correct: I could do this.

The end of class was a spirited review of all the moves put together. I found myself smiling as I tried my best to mimic Fahada's more elegant gesticulations. One thing I did enjoy about the space was the absence of mirrors. Without an image to critique or feel embarrassed, I had to trust my body and Fahada's professional opinion of my progress. Honestly, it felt good to move around without the added pressure of noticing myself.

By the end of our cool-down, I'd completely abandoned the idea that belly dancing was a.) easy and b.) that I was somehow “good” at it. What I could focus on, however, was how great I felt.

I returned home, still wearing my hip scarf — I had certainly earned it, after all — and booked myself another session. I don’t mind being one of those people who's really great at something the second time they try it.

Fahada's studio is open for Beginner Bellydance Classes on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sessions are $15 for a one-hour class. To book, visit fahadabellydance.com.

Editor's note: Up & Coming Weekly is sending our staff writer Ashley out and about in the local area to try new things. She will report on her experiences to help readers decide if they want to try the adventure, too.

Known as Total Body Resistance Exercise, TRX is a specialized form of resistance training. It was developed by former U.S. Navy Seal Randy Hetrix. The suspension training uses body weight to develop balance, flexibility, core strength and stability actively engaging all or some of the body groups together.

The concept of TRX is void of the traditional weight machines and lifting. A TRX training device is a heavy-duty strap suspended from the ceiling with two handles that are designed for the feet and hands with interlocking devices that adjust the straps for different heights.

The straps are attached to a secure anchor point with five length adjustments for exercises that incorporate the upper and lower body as well as the chest, arms and back. It is an easy gym to carry because the strap can be easily secured to any structure that will hold weight including the back of a door. The support weight of a strap goes up to 1,300 pounds.

TRX trainers have worked with personal trainers, coaches, athletes, first responders and service members.

On Oct. 15, I will be taking a preliminary course on the foundation elements of teaching that will be the beginning of my continued education in comprehensive courses. The preliminary course has a detailed hand reader of 50 pages to bring to the nine-hour class, which is the introductory training course for strap positioning, cueing and techniques. It is meant to be a continuing program with functional training incorporating different modalities in a variety of training sessions. It incorporates strength, balance, endurance and stability.

TRX training engages the fitness level of people training and instills the ability to progress at the beginner level as well as the advanced levels that engage the exercises for intensity, duration and strength. The system focuses on movement, allowing different body parts to be mobile while other areas remain stable.

It is suitable for all levels from beginner to athlete because of body positioning for level challenges. It is a good workout for strength, balance and flexibility as well as cardio endurance. The low-impact movements do not put much stress on your joints with less chance of injury.

TRX can be an excellent training tool for older adults, people that sit all day and people with injuries.

An example may be the execution of a squat which requires stabilization, balance, quadriceps and glutes. The handles of the system help to split the weight distribution between the upper and lower body. The participant may be able to perform a squat while gaining confidence in the ability which leads to progression in performance.

It is also an excellent training tool with balance exercises because the participant can eliminate the fear of instability.

Older adults may resist trying one-leg balance exercises without the aid of a wall or rail. The system provides a dynamic point of stability without fear of falling over.

It is also a good system to mobilize joints and improve flexibility allowing gravity for ease of movement.

A health professional may recommend TRX for you as a functional exercise to develop a strong core, back pain, to deal with a knee or balance issue.

As an example, one that has difficulty getting off the floor can gradually gain confidence as they progress with a suspension system.

There are hundreds of TRX exercises, and many traditional classes have found their way into the platform such as yoga, pilates, barre, high intensity and cardio circuit. I personally like to use TRX as an extension of the barre classes that I teach and love the increased range of motion.

Live, love life and TRX.

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," the Gilbert Theater's first show of the season, is a classic western with modern themes and an optimistic view of what's to come.

The play, directed by Chris Walker, is every bit as gritty and gripping as you'd expect a western to be. Clear-cut archetypes: the naive scholar, eloquent villain, reticent cowboy, and street-wise queen come together to tell an old story in a fresh, unique way.

The stage, designed as a charming and spot-on wild-west saloon, is a capable backdrop to the goings-on in Two Trees, the town where this story takes place.

For those with an affinity for westerns — this story has it all. There are plenty of gunslingers, cowboy hats, denim and plugs of whiskey to get the bells of nostalgia ringing. Still, for audiences searching for a story with a bit more substance than yee-haw, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" delivers, and then some.

Ransome Foster (Dan Adams) breezes into town with a sack full of books and a head full of ideas about justice and the importance of learnin'. Left for dead after running afoul of the titular Liberty Valance (James Dean), Foster is picked up by the grumpy Burt Barricune (Michael Ormiston) and delivered to saloon owner Hallie Jackson (Claudia Warga-Dean) and her faithful negro companion, Jim Mosten (Quentin King).

As Ransome heals and makes a place for himself, his charm and love for the written word bewitch Hallie and Jim. Soon, word travels that an outsider is bringing education to women and negroes, and that just don't sit right with certain folks in Two Trees, namely, Liberty Valance.

Just as the story's central romance finally unfolds, Ransome's earnest attempt to better those around him ends in tragedy, and he's forced to become what he hates to protect what he loves.

The play is well-paced, and the necessary arcs reveal themselves in a natural way — like the audience is experiencing life along with the characters as they grow and change.

The central drama, a slow-rolling but very obvious love triangle between Hallie, Ransome, and Burt, is thoughtful and restrained, allowing the audience to see Hallie as Foster and Barricune do — all wiseacre quips and fierce independence played to perfection by Warga-Dean. Her treatment of Hallie's singularity — a modern woman who knows who she is and what she's worth, isn't pushy or preachy. It comes across as authentic and relatable in 2022. Adams and Ormiston do an excellent job as reluctant rivals drawn together to deal with the often unpleasant nature of "men's things." "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" boasts a fabulous supporting cast, and I'd like to especially point out the chilling performance of James Dean as the purely evil Liberty Valance. His name is thrown around the play like that of a boogeyman, a looming menace who throws a dark pall over the happy developments on stage, but his presence, encompassing only two scenes in the entirety of the performance, is captivating.

Vicki Lloyd, who wears both the Assistant and Technical Director hat for this production, creates a space ripped from the pages of history through lighting and set design. The hazy sepia-toned stage looks exactly right for the period and context. Sawdust floors and the swinging doors of the wood-paneled saloon work fully to support the subtle but effective costume choices of Elizabeth Andrews.

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" demonstrates how artfully the Gilbert Theater handles sensitive topics and uncomfortable subject matter.

Director Chris Walker clearly understands how to tell a story truthfully; the audience must sometimes travel to places they'd prefer not to go, but he makes the journey worth it. What could be another superficial look at an educated man with a white savior complex, unaware of his ignorance or the destruction it causes — is instead a powerful look at people grappling with the weight of their choices in their quest to become better people.

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" will run until Sunday, Oct. 2. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.gilberttheater.com/.

On Saturday, Sept. 17, people from around the country gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand action from national leaders on the spike in fentanyl deaths. The event was organized by a group called Lost Voices of Fentanyl, and among those gathered were about 20 members of the Forgotten Victims of North Carolina, a state-based grassroots group of mostly mothers whose children were lost to fentanyl poisoning.

Patricia Drewes, who is part of Lost Voices of Fentanyl and is also the organizer of Forgotten Victims of North Carolina, told Carolina Journal on Sept. 19 that about 700 marched from the National Mall to the White House. Drewes daughter, Heaven Leigh Nelson, died of fentanyl poisoning in 2019.

During the day of action, Drewes said she met with multiple congressional leaders and their staff. Drewes said they wanted to meet with members of both parties, but Democrats were more hesitant
to meet.

Drewes and her group are advocating for harsher penalties on fentanyl distributors and for China and the Mexican cartels to be held responsible, policies that may be less palatable to Democrats. The staff of retiring Rep. David Price, D-NC04, was an exception, and Drewes spoke with them on the issue.

Drewes and other leaders from around the country were then hosted by the Republican Study Committee at a roundtable event regarding how to address the fentanyl crisis. Four of the nine guest speakers and participants were from North Carolina.

At the RSC roundtable, Drewes said she prepared a short audio but that it wouldn’t play.

“I’ll tell you what it was,” Drewes recalled telling them. “It’s the sound of a mother screaming that just saw her child being taken out in a body bag that was poisoned by fentanyl. I made that same cry or scream on Jan. 28, 2019. Every mother in this room has made that same God-awful scream. 108,000 American mothers made that scream in the United States last year alone. How many of us have to scream? How many of us have to bury our children before you heard us?”

Drewes also presented the RSC with a large box of obituaries from those that were lost, which she had collected from across the country.

“I told them, ‘I was going to mail this to the president. But I knew that he would probably never receive them. I knew that he would never receive them. So I am entrusting you to see to it that he gets these.’ So Jim Banks [a congressman from Indiana who serves as the chairman of the Republican Study Committee] is the one that actually took the obituaries to see to it that the president got them.”

She said that the committee agreed with the group that more has to be done and announced that they are working on a bill to address rainbow fentanyl, which is directly marketed to children and looks like candy.

“We want fentanyl labeled as a weapon of mass destruction,” Drewes said. “We want the Mexican cartel labeled as terrorists, because that’s what they are.”

Drewes said that she had been scheduled for an interview on FOX News but that the death of Queen Elizabeth bumped her segment. She joked that the media was apparently more interested in a queen’s death overseas than tens of thousands by fentanyl on our own shores.

“But kudos to FOX News,” she said. “They did cover us all day on Saturday.”

I’m currently in the last few months of my fifth and final term serving Hoke and Cumberland Counties in the North Carolina Senate. I count the ten years that I have served in this capacity an honor and privilege. My plan was to retire from elected office and find other ways to serve in my community. Watching the incumbent congressman actively participate in an insurrection against this nation changed my thinking.

To hear him call it his “solemn duty” to perpetuate a knowing lie that Joe Biden lost the election, without a shred of evidence and despite more than 60 court rulings to the contrary left me outraged.
To see him take the side of an angry and violent mob over the law enforcement officers who tried valiantly to fend them off to protect his life was more than enough to make me rethink my plans for retirement from elective office.

For months, when people asked me why I was running, that was the reason I gave. I’m a retired Air Force officer with 20 years of service that include three tours in Europe working alongside our NATO allies to defend democracy at home and abroad.

You can take a patriot off active duty, but you never take the sense of duty from the patriot.

