It’s time to shed the gloom, the doom and the masks! Fayetteville is emerging from the restraints and restrictions of COVID and coming alive again with the traditional summer sights and sounds of our diverse All America City. Truly international in scope, Cumberland County is home to people and organizations dedicated to supporting and nurturing the local traditions that define and enhance our unique community. Spring and summer are when Fayetteville comes alive with activities and events to entertain and excite the entire family. There is something for everyone.

The Dogwood Festival is one familiar venue to bring the family outdoors to enjoy local music, food and artists. It’s finally back with a Mini Festival scheduled for June 11-12 at Festival Park. Smaller in scale this year, but just the beginning of returning our community back into the vibrant entertainment hub we’ve come to
appreciate.

What would summer be without music? Our local residents don’t have to answer that because there are multiple concert series already in full swing in our area. The Rock’n On The River series returns to Deep Creek on June 16 with Reflections II and Trial By Fire — two bands that are sure to have you singing along, dancing and enjoying time with friends.

The new music venue, the Pavilion at Gates Four Golf & Country Club, hosts Beatlemania on June 26. With concerts lined up through September, there’s sure to be something to please fans of all music genres.

The newest and most exciting outdoor family entertainment attraction developing in eastern North Carolina is right here in Fayetteville east of the river on Sapona Road — Sweet Valley Ranch.

If you haven't heard about it by now, you will in the near future. Sweet Valley Ranch opened last year to over 17 thousand visitors who came to view and enjoy their drive-thru Christmas light display, the Festival of Lights. Beginning today, June 9, Sweet Valley Ranch is opening Dinosaur World.

Dinosaur World is the latest attraction on the 300 acre working farm that takes visitors on an adventure through a nature trail inhabited by the prehistoric creatures. Visitors of all ages are in for a unique experience.

It is only the beginning of what we predict will become Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s #1 family fun, educational and entertainment destination. Up & Coming Weekly will be showcasing this multi-dimensional enterprise and it's entrepreneurial owners, Fred and Anita Surgeon, and the major economic impact it will have on our community.

Stay tuned and be careful: the Dinosaurs are coming!

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

I was sitting at a stoplight on a calm Sunday morning near the end of May. It was 7:30 in the morning, and traffic was light because not much is open is that time of morning. As I waited for the light to turn, a couple pulled up next to me. I looked over, and they were both wearing masks. Suddenly all the craziness of the last 15-months came flooding back in. The shut downs, the lines, new terms like social distancing, essential worker, and North Carolina's own Wait, Wash and... whatever the other W was.

Then my mind casually wandered over to the social games of follow the leader we played. I think toilet paper was first. The object was to buy and store as much toilet paper as you could. Bonus points if you could balance a stack 4-feet higher than the top of your shopping cart on the way to the checkout.

It started to look like a late snow was predicted when bottled water came in as a close second in the game. Disinfecting wipes changed my mind. Those were not traditionally a weather-related buyout item. Nor were hand sanitizer, webcams or 2x4's.

As America settled into her 'new normal' though, a new series of shortages began to emerge: used cars. Then houses. Followed by jobs for blue collar and food service workers and recreational vehicles for remote-working urban couples.

I could have gone on, but the light turned green. As I drove, my gas gauge reading near-full, I was reminded of the actions of friends and neighbors during the recent and short-lived gas shortage. That's when it all came full circle. The shortages, the anger, the frustration and even desperation were all driven by the same things: greed and discontent.

I'm reminded of a Bible passage written by the Apostle Paul from 1 Timothy 6 which begins, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

As we were clearing store shelves of one item and then the next, following the lead of neighbors, friends and family, we made even the most nonsensical items our top purchase priority and getting our share before it was gone.

The Bible passage continues at 1 Timothy 6:9 saying, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

That brings me back around to today. And I wonder about our collective tomorrow. Many think the Bible is an archaic document filled with idealistic stories, but look around. There's an amazing wealth of knowledge and understanding of what drives people hundreds of generations and later. When the Bible is as close as it is on humans and their behavior, it makes it that much easier to believe when it talks about God.

And that's the story in a nutshell — the story of God and the human race. Open it. Read it. When you see yourself, look closer and you'll see the God who has been trying to reach us since the dawn of time.

Fayetteville Technical Community College held its 59th Annual Commencement exercises outdoors on its Fayetteville campus May 14. The event marked a return to in-person commencement exercises. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College held a virtual graduation in 2020. The easing of constraints made it possible for FTCC to hold in-person ceremonies this year even as safety protocols were observed.

For the first time, the College held its commencement exercises on its Fayetteville campus, under large open-air tents. Three separate ceremonies were held simultaneously in three locations on campus to allow for social distancing. Graduates were under the tents. Family and friends watched from outside. The ceremonies were also streamed live and recorded for later viewing.

More than 600 graduates participated in the in-person ceremonies. All 1,970 of the College’s 2021 graduates were included in a virtual ceremony that premiered on May 15.

The keynote speakers at this year’s ceremonies included the Hon. Robert Wilkie, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Dr. Mark Sorrells, FTCC’s Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Services; and Dr. Murtis Worth, the College’s Dean of Nursing. Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville and a graduate of Reid Ross High School, was also the keynote speaker for the College’s virtual graduation ceremony.

Wilkie told graduates that he had watched FTCC grow from a small technical college into “a wonderful institution dedicated to the human spirit.” He said education is a gift that can transform a person’s life. He urged graduates to use that gift to find and pursue their passion.

“Remember what you’re passionate about, what will make you get up every day for the rest of your life,” he said. “Whatever you’re lacking in optimism, remember your special responsibility because of where you are, and what you’ve been granted. To hold up those who don’t fall to cynicism and to hold up those who see a world not as it is, but as it should be. So, be passionate.”

FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen visited each ceremony. At Tent B, taking place on the front lawn of the Tony Rand Student Center, Keen told graduates success is not a destination, but a journey.

“Please don’t stop here today, and say you made it,” he said. “But understand the real joy is in the journey. Take what you’ve learned, apply it and experience joy with every step that you take because it takes you to better fulfillment of life and the things you do. Every single person has purpose, has an opportunity, a series of opportunities to
do well.”

FTCC’s 2021 graduates earned a total 3,926 associate degrees, diplomas and certificates from 280 curriculum programs in these areas: Allied Health Technologies, Arts and Humanities, Business, Computer & Information Technology, Engineering and Applied Technology, Math and Sciences, Nursing, and Public Service.

In addition, 76 students graduated from the College’s Adult High School program and 43 students graduated from the High School Equivalency program.

Pictured Above: Keynote speakers encpuraged graduates to remain passionate about their goals. (Above Photo by Natasha Brown)

Gilbert Theater’s newest musical “Urinetown” is set to open June 4 and run through June 13, bringing some clean toilet humor to the public. Written by Greg Kotis, the musical originally premiered on Broadway in 2001, and it satirizes various social constructs.

“One big-wig has taken over everything in the story and is monitoring the water use and making huge amounts of money doing so,” said director Robyne Parrish. “People literally have to pay to pee under the threat that they will be sent away to this place called Urinetown, if they disobey.”

The storyline is set in a dystopia where a water shortage leads to governmental ban of private toilets and how one man, Bobby Strong, stands up against the unjust system.

“The question is, ‘what is Urinetown?’ Is it a jail, is it an island somewhere, is it a work camp, what is it and you find that out as the story progresses,” Parrish said.

The lead of the story rallies the town people to speak up and make change in the town, actor Quentin King said.

“The main character meets and falls in love with the villain’s daughter, Hope, so there is a little bit of the star-crossed lover’s element,” actor Jacquelyn Kessler said.

The musical puts a satirical spin on the legal system, and questions capitalism, corporations, corporate mismanagement and bureaucracy.

“It has all the things you want to see in the musical, it’s got love, heartbreak, death and fantastic characters, so any big Broadway musical lover is going to love this show,” Parrish said. “Huge built-in numbers and great dance numbers, sweet ballads, it just has a little bit of everything for everyone.”

