When retired Army Col. Edna Cummings steps into City Center Gallery & Books later this month, she will arrive not only as an award-winning author but as a living bridge between personal memory and national history.
City Center Gallery & Books, located in historic downtown Fayetteville, will host Cummings on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a book talk and signing celebrating her memoir, A Soldier’s Life. The book was recently named 2025 Book of the Year by the American Writing Awards, bringing national attention to Cummings’ story of military service and historical advocacy.
Cummings’ connection to Fayetteville runs deep and will shape much of the discussion during the event. Raised as an Army brat on Fort Bragg in the 1960s, she attended E.E. Smith High School before graduating from Reid Ross Classical School. Those early years, marked by discipline, mobility and exposure to military culture, laid the foundation for a life of service.
After high school, Cummings enrolled at Appalachian State University and entered the Army ROTC program at a time when few Black students were present on campus and even fewer women were represented. She was the only Black woman in the ROTC program, an experience she credits with strengthening her leadership skills and resolve—qualities that would later define her career as an officer.
Cummings would go on to serve more than two decades on active duty, rising to the rank of colonel and holding leadership roles across the United States and abroad. During the event, she is expected to speak candidly about navigating military life, single motherhood, personal loss and faith, themes that anchor A Soldier’s Life and distinguish it from traditional military memoirs.
For Hank Parfitt, owner of City Center Gallery & Books, hosting Cummings reflects the store’s commitment to presenting voices that connect literature with lived experience.
“Bringing Colonel Cummings to Fayetteville will give our community a chance to engage with someone whose life reflects both service and perseverance,” Parfitt said. “This isn’t just a book signing, it’s a conversation about history, leadership and responsibility.”
Much of that conversation will center on Cummings’ post-retirement work advocating for recognition of Major Charity Adams and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit deployed overseas during World War II. The battalion was tasked with clearing a massive backlog of undelivered mail for U.S. troops in Europe, a mission critical to morale, yet their accomplishments went largely unrecognized for decades.
Parfitt said Cummings’ determination to change that narrative will resonate strongly with readers.
“She saw a gap in our historical memory and committed herself to fixing it,” he said. “Her persistence helped bring long-overdue recognition to women whose service shaped the outcome of the war.”
Through years of advocacy, fundraising and coalition-building, Cummings played a key role in securing a monument honoring Charity Adams at Fort Leavenworth in 2018 and, later, the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in 2022.
During the Jan. 24 event, Cummings will discuss her book, reflect on the legacy of the 6888th, and sign copies of A Soldier’s Life. Books will be available for purchase at City Center Gallery & Books, located at 112 Hay St., and may be reserved in advance by calling 910-678-8899. The store recommends early purchase due to expected demand.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Downtown parking in city-owned lots and the Franklin Street deck will be free on weekends.
For Fayetteville readers, the upcoming event will offer an opportunity to engage with a story rooted in their own community—one that stretches from local classrooms to the halls of Congress and continues to shape how military history is remembered.

(Photo: Edna Cummings, author of A Soldier's Life, will be at City Center Gallery & Books to talk about her memoir and her life in the military. Photo courtesy of City Center Gallery & Books)

Accusations of secrecy, mismanagement, and withheld documents have fractured the nonprofit Fayetteville‑Cumberland County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, putting the future of the taxpayer‑funded MLK Park project in jeopardy.
Some civic leaders are even calling for committee chair Stanley Ford to resign.
“I’m hurt and embarrassed by him because of the way that he’s handling this situation,” former committee member Elmer Floyd told Cityview. “All he has to do is show the information that people are requesting.”
City and county officials warned Friday that unless Ford turns over financial records, bylaws, and membership lists, the MLK Park project could collapse, and millions of taxpayer dollars would have to be accounted for and returned to the state.
A meeting, called by Fayetteville City Council member D.J. Haire, brought together representatives from the city, county, and the MLK committee. Attendees at Friday’s meeting included council member Malik Davis and Cumberland County commissioners Kirk deViere and Veronica Jones.
Haire told Ford he expects a full accounting before the city council’s February 2 work session, where the council is scheduled to receive its next update on the park.
He also urged Ford to provide the same documents to the committee. Several members have said they’ve been left in the dark about the project.
The MLK committee has a board of directors and a committee of about 30 members led by President Tawanna Branch.
MLK Park Project Decades in the Making
The MLK Park project centers on a 120‑foot spire first proposed in the mid‑1990s. The monument would be lit on key dates honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Over the years, the project has faced repeated setbacks, including the deaths of key advocates and disagreements over where the spire should be built.
Ford became chair in 2022 after the death of longtime committee leader Wilson Lacy. At that time, the project had secured $2.5 million in state funding. Since then, both the city and county pledged additional support, bringing the total funds for the project to $7.2 million. Once the committee produces bid‑ready construction documents, the county plans to transfer its funds to the city, which will oversee construction.
In a December article in the Fayetteville Press, Ford said he has spent $352,212 so far.
Several former and current members said Ford has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars without proper oversight.
“One of my major concerns is a possibility that some fraud may be taking place,” committee member Rev. Floyd W. Johnson Jr. told CityView.
In August 2025, Johnson, Floyd, committee treasurer Elison L. Elison, and former county commissioner Charles Evans sent Ford a cease‑and‑desist letter accusing him of:
• Failing to conduct financial audits.
• Failing to maintain required officers, including a treasurer.
• Failing to give proper notice of meetings.
• Failing to provide timely financial and committee reports.
• Failing to administer grant funds with transparency.
Evans, who helped secure county funding for the project, said Ford’s leadership has undermined years of work.
“It was hell getting the money … For this guy to come along and give such hardship to this community. He needs to go,” Evans said. “If there’s legal action that needs to be taken, so be it, because that’s taxpayers’ dollars.”
Evans said many committee members are senior citizens and that Ford “has taken advantage” of them.
“To humiliate the community and to humiliate the name of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by carrying this through this turmoil, it’s a shame,” Evans said.
The letter demanded Ford resign, that a new election be held, and that all financial and operational records be released to the committee. It also warned that Ford’s actions were jeopardizing the spire project and public confidence in the organization.
While Branch was not part of the group that sent the letter, she told CityView she has repeatedly asked Ford to be transparent about how he has been spending the committee’s funds, and that he has refused to do so.
Ford denied all of the allegations in response to the letter and to CityView.
“They are fabricating these stories to you,” he told CityView.
Ford has accused committee members of holding meetings without him, not returning his calls, and withholding information.
Ford also said that Floyd and Evans are angry that he turned down their request to pay them as consultants on the project, though he declined to share email records supporting the allegation. Both Evans and Floyd deny they ever asked to be paid and said email records do not exist.
County Funding on Hold for MLK Park
County Manager Clarence Grier said the county’s contribution will not be released until Ford provides all requested financial records. The deadline is January 31. The county extended its funding timeline from October 2025 to January to give the group time to produce the documents.
Ford told CityView he can’t provide certain financial records because he claims they are “confidential” and “a government spreadsheet” that “cannot be copied.”
DeViere, who wrote the legislation that secured the committee’s original $2.5 million in state funding, disputed Ford’s claim. So did Jones. “That is a lie,” Jones told CityView.
“Those records are public records,” deViere said. “This committee and the leadership of this committee has to do the things they need to do to bring this project to the city in a bid‑ready package so that it can be built.”
Jones also questioned Ford’s explanation for postponing the MLK parade, which was scheduled for January 17. Board member Charlissa Davis signed a press release, distributed by Ford, that the parade was indefinitely postponed due to “safety issues.”
The Fayetteville Police Department said it was unaware of any safety concerns about the parade.
“What Ford said [about why the parade had to be postponed] was dishonesty,” Jones said.
Other committee members, including Branch, said they were unaware of any safety concerns and were “blindsided” by the announcement.

(The MLK Jr. Memorial Park in Fayetteville is located at 700 Blue St. Photo courtesy of City of Fayetteville)

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber kicked off its first Chamber Coffee Club on Jan. 15 with former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory discussing North Carolina’s economic competitiveness and workforce development trends through a Q&A session with Chamber President and CEO Nat Robertson. McCrory and Robertson met when Robertson was the mayor of Fayetteville, and Robertson partnered to get bridges repaired after Hurricane Matthew.
The Government Relations committee of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber also held a reception on Jan. 13 for the Fayetteville City Council, Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and the Cumberland County state delegation.

City of Fayetteville
On Jan. 12, the Fayetteville City Council authorized up to $40 million in bonds for infrastructure and public safety projects and the acceptance of a $354,000 grant from the International City/County Management Association for economic opportunity initiatives. Amendments for the Aubrey Hills Apartments loan were approved, and a site on Distribution Drive was rezoned to Light Industrial. Three new subdivision streets were added to the city system for Powell Bill eligibility.
On Jan. 5, the Fayetteville City Council received a presentation from the Economic and Community Development regarding the redevelopment of the Blount and Gillespie Street site. They were presented with three distinct concepts for the city-owned property, which varied in their mix of public green space, retail and multifamily housing density. Outreach efforts indicated that 61% of residents preferred dense, mixed-use buildings (3–6 stories) while 40% prioritized shaded lounge areas and ADA-accessible natural play spaces. The consensus was to proceed with drafting a Request for Qualifications to vet potential vendors.
The council will hold its Strategic Planning Retreat on Feb. 3-4.

Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners reviewed a proposed interlocal agreement for Parks and Recreation with the City of Fayetteville. This agreement aims to address financial transparency, fee structures and cost redistribution for shared parks. A formal proposal is expected at their Feb. 12 meeting.
Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Director Michael Gibson presented a funding request for regional trail expansion to extend the Cape Fear River Trail from the current Fayetteville city limits to Arnette Park. He informed the board that a $1,096,000 FAMPO grant had been awarded for the design of this extension. The project requires a 20% local match of $274,000, bringing the total project cost to $1.37 million. The board unanimously approved the support request.
Preliminary survey results were also shared regarding a potential joint 911 center with Fayetteville. The joint 911 operations center is one of several options being discussed to address emergency call handling and coordination across the county. The community survey is designed to gather resident feedback on experiences, priorities and considerations related to emergency response and 911 communications, according to county officials. The public comment period remains open through Jan. 25. Residents are encouraged to participate by visiting: www.surveymonkey.com/r/joint911communityinput.
The board will hold its Strategic Planning Retreat on Jan. 23.