While the threat persists, and is real, and is imminent; over the past few months a different but no less serious threat has emerged with stunning clarity — the Republican War on Women.

Hudson and the Republicans are fully prepared, if they take the Congress, to roll back the clock on women’s freedoms, women’s safety and security, and women’s economic opportunity.

I’m fully prepared to do my best to stop them.

For ten years in the NC Senate I fought for and won expanded healthcare access for women, tax breaks for women-owned businesses, birth control without an unnecessary prescription, reopening of the schools so moms and caregivers could rejoin the workforce, and opportunity scholarships for low-income women to have the same access to school choice for their kids that middle class and wealthy families already enjoy for theirs.

In Congress, I’ll continue to fight for women’s health, education and economic opportunity. America’s prosperity shouldn’t leave women behind!

It’s clear that many women know what’s at stake in November. From the emails I receive, to Democratic Women’s Clubs across the district doorknocking like there’s no tomorrow, to the energy and optimism around

Cheri Beasley’s campaign, there’s no doubt that women are paying close attention to the Republican war that’s being waged against them and their freedoms.
But for those who may not know or be able to weed through all the noise and rhetoric and yelling and talking points and fear mongering, here’s what happens if Republicans win the Congress:

Republicans plan to severely curtail Social Security benefits for 38 million women. They’ve made no secret about this. In their “11 Point Plan to Rescue America” it clearly states, “Eliminate federal programs that can be done locally. Any government function that can be handled locally should be.” Republicans are on record with plans to eliminate or privatize the Social Security you’ve worked your whole life for.

Republicans plan to raise taxes on poor and working-class women because, as Republican Senator Rick Scott said, “All Americans should pay some income tax to have skin in the game, even if a small amount.”

The federal minimum wage for a full-time worker is $15,080 per year. Scott — the richest member of Congress — believes $15,000-a-year workers should kick in a few bucks so that they have “skin” in the game.

Why can’t Republicans understand, this isn’t a game; it’s real life and nobody earning the federal minimum wage each year has a nickel to put in so that someone worth $260 million can take a nickel out.

Republicans will pass a national abortion ban. John Roberts’ Supreme Court will uphold it. Women will be forced to carry a child to term if the child has a heartbeat — but no skull.

Please don’t fall for Republican attempts to tone down their radical, far-right rhetoric one month before the election. Hudson sponsored H.R. 705, which forbids the termination of a pregnancy if a heartbeat is detected, even if the baby has no head! And no chance to live outside the womb. That’s not just cruel; that’s barbaric!

Last month, Democrats capped out-of-pocket healthcare costs at $2,000 per year and insulin costs at $35 per month for 22 million women on Medicare. Hudson voted no; every congressional Republican in NC voted no. Every congressional Republican in the country voted no. How could they make their priorities any clearer? Republicans don’t believe women’s taxpayer dollars should be returned to women to help keep women’s healthcare costs low.

Democrats do; I do.

With a few more seats in Congress, Democrats can finally pass equal pay legislation over Hudson’s and Republicans’ objections. It should go without saying that women should be paid the same money as men for the same day’s work!

Over the past few months, Hudson and the Republicans have opposed women’s right to contraception, women’s right to marry the person of their choice, women’s paid family leave and women’s childcare assistance. And they voted no to a monthly child-tax credit that — for the few months it was in place — lifted 4.7 million children out of poverty and extreme hunger.

If that’s not compelling enough for you — consider this: Hudson voted no to funding an alert system that would let the authorities notify women of an active shooter at their kids’ school.

My friends, that’s a Republican War on Women.

Every woman — and everyone who loves a woman — should get mad, should get up, should get engaged, should get to the polls and send Republicans home.
The future of our country depends on it.

Editor's note: Sen. Ben Clark has served since 2013 in the NC Senate representing Cumberland and Hoke counties. He is running for the NC 9th Congressional District, which consists of all of Chatham, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Randolph and Scotland and parts of Cumberland, Harnett and Richmond counties. The 9th is also home to Fort Bragg. Clark was born at the old Womack Army Hospital on Fort Bragg. His father was a helicopter pilot; his mother a teacher. Clark grew up in Hollywood Heights and graduated from Seventy-First High School.

As Department Chair of the Systems Security & Analysis Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College, I often receive a common question from prospective students and members of the community: What is cybersecurity?

As a society, we have integrated technology into practically every aspect of our daily lives. We have technology integrated in our homes (smart TVs, doorbell cameras and smart speakers), vehicles (self-driving, collision mitigation and automatic braking), medical services (devices to gather your health data, virtual doctor visits and real time pacemakers), and in our places of work (laptops, tablets and cloud resources).

Many of us use wearable tech, such as fitness trackers or smart watches. When is the last time you met someone who does not have a smartphone? How many folks complete financial transactions from their smartphones?

The point to consider related to all this technology is striking: For every piece of technology meant to improve our quality of life, there is an inherent risk.
Although these technological devices were designed for specific purposes, outside threats often try to use technology to gain access to sensitive information.

Why would someone do this? There is a large spectrum of reasons that cyber incidents or “hacks” take place. Many hacks are performed in order to achieve financial gain, either through direct access to identity and banking information or ransomware that locks down your technology and requires a ransom to be paid to regain access.

Additionally, hacks can be perpetrated by other governments looking to steal intellectual property or attack a country’s infrastructure as part of a military campaign.

Fayetteville Technical Community College offers a two-year degree in Systems Security & Analysis that provides students with 800-1,000 hours of hands-on, skills-based training.

While in the program, students will work with multiple operating systems in both the desktop and the server administration. Students learn how to configure Cisco network switches and routers, and we have a class dedicated to learning Palo Alto firewall configurations. Our program has won several national awards with Red Hat, as students learn how to configure and maintain their systems. FTCC is one of the few schools in the nation that provides Ansible training for automation.

FTCC is a Center of Academic Excellence in cyber education, recognized by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.

FTCC is also one of only 16 community colleges in the nation to work with the U.S. Cyber Command in their collaboration with academia. We often host guest speakers and technical workshops with partners who work in the industry.

Our students have a club devoted to cybersecurity and actively participate in several cybersecurity competitions. All of these programs — both curricular and extra-curricular — are offered to ensure FTCC students are prepared for the growing, ever-changing and essential job market in cybersecurity.
Learn more at faytechcc.edu or contact me at herringc@faytechcc.edu. Fall 8-week classes begin Oct. 13.

We watched the great and solemn events in Britain last week. But we heard not a mention of North Carolina’s important connections to the royal family, to Elizabeth and Charles.

Understandably perhaps, because our connections are not so much with the late Queen Elizabeth II or her son King Charles III. Our connections run to earlier British royals, to another Queen Elizabeth and another King Charles, whose names ring many bells for North Carolinians interested in
history.

Some, perhaps many of us remember from our school history lessons that the first Queen Elizabeth was a friend and patron of Sir Walter Raleigh, who sponsored the first attempted British colonization in North America at the settlement we know as the Lost Colony.

We learned that the settlers of the Lost Colony recognized Elizabeth I as their queen by naming the first child born in the colony, Virginia Dare, in honor of their unmarried and virgin queen.

Manteo and the Lost Colony site are in Dare County, which is named for Virginia Dare, thus indirectly honoring the first Queen Elizabeth I.

Hundreds of years after her death or disappearance, the memories of Virginia Dare and that of her queen are kept alive each summer in Manteo when the symphonic drama by Paul Green, “The Lost Colony,” features Elizabeth as an important character.

Year-round at the Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, visitors can encounter life as the English settlers experienced it. Included is a ship, named Elizabeth II, newly constructed but made to demonstrate how the first settlers crossed the ocean on a ship named for their queen.

So, North Carolina, especially in Manteo and Dare County, holds fast to its connection to the first Queen Elizabeth.

Our state has even closer connections to British kings named Charles. It got its name from them.

North Carolina, and South Carolina too, got named for King Charles. But it’s not clear which one.

Do we owe our state’s name to King Charles I, who reigned from 1603 to 1649 when he was beheaded, or his son King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 until his death in 1685?

Here is the case for Charles I as explained by the late H.G. Jones in his classic book, “North Carolina Illustrated, 1524-1984.”

“In 1629, King Charles I granted to his attorney general, Sir Robert Heath, a vast tract extending from near the present northern boundary of Florida to the southern shore of Albemarle Sound, an area named “Carolana” in the King's honor.”

Carolus is Latin for Charles. Efforts to establish active Carolana colonies did not work out. Meanwhile, in 1649, Charles I was deposed and executed. But the Carolana name stuck and was used to describe the region.

In 1660, the monarchy was restored, and Charles II became king.

H.G. Jones explained what happened then, making the case for the state name’s connection to Charles II: “The restoration of the English monarchy in 1660 left Charles II with heavy debts to those who had engineered his ascension to the throne, and on 24 March 1663 he rewarded eight of his leading supporters with a charter for a vast slice of North America from the 31st to the 36th parallels from the Atlantic to the South Seas (essentially the same lands previously granted to Sir Robert Heath in 1629). Over this province of Carolina, as the name was now confirmed in honor of Charles II, the Lords Proprietors were given broad feudal powers.”

Later the province was divided into North and South Carolina, so both states can claim their names came from King Charles II.

Elizabeth and Charles.

North Carolinians can claim connections to the names of both royals.

I did not actually know Queen Elizabeth II — Queen by the Grace of God, Queen of this Realm and of her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith — whose subjects comprise almost one third of the people on earth, but I thought I should.

Growing up in the Haymount section of Fayetteville, I saw her children as potential chums who might want to come over to play and she, as a mother, very much like my own.

My delusion sprung from my father’s military service in World War II as a medical worker during the D-Day invasions, after which he boarded for a time in the home of an English widow, a Mrs. Fox. Surely, she had a given name, but I never heard it.

My father, a courtly and personable Southerner, struck up a friendship with Mrs. Fox, which endured by mail until she died. The two young families, the Queen’s and my own, were in the same stage of life, and Mrs. Fox sent us many photographic books about the British Royal Family.

They were PR efforts to portray the Royal Family as almost regular folks, much as the Kennedys did with their family. I pored over pages of charming photographs of the Windsor family and little text.

The Windsor children were in England doing the same things we were doing in Haymount, swinging, playing with our dogs, and getting into occasional mischief. They were, I must admit, considerably better dressed and a lot cleaner than we were.

I loved those books so much that I nagged my father to write Mrs. Fox to invite the Windsor children to visit us in Fayetteville. I think my desire was prompted by the acquisition of a new backyard wading pool.