Urinetown also mocks Broadway musical shows like “The Threepenny Opera” and “Les Misérables.”

“It’s going to talk about social constructs so it will be a lot of poor versus rich for a lot of the scenes so hopefully the clothes will reflect that. One group will be dressed posh and the other very raggedy Ann,” Kessler said.

Artistic Director of the Gilbert Lawrence Carlisle encourages potential audiences to not shy away from the production because of the title.

“People should not be turned down by it being called “Urinetown,’ it’s good family fun and there’s something for everyone,” Carlisle said. “The opening night is sold out already.”

For more information about the show and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.gilberttheater.com/index.php

Legends Pub will host their 24th annual Spring Fling the weekend of June 4-6. Known to many locals for its welcoming and altruistic nature, the pub, located at 4624 Bragg Blvd # 1, has hosted the event since owner Holly Whitley purchased it about 25 years ago.

“We take care of our own in our own community, we feel as though our own community needs this more than anything,” Whitley said. “It’s quite phenomenal for a little biker bar on the boulevard.”

Spring Fling began way before Whitley owned the pub. She and a group of friends would host parties at Whitley’s house and called it the Gypsy Women Spring Fling.

“It was just a get-together of friends and then when we bought the bar we thought of having it there and at that time one of our friends had had a motorcycle accident and they needed our help so we decided to turn the party into a benefit,” she said. “And that’s how we all started as a group and Spring Fling is now our largest benefit of the year.”

Whitley, in Fayetteville since 1979, bought the pub in the 90’s. Ever since, each year the Spring Fling has raised money for many different individuals and causes in Cumberland County.

“We’ve been around for 25 years and I have got a good, solid base of people that have been with me for many years, supported our benefits and each other, and they knew if hard times came, we would be there to support them as well,” she said.

This year's Spring Fling will benefit the local non-profit Seth’s Wish, a charity helping those affected by homelessness and food insecurity.

“We had a space in Fayetteville for three years and last year a drunk driver drove their car through our building, which is why Holly is doing the Spring Fling this year to help us get into a new building,” said Seth’s Wish Founder and Executive Director Lindsey Wofford.

The non-profit offered hot meals and a place for the homeless to relax during the day. At their old site they also had a clothes closet, food pantry, hygiene closet as well as hot showers for people to use.

“With COVID and the car hitting our building we are really depending on the Spring Fling to move towards our goal of getting into a new space, since all our funds are being constantly exhausted,” Wofford said. “We help house families as well, helping with electric bills, helping people with hotel rooms during winter nights, so it's constantly a game of keep up.”

Whitley said she has helped Seth’s Wish before and has since gotten to know Wofford and how she works.

The 2021 Spring Fling will be a free event for all with the kick off on Friday, June 4 with free pizza and a pool tournament starting at 8 p.m. People are encouraged to bring donation items for the raffle and auction, as well as gallon sized canned food items or small pop-top canned food and personal hygiene items.

Saturday will feature the Scott Sather Memorial Poker Run, a motorcycle ride where participants stop at designated locations to pick up cards and build the best poker hand. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and end by 4 p.m. before the auction.

“We do the Scott Sather Memorial Poker Run in honor of Scott Sather, a regular at our bar, he was killed in Iraq in 2001, and we always have a toast for him,” Whitley said. “He was a part of our family.”

Raffle tickets will be available for purchase for $20 each or $100 for 10 tickets.

“One of our bigger raffle prizes this year is a 70-inch TV among other things,” Whitley said.

The event will feature the live-band Bone Deep from Raleigh after the auction at the end of the night.

On the last day of the Spring Fling, there will be a Bike Show, from 1 to 4 p.m.

“After the show, we usually have a lunch of hotdogs and barbecue sandwiches,” Whitley said. “I don’t ask people to pay for the food because I love people to eat at the bar, just come on down and join us.”

The competitions will feature different awards and prizes, she said.

The 2020 Spring Fling was cancelled due to the pandemic but the pub reopened with a remodel and was revamped.

“My staff has been with me for a long time, they all stuck with me through the pandemic and came back, so I didn't have an employment issue coming back,” Whitley said. “I had a lot of support from the community in being able to pay my rent and
utilities.”

Over the last 25 years, Legends Pub has raised over $50,000 each year.

“The Spring Fling is our biggest event, but we do other events throughout the year as well,” Whitley said. “Over the last 25 years or so I would say we may have raised about a million dollars or so for our community. “We never know when someone has the need, so God forbid something happens.”

Wofford hopes with the help of the money raised with Spring Fling, Seth’s Wish can be back in a building space by this fall before the weather starts getting cold.

“I chose this community to be where I raised my children, and they’ve grown up and become successful here,” Whitley said tearing up. “I just feel like you have to build on your own community. As much strife as we've had in our community this last year, it’s been so hard on all of us, my daddy used to always say, we got to take care of our own, never forget our own.”

Pictured Above: The 2021 Legends Pub Spring Fling will benefit Sth's Wish, a local charity helping those affected by homelessness and food insecurity. (Photos by Christy Alphin)

In an effort to continue the discussion on social justice, Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery is exhibiting Art & Social Justice, a national juried exhibition until June 26. For gallery owners Dwight Smith and Calvin Mims, like many of the exhibits, it is a way “for people to see the world from a different perspective.”

Over 155 works of art were sent to be juried into the gallery or the online exhibit based on the prospectus: “We are living in a tumultuous time; the pandemic has illuminated many of the inequities in our country. How do we move towards equity? Why do we seem to be moving away from fairness? Make an impact with your visually representation of feelings and thoughts on social injustice today … we hope the exhibition will continue the discussion of our path to social justice.”

Although the dominant theme in the exhibition is Black Lives Matter, artists have submitted an unexpected range of themes, styles and mediums based on the principle of social justice: every individual in a society has the same rights and opportunities to be treated fairly and equitably by the society they live in.

An unexpected subject by Korean artist, Sueim Koo, from Ridgefield, New Jersey, is a good example of why visitors should come to the gallery or visit the exhibit online and take the time to read the artists’ statement. In her work titled “Marriage Life (I was Covering my Eyes, Ears and Mouth),” Koo mixes abstraction and realism, predominantly green and pastel colors, abstracted faces are covered by realistic hands and arms on a background of patterns.

Without knowing what the artist intended, “Marriage Life” immediately leads us to understand there is a hidden social justice theme taking place. Koo’s artist’s statement is specific: “I am covering my eyes, ears and mouth with my hands in reference to the principle ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.’” It is also in direct reference to a Korean proverb about marriage. According to this proverb, a new bride should be blind for three years so she will not criticize anything she sees, dumb for three years so she won’t speak out and say something she may regret later, and deaf for three years so she won’t be upset by being scolded.”

Koo’s work is built on a basic social justice premise: the value of oneself in a culture (and to herself) is not greater or lesser than others. The artist speaks to this by stating, “the proverb of the bride can also be used to describe my life as an immigrant … I would sometimes avoid situations in which I would be seen as a foreigner … there were many times I had to pretend not to see or not to hear in order to overcome feelings of humiliation. We must avoid these hurts caused by unfair beliefs about people with different skin colors, different language, different cultures and different gender.”

In sharp contrast to “Marriage Life,” the digitally enhanced gouache titled “Circus Noir” by Robert Arbogast, from St. Augustine, Florida, stands out in the exhibit. Smaller than many of the works surrounding the print, the artist has said much with a minimal graphic design. Shapes and text in black, red, white and minimal green will speak to viewers from across the gallery to look closer — the artist mixes signals to create intent. Arbogast’s statement clears up the confusion: “’Circus Noir’ was inspired by circus posters. In that context, the image could be interpreted as a ‘trick shot,’ shooting a lit cigarette from a man’s mouth. The image can also be viewed as execution, the black man smoking a last cigarette before being shot. The ambiguity is intentional. But the hand holding the gun is white, an intentional reference to the epidemic of Black men being murdered by policemen.”