National Civics Bee®
The National Civics Bee®, a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will allow middle school students (6th, 7th, and 8th grades) to participate in North Carolina for the first time this year. Through the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, Fayetteville has been chosen as a regional site. Applications for students are officially open, and students have until Feb. 3 to submit.
For more information about the program, including educator resources and how to participate in the 2026 competition, visit www.faybiz.com/civicsbee.

About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests. With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) had created a 23-member select committee to evaluate potential reforms of the state’s property-tax system. That is a fine idea, a sensible reaction to surging property values and changing fiscal conditions. But members ought not be distracted by out-of-state chatter about repealing the property tax entirely. That is a bad idea, destined to fail.
Annual levies on the value of residential, commercial, and industries property produce 70% of local revenue in North Carolina. The property tax is stable, reliable, and doesn’t distort economic decisions nearly as much as income or sales taxes do.
All taxes are paid using past or present income. And all are, by definition, coercive. They take money away from the people who earned it so that governments can fund public safety, infrastructure, education, and other services for which the collective public benefits can be reasonably expected to exceed the costs.
I’m a fiscal conservative, not an anarchist. I believe government is necessary and provides essential services. I also think government at all levels has a built-in tendency to grow beyond its proper scope, as spending lobbies inside and outside the public sector press for jobs, contracts, and special favors.
That’s why I favor both legal and procedural constraints on the size of government, including annual expenditure caps based on inflation and population growth as well as referendum requirements for issuing general-obligation debt. Otherwise, the interests of taxpayers will inevitably yield to the machinations of special interests.
When considering tax alternatives, it’s important not to mix up two different issues: 1) how we should tax and spend, and 2) how much we should tax and spend. Settling one doesn’t necessarily settle the other.
At any given level of government spending, there are better and worse ways to raise the revenues necessary to finance it.
For local services in North Carolina, the only practical alternative to the property tax is to raise the sales tax. I might view that tradeoff favorably if North Carolina’s sales tax were broad and efficiently administered.
It is neither. Even after the General Assembly expanded it more than a decade ago to encompass entertainment, repairs, and some personal services, we still don’t tax medical bills, financial services, and legal services sold to households. Given the lobbying heft of those industries, I doubt the practicality of any plan to pass a genuine retail-sales tax in North Carolina.
Our property-tax base is too narrow, as well. I don’t think large-scale enterprises benefitting from significant expenditure on public services, such as hospitals and universities, ought to be exempt from the property tax. Again, I’ll remind you that “property” taxes aren’t paid by removing planks or bricks from buildings and chucking them at the tax collector, however tempting that might be.
They are really a means of taxing the money of people who own property, lease it (apartment dwellers bear much of the incidence of property tax as monthly rent), and work or consume on it (in the form of lower wages or higher prices, respectively). Especially for place-based services such as fire protection and parks, taxes on real estate apportion the costs in a rational manner.
“The property tax won’t win any popularity contests with homeowners,” wrote Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the Tax Foundation, “but it still has an important role to play in public finance.
Policymakers can and should address taxpayers’ legitimate grievances about out-of-control property tax bills, but they should do so without upending a system of taxation that is more efficient, fair, and pro-growth, and better suited to municipal finance, than any of the alternatives.”
By all means, let’s make sure North Carolinians can challenge unjust valuations and cash-poor homeowners aren’t dispossessed. Levy limits and circuit breakers make sense. More generally, the General Assembly should continue tax reforms that reduce special carve-outs and broaden tax bases in order to lower tax rates. But replacing property taxes isn’t a realistic option.

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

Special Note:
Again, as tradition will have it, Up & Coming Weekly again proves truth in the cliché: “ Where there is smoke, there’s fire.” Enjoy our perspective on the canceling of the MLK Jr. Parade, then go to page 9 to read Rachel Heimann Mercader’s excellent coverage of this situation in her City View article. Enjoy!
— Bill Bowman Publisher U&CW

For more than three decades, Fayetteville has come together each January to honor the life, legacy, and moral courage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The annual MLK Parade organized by the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Martin Luther King Jr. organization, is not just a tradition—it is a civic commitment, a unifying moment, and a reflection of who we aspire to be in our community.
That is why this year’s abrupt cancellation of the parade is more than a scheduling mishap. It is a profound disappointment to residents, and the Fayetteville community deserves honesty about how we got here.
The truth appears simple: the parade committee was not organized, prepared, or functioning with the leadership they needed to execute what would have marked the parade’s 32nd year. Instead of acknowledging this, postponing the event, committee member Charlisa Y. Davis sends out a daunting press release implying that the parade was canceled due to community “safety concerns.” This is a claim that is not only misleading but insulting to all the citizens of Fayetteville, including the Fayetteville Police Department, which works hard to keep our city safe. They were not aware of or ever informed of any safety concerns or threats. Even members of the Martin Luther King, Jr. committee were unaware of any safety concerns —or of Davis’s press release itself.
This raises a troubling question: Why cast a negative aspersion on our community as an excuse when it appears the real issue is internal disorganization? Heaven knows Fayetteville gets enough bad and unfair publicity from out-of-town media.
The explanation brought forward was that they “didn’t have enough time” to secure permits, restrooms, and security, which is equally baffling. Their former parade organizer, Belinda Bryant, left the organization nearly two years ago. Two years is more than enough time for a functioning organization to regroup, plan, and prepare. Bryant confirmed she had no involvement in the 2025 parade and that other members handled planning last year.
Let’s be clear: The January 17th MLK JR. parade was not canceled because Fayetteville is unsafe. It was canceled because the Chairman of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Martin Luther King, Jr. committee, Stanley Ford, failed in his stated responsibilities to do his job. Here is a man, who one year ago, appears on a local community radio show touting how very important the MLK Parade is to the Fayetteville community, then fails to execute it. That failure matters. It matters to the citizens of Fayetteville because the MLK Parade is not a casual event. It is a symbol of unity, progress, and remembrance. It is a day when our community—Black, white, young, old, military, civilian, Democrats, and Republicans—can come together to celebrate the dream Dr. King fought and died for, a dream that is all too often set aside in pursuit of selfish personal agendas.
To cancel such an event due to internal dysfunction and then attempt to mask that dysfunction behind unfounded claims of public danger is insulting and unacceptable. Even if the parade is rescheduled, the damage is done. A rescheduled event cannot erase the fact that the original celebration—the one that should have honored Dr. King on the national holiday—was lost due to mismanagement. Fayetteville deserves better. Dr. King’s legacy deserves better.
Our community needs and respects the work of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Martin Luther King Jr. organization. I hope that its leadership will make the effort to take responsibility and recommit itself to presenting and preserving this parade for future generations, honoring a man who demanded integrity, accountability, and moral courage from all who claimed to lead. Those values are exactly what the committee needs to rediscover.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper.

Remember our old friend King Midas? Today, we return to the mystical land of Greek Mythology. What do the Federal Reserve, President Trump, and King Midas have in common? Stick around to learn how King Midas brings them all together into a mélange of greed and power. Sounds boring? No way, Jose. Dead ahead, find a drunken satyr, golden roses, a misbegotten wish, the ears of a jack ass, and Floyd the barber who can’t keep a secret.
President Trump sicced the Department of Justice to investigate and probably bring criminal charges against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over cost overruns on the renovation of the Federal Reserve Headquarters.
It is no secret that Trump’s fondest wish (other than to scarf up several Nobel Peace Prizes) is to boot Powell out of office so he can install a lackey who will respond to his political pressure to lower interest rates. Fed independence blocks America’s Golden Age.
King Midas had a rose garden, like the White House’s rose garden, which is now a concrete patio. Midas had the world’s best roses, each sporting sixty blooms.
People partied hearty back then. One day, Midas stopped to smell the roses and found an old, drunken Satyr passed out in his garden. (Author’s Note: A Satyr has the upper body of a man with goat horns on his head and the lower body of a goat.)
The Satyr was Silenus, the former teacher and foster father of the God Dionysus. Dionysus was the God of wine, so Silenus came by alcoholism honestly. Midas recognized Silenus, woke him up, and treated him as an honored guest. They partied with adult beverages for 10 days.
On the 11th day, Midas sobered up and took Silenus back to Dionysus.
Dionysus was so happy to see his old tutor that he gave Midas a free wish. Midas wished that everything he touched turned to gold.
Abra Kadabra Alakzam! Wish granted! Midas touched a stick and a stone. Zowie! They turned to gold. Midas was happy as a clam. When he returned home, Midas touched every rose in his garden, turning them to gold like a Grecian Formula Steven Singer. He ordered a feast to celebrate his new power, but uh oh.
When he tried to drink wine or eat food, it immediately turned to gold, which, while pretty, is indigestible. His daughter came crying into the banquet hall, upset because the now golden roses no longer had their beautiful scent. Midas hugged his daughter to comfort her, unfortunately turning her to gold.
Midas realized he had not fully thought through his wish for the golden touch. Buyer’s remorse set in. He did not want to starve. He missed his daughter. He asked Dionysus to reverse his wish.
Dionysus told him to wash in the local river to end the golden touch. He did so, and the river’s sand turned to gold. Midas didn’t want any more gold or riches. He took John Prine’s advice and blew up his TV, threw away his paper, went to the country, built him a home, and ate a lot of peaches.
One day, Pan, who was a lesser God of music, challenged Apollo, who was the major God of music, to a musical duel like Charlie Daniels’ song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
The music Judge was a dude named Timolus who smartly named Apollo the winner. Midas was in the audience and loudly claimed that his buddy Pan was the winner. This did not sit well with Apollo.
Apollo said Midas “must have the ears of an ass” to think Pan was the winner. Immediately, Midas’s ears turned into actual donkey ears.
Midas was humiliated by being crowned with donkey ears. He hid his ears under a turban so no one would see his shame. Naturally, Midas’ barber Floyd saw his donkey ears when he cut Midas’ hair. Midas told him to keep the ears a secret. Floyd could not keep this gossip to himself. He went out into a field, dug a hole, and whispered into it that Midas has donkey ears. A thick patch of reeds grew up over the hole. The reeds whispered to anyone walking by that Midas has donkey ears.
Midas became the butt of many donkey jokes by all and sundry. When he could take the ridicule no longer, he drank a Mickey Finn of bull’s blood and arsenic, causing him to expire.
How does this relate to Trump wishing to control the Fed? If he gets his wish, but the economy tanks due to his putting a flunky in charge of the Fed, Dionysus will not be there to bail him out.
Be careful what you wish for. Sometimes, you might get it.