Needless to say, the Windsor children never showed.

Queen Elizabeth’s death has generated worldwide respect for her and the institution she embodied, for her perseverance and wry sense of humor, and for the family trials and tribulations she endured with the unbelievable antics and worse of her now thoroughly grown children and their wacky spouses.

We all live through some of that. The difference is that the Windsors played out their troubles and their joys on the world stage. The rest of us can keep at least our troubles close to the vest.

Queen Elizabeth II presided over the final days of the once global British Empire, knew every U.S. President since Harry Truman except Lyndon Johnson who did once throw a White House party for the Queen’s glamorous younger sister.

She met weekly with Prime Ministers from Winston Churchill to the brand new Liz Truss.

She rarely showed emotion in public, and famously so, because she was loath to indicate an opinion on any matter.

In her private life, she was said to be warm and engaging, with a quick wit, a woman who loved her dogs and horses, who enjoyed her toddies, including a glass of champagne before bed every night, and whose grandchildren called her “Granny.”

Queen Elizabeth did all this and more with dignity and a constant and unwavering hairdo that could have been styled in a downtown Fayetteville beauty parlor in 1965.

Most people on earth have not lived a day without the reassuring knowledge that the Queen was somewhere in the world calmly carrying on, pocketbook firmly in hand.

She had no real legal or political power, but her presence was felt by her billions of subjects and the rest of us.

Hers was a life well lived and a job well done.

The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen is expected to swear in Dysoaneik Spellman as the new police chief during the Sept. 26 meeting.
The town in August announced Spellman as the next police chief after a two-month search. He was appointed interim police chief when former chief Troy McDuffie retired for the second time in 2021.

Spellman, who has 23 years of law enforcement experience, has been with the Spring Lake Police Department since 2014.
The board also is expected to swear in Patricia Hickman as the interim town clerk.

The board meets at 6 p.m. at town hall.
The board also will hear a finance report from the Local Government Commission. The financial report will reflect the first two months of the 2022-23 budget year.

According to the commission, the staff has been diligent in getting the proper paperwork to establish purchase orders in a timely manner for the beginning of the fiscal year.

The Local Government Commission also says the transition of the Spring Lake Parks and Recreation Department to the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation program is expected to be finalized in October. The commission said it will need to rework some elements of the budget for that transition.

The board is expected to hear about a program called Operation Green Light, which shows support for veterans of all military conflicts with a special emphasis on veterans of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Residents and businesses can participate by changing an outside light bulb to a green bulb. The board will be asked to consider a resolution to honor those individuals.

The board is still looking to hire a town manager. It interviewed candidates on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 and is expected to name a new town manager shortly.

The Fayetteville City Council on Sept. 26 will revisit the execution of a contract for a gunshot detection system for the Police Department.

Reconsideration of the contract is listed under other business on Monday's regular meeting agenda. The council meets at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

On Aug. 22, the City Council voted 8-2 to spend nearly $200,000 a year to execute the contract with ShotSpotter, a high-tech gunshot detection system that is intended to determine where and when shots have been fired and help law enforcement to dispatch response teams more effectively.

Council members Mario Benavente and Shakeyla Ingram opposed the agreement. Since then, another council member has said he may want to reconsider his vote.
In other business, the City Council will consider approval for the city manager to execute a contract with Muter Construction for the planned Mazarick Park Tennis Center building.

The proposed center, which will be available for players of all ages and ability levels, would feature a championship court with spectator seats. The courts will feature covered changeover stations, and participants will be able to visit the on-site pro shop.

Indoor meeting space will be incorporated into the facility.

The council also will consider a budget ordinance amendment to appropriate $50,000 of the city's general fund balance for the Fayetteville Forward General Obligation Bond Information and Education Campaign.

Three bond packages will be on the Nov. 8 ballot for Fayetteville residents. The $97 million in proposed bond packages would spend $60 million on public safety projects, $25 million on infrastructure improvements and $12 million on housing opportunity programs.

The city has launched a marketing campaign to educate the public on the bond initiative.

The Mazarick Park Tennis Center contract and the bond campaign are part of the council’s consent agenda.

Gunshot technology

Law enforcement agencies across the country have implemented various technological tools to help reduce gun violence. One of those tools is the acoustic gunshot detection system, which is intended to detect, verify and automatically notify police dispatchers and officers.

During the dinner meeting ahead of the Sept. 12 City Council meeting, Councilman Deno Hondros said he was interested in reconsidering his vote regarding ShotSpotter.

The council took several procedural actions to put the item back on the agenda.

“So, I wouldn’t necessarily say that I changed my mind,’’ Hondros has said. “I would say I was torn on the decision the night of the council meeting where it came up. It was the first council meeting for the newly-elected — what I call freshmen — council members. That item was on the consent agenda."

The gunshot technology is being used in about 135 cities around the country, according to Ron Teachman, the director of public safety solutions for ShotSpotter Inc., whose corporate headquarters are in Fremont, California.

The technology has been criticized by those who say it's no more beneficial than making a 911 call. Teachman said he ended 32 years of law enforcement work to join the company, and he says the technology "absolutely" makes a difference for law officers.

"The council will decide whether it wants to reconfirm its past action and move forward or stop and direct me not to sign the contract or provide direction," City Manager Doug Hewett has said of the possible options for the council.

An information session to talk with residents about the three bond packages that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot for Fayetteville residents drew a small crowd Friday, Sept. 23.

The education and information sessions are part of the city’s marketing strategy to promote the general obligation bonds, The sessions are scheduled through Oct. 12. Friday’s session was at the Westover Recreation Center.

Referendums on the three plans that are part of the Fayetteville Forward Bond proposal will be decided by voters in three separate ballot questions.

The $97 million in proposed bond packages would spend $60 million on public safety projects, $25 million on infrastructure improvements and $12 million on housing opportunity programs.

Only three residents attended Friday night’s information session, which city Budget and Evaluation Director Kelly Olivera said was comparable to previous sessions earlier in the week.

Turnout for those, she noted, also “has been on the light side. I’m really wanting to get the word out from the meetings so that residents will be able to make an informed decision at the polls.”

The purpose is to move the city forward with life needs and transformative efforts, Olivera said.

To pay off the bonds, the property tax rate for Fayetteville residents would increase by 4 cents in 2024, Olivera said.

"The 4 cents would never go up," she said. "The value of your house might change, but the 4 cents would never go up."

The owner of a $100,000 home in the city would see an estimated annual increase of $40 in his property tax rate. A home valued at $200,000 would generate a property tax rate increase of $80 a year, Olivera told those who attended.

Olivera said city representatives are not trying to encourage people to support or oppose the bonds, they are only trying to educate residents on what the bond money would mean to the city in terms of proposed projects.

“This place should have been packed,” Jose Cardona, a 71-year-old who lives in the Devonwood subdivision, said of the sparsely attended event at Westover.

"This place should be packed,” Olivera said, agreeing with Cardona.

She urged those who attended to talk to other people from their neighborhoods and other areas of the city.

The three who attended later said they do not support the proposed bonds.

“This is just a dog and pony show,’’ Cardona said after leaving the meeting. “The mayor’s not here; the city council is not here.”

And his reason behind a thumbs down on the bonds: “Because, again, this could be handled by the city and (Fayetteville) PWC,” he said. “They just have a little extra money to have projects.”

Juanita Hayans, who is 71 and lives in the New Ponderosa subdivision, said the meeting proved beneficial to her. Sarah Miller, who is 72 and lives near Hayans in the New Ponderosa neighborhood, agreed that the city did a good job getting the information out at the meeting.

“I had come with questions because of previous money and where it went,” Miller said, adding that there are lower-income areas like Murchison Road and Yadkin Road that never seem to receive city funding while places in north Fayetteville and along Ramsey Street always seem to get the financial assistance needed to improve their corridors.

“I need more proof of where that money is going,” Miller said. “Before it’s passed, let people know what they’re going to do with it and get it approved by the public.”

The bonds would support specific projects, including a new 911 call center, fire station renovations, more sidewalks, street improvements, new bike lanes and housing initiatives.

The estimated savings over other financing options would be about $2.5 million, the city has said.

The city has scheduled other sessions where voters can learn more about the three bond packages. Residents may attend any of the meetings. The remaining sessions are scheduled for:
Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 5:45 p.m. at Smith Recreation Center;
Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at Pine Forest Recreation Center;
Sept. 30 at 5:45 p.m. at Tokay Senior Fitness Center;
Oct. 4 at 5:45 p.m. at Stoney Point Recreation Center;
Oct. 5 at 5:45 p.m. at Massey Hill Recreation Center;
Oct. 6 at 5:45 p.m. at Fayetteville Senior Center;
Oct. 12 at 5:45 p.m. at Lake Rim Recreation Center.

Any additional sessions that are scheduled will be listed at FayettevilleNC.gov/BOND.

Latinos United for Progress proudly announces Fayetteville’s first Fiesta Latina. The Latin community has participated in many heritage events, such as the International Folk Festival, but this is the first time the Latin community will get to showcase their heritage and culture as a stand-alone event.

Latinos United for Progress welcomes all to attend and participate in this heritage celebration, a family- friendly event, on Sept. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests are welcome to don Latin attire and colors representing different countries.

As a family event, there will be 3 hours of shows, including live Latin singing, drum circles, performance entertainment and cultural dancing. In downtown Fayetteville, there will be a stage in front of the Arts Council building, and street dancing around the Market House featuring entertainment simultaneously. Even the downtown trolley will be decorated in the spirt of Fiesta Latina and will host entertainment.

With the celebration of Latin heritage, there will be over 50 vendors showcased at Fiesta Latina. There will be a variety of food trucks and Latin restaurants boasting with the flavors of different countries. From Caribbean jerk chicken to Mexican empanadas and Brazilian saffron rice, the Latin community is eager to share their cuisine with diverse populations. Latin communities will be selling a variety traditional product, including folk crafts, jewelry, and native costum-
ing. From Colombia, there will be a vendor with decorations and leather goods.

Fiesta Latina is being presented by Cool Spring Downtown District’s 4th Friday and is partnered with Latinos United for Progress and the Arts Council of Fayetteville. Local nonprofits will also be represented to share awareness and celebrate their opportunities for Latin communities. There is still room for more vendors. Thanks to Cool Springs Downtown Alliance and in collaboration with Latinos United for Progress, nonprofit organizations are welcome
to participate at no cost.