The above are only two of the thirty-six works hanging in the gallery. The styles range from realism to abstraction, textiles, mixed media to paintings. Just as diverse are the social justice themes artists addressed in their work. Black Live Matter is a prevalent theme, but other themes include, but are not limited to, #MeToo, sexual orientation and gender identity, immigration and poverty.

Curator- juror, Rose-Ann San Martino, must have had a difficult time selecting the award winners from such a varied range of work; but her experience as a professional artist, art advocate and being involved with Ellington-White Corporation since 2008 is a strong background of experience. San Martino studied drawing and painting at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally in group and solo exhibitions and can be found in private collections throughout the United States.

San Martino worked from a valid system of assessment: “The work had to be well crafted, adhere to the theme of the exhibit, and the intent of the work needed to be immediately recognizable. Many excellent works were submitted, but the subject did not follow the theme of social justice.”

She continued, “How does one select between a textile wall hanging, a print, photograph or a painting for an award? It’s never a hierarchical decision based on a medium, the image needed to be instantly recognizable and reflect what the artists included in the artists’ statement. Being recognizable can fall into the cerebral or sublime. For example, the first-place winning entry, a black and white photograph by Richard Perry, from Chapel Hill is an example of the cerebral — a hand pressing against a chain link fence is an image which immediately symbolizes not just one theme, but many themes of social justice.”

As the curator and juror of Art & Social Justice, “I was not surprised but pleased that artists addressed so many different themes, and their approaches to the themes ranged from extremely serious to humorous and even quirky. For visitors to the gallery, or the online exhibit, should take the time to read the artist’s statement. We all bring our own meaning to a work but reading the artist’s statement may give someone a new way to look at a theme or an artist’s approach to a theme.”

Other awards by San Martino include Jeremy Wangler, “7,” photography (2nd), and Sueim Koo, “Marriage Life (I was Covering my Eyes, Ears and Mouth),” mixed media (3rd). Honorable Mentions were given to a textile wall hanging titled “Gaslighter” by Mel Dugosh and “Circus Noir” by Robert Arbogast.

You will have to visit the gallery (or go online) and see firsthand how artists have created works which intersect with political activism and social justice causes. The only artist from Fayetteville in the exhibit is Andrew Johnson.

The exhibit is a means for raising awareness about social issues and affecting positive change. For information and to view the online exhibit, visit www.ellington-white.com/art-social-justice-exhibition. The gallery is located at113 Gillespie St. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday. For more information email ewp-arts@hotmail.com or call 910-483-1388.

Pacific Islanders make up 1.4 million and Asian Americans make up 22.9 million of the U.S. population. The AAPI population has doubled from 2000 to 2019 and is projected to surpass 46 million by 2060 according to the Pew Research Center. Asian Americans trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

“One of the biggest issues facing the community right now is how the Asian American community is viewed as a monolithic group, leading to issues facing a diversity of populations being overlooked, particularly highlighted over the past year are barriers to accessing services,” said Ricky Leung, co-founder and senior director of programs for North Carolina Asian Americans Together, or NCAAT.

Language needs and socioeconomic levels vary drastically for different Asian American populations which leads to decision making that would gloss over the very real needs of already underserved communities, Leung said.

The NCAAT is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on bringing together the Asian American community in North Carolina through civic engagement and political participation. For more information on the NCAAT mission or volunteer opportunities, visit https://ncaatogether.org/

“Between the 2008 and 2012 elections, the Asian American eligible electorate in North Carolina grew by 27.8%, compared to overall statewide growth of 6.1%,” Leung said. “However, Asian American eligible voters are still behind in turnout and have the lowest voter participation rate of any racial minority in the state.” One reason behind this issue was that according to a 2016 study, over 70% of Asian Americans had never been contacted by a political party or candidate, he said.

“Even when they were contacted, the outreach was unlikely to have been culturally competent or to have taken into account the language needs of this diverse population,” Leung said

Founded in 2016, NCAAT’s goal was to fill this gap by focusing specifically on increasing civic engagement and political participation in the Asian American community. NCAAT was the state’s first and only pan-Asian social justice organization.

Since 1978, May is observed as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month in the U.S.

Master Sergeant Cathy Fisher of the U.S. Air Force is stationed at Fort Bragg and celebrates her Asian American Heritage year-round but is excited about the opportunity to introduce others to her heritage during the nationally recognized month of May. She identifies her heritage as Thai, and a mix of Thai, Laotian and Chinese ethnicities.

“Food is a big part of Thai culture, as well as Asian cultures in general,” she said. It was always fun for me to introduce my non-Asian friends to food they had never seen, smelled or tasted and I brought in spring rolls for my coworkers a few weeks ago in celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

One of her favorite things about Thai culture is the Loi Krathong, a water festival. “The first year I attended, my mom explained to me that the tradition of Loi Krathong was to light the candle that was put inside of a lotus flower-shaped candle holder, make a wish and then send your lotus flower out on the water for your wish to be released and come true,” Fisher said. “It was such a beautiful sight.”

Fisher said she enjoys the diversity in the Department of Defense and has met many in the service with her cultural backgrounds and part of the AAPI community which has been great.

Many DoD installations celebrate AAPI Heritage Month by inviting speakers and veterans to share their experiences in overcoming challenges that face the AAPI community, and or celebrate the culture by hosting events where people can sample authentic cuisine as well as experience cultural elements like dance or music, she mentioned.

“As an Asian American woman, I was raised to be quiet and accommodating, the stereotype of being quiet, timid and subservient is a common one that is applied to Asian women,” Fisher said. “The Air Force taught me to speak up, it helped me find my voice to share new ideas, teach others what I had learned and to advocate for those who needed my help.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the country saw a rise in hate-crimes against Asian Americans. According to a study by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University hate crimes against Asian Americans rose by 149 percent between 2019 and 2020, in spite of overall hate crimes in the country declining.

The Anti-Asian sentiment has been deeply disheartening for her and has made her worry about her 70-year-old elderly mother, Fisher said.

“A lot of feelings of helplessness came up as I saw more violence towards the AAPI community,” she mentioned. “I try to choose compassion when I don’t understand a situation and I couldn’t understand why anyone would attack an elderly Asian woman or shoot people for going to an Asian massage parlor.”

Leung said some ways to spread awareness about issues affecting the AAPI community is to read more diverse authors and learn about the diversity of experiences of various communities.

“Be intentional in outreach, think about who all is directly impacted and what are the best ways to make services more accessible to those who need them the most,” he said. “Thinking through language, culture, technology, means various parts of accessibility.

FTCC Foundation received a grant of $250,000 from Cumberland Community Foundation for the expansion of the nursing program and renovation of the Nursing Education and Simulation Center. The grant is the second largest grant received by FTCC Foundation for the nursing expansion. The largest grant received for the project was from the Golden LEAF Foundation for $961,200.

“Cumberland Community Foundation makes a significant difference in improving the lives of the citizens of Cumberland County,” said FTCC President Dr. Larry Keen. “Our Nursing Education and Simulation Center has been enhanced significantly by their support and ongoing commitment to the students, faculty and our community members by their generosity and ongoing fulfillment of their vision and mission.”

The grant is in honor of Cumberland Community Foundation’s 40th anniversary. The lobby in the Nursing Education and Simulation Center will be named for Dr. Lucile West Hutaff, the founder of Cumberland Community Foundation.

Dr. Hutaff was the first full-time female faculty member at Bowman Gray School of Medicine where she served for 29 years. Her career was dedicated to helping others through preventative and community medicine. When she retired and moved back to Fayetteville, she created Cumberland Community Foundation with a donation of stock valued at $576,840. In 2020, Cumberland Community Foundation assets were valued at $115,419,715. CCF has paid $61 million in grants and scholarships since its inception.