(Illustration by Pitt Dickey)

To grasp the beauty of a solution, sometimes we have to reverse-engineer the problem that led us to it. And when it comes to learning things the hard way, I’m what you might call a frequent flyer. On this occasion, though, I wasn’t flying—I was driving. To Florida. One way in, one way out. My trip began and ended within a mile of I 95, yet I still had my GPS on—Google Maps on my phone.
I first learned to navigate by watching my dad unfold those big paper maps you bought at the gas station before a road trip. Lots of red, black, and blue squiggly lines to show you where you were—or at least where you should’ve turned left twenty miles earlier. Later came those spiral-bound atlas books. They felt tidier, and they helped calm my inner traveler (and maybe the family, too).
Then came the GPS. Those little gadgets had one job, but they did it well. Who can forget, “Make a U-turn when it’s safe to do so”? But now everything’s on the phone. It not only tells us what to do—it asks for our input. “Slow traffic ahead.” “Police reported.” “Left lane closed.”
Honestly, if it weren’t for all that cool data, I could’ve just asked someone how to get to Florida and been fine: “Head south.”
I was riding along, content with each update, when a new alert appeared: “Object in road reported ahead.”
“What kind of object? Which lane?” I scanned the road. Nothing. So I tuned it out.
Until the truck in front of me swerved.
And there it was—a three-foot traffic cone dead ahead. Before I could react—bam! Too late.
Here’s the point: We usually know the difference between right and wrong. We even get warnings along the way—small nudges, gentle alerts. But when no trouble follows, we start ignoring them. We tune them out… until we can’t. Then we replay what we should’ve done differently.
Maybe the real point here isn’t to fear the warnings—but to thank God for them. He’s not trying to ruin the trip; He’s trying to make sure we arrive safely. So before the crash, before the regret, maybe the wisest move we can make is to simply listen—and steer.

Editor’s note: Dan DeBruler is a Pastor and teacher, and has served Fayetteville and the surrounding area through Christian radio for more than 25 years.

Dry January has become a widely recognized annual challenge, where participants voluntarily give up alcohol for the entire month. What started as a grassroots movement in the UK in 2013 has gained significant traction globally. With its focus on promoting better health, increasing mindfulness, and recalibrating habits, Dry January is more than just an alcohol-free month—it's a chance to reset your body and mind.
The most immediate benefits of participating in Dry January are physical. Cutting out alcohol for a month allows your body to recover from its effects. Alcohol is known to disrupt sleep, dehydrate the body, and contribute to inflammation. After just a few weeks without alcohol, most participants report feeling more rested, having clearer skin, and experiencing better digestion. Your liver, in particular, gets a chance to regenerate, as it doesn't have to work overtime to process alcohol.
Moreover, Dry January can have significant long-term health benefits. Studies show that giving up alcohol, even temporarily, can reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and decrease the risk of liver disease. The challenge can also help individuals lose weight, as alcoholic drinks are high in empty calories. Many people find that after a month of no alcohol, they develop a greater awareness of their drinking habits and may choose to reduce their alcohol intake in the future.
While the physical health benefits are clear, Dry January also offers a mental and emotional reset. For many, alcohol is closely tied to social gatherings, relaxation, or stress relief. Taking a month off provides the opportunity to assess how alcohol fits into your life and whether it's being used as a coping mechanism. This can lead to greater self-awareness and mindfulness about one's relationship with alcohol.
Additionally, individuals who complete Dry January often report a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. Abstaining from alcohol, especially when surrounded by social pressure to drink, can boost confidence and build resilience. It’s a personal challenge that reinforces the idea of control over one’s choices and health.
Fayetteville offers several welcoming spots for those participating in Dry January, ranging from specialized kava and tea bars to breweries and cocktail lounges with creative non-alcoholic programs.
Wana Navu Kava Bar provides a dedicated alcohol-free environment focused on kava and botanical beverages, making it a natural choice for those looking to avoid traditional bars entirely. They feature a variety of kava shells and kratom teas. This venue offers a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere with lounge seating and board games. Wana Navu Kava Bar is located at 500 N Reilly Rd., #106. https://www.wananavukava.com/
In downtown Fayetteville, visit Winterbloom Tea, a sophisticated tea bar that specializes in tea-based "mocktails" and sparkling tea infusions. A great alternative to the bar scene. Winterbloom is located at 238 Hay St. https://winterbloomtea.wixsite.com/wbtea
Dirty Whiskey Craft Cocktail Bar in Hope Mills is well-regarded for its mixology, and their skilled bartenders are known for crafting bespoke non-alcoholic drinks that mirror the complexity of their standard menu. Their high-quality mocktails feature house-made syrups and fresh botanicals. Dirty Whiskey Craft Cocktail Bar is located at 5431 Corporation Dr, Hope Mills. https://tinyurl.com/43xu44fa
While they are primarily known for their craft beers, North South Brewing Company offers non-alcoholic options like canned options from Athletic Brewing Co (non-alcoholic beer) and a new, fun and exciting house mocktail line-up. North South Brewing Company is located at 304 Williams St. https://tinyurl.com/48xzs3kz
If you don’t see your favorite spot listed above, don’t be shy-just ask. Most venues now offer non-alcoholic options year-round, including non-alcoholic beers and mocktails.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is exploring the connection between the past and the future in its upcoming Black History Month exhibition, “Kindred Visions.” The exhibition celebrates visual interpretations of Afrofuturism, featuring works selected through a national call from artists across the United States.
Curated by Antoinne Duane Jones, “Kindred Visions” brings a deeply personal vision to the Arts Council.
“I spent nearly 20 years of my adult life in Fayetteville,” Jones says. “My primary adult growth happened here—from attending Fayetteville State University to becoming a father and a photographer. Many of my adult firsts happened in the ‘Ville.”
Jones curates “Kindred Visions” to reflect Afrofuturism, a genre that uses science fiction, technology, and fantasy to examine Black history while imagining empowered and optimistic futures. “Afrofuturism to me is the look and feel of Afro people upgraded to our wildest dreams of what we see the future world to be,” Jones explains. “My aim is to share the overall talent and expression of an Afro-focused vision.”
The exhibition takes inspiration from Octavia Butler’s novel Kindred, widely regarded as a foundational work of Afrofuturism. Butler challenged the science fiction genre to embrace more inclusive narratives while offering sharp commentary on contemporary culture. Kindred follows a woman in the 1970s who is mysteriously transported back and forth through time, encountering her ancestors—both freed and enslaved.
Visitors can deepen their engagement by participating in a community-wide book club centered on Kindred, made possible through a partnership between the Arts Council and the Cumberland County Public Library.
“Cumberland County Public Library is thrilled to partner with the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County on their Kindred Visions exhibit,” says Danielle Ellis, Special Project Liaison. “To encourage community-wide reading, we’ve added extra copies of Kindred to our collection so the book is readily available at each of our eight library branches. We look forward to inspiring and meaningful conversations through this collaboration.”
Ultimately, "Kindred Visions" invites viewers to reflect on how history, imagination, and intention shape the future. As Octavia E. Butler writes in A Few Rules for Predicting the Future, “Most of all, our tomorrow is the child of our today. Through thought and deed, we exert a great deal of influence over this child, even though we can’t control it absolutely. Best to think about it, though. Best to try to shape it into something good. Best to do that for any child.”
"Kindred Visions" is on display at the Arts Council at 301 Hay St. from Jan. 23 to March 1.

(Photo: Antoinne Duane Jones will curate "Kindred Visions, An Exploration of Afrofuturism" at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. Photo courtesy of Antoinne Duane Jones Facebook)

Cape Fear Studios presents the Cabin Fever Exhibit from Jan. 23 to Feb. 24 at 148 Maxwell St. The hours of operation are Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays and Mondays are closed to the public. The first-place winner receives $125, with two honorable mentions of $50. Admission is free to the public.
Cabin Fever is a non-juried exhibition open to all artists, 18 and older. The Call for Art is for each artist to submit up to two original works of art of any medium, completed in the past two years. Works must not be copied from any other artist or published materials and cannot have been previously exhibited in Cumberland County.
All entries are available for purchase. 2D works may not exceed 40”x40” including frame and must be properly wired for hanging with picture wire and D rings or eye hooks. No saw-toothed hangers. 3D work must be ready to display, to be of manageable size, free of chips, scratches, cracks, or other quality issues that are not integral to the formulation or interpretation of the piece. Entries will be accepted Jan. 15 and 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No late entries will be accepted. Studios to reproduce accepted images for advertising.
Cabin Fever Exhibit is featured as an annual event at Cape Fear Studios. This show represents the vision of Community Art.
“Community art is vital for building strong, connected and vibrant places by fostering diverse voices, improving mental-well-being, beautifying public spaces, and driving economic activity, transforming neighborhoods through shared creative experiences that break down barriers and create collective identity and pride. It serves as a catalyst for dialogue, healing, and positive change, giving residents a way to express needs, celebrate culture, and envision better future for themselves,” according to the East End Arts Council.
The Cabin Fever Exhibit attracts visitors, supports local artists, and boosts foot traffic within downtown Fayetteville.
Cape Fear Studios has been hosting Cabin Fever for approximately ten years. The Studio, established in 1989, has been a staple in the community for 37 years.
Pandry Autry, Cape Fear Studios member, shares. “I have worked as a decorative painter and faux finish artist for over thirty years in Fayetteville, after teaching in Cumberland County and Hoke County for thirteen years. [I enjoy] being a member of Cape Fear Studios to have an outlet for my art and be part of an artist community.”
Fan your imagination, creativity, and dreams of presenting vision of art within any medium for the community to see in the Cabin Fever Exhibit. Self-taught to formal educational art classes and credentials are welcome for self-expression in established art shows. Be a part of the artist community, invite friends and neighbors to view and vote for your artwork. For more information, visit https://www.capefearstudios.com/event-details/cabin-fever-exhibit

