The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be aware of a phone scam.

The scammers are identifying themselves as employees of the Sheriff's Office and telling whoever answers the phone that they have pending charges for missing jury duty, the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

The caller tells the person on the phone there is a warrant for his or her arrest. To avoid being arrested, the caller says the person needs to provide personal information and Green Dot prepaid debit cards or gift cards to the caller, the release said.

“Law enforcement will never demand money to avoid an arrest,’’ the release said.

In previous versions of the scam, callers were asking people to purchase gift cards to pay their bonds. The person was asked to send a picture of the gift card with the code on the back to avoid being arrested, the release said.

Now the scammers are asking people to text a picture of their identification card, the release said. Once the scammer receives the picture, the scammer sends a barcode. The barcode allows money to be loaded instantly onto the scammer's prepaid gift card, the release said.

“This new method does not require a picture of a gift card, which previously was an indicator alerting you of the scam,’’ the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office warns residents against sending pictures of their identification to people, saying it could lead to identity theft.

Anyone who has information about this scam or who has been a victim should contact Sgt. D. Frankart at 910-677-5565 or Fayetteville / Cumberland County CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

A bill that would require people convicted of domestic violence offenses to provide their DNA to the state passed out of a state Senate committee Wednesday morning.

However, the bill differs from a version of House Bill 674 that passed with near unanimity out of that chamber, which would have required DNA collection upon being charged with assault on a female, a misdemeanor charge often associated with domestic violence.

The change could unnecessarily leave perpetrators of crimes long ago unidentified in communities throughout the state, those in favor of an arrest standard for DNA collection say.

“Research has clearly shown that suspects arrested for domestic violence often cross over and commit other serious offenses, including rape,” said John Somerindyke, a former Fayetteville Police Department lieutenant who led the department’s cold-case special victims unit.

“If this bill passes, cases will slip through the cracks. Violent criminals, including rapists, will continue to prey on victims.”

The revised legislation
Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson, said the goal of the revised bill is to capture the DNA of those who commit domestic violence and assault on a child under age 12.

Passing a requirement to collect DNA upon arrest “could put added strain on law enforcement” to collect the DNA and pay for testing without providing the resources to do so, while absent evidence that someone who is charged but not convicted of domestic violence is more likely to commit a sex offense, Britt said.

Britt’s revision of the bill drew applause from the American Civil Liberties Union.

“We have serious privacy concerns with the expansion of mandatory government DNA collection, especially from people who have been arrested and are presumed innocent,” an ACLU spokesperson told Carolina Public Press on Wednesday.

“The amendments to limit the expanded DNA collection to individuals who have been convicted of these charges is a significant improvement; however, we urge further discussion about the privacy issues related to government DNA databases.”

Bill author Rep. Billy Richardson, R-Cumberland, said with the new version of the legislation, law enforcement can seek DNA under what’s called a nontestimonial identification order, and he expects the language of the bill to be amended to reflect this.

However, current state rules on nontestimonial DNA collection say only prosecutors can request the DNA, not law enforcement.

There are more barriers to using a noncustodial identification order, said Jason Arnold, chief assistant district attorney in Western North Carolina’s 43rd Prosecutorial District.

“I haven’t needed to do one in about 10 years,” Arnold said. “We do search warrants every day, and because there is a lot of overlap, we typically use those rather than seek noncustodial orders.”

Wouldn’t have helped in dismissed cases
When Somerindyke led the Fayetteville Police Department’s cold-case sexual assault unit, he examined the criminal histories of 28 cold-case suspects of 51 sexual assaults. Of those, 13 DNA-confirmed suspects had prior domestic violence arrests.

Among those cold cases was an assault against a woman named Linda. Nearly 30 years ago, she was taken from her job cleaning offices in Fayetteville by three men who assaulted her and left her for dead in the woods of nearby Harnett County. Her assault was known by the spray-painted phrase on the hood of her white Toyota: “3 Horsemen.”

The state found a match to the DNA in her rape kit after Roy Junior Proctor submitted to DNA collection as a condition of his probation for an unrelated conviction — however, he had been arrested earlier in 2013 for assault on a female.

Proctor wasn’t connected with Linda’s assault then because state law doesn’t require collecting DNA for the 2013 arrest. Ultimately, his charge in that case was dismissed. He currently is awaiting trial in the Cumberland Detention Center for kidnapping, first-degree rape, first-degree attempted murder and other charges related to Linda’s attack.

If the current version of the legislation now before the Senate were in place back in 2013, it’s entirely possible that a DNA match for Linda’s case would not have been detected then, either.

“I can’t believe law enforcement or prosecutors would be on board with this,” Somerindyke said. “There are already dozens of criminal offenses on the books which require DNA collection upon arrest.”

Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said the Conference of District Attorneys favored the bill in its original form.

“We still support the bill (of collecting DNA) upon conviction,” West said, although an arrest standard is preferred.

“The victim (of domestic violence) in many cases is reluctant to go forward, and so, an assault on a female charge is going to be dismissed probably more often in other crimes of violence. Therefore, I think it’s important that (DNA should be collected) upon arrest and not just upon conviction, particularly on that charge.”

State law currently does not require DNA collection for arrest for or conviction of assault on a female, assault of a child under 12 or violating a domestic violence order of protection.

“What we’re doing is we’re moving the needle where statistically it has been shown to relate to people who are committing crimes of sexual assault,” Britt said.

Of course, not everyone who commits domestic violence will go on to commit sexual assaults, West said. “There is a correlation, in some cases and in some relationships, of an escalation of violence to include sexual assault.”

North Carolina already collects DNA upon arrest for more than a dozen other crimes, including murder, various maiming offenses, felony assaults and many other felonies. The current state law also says the state must destroy the DNA if the accused is acquitted, if the charges have been dismissed or if there’s no conviction or active prosecution.

Attorney General Josh Stein’s office said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, “The Senate’s version of the bill is an improvement to our current DNA collection laws by adding the DNA of thousands of people convicted of certain crimes to our database.

“That said, we’d like to continue working to strengthen protections against sexual assault even further by supporting proposals to collect DNA upon arrest for these crimes. Doing so will make our communities safer.”

Deanne Gerdes, executive director for Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, was far blunter.

“If, in fact, it passes with these changes, legislators totally missed the point on why this is needed and once again have told women in our state they just are not very important,” Gerdes said.

“North Carolina had a chance to change all of this. Instead, they continue to let rapists roam among us.”

Britt said the state Senate could vote on the amended bill as early as Thursday. If it passes, the bill would have to return to the state House for a concurrence vote.

Fayetteville’s city manager and city attorney will get pay raises after job performance evaluations by the City Council.

After evaluations discussed in closed session on Wednesday night, the council retained City Manager Doug Hewett and City Attorney Karen McDonald.
The closed session followed a meeting that included an agenda briefing for Monday’s regular council meeting at City Hall.
Hewett received a 2% pay increase while McDonald got a 3% increase, according to a city official.

“I appreciate council's feedback on our efforts and their continued support in moving Fayetteville forward,” Hewett said in an email.

“The coming months will prove significant for our city’s progress as several key projects will be completed,” he said. “And we will be moving forward the proposed $97 million bond referendum. I am excited about the direction in which we are collectively headed as a city and the impact that will have for our residents.”

During the agenda briefing, the council heard presentations on three zoning requests by Gerald Newton, director of development services, and Craig Harmon, a senior planner for the city.

Presentations on these three requests will be given again Monday evening. Monday’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

A public hearing is scheduled on each request.

The first request is for rezoning 16½ acres for a grocery store and outparcels in the Gates Four community.

The second is for 5 acres and infrastructure on property between Kings Grant and Liberty Hills, according to Newton. Currently, that property is designated for stormwater management.

The third annexation request is for about 84 acres that would go from residential to a heavy industrial zoning.

That property is on North Plymouth Street where the old Soffe textile plant was in an area zoned for industry.

“They want to turn the area into an industrial park,” said Newton.

Also Monday, code enforcement supervisor Dereke Planter will discuss four properties that the city wants to demolish because the properties have been neglected. The properties are at 862 W. Orange St., 912 Ramsey St., 837 Varsity Drive and 308 Preston Ave.