A second room in the Nursing Education and Simulation Center will be named in memory of the founders of the first five community endowments at Cumberland Community Foundation. These endowments support the best opportunities and greatest needs in Cumberland County, NC, every year. The founders are: Rachel W. and J. S. Harper; Elizabeth E. and Thomas R. McLean; Mary Y. and Walter C. Moorman; Iris M. and James M. Thornton; Mary B. and Wilson F. Yarborough.

FTCC will renovate the building that formerly housed the childcare center to create a dedicated nursing education facility. This will add new simulation and skills labs, classrooms, meeting spaces and faculty offices for the nursing program. Three nursing programs will be housed in this facility – Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and Certified Nurse Assistant I & II (CNA). These programs will be moved to the 33,500-square-foot, 2-story building from their current location in the Health Technologies Center, which will continue to house 13 other programs. The first floor of the nursing education facility will be completely renovated. The second floor includes 9 classrooms and 10 faculty offices and will not need renovation at this time. This renovation and expansion will allow FTCC to increase its capacity for nursing students and to provide much needed graduates to the medical community.

FTCC Foundation partners with donors to support Fayetteville Technical Community College by raising awareness and financial resources to provide college access for students to attain their educational and career goals. The mission of FTCC Foundation is to foster and promote the growth, progress and general welfare of FTCC, provide supplementary financial support to the College and its students, and advance and enrich the services provided for students, the community, alumni, faculty and staff. FTCC Foundation manages more than 200 scholarship endowments and other funds.

We Americans just marked a special day in our nation’s official calendar.

On Memorial Day we honor those who have sacrificed in military service to our country, particularly those who have given their lives to protect the rest of us. It is and should be a day of reflection and remembrance for those of us fortunate enough to live in our free nation.

While we are a great nation, we are not a perfect nation, and among our imperfections is that we seem to have lost the concept of service to others in many areas of our common lives. We talk the talk about service to our country, but we do not walk the walk with respect to members of our armed services. Some of them live in actual poverty as many in our Cumberland County community know well. I cringe when I see public service announcements begging for funding for various veterans’ projects, not because the projects are not worthy but because caring for our veterans is a public responsibility to be borne by their follow Americans, not only those who choose and are able to donate.

Public service workers, government employees and others who jobs are to serve the American public are routinely both overworked and underpaid at the same time they are denigrated as “bureaucrats” and people who feed at the public trough. Elected officials are considered impotent and incompetent, sometimes outright corrupt, and competent, capable and honest people decline to run for critical elective offices because of it. Important civil service jobs in both federal and state governments go unfilled because of low pay and low public esteem.

It is hard to know when public service became a negative, even dangerous, calling. Ronald Reagan, an icon to many, gave voice to the sentiment when he said in an August 1986, press conference, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” It would be an amusing remark if it were not so insulting. Yes, government is cumbersome, slow and frustrating, but it tackles problems, issues and emergencies that the private sector does not. The private sector does not fund the highway system, educate the vast majority of Americans, or provide health care for people who cannot afford our outstanding but wildly expensive medical system.

We all see where public service ranks on the career status ladder — almost the bottom rung. It has been camped out there for decades. What has also become apparent relatively recently is that public service is actually dangerous. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a medical doctor who has devoted his entire professional life to American public health has personal security. Members of Congress are escorted around the U.S. Capitol by armed National Guard troops and Capitol Police. Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot in the head 10 years ago, and Reagan’s own press secretary James Brady was disabled for the rest of his life by a bullet intended for his boss, the President.

John Kennedy’s take on government service was the opposite of Reagan’s. In his inaugural address, Kennedy famously called for Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” We have come a long way since then but in the wrong direction.

In an autocratic government, one person or a small group is in charge, and the people have little or no input. In a democracy, we the people are the government.

It is time that we both respect and reward those among us who keep the wheels of government turning for all the rest of us. This includes all who serve from the highest to the lowest, and especially those who serve us in the U.S. military.

Cumberland County Public Library presents “Tails and Tales” from June 1 to Aug. 15 at the Cumberland County Public Library. “Tails and Tales” is one of many 2021 Summer Reading Programs for children, teens and adults. It is designed for someone to read books, watch programs and win prizes. Participants keep track of their reading and earn virtual badges for the chance to win prizes like headphones, gift cards and color-changing mugs. Grand prizes include an annual family membership to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, a $100 gift card and a Kindle. Individuals can tack their progress by using a reading record which can be picked up at any library branch or downloaded and printed. Find your nearest branch and more information about the Summer Reading Program at https://cumberland.lib.nc.libguides.com/srp

“Tails and Tales” is the perfect way to keep children and teens engaged in learning while school is out. Prizes start at just five hours of reading. The program helps improve reading skills, promotes creative thinking, imagination and storytelling. Teens can participate in fun activities like games, challenges and missions.

Adults can take advantage of BookMatch, a new service that helps adults find their next great read. Customers can fill out a short questionnaire on the library’s website to identify books matched to reader interests and librarians create a customized list of book titles.

Keep up with Summer Reading by following the library’s social media pages at facebook.com/CumberlandCountyPublicLibrary or YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/UCkKV_zbl08357r3rtgc0yxA. All library branches re-opened to the public in May. Library hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the library’s website at cumberland.lib.nc.us for more information and links to social media. Curbside service is available at all Library branches.

The City of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg have agreed to build a sports complex on 70 acres of undeveloped property on post near I-295 and McArthur Road. City Manager Doug Hewett and Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Scott Pence signed the agreement at City Hall May 21. The sports complex was approved by voters in the 2016 $35M recreation bond referendum. “We are excited to bring this project one step closer to fruition, but we are even more excited about this new partnership with Fort Bragg that will provide us with 70 acres of additional park land conveniently located along I-295,” said city manager Doug Hewett. “This is a win-win for Fort Bragg and for the City of Fayetteville and we appreciate their partnership,” Pence added noting that more than 70% of local service members and their families live in Fayetteville and the surrounding communities. The sports complex will include baseball fields, playgrounds, restrooms, walking trails, parking spaces and open areas. Construction is expected to begin in early 2022.

Pictured Above: Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Scott Pence (left) and City Manager Doug Hewett (right) recently signed an agreement for a new sports complex. 

Methodist University graduated more than 200 students on May 8 during the first outdoor commencement ceremony in the school’s history. The commencement, held at Segra Stadium in downtown Fayetteville, graduated seniors from the class of 2021, but also recognized graduates from the class of 2020, who missed their in-person commencement when the global pandemic hit.

“Graduates, I’m proud of you. Together, we’ve been through a long dark season because of COVID,” said Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, MU’s president.

“I have witnessed your resilience and have seen you make countless sacrifices. I have witnessed you rise above challenges and uncertainty of these times. It has been a sacred privilege to spend this time with you.”

Students, faculty and staff were able to make a far-from-ordinary academic year successful with hybrid learning and modified events, which resulted in the campus staying open for residential living and in-person classes all year while many colleges and universities across the state and nation shut their doors.

One of these modified events was the commencement ceremony, which is usually held indoors. Methodist University became the first institution of higher learning to partner with Segra Stadium downtown to host the open-air ceremony.

While some aspects of MU’s commencement changed, the ceremony remained one that honored the many accomplishments of its students. Eight students were recognized for their recent commission into the U.S. Army, while graduates Elias Rodriguez (Argentina) and Hamza Boubacar Kassomou (Niger) were recognized as the first MU grads from their respective countries.

Aiden Sherry was presented with the L. Stacey Weaver Award, which is awarded to a Spring graduate via a vote from MU faculty. The student must exemplify academic excellence, spiritual development, leadership and service.

Darryll Decotis and Rachel Townsend became the first MU recipients of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards. These awards are given to the students who demonstrate a noble character and act as humble servants who place service to others before their own self-interests.

Distinguished graduates Allison Nagel (2020) and Maria Choi (2021) were selected by a vote by the senior class to share a few words during the ceremony.

“The close-knit community at Methodist is what makes our experience so much different than that at other colleges,” said Nagel. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to every single person I’ve encountered at Methodist, and I challenge you to reach out and do the same. Even when you struggle, the people around you here today want you to succeed as much as you want to succeed yourself.”

