Richard Wilson is a prolific artist who can create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that will stand out in any art show, contest or crowd. Up & Coming Weekly recently sat down with the authentic artist to discuss making history, his favorite work of art and the moment his passion for drawing began.

How did it feel being the first African-American artist to have a portrait displayed in a North Carolina courthouse?
I was commissioned by The Phoenix Historical Society in Tarboro, North Carolina, to do the portrait of George Henry White, the last former slave to serve in Congress. I was grateful to do it and we also had an art show to coordinate with the unveiling of the portrait of my work. After the unveiling, Mr. Knight [of the Historical Society] was interviewed by the television station and indicated that not only did they make history that night with the portrait, but the artist made history as well by being the first African-American artist to have a portrait hung in any courthouse in North Carolina. I was shocked when I heard that. I was a young budding artist at the time and I was just trying to get my name out there and thought this was a great opportunity for people to get to know who I am. It got my name out there and the show that we did right after that, I had a few of my pieces sell before the show had started. That was an honor for me.

Please share your story of how you began drawing.
I started drawing at the age of 8 and I remember watching my dad because he was an artist. My dad used to paint the signs in the town that we lived in and I would help him paint those signs. One thing that was really vivid in my memory was I remember sitting at the dinner table and my dad was drawing me and my brothers while we were sitting at the table. It was so realistic and I thought it was so amazing. It sparked something in me and I started doing it myself and have never stopped.

Do you have a favorite work of art and can you tell us why?
That is a hard question because all of the girls in my paintings are my daughters and all of the boys are my nephews. One of them is a piece called “Between Us.” It is a little girl and boy standing by a tree. This piece is the one that actually put me on the map. I was determined to get my work shown to the world so I took vacation leave to send this piece to New York. There was an international art competition in New York called the Pastel Society of America and I entered the contest. The president of the society called to congratulate and tell me that I won one of the top awards which is the National Arts Club Award. I was floored when I heard this. I won $1,000 and a certificate.

Tell our readers how your Facebook Live Art Shows came about.
I started this because what I normally do is travel all over the country doing the top arts festivals in several different states. I travel as far as Colorado, Florida and New York. Right when COVID-19 hit, all of my shows started canceling. I had to figure out a way to reach my clients so I decided to do this Facebook Live Art Show and sell my prints. That is how that came about. It has been going very well. When I first started I didn’t think about the fact that I had to do a lot of shipping because when I go to the shows I take the artwork in the van and sell it right there on the spot. Now I am getting a lot of orders so I have to package stuff up. I am doing a lot of shipping and I’m not complaining about it, but it is just another thing added to my workload. Once I get back on the road I will continue to do this because it has allowed me to reach people that I was not reaching at my shows. Social media is one of the things that I was lacking in because I was traveling all the time and just selling my work from place to place. I was trying to do a little bit of social media to try to reach people, but now I am able to reach a lot more people online than I did before.
I’ve gained some new collectors since I’ve started doing the live show. I still have a website and a lot of people that I’ve seen at shows, I still have them on my mailing list. I have 15,000 people on my mailing list that I generated from doing shows over the years. I’m networking with more people now than I did before.

Tell us about the inspiration behind the piece “Faithful Journey.”
It is based off of my life. It is about me stepping out on faith to become a full-time artist. I was actually teaching an art class at Pitt Community College. My goal has always been to do my art full time. In 2014, I told my wife that I had to give myself a chance to do this because you only live once and I have to step out and go for it. So I added more shows to my schedule to compensate my teaching salary and the very first show I did after I quit my job, I made more money that weekend than I did teaching for a whole year. That opened my eyes and that is what “Faithful Journey” is all about because the little boy that was looking back was the voice that was speaking to me right before I told my boss that I was going to leave my job to do my art full time. The little girl pulling the little boy along was that voice that started telling me that we were going to be alright, let’s go! I never looked back and I have been full time ever since. It has been the best decision I have ever made.