As a charitable nonprofit organization, Latinos United for Progress stands as a liaison for the Spanish speaking community of Cumberland County and surrounding areas. Their mission is to advocate for the progress and well-being of the Latino community through programs and projects that promote education, leadership, development, and cooperation. Their services include legal aid and security for Latinos. They also have services and events dedicated to Latina women as well as youth programs.

This is an all-volunteer organization. Claudia Zamora is the current President of Latinos United for Progress, and she is eager to share these resources with the community.

“Fiesta Latina will celebrate diversity and inclusion through honoring Hispanic culture,” Zamora said.

Located in the downtown district of Fayetteville, Fiesta Latina will be held on Friday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. during the 4th Friday celebration.

For more information, visit latinosunitedforprogress.org or follow on Facebook @latinosufp.

If you would like to volunteer, per- form on stage, or sign up as a vendor please fill out the form at https://visitdowntownfayetteville.com/events/7672/ or call 910-223-1089.

Runners, walkers and volunteers will unite on Saturday, Oct. 1 for the second annual launch of Ray’s Run, a 5k benefitting upgrades at The Lodge.
Operation InAsMuch runs The Lodge as part of its Able-Life program. The Lodge is a dedicated facility serving homeless men with a desire to change their lives. This year’s race will be in-person, a change from the inaugural and virtual race of 2021.

Opened in 2017, The Lodge typi- cally houses twelve men who have committed themselves to leading a drug-free life while on the path to employment and independence. According to Community Engagement Coordinator Kanesha Bryant, a typical day at The Lodge requires the residents to maintain the upkeep of the facility and attend training sessions to ensure a positive outcome as they move forward in their lives.

During the day, those who haven’t yet reintegrated into the workforce.

“Spend time in case management and building life skills,” Bryant said. “This ranges from resume building to job searches to financial literacy, to learning how to build relationships.”

For those who have already gained employment, the staff is available for coaching on continued success in the workplace. The 2022 Ray's Run 5k will raise
funds for The Lodge’s kitchen to be renovated in order to better pre- pare daily meals for its residents. By upgrading the kitchen to commercial quality, The Lodge will be able to serve nearly 50 meals per day. When the late Ray Helton served as Executive Director of OperationInAsMuch, he envisioned creating a launchpad for men to re-enter the workforce using services provided by The Lodge.

Today, The Lodge also offers in-house training and community service opportunities. Future plans point to a full-service recovery program with various therapists on staff.

“Our Lodge brothers aim to complete the program within two months and either transition into independent living, or become a candidate for Frink Street housing,” Bryant explained.

Frink Street allows further fine tuning to what the men have learned at The Lodge. The length of time men stay in the program varies from person to person, depending on their progress. The staff's goal is to ensure that no one moves on from the Operation InAsMuch programs until they are fully ready for success.

Registration is open until Sept. 29 with an entry fee of $30 per adult and $20 per child. The race will begin at Methodist University near Matthews Ministry Center (Parking Lot J) on Oct. 1 at 8:30 a.m. For those who want to participate by volunteering, click Ray’s Run Volunteer. Donations to Operation InAsMuch can also be made, at any time, via FAOIAM.

For more information visit https://www.faoiam.org/raysrun/. Whether you opt to participate as a runner or volunteer (or offer a donation), you will do so knowing that the residents of The Lodge appreciate your support.

After the stresses and busyness brought on by the week, leader of the Fayetteville Ukulele Club Mary

Hill said she and her group members find relief as they strum their ukuleles, an instrument Hill calls “cheerful.”

“This is a time when we just sit down and nothing else matters, we just play the music, we just sing and all of the stresses melt away,” Hill said.

Now members of the club and the community can learn more about this musical form of stress relief in an upcoming workshop hosted by ukulele player David Remiger, also known as Ukester Brown. The Ukester Brown Workshop will be held at The Sweet Palette in downtown Fayetteville on Sept. 25 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The main focus of the workshop will be learning more about efficient chord building and how players can make the transitions between chords easier.
Registration for the event will cost $10, with ukuleles available to rent for $5. The workshop will also feature door prizes and a raffle for a ukulele. Sweet treats will also be available at The Sweet Palette, Hill said.

“Of course there’s cupcakes, because the Sweet Palette has the best cupcakes in town,” Hill said.

Following the workshop, Ukester Brown will hold a small concert followed by a jam session, free to all those in the Sweet Palette. Hill, a mostly self-taught ukulele player herself, also considers herself a self taught leader, forming the group, which will celebrated it’s third anniversary on Sept. 17, out of
her own desire to play with others.

“When you play with other people, you get better, you learn because people have different styles and I wanted that so bad so I just decided, evidently no one else was going to do it, so I should do it,” Hill said.

The club’s first meeting exceeded Hill’s expectations, with eight people showing up to participate. The group continued to grow and meetings continued through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic via Zoom. The group meets each Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to play together at The Sweet Palette.

The music helped bring participants together, helping to fill the hole left behind by the pandemic, Hill said, allowing them to share music together.
According to Hill, many group members were strangers prior to meeting through the club. As they joined they also bonded through their love of making music.

“These people did not know each other,” Hill said. “They come together and play every week and they're friends. So I put these people together and they became friends so I think that's really cool.”

The Ukulele remains an attractive instrument for many, Hill said, for its portable size, and for how easy it is to learn. Despite its accessibility, Hill emphasized that the ukulele is not an instrument to overlook.

“I don’t want to discount it by saying it’s easy to learn and things like that,” Hill said. “It is easy to learn and to get to a certain level, but you can play complicated pieces on it as well and it can hang in there with guitars and things like that. It can definitely be whatever you want it to be.”

Those registering for the Ukester Brown Workshop can send an email to 1happyukulele@gmail.com, noting if they need to rent a ukulele. Bring the family, bring chairs, and relax to some great music.

The Child Advocacy Center is excited to present the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse Oct. 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
With prizes and the chance to win “Best Of” in three separate categories — male, female and couples costumes — the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball is the Sandhill’s “premier” fundraising event to “help the Child Advocacy Center protect children and stop abuse.”

The Pinwheel Masquerade Ball is one night when the CAC steps away from its role as the Sandhill’s nexus between trauma focused child advocacy, law enforcement and institutional support systems to thank all of the people, businesses and organizations that play such a pivotal role in bringing the CAC to life.

A few years ago, the CAC decided it wanted a “more elegant affair” than some of its past fundraisers, said CAC Executive Director Roberta Humphries.

“And that’s where the idea for the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball came up.”

Pinwheels for Prevention

Every April, during National Child Abuse Month, on its grounds, the CAC plants dozens of silver and blue shining pinwheels representing each child the CAC served that year. Thanks to the CAC’s many benefactors and sponsors, hundreds of pinwheels greet visitors all over Fayetteville in the spring. The Pinwheel Masquerade Ball is designed to dovetail the official pinwheel planting.

“The pinwheels are a symbol for child abuse prevention [and] basically represent the bright future that all children deserve,” Humphries said. “So, we decided to carry them over to our fundraiser event in the fall.”
The CAC offers pinwheels directly to its “Partners in Prevention,” kits of 25 pinwheels and a yard sign that people can plant at home, a vase with eight pinwheels and a ribbon, plus more “pinwheel gear” that is available for purchase beginning in March at the CAC’s website, Humphries said.

“Basically, the best thing is for people to check back [to] our website as it gets closer to [spring 2023] for pricing on pinwheel items,” Humphries added. “It’s like a once-a-year [promotion] for child abuse prevention month.”

The Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse is a semi-formal affair. Black ties and masks are optional. However, what’s the fun of a masquerade ball with no mask?

The CAC moved the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden because it offered more room than some of the other locations it used in the past, Humphries said.

"We can do activities inside the garden’s pavilion and utilize the “garden itself by having a tent [with] people outside, as well.”

Guests at the Ball can look forward to a photo booth and saxophonist in the lobby, a DJ and dance instructors, plus an artist who will create a painting to be auctioned during the Ball. Wine, beer and specialty drinks are $5 per drink. Cigars and spirits are $10 per item. Seating will be available for all guests.
Culinary sponsors include Carrabas, Southern Coals, Dorothy’s Catering 2, The BarBQue Guy, Bees and Boards Charcuterie Company, Carrots Juice Bar and Café, Nona Sushi, Blue Pineapple Bakery, Harris Teeter, Superior Bakery, The Sweet Palette, Blue Moon and Pierro’s. Cape Fear Distillery will sponsor spirits.

Discounted early bird ticket purchases are complete. Tickets may now be purchased for $100 per person, $175 per couple and $1200 per table of eight. One ticket gets each guest two free drink tickets, access to “culinary delights, live and silent actions,” and a “celebratory atmosphere you won’t soon forget.”

Child Advocacy Center Mission

The Child Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization run by a troupe of women professionals “whose vision is [of] a community where children live in a safe and nurturing environment free from sexual and physical abuse. The center works in tandem with communities like law enforcement, the Department of Social Services and Child advocates to “alleviate the trauma children experience once a disclosure of sexual abuse or serious physical [harm] occurs.”

Though the work the CAC does isn’t easy, it is absolutely vital to the well-being of abused children and their families in Fayetteville and surrounding areas.
Tickets can be purchased online at CACFayNC.org, or directly from the Child Advocacy Center, which is located at 222 Rowan Street in Fayetteville.

For more information about the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse, please visit Facebook.com/PinwheelMasquerade. To learn more about the CAC’s pinwheels, how to donate and/or become a benefactor, CacFayNC.org will be your guide.

When you come down to show support for abused children, the CAC and the women that run it, do not forget your mask, Oct. 1, 7 to 11 p.m. at the Fayetteville Botanical Garden.

 

Before Brian Dreier worries about defending his title in the Cumberland County Golf Championship in October, he has to be the best player in his own family.
Dreier won the CCGC for the second time at Gates Four Golf & Country Club last year with a 54-hole score of even par 216. Meanwhile, his son, 16-year-old Sutton, won the junior division, and his father-in-law, Gary Robinson, an eight-time CCGC champion, tied for sixth in the championship division.

“It's awesome to see our family do so well,” Robinson said. “We've been very blessed in our family to be so successful. I'm very proud of everybody.”
Recently, Robinson won the club championship at King's Grant, a course he co-owns, with Sutton finishing second and Brian in third place. It marked the first time Sutton had beaten his father in golf.

“We kept it all in the family — win, place and show,” Brian Dreier said. “I'm proud of Sutton's progression. He's maturing and his game is improving across the board.”
Since Sutton turned 16, he is eligible to play in the championship division and he will compete against his father and grandfather this year.
Dreier, who won the county match play title in the spring, held off another eight-time champion of the event, Billy West, to win last year by one stroke. Dreier said he was stressed out on the front nine in the final round, wondering how Sutton was playing.