Hewett said another significant item on Monday’s agenda is a referendum on bond packages that would authorize $60 million for public safety improvement; $25 million for street, sidewalk and connectivity improvements; and $12 million for housing projects.

Fayetteville’s public utility is considering changes to its rate structure to encourage conservation of electricity as well as economic development.

The Fayetteville Public Works Commission met Wednesday to discuss proposed electric rate options that would take effect after 2024.

“We conduct biennial reviews of our electric and our water system,” said Elaina Ball, the utility’s CEO and general manager, who presented staff recommendations on electric rates to the commission.

Over the past several months, Ball said, the utility’s staff has been reviewing electricity costs. On Wednesday, she presented the recommendations of that review to the commission, which include no change in electric rates at this time.

No action was taken by the board after the presentation, but a public hearing on the proposed new electric rates was set for July 13.
Ball said the proposed rate changes will be discussed further at upcoming PWC meetings.

“The changes that we’re recommending – the new additions and updates to our tariffs – are really in support of three of our key areas in our strategic plan,” she said. “No. 1 is conservation. You’ve heard me talk and the team talk – probably exhaustively – about the single-largest tool in our tool bag to help control electric costs. … So we have some changes specifically aligned to conservation and the ability to control demand.”

One proposed initiative would be a rate tied to economic development designed to attract new businesses and help existing ones expand. The rate would be offered beginning this September.

Other updated rates would address periods of higher and periods when PWC pays the highest amount for electricity from Duke Energy.
A solar buyback rate would be applicable to customers who install rooftop solar panels. This structure, which has required two meters in the past, would require only one in the future.

The solar panels could power a customer’s home or business, said Carolyn Justice-Hinson, spokeswoman for PWC.

“The provision in this rate is that customers can do this but the credits they receive can never exceed their basic facility charge,” Justice-Hinson said. “It does allow them to have a model that’s more popular for those who want solar and how they get credit for rooftop solar.”

The staff also is proposing a whole-home rate option intended to help customers who charge electric vehicles at home.

“There’s a concern that electric vehicles can have an impact on the electric grid,” Justice-Hinson explained. “If they charge (vehicles) during off hours, it will help.

The basic facility charge would be about $10 higher than the regular electric customer’s.”
Customers paying the whole-home rate would use electricity mostly during what PWC is calling a super off-peak period – between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

During those hours, Justice-Hinson said, the cost is a little over 4 cents per kilowatt hour. The cost during peak hours is about 13.2 cents and during off-peak hours, 8.4 cents.
The whole-home rate would go into effect in February 2023.

CEO Ball said PWC customers have requested many of the changes.

“We’re really trying to make our tariffs more friendly and listen to our customers and make the changes accordingly,” she said.
Other proposed changes to the PWC rate structure include fee reductions for connections, reconnections and meter testing and provisions on cross connections and water shortages.

As recommended, the initial connection fee would drop from $22 to $20; the initial connection fee after hours would decrease from $65 to $20; the disconnection attempt fee would drop from $22 to $20; the meter testing fee for electricity would go from $50 to $25; and the meter testing fee for water would fall from $85 to $40.

While the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners was being briefed by county staff on the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory for GenX, the company responsible for discharging the chemical pollutant disputes the findings.

The EPA last week dramatically changed the minimum levels of GenX in drinking water from 140 parts per trillion (ppt) to 10 parts per trillion. The new minimum replaces the state’s provisional safe drinking water goal for GenX established in 2018.

Assistant County Manager Sally Shutt presented the latest EPA findings to the board during Monday night’s regularly scheduled meeting. Only four of the seven members attended: Chairman Glenn Adams, Vice Chairwoman Toni Stewart and Commissioners Jeannette Council and Charles Evans.
GenX is one of the chemicals used at the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant that has leached into groundwater and the Cape Fear River and contaminated private drinking water wells, especially in the Gray’s Creek community in Cumberland County. The Chemours plant is located on the Cumberland and Bladen County line.

The board has established providing safe drinking water for the community as one of its stated priorities in the recently adopted fiscal 2023 budget.
Shutt told the commissioners the EPA final health advisory for GenX affects a current consent order that requires Chemours to provide whole house filtration or connection to public water for any private drinking well that tests above the new health advisory.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality already directed Chemours to revise its drinking water compliance requirements by taking into account the 10 ppt for GenX. According to the state, the newly released health advisory for GenX levels will make about 1,700 more private wells eligible for whole house filtration systems.

Contacted Monday for a response to the new requirements, Cassie Olszewski, the Chemours media relations and financial communications manager, referred to a Chemours statement released within hours of the EPA announcement.

“At Chemours, we support government regulation based on the best available science. While the EPA claims it followed the best available science in its nationwide health advisory on HFPO-Dimer Acid (“HFPO-DA"), that is not the case,” the release states.

It further states, “Nationally recognized toxicologists and other leading scientific experts across a range of disciplines have evaluated the EPA’s underlying analysis and concluded that it is fundamentally flawed.”

GenX is the trade name for HFPO-DA and is used, along with its ammonium salt, as a polymerization aid in the manufacturing of “high-performance fluoropolymers” used in a variety of products, from cooking pan coatings to electrical wire insulation. DuPont previously marketed the fluoropolymers as Teflon.
According to the release, Chemours currently uses what it calls state-of-the-art technologies at its sites to abate emissions and remediate previous pollutant releases.

“We are evaluating our next steps, including potential legal action, to address the EPA’s scientifically unsound action,” the release states.

The concern of GenX contamination of private water wells in area communities is prevalent among county leaders and staff. Well water contamination ranged 10 miles south and 25 miles north of the plant, according to Shutt.

“It’s deplorable,” said Adams.

“In 2017 it was 140 (ppt), now it's down to 10. We need to look at the entire county,” Adams said.

“We have PFAS in PWC water at higher concentrations,” he said.

The EPA also listed interim health advisory levels for several other PFAS chemicals: PFOA at .004 ppt and PFOS at .02 ppt. A third chemical, PFBS, did not have significant concentrations in samples taken to date in North Carolina.

During two rezoning cases involving small lot properties near Gray's Creek, Evans voted against the rezoning because those properties were not connected to water lines and instead relied on well water. Asked why he voted against the rezoning requests, he replied, “GenX.”
The state DEQ plans to hold community information meetings in July. The date has not been determined. Both the DEQ website and the Cumberland County government website will announce the dates for the information session.

A Fayetteville man faces trafficking charges after drugs were found in a stolen vehicle in his possession, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

On June 16, the Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit responded to the 2600 block of Belhaven Road for a stolen motor vehicle, a release said. Deputies found 29-year-old J’Qwan Devon Robinson inside the vehicle, the release said.

Robinson was processed on outstanding warrants from the Hope Mills Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office, the release said.

Sheriff’s detectives charged Robinson with larceny of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods. He was held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $10,000 secure bond, the release said.

Two plastic bags containing 37.33 grams of a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine and two digital scales were found in the stolen vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said.

On June 17, narcotic agents charged Robinson with trafficking methamphetamine by possession, trafficking in methamphetamine by manufacture and maintaining a vehicle, the release said.

Robinson received a $100,000 secure bond. His first appearance was at the Cumberland County Detention Center on Monday.

The Fayetteville City Council on Wednesday will evaluate City Manager Doug Hewett and City Attorney Karen McDonald during a special meeting.

The meeting will follow the agenda briefing that is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The purpose of the meeting, according to a release from the city, is to discuss personnel matters regarding an evaluation of Hewett and McDonald.

The meeting will be conducted in closed session, the release said.

Hewett has served as city manager since April 2016. Prior to that he was interim permitting and inspections director for Fayetteville. He has nearly 20 years of local government experience in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida, the city said.

Hewett could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon.

Hewett just delivered a recommended $249.17 million budget for fiscal 2022-23 that the City Council approved unanimously on June 14. The budget keeps the property tax rate at 49.95 cents per $100 valuation, and the residential solid waste fee stays at $225 for a single-family residential unit. Also, there are no changes to the stormwater fee of $6 per month.

"There's a list of things he has done," Mayor Mitch Colvin said Tuesday. "We'll get into that tomorrow."