Pink Floyd fans will once again have the chance to experience one of the most influential albums in music history in an entirely new way when The Dark Side of the Moon returns to the Fayetteville State University Planetarium at 1200 Murchison Rd. in 2026 as part of the album’s official 50th anniversary production.
Originally released in 1973, Dark Side of the Moon has endured across generations, spending a record-setting 984 weeks on the Billboard charts and becoming a cultural touchstone for listeners worldwide. Introduced to the public during a press event at the London Planetarium more than five decades ago, the album’s connection to astronomy now comes full circle under the dome of the FSU Planetarium.
The shows began Friday, Jan. 9, and the planetarium will host weekly Friday evening showings at 7 p.m., with the run continuing through Oct. 9. Tickets are $10, offering audiences an affordable opportunity to experience the sanctioned full-dome production.
“This isn’t just a music show,” said Joseph Kabbes, planetarium manager and astronomy professor at Fayetteville State University. “This production was created by NSC Creative in conjunction with Pink Floyd themselves. It’s the only Dark Side of the Moon show officially approved by the band, and we’re one of only nine planetariums in the country licensed to present it.”
Kabbes said Fayetteville’s inclusion in the limited group of venues speaks to both the planetarium’s technical capabilities and its growing reputation.
“We’re the only site in the Southeast offering this show,” he said. “That puts Fayetteville on the map in a way many people don’t expect.”
The experience pairs Pink Floyd’s original studio recording with immersive, space-themed visuals choreographed precisely to the album’s music and narrative arc. The visuals are projected across the planetarium’s 30-foot dome using ten 4K projectors, creating an image density that exceeds most domed theaters worldwide. A 6,500-watt sound system delivers the album’s layered soundscapes with clarity and power.
“The visuals aren’t random,” Kabbes said. “They’re designed to follow the emotional and philosophical journey of the album. When people sit inside the dome, they’re not just listening—they’re surrounded by the story.”
Kabbes, who has personally seen the production dozens of times, said audience reactions remain consistent.
“People tell me they hear things they’ve never noticed before,” he said. “Even lifelong fans walk out saying it felt like hearing the album for the first time.”
Beyond entertainment, the show has become an important source of support for the planetarium’s broader mission. Revenue generated from the Dark Side of the Moon screenings has allowed the facility to invest in upgraded servers, improved projection capabilities, and new educational programming.
“The success of this show directly supports our ability to stay current with technology,” Kabbes said. “It also allows us to bring in additional full-dome productions and expand what we can offer the community.”
In addition to the Pink Floyd experience, the FSU Planetarium hosts regular science programming throughout the year, including biweekly public science shows on Saturday evenings and telescope viewing sessions, weather permitting. The planetarium also plans to continue offering special events and educational programming for children, families, and school groups.
“We want people to see this as more than a one-time event,” Kabbes said. “The goal is to spark curiosity, whether that starts with music, astronomy, or both.”
As the 50th anniversary celebration continues into 2026, Fayetteville audiences will once again have the opportunity to experience a landmark album in the environment where it was first imagined under the stars.
Tickets and additional information are available at https://www.etix.com/ticket/?search=fsu+dark+side+of+the+moon

“I am a reel expert. I can tackle anything.”
Watershed Cabins

The Fayetteville Fishing Expo is happening Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 at the Crown Expo Center at 1960 Coliseum Dr. Times for the event are: Friday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket prices range from $6 for children to $10 for adults. Children five and under are free. Military discounts are available. Tickets are good for all three days with a return pass and can be purchased at the door or online at https://fayettevillefishingexpo.com/
“We are thrilled to welcome the Fayetteville Fishing Expo back to the Crown Complex for 2026. This event has grown into a cornerstone of our winter schedule, drawing outdoor enthusiasts from across the region to Fayetteville. It is a privilege to host an event where local anglers can connect with industry leaders,” said Gary Rogers, marketing Director for the Crown.
Why attend the Fayetteville Fishing Expo in January 2026? People go to January fishing expos to see the newest gear, such as tackle, boats, electronics and apparel. Expos often have seminars where would-be anglers can learn from the pros. Seminars in Fayetteville will be led by Skeet Reese, Davy Hite, Eddie Moody, Freddy Sinclair, Captain Craig Hensel, Captain Bobby Brewer, and Mike Delvisco.
The Fayetteville Fishing Expo will offer a variety of products from rods to reels to apparel and boats, plus expert tips on catching everything from bass to offshore species, making it great for both beginners and seasoned anglers. Discover new gear and see the latest tackle, rods, reels, and electronics from major brands and custom makers. Explore bass boats, pontoons, center consoles, and kayaks. Learn essential boating safety, navigation, and maintenance for newcomers. It is the perfect time to stock up and plan for spring and summer fishing.
The Fayetteville Fishing Expo features over sixty vendors, including aluminum Jon Boats and Bass Boats.
“For 3 big days, the Fayetteville Fishing Expo will bring together the finest products and services the fishing industry has to offer,” said Rogers. “Local, regional, and national companies showcase tackle, rods and reels, apparel, maps, charters, sunglasses, boats, motors, and electronic…. Well, you get the picture. Everything to get you in the water ‘Rigged and Ready’ for the season. And just to make sure you make the most of your fishing trip, we put together a top-notch panel of national and regional pros to share their secrets on ‘When, Where, and How to have the best fishing trip possible.’ There is only one thing these guys enjoy more than fishing…. that is telling others how to! From Catfish to Cobia, Sunfish to Sailfish…. this show brings it all under one roof.”
Life is better on a boat. Choose your boat, motors, kayak, rod, reels, apparel, tackle, maps, or charter, and get “Rigged & Ready” for the season. Everything you need from equipment to pro-knowledge for the novice to professional angler will be at the Fayetteville Fishing Expo, on Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. More information can be found at https://fayettevillefishingexpo.com.

A nationally recognized documentary and guided seminar focused on the realities of military life after service will be brought to Fayetteville, offering local veterans, service members and their families a free opportunity for reflection, connection and conversation.
The award-winning film Brothers After War will be screened Saturday, Jan. 31, at AMC Market Fair 15 on Skibo Road. The four-hour event, running from noon to 4 p.m., is presented through a partnership between the Gary Sinise Foundation, UNC Thrive, and Veterans Bridge Home. Attendance is free, though seating is limited and advance registration is required.
Organizers say the Fayetteville screening is more than a movie showing. It is part of a national program that pairs the documentary with a structured seminar designed to help service members and veterans navigate the often difficult transition from military to civilian life. Since 2011, the Brothers After War program has reached more than 60,000 veterans and service members across the country.
“This is about creating space,” said Al Lampkins, market president for the Sandhills region with Veterans Bridge Home. “A space where veterans and families can pause, reflect and talk honestly about what life looks like after service, without pressure or expectation.”
The documentary, created by filmmaker Jake Rademacher, chronicles his experience embedding with his brothers’ Army unit during deployments to Iraq. The film explores the deep bonds formed in combat and the complicated emotional landscape that follows soldiers home, including questions of identity, purpose and belonging.
Lampkins said Fayetteville was a natural location for the event, given its longstanding military presence and the number of families who live with the ripple effects of service. Home to Fort Bragg and one of the largest military populations in the nation, the region continues to see veterans from multiple generations navigating reintegration.
“Fayetteville understands military life in a way few places do,” Lampkins said. “But even in a military community, many veterans feel isolated once they leave the structure of service. This program helps bridge that gap.”
The event begins at noon with the film screening, during which attendees will be provided lunch and an opportunity to sit alongside fellow service members and families. Following the screening, participants will take part in a guided seminar led by certified facilitators and the filmmaker. The discussion includes journaling and workbook exercises designed to encourage personal reflection and group conversation.
According to Lampkins, the seminar portion is what transforms the event from passive viewing into an active experience.
“The film opens emotions and memories,” he said. “The guided discussion helps people make sense of what comes up and connect it to their own stories in a healthy way.”
The program is intentionally inclusive of family members, recognizing that reintegration affects spouses, children and loved ones as much as it does those who served. Lampkins said the shared experience often opens lines of communication that families struggle to find on their own.
“Families are part of the journey,” he said. “This gives them common language and understanding. It’s not about fixing anyone. It’s about listening and being present.”
The Fayetteville event is fully funded through the partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, which has long supported service members and first responders, and UNC Thrive, a program focused on trauma-informed research and care for military-connected communities. Veterans Bridge Home is serving as the local host, coordinating outreach and registration.
For Veterans Bridge Home, the event aligns closely with its mission of connecting veterans to long-term support. While the organization is known for assisting with employment, education and healthcare, Lampkins said emotional and mental well-being are just as critical.
“You can have a job and a roof over your head and still feel disconnected,” he said. “This program addresses the internal side of reintegration, which is often harder to talk about.”
Attendance is limited to 111 participants, and organizers are encouraging early registration through Eventbrite. While the event is free, Lampkins emphasized that the limited seating is intentional to maintain an intimate and supportive environment.
“We want people to feel safe sharing,” he said. “That’s harder to do in a room that’s too large.”
Lampkins said past participants in other cities often leave feeling affirmed rather than overwhelmed. While the film addresses difficult experiences, the tone of the seminar is grounded in hope and resilience.
“This isn’t about reliving trauma,” he said. “It’s about honoring experiences, learning from them and understanding that moving forward is possible.”
He added that the event also serves as a reminder that veterans are not alone in their struggles. “One of the most powerful moments is when someone realizes others in the room feel the same way,” Lampkins said. “That sense of shared understanding can be incredibly healing.”
The event will conclude at 4 p.m., but Lampkins said the conversations often continue long after participants leave the theater. Organizers hope the experience will encourage attendees to stay connected with local resources and with one another.
For more information or to register, participants can visit https://bit.ly/49JUvzq. Questions can be directed to Al Lampkins at alampkins@veteransbridgehome.org.
As Fayetteville continues to support those who have served, Brothers After War offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect, connect and take the next step forward together.