“When I made the turn, I found out how he did and it actually relaxed me for the back nine,” he said. “It kind of took some of the pressure away from me. To be able to share that with him was just amazing.”

The 54th annual CCGC will be held Oct. 7-9 and will feature some changes. The most significant change will add handicap divisions for men and women. The tournament has always been a gross-score competition.

“We want to get more people involved in the Cumberland County Championship tournament itself,” said Bill Bowman, tournament director and publisher of Up & Coming Weekly.

“We've had a lot of requests from people who want to play in the tournament, but because it's gross-score, they are hesitant to participate. They want to compete using their established handicaps.”
Another major change in the tournament this year is King's Grant Golf Club will host the first round of the Championship on Oct. 7 instead of playing all three rounds at Gates Four Country Club. King's Grant also will host the opening Champions Reception and Pairings Party on Oct. 6 in the Phoenix Grill of their newly renovated Clubhouse.

“We're happy to have it,” Robinson said. “We'd like to showcase what we've been doing. The greens will be similar in speed probably to Gates Four. The transition from one course to the other won't be a problem for anybody.”

The improvements at King's Grant since Robinson and his partners bought the course include converting the greens to Bermuda grass, remodeling the clubhouse, adding a veranda and improving and changing the parking lot. King's Grant will present a different challenge to the players than Gates Four. “It's a little tighter there,” Robinson said. “It definitely tests you. It's not long but you've got to be accurate.”

Dreier is the former pro at King's Grant and has been a member there since 2003.

“I think King's Grant is more difficult of a golf course,” he said. “It has a lot more trouble. You're not going to win it out here but you can certainly lose it with the way the back nine is set up with the water hazards.”
West has won the CCGC title three times at King's Grant.

“I'm looking forward to being back out at King's Grant,” he said. “I don't hit the ball very far, particularly as I get older, and King's Grant puts a little more premium on accuracy. Of course, Gary and Brian are comfortable out there. I'm sure they're looking to get a low round but I'm excited. I like when the courses rotate.”
West and Robinson, who are tied for the most CCGC titles with eight each, will renew their battle to see if one of them can get to No. 9.

“I hope I get there quick,” said Robinson, who will turn 64 the week after the tournament. “I feel like I'm running out of time. He [West] has a lot more opportunities but I have an opportunity this year. If I play well, I should be able to contend.”

Robinson comes into the tournament in good form. He recently tied for third in the Carolinas Senior Amateur championship.
West, 48, marvels at Robinson who won his first CCGC title in 1982.

“I have so much respect for Gary and his game,” he said. “To me, the most amazing thing about Gary is his ability to compete at the highest level as a senior player. He still hits the ball a very long way. I joke with Gary that I have two goals each year — for me to try and win and make sure he doesn't. It's a fun rivalry and we've become really good friends.”

West is building quite a record of longevity in the tournament, too. He won his first title in 1994 and has missed the event only once since he turned 16. He had a chance to win last year, leading by one in the final round with four holes to go. But a pair of bogeys cost him coming in and he finished as runner-up.

“I've always said it's my favorite tournament,” West said. “I star it on the calendar every year. What to me is neat about the tournament, it has sort of followed me through my life. I played in it when I was 16 and I remember how anxious and nervous I was to play with the older players I had looked up to for years.”

“Now, I'm one of the senior statesmen of the championship division. It's come full circle. My best golf memories have come from playing in the Cumberland County Championship.”

Other contenders for the title include Thomas Owen, who has two wins and four top-3 finishes since 2016, and Jack Keefe, who led after each of the first two rounds last year.

Bowman, who is in his fifth year of running the tournament, introduced the CCGC Youth Division for boys and girls last year, and he views it as the future of the tournament. It includes a division for middle school players, ages 12-14, and high school players, ages 15-18.

“We want to grow our youth participation so we can develop the CCGC champions of tomorrow,” Bowman said. “By having multiple divisions, we're going to be able to nurture these young people and get them involved and acclimated to this level of competition.”

Robinson is helping with the effort.

“I'm excited about the addition of the junior golf,” he said. “I've tried to take on a role and get this thing off the ground so we can keep golf going in the county. I'm in touch with some of the coaches in the area, trying to get their kids to sign up and play.”

West believes that several of the top junior players in the county could change the face of the competition.

“The players today are better than when I came through,” he said. “When I was 16, I was hoping not to embarrass myself. But high school kids now are out there to win it and they're ready to win at a young age.”
There also will be divisions for women, men's open, senior men and super seniors.

“It's the oldest continuous running golf tournament in North Carolina,” Bowman said. “And, it's definitely the most prestigious one here in Cumberland County. We are proud to be hosting this great event on its 54th anniversary.”

For entry details, go to cumberlandcountygolfclassic.com.

All American Week is fully back this year after several delays. This will be the first time since 2019 that the 82nd Airborne Division will hold an entire week of events.
Last year, the week was shortened to a few special days because of a deployment to Afghanistan.

All American Week 2022 was initially scheduled for May. Due to the deployment to Europe, it was delayed until September. But, Lt. Col. Brett Lea, the Public Affairs Officer of the 82nd Airborne Division, said that All American Week is back and they are excited to celebrate as a Division.

“As a Division and as an Army, we want to be together, and we're stronger when we're together,” Lea said. “I think that All American Week has traditionally always been about current and former paratroopers and family members coming together and celebrating what it means to be All Americans. And this year, more than any, we're able to actually celebrate being able to be together again. We're coming off our historic mission in Europe, where we demonstrated our strength of our alliance with our European allies. And we're coming home and showing the strength of us all being together here at Fort Bragg again.”

“It's a really exciting moment for the division. We're thrilled to be able to do it again.”

The theme of this year's All American Week is "Stronger Together.”
The week of celebration gives paratroopers, past and present, a chance to celebrate their service in America’s Guard of Honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Throughout the week, paratroopers will compete in a series of competitions to see who can claim the title of best of the best. This will include boxing, combatives, soccer, flag football, functional fitness and tug-of-war, as well as a culinary competition.

Family members and the public are also invited from Sept. 26 through Sept. 28 to the U.S. Army Advanced Airborne School. Visitors get the opportunity to learn about airborne operations and exit the 34-foot tower, which simulates exiting a military aircraft during an airborne operation.

“We're kicking it off with the division run like we do traditionally,” Lea said. “We're inviting back all the veterans to be part of that.”

The 82nd Airborne Division Run will happen on Monday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 a.m. on Long Street. The run will feature the entire Division in an esprit de corps event for current and past paratroopers and their families. Many people bring signs and will cheer the Division from the sides of Long Street.
Following the Division rRun will be a breakfast at the 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s Falcon Cafe. New paratroopers will pair with older paratroopers to be able to talk about how being in airborne units has changed over the decades.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, there will be four separate events. The first will be the All American Week 10-Miler at Simmons Airfield. This will kick off at 6:30 a.m. The second event will be a Prayer Breakfast at the Iron Mike Conference Center. The Division Chaplain will kick this off at 7 a.m.

At 11 a.m., the 82nd Airborne Museum on post will host the 82nd Airborne Division Memorial Ceremony. This ceremony will honor paratroopers who made the ultimate sacrifice in combat or during training in the past year.

The day will end at 7 p.m. during the Family Fun Run. This run is open to paratroopers and their families to run a 5K down Ardennes Street.

On Thursday, Sept. 28, nine people will be inducted into the 2022 All American Hall of Fame Class. Those inductees include Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, Lt. Gen. Raymond Mason, Cpt. John B. Sauls, Cpt. Gerald A. Wolford, 1st Lt. Waverly Wray, Command Sgt. Maj. Wolf Amacker, Command Sgt. Maj. Bryant Lambert and Cpl. John S. Gilbertie.

Inductees were selected based on their service within the 82nd Airborne Division. Nominees have been awarded the Medal of Honor or served a minimum of two years within the Division. The ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. on Ardennes Street.

All American Week will wrap up on Friday, Sept. 29 with the 82nd Airborne Division Review, the first since 2014. During the Review, the entire Division will be arrayed in formation on the field to conduct a “pass in review” in front of a crowd of thousands. They will also recognize the Jumpmaster of the Year and the All American Week competition winners.

“In the past, we did the airborne review at Sicily Drop Zone. So this will be new bringing that back. There's a lot of tradition with putting the Division out on Pike Field and making a show of the Division and its unity and its strength. And I think that's a great way for us to have the first All American week we've done since 2019,” Lea said.

The review will be at 10 a.m. on Pike Field.

Visitor Passes

Those with access to Fort Bragg can attend All American Week events. For most events, visitors without military identification will need a visitor’s pass that can be obtained at the All American Visitor’s Center located at 3550 All American Freeway.

Visitors can go to the kiosk as long as they have a form of I.D., proof of insurance and registration for their car to get a pass for up to 30 days, Lea said.

“And we highly suggest that people do that at least the week before All American Week because if you're trying to do it that the morning of an event, you're going to have a lot of trouble getting there on time. So we encourage people to stop by the gate ahead of time to get that pass.”
Lea says that All American Week is a must see for those who have never attended the event before.

“It's something else to see the thousands of paratroopers and former paratroopers and their families and kids, to see the Division in its entirety running up and down Long Street, to see the division marching on Pike Field. It's really an inspiring sight,” Lea said. “So if you haven't come, there's something for everybody to do. And if you have been here before, you need to come back because it's now an opportunity for us to get together in person and enjoy the camaraderie of what it is to be an All American.”

For more information on the event, go to www.facebook.com/82ndAirborneDivision.

The region's longest-running multicultural event is back after a two-year hiatus to bring people together to celebrate cultural diversity. The Arts Council of Fayetteville & Cumberland County invites everyone to gather as one community for its 44th Annual International Folk Festival.

The anticipated three-day event will take place from Friday, Sept. 23 to Sunday, Sept. 25 at Festival Park and historic downtown Fayetteville.
The International Folk Festival will act as a grand stage to display the heritage of over 30 cultural groups as they share their art and cuisine.
Historically, the event has drawn thousands of attendees due to its impressive offering of cultural festivities, unique performances and a wide selection of culinary discoveries.
In a world where headlines often highlight divisive attitudes and agendas, the International Folk Festival creates an opportunity for unity and appreciation amongst those eager to celebrate the remarkable differences that exist between cultures and people.