Wilson’s art is being featured in Cool Spring Downtown District’s Art Alley until Dec. 31. Located at 222 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville, the Art Alley is free and open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information on Wilson and his art visit www.richardwilsonart.com/

Above photo: "Faithful Journey"

Below clockwise: "Going Up Yonda," "Between Us," "Stretching Ballerina," "Bessie Coleman"

All photos courtesy of Richard Wilson

      

 

 

Fayetteville area civic leaders and health experts are pleading with citizens to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. They came together in a joint news conference Dec. 9th urging residents to take personal responsibility to protect themselves and others in the fight to defeat the virus.

“I want everyone to remember these cases are people — our brothers, our sisters, our parents, grandparents, friends and fellow citizens,” County Commission Chairman Charles Evans said.

Mike Nagowski, CEO of Cape Fear Valley Health System said 60 local people are hospitalized with COVID-19.

Evans and Nagowski were joined at the news conference in front of the county courthouse by Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin and Cumberland County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green.

“Make no mistake – this is a virus that affects everyone,” Nagowski told reporters. North Carolina hospitals currently have enough beds and staff to treat people who need to be in the hospital, whether for COVID-19 or other reasons. But researchers at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services say the number of COVID-19 patients has increased nearly 20% a week on average in the past three weeks, and that at that pace hospitals will run out of space. The availability of intensive care unit beds would likely run out sooner, in a little more than 4.5 weeks, the Sheps Center researchers estimate.

Local officials acknowledged the repetition of warnings during the news briefing, but urged everyone to wear masks, not to cluster together with others and to wash their hands frequently.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a long tunnel,” Evans said.

Army Col. Sheryl Bedno, director of Fort Bragg’s Health Department, said military officials are working to keep soldiers aware of the need to slow the spread of the disease. “We need to work together to fight COVID-19,” she said, noting that many soldiers live off post.

The state of North Carolina will enter a modified stay-at-home order or overnight curfew Dec. 11, restricting most activities from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. When Gov. Cooper did not shut down dining rooms in North Carolina this time restauranteurs breathed a sigh of relief. Restaurant dining rooms will close at 10 p.m. though takeout can continue afterward. Most restaurant owners are on record saying they don’t do much business after 9 p.m. anyway. Last call for liquor at bars and restaurants has been moved back to 9 p.m. Fast food drive-thru service can continue after 10 p.m. without interruption along with places that provide to-go and curbside pickup service.

Only large-scale federal emergency financial aid will stave off widespread restaurant closings and continuous damage to the nation’s economy. Restaurant managers have had to limit seating availability to about one half their usual patronage.

With the decline in business some employees have been temporarily laid off and some menus have been cut back for savings in food purchases. Hours of operation in some cases have been reduced to the most popular times of day.

Reflecting in the calm glow of a tree dressed up for the holidays, I close my eyes to see a kid who fell in love. I couldn't have foretold how long this affair would go on when we first met. And honestly, I can't recall how it started. Was it on the living room floor while mom played the piano, or one of the countless times I stood chin in hands with elbows propped up on the kitchen counter listening to that old radio? All I can really remember is when I first realized it was love.

Sitting cross-legged behind my childhood home making pictures in the dirt with a tiny twig, I began to sing. There was a hum and a gentle rhythm coming from the dryer vent which sounded like music to that kid. So I sang. Harmonizing with the drone, stringing words into stories and stories into songs.

Fast forward several decades to the introduction of a fresh Christmas-themed playlist on WCLN the day following Thanksgiving. After weeks of sampling, organizing and planning, a well-curated selection of songs new and old began its 4-week life on the air.

It was as exciting to launch those songs as it was to receive a copy of the original release of the album, “Let It Be” from the Beatles, long before anyone called it a classic. Reflecting on this lifelong relationship, I'm increasingly aware that my love affair isn't with a certain style or genre, it's not with music from this decade or another, it's music. I love music. I thrill to share the latest discovery as much as I do a long-forgotten treasure with others.

There was a time in America – and perhaps it still exists to a certain extent – that mass exposure to music was limited to what a few dozen people thought was cool. Or at least what was marketable. Artists and record label execs would collaborate to get songs recorded and begin lobbying radio notables to get the songs distributed and broadcast over the air across the country, leading to record sales and concert tours. It was the only way. But today, with myriad digital options for recording and distribution alike, music lovers and music makers have a very open relationship. It simplifies the process a great deal and makes music more available than ever. Intriguing until those crafting melodies from the depths of their souls realized how much passive listening there is without a thought of who the artist is.