On Saturday evening, Jan. 17, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will invite audiences to celebrate the nation’s birthday through the lens of its music. Presented at 7:30 p.m. in the warm, resonant setting of St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Road to America 250 is a chamber concert that looks ahead to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Rather than a grand orchestral spectacle, this program offers something more intimate: a carefully curated journey through American musical history, performed by a string quartet and a wind quintet alternating unconducted works. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the one-hour concert will be presented without intermission, allowing the music to unfold seamlessly from start to finish.
This concert is specifically designed for listeners who enjoy small ensembles, close proximity to the performers and the storytelling power of music history. In an intimate venue like St. John’s Episcopal Church, every phrase, breath and bow stroke becomes part of a shared experience. The program spans more than a century of music, from the late 19th century to works written as recently as 2020, reflecting the evolving voices and identities that have shaped American composition.
At the heart of the program is music by American composers who represent a wide range of backgrounds, styles, and artistic goals. The evening opens with the third movement, “Juba Dance,” from Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1. Florence Beatrice Price (1887–1953) was a pioneering figure in American classical music and remains one of its most important rediscovered voices. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price later moved to Chicago during the Great Migration, where she became a central figure in the Chicago Black Renaissance.
In 1933, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra premiered her Symphony No. 1 in E minor at the Chicago World’s Fair, making her the first African American woman to have a symphonic work performed by a major American orchestra.
The “Juba Dance” movement draws on African American dance rhythms and spiritual traditions, blending them seamlessly with classical symphonic form. Lively, rhythmic, and full of character, it captures Price’s ability to merge cultural heritage with formal European structures.
Though her music was largely neglected for decades after her death, a chance discovery of her manuscripts in 2009 reignited global interest in her work. Today, her compositions are regularly performed by major orchestras, and her presence on this program feels both celebratory and deeply appropriate for a concert honoring American history.
Another cornerstone of the evening is Samuel Barber’s String Quartet, Op. 11, second movement, “Molto Adagio,” better known in its later orchestral arrangement as Adagio for Strings. Barber (1910–1981) was one of the most celebrated American composers of the 20th century, admired for his deeply emotional, lyrical style. Unlike many of his contemporaries who pursued radical modernism, Barber embraced a Neo-Romantic approach rooted in traditional harmony and expressive melody. His Adagio has become one of the most recognizable pieces in all classical music, associated with moments of collective mourning and reflection. It has been performed at the funerals of presidents, featured in films such as Platoon, and used countless times in television and popular culture.
Hearing the Adagio in its original string quartet form offers a particularly intimate experience. Without the massed sound of a full string orchestra, the music feels personal and exposed, as if the listener is invited directly into Barber’s emotional world. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of simplicity and sincerity in American music.
The program also highlights contemporary American voices, including Hit the Bricks by Nicole Chamberlain. Chamberlain is an American composer and flutist based in Atlanta, Georgia, known for her imaginative storytelling and inventive use of extended techniques. Her music often incorporates unconventional sounds—sometimes described playfully as “weird sounds”—to create vivid imagery and narrative.
A prolific composer, she has written extensively for the flute and won the National Flute Association’s 2017 Flute Choir Composition Competition for her piece Chivy. Her background is as multifaceted as her music; before becoming a full-time musician, she worked as a web animator and graphic designer. Hit the Bricks reflects a modern American voice that is bold, creative, and unafraid to blur boundaries between sound, story, and technique.
Another fascinating work on the program is Echoes for String Quartet by Bernard Herrmann (1911–1975). Herrmann is best known as one of the greatest film composers in history, celebrated for his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock on films such as Psycho, Vertigo, and North by Northwest. His music revolutionized film scoring through its use of short, repeating motifs, unusual orchestration, and intense psychological focus. While many listeners associate Herrmann primarily with the silver screen, Echoes reveals his voice in a purely concert setting. The piece reflects his gift for atmosphere and tension, demonstrating how his cinematic instincts translate powerfully into chamber music.
The wind quintet portion of the program features Roaring Fork by Eric Ewazen (born 1954), one of today’s most respected American composers for winds and brass. Ewazen’s music is known for its lyricism, tonal warmth, and vivid sense of place. Roaring Fork is inspired by the Roaring Fork River and the surrounding Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and the music reflects that landscape through sweeping melodies and rich textures.
Ewazen, a longtime member of the faculty at The Juilliard School, has written extensively for wind and brass instruments, and his works are beloved by performers for their idiomatic writing and expressive possibilities. This piece adds a sense of expansiveness and natural beauty to the program, reminding listeners of the diverse landscapes that shape the American experience.
The concert concludes with the first movement, “Allegro ma non troppo,” from Antonín Dvorák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, commonly known as the “American” Quartet. Though Dvorák (1841–1904) was Czech by birth, his life and career were deeply intertwined with the United States during a pivotal period. Born near Prague as the son of a butcher, Dvorák began his musical life humbly as a violist.
He struggled for years to gain recognition until the legendary composer Johannes Brahms discovered his work and helped him secure publication. Dvorák ultimately became a national icon in his homeland, symbolizing Czech cultural identity and later serving as director of the Prague Conservatory.
In 1892, Dvorák moved to New York City to lead the National Conservatory of Music, a position that placed him at the heart of American musical life. During his time in the United States, he became deeply fascinated by African American spirituals and Native American music, arguing passionately that these traditions should form the foundation of a truly American classical style. His belief that American composers should look to their own cultural roots was both progressive and influential.
Dvorák’s most famous works reflect this cross-cultural dialogue. His Symphony No. 9, From the New World, written in America, remains one of the most beloved symphonies ever composed; its slow movement features the famous English horn melody later adapted into the spiritual-like song “Goin’ Home.” His Cello Concerto in B minor is widely regarded as the greatest concerto ever written for the instrument, while the Slavonic Dances pulse with the energy of Czech folk rhythms. His opera Rusalka includes the iconic aria “Song to the Moon,” cherished by sopranos worldwide.
The “American” String Quartet was composed during a summer holiday in Spillville, Iowa, and captures Dvorák’s impressions of the American landscape and spirit. The work reflects his mastery of melody and orchestration, featuring pentatonic scales that give the music an open, folk-like sound, syncopated rhythms borrowed from dance traditions, and a Romantic emotional range that moves effortlessly from pastoral warmth to profound longing.
As the closing work on the program, it serves as a fitting reminder that American music has always been shaped by global voices, cultural exchange, and shared human expression.
Road to America 250 is more than a concert; it is a musical journey through time, identity, and expression. From Florence Price’s groundbreaking achievements to Samuel Barber’s timeless lyricism, from Bernard Herrmann’s psychological intensity to the contemporary creativity of Nicole Chamberlain and Eric Ewazen, the program paints a rich and nuanced portrait of American music.
Tickets can be purchased on the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s website at https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/2025-2026-season/ or by calling the box office at 910-433-4690. In the intimate setting of St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 302 Green St., audiences will experience these works up close, celebrating not only the country’s birthday, but the diverse voices—both native-born and immigrant—that continue to define it.

The Karen Chandler Trust will launch its 2026 fundraising concert series Saturday, Jan. 17, with Mosh Out Cancer, a hard rock and metal showcase designed to raise financial support and community awareness for local cancer patients and their families. The event will be held at Veterans of Foreign Wars Corporal Rodolfo P. Hernandez Post 670, located at 3928 Doc Bennett Road. Doors open at 6 p.m., with music beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and will be available both online and at the door.
Brian Manginoyat, speaking on behalf of the Karen Chandler Trust, said the concert reflects the organization’s long-standing connection to the local music community and its mission to provide practical, immediate support to individuals facing cancer-related hardships.
The lineup features five local hard rock and metal acts: Moriar, Ethris, 11:59, Fear State, and headliner Crooked Cult. Manginoyat noted that the selection of bands aligns with the trust’s roots and honors the memory of Karen Chandler, whose life and legacy continue to shape the organization’s work.
Founded in Fayetteville, the Karen Chandler Trust is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit created in memory of Chandler, a local musician and single mother who battled cancer. Members of the trust’s board said the organization was established to carry forward her compassion by assisting others navigating similar circumstances.
Unlike organizations focused on direct medical expenses, the trust concentrates on easing the non-medical financial pressures that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. Board members explained that the funds raised are used to help patients and families cover everyday necessities, such as rent, utilities, transportation, and grocery costs, which can quickly become overwhelming during treatment.
Manginoyat emphasized that the trust operates entirely through volunteers, allowing contributions to be directed straight to community members in need rather than administrative overhead. That model, he said, ensures transparency and reinforces donor confidence. Community engagement plays a central role in the trust’s outreach. Board members described annual benefit concerts and music-centered fundraisers as a way to bring people together while keeping local cancer-related challenges visible. These events, they said, are designed not only to raise money but also to strengthen community solidarity.
Saturday’s concert is being supported by several local and regional sponsors, including Eaton, Ascension Music Group, DaVille Skate Shop, Edwards Music Company, Backaround Records, The Dragons Lair, Pet Nerd In-Home Pet Sitting and Burchfield Design. Manginoyat said sponsor partnerships help expand the reach of the trust’s efforts and make events like Mosh Out Cancer possible.