“Our festival has always brought the community together to interact with different cultures and celebrate what makes us unique,” said Bob Pinson, interim president and CEO of the Arts Council. “Our festival reminds us that we are stronger together and will accomplish more than we will ever do as individuals.”

The festival kicks off on Friday, Sept. 23 as part of downtown Fayetteville's long-standing Fourth Friday tradition.
Saturday, Sept. 24 will introduce the Parade of Nations, regarded as one of the more fascinating aspects of the International Folk Festival. From 9 a.m. until noon, representatives from over 30 nations will proudly don traditional clothing and wave their nation's flags to thousands of onlookers. Colorful displays and traditional dances offer guests a one-of-a-kind travel opportunity without even having to purchase a ticket.

After the parade and on Sunday, Sept. 25, a literal world of possibilities awaits attendees as they travel from country to country, sampling a little of each through the art of their culture. Let's Tour the World Together will be from 12 to 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy the perks of a festival done right as they peruse a generous bounty of food and entertainment options available throughout the day.

This year will feature around 30 food vendors, 20 of them international. Offering everything from Thai Tea to Deep Fried Oreos, the festival will deliver on its promise to have a little something for everyone. Haiti and Azerbaijan are new to the culinary stage this year and will be sharing their nation's cuisine at the International Folk Festival for the first time this year.

As guests enjoy food from all over the world, they'll also be able to witness spectacular displays of culture through live entertainment and performance art. From the festival's many stages, attendees can take in the steel drums and exotic headdresses of the North Carolina Brazilian Arts Project, get carried away by the beat of Africa Unplugged and experience many other amazing performances from all around the globe.

An extremely family-friendly event, the International Folk Festival's “World Of Wonder” will be a creative space to foster Cumberland County's young atists. Fun activities and crafts that facilitate cultural education make this an ideal event for homeschool families or parents looking for something fun to do with the kids over the weekend.

Up & Coming Weekly spoke with local homeschool mom Cari Piatt about her thoughts on the festival and its value to the community.

“As a homeschool parent, I'm excited to introduce my kids to new cultures and experiences,” Piatt shared. “It's incredibly beneficial to our curriculum and our family life. We live in a diverse community— it's important for my kids to learn cultures and ways of life that are different from our own.”

Staying true to its commitment to enriching Cumberland County residents' lives, the festival will also include several opportunities for attendees to experience, create or observe art as it's created.
The festival's Arts Market will feature over 30 arts and crafts vendors with booths of handmade creations and other wares for purchase throughout the festival. Art installations and life-size murals will also be displayed to create a truly immersive experience. As a thoughtful and interesting touch, chalk artists, bleach artists, and other live art performers will be on site to show guests art in real time.

The International Folk Festival not only serves as a place for people to meet and engage with cultures from all over the world, but it also makes good on the Arts Council's promise to "support individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development and lifelong learning through the ARTS.”
Founded nearly 50 years ago, the Arts Council serves the citizens of Cumberland County by working with various cultural organizations to shine a light on artists and arts education in support of downtown Fayetteville's thriving arts and entertainment district.

The Arts Council's subsidiary, We Are the Arts, works to create spaces that allow the community to interact with an impressive roster of artists in and around Fayetteville. In addition to events like the International Folk Festival, We Are the Arts houses exhibits for public viewing, commissions public art displays to bring character to the city and hosts events like the upcoming BlackLit Book Fair.
It is important work and a vital service to the community.

The soul of a community or that of a nation — what it's been through, what it values, and what it aspires to be is often in the art it produces. The desire to create music, dance and the symbolic representation of its story, is an urge shared by every society on earth. Thomas Kinkade, famed 20th century “Painter of Light,” once said: “Art transcends all cultural boundaries.”

Events like the International Folk Festival suggest that he's absolutely right.
For more information regarding the festival, visit www.wearethearts.com.

City Council member Courtney Banks-McLaughlin was elected to City Council in November of 2019.
She is now serving on her second term and plans to prioritize quality of life, public safety and finding a solution to help with homelessness.

Quality of life is a prime concern for the council member. Having updated recreation centers and parks where kids and families can visit, and places where teens and young adults can stay busy so they don’t get in trouble is a big focus.

“I'm hoping to start out working on projects like the recreation centers. I want to expand our youth program. To me, when it comes to our city, we want to be able to try to keep kids from gangs and drugs because there's been an uptick in the city as far as youth [trying] drugs. So I want to try to put something together through our Parks and Recreation Centers,” Banks-McLaughlin said.

Having a positive impact on the city’s youth could have a positive impact on economic development.
Keeping people interested in the city would help the effort of keeping them here and working in the city rather than leaving in search of better opportunities elsewhere.
Banks-McLaughlin also wants to start community watch meetings again in her district. They were previously suspended, but she believes these community meetings were a prime resource for citizens to learn about resources, talk about issues and inform their council member about what they want as a district.

“To me that's important because it's for the citizens. That's giving them an opportunity to know what resources are out there. It's no escape for what's going on in our community,” Banks-McLaughlin said.

“And for me, that's a great way to be able to stay connected and be able to provide information [to] our residents. And when they have concerns... that's where those suggestions come from, people connecting together and expressing their concerns.”

Public safety is wrapped inside the issue of having a good quality of life. Banks-McLaughlin recognizes that the Fayetteville Police Department needs to hire more officers, and there should be better communication with residents about public safety in their own neighborhoods.

Banks-McLaughlin previously co-chaired the homeless advisory committee and believes that there is still a lot to do regarding tackling homelessness.
She is proud of the city’s efforts to create a day resource center and partner with Manna Church to have a men’s shelter, but she believes more collaboration with the county would uplift this issue.

“So, the city, we're doing our part when it comes to homelessness, but it seems we need to work a little bit more with the county, [because]the county needs to... help contribute a little bit more so that we can alleviate some of that homelessness,” Banks-McLaughlin said.

“I understand the county gets the funding but it comes at a point where if the county is not holding their bargain, [does] the city not do anything? I'm not saying that we're not doing anything because we are, but I've always looked at it like we feel we still have to play a major role in ensuring that because it’s in the city.”

There are steps being taken right now to build a county-run homeless shelter, but Banks-McLaughlin says that during this process, there are people who do not have anywhere to go.
She is hoping the GO Bonds pass in the November election. She thinks this will help get the funding needed to support quality of life, public safety and help with the housing shortage.

When it comes to the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center, Banks-McLaughlin was one of the council members who voted against it. She believes that the county and the city could collaborate on bigger issues like school staffing shortages.

“We have some major issues that need to be prioritized before we decide to spend that much money on a history center. And then as far as with the resolution, as far as the city is supposed to [give] a certain portion to the county and the state, that’s expired,” Banks-McLaughlin said.

In last week’s City Council meeting, Banks-McLaughlin voted to not delay the appointment of a city council representative to the Public Works Commission. However, she believes former council member Ted Mohn, a man she has run against in the past, is the right person for the position.

“He's been active in the community; he understands PWC, he has a connection with the people in the community. I think he'll be a great fit for that position,” Banks-McLaughlin said.
But whoever gets the appointment, Banks-McLaughlin believes it should be sooner rather than later due to the upcoming search for a new CEO for PWC.

“I hope that we go ahead and can appoint somebody to that position because still, the longer we wait, things still need to be addressed,” Banks-McLaughlin said. “We need to put somebody in that position, although we have someone in there currently, but let's shift and put somebody in there that we believe would do [a good job for] the city and our utility service.”
For District 8 residents, she aims to represent them the best way she can and ensure she gets residents involved and knowledgeable about what is happening in the community.

“I will continue to stay engaged and connect. I will continue to represent, and I'm always going to do what's right in my heart, and I appreciate them for giving me the opportunity to fight for them again,” Banks-McLaughlin said.
The next Fayetteville City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m.

The city is contributing $450,000 for a planned Black Voices Museum downtown.

The Fayetteville City Council authorized the appropriation at its meeting Monday night, Sept. 12.
Organizers say the museum would spotlight the rich history of African Americans in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

The Learning Together Co., which is promoting the proposed museum, has asked for a total of $895,000 from the city and the county.
In April, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners voted 5-1 to set aside $450,000 for the museum. That would cover half of the cost of the initial phase of the proposed project.

“Half from the city and half from the county,” Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said Tuesday. “We voted last night to give them $450,000. What that is for (is) the planning, the design. … They’ll be back once they come back from that.

“It was a pretty thorough memorandum of understanding entered with them,” Colvin said of the museum planners. “I think we can use a similar model when talking about the N.C. history center.”
The agreement is among the museum planners and the county Board of Commissioners, the city and the Community Development Foundation.

The N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center has been a controversial idea from the start. Critics say the center would not be the right move for Fayetteville because of the racial implications of its subject matter.
Earlier this month, the City Council delayed voting on a request for $6.5 million for the history center.
Colvin said he would support similar conditions on funding for both projects.

The city is requiring the Black Voices group “to establish a committee acceptable by the City Council who will handle content selection and curating,” Colvin said in a message to the City Council.

“I believe we must be equitable and consistent,” he wrote.

Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corp., has frequently supported Black Voices organizers when they have pitched the idea to the City Council and county Board of Commissioners.

"One of the biggest things we want to do is engage to collect and borrow the actual documents," Van Geons said of museum reference materials. "A big part of that is cataloging, connecting, engaging with local historians and bringing on board people that can do the research. That's the first step.

"I think what we've got is an early stage of concept that continues to resonate with everybody we have spoken to," he said. "We need to tell this very important story."
Dauv Evans, the project director, and William Cassell, the project coordinator, have been having discussions for the past few years about building a museum in Fayetteville to acknowledge the achievements of the area's Black community. As proposed, the museum would tell the story of how Black culture has shaped Fayetteville and Cumberland County, from the founders of Fayetteville State University to the present-day social justice movement.

Sir David Adjaye was selected to design the museum. Adjaye is perhaps best known for designing the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.
On Monday night, Mac Healy made another pitch to the City Council on behalf of the Civil War History Center. Healy is chairman of the center's board of directors.

Healy said he had received some calls from members of the council and wanted to try to answer some questions.
He said one of the center's projects is to procure 100 historical stories from each county in the state.

“The question was, were we going to be committed to diversity and inclusiveness in those stories?” Healy told the council. “We are committed to diversity, race, religion, men and women, everything in those stories. As we collect our stories, you have our word we will commit to being inclusive and diverse in the stories that we have in our record."

Another question, he said, was about governing boards.