A former public information officer for Halifax County and the city of Wilmington, Hewett first came to Fayetteville in May 2004 as management services director. That role, the city said on its website, focused on strategic planning and public relations for the city.
Hewett was promoted to assistant city manager in April 2007, a position he held until January 2012. That was when he became a city manager in Florida.

McDonald has served as Fayetteville’s city attorney since August 2002. She grew up in Fayetteville and graduated from Pine Forest High School.

She is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to the City Council and city employees regarding matters that arise during the course and scope of their employment, the website states.

"McDonald is a member of several legal and civic organizations and is licensed to practice law in the states of North Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas," the city said.

She was the city’s first assistant city attorney. At that time, her duties included the enforcement of city code violations.

From 1998 to 2000, McDonald worked as a staff attorney for the Cumberland County Attorney’s Office. Following a two-year stay in Little Rock, Arkansas, she returned to Fayetteville, where she was appointed city attorney by the City Council.

Summer made a splash in Fayetteville on Tuesday morning when the city’s newest splash pad opened with a ribbon-cutting.
The splash pad is outside Lake Rim Recreation Center at 1455 Hoke Loop Road. City Council members joined members of the Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear and Fayetteville- Cumberland Parks & Recreation summer camp participants to cut the ribbon, according to a city
news release.

The Kiwanis Club donated $20,000 to build the splash pad, which is zero-depth entry and uses recycled water, the news release said. This is one of 12 public splash pads throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Access is free. Hours and contact information are posted online. The splash pad is one of several recreation additions in west Fayetteville, the news release said. About four miles from the pad, the Bill Crisp Senior Center is under construction beside
Lake Rim. It is scheduled to open later this summer.

Other recreation projects underway in the city include the expansion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, a new tennis center at Mazarick Park, and Mable C. Smith Park, according to the release.

The landscape of what is now Fort Bragg looked very different just over 100 years ago when the War Department purchased it.

It was once a thriving community of Highland Scot immigrants.

A glimpse of this past remains at Long Street Presbyterian Church, the oldest standing structure on Fort Bragg, constructed as a place of worship for this long-ago community in 1847.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in the adjacent cemetery, the oldest readable marker dates to 1773.

The cemetery comprises 232 known graves.

When the War Department purchased the land, some six acres, the church, the cemetery and the adjacent school in 1923, the community was granted a handshake agreement.
This agreement granted the heritage families the ability to maintain their connection with the landscape and the ancestors laid to rest on the grounds.

The War Department committed to not moving any of the existing burials and assumed the stewardship for these cemeteries.
The last internment, dated 1932, reflects the War Department’s handshake agreement in continuing to allow heritage families access to the church and cemetery.

According to Fort Bragg Cultural Resources Management Program Archaeologist and Curator Linda Carnes-McNaughton, McFadyen family descendants held annual gatherings at the church during the mid-1950s to 1960s, in the 1970s to 1980s other heritage families joined in the reunions.

In 1995 the Fort Bragg CRMP office was created. With the addition of the program, Fort Bragg was able to allow families access to the grounds for worship and support the event. Since 1995 the Garrison Chaplain’s office has provided additional support for the family reunions, and CRMP has provided access to the church grounds and helped coordinate the gatherings.

The modern iteration, with a two-year pandemic hiatus, sees attendance of upwards of 120 heritage family members, soldiers and members of the public.
Each summer the families gather and worship in the same pews as their ancestors alongside any who choose to come and join them.

Military members and the public are invited to participate in this year's special worship service and a picnic lunch on the church grounds.
All faiths are welcome, and participants are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share for the picnic.
Carnes-McNaughton feels there is much to gain for members of the public choosing to attend.

“They gain a greater appreciation of the depth and longevity of this landscape and its cultural heritage, and an understanding of the diversity of early settlers, the importance of religion in their lives in good times and bad times and how churches of this type served entire communities as cultural hearths, uniting families past and present,” Carnes-McNaughton said.
Over the years Carnes-McNaughton has attended and provided support for many reunions. She has observed many special moments.

“One of my favorite moments came when I witnessed (along with the congregants attending) the baptism of a McDiarmid descendant, a 5-month old boy," Carnes-McNaughton recounted.

"Watching that child's face as Reverend Clark Remsburg touched his forehead with cool water, and declared him to us all to accept into the fold, walking him up and down each aisle singing Jesus Loves Me, and everyone standing to welcome this child, was so moving and meaningful, especially as I glanced out the open window into the graveyard and spotted his ancestor Rev. Angus McDiarmid's marker, knowing that he too was witnessing this event and the newest generation of McDiarmid of the Sandhills."

The descendant congregation of the Long Street Presbyterian Church, the Fort Bragg CRMP and Fort Bragg’s Garrison Religious Support Office will host their annual reunion in celebration of the historic Argyle community on Sunday, June 26 at 11 a.m.

The church has no electricity or climate controls, so those in attendance should dress appropriately for warm weather conditions. Parking is available near the church with assistance from the Chaplain’s Office for elderly and physically challenged patrons. Patrons entering Fort Bragg through an access control point should review installation access procedures prior to arrival to avoid delays.

This year’s reunion will feature some historical highlights of early settlement in the region and Carnes-McNaughton will have an 1826 Gaelic Bible, on hand.

The bible was donated to the church by Donald McDonald of Edinburgh. McDonald donated a Gaelic bible to every church who once had Gaelic language services.

The bible is housed at the Fort Bragg CRMP Artifact Curation Facility for permanent care and will be at the event in a protective case to share with the attendees.

For more information, contact the Fort Bragg CRMP at 910-396-6680.

People walk many animals, including cats, dogs, goats, lizards, pigs and even chickens. I often see a home-based video workout and the family pet upstaging the presenter in the background or coming up to be a part of the production. Exercising with dogs is this article’s primary focus, but did you know there is goat yoga? A popular trend across the nation, goat yoga is supposed to have originated on a farm in Oregon, where it is estimated that hundreds of people are on the waitlist to participate. People that live in large cities with little contact with nature seek out retreats to spend time in a leisurely and therapeutic fashion on beautiful farms to get away and relax from daily life. A yoga instructor leads the class with an array of goats that not only add to the ambiance but they may also decide to take playful jumps and be a part of the overall goat yoga experience.

The most accessible companions for exercise are dogs. Dogs like to get out and walk, run and play, and what better way to enjoy an activity than with your best friend. Their tails start wagging the moment you get the leash out or put on your shoes! Our connection to pets continues to grow. Let’s face it; they are always glad to see you and listen when you talk to them.

Pets love us unconditionally and have such a positive influence on our lives, and one of the benefits can be physical fitness. People who walk their dogs spend at least 22% of their time walking and jogging with their pets compared to those who do not walk or have a dog.

The daily demands pets require from us include all the planes of motion and movement patterns such as bending, squatting, lifting and turning. Our fur babies need about 30 to 60 minutes of exercise daily, which is the same as their human counterparts. It has been reported that people with pets heal faster from joint replacements due to pet activity. Exercise for the pet and owner depends on the pet’s age, breed and health conditions as well as your own.

Puppies are way more energetic, and as they grow, short bursts of exercise may be more productive than an activity that requires more time. Creative ways to work out with your pet indoors include running up and down the stairs, playing indoor fetch, hiding and seeking and tug of war. Hide and seek with treats is a game that can be fun and beneficial as you squat down or ease into smaller spaces. Fetch is a game that always appeals to dogs giving you a great arm workout. Outdoor exercises include throwing a frisbee, another excellent arm and shoulder workout. Jogging with your dog is ideal, but remember that starting with long distances may not be beneficial until your fur baby is acclimated to the distance. Take your dog swimming, biking, hiking, camping at a dog park, walking or jogging. Always be cognizant of the safety of your pet with outside activities, and be aware of pet etiquette. For safety reasons, carry a water bottle and a doggy bag for cleanups. Read rules about the beach and regulations for pet parks, and keep your pet on a leash. Avoid exercising with your dog in excessive heat, and know that pavement can burn paws. Exercising with your pet is therapeutic!

Live and love life and enjoy exercising with your pet.

Tales of courage and bravery among resistance groups and partisans fighting against the Nazis will be on display across two exhibits at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum beginning next month.
The exhibits tell the stories of the Chetniks in Operation Halyard and the Jewish resistance force, the Bielski partisan group.