“We’ve experienced so much in the past few years,” added Choi. “How much more will we learn and grow in the coming years? Every day, we have the opportunity to leave the world a slightly better place than it was when we woke up.”

The commencement address was given by long-time MU baseball coach Tom Austin, who was recently recognized as the winningest active baseball coach in NCAA Division III.

Austin, who has earned more than 1,200 career wins at Methodist University since joining the staff in 1980, gave graduates several pieces of advice for their life
after MU.

His advice included be on time, be prepared, give a great effort, do the job no one wants to do, have a great attitude and great body language, treat others with respect and do the right thing.

“I’m going to throw you one final pitch,” Austin said. “I hope you get a job you love as much as I love this job here at Methodist. Congratulations graduates, may God bless you and guide your every step.”

Following his speech, Wearden presented Austin with the University Medallion, one of Methodist’s highest honors.

Pictured Above: Distinguihed graduate Maria Choi (pictured) and Allison Nagel were chosen by their senior class to make remarks during the ceremony. 

After a year of being masked, isolated and vaccinated, the sun is shining — literally and figuratively — and it is finally time to venture back into the great outdoors. 

The Cool Spring Downtown District will launch The District Summer Market in June at Festival Park. This farmers-and-makers market is scheduled to be open to the public from 4-8 p.m.every Thursday starting June 3 through Aug. 26. The exception will by July 1, when the market will be closed.

About 25 vendors will be selling their products each week, and they include a variety of farmers, ranchers, artists and artisans.

Saira Meneses, co-owner of Purpose Driven Family Farm, expressed her own excitement: “We’re thrilled to be part of The District Summer Market this year; it's going to be, without a doubt, a great addition to downtown Fayetteville, and my husband, AJ, and I are looking forward to introducing our farm and unique products to attendees.”

Purpose Driven Family Farm raises its livestock using organic/non-GMO methods and sustainability practices on a 10-acre farm in Parkton. Owners AJ and Saira Meneses believe in raising thier animals humanely and with integrity, love and respect, because they know that happy, healthy animals mean better products for their community. Learn more at www.purposedrivenfamilyfarm.com/

As a part of its ongoing objective to position downtown as a viable arts-and-entertainment district, Cool Spring’s Chief Executive Officer, Bianca Shoneman, continues to seek opportunities to create and/or host family-friendly activities that bring people downtown to shop, eat and play, safely.

“We simply recognized the fact people are looking for more opportunities to intentionally spend their money on locally produced food, art, etc. in 2021,” Shoneman said, “and thanks to the support of the city of Fayetteville, The District Summer Market will be a fantastic opportunity for downtown’s visitors to shop local while enjoying a fun, family-friendly outing in our lovely Festival Park.”

Cool Spring Downtown District is planning to invite local food trucks and musicians to participate in the market once restrictions are lifted. Additionally, a variety of games such as cornhole, Connect 4, and ladder ball will be available for groups to enjoy playing on Festival Park’s spacious lawn.

“We’re extremely excited for the grand opening of The District Summer Market and are looking forward to serving folks through our pasture-raised and nutrient-dense pork, beef, chicken and eggs,” an owner of Spartan Tusk and Feather Livestock said. “We believe this market will change the way people look at the food they’re consuming.”

Spartan Tusk and Feather Livestock is a veteran-owned-and-operated family farm, located on 60 acres in Shannon, that produces antibiotic-free, hormone-free, and humanely raised food products. Owners Adam and Tiffany Jeter pride themselves on providing sustainable, healthy foods for their community. Learn more at facebook.com/SpartanTuskandFeatherLivestock

Cool Spring Downtown District is inviting the public to apply to be a vendor for one or more of the 12 markets being planned over the summer. Email marketmanager@coolspringfay.org for more information. Additionally, if a company is interested in sponsoring one or more of the markets, email bianca@coolspringfay.org.

The public may follow all market plans and happenings on Cool Spring Downtown District’s website https://visitdowntownfa

About 1 in 5 American adults will experience a diagnosable mental health issue, according to a survey by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Over the last year with the COVID-19 pandemic isolating people across the country and world, there has been an increase in adults seeking help for anxiety, depression and other mental conditions, a screening by Mental Health America found.

The Issue

“With the pandemic we really saw an increase in the number of overdose-deaths, alcohol and substance abuse problems, depression, suicide attempts, all of that has gone up,” said Mark Kline, department chair for psychology at Methodist University. “Therapists in Fayetteville and the state have noticed that there’s not enough therapists for all the people who need help.”

Since 1949, the month of May has been celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month across the U.S. to raise awareness and educate people about different mental health illnesses. Many organizations host awareness campaigns, events and more.

Many health care professionals say mental health topics are not given the importance they should in terms of public perception and its relation to overall health.

“When the pandemic first started people were struggling with feeling isolated, they didn't have enough connections or weren't able to establish them because they couldn't go out, recreation was greatly reduced, plus additional stress with kids being home-schooled,” said Dr. Michael West, Deputy Commander for Department of Behavioral Health,
at Womack Army Medical Center on Fort Bragg.

According to SAMHSA, only 48.2% of adults in North Carolina receive treatment for their mental health, ranking the state 33 out of 50 for providing access to mental health services.

“It’s a society wide problem, we are doing some things that are in the right direction like the mental health awareness month, on campus we do a lot of reaching out, we have different events we do for mental health awareness days, just to let people know it’s not a moral failure, there's nothing wrong with them and that it’s a normal part of human life and there is help available,” Kline said.

Stigmatization is the main hurdle keeping people from seeking help, he said.

Causes

“You really can't separate mental and physical health, they really influence each other,” Kline said. “My argument would be that mental health is just as critical a need in our community as physical health and with COVID it really kind of brought that to the forefront.”

Dr. West says for soldiers, many stressors come from managing the pace of Fort Bragg being a premier operational post, things move very fast and there's a lot of demand on the soldiers and their families.

Many have to balance the job of serving their country, demands at home and still try to have a personal life, make time for hobbies and such, he said.

“When those things get out of balance at home or work, during deployments, we think PTSD can happen, but one can also get depressed or anxious, people can develop marital or relationship problems, a whole bunch of stuff can come out with an imbalance of life,” Dr. West said.

Although there is no one single cause of mental illnesses, many factors like genetics, environmental factors, brain injuries, life experiences and more can affect one’s mental health.

“We really look at five areas — sleep, activity, nutrition, spirituality or purpose and then there’s what we say to ourselves, are we someone who accepts when we make mistakes or we beat ourselves up and get into negative self-talk because all that does is bring people down,” Dr. West said.

“Those five areas are things that are very important and getting into routines and it's horrible during the pandemic to get into them because things are open and then they are closed, you can do this or can't
do that.”

See Something, Say Something

Dr. West suggests people be more observant to notice if their friends or family are acting differently.

“If a person who’s always been calm, relaxed and chill and suddenly they are now angry, irritable and stressed out, or negative in their approach, those are changes and things we have to take time to observe,” Dr. West said. “Then be willing to say something, sometimes it's to the individual and saying ‘hey, what's going on’ and being their buddy and sometimes it's talking to someone else and getting some assistance for them.”

There is a lot of pressure on the person experiencing mental health issues to seek help, but friends and family can be a helpful resource to get them help before things get hard, Kline mentioned.

“If you recognize a family member is struggling, it’s pretty easy to look up resources, just in Fayetteville, there are several mental health agencies, several practices, and a lot of resources,” he said. “And sometimes if a friend or family member can help facilitate that, let them you know ‘hey, I can sit with you when you contact them or ride with you there,’ that makes it a lot easier for people to access those resources.”

Dr. West said that people need to reach out and express worry and ask how they can help when they see someone in distress.

“Realize that we are all people, all have challenges, if not today then tomorrow or day after, we all have things that come up so asking for help or assistance is really not a big deal,” he said.