“We have an advisory board right now,” he said. “And unlike a lot of museums and history centers in the state of North Carolina, we set this up so there would be a local advisory board for input. This board will advise the state and programming and exhibits. It's different from a lot of places. This is an advisory board set up. We welcome participation on that.”

At 7 p.m. Oct. 10 and 10 a.m. Oct. 11, Highland Presbyterian Church, at 111 Highland Ave., will host a community forum on the history center as part of its organizers’ public outreach. The center's design team will display storyboards that will be the beginning of the content of the history center, according to Healy.

“This will be left for a week for citizens, at their leisure, for a walk-through and (to) make suggestions, corrections and give any input they want on those,” Healy said. “We'll take those back and get with the historians.”
Mayor Colvin said Tuesday he is unsure what the council’s next step would be on the Civil War & Reconstruction History Center.

Once upon a time there was a Babylonian god named Marduk. Not Daffy Duck, not Donald Duck, but Marduk. You don’t need a Mesopotamian god to know which way the wind blows. Climate change, who needs it? It’s fake news. When a talking head on cable says it’s fake news, I believe it, and that settles it. Remember the complaint: Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it? Well, here is something you can do about it. It’s time for you to get some of that old time religion. Climb on Mr. Peabody’s Time Machine to return to ancient Mesopotamia.

Today we visit Marduk, the Babylonian King of the Gods. Marduk first showed up in the 18th Century B.C. For the mathematically challenged, that is about 4000 years ago. In addition to having a really cool name, Marduk was in charge of bad weather. More on this later.

When Willard Scott, with or without his toupee, was in charge of making the Earth’s weather on the “Today Show,” we never had all this bizarre weather. There were four seasons, neatly stacked on top of each other. We knew what to expect and when. Now things are messed up.
Current TV weather persons delight in regaling us with stories of floods, heat waves, giant wild fires, drought, melting ice caps, rising sea levels and mafia murder victims popping up on the shores of shrinking Lake Mead. Forget all that stuff. It’s not really happening. Who are you gonna believe? Me or your lying eyes?

Now, back to Marduk and his impact on the weather. Many moons ago in the Euphrates valley there were two gods, Ea and Enlil. Ea was Marduk’s daddy. Ea ciphered that Marduk was a better god than he was. Ea cheerfully handed his crown to Marduk, putting him in charge of humanity. Enlil faded into obscurity as Marduk’s star rose during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.

The Mesopotamian gods were always having a ruckus among themselves as to who would get to be Boss God. Rodney King would have been greatly disappointed in them, as they just could not get along. Marduk was young and studly. He volunteered to lead his team of gods against the other team. If Marduk whupped the other team of gods, he would be promoted to NCAA Champion Head Mesopotamian God.
To get ready for the Royal Rumpus, Marduk rosined up his bow, made a bunch of arrows, collected a passel of lightning bolts, and ate a Thai salad that turned his body into flame.

Culinary Aside: Thai salads have been famous for being peppery hot for over 4000 years.
The leader of the other gods was an ocean-going lady dragon named Tiamat. Tiamat was a mean critter, not like Beany’s friend, Cecil the Sea Sick Sea Serpent. Oh no, Tiamat, like Shaft, was one bad... (shut your mouth).

Marduk's battle plan used strategery. To catch Tiamat, Marduk made a giant net to trap her. He made the four winds blow Tiamat into his net. To keep her in the net, Marduk invented seven brand new really ugly winds which included his Super-Duper Wind — the Rain-Flood. He charged into battle riding his chariot on the Rain-Flood (which we now call hurricanes) pulled by four evil horses who had mouthfuls of poison. Marduk did not mess around. He caught Tiamat in his net and proceeded to kill her with an arrow to the belly.

Next up, like Sherman on his march to the sea, Marduk killed Kingu, Tiamat’s top general. Kingu had been wearing the “Tablets of Destiny” which Marduk liberated from him to wear like a championship belt from the WWF. Undefeated, Marduk gets to be Boss God.

After his glorious victory, Marduk settled into a life of ease drinking Bloody Marys by the cement pond. He created humans to do all the work so the gods could just lay around the shack waiting for the mail train to come back. To keep himself amused, Marduk had his own pet dragon named Mushussu. Four millennia later, Mushussu was the inspiration for Falkor the fuzzy dragon in the movie “Never Ending Story.”
So, how does this mishmash of a column tie together? Frankly, not very well. But here is the point, such that it is. If you don’t believe in climate change, don’t want to do anything about climate change, and are sick of hearing about climate change; then start imploring Marduk to intervene and fix the weather. Praying to Marduk to calm weather events might not work, but it’s better than doing nothing. Besides, saying Marduk out loud is fun. Imagine if when Goober imitated Cary Grant he had said: “Marduk, Marduk, Marduk”, instead of “Judy, Judy, Judy.” Say Marduk loud and there’s music playing. Say Marduk soft and its almost like praying. Try it.

You’ll be glad you did.
No Babylonian gods, sea serpents or Mesopotamians were harmed during the writing of this column.

In late August, the government of California gave its residents two additional, and interrelated, reasons to consider moving elsewhere.

First, the state’s Air Resources Board announced plans to phase out all sales of gas-powered vehicles in California by 2035. A few days later, state officials instructed Californians not to lower their thermostats below 78 degrees and not to charge their electric vehicles during the peak hours of 4 to 9 p.m. Otherwise, they said, Californians may experience blackouts.

Here in North Carolina, our electrical system is much more reliable. It’s one reason why some disaffected California families and businesses may well find their way here. If some public officials and utility executives in our state get their way, however, the flow of energy refugees may reverse itself in the not-too-distant future.

Under the terms of a 2021 law enacted by large, bipartisan majorities in the General Assembly, North Carolina is required to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions significantly over the next few decades, reaching complete “carbon neutrality” by 2050. The law attracted its broad legislative support because it also includes strict criteria for reaching this goal by the “least cost path” while maintaining “the adequacy and reliability of the existing grid.”

The state’s primary electricity supplier, Duke Energy, has now filed its plan to achieve the law’s goals, which include a reduction from the 2005 emissions baseline of 70% by 2032. All four of Duke’s proposed power portfolios, however, rely so heavily on intermittent sources such as solar and wind that the reliability of our grid will be imperiled.

According to an analysis published this summer by my colleagues at the John Locke Foundation, North Carolinians would reach a point by 2032 in which our electricity needs in peak months would exceed the total output of dispatchable baseload generation.

In other words, we’ll be relying on solar, wind, batteries, and various conservation tactics to keep the lights on and critical machines, appliances and HVAC systems running. That’s too risky.
By 2050, the Locke study concluded, North Carolinians could face the very real prospect of rolling blackouts during summer months — in other words, the California scenario.

In a filing to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Locke analysts proposed a better solution: making greater use of nuclear power to provide both clean and reliable electricity to our growing state’s households and businesses. Although this plan would require delaying the 2032 goal a bit (a tweak the law does allow) it would fully achieve the 2050 goal, including a phase-out of coal and natural gas.

It would be also be less expensive than any of the Duke plans, which require the construction of extra production capacity to kick in when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. Nuclear plants run continuously, their fuel is domestically sourced and plentiful, and they last up to 80 years, vs. 20 years for the average wind farm and 25 years for the average solar plant.

Our conversation about North Carolina’s energy future is occurring within a broader national and international context in which policy makers who used to be skeptical about nuclear power are coming around to its many benefits. Leaders of energy-hungry countries in Europe and Asia, for example, are realizing that overreliance on natural gas from Russia or rare-earth metals from China poses a threat to their national security and economic vitality.

And in California itself, Gov. Gavin Newsome has proposed extending the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant through 2035. Although he used to think otherwise, Newsome now believes the state can’t wiggle its way through the next decade if Diablo Canyon, which generates 9% of California’s electricity, closes as scheduled in 2025.

Better late than never, but North Carolina can do better than that. Our carbon-dioxide emissions from electricity generation are already down 40% since the beginning of the century, largely due to natural gas replacing coal. Now let’s enact a sound energy strategy today that will pay dividends for many decades to come.

In its wisdom (or lack of) the Fayetteville City Council is about to launch a marketing campaign for three bond referendums totaling $97 million that will appear on the November ballot in less than 60 days.
This is not much time for citizens to dig into the actual unintentional consequences and hardships this increased tax debt will impose on Fayetteville citizens.

City Council members under the leadership of Mayor Mitch Colvin have proven to be oblivious to fiscal responsibility, impervious to allegations of “conflict of interest” and the appearance of profiting from spending Fayetteville citizens' tax dollars. This has become somewhat of a team sport for Mayor Colvin and Fayetteville-PWC Bond Counselor Attorney Jonathan Charleston. Their mantra seems to be: Sell, Sell, Sell! Sell PWC. Sell the Airport. Sell citizens bogus (ShotSpotter) technology, and sell them on approving bond referendums that will burden them financially for decades.

Our unsophisticated and inexperienced City Council is their mechanism for hatching and executing these schemes. Though Colvin and Charleston's assault on our pocketbooks may not be illegal or corrupt, it certainly borders on being unethical, inappropriate and reeks of conflict of interest. It saddens me that several responsible, intelligent, honest and ethical members of the Council remain silent about this situation and are reluctant to speak out for fear of being labeled racist and targeted by Cancel Culture.

As for the $97M Bond Referendums — Fayetteville does not need this kind of tax burden, nor does it need what they promise the money will provide. Past councils have adequately provided services and infrastructure improvements without increasing the ad valorem tax rate on citizens. Need proof?

$60 Million for Public Safety: Really? Previous city councils failed twice in saving taxpayers money and improving public safety when they failed to cooperate with Cumberland County officials on a partnership agreement to build a Joint 911 Call Center. Why? Ignorance, laziness, greed and it didn't fit into their political agendas.

Under previous Councils with competent leadership, Fayetteville built four new fire stations and financed a fifth station without raising taxes or floating general obligation bonds. No one argues the need for additional fire stations and upgrades to outdated and non-ADA-compliant fire stations. However, other options include putting proposed fire stations up as collateral while the city continues to cash-fund-as-they-go and receive a decent finance rate based on market trends.

These options should not require a bond referendum to raise our property taxes for decades. Mayor Colvin, Charleston and council members have conveniently ignored these options or have failed to research them. Again, this demonstrates they are irresponsible stewards of taxpayers' money. Here's more proof:

$12 Million Housing Bond: Vote No! This is Socialism at its worst. Ad valorem taxpayer money should not be used to help others get housing. Socialism is when you tax everyone's personal property and then redistribute that money to a small and select group of people from which others cannot benefit. Sound familiar? Our City Council and staff want to spend 12 million dollars on home-ownership programs and Fayetteville's critical housing needs when neither can define, qualify or quantify the need. This clearly illustrates the definition of insanity and stupidity.