“It fits our mission of being an Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Special Operation soldiers work with local and indigenous populations to often help win the hearts and minds of the people,” Museum Director Jim Bartlinski told Up & Coming Weekly.

When entering the museum, you will first see several panels set up in the lobby.

The panels will tell the story of how a three-person Office of Strategic Services team, Serbian partisans known as “Chetniks,” and the 1st Air Crew Rescue Unit of the U.S. 15th Air Force airlifted more than 500 U.S. airmen out of Serbia.

This exhibit, Operation HALYARD: The Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II, is on loan from the Halyard Mission Foundation.

“They did not lose one person or one plane, so they were able to do this under the Nazi’s noses,” Bartlinski said. “It was one of those untold stories that just came to light in the last ten years because it was kept top secret because of what was going on between the former Soviet Union, Serbia and America. But it was finally declassified.”

Weapons, equipment and three videos telling the stories of the three OSS men will also be on display.

As visitors move into ASOM’s temporary gallery, Courage and Compassion: The Legacy of the Bielski Brothers will be displayed. This exhibit tells the story of the three Bielski brothers who ran a partisan group out of the forests in Belorussia. The brothers helped rescue and keep more than 1,200 Jews alive in those forests for more than two years. More than 70% were women, elderly persons and children who otherwise would have perished under Nazi occupation.

While keeping people safe, the group also helped in several operational missions against the Nazis. They disabled German trains, blew up rail beds, destroyed bridges and facilitated escapes from Jewish ghettos.

“The Bielski exhibit will be coming with a number of artifacts from the Florida Holocaust Museum — items used in the camps, items worn by the Bielski brothers and some video components as well,” Bartlinski said.“We will also be supplementing the exhibit with items from our own collection like weapons and other types of materials that partisans would have used.”

Several programming events surrounding the two exhibits are currently being worked out and scheduled at the museum.

“I hope they [visitors] get inspired by both stories and get an appreciation for the difficulties that people, past and present, go through to fight for their freedoms and independence against oppressive governments and militaries,” Bartilinski said.

The two exhibits will be on display from July 4 through November 13. Admission to ASOM is free, but donations are highly suggested.

Fayetteville has a new budget for fiscal year 2023.

The City Council unanimously approved the budget Monday night, June 13, forging ahead with little disagreement over Fayetteville’s financial planning for the next year.

The property tax rate will stay the same at 49.95 cents per $100 of property valuation.

The city’s solid waste fee will remain at an annual rate of $225 per single-family residential unit.

City officials previously considered increasing the trash fee several months ago.

The final value of the approved budget is more than $249 million, a slight increase from the slightly more than $248 million initial proposal introduced to council members last month.
Public comments on city vision

While no one spoke at the public hearing on the budget ahead of the council vote, speakers at Monday’s general public comment period of the council meeting addressed the vision of city government, urging the council to better address systemic racism and inequality in Fayetteville.

Several speakers addressed gun violence and police brutality, particularly an incident in January when Jeffrey Hash, an off-duty Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy, shot and killed Jason Walker, an unarmed Black man.
The N.C. Conference of District Attorneys decided in April not to press charges against Hash, arguing that the incident was a case of self-defense under North Carolina law.

“This council should be championing economic justice, racial justice, equity and health care and independent oversight of the Fayetteville Police Department,” said Shaun McMillan, co-founder of Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Task Force, during the public hearing.

“The majority of you should be forging ahead on policy that boldly and unapologetically dismantles the systemic faults that perpetuate inequality in your city. We need accountability, transparency, justice, policy and change.”

Changes to budget

After the budget was presented in late May, the City Council met three times to discuss and make alterations.

The city added $865,000 to the general fund, appropriated from various other parts of the budget.

The added money will increase funding for at-risk youth programs, workforce initiatives, community beautification programs and resurfacing of the walking trail at Lake Rim Park.

It will also add about $500,000 in increased payment to temporary, seasonal workers, increasing their minimum wage to $15 an hour.
While there were some initial disagreements about this change, the council ultimately approved it unanimously.

Voted Fayetteville and Fort Bragg's "Best Band" six years in a row, Rivermist is headed to Gates Four Country Club on Friday, July 1.

As part of the Gates Four Summer Concert Series and in partnership with Fayetteville Dinner Theater, the show begins at 7:30 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m.
Music-lovers and those in search of a great time need only look for the easy-to-find pavilion outside the country club to take part in the free, family-friendly event.

The series began last year as a ticketed event with five shows. Now open to the public with six performances scheduled, the concert series takes place every first Friday and features some of the finest entertainment in the Sandhills.

While people might not be used to the words "free and public," in association with a country club, Greg Adair, band member and spokesperson for Rivermist, assured Up & Coming Weekly it is indeed an event for everyone.

"Bring your dancing shoes," Adair joked. "This is open to everybody. People should remember to bring a chair, get some food, drink and get ready for some great music."

While no outside food or drinks are permitted, the event will have plenty of both available for purchase and liquor provided by Healy Wholesale Co. Inc.
Showcasing the talents of the Throwback Collaboration Band in April, the event headliners for May and June, Heart Breakers — a Heart cover band native to North Carolina, and Mostley Crue, a cover band from Raleigh, will rock the Gates Four stage later in the summer due to weather cancellations.
A lifelong musician and Fayetteville native, Adair's journey to the spotlight started in 2014. Originally in another band with a friend who fell ill with cancer, Adair formed a group to help fundraise for treatments and medical care.

After his friend's tragic passing later that year, the group remained but felt a name change was necessary out of respect. From there, Rivermist was born and has been rocking out ever since.
Transitioning to the role of a full-time musician in 2019, Adair expressed no regret and genuinely loves what he does. As the drummer, vocalist and band owner of Rivermist, Adair wears many hats, but they all fit comfortably.

"I love the exhilarating crowds," he explained. "I love seeing kids dance and freely enjoy themselves. There's nothing like seeing a kid enjoy music. They're so honest and precious, as adults should be."

After experiencing a bit of a slow-down as cities across the United States hunkered down to stop the spread of COVID-19, Adair is glad to be back to business as usual.

"We played about 65 shows in 2019," Adair reflected. "That dropped down to around 18 in 2020, and now we're scheduled for at least 70 this year. We still have 42 shows left this year."

Despite the obvious pride in his band and their success over the years, Adair remains grateful, giving all thanks and appreciation to the band's fans.

"We're humble," he said. "We have over 7,000 followers, people love to come to see us, and we genuinely love them too. There's no little man syndrome in this band, no divas or anything like that. Our families love each other, and we get along great. It's the most fun you can have in music."
Known for their high-energy shows often tagged as #rivermistparty on social media, Adair maintained, "Ain't no party like a Rivermist Party cause a Rivermist Party Don't Stop."

"We are a super energetic bunch," Adair shared, laughing. "We do it all. For the last show we had downtown, we had our guys walk through the crowds, wearing their instruments, and you couldn't even see them. Everybody was singing and moving; this band has just an abundance of personality. We get the crowd to participate and don't hold our heads down. We joke with each other and the crowd. It's just a fun time, and that's what it's about."

Being from Fayetteville, Adair feels a particular joy in playing for people who know the band and follow their journey. He sees music and the band's position up on stage as a charge to spread joy and be a light to those in the audience.

"We'll play about five to seven minutes at the beginning of each show and let the crowd know our goal is to take them away from anything bad lingering in their lives — we're there to make them happy. The crowd feeds off that. It's electric. To be on stage and see 5,000 to 6,000 people singing and dancing is definitely why we do it. There's nothing like seeing people have a great time."

Playing a variety of dance and pop music, Adair and his band mates: Allen Pier (keyboard, lead and background vocals), Rick Starling (percussion, keyboard, lead and background vocals), Tony Harrison (bass) and Cliff Bender (lead guitarist), play a little something that everybody can groove to. Rivermist covers songs from the Eagles to Bruno Mars and Alice In Chains to Travis Tritt.

"We try to vary the shows, so there's no crossover with these events," Adair explained. "There's something for everybody; we throw everybody a bone. 'If you leave here tonight and haven't heard anything you like — then you might not like music.'" He often jokes with the crowd.