Resources

The SAMHSA treatment referral helpline 1-877-726-4727 is available Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 pm. EST and connects people with local resources and information on mental health. Those in immediate need can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) available 24/7.

At Methodist University’s Center for Personal Development, a fully staffed mental health provider offers free mental health services to staff, faculty and students.

Cumberland County lists local mental health organizations and providers on their website www.co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/mental-health. Their page lists a 24-hour Access and Information Line offered by Alliance and can be reached at 800-510-9132.

The Department of Behavioral Health at Fort Bragg offers a full range of mental and behavioral health care to active-duty soldiers, families and children. They offer services to manage substance abuse issues. The Intrepid Spirit Center works with those suffering from traumatic brain injuries, pain management and more.

“Many deployable units have behavioral health assets or officers, there’s military family life counselors that are here to help with very straightforward problems of life,” Dr. West said. “We also have behavioral health consultants who work with individuals with minor psychological issues, managing stress or physical conditions.”
Womack’s Behavioral Health Department serves Department of Defense members with a team of counselors on Fort Bragg.

The Peer Support Program at Fort Bragg offers support to those who have recently lost a relationship and they meet at various times and places and can be found on Facebook, Dr. West said.

The VA Suicide Crisis line is 1-800-273-8255 or one can text 838255 or live chat by visiting www.veteranscrisisline.net to get helped by qualified responders. For those looking to support near you visit www.veteranscrisisline.net.

“Just because a person comes to behavioral health does not mean they can't do their job or deploy, those are very unique cases,” he emphasized.

Military One Source offers confidential counseling to military and family members. Military One Source can be reached at 1-800-342-9647 or by visiting www.militaryonesource.mil 

“The Department of Behavioral Health is a great resource; we like it when people come in early so we can help get things on track quickly rather than waiting until the problems have really deepened and become much more ingrained.” Dr. West said.

Maintaining Balance

“Make sure you are doing things to take care of yourself, it’s different for different people, some it's going to the gym, for some it's spending time with family, or quiet time,” Dr. West said. “And really trying to maintain those balances of what you know helps you regain your resilience to help you to
manage stressors.”

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners honored Demetria Murphy with the Cumberland County Cares Award in recognition of her volunteer work in the community. Murphy is a member of the Fayetteville Cumberland Re-Entry Council. The Council helps men and women who have been through the criminal justice system make positive re-integration into society. The Council provides support and resources to help individuals obtain employment or education opportunities.
“Ms. Murphy has certainly made a positive impact on our community,” said Commission Vice Chairman Glenn Adams who described her “as a unique and inspiring young woman who speaks passionately about her volunteer efforts and her efforts to help those who are looking for a second chance in life.” Murphy also founded the Youth Diverse Intervention Group which works to promote positive influence and actions in the lives of young people. She also volunteers with the Veterans Empowering Veterans Organization and helped organize a much-needed food bank. The Cumberland Cares Award recognizes individuals, groups and agencies that have made outstanding contributions toward a better quality of life for Cumberland County’s citizens.

Pictured Above: Demetria Murphy (left) was presented the Cumberland County Award by Glen Adams (right). the county commision vice chairman. 

Watching Lynne Cheney get booted out of her House Congressional Republican leadership position for failing to worship the Former Guy got me thinking about Greek mythology. Lynne got her head chopped off because she refused to kiss the Former Guy’s nethermost region of his rather expansive anatomy. Either one of my Gentle Readers might rightly ask by what bizarre stretch of logic does the Former Guy fit into Greek mythology? No person could rationally compare the Former Guy to mythological characters. “Au contraire” as a snail-eating Frenchman might say. Recall Otter in “Animal House” who once said: “I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.” And as Bluto almost replied: “I’m just the guy to do it.” Jules in the movie “Pulp Fiction” once said in a slightly different context, “Allow me to retort.”

So I shall retort.

The Former Guy has been diagnosed from afar as having Narcissistic Personality Disorder. This begs three questions: 1. Who was Narcissus? 2. What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? 3. If the diagnostic shoe fits, does the Former Guy wear it?

Let’s begin with Narcissus. Narky, as his buddies called him, was what was known back in the Grecian Formula days as a Pretty Boy. He was even prettier than the Artist Formerly Known as Prince. Narky did not care about other people’s feelings as he was too superior to associate with people or even Gods.

One day Narky was out hunting in the deep forest when he was spotted by a lovely mountain nymph named Echo. Nymphs were beautiful young female spirits. Zeus would frequently make whoopee with nymphs except for Echo. Echo’s job was to keep Zeus’ wife Hera busy by talking to Hera while Zeus was out sporting with other nymphs. Eventually Hera found out Zeus was tom catting around. She blamed Echo for covering up for him. Hera laid a curse on Echo that caused Echo to only repeat what someone had said to her. This made Echo both a boring and irritating conversationalist.

It was love at first sight for Echo when she got a gander at Narky. Narky called out: “Who is there?” Unfortunately, Echo could only repeat what Narky said. Her limited conversational style irritated Narky mightily. He angrily rejected the lovesick Echo leaving her in the woods to pine away for him. Echo’s love sickness caused her body to fade away into the ether. Only her voice remained which could only repeat words yelled into a canyon. That is why echoes were named for poor Echo.

Things did not end much better for Narcissus. He left Echo to go sit by a pool of water to get a drink. When he looked into the pool he caught his first glimpse of his beautiful self. Apparently, mirrors had not yet been invented. Having never seen himself before, he fell immediately in love with his own reflection. Narky was pretty but he was not too bright. He thought there was a beautiful young man in the pool not realizing it was just his reflection. When Narky reached into the pool to touch his beloved self, the ripples made his reflection disappear. Narky was so smitten by his own image that he could not leave the pool. He sat there falling in love with himself while forgetting to eat. He withered away, dying by the pool admiring his own reflection. There may be a moral hidden somewhere in this story. See if you can find it. Psychiatrists have stolen the story for their own purposes.

Psychiatrists have a handy book of psychiatric disorders called the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” which they use to assign patients into neat little categories of mental woes. The nutshell description of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is the patient is described as arrogant, self-centered, demanding and “often have high self-esteem and may believe they are superior or special compared to other people. However, they seem to need excessive praise and admiration, and they may react poorly to perceived criticism.”

The Shrinks will diagnose a patient with NPD if five of the following criteria are met: “A grandiose sense of self-importance; preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty; belief that the patient is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with other special or high status individuals; a need for excessive admiration; a sense of entitlement; interpersonally exploitive behavior; a lack of empathy; envy of others or belief others are envious of him; or a demonstration of arrogant and haughty behavior.”

Gentle Reader, I leave it to you to decide if the Former Guy meets five of these delightful character traits to warrant a sidewalk diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. One clue is that the Former Guy spent an inordinate amount of time and taxpayer dollars on his golf courses. Golf courses are known to have water hazards into which the Former Guy could have spent many hours staring lovingly at his own reflection. His cult followers mimic Echo by consistently repeating his false charges. Barry Goldwater once campaigned for President with the slogan “A Choice Not an Echo.” The Former Guy flipped Barry’s slogan to “An Echo not a Choice.” It was off with her head for Ms. Cheney who chose not to be an Echo.

Love is a many splendored thing.

Part of being human is the desire to organize our knowledge to understand it better, and Americans seem quite adept at this. Marketers have long since categorized us by our shared beliefs, and now a researcher has applied this technique to Americans who have not been vaccinated. We have known since COVID-19 vaccines became available that certain groups of people are getting vaccinated at lower rates than their fellow Americans, among them Republicans, people of color and rural residents. Harvard public health assistant professor Dr. Sema K. Sgaier is grouping us not by our demographic characteristics but by our shared beliefs.

Before we look at the holdouts against herd immunity, there is clearly a vast category that the Times dubs Enthusiasts, of which I am a happy member. These are folks thrilled to be vaccinated. I was so relieved to stick my arm out the driver’s side window for my jab at a vaccination site that my neighbor whose arm was out the passenger window feared my giddiness would make me hyperventilate. Most Americans fall into this category now that 60% of us have had at least
one shot.