$25 Million Public Infrastructure: Vote No! Here is another example of poor leadership. Mayor Colvin and council members are asking residents to vote blindly on significant financial obligations before they have any insight or knowledge about how the money will be spent. And, who will be making the decisions? Fayetteville residents must be cautious. If this referendum is allowed to pass, it will tax city residents for 20 years and have money flowing into the city's coffers before any final list of the prioritized projects are determined.

Currently, the city only funds sidewalks along major NCDOT throughways. It receives matching funds for a portion of the NCDOT-approved road improvement plan. At best, we should be aware of planned projects before we ask citizens to vote to increase their taxes. And, what about stormwater? There has been no mention of this significant city need.

The City Council and staff will have less than two months to educate the Fayetteville electorate on the projects they plan to pursue with the proposed $12 and $25 million. We have not seen any referendum details to date, so we suggest you vote against ALL the purposed bond referendums on the November ballot.
Previous councils financed and built the Keith Bates swimming pool at College Lakes Recreation Center, the Westover Recreation swimming pool, and the Lake Rim Park swimming pool. All without a tax increase or floating bond referenda to increase everyone's real property taxes across Fayetteville.

The devil is in the details. During City Council's Aug. 8 meeting, it was disclosed that borrowing $97 million at 4.5% interest would add almost another $46 million to the total price tag, for an all-in cost of about $143 million over 20 years. Since then, the interest rate has increased and is projected to grow more before Fayetteville can borrow the money. That means the tax increase and borrowing cost to Fayetteville property owners will rise above what the City Council and staff say.

The way I see it, the City of Fayetteville has a double-barreled opportunity to get the community on the right track, and both come Nov. 8.
Vote No! on the $97 million referendum and Vote Yes! for the Vote for 6 referendum. This will restructure the voting districts and provide ALL citizens a much larger voice in choosing its leadership. Under this voting program, every voter gets six choices rather than the two we receive now.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Raynard Washington, the Mecklenburg County health director, takes umbrage when he hears people say the monkeypox vaccine clinic staged at the Charlotte Pride celebration last month fell short of expectations.

In mid-August, Mecklenburg Public Health worked with the state Department of Health and Human Services to administer the Jynneos vaccine at the Pride events through a pilot program offered by the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The pilot program had set aside 50,000 doses of the vaccine from the Strategic National Stockpile, vials that had been reserved to fight potential smallpox outbreaks. Monkeypox is related closely enough to smallpox that the vaccine can be used to prevent either disease, even though monkeypox is a much milder infection that rarely causes death.

Mecklenburg County received enough vaccine to inoculate 2,000 people from monkeypox that weekend. The county health department had more supply than takers at the two-day event.

Nonetheless, Washington chooses to put a different spin on the large-scale vaccine event than some in the national media.

“I definitely would not call vaccinating 540 people not a success,” Washington said during a phone interview with NC Health News. “That pilot that we did with the CDC and the feds was literally organized the week of.”

A little more than a week before, the Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization for Jynneos, changing how the vaccine could be administered. Before then, the vaccine was administered subcutaneously, in the layer of tissue between the skin and the muscle below, in two doses four weeks apart.

The Mecklenburg County health department had not planned to do a large-scale event because supply was limited before the FDA decision on Aug. 9. That allowed administration of the vaccine intradermally, just under the skin, similar to how tuberculosis tests are given. Changing the administration method stretches the supply because only one-fifth of a five-milliliter vial is required per dose, meaning vaccine administrators could get five shots from a vial instead of one.

With a couple thousand vials en route, Mecklenburg, which had the highest number of cases at the time, did a lot of scrambling days before the Pride events.

“So in context, certainly we would consider it a success that we were able to mobilize so quickly, and to get so many people engaged,” Washington said. “We have been since the beginning of our response activities, sort of managing both a broader outreach campaign and a very targeted campaign, specifically at the Black and brown community to assure that access was available.

“We noticed very early on that there was a divergent in our case demographics and our vaccine demographics, where we were seeing more individuals of color with cases and fewer, a lower proportion that were getting the vaccine.”

The health department worked with party promoters, nightclubs and an inclusive church to get the word out and provide monkeypox vaccination opportunities during the Pride celebrations.

In a trend that mirrors what has happened elsewhere across the South, the larger events have not drawn as many vaccine-takers as Jynneos vials allotted to the events. Some attribute it to people not wanting to interrupt the party. Others question whether people are vaccine weary because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some say, such public settings turn people off. Public health advocates have shifted the vaccine strategy to smaller, more targeted events.

“We started working with the party promoters several weeks before Pride and actually and even participated in Black Pride — Charlotte has a separate Black Pride, which a lot of people don’t know about — and so we started working closely with them,” Washington said. ”Even in one weekend where at just a couple of parties, we were able to vaccinate 200 people, and you know the majority of them are Black, and so we had been working the ground prior to Pride, and Pride got a lot of national attention.

“Our campaign efforts have been going on before and after that, vaccinating individuals,” he said.

Engaging the community
Monkeypox cases in North Carolina and across the country have largely been confined to men who have sex with men, or MSM.

As of Sept. 15, 446 cases of monkeypox had been reported in North Carolina, according to DHHS. Ninety-eight percent of the cases were in men. Ten women have contracted the virus, according to the dashboard.

So far, North Carolina has vaccinated at least 16,042 people to protect them against monkeypox. The shots are available to anyone older than 18 who has had close contact with someone infected with the virus within two weeks.

The shots also are recommended for people who have had sexual contact within the past 90 days with gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men or transgender individuals. People who were diagnosed with syphilis in the past 90 days or people with HIV or taking medications to prevent HIV also are encouraged to get a vaccine.

In North Carolina, where nearly 70 percent of the cases have been among the Black population, they represent only 27 percent of the people who have been vaccinated. Kody Kinsley, DHHS secretary, highlighted that a week and a half ago when he went to N.C. Central University, an HBCU in Durham, and got a vaccine to highlight partnerships that DHHS wants to continue to build with HBCUs.

At a White House briefing on Sept. 7, Demetre Daskalakis, deputy coordinator of the White House Monkeypox Response team, said building partnerships at the ground level with county health departments and community organizers would be key to virus containment efforts.

“It’s not about just the vaccine allocation,” Daskalakis told reporters, “It’s about that intense community engagement that happens on the ground because, ultimately, public health is a local event. And so, giving the tools that people need to be able to sort of reach health goals is what we’ve been doing. And the support of organizations that serve Black and brown people have been pivotal in really turning the tide in what I think you’re going to see, the new vaccine numbers emerging over the next few weeks.”

Erika Samoff, who heads up HIV/ STD surveillance for the state’s Division of Public Health, said the plan is to recruit and deploy more community health workers to help attack the spread of monkeypox.

“Which I think is a really smart way to spend public health funds, to employ people who are coming from the populations that are sometimes most affected by disease,” she said. “I think that’s something new that we haven’t had before.”

Rebby Kern, director of education policy at Equality North Carolina, agrees that a successful campaign against monkeypox will require open lines of communication between state leaders and a collaboration of LGBT advocates. They have set up an educational site at poxvirusnc.org. They’ve had two virtual town halls since the first case was reported in North Carolina on June 23 and have plans for a listening session on Sept. 29.

The response thus far
David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at UNC Health, spoke recently with NC Health News about the federal response to monkeypox compared to its response to COVID-19. Public health advocates complained in May, June and July that the demand for vaccine vials outpaced the supply.
“We’ve all become armchair epidemiologists and procurement specialists,” Wohl said. “I do think that there were problems with the monkeypox response but they are at a different level of magnitude compared to what happened with COVID-19 during the previous administration.

“These are two very different outbreaks. These are two very different fumbles, if you will. So while the current administration was slow off the block in things like procuring vaccine and getting therapeutics out there, to their credit, testing was never a problem as far as capacity.”

There was no scramble to get reagents and stand up testing sites. Health care workers were not waiting for personal protective equipment.
“There was a cogent message,” Wohl said. “You might not have always agreed with the message, but one part of government wasn’t saying one thing, another part saying another thing, and there wasn’t denial, saying, ‘Oh this is nothing. It’s going to go away.’ It’s a completely different response and we’ve all become very cynical and jaded.

Nonetheless, some things frustrated Wohl.

“But it is a tenth or a hundredth of the incredible mismanagement that we saw during COVID-19, for months on end, that continues to reverberate,” Wohl said. “Those miscues and misinformation from our own government continue to reverberate in the fact that people don’t want to do things like wear masks, not all the time, but some of the time, or take a vaccine.”

Wohl treats people with monkeypox and has not gotten a vaccine himself.

“I don’t think I need to be vaccinated against monkeypox because of my occupation because I’m careful,” Wohl said. “I don’t think that I’m going to catch it. I think the PPE we have, the protective gear, does protect us. So I’m not really feeling that I’m at risk sufficiently to take a vaccine.”

It’s too soon to know whether the federal government and state will be broadening the scope of who needs a vaccine in the months and years ahead. Will pediatricians be giving vaccines once supply is readily available?

“I think it depends,” Wohl responded. “You don’t want to do this unless there’s some indication that there’s a need. If we start seeing this in wrestlers and field hockey players and we’re seeing this in kids, then we might think about who else should we give this to. But at this point, while we do not have all the vaccine that we want, I think we should focus on those most at risk.

”Just here in North Carolina, in the last few days, the criteria for getting vaccinated has basically expanded to if you’re a man who has sex with men and I would hopefully put into that, also I would add if you’re a transgender woman who has sex with men, we should consider vaccinating you. I think sex workers of any type should get vaccinated,” Wohl added. “I think if we can start expanding to the people who really are at greatest risk, then if we start seeing any indications that we should be expanding this more broadly, then we should do it.”

At this point, Washington and his Mecklenburg public health team and their community partners are focusing sharply on the parties, nightclubs and events where they know they might find people at risk of getting monkeypox but less likely to seek out a vaccine on their own.

“Our general philosophy is we’ve got to meet people where they are here and do so in a way that honors and respects their identity and culture so we’ve been working to do that and make sure we bring vaccine into the community and let the community help us drive our response,” Washington said. “I think so far we’re making good progress. I look forward to putting this outbreak behind us.”

This article first appeared on North Carolina Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.