The concert series is an opportunity for people to be led and gathered under the ruling spirit of summertime. Just a moment in the busy, bustling week, where parents, home from work, can round up their kids and head to a place with no schedules, no worries and no agendas.

Greg Adair, for one, is excited to see them there.

Gates Four is located at 6775 Irongate Dr. in Fayetteville.
The event is free and open to the public. Information about VIP tickets can be found at https://www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com/.
For updates and information about upcoming shows and music, visit the Rivermist website at http://www.rivermistband.com/.

When I first began covering state politics and public policy in the late 1980s, North Carolina families dissatisfied with the quality of education provided by their local school district had limited options. Some could afford private schools, or to move to other communities where they hoped the assigned public schools were better. A few were brave enough to try homeschooling their children.

For most parents with concerns about their assigned schools, however, the only recourse was to complain to administrators or try to elect different politicians to their local school boards. Neither option proved particularly effective.

Since then, the situation has dramatically changed for the better.

For one thing, the state legislature created three new options — chartered public schools, opportunity scholarships for private education and educational savings accounts for special-needs students — that provide a wide range of choices for many North Carolina families. During the last school year, for example, some 130,000 students were enrolled in the state’s charter schools. Another 20,000 students received opportunity scholarships to attend private schools. Some 13,000 additional students have applied for scholarships next year.

Partially in response to these policy changes, teachers and entrepreneurs have created new educational enterprises that seek to serve families in new ways. Some are new brick-and-mortar schools and networks.

Others offer “university model” education that blend in-person and at-home instruction. Still others provide textbooks, resources, supplemental services and other assistance to homeschool families.

And with regard to the governance of school districts themselves, many North Carolinians are part of a national movement to push back against slapdash instruction, politicized curricula and operational decisions that fail to put the interests of students first. Initially frustrated by the lengthy COVID shutdowns imposed by state and local officials, parents grew angry when they saw firsthand what their children were being taught — or not being taught, as the case may be.

In the past, school-board elections were relatively low-turnout affairs in which local chapters of the North Carolina Association of Educators — the state affiliate of the nation’s largest teacher union — often played outsized roles. The NCAE’s influence is ebbing, however, thanks partly to changes in the timing and structure of school-board elections and partly to NCAE’s own missteps.

The organization is down to about 17,000 members, a tiny fraction of the total number of teachers and principals who staff North Carolina’s public schools. Even as NCAE was shrinking, it was becoming increasingly shrill and ideologically left-wing.

As a school-choice proponent and practitioner — my own children have attended a mixture of public and private schools — I recognize that many North Carolinians continue to cherish their relationships with their local school districts. They want their district-run schools to succeed, even as they also favor expanded options for families who want something different.

To advocate choice and competition, as I do, is not to advocate the abolition of public schools. In fact, I believe competition makes school districts better. That’s the way most other fields of human endeavor work, including preschool and higher education. As I’ve written about many times, there’s good empirical evidence for the proposition that increasing school-choice options in a community tends to improve student achievement and educational attainment within public-school districts, too.

Progressives disagree. They seek at least to roll back and constrain our school-choice programs, if not to abolish them altogether. They’re not going to succeed, though. The constituency for these programs is too large and growing too rapidly.

Would you believe that North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation in the share of children educated outside of district-run public schools? I didn’t either until I examined the latest numbers from EdChoice.org. Only Delaware, Louisiana, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida and Pennsylvania had higher percentages of kids enrolled in private, charter, or home schools.

According to the most-recent estimates, about a quarter of North Carolina kids were so enrolled last year.
That’s going to continue to rise, no matter how loudly progressives complain about it. Parents’ voices are louder, and more numerous.

It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay. Join Ryder, Chase, Marshall and Skye at the Crown Theater on July 5 and 6 for Paw Patrol Live. It’s an “all paws on deck” situation.

The Sandhills’ littlest adventurers can put their hero skills to the test and help the gang rescue Cap’n Turbot and uncover buried treasure on Adventure Bay with the help of a mysterious map. Tracker, a new puppy addition to the usual lineup, will assist as Mayor Humdinger tries to thwart the canine crusaders.

The show, now seen by over 4 million people since its debut six years ago, is an interactive experience that engages kids and parents alike.

“It’s geared for ages 2 to 6, but I like to say 2 to 200,” said Jeff Dietzel, spokesperson for the show. “Kids of any age can come and have a great time with their family.”
Since its debut in 2013, Paw Patrol has been a juggernaut in the kid’s entertainment area. The franchise, spawning several direct-to-video adventures, merchandise and a movie in 2021, shows no sign of slowing down.

“Kids love puppies,” Dietzel explained the continued popularity of the show and its characters. “They’re so unique and individual. Each character has their own personality and fears; they’re unique, like all kids are unique. And sure, they’re small, but they can be heroes too.”

While most kids are more than familiar with Adventure Bay’s four-legged heroes, a knowledge of the show and its characters isn’t necessary to fully enjoy the show.
The broadway-style show certainly aims to deliver in the entertainment department, inviting audience members not only an opportunity to watch their favorite characters up on stage but to be a part of the show themselves.

“There’s lots of singing and dancing,” Dietzel said of the show. “It’s a great introduction to live theater. It’s hard to sit there and be quiet. We encourage the kids to get up and sing and dance with us. Everyone in attendance gets a pIrate flag to wave — it’s a highly interactive experience.”
Children are definitely the target audience, but Dietzel assured Up & Coming Weekly that the show is just as fun for parents as it is for kids.

“It’s a great time for the whole family; parents have a great time seeing their kids have fun. It’s like a mini-rock concert,” he joked.
General admission tickets are $18, with a limited number of VIP (Very Important Pup) packages also available. VIP tickets are $110 and include prime seating, an after-show photo-op with the characters and a souvenir bag to take home.

“I really hope that kids have a great time,” Dietzel said. “My favorite thing is to hear that ‘this was the best day ever,’” It’s awesome to hear; it makes us feel like we’ve done a great job.”
Showtimes are Tuesday, July 5, and Wednesday, July 6, starting at 6 p.m.
The Crown Theater is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. in Fayetteville.
For tickets, visit capefeartix.com, or call 910-438-4100.

With trampoline parks, playgrounds and plenty of indoor entertainment for big kids, it can be challenging to keep little ones entertained during the hot summer.

Fascinate U Children's Museum in downtown Fayetteville offers a place where parents can watch their children explore, make friends and use their imaginations. Set up to resemble a little city complete with a fire station, farm, grocery store and stage, Fascinate U allows children to engage in a world of make-believe where what they want to be, is what they get to be.

"This is a great place to take your kids in the summer to get out of the heat and have fun while learning," said Susan Daniels, Fascinate U director.

Fascinate U opened its doors in January 1999 as part of downtown's initial revitalization efforts. Daniels has been its director since 1998.

"I've been here since there was actual parking downtown," she joked.

Her passion for children and their education has built a program that fosters a love of learning and discovery for all who step through Fascinate U's flashy purple doors.

The museum's mission statement: "We strive to foster children's imagination while developing their social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills through basic play" is evident in the many programs, activities and classes they offer.

There is an activity, project, demonstration, or opportunity to learn nearly every weekend at the museum. Children of all ages and interest levels should be able to find something to spark the artist or scientist within.

The third Saturday of each month features a different science activity— this month, it's strawberry DNA extraction in the museum's science room on the second floor.

There are crafting opportunities with "Make it Take it" every second Saturday and art classes with a different focus each month for children as young as four up to fifth grade.
The museum's tot-room offers a safe space for children under four to explore their environment with sensory toys, puzzles, and make-believe stations.

The Cape Fear Model Railroad Club also hosts monthly demonstrations on the first and third Saturday.

There's truly a little something for everyone.

In addition to their regularly scheduled programs, Fascinate U offers several weeklong summer camps to keep kids learning all year.
Camps are offered for half and full-day with a focus on art and science and are designed for children entering first grade up to rising fifth graders.

Daniels, who teaches the science classes at the museum, reflected on her career at Fascinate U as she transitions to retirement in less than a year.

"I love working with children, I like the challenges, and I like using a lot of different skill sets. I could be writing grant proposals one day or mopping the floor the next," she said.