And that's where I reenter the picture. Introducing radio listeners to artists, their songs, their stories and more. I even use the latest digital tools to highlight special events (look for the WCLN Christmas 2020 playlist on Spotify).
It's about the music. Sharing the music, more specifically. Music that moves, motivates, calms or excites its listeners to a new or better place. That's what this relationship has become.

Pictured: Sharing music, whether it be the latest hit or a classic, is a thrill for the author, who also helped craft WCLN's Christmas-themed playlist on the air now.

Students with disabilities who transition from high school to college often have questions about support services. When planning for college, students need to understand that disability services or accommodations may be different than those provided on a high school education level. It is important for students to understand their rights and responsibilities.

FTCC does not exclude students with physical, psychological or learning disabilities. Discrimination is never tolerated nor are students with disabilities denied benefits of any collegiate activities or programs.

For high school students with disabilities who are eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDA) or Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the need for accommodations and modifications is often addressed by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. Sharing this information with FTCC is at the disclosure of the student. According to the Office of Civil Rights, an IEP or Section 504 plan can assist the college to identify services that were effective for the student during high school. However, this type of documentation is generally not sufficient because there are differences between high school and college. Since the nature of the disability could change from high school to college, accommodations may differ. If a student is under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the student. FTCC, through the Disability Support Services office, will ensure that the need for accommodations will be considered for the student. Medical documentation from a healthcare or psychological provider is required.

Students enrolled at FTCC who are requesting disability services or accommodations must include required medical documentation from a healthcare or psychological provider. Documentation should be current (within the past five years) and will be used to evaluate requests for reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids. The evaluation process will include the impact of the documentation on the objectives and standards of the program, course or activity. As suitable to the disability, the documentation should include six essential elements: 1) Diagnostic statements must identify the diagnosis, which the student should provide the most current date of the diagnostic evaluation. 2) Descriptions of diagnostic criteria, methods and tests upon evaluations. 3) Descriptions of the disabilities current functional impact on the student, such as the examiner’s recommendations and interpretations. 4) Services, treatments, assistive technology or devices, and medications currently prescribed or applied. 5) Descriptions of the stability or expected progression of the disability as it impacts the student within the next few years. 6) Credentials of the diagnostic professional should be eligible and qualifiable. In addition to these elements within the documentation, the diagnostician’s recommendations for accommodations will be considered by the college.

All documentation is confidential and should be submitted to the Disability Support Services Office at FTCC. For more information about disability support, to request accommodations or more specific information from the Disability Support Services, please email ADA@faytechcc.edu or call 910-678-8349.

Pictured: FTCC is committed to helping students with disabilities transition from high school to college.

The Cumberland County Health Department has reopened the Baby Store which is located on the second floor of the Public Health Center at 1235 Ramsey St. The store is for clients who spend “baby bucks” earned by attending appointments and participating in programs.

To protect against the spread of COVID-19, appointments are required to visit the store and only the customer and her children will be allowed to enter. Call 910-433-3890 to secure a 15-minute appointment.

Shoppers must wear facemasks and visit the hand sanitizing station prior to shopping.

The Baby Store is an incentive-based, prenatal health promotion program that aims to create healthy moms and healthy babies. Health Department clients earn “baby bucks” by attending their prenatal care appointments and participating in health education programs such as smoking cessation, childbirth, parenting and breastfeeding classes.

Cumberland County Health Department

The Cumberland County Public Library system is preparing for some fun this winter with its annual Winter Reading and Activity Program or WRAP which launched Dec. 1 and goes through Jan. 31. All eight library branches give customers opportunities to win prizes for reading or participating in reading-related activities.

While the libraries remain closed to the public because of COVID-19 precautions, residents can pick up program materials at the front of the libraries during business hours. WRAP uses Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for programming, including videos and interactive virtual events. A calendar of events is available at co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/library/events-calendar.

North Regional Library customer Julia Furman depends on curbside pick-up to help supplement her 6-year-old twins’ learning at home. With assistance from Youth Services Library Associate Robin McKoy, Furman checks out about 150 books every two weeks.