Board members said the organization’s continued growth is rooted in Fayetteville’s willingness to rally around neighbors in need. They described the trust as a reflection of shared responsibility and remembrance, with each fundraiser reinforcing the original purpose behind its founding. Those interested in attending the event or learning more about the Karen Chandler Trust can find additional information on the organization’s Facebook page. The trust can also be reached by email at karenchandlertrustinc@gmail.com. Manginoyat encouraged community members to attend, noting that every ticket purchased contributes directly to supporting local families during some of their most difficult moments.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most influential Americans of the twentieth century. A scholar and minister who played a leading role in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, King was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968, less than three months after he turned 39.
Though King's life was far too short, he left behind a host of notable works. These works can provide significant insight into who King was and the legacy he left behind.
• Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story. Published in 1958, this is King's account of the Montgomery bus boycott that began in 1955 and ended in 1956. The book includes information about the planning of the boycott as well as King's thoughts about it after it ended.
• The Measure of a Man. A short book, The Measure of a Man is actually two sermons King delivered in August 1958. The sermons are titled "What is Man?" and "The Dimensions of a Complete Life." The Cornell University Library credits The Measure of a Man for offering insight into the theological roots of King's philosophy of nonviolence.
• Strength to Love. A more extensive version of King's sermons, Strength to Love focuses largely on racial segregation in the United States. King wrote the sermons in Strength to Love during the struggle for civil rights, even composing some of them while in jail.
• Why We Can't Wait. Published in 1964, Why We Can't Wait focuses on the nonviolent fight against racial segregation in 1963 in Birmingham. The book includes King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which remains one of his most famous writings.
• Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? This was King's last book before he was assassinated. King wrote the book from a rented house in Jamaica in 1967 after isolating himself from the civil rights movement. In the book, King contemplates where things stand for the civil rights movement and what must be done to ensure equality for all Americans in the future.
The collective works of Martin Luther King, Jr. provide unrivaled insight into the mind of one of the most influential figures in American history.
In Fayetteville, Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy will be honored with the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Worship Service and Brunch.
The worship service will be held Sunday, Jan. 18 at Tabernacle of Miracles church, located at 2574 Hope Mills Rd. in Fayetteville. The service is open to all, and will take place at 5 p.m.
The MLK Jr. Prayer Brunch will be held Monday, Jan. 19 at the Crown Expo Center at 1960 Coliseum Dr. at 10 a.m. Tickets for the brunch are $35 per person and must be purchased in advanced. The keynote speaker will be Bishop Brian R. Thompson Sr., and he'll be speaking on the theme "Where Do We Go From Here?"
Ticket information can be found at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefsEuhPQ5LrV37PjmfMRik9-kk3MlkJz4VnPV5LVcoBLTtSw/viewform
For more information about the worship service or brunch, contact Apostle Georgia Walker at 910-624-0929; Pastor Gil Wise at 910-322-0100; or Dr. Yvonne Hodges at 910-797-5879.

The start of a new year brings a unique sense of possibility. Calendars are blank, routines feel more flexible, and motivation tends to run high. While many people focus on resolutions tied to productivity or health, the new year is also an ideal time to explore something purely enjoyable: a new hobby.
Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, learn a skill, or simply add more joy to your days, picking up a hobby can be one of the most rewarding choices you make.
Psychologically, the new year represents a fresh chapter. This “clean slate” effect makes it easier to try new things without the pressure of past habits or perceived failures. Schedules also tend to reset after the holidays, creating small pockets of time that can be dedicated to something new. Even the colder, quieter months in many parts of the world encourage indoor activities, reflection, and skill-building.
Starting a hobby in January sets a positive tone for the rest of the year. Instead of focusing solely on goals you feel you should pursue, a hobby gives you something you want to return to—something that feels energizing rather than demanding.
Why Having a Hobby Matters
Hobbies play a vital role in overall well-being. They provide a break from work-related stress and daily responsibilities, allowing your mind to rest and recharge. Engaging in an activity purely for enjoyment can lower stress levels, improve mood, and even boost creativity and problem-solving skills.
Hobbies also help create balance. In a world that often prioritizes productivity, having something that isn’t tied to income or obligation reminds us that leisure has value. Over time, hobbies can increase confidence as you build skills and see progress, and they often lead to meaningful social connections—whether through classes, online communities, or local groups.
Perhaps most importantly, hobbies help us reconnect with curiosity. Learning something new keeps the brain active and can add a sense of purpose and excitement to everyday life. Fayetteville offers a variety of ways to kick off the new year with a fresh hobby, whether you are looking for creative outlets, strategic games, or
outdoor adventures.
Creative Arts and Crafting
Engaging in hands-on creative activities is a popular way to de-stress. You can explore artisanal crafts or structured art classes designed for all skill levels.
Scented Wicks Candle Bar, located at 3109 N. Main Street, Suite #102 in Hope Mills, is a great local spot if you are looking to learn how to make candles. They offer a "pour your own" experience where you can customize your scents and vessels.
This venue offers a helpful staff with high-quality products and offers a social atmosphere for those looking to bring others with them, but it is also a great option for solo hobbyists. https://scentedwickscandlebar.com/
Looking to start a new hobby as a family? Kidcreate Studio-Fayetteville is a great option for visual arts fun. They focus on art education with classes that range from clay sculpting to painting. They provide all the necessary supplies, making this a great option for beginners and a great starting place without a large investment. Kidscreate Studios is located at 434 Westwood Shopping Center. https://kidcreate.com/fayetteville
Located at 3350 Footbridge Lane, Suite 120, Hot Spot Studios is a versatile art space that caters to a wide variety of creative interests beyond traditional painting. Featuring a variety of activities like glass fusing and canvas painting, they also host special events and themed nights perfect for beginners. https://www.thehotspotstudios.com/fayetteville-nc/
Strategic Games and Social Hobbies
If you prefer mental stimulation and community interaction, Fayetteville has several established groups where you can learn new games or sharpen your skills.
Chess is a great option for mental stimulation, and the Fayetteville Chess Society is the go-to community for anyone looking to learn. They host regular meetups and welcome players of all levels. This group provides a welcoming environment for beginners to learn the basics of the game and allows you to engage with a local network of players for both casual and competitive play. https://www.fayettevillechesssociety.org/
Group Therapy Pub & Playground, located at 1906 Skibo Rd. is a massive indoor "adult playground" designed specifically for social games and interactive hobbies.
Unlike a traditional pub, it is more casual and laid back and offers a wide variety of competitive activities like mini golf, axe throwing and ping pong. They regularly host themed nights and interactive events, which makes it a great spot to pick up a new social hobby. https://www.grouptherapy.fun/fayetteville/
Wellness and Lifelong Learning
The new year is a perfect time to focus on personal growth, whether through physical activity or expanding your knowledge base.
The Cape Fear River Trail is a great chance to spend time in nature to take up hiking, birdwatching, trail running or nature photography. The trail offers 7 miles of paved paths through scenic wetlands and forests. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/cape-fear-river-trail
The Cumberland County Library system is an excellent resource to explore a new hobby. They offer access to extensive collections on gardening, cooking and DIY projects. They also host workshops and classes. Be sure to check out the newly opened Library of Things, where you can borrow everything from quilting needles to a ukulele. https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library
Gardening & Nature
With the region's favorable climate, gardening is a rewarding hobby that lets you enjoy the beauty of the Sandhills.
Located at 536 N. Eastern Blvd., Cape Fear Botanical Garden serves as a stunning background for learning about local flora and sustainable gardening practices. They offer many educational workshops and also provide volunteer opportunities for those wanting to get their hands dirty. https://capefearbg.org/
The Fayetteville Community Garden is the perfect local hub for aspiring urban farmers to learn from their neighbors and grow their own food. This is ideal for residents who may not have a space for gardening at home and encourages sustainable living and community cooperation. The garden serves as a great place to meet local gardening enthusiasts and experts alike. The community garden is located at 412 Vanstory St. https://www.fayettevillenc.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Facilities/Fayetteville-Community-Garden