So, who is holding out against herd immunity in our nation? Writing in The New York Times, Sgaier posits four different categories for those who remain doggedly unvaccinated.

Eight percent of them she calls Watchful. These are folks who are waiting to see what happens next. Did my cousin have side effects? What about the fellow around the corner? They are likely mask wearers and may eventually get vaccinated to protect themselves and others. They make up 8% of the unvaccinated nationally.

Then we have the Cost Anxious. The federal government has made vaccinations free for virtually all of us, but these folks are concerned about the time involved to leave work or home. Making vaccinations convenient is most important to those group, which makes up about 9% of the unvaccinated.

As always, in a free society, we have System Distrusters. They believe the system, and in this instance the health care system, treats them unfairly. They may believe the system targets people “like them” or that vaccines will secretly change their DNA. They might respond to a trusted friend or adviser to set them straight, but in the meantime, they make up about 4% of the no-vaccine-for-me crowd.

And, finally, Sgaier labels the COVID Skeptics. These folks believe COVID-19 is no big deal, perhaps even a pandemic engineered to manipulate people around the world, particularly Americans. They cite their aunt, cousin, next-door-neighbor who had COVID and is “just fine.” They make up about 14% of the unvaccinated, and will likely not take the jab, as one Skeptic told me, until “I am damn well ready.”

So how does North Carolina’s unvaccinated break down in Sgaier’s system?

Most of our unvaccinated folks are indeed stubborn Skeptics, doing their own thing no matter how it puts others at risk. Then comes our Cost Anxious crowd, who do not want to miss work or something else important for a shot. The Anxious are followed by the Watchful, many of whom will ultimately get vaccinated once they feel confident about their friends and family who have done so. And, finally the System Distrusters come in at 2.5%.

Sgaier’s research, especially when reviewed state by state, reveals a patchwork of reasons why the national vaccination rates are slowing down despite no-cost availability. Some states are all in, and some barely so. The CDC puts North Carolina at 38th in the nation for adults having at least one dose.

Americans do have the right to choose for ourselves, but vaccine hesitancy is a real thing that is affecting all of us. No one should be forced to get vaccinated, but we should all think not only of ourselves but of the greater good. The Bible puts it this way — Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Well, from where I sit it looks like Fayetteville is starting to come alive again after being stymied for nearly two years dealing with the COVID pandemic. We see more and more people venturing out eating, shopping and actively searching out events, activities and things to do outside the confines of their own home. Art, cultural and recreational events that were so bountiful prior to the pandemic are starting to make a comeback.

I recently received a call from Sarahgrace Snipes, the new Executive Director of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. She was very excited and eager to tell me that the City of Fayetteville has finally given them permission to use Festival Park for this year’s Dogwood Mini Fest. This event was previously scheduled to be held in April at Westwood Shopping Center, but again COVID-19 ended up being Dogwood’s party pooper. Since arriving in Fayetteville from Wilmington, Sarahgrace has literally “hit the ground running." And, standing up the Dogwood Festival’s Mini Festival at Festival Park on such short notice will be a major accomplishment. One that will be very much appreciated by this community. The Dogwood Festival is free to the public and will feature many of their traditional events like the car & motorcycle show, art and craft displays, local vendors and entertainers, and, of course, great food and a live music concert. Everyone needs to support this event on June 11 & 12.

Speaking of music concerts, Fayette-ville residents eager to be outside in the fresh air are turning out in huge numbers to the many musical concerts scheduled for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Gates Four Golf & Country Club launched their Summer Concert Series on May 16 with a Beach Music Bash at The Pavilion. Their musical series of five monthly concerts will present award winning musical talent and entertainment ranging from classic Carolina Beach music to the Beatles and hits from the 60s. On July 17 they will present a Retro 80’s Rock Concert & Party. The Series is produced by the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre in conjunction with Gates Four and the public is invited. All the concerts are ticketed events but with a twist: all food, beer and wine are included in the ticket price. For the list of concert times and dates go to www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com.

Another great outdoor music concert series was launched last week when Rock’n On The River showcased two great bands on the banks of the Cape Fear River at Deep Creek Outfitters. Hundreds of rock music enthusiasts turned out to see, hear and experience Mostley Crue and Shoot to Thrill. They did not disappoint. This concert series is produced and engineered by local Fayetteville resident Greg Adair with Healy Whlse., Up & Coming Weekly, 96.5 Bob FM and The River 106.5, and the support of dozens of local businesses. Their next event is on June 18 featuring Reflections II and the Journey tribute band Trail by Fire. Follow Rock’n On The River on Facebook for details.

Yes, Fayetteville is coming alive again. The sights and sounds of the joyful outdoors are everywhere. Seek them out, enjoy and support them. Here’s a few suggestions: Clark Park, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Veterans Memorial Park, Lake Rim Park, Cape Fear Trail, the Rose Garden at FTCC and one of my very favorites, Fayetteville’s newest and most exciting destinations, the Sweet Valley Ranch and Dinosaur World.

So, whether you are into attending a local festival, enjoying a music concert on the river, or smelling the pretty flowers, Fayetteville and Cumberland County have a never-ending array of wonderful outdoor places for you to go, see, enjoy, relax and de-stress.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Caption: The Dog Wood Mini Fesival is schedued for June 11-12 at Festival Park. Musical entertainment, food and vendors are planned. (Photos of previous events courtesy of Fayetteville Dog Wood Festivals) 

Positivity with a ponytail. The music, the message and the motorcycle. These are just a couple of the taglines someone recently suggested for the daily radio show I have the pleasure of hosting on WCLN.

Ultimately, I'll probably not use either of them, but it's nice to know people take time to notice. That's something our sorely disconnected world needs a little more of: People noticing one another.

Over the past several months my wife and I have begun watching the independent video series, “The Chosen” from director Dallas Jenkins. None of us can comment with surety on how accurately the personalities of any of the Biblical figures is depicted, but the series has gone a long way to making them all more understandable.

“The Chosen” walks viewers through the early days of Jesus' time in ministry, offering backstories of the people we often reduce to supporting actors as we read the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament.

The more we learn about the environment in which these people and their stories were birthed, the better we understand the counter cultural message of the Gospel.

I think too often we conjure the image of Jesus wandering from lame to leper in a white robe with His hands held just so, speaking in language too haughty for most to comprehend.

That's probably far removed from the truth. Jesus was born into a gritty world, and a land which was dominated and occupied by Rome — an invading nation bent on ruling
the world.

As Jesus’ ministry unfolds in the first four books of the New Testament, what I see is someone who noticed. He noticed pain. He noticed suffering. He identified with those who were poor and hungry, weary from the weight of the oppressive occupation, and anxiously hoping for a heroic figure to swoop in and save them all. Ultimately that's what they got, but they simply missed it.

The Jewish people of that day had crafted a military hero from hundreds of years of stories. A hero who would defeat all the enemies of Israel, based on their current situation.

The hero who showed up, however, was a kind, understanding man who worked with common people to help them better relate to God and the people around them.

He taught them to love one another, and to treat even their greatest enemy with compassion.

Jesus taught us to do what we need to do more of to move this world and any situation toward a more peaceful resolution in every way: He taught us to notice.

When we truly notice those around us we begin to understand. We identify with their pain, we identify we their suffering, and when we notice those around us who are hungry and poor in any number of ways, we find the same hope that Jesus offered. That hope promises there is more in this world than our situation, and many ways to live a full life regardless of it.

Pictured above: "The Chosen" is the first ever multi-season series about the life of Christ. (Photo courtesy Angel Studios)   

In modern times, military members have numerous resources when they start transitioning out of the military. A large number of those resources focus on business ownership. I have experienced firsthand that most of those resources are limited until you are within a few months of separation. Furthermore, the resources focus on the skills necessary to run a business, not the different options to becoming a business owner.

The business ownership process takes longer than transiting into another job/career. Even once you get your company up and running it may take a while to replace your income. My goal is to provide the necessary knowledge sooner to ensure members have the time necessary to plan. Veterans perform well as business owners but may not know their options before leaving the service.

This column intends to educate readers on three different methods of obtaining business ownership and identify the need to surround yourself with qualified advisors.
Each of the three most common methods to business ownership has its benefits, risks and concerns.

Start-up

Start-ups allow you to control every step and process. They can sometimes allow for little to no initial capital. This is a common way to bring new ideas to market. Although those are very appealing benefits for start-ups, they also have a lower success rate than the other two options, as you often find yourself filling countless roles with little support. Even if your small business is successful, it may take several years for the company to become profitable.

Franchise

Not all franchises are created equal, but in general the value is in proven processes, purchasing power, brand recognition, knowledgeable support, training and higher success rates. Franchises allow for more accurate strategic planning than a start-up, as you have more data to support your goals. Those benefits do not come for free as there are typically both upfront and ongoing fees, but many franchisors offer a discount for veterans. There are countless different franchises so it is wise to work with a franchise consultant who can help match your criteria to the right opportunity.

Established business

Those coming from outside the business world may not know that you can find a profitable business for sale at reasonable prices. This business acquisition strategy allows you to enter something that is already established, with customers, employees and processes. This means from day one you may have a return on your investment. Sometimes the existing business for sale is a franchise and other times the business is fully independent. In my opinion, this area has the highest risk if you do not have a strong team of professional advisors to help make informed decisions. Business sales typically take around nine months from start to finish.

As you transition out of military service you will face countless decisions. Surrounding yourself with advisors early in your decision process will smooth the transition into business ownership. Because every person’s situation is different and requires specific considerations, it is important to find an advisor who can tailor their service to help you meet your goals.

Cloud computing has become the norm. And with more entities adopting a cloud posture, opportunities abound for individuals who have some level of expertise in this specialization.

What is the Cloud? Cloud technologies, such as AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Microsoft Azure, allow organizations to migrate their data storage and computing capabilities off premises. The three most common cloud models are Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The models are implemented in a virtualized environment.

In a nutshell, virtualization is the ability to “split” one physical server into multiple servers using a specialized “operating system” (hypervisor) and/or software. To explore virtualization, you can download VMware Workstation Player or Virtual Box; both are available free for personal use. Each virtual server is viewed as a stand-alone entity from the outside world with its own CPU, memory and storage. In reality, the resources of the physical server are being shared by the virtualized servers. Benefits include reduced hardware costs, increasing efficiency, resiliency and elasticity (ability to increase/decrease computing resources on demand), as well as conserving energy and minimizing hardware footprint.

Why are Organizations Moving to the Cloud? One reason many organizations are moving to the cloud relates to security. Cybersecurity attacks are increasing, yet the talent pool of security experts is not keeping up with the demand. Moving to the cloud mitigates this situation, as cloud companies are able to offer advanced security options and solutions. Another reason relates to cost. By moving to the cloud, the cost of storage, applications and computing cycles can be structured based on a variety of options from on-demand pricing, pay-as-you-go, to a “subscription” based model. All this, without the need to purchase, set up or maintain physical equipment.

Who is Moving to the Cloud? Organizations of all sizes are moving many of their computing capabilities to the cloud. Even a sole developer can benefit from using the cloud as they would have a plethora of services and computing options available with the click of the button.

How FTCC Can Help. Fayetteville Technical Community College offers an associate degree in IT/Cloud Management as well as a certificate option. The curriculum presents plenty of hands-on opportunities to help learners gain practical exposure and realize a meaningful learning experience. Industry certifications helps students prepare for Python, CompTIA (Security+), VMware, Red Hat, AWS and Azure. The role of a cloud specialist involves:

•Helping organizations migrate to the cloud.

•Building out and configuring the cloud infrastructure (computing, networking and security).

•Developing functions, applications or databases that run on the cloud.

•Managing an organization’s on-premise hardware and software with a cloud emphasis.

How Much can a Cloud Specialist Earn? According to Glassdor.com the average base pay for Cloud Engineers is $100,00 per year. And according to ZipRecruiter.com, “as of Jan 18, 2021, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Cloud Engineer in the United States is $85,161.” The high salary is an indication of the shortage of talent that exists in the cloud realm. Companies are willing to pay a premium and will handsomely reward individuals who take the time to learn the valuable skills required to successfully serve in the cloud management space.

Shifting the thought process of computing from a physical perspective to a virtualized environment may take a little bit of time. However, with a little effort, focus and dedication, a significant degree of competency will be achieved, and it will be well worth the journey. Call or visit FTCC to learn more.

The Airborne and Special Operations Museum opened a new exhibit May 7 to honor American prisoners of war. Victory From Within: The American Prisoner of War Experience explores the POW experience through sections titled Capture, Prison Life, Those Who Wait and Freedom.

The exhibit includes artifacts from James “Nick” Rowe, a Special Forces Lieutenant and POW held by the Viet Cong; Raymond Schrump, also a POW in the Vietnam War; and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Durant. The ASOM supplements the exhibit with POW artifacts from its own collection from World War II, Vietnam and Operation GOTHIC SERPANT, along with related artifacts from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum.

Director of the museum Jim Bartlinski said, “I hope this exhibit brings a better understanding of the sacrifices our military men and women give for us to have our freedom.”

Rowe was captured by Vietcong communist guerillas on October 29, 1963, and spent five years in captivity moving between POW camps in South Vietnam. In December of 1968, Rowe escaped when he overpowered his guard and flagged down an American helicopter.

Schrump was a Special Forces Major assigned to Tay Ninh Province in southern Vietnam. He was taken prisoner by the Viet Cong on May 23, 1968, and held captive for close to five years.

Durant was taken captive during operation GOTHIC SERPENT in October of 1993, when the Black Hawk helicopter he was flying in Mogadishu was shot down by Somali militants. He was held captive for 11 days.

“It is an honor and a privilege to bring these stories to the public and those within the military community,” Bartlinski said. “I hope this exhibit will bring inspiration to those about to leave or returning from SERE training.”

SERE stands for Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. SERE training is required for military personnel whose assignment makes them vulnerable to capture by the enemy or terrorists. SERE training prepares troops to resist the enemy’s attempts at exploitation, to escape from captivity and to return home with honor. Rowe is credited with developing the course. After his retirement from service, Schrump was a speaker during the SERE course.

This exhibit runs until September 26. It is offered in partnership with the Andersonville (Ga.) National Historic Site National Prisoner of War Museum. Admission to the museum is free. For more information on the ASOM and their upcoming events visit www.asomf.org/.

The Fayetteville Comic Con will return to the Crown Expo Center for one weekend in June. On Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20, Comic Con will present a family friendly atmosphere that celebrates all forms and fans of American and World Popular Culture for those who like comics, cosplay, gaming, collectible toys, or anime. The world of Comic-Con is not unlike that of a long-running comic series: it’s its own action-packed world filled with colorful characters and intricate story lines. Much like comics, getting into it can be a bit intimidating for the uninitiated. Comic-Con is a lot of fun with a non-judgmental atmosphere. Tickets can be purchased online at www.CapeFearTix.com. This year’s Fayetteville Comic Con will feature special guests from the world of comics and popular culture.

The Cumberland County Public Library announced BookMatch, a new service that will help adult readers find their next great read. Interested customers can fill out short online questionnaires on the library's website to identify books they have read and like, as well as the characteristics they’re looking for in a book. BookMatch’s features allow readers to choose a genre, time-period, location and character type. Based on the answers, library staffs can create and email readers custom-made lists. Customers can also have items on the list placed on hold for pickup at any of the library’s eight locations. “We have so many amazing books and we’d love to help our customers figure out what to read next,” said Adult Services Librarian Marissa Mace. To complete the questionnaire, visit cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite/content/readers-corner. Readers can also call 910-483-7727 for more information or email readers@cumberland.lib.nc.us.