“The resources are endless, and the customer service is phenomenal—there’s nothing like it,” Furman said.

“The WRAP program is a perfect starting point if you have never used the Cumberland County Public Library,” said McKoy. “Public Libraries are a gift,” said Furman. “They offer the opportunity for endless learning and growth for all ages.”

The city of Fayetteville isn’t always able to match county government’s employee wage structure. City police officers are paid less than sheriff’s deputies, something Police Chief Gina Hawkins says she has been working with City Manager Doug Hewett to correct.

Assistant Fayetteville City Manager Angel Wright-Lanier surprised some in city hall when she recently announced she is going across town for a similar job with county government Jan. 1. Cumberland County Manager Amy Cannon is hiring Wright-Lanier an assistant manager filling a vacancy created by a recent retirement.

Wright-Lanier is receiving a nice pay raise. Official records indicate she will earn an annual starting salary of $162,000 compared to $155,500 that she is being paid by the city.

“I look forward to the new role and continuing to develop as a leader, while still serving this community,” Wright-Lanier said. She has a bachelors degree, two masters and is studying for a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University.

Wright-Lanier is the second senior administrator to leave city government this year. Long time Deputy Manager Kristoff Bauer resigned in July.

Pictured: Angel Wright-Lanier

Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller has made it official: the U.S. military will draw down forces in Afghanistan and Iraq by Jan. 15, 2021. Forces will be cut in half in Afghanistan to 2,500, and by 500 troops in Iraq to 2,500, Miller said.

This decision by the president is based on continuous engagement with his national security cabinet over the past several months, Miller said. “I have also spoken with our military commanders and we all will execute this repositioning in a way that protects our fighting men and women,” he added.

Elements of the 82nd Airborne Division in the region could be among the troops to come home. President Trump has called for American troops to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan since he assumed office in 2017. The troop drawdown will be completed just five days before President-elect Joe Biden’s planned inauguration.

The order was announced days after Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and replaced him with Miller. Shortly before his firing, Esper sent a classified memo to the White House in which he expressed concern about the accelerated timeline for a troop withdrawal.

 

Pictured: A Paratrooper assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division provides security during a key leader engagement earlier this year in southeastern Afghanistan. (Photo by Master Sgt. Alejandro Licea, courtesy of DVIDS)

In D.G. Martin's Nov. 18 article “Waking up as a Republican” we once again see that the far left “Intelligentsia” is one of the primary sources of both the animus and the divisiveness that is so prevalent in our country today.

It is obvious that Martin's arrogance has led him to base his judgments on either the latest slogans being shouted in the street or a willful involvement in misrepresenting those who do not agree with the socialist approach to our problems.

The founders of this country had the attention span and classic training to think deep thoughts and make great plans; something sadly missing today. They knew that government was a cruel and dangerous task master. They wanted to guard against its over reach and the resulting tyrant of a ruling class. Take a look around you and determine for yourself, have we maintained the wisdom they passed on to us?

One of the founding principles is the freedom to strive to be all you can be, devoid of any interference by government. It is a system that rewards preparation, hard work, calculated risk taking, grasping opportunities that present themselves and a positive attitude toward yourself and life in general.

It also has an element of competition and as any sports coach will tell you, competition makes the team better.

This is why we were the greatest economic engine in the world. The move to replace this element of our national personality and replace it with an overdeveloped sense of “everybody-gets-a-trophy fairness” is why we have shipped our productivity offshore to the lowest bidder so that we can have more cheap stuff. It is why China is in the process of replacing us as the premier superpower.

Lots of people of all ethnicities and economic circumstances are waking up to the fact that the “Nanny State” does not guarantee success in life. It doesn't even guarantee “fairness.”

What it does guarantee is that you will be held at the point that you remain dependent on the government. If we reject this tyranny by the ruling class and adhere to the rule of law then we will have true fairness. At this point if you are white, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American or whatever – WHO CARES! Show me what you’ve got. What do you bring to the game?

Is this all there is to it? Of course not, but it is the foundation. Will we not need any regulations, oversight or negative consequences for gaming the system? Of course we will, but every law, regulation or consequence should increase freedom not reduce it. Are there those who we have a moral obligation to help. Definitively yes and that is another discussion.