One morning last March, Jasie Landeros was in Wilmington for a work trip when her cell phone rang. It was her father, Cliff Lovick, whose first words when she picked up were, “Don’t panic.”
He went on to say that Landeros’ mother, Kay, had been experiencing some persistent dizziness that morning. She had been taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in an ambulance.
“But he didn’t want me to panic,” Landeros said. “He said, ‘Don't worry about rushing back home. We'll keep you updated on everything.’”
By the time she was able to get to Fayetteville, Landeros learned that tests showed Kay’s dizziness was caused by a heart attack. She would need a cardiac catheterization, a procedure in which a long, narrow tube is used to access the heart. This allows doctors to find the blocked arteries, and, in most cases, open them back up with the placement of stents.
After Kay was taken back for the procedure, Landeros and her sister, Rita, waited with their dad for an update. But after 30 minutes, they learned there had been a change of plans.
“It turned out she was about 90 percent blocked in three arteries,” said Landeros. “The right side of her heart was not functioning at all.”
Kay would need triple-bypass surgery. For her family, this was a lot to absorb.
“She held our hands, and she said, ‘Girls, I'm going to be okay,’” Landeros said. “‘Everything happens for a reason.’ That's what she's always told us: everything happens for a reason.”
Even while reassuring her daughters, Kay was still adjusting to the news herself.
“I could still hardly believe I’d had a heart attack,” said Kay. “And then to find out I need open-heart surgery?”
The next morning, Kay was wheeled off to surgery. Robert E. Maughan, MD, spent hours repairing the blocked arteries to restore blood flow to her heart. Landeros, Rita and Cliff passed the time with other family members in the waiting room, watching the clock and waiting for good news.
“Then Dr. Maughan walked in,” said Landeros. “He said she did great. And we just had tears of joy.”
Kay spent 15 days recovering in the hospital, a setting that had become quite familiar to her family. Both of her girls were born there, and in 2021, Kay spent two weeks being treated there for a severe case of COVID.
“They took fantastic care of her with the COVID,” Landeros said, “But because of the pandemic restrictions, we couldn’t all be with her. This was so much better, that we were all able to be there and see her and hold her hand.”
Being there was especially important to Cliff. He and Kay had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
“They were high school sweethearts,” said Landeros. “They’re inseparable, those two.”
After her discharge from the hospital, Kay continued to recover but was careful to take it easy.
“I made a little trail through the house,” she said. “I kept telling myself, ‘Small steps and deep breaths.’”
She’s taking longer walks now, up and down her long driveway in Wade. It’s a community she deeply loves and credits with a great deal of her recovery.
“You just can't imagine the kindness that they have shown, and all the prayers,” she said. “It is unbelievable.”
Kay is keeping an eye on her heart health with regular visits to her cardiologist, Thor E. Klang, MD.
And she’s made it her mission to share with friends and family that a heart attack doesn’t always look like you think it will.
“I never had any chest pain,” she said. “I never had any trouble breathing. I just felt dizzy, that was it. I thought it might be vertigo, or even a stroke. But I never thought ‘heart attack.’”
From the emergency department to surgery and beyond, Landeros is grateful for the care her mother received. But she’s also grateful for how her father was cared for during the ordeal.
“Dad stayed there every single night at the hospital,” she said. “They brought him extra blankets, fresh pillows, something to drink. They checked on him when they were checking on her, and that just meant the world to me as their daughter.”
That care was more than just a kindness, according to Landeros. It kept the whole Lovick family energized and prepared to help Kay through her healing.
“The doctors and nurses took their time explaining to us what we needed to do,” she said. “We were just really grateful for the care that they gave her, and for the care that they gave to all of us.”

(Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Valley Health)

Human trafficking has been the subject of many recent movies and documentaries, but confusion persists among the public about what it is and how to recognize it. The Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville is on a mission to change that in collaboration with several other local organizations.
While the number of trafficked individuals within the United States is difficult to estimate, trafficking has been reported in all 50 states. According to John Webster, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center, Cumberland County is a hotspot for such crimes, in part due to the presence of Interstate 95 and a military installation.
Human trafficking occurs in many forms—both labor and sex trafficking—and exploits men, women, adults, and children. January, known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, is set aside by many organizations as an opportunity to educate and raise awareness for victims of human trafficking. This month, the Child Advocacy Center has a lineup of events that are open to the public, which will help community members understand what trafficking really looks like, how it impacts victims, and how community members can help.
Having worked in child welfare for over 32 years, Webster has seen the vulnerability of not only many Cumberland County children but also people from all walks of life.
“The people of Cumberland County need to be aware that Human Trafficking does occur right here in our communities and can take on many faces and does not always fall into the stereotypes that many of us may have in our minds. Awareness and education are key to better detection and prevention to keep potential victims safe from this growing problem,” he said.
The Child Advocacy Center’s threefold services include forensic interviews, trauma-focused therapy, and prevention and volunteer management. This month, they’ll lean into the prevention side of their services by co-hosting events and conferences.
The month’s theme is titled “Be Their Voice,” and features a 5k Run/Walk co-hosted with WORTH Court, North Carolina’s only designated human trafficking court; a Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Conference featuring keynote speaker John-Michael Lander who was groomed and trafficked as a 14-year-old Olympic-bound athlete; and a Lunch and Learn with community experts.
Be Their Voice 5k Run/Walk is an annual event that features a scenic course through the Methodist University campus. The race is stroller-friendly, and dogs are allowed on the course. Registration includes a race shirt, and finishers receive medals. The Fayetteville Running Club runs a 3rd-party fundraiser in support of the event. This year, the event will take place Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Attendees at the DMST Conference can expect to gain knowledge about the scope and signs of DMST, learn best practices for prevention and intervention, and connect with local advocates and multidisciplinary partners. According to the Child Advocacy Center, keynote speaker John-Michael Lander has been a pivotal voice in the global fight against child abuse and trafficking. Featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, CBC’s Canada Tonight and the Netflix documentary Athlete A, he is recognized for his advocacy. He has also been noted for his groundbreaking educational programs, Predatory Grooming Trifecta, Predatory Internet Grooming, and Athletes’ Arena. Lander empowers survivors and organizations through the transformative power of Self-Talk. DMST will be held Jan. 15 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Temple Baptist Church. To register, visit https://www.southernregionalahec.org/courses-and-events/76917/dmst-be-their-voice-breaking-the-silence-to-stop-human-trafficking
The Child Advocacy Center’s January Lunch and Learn will feature Speakers Abbie and Michael Arena on the topics of Gate Beautiful & Magnolia Hope—two nonprofits that offer safe places for victims of human trafficking to rehabilitate and heal.
Webster and Child Advocacy Center prevention and volunteer coordinator Faith Boehmer hope the Human Trafficking Awareness month activities could dispel common misconceptions surrounding the crime.
“People think ‘they have [human trafficking] in other areas, but not here’ but that’s not true. Our numbers are just coming out more because we have people working on it and bringing it to light,” Boehmer explained.
“Traffickers are not necessarily the ‘man in the trenchcoat’ that people imagine,” shared Webster. He said they’re people who pay attention to vulnerable adults and children, grooming them both in-person and over the internet.
“Some people are more susceptible to being trafficked,” he explained, “even still, traffickers don’t really discriminate.”
Traffickers can be anyone who has the opportunity to build a trusting connection with a vulnerable individual, eventually exploiting that trust through coercion and force. Webster says community members can learn to recognize unexpected signs of grooming that children around them may be susceptible to—such as kids coming home with expensive gifts they’ve been given by adults, or internet predation that occurs when adults pose as children on gaming apps.
“We as a community must do our best to promote awareness about this issue,” Boehmer said, “It’s not something that happens ‘over there,’ it happens here.” 
Find more information about these and other events at cacfaync.org.

(Photo: The team at the Child Advocacy Center wear blue for human trafficking awareness on Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Jan. 11, 2025. Photo courtesy of Child Advocacy Center's Facebook page)

A surge of heavy riffs, pounding drums, and community spirit will fill the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 670 in Fayetteville on Jan. 17 as local and regional metal bands unite for a cause at Mosh Out Cancer, a benefit concert supporting the Karen Chandler Trust.
The all-ages show begins at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m., at the VFW Post 670 located at 3928 Doc Bennett Road. Tickets are $10 and available at the door or online through the Karen Chandler Trust, with an estimated crowd of 300 expected. One hundred percent of the show’s profits will go directly to the trust’s mission of supporting local cancer patients and their families.
Headlining the night is Crooked Cult, an established metal band known for its intense performances and devoted fanbase. The Fayetteville-based group regularly plays throughout North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina, with upcoming shows scheduled as far north as New York and Massachusetts. They will be joined by Fear State, 11:59, Ethris, and Morior—bands from the Fayetteville area featuring seasoned local musicians, each bringing their own sound and following to the stage.
“We bring a high energy and an attitude that you don’t get from most heavy acts you’ll see in this area,” said Luke Farris, guitarist for Crooked Cult. “Our music provides an aggressive release from the tension of daily life.”
Crooked Cult vocalist Dylan Cathey said the band didn’t hesitate to participate. “All of us have had friends or family fight cancer; we want to help in any way we can and motivate our fans to do so as well,” he said.
The concert is part of a new outreach effort by the Karen Chandler Trust, which has long relied on music-centered events to raise funds. Vice President Wendell LeSueur said Mosh Out Cancer represents a fresh direction for the organization.
“This concert is the first in a new wave of events that the Karen Chandler Trust is using to bring more youthful energy to service,” LeSueur said. “Yes, it is a concert, but more than anything it is a way for the youth of the greater Fayetteville area to give back to the community they thrive in.”
Bernie Mangiboyat, president of the trust, said the idea grew from his own experience as a young musician. “I wanted to create an all-ages show for younger and older bands to play,” he said. “As a kid and young musician, I had a local promoter who did that, and it was incredible to be able to play for family and friends. I thought it would be a perfect match for it to benefit such a great local cause.”
In addition to live music and an expected mosh pit, the event will feature a full bar, food, and raffles, including an autographed guitar donated by Edwards Music Company and signed concert posters. Each band will host a merch table alongside local vendors, reinforcing the event’s grassroots, community-driven focus. The night will be hosted by Shawn Adkins of Back Around Records and is sponsored by Eaton, DaVille Skate Shop, Edwards Music Company, Backaround Records, Ascension Music Group, The Dragons Lair, Pet Nerd In-Home Pet Sitting, and Burchfield Design.
Founded in memory of Karen Chandler, a beloved Fayetteville musician and single mother who battled cancer, the Karen Chandler Trust is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to easing the financial burden of cancer treatment. Operating entirely through volunteers, the trust provides assistance with non-medical expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, and other daily necessities that often become overwhelming during treatment.
Organizers hope Mosh Out Cancer will become the first of many events that harness the power of Fayetteville’s music scene for community good—proving that even the heaviest music can carry a message of hope.