Though Daniels will miss working with the kids and teaching the classes, she's excited about what's on the horizon.

"We recently received a SCIF grant, [State Capital Infrastructure Fund], and we will use that to get out into the community. We want to know what expansion the community wants to see and how we can better serve in the future. We've been here 23 years and done a good job, but I look forward to new blood coming in. When I started, we weren't even on the internet."

And while yes, technology and the times both change with alarming speed, Daniels noted the part of Fascinate U that stays the same.

"The one thing that never changes is that the children love the role-playing and hands-on opportunities.

Kids get technology at home and school; this is where they can get back to being just kids and using their imagination."
General admission to the museum is $4 and $3 for anyone over 12. Yearly family memberships are $50.

Fascinate U is located at 116 Green St. in downtown Fayetteville.

For more information on camps, programs, memberships, and party room rental visit the museum's website at http://www.fascinate-u.com/ or call (910)829-9171.

We human beings love to give each other wisdom and advice, wanted or not.

Parents are eager to offer our thoughts, and I write that as a proud sharing mama. It is especially gratifying to hear the words I know were mine come out of the mouth of one of my Precious Jewels; they believe it was an original thought. At the same time, it is annoying to realize I have done that with my mother’s words and probably still do.

That said, I do love to read other people’s pithy — or maybe not — words of wisdom to others. Recently an email from something called The Technium landed in my inbox offering “103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known,” written by Kevin Kelly on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Up & Coming Weekly does not give me enough space to share them all, but I will provide you with my favorites — just in case you feel the need for wisdom from someone you don’t know.

Here goes in no order at all.

“About 99% of the time, the right time is right now.”

“No one is as impressed with your possessions as you are.”

“Don’t ever work for someone you don’t want to become.”

“If you stop to listen to a musician or street performer for more than a minute, you owe them a dollar.”

“Anything you said before the word ‘but’ does not count.”

“Criticize in private. Praise in public.”

“It is the duty of a student to get everything out of a teacher and the duty of the teacher to get everything out of a student.”

“Immediately pay what you owe to vendors, workers, contractors. They will go out of their way to work with you first next time.”

“The biggest lie we tell ourselves is ‘I don’t need to write this down because I will remember it.’”

“Handy measure: the distance between your fingertips of your outstretched arms at shoulder level is your height.”

“There is no such thing as ‘on-time.’ You are either late, or you are early. Your choice.”

“You’ll get 10 times better results by elevating good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior, especially in children and animals.”

“When checking references for a job applicant, employers may be reluctant or prohibited from saying anything negative, so leave or send a message that says, ‘Get back to me if you highly recommend this applicant as super great.’ If they don’t reply, take that as a negative.”

“Denying or deflecting a compliment is rude. Accept it with thanks, even if you believe it is not deserved.”

“To keep young kids behaving on a car road trip, have a bag of their favorite candy and throw a piece out the window each time they misbehave.”

“You cannot get extremely smart people to work hard just for money.”

“You will be judged on how well you treat people who can do nothing for you.”

“Take the stairs.”

“It’s thrilling to be extremely polite to rude strangers.”

“For the best results with your children, spend only half the money you think you should, but double the time with them.”

“Actual great opportunities do not have ‘Great Opportunities’ in the subject line.”

“When introduced to someone, make eye contact and count to four. You’ll both remember each other.”

“If you loan someone $20 and you never see them again because they are avoiding paying you back, that makes it worth $20.”

“If your opinions on one subject can be predicted from your opinions on another, you may be in the grip of an ideology. When you truly think for yourself, your conclusions will not be predictable.”
And, finally, this.

“The chief prevention against getting old is to remain astonished.”

It’s 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, when most places see a lull in customers; Game On, a hobby and game cafe located off Reilly Road, is packed. The parking lot of the nondescript building is full, and game lovers are finding their way to the overflow parking lot on the side and the back of the building. The sign on the door holds an unusual duo of advertisements for Pokemon and coffee. The shop is packed with both young and old, an eclectic mix of people perusing cards, dice and boxes of games. In the back of the cafe are long tables, placed at a measured distance, one after the other. The gamers stand rolling dice and leaning forward to place items onto the tables and make their moves. The groups are huddled around the various tables. The playing is quiet and intense — each player so wholly immersed in what’s going on on the table that they hardly notice those around the counter, picking out cards from beneath the glass.

In a room at the front of the store, a Game On sign is displayed on the top of a bookshelf. The room is filled with posters, but the most noticeable thing in the room is the sign. It sits as a relic of the company’s journey.

This sign is different from the one that is now proudly displayed on the front of the store. It’s thick-lettered and all black except for a white O. The white O looks intentional, but it wasn’t.
The two owners, husband and wife, Ryker and Sara Taylor, sit just beyond and laugh about its origins.

“It was originally an American Burger Barn sign except for the O. We just had a limited amount of funds for a sign. We were a start-up. We pieced together parts of a sign for $500 off eBay,” Ryker said.

When they got the big sign, Sara said, it was a huge celebration for the entirety of the company. Now, those driving by would finally be able to see them and the sign. They were moving up. The business was becoming more sustainable.

Sara and Ryker started their business about 18 months ago, in the winter of 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Ryker, who always loved Magic the Gathering, did research and found that during times of recession, entertainment venues seemed to continue to thrive.

“It was so smart because there was nothing out here that was open doing this … it brings people together, online or in-person,” Sara said.

And really, the business started before the doors opened. Ryker admits he did what they call “back pack vending” — buying and selling cards out of a backpack. It allowed him to continue his love of card playing with business-related benefits.
On the other hand, Sara grew up in Washington and around coffee stands. She always wanted to get into the coffee business.

“My mom was always going to the coffee stand. We started with one espresso machine and four sides. Once we combined Red Bull with Italian sides, the cafe exploded,” Sara said. She tears up as she talks about the growth and the changes. She is proud of how far the coffee portion of the business has come.

On that busy Saturday, many customers come in and head straight to the cafe in the shop. They look over the menu and place their orders, patiently waiting for their custom drinks to be ready. The names are often combined with game characters — like Dragonite, a combination of Strawberries and Dragon Fruit. Each drink looks a little different from the last, but most are colorful.

“The coffee stuff was something I always wanted to do. We are making enough money where we can try anything we want to try. It has been really fun. It’s like being a chef in a way,” Sara said. She collapses her hands together as she talks to counterbalance her energy. “Tell us what you like, and we’ll work from there.”

It is clear that some people come for the drinks, some come for the games and others do a bit of both. Perhaps it has something to do with the caffeine in some drinks or the combination of fruity flavors and added energy. Sara and Ryker’s drink add-in, Lotus, is equivalent to a Red Bull. Caffeine and a long, competitive card game can go well together.

The shop, which sits only minutes outside Fort Bragg, is the perfect location for Ryker, an active duty soldier. When asked about moving and if it makes them nervous, Sara and Ryker shoot each other a look.

“Oh yeah,” they say in almost unison.

They laugh, but ultimately both are hopeful to be stationed at Fort Bragg for many more years. If not, Sara says, they feel like they have the right staff that could continue things on with them being in a different area.

“We trust that we would be able to continue to run this,” she said. “We have been really lucky to get such a good group of people here.”
Sara and Ryker both put in a lot of hours at the shop. Ryker puts in between 60 to 80 hours, while Sara clocks in about 40 to 50. The duo have two kids at home to juggle, along with the business and Ryker’s full-time job. The rewards, however, outweigh the added stresses of being a business owner.

“My favorite part is interacting with the customers and the area. The amount of people that wouldn’t have been in the same place at the same time and fostering that relationship …” Sara gets emotional and trails off for a second. She wipes her eyes and continues, “We get a lot of different crowds in here … I can’t hold it together.”

Sara wipes her eyes again as she and Ryker both laugh.

They hold many events at the hobby and game cafe, including one-shot adventures on Tuesdays and Pokemon leagues for kids on Saturdays. The Pokemon League is free; parents can bring their kids in and learn about the card game and how to build decks. The shop even has Professor George, a certified Pokemon professor, to teach the kids. Above all, Ryker says, they teach good sportsmanship. When asked why they offer it free, Sara and Ryker have a quick and easy answer — “community building.”

“From a mom’s point of view, there’s not a lot to do when it’s hot out,” Sara said.

Ryker got into competitive Magic the Gathering games and is the Team Captain for the U.S. Army’s E-Sports Program for Magic the Gathering. For the Army, this is more of an exposure and recruiting effort, showing those interested in what the Army has to offer.

For the Taylors, they aren’t quite at the place where they take a check. They said, first and foremost, they want to ensure they are paying their staff well and secondly, they love being a part of the community in this way.

“The nerd community that people kind of hide from, the whole having a place where people can come and be themselves,” Ryker said.
The business, so far, even without a paycheck for the owners, is doing well. The community is noticing them just driving by, and some people come in for just the coffee.

“Hard work beats out knowledge. If you are willing to come and work the hours … I am not smarter than anyone else. I am just willing to work harder. I am willing to dump hours into it to make it successful without taking a wage.” Ryker smiles as he talks. And once again, they both mention how lucky they are to have their team. As Ryker says, they “crush” it.

And whether it’s for coffee, games or a place where there are actually Pokemon cards in stock, Game On as a whole is crushing it.

Over time I’ve come to recognize freedom less for the ideal we portray it to be and more for the double-edged sword it truly is. In America, we lend a lot of credence to the ideals of freedom. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. Freedom of Information. Freedom of choice. As the sword of those freedoms cut one way, there is always the dangerous second edge that slices just as cleanly as we draw it back to its scabbard.

We are free to choose, but we are not free from the consequences of our choices. In “The Message,” a modern English translation of the Bible, there’s some good advice in the book of Proverbs. Chapter 3, verses 3-4, says, “Don’t lose your grip on love and loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.”

We see the two edges of the sword of freedom in use more often than we might even realize, cutting first one way and then the other. Freedom of speech, for example, sounds like a great idea at the onset. As part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, this freedom grants us the right to speak our mind or beliefs without the fear of retribution on the front edge, but it grants anyone who opposes that view the same right. This concept doesn’t necessarily sit well in the modern American culture, in which opposing views are often labeled hate speech in an attempt to shut down the very freedom employed by their team. That’s why I presented the Bible Proverb as good advice. It suggested (long before our Constitution or the First Amendment, by the way) that we not lose our grip on love or loyalty. And the truth is that we can assert our beliefs and even speak our mind and do it with love, respect and even loyalty to fellow citizens of this nation and planet.

Freedom of religion, another facet of the same amendment, bears a similarly sharp edge. In a nation arguably founded on the premise of one religion, we are granted the free exercise of that religion without interference from the government so long as it doesn’t interfere with any of the other rights and freedoms granted within the Constitution. Still cool. But what about religions other than our own? Right. Same freedom. Again, let’s go back to that Proverb, and maybe even go a line or two further where we read, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all” (Proverbs 3:5-6). So as you celebrate our nation’s independence this year, think about the freedom you’ve been given, but take a little extra time to consider those same freedoms granted to those you’re lining up against. Don’t lose your grip on loyalty or love. And don’t assume you know it all.

Cumberland County Public Libraries and Fort Bragg’s Throckmorton Library have begun their summer reading programs.
Both programs offer a fun opportunity for every family member to dive into a book during the hot summer months ahead. Using READsquared, an easy-to-download app, participants can track their progress and find games, challenges and activities to help make reading a pleasure, not a chore.

Cumberland County Libraries will also have reading records at each branch or available for download on their website. Throckmorton Libary will use its app, https://jlthrockmorton.beanstack.com/reader365, to track reader progress.

Participants can win prizes by reading books or attending or watching programs at the library. Prizes range from exclusive limited-edition t-shirts, books and gift cards to an annual family membership to the North Carolina Aquarium. Readers can unlock rewards from the program with as few as five logged hours of reading time.

Summer reading programs are not a modern concept and have encouraged children to read throughout the year as early as the 1890s.
Though the goal is the same, methods and certain program elements have evolved with time, technology and the target audience’s interests.

“The emphasis of summer reading – getting kids and their families to read in the summer months – has been around as long as the program,” Faith B. Phillips, director of Cumberland County Library, told Up & Coming Weekly.

“However, elements of the program have evolved as technology and interests have changed. For example, we now have apps that allow customers to log their reading minutes. We also include listening to audiobooks and reading e-materials for the program. There are many ways for folks to engage with a text, and we want to be inclusive of as many as possible.”

As children, teens and adults become ever more dependent on screens, and their phones, the importance of reading and its benefits to cognitive development and learning are at the forefront of creating these programs.

“Reading will always be a skill that humans need,” said Carla Brooks, division manager for programs. “By reading through the summer, kids and teens can prevent the summer slide —a decline in their achievement gains during the previous school year. Studies have shown that students who read through the summer make a better transition back to school in the fall and have higher reading performance.”
Phillips, whose first favorite book was "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown, hopes the program creates life-long readers.

“Ultimately, I hope that summer reading cultivates a love of reading in every person. I hope that the programs provide opportunities for community members to learn new skills and facts. And that both the reading and the programs bring laughter, fun, and joy to our citizens,” she said.

Brown hopes the program helps participants gain more confidence in reading, noting the impact "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin made on her as a young reader.

“[That book] made a huge impression on me as a child. I even started writing my own book after reading it. I loved how the author developed the characters and let me, as the reader, get to know them as if they lived in my hometown.”
Natasha Dass-Ford, chief librarian at Throckmorton Libary, who loved Cinderella as a child, hopes the Summer Reading Program encourages a love of nature and a love for reading.

“This year’s theme for the Summer Reading Challenge is ‘Beyond the Beaten Path.’ In keeping with that theme, Throckmorton is offering a variety of outdoor activities and story times about camping. We hope to promote reading as a fun activity incorporating crafts and outdoor events such as kite flying, star gazing and bird watching.”

With eight branches, both Brooks and Phillips feel Cumberland County Library has a book for everyone inside their doors to unlock an Ocean of Possibilities.

“There are so many good books available to all ages,” Brooks said. “I encourage customers to come in and talk with one of our library staff members to help them find some good books tailored to their preferences. Adults can use our online BookMatch service for a list of personalized reading recommendations.”

Cumberland County Public Library’s Oceans of Possibilities program will continue until August 15 at all Cumberland County Library locations.

Cumberland County Public Library’s Oceans of Possibilities program will conclude on July 31.

To view a Cumberland County Branch Locations list or download a reading log, visit their website at https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.
READSquared can be accessed at ccplnc.readsquared.com.
To learn more about Throckmorton’s Summer Reading Challenge, visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/summer-reading-program.

There are many reasons why we eat what we eat. Obviously, we eat when we are hungry; we also eat when we are emotional or to socialize with our friends. Certain smells, aromas or the taste of a particular dish evoke memories of meals past. Definitely, the link between food and memory is a powerful one. Food becomes a travel machine that transports us to a moment in the past where we enjoyed ourselves in a time/space/food continuum. Food memories engage all of our senses and are easily triggered. However, some of us purposely engage in what I call “cognitive eating.”

Cognitive eating goes beyond food memories or mere emotional eating. We all have to eat to survive (biological eating), and we also tend to eat foods we are accustomed to or with which we are familiar (cultural eating).

People eat at different levels: to satisfy hunger, quench a craving or evoke a memory. When we eat, pleasure and reward sensations are activated. However, when we eat culturally, the food and the act of eating take on a cultural context, and the reward is different. When biological and cultural eating come together, we have cognitive eating, which has a deeper purpose and reward.

When seeking, cooking and eating authentic food from one’s country or ethnic enclave, they engage in cognitive eating. Foreigners are not the only ones affected by this type of eating.

Americans seek types of food they grew up eating in their native state or community. But, their culture is still ubiquitous. For people born in other countries, it is a different story.

When I asked Luz Velasquez, born and raised in Santo Domingo but residing in the United States, if she craved and sought her native cuisine, her eyes grew in size. She prefers eating and cooking Dominican dishes for many reasons. “I seek my native food because it is part of my identity,” she said, “part of my DNA!” Of course, eating the food her grandmother and mother cooked evokes childhood memories; however, she says that

“When I eat my native food, I am remembered about my roots and how important staying in touch with my history is for me. If you do not know where you come from, you do not know where you are going.” Velasquez also stresses the importance of teaching her son about Dominican culture, including native food. “You cannot separate culture and food; they are one,” she says.

When asked how important is authenticity for those engaging in cognitive eating, Rebecca King said it matters.

“It is very important,” claims King, born and raised in Germany now a resident of Fayetteville. “I am always on the lookout for authentic German food because it reminds me of home, which I miss.”

There have been many discussions about authenticity in the culinary and food studies fields. Some maintain that authenticity is essential in helping future generations understand traditional cuisine and food habits.

Others claim that authenticity is archaic in today’s global food scene.

To this foreigner from Naples, Italy, and others like me who engage in cognitive eating, authenticity is that umbilical cord that connects us to our motherland.

Editor’s note:This story has been updated. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command is double-checking the location where the incident occurred.

A soldier assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School died Sunday after being struck by a vehicle on an interstate in Duplin County, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said in a release.

The soldier, whose name was not released, was participating in a training exercise when he was identified as needing medical treatment, the release said.

Womack Army Medical Center, which had limited beds, made arrangements to send the soldier to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, the release said.

While en route to Camp Lejeune, the soldier exited the vehicle and was struck by oncoming traffic, the release said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released national drinking water health advisories for four PFAS chemicals including GenX, which has plagued private well water supplies near the Chemours plant off N.C. 87 at the Bladen and Cumberland County line.

The EPA release includes interim health advisories for PFOA and PFOS and final health advisories for GenX and PFBS.

The EPA lists the health advisory level for GenX chemicals of 10 parts per trillion, and for PFBS at 2,000 parts per trillion.

The EPA drinking water health advisory released Wednesday for GenX replaces the 2018 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services provisional drinking water health goal of 140 parts per trillion.

GenX is the trade name for a chemical component of a larger collection of man-made chemicals known as per- and polyflouroalkyl substances or PFAS. Manufacturers use GenX, a replacement for some PFAS, to produce nonstick coatings, pizza boxes and a number of other consumer goods. GenX also can be a byproduct of some manufacturing processes.

For years, Chemours has discharged GenX into the Cape Fear River and the air. Groundwater and well testing revealed that Genx has contaminated the drinking water supply for much of Cumberland County’s Gray’s Creek community. Well contamination also has been discovered 25 miles from the Chemours plant, in an area between the towns of Falcon and Wade.

 The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality obtained a consent order that requires Chemours to test private wells for PFAS if they are located within a certain distance of the plant or the Cape Fear River.

The order requires Chemours to provide whole-house filtration for private drinking water wells that contain concentrations of GenX greater than the recommended levels in the newly released health advisories. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality also requires Chemours to keep affected residents informed about all of the available options for testing and filtration.
The DEQ estimates that more than 1,700 additional private well users are now eligible for whole house filtration systems or connection to a safe public water supply.

GenX and other PFAS have been associated with several types of cancer, liver disease, high cholesterol, low birth weight, immune system disorders and other diseases

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners on Monday is scheduled to get the latest update on the EPA results as part of its regular monthly meeting. The county administration is keeping the affected population informed about the presence of GenX and any other compounds produced by Chemours that have leached into the Cape Fear River and nearby drinking water wells.

The board meets at 6:45 p.m. in Room 118 of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse.

The board recently hired an engineering firm to complete an engineering report for extending water lines in the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District. The project is among the board’s top priorities and is funded in the fiscal 2023 budget. The county is working on extending water to two elementary schools and homeowners with contaminated drinking water wells and has unsuccessfully sought the Fayetteville Public Works Commission's inclusion in the project. PWC did participate in paying for the engineering study.

The EPA also invited states and U.S. territories to apply for $1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant money to fix PFAS and other drinking water contaminants. The $1 billion would be the first of $5 billion available in grant funding, specifically for small or disadvantaged communities.

A news release from the Southern Environmental Law Center said the EPA drinking water health advisories for GenX and other PFAS show the need for EPA and state agencies to enforce existing laws against polluters.

The inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee was a big success over the weekend for the city and its co-sponsor, the Cool Spring Downtown District, according to organizers of the celebration.
The jubilee was a first for Fayetteville tie-in to the federal holiday that commemorates the abolishment of slavery in the United States. It also was observed as a city holiday for the first time on Monday.
Bianca Shoneman, president and CEO of Cool Spring Downtown District, called the festival “absolutely” successful. She said feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

“We had two full days (with) … three different events,” she said.

“Many of the vendors that attended the Saturday event (reported) strong sales,” Shoneman said. “(They were) pleased with management and communication from the managing partner and in general had a good experience. Enjoyed the diversity of the music. Enjoyed the day as a whole, the spirit of it overall.”

An estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people attended Saturday’s part of the two-day jubilee at Festival Park. The entertainment included saxophonist Reggie Codrington of Fayetteville; the musically diverse Diwali Cissokho and Kaira Ba; the funk-based Fatback Band of Fayetteville; Americana singer-songwriter Amethyst Kiah; and hip-hop artist Morray, another native son who is perhaps best known for the song Quicksand from 2020.
Cumulus Media of Fayetteville oversaw Sunday’s Praise Party in the Park, which concluded with a performance by acclaimed gospel singer and minister Donnie McClurkin.

Early Monday afternoon, Shoneman said she had not yet spoken with a representative of the radio group.
Phone messages left Monday with Cumulus were not returned, but Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin and City Councilman D.J. Haire both said they were told that a crowd of about 15,000 filled Festival Park for the Sunday proceedings.

“It was full,” Colvin said. “That’s what I was told.”

Last week, Shoneman had said she hoped Juneteenth Jubilee would draw about 10,000 people.

“I didn’t attend all of the events,” Colvin said Monday. “What I did attend, I was very impressed. It looked like people were enjoying themselves, and I think that was the intent of the council. I really went to Praise in the Park. It was very good.”

The mayor said he has no complaints.

“It really showed that the city of Fayetteville is diverse, and it also showed that entertainment is desired,” Colvin said. “I’m not aware of any major incidents down there. I think that was groundbreaking to show that we can have a lot of people in a space without any issues from different types of music.

“They had a really diverse selection of entertainment, from gospel to hip-hop to other,” he said. “And it was really enjoyed. They’re only scratching the surface. At the end of the day, it’s about bringing people downtown to spend money and have a good time.”

Like Colvin and Haire, Shoneman reported “zero” problems, including no arrests.

Haire, who attended the first day of the jubilee with his wife, said he thought the earlier part of Saturday's activities was “beautiful.”

“I think that Sunday was probably the best,” he said. “Sunday had a theme of history, so it kind of took you from one part of culture to another. For our first go-around, I think we did pretty good."

Haire said he received phone calls on Monday morning from people saying they thought the celebration was great.

“People from Moore County, just various folk from all over the city. We really enjoyed it,” said Haire. “Many people thought it was like integrating Juneteenth and Father’s Day. I think it was nice. Nothing but a plus.”
Shoneman said organizers encountered some production challenges throughout the day Saturday. Kiah, the Americana artist, appeared upset on stage as her band warmed up for its set. She was having problems with

sound and her amplified acoustic guitar. At one point, she could be heard saying to someone onstage, “Let’s just get it done.”

“It was the intent of the festival to hire locally owned, Black-owned businesses across the board,” Shoneman said. “Not only on stage was it Black-led talent, but there certainly was diversity onstage. We engaged a Black-owned production business, and we were very proud of that. If there was folly, it was to support the spirit of Juneteenth.”

The local celebration was put together in a matter of months by the downtown district staff members after the City Council requested that they come up with ideas for a Juneteenth celebration.
In early March, the council approved $141,000 for the roughly $160,000 festival.

On Jan. 10, the City Council voted to make Juneteenth a city holiday.

“One of the things I’ve been working on and I’m continuing to work on are quality-of-life things,” said Colvin. “What determines to make the community fun and enjoyable is always connected to entertainment. … This weekend was successful. I think we’ll continue to do that. That’s what makes communities. I talk to a lot of people – a lot of younger people – and they say they spend time in Raleigh and other places because they have things to do. We have a beautiful city.”