So how about it. Do you have the guts to compete? Are you curious about what you can accomplish if no one is standing in your way? Can you try, fail and try again until you succeed? Do you believe that the people who wrote our founding documents were smart, visionary individuals? If your answers are yes, then maybe you should wake up and realize you are a Republican.

While modern conservatism in America brings together a number of discrete groups, interests and priorities, one of its unifying themes is maximizing freedom — by which conservatives mean maximizing the right of individuals, families and private associations to make their own decisions rather than having them overruled by government coercion.

Applying this principle can be challenging. To limit is not to extinguish, for example. The vast majority of conservatives accept that government can and should intervene in private affairs when required to protect the rights to life, liberty and property.

Because those violations aren’t always easy to detect, or to adjudicate in court, conservatives accept that regulation may be needed (in the case of combatting air pollution or communicable disease, for example).

Moreover, applying the freedom principle is complicated by differing definitions of terms. Some say it clearly includes the right of women to terminate pregnancies. Others argue that both the mother and the unborn child have rights that merit government protection.

Complexities aside, maximizing freedom is a core conservative goal. Over the past 10 years of largely conservative governance in North Carolina, we have made significant progress toward that goal.

For starters, when government collects only the tax revenue required to fund core services and otherwise keeps its hands out of our pockets, that leaves us freer both to take care of our families and to support the enterprises and causes that best reflect our values.

Thanks to fiscal restraint and a series of tax reforms, North Carolina now ranks 10th in the nation in tax climate, according to the Tax Foundation, up from 34th as recently as 2014.

Another legislative priority since 2010 has been lightening North Carolina’s regulatory burden. Lawmakers have repealed or rewritten many regulations. They have also changed the system itself, requiring state agencies to review old rules on a
regular basis.

Combining both fiscal and regulatory measures, the Frasier Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America index now ranks North Carolina 11th in the nation, up from 19th in 2010.

Even in areas where government must by constitutional design or practical considerations play a significant role, such as education, conservatives generally argue that those who receive public services should be allowed to choose the provider that best meets their needs.

We dislike monopolies here for precisely the same reasons we dislike monopolies in other sectors.

Since 2010, North Carolina has promoted choice and competition in education by removing a statewide cap on charter schools and giving students with special needs or modest incomes direct aid to attend the schools of their choice.

On the Cato Institute’s index of educational freedom, North Carolina ranks 6th in the nation, up from 21st as recently as 2012.

Moreover, an increasing share of North Carolinians are making use of alternative arrangements. Our state ranks 9th in the nation in the share of K-12 students enrolled in an option other than district-run public schools.

Of course, not all indicators show such gains in freedom. North Carolina still licenses too many occupations, keeping workers from boosting their incomes and entrepreneurs from starting new businesses.

We have not made enough progress in breaking up health-care monopolies. And there are too many governmental rules still on the books that do not deliver real-world benefits greater than their all-too-real costs.

Nevertheless, I think North Carolina conservatives should be pleased with the overall trajectory.

Our state is a much-freer place than it was a decade ago.

Of course, I recognize that other North Carolinians may be looking at these same indicators and cringing.

They think our taxes ought to be higher, and more elaborately designed to favor some sectors or behaviors over others.

They think state government (and many local governments) are underfinanced.

They think a lot more tax money would make education and other services a lot better.

And many reject the very definition of freedom I’m using here, the absence of government restraint.

By all means, let’s continue having that conversation. Fortunately, we are all free to do so.

Among my great seasonal pleasures is unpacking the Dicksons’ holiday decorations, all long familiar and some deeply dear.

I treasure some like the clothespin reindeer made in Sunday school classes that seem now to have occurred in a different lifetime. The hand towel angel that has topped our tree for decades. The years and years of annual White House ornaments spanning both Democratic and Republican presidencies. The sparkling objects I love just because they are beautiful.

Over my lifetime, holiday decorations have become more elaborate and, perhaps because of that, they go up earlier. In my neighborhood, there were several pre-Thanksgiving holiday door decorations as well as trees twinkling in some windows. Since Thanksgiving, virtually every home has at least begun decorating, including ours. There always seems to be one more ornament to hang and one more angel to put in a window. Increasingly, not just interiors but exteriors are bedecked.

Residents of a house down the street have outlined the entire frame of their home with white lights, giving off what seems to me not the peace of the season but something akin to light pollution. Others have inflatable Santas and reindeer in their yards, even on their rooftops.

All of this seasonal decorating takes a great of thought, time, and, I suspect, money. We have to conceive of it, locate it, buy it, and install it—or pay someone else to do all those tasks. Then my well-lit neighbors and others face hefty electricity bills after the lighting extravaganza is over.

None of this is new in 2020. We have been getting more and more decorated for decades. What does seem different this season is our attitude.

The whole decorating operation seems almost frantic, fraught with a collective yearning for what feels “normal” at this special time of year. Maybe if we just put up one more ornament or one more wreath, the horrors of 2020 will magically be behind us. It is an understandable human reaction to stress—to divert attention away from the problem and onto something that gives us pleasure.

There is no getting around the reality that COVID is everywhere among us. COVID is now the leading cause of death in the United States, taking more people than cancer, heart attacks and strokes. The daily death toll is approximately one 9/11 attack every single day, and infectious disease experts expect that dreadful number to continue rising as many Americans tire of COVID restrictions and others intentionally and inexplicably thumb their noses at them without regard to others, including their own loved ones. We should all be shamed by the exhausted doctors and nurses weeping publicly for government masking mandates, because they simply cannot work any harder or longer.

For months after COVID landed on American soil, I knew no one who had been infected, and while I tried to adhere to expert advice, I sometimes felt a little silly in my mask. Today, the first friend I know who caught COVID in April, a healthy 42-year-old woman, says she finally breathes well and feels herself after all these months. Others within my circle of friends and acquaintances have been infected and become ill, some with more severe symptoms than others and several who were hospitalized, have recovered. Two have died, leaving families both stunned and devastated.

The Dicksons are decorating, though not with a light show, and looking forward to a peaceful holiday season. We will not see many others outside our family circle, and we will miss them and the warm occasions of past holidays. We also know that this is the right call for 2020.

Not to do so makes us wrong—possibly dead wrong.

While reading Margaret Dickson’s column for this week’s issue, something she wrote hit me like a gut-punch: “COVID is now the leading cause of death in the United States, taking more people than cancer, heart attacks and strokes. The daily death toll is approximately one 9/11 attack every single day…”

Read that again. The daily death toll of COVID-19 is about one 9/11 attack every day.

If that doesn’t put this virus into perspective, I don’t know what could.

What did you do on September 12, 2001? Did you cry, vow to do your part to defeat the evil ones who perpetrated such destruction on our country? Did you donate blood? Did you plant American flags in your yard? Did you enlist in the military?

Did you, like me, decide with your family that you would not be leaving the military as you planned but would stay to do your part and help where needed?

Folks, it is another September 12 moment in this country. We all need to help where it is needed. Right now.

We all have to do our part to stop the spread of this virus. It is evil — not in the form of violent men crashing airplanes into buildings — but in the form of an illness that may spare one but kill another. You may have it and not know it. You may spread it without even knowing you have been exposed.

I am just as tired as anyone else of wearing a mask. I am just as ticked off at politicians who tell us not to spend holidays with our loved ones, and then go on vacation with their families. I am disgusted at lawmakers who close down businesses but sneak in the back door to get their own hair done.

But I try not to confuse this kind of frustration with civic responsibility.

As a beneficiary of the enormous freedom I have as a citizen of the United States, I believe I owe it allegiance, participation in its defense, a commitment to see that it endures for my children, and a responsibility in the care of its people. If that means I have to give up a little personal comfort and wear a mask, then so be it. It is the least I can do. It is what is needed. Right now.

I grow weary of the folks who want to throw words like “freedom” and “government control” around like we can’t follow simple safety precautions without infringing our own personal freedom. Wearing a mask in public does not make me a slave to the government. It doesn’t make me a liberal or a conservative. It makes me a considerate, responsible citizen who doesn’t want to unknowingly pass a potentially fatal disease to someone else.

I am not a fan of any elected official telling the rest of us who is “essential” and what businesses should be allowed to remain open. I am a huge proponent of people being responsible, accountable citizens. And right now, that means wearing a mask and staying away from others as much as possible.

I personally do not want to sit down in a restaurant with a hundred other people — all of whom could be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19. I can keep doing the take-out thing. But, for those who choose, they can still go eat out in restaurants. That is the very definition of “freedom,” folks. I choose what is best for me and my family. You choose what is best for yours. As with everything else in life, there are limits, and we should view them through a lens of civic responsibility and common decency.

As Americans, we are so spoiled that we believe that being told to do anything is an infringement on our rights. Somehow we have lost understanding of the central idea that my rights end at the point where they endanger yours. I can’t yell “fire” in a crowded theater, I can’t drive 80 in a school zone, I can’t shoot off a firearm into the air in a public place. It is not government control to establish and enforce policies for the common good. If I am being a responsible person and citizen, I do my part to not put others in danger.

It really is that simple. I have no time for those who want to argue the finer points of slippery slope logic. They want to dog-pile the public health conversation with every conceivable notion about comparisons with the flu, being conditioned into giving up freedoms, etc. They are missing the point. Choosing to prioritize the risk to others above your own personal preference and comfort is not giving up freedom — it is a commendable exercise of
freedom.

Doing the right thing is not infringing your rights. To those who are burning their masks is revolt, I say this: get over yourselves. Wear your mask, wash your hands, and until everyone is safely vaccinated, please, keep your distance.

Pictured: Choosing to prioritize the risk to others above your own personal comfort is a commendable exercise of freedom. (Photo illustration by Dylan Hooker)

Since February of last year, the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Branding Committee has been researching, surveying and developing a new strategy to impress locals and outsiders.

The group has come up with what it hopes will elevate greater Fayetteville’s image. Its unified brand is designed to communicate the community’s strengths, celebrate diversity and attract prospective residents and businesses.

The basic platform is “Can Do Carolina” which is intended to showcase the best aspects of the locality. It is designed to replace “History, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling.”

The Fayetteville Cumberland Collaborative Branding Committee is a partnership of the city of Fayetteville, county of Cumberland, the Tourism Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce, Arts Council, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Crown Complex, Vision 2026, Cool Spring Downtown District, Cumberland County Schools and the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation.

Robert Van Geons, President and CEO of FCEDC said the participants have agreed to adopt the “Can Do Carolina” concept which harnesses community values: a low cost of living, north-south midpoint along I-95, patriotism and proximity to Fort Bragg, the world’s most populous military reservation.

Branding consultant North Star led the process of in-depth research via individual conversations, focus groups and surveys. More than 4,000 people were directly involved.

“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not around … in other words, your reputation,” said Will Ketchum, president of North Star.

North Star will now lead the creative development to include the creation of messaging, taglines, logos and a brand narrative.

A FCCBC media release announcing the new branding said the new regional logo includes the state of North Carolina with a star that marks Cumberland County. The star has emerging beams which represent the vibrant community where anything is possible.

A variety of creative applications for Fayetteville and Cumberland County and participating stakeholders has been developed.

The next step is to include local organizations that want to take part in the initiative by rebranding their entities in alignment with “Can Do Carolina.”

“Cumberland County is a welcoming, diverse community that offers a favorable quality of life,” said County Commission Chairman Marshall Faircloth.

Van Geons said he hopes the “Can Do Carolina” campaign helps open people’s eyes to the community’s attributes. He told Up & Coming Weekly he was astonished to learn that many of the local people questioned had a negative impression of their community.

Van Geons outlined four pillars upon which the “Can Do Carolina” concept was built: we find a way, we care for one another, we protect the world and we always go further.

The branding committee noted that “Can Do Carolina” is a simple message of optimism and action that provides unified countywide enthusiasm.

“We want people to know that we are one of the best U.S. cities to start a career … our number one product is our people,” said Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin.

Van Geons noted that Fayetteville is best known worldwide as the home of Fort Bragg. Roughly 7,000 people transition out of the military into the local workforce every year.

Colvin referred to them as “technologically advanced leaders” who contribute to our diverse community.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many to change holiday plans this year, canceling traditional events such as shows, light displays and parades. Although modifications were needed, not even a pandemic could keep soldiers and families on Fort Bragg from continuing some holiday traditions this year.

The 20-foot Fraser fir Christmas tree is lit up on the Main Post Parade Field for families to view and enjoy, something the installation Morale, Welfare and Recreation department is proud to display.

“MWR is really big about the soldiers and their families so this tree symbolizes a big part of that and enjoying the spirit of holidays in general and bringing back kind of the family atmosphere to the garrison to celebrate,” said Keegan McDonald, event coordinator for Fort Bragg Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the tree lighting was a virtual event this year, but people can still come to the Main Post Parade Field where the tree will be all holiday season, to look at it and take pictures, he said.

Fort Bragg’s Trees for Troops event is set to take place at the Smith Lake Recreation Center on Dec. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon.

The event will give out free Christmas trees — one per family to activity duty personnel in the rank of E-6 and below with a valid DOD ID card and a voucher. Vouchers were handed out at the Leisure Travel Services office.

Trees will be passed out to non-voucher holders after 10 a.m. based on availability. For more information, soldiers can contact the BOSS office at 910-643-4569 or
910-396-7511.

The heart of what the garrison does is take care of soldiers and their families, said James Day, DFMWR’s Outdoor Recreation branch manager.

“Every year, we host the Trees for Troops event in which Christmas trees are donated to our soldiers,” Day said. “This year 300 trees will be provided to soldiers and families to enjoy during the holiday season. Our single soldiers with the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program will distribute them at the Smith Lake Recreation Area.”

Some of the other upcoming holiday events at Fort Bragg are the Holiday Concert, All American Presents from Paratroopers and a free meal give-away for paratroopers and their families, said Lt. Col. Mike Burns, Public Affairs Officer for the 82nd Airborne Division.

The 82nd Band and Chorus Holiday Drive-In Concert will be held on Pike Field Dec. 17, with bands playing a variety of Christmas music. The event is free.

“Each year we do a holiday concert for our families, this year due to COVID it will be a drive-up event,” Burns said. “We are doing things a little bit different, we are moving to Pike Field … and families will be able to enjoy the concert from the comfort of their own car or a small area around their car, to help prevent the spread of COVID.”

Pike Field is a large and open area on post that can accommodate vehicles for the concert, Burns said. The concert will be an hour long show and a great opportunity for families to come together and enjoy
some music.

“I would say this concert is important to the soldiers here in the Division, it's been a really tough year, a lot of soldiers are deployed, and their families are still here,” Burns said. “It’s important for people to get together and celebrate the holidays and it’s a great time, really fun, and a high quality professional level concert.”

The members of the 82nd Airborne Association will host a meal give-away for paratroopers and families on Dec. 11, at the All-American Chapel. For more information on times visit www.facebook.com/287901225386/posts/10164689157945387/

The association is made up of veterans of the 82nd Airborne Division and their families. They come together every year and provide meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas for service members, Burns said.

All American Presents from Paratroopers is an annual toy drive that gives paratroopers an opportunity to give back to Fort Bragg’s local communities, Burns said.

“Every year, paratroopers come out and donate a toy for an opportunity to jump from a helicopter and earn foreign jump wings,” he said. “The only requirement is they donate a toy.”

Events like these are what makes the season special and lets the families know they are a part of the airborne legacy,
Burns said.

(Pictured above) The Presents from Paratroopers toy drive is an annual event where soldiers donate toys to participate in an airborne jump to earn foreign jump wings. This year's event saw about 1,500 toys donated for local families in need. (Below) Soldiers help prepare food bags to be donated to families in need. (Photos courtesy 82nd Airborne Division PAO)

The typical hustle and bustle of the holiday season is muted this year. Family plans and holiday outings have crumbled due to the pandemic. Despite it all, The Village Baptist Church invites the people of Cumberland County to experience the joy of Christmas through a social-distancing-friendly drive-thru event Dec. 11-13.

Chris Ferger, the Pastor of Worship and Arts at The Village, said that the church’s Easter production was cancelled due to COVID-19, so he was looking for opportunities to still celebrate the Christmas holiday.

“I thought the best way to allow people to see and experience the story of Christmas in