(Photo: Crooked Cult plays a show. The band, a local heavy metal favorite, will be headlining Mosh Out for Cancer. Photo by Michael Smith, Unseen Sights Photography)

North Carolina is experiencing a significant political change: for the first time, unaffiliated and Republican voters now outnumber Democrats. Political analysts suggest that this shift has been evident for a while, and it is not surprising. They argue that Democrats have recently made significant changes to their political strategy, embracing ideologies that conflict with their base and neglecting their traditional blue-collar working-class supporters.
North Carolina's political landscape is shifting, highlighted by a U.S. Senate race that features former governor Roy Cooper as the likely Democratic nominee. His opponent is expected to be Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), who has received President Donald Trump's endorsement. The outcome of this race is drawing national attention, as its implications for Congress are significant.
Cumberland County is set to play a crucial role in the U.S. Senate and down-ballot races, as it remains one of the few reliably "blue-leaning" counties in southeastern North Carolina. The involvement of prominent political figures is anticipated to encourage voters to support Governor Cooper and the Democratic Party. Will this strategy be enough to secure a victory in Cumberland County? Most likely, yes. However, the outcome across the state is a different matter.
While anything is possible, I doubt many are predicting Democrats to flip Republican-drawn congressional and legislative districts in southeastern North Carolina. Local focus is a different story. Since straight-ticket voting has been abolished and voters are compelled to make independent down-ballot choices, Cumberland County voters will have an interesting board of commissioner race on their ballot.
On March 3, the Cumberland County Democrats will hold a primary for six at-large commissioner candidates, with two advancing to the general election on Nov. 3, where they will face two at-large Republican hopefuls who will not have primary opponents.
The county commissioner at-large race presents a significant opportunity for local Democrats, as they appear particularly vulnerable in this area. The county board of commissioners has seen little change over the past few decades. It will be interesting to see if voters decide to re-elect familiar names with unimpressive records or support new candidates regardless of political party affiliation, with fresh visions who can help revitalize the board. Chairman Kirk deViere, now in his second consecutive year of leadership, is leading an effort to reinvigorate the board alongside two other members from District 2, Commissioners Pavan Patel and Henry Tyson. All three are entering their second year of a four-year term.
Cumberland County is classified as a Tier One county in North Carolina. It is also one of the 40 most economically distressed counties, as designated by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. This designation is based on various factors, including unemployment rates, median income levels, population growth, and other relevant indicators. Cumberland County’s economic status needs to change.
Fayetteville serves as the center of the Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and officially includes Cumberland, Hoke, and Harnett Counties. It is also home to Fort Bragg, highlighting the importance of electing the best and brightest candidates for Cumberland County in the upcoming election.

A new year often brings a sense of freshness, possibility, and, yes, of hope.
Once the holiday decorations are out, our homes look cleaner and sleeker, uncluttered and ready to face whatever the new year might have in store for us. We are tempted to imagine that a new year may show us ways to deal with our problems and turn our dreams into realities.
In short, we are hopeful.
As 2026 unfolds, I am not so sure much of that is the case.
I am beginning to feel that we are becoming a nation of cynics, having divided ourselves into “us” and “them.” Some of the division is political, “Rs” against “Ds.” Some of it is economic, the “haves” against the “have-nots.” Some of it is educational attainment, or not, and some of it is cultural, some religious, and some reflects differences from race to whether we live in a city or in a rural area. All are distinctions we have created among ourselves. None are naturally occurring.
In addition, modern polling tells us our feelings have become more negative than in years past.
CNN reports for the first time in over 10 years, more than half of Americans of all stripes believe our nation’s best days are behind us. Fully 3/4 of us think our political system is badly in need of major reforms, perhaps even a complete overhaul. Equally if not more alarming, the Wall Street Journal reports that fully 80-percent of us believe that our children may end up with more difficult lives than we have had.
Religion does not seem to be a large player in our national angst.
Gallup finds that while 81 percent of us say we believe in God, that percentage is falling and is well below the 90-plus belief rates of the 20th century. Empty seats in religious gatherings all over the nation demonstrate this decline, and the people who are in the pews are more likely to be closer to senior citizens than to teenagers who will eventually birth potential new worshipers.
Piled on top of all that is the passing of the 5th anniversary of the insurrection and attempted coup in Washington, an event marked by an official plaque honoring the police who defended democracy that day. It has now gone missing and is not on display as required by law.
The cold, hard reality of today’s United States is that few among us can do anything to affect the events and personalities that unfold both in our country and around the world. This helplessness no doubt underlies our increasing pessimism about our lives and those of future generations. We feel unheard and demoralized, both of which are accurate and reasonable assessments of our situation.
In 2026, I have decided to focus on my own world and to do all I can to help those around me find reasons for hope, as so many of us struggle not only with the pressures of our own daily living but also with the implications of national and world events on all of us. I will focus on what I can control, or at least affect, and try not to allow what I cannot control to get me down. I will remind myself of what is positive in my world and embrace those situations, qualities, and people.
I will remind myself daily of all that is right and not dwell on all that is wrong.
And, I will educate myself and vote for agents of positive change in 2026.

It was 250 years ago last week that a displaced governor issued a proclamation intended to restore him to power in North Carolina. Instead, it led to the first major engagement of the Revolutionary War in the Southern colonies — and a decisive defeat for his cause.
The governor in question was Josiah Martin, a Dublin native and British army officer appointed in 1771 to replace William Tryon as the king’s top magistrate in the future Tar Heel State. As resistance to illegal British taxes and sympathy with the residents of Boston spread across North Carolina, Martin catastrophically mishandled his relationship with the provincial legislature and was essentially chased out of the capital, New Bern, in April 1775.
Taking refuge in a British sloop anchored off shore, Martin spent the early months of the Revolutionary War concocting various schemes to regain power. All came to naught. Then he received word the British government wanted to pursue a Southern strategy to win the war, beginning with the capture of Charleston, South Carolina in early 1776.
An emboldened Governor Martin instructed his emissary, Alexander Shaw, to propose an alternative: first capturing Wilmington. Taking the smaller but strategic valuable city, then reasserting royal control over the rest of North Carolina, would weaken Patriot manpower, supplies, and resolve, Shaw argued, making it easier to seize Charleston and Savannah. With the Carolinas and Georgia back in the fold, British regulars and Tory militia could then move north against the largest province in revolt, Virginia, in late 1776 or 1777.
Shaw proved persuasive. British leaders agreed to converge on Wilmington — Gen. Henry Clinton sailing south from New York with one army, Gen. Charles Cornwallis west from Ireland with another. As for Governor Martin, he promised to raise many thousands of Loyalists, most either Scottish Highlanders from the Sandhills or ex-Regulators from the Piedmont with longstanding grievances against the coastal elites now running North Carolina’s revolutionary government.
Another part of the plan, at least in the minds of some British agents, was to draw Carolina militiamen away from coastal defense by inciting and arming the Cherokees to open a second front in the backcountry.
Martin threw himself wholeheartedly into the plan. On January 10, 1776, he issued a proclamation calling for Loyalists to muster into militia companies for the impending conflict. He also promised “every aid, encouragement, and support to all such as shall come to vindicate and support the violated laws and Constitution of their country,” while fuming that “a most daring, horrid and unnatural Rebellion has been exerted in the Province against His Majesty's Government, by the base and insidious artifice of certain traitorous, wicked and designing men.”
This was his public proclamation. Also on January 10, Governor Martin dispatched messengers to Loyalist militia commanders in Anson, Cumberland, Chatham, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Surry, and Bute counties to march their forces to a central location by February 15. They soon settled on Cross Creek, now Fayetteville, as their initial destination, with the intention of then heading down the Cape Fear River to Wilmington to meet up with the incoming British regulars.
Because you know how the Revolutionary War turned out, I won’t worry about spoilers here. Britain’s first Southern strategy had too many moving pieces and was based on the faulty intelligence — much of it from Josiah Martin himself — that most Carolinians sided with the king. Nothing went according to plan. General Clinton showed up late. General Cornwallis was even later. The Cherokee attacks came too late, as well, and converted more than a few previously neutral frontiersmen into passionate Patriots.
As for the Loyalists, many fewer took arms than Martin predicted. And they never made it to Wilmington. To learn more about the resulting battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge (February 27, 1776), please consider attending North Carolina’s First in Freedom Festival. It will be held on and around the Pender County battlefield this coming February 21 to February 28. Visit NCFirstInFreedomFestival.com for more details.

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

(Photo courtesy of First in Freedom Festival's Facebook page)

Commemorations of America’s national history are part of annual celebrations of American independence that take place each year on July 4, which marks the anniversary of the nation’s birth. Those celebrations have a reputation for being particularly festive and tend to be capped off by awe-inspiring fireworks displays once the sun sets on the Fourth of July.
The liveliness of annual celebrations of American independence figures to be taken up a notch in 2026, when the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial. Two hundred and fifty years of nationhood warrants a particularly jovial celebration, and there are many ways Americans can commemorate and celebrate the nation on this momentous occasion.
• Support a local historical society. Local historical societies have played a vital role in preserving United States history, and many of those who work in support of these organizations do so on a volunteer basis. Expressions of support for local historical societies can go a long way toward helping them continue to fulfill their missions. Financial donations, letters to state and local political officials urging increased funding for historical societies, visits to local historical sites, and even volunteering to help organizations fulfill their missions are a handful of ways to ensure these groups can continue to make invaluable contributions to their communities and the nation.
• Volunteer with local government. Pitching in to help local government organizations planning semiquincentennial celebrations is another great way to honor America’s two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. The days and weeks surrounding July 4 will likely be filled with anniversary-related events and celebrations, but many communities also plan to commemorate the semiquincentennial throughout 2026, providing plenty of opportunities for volunteers of all ages to lend a hand.
• Help digitize archival materials. The modern world is accustomed to digital files and instant access to information, but the vast majority of records pertaining to American history and accounts of Americans’ personal experiences remain preserved on paper. Photos and documents wear down over time, and American archivists face an uphill battle as they work to digitize records for the purpose of long-term preservation. Anyone who wants to lend a hand and help to preserve local and national history can speak with a local library or university librarian about what’s being done to digitize historical accounts and records and offer to lend a hand with such efforts. If no such efforts are currently being undertaken in your community, offer to spearhead a digitalization project and recruit others to participate.
• Explore the country. Travel presents another great way to celebrate the nation on its two hundred and fiftieth birthday. The United States is a vast nation with many unique subcultures and local customs, not to mention countless locales that have featured prominently in American history. When planning vacations in 2026, resolve to stay within U.S. borders and seek ways to learn about the nation’s history during your travels.
America’s semiquincentennial is a big deal, and there’s much residents of the United States can do to take an active role in the celebration and commemorations of the nation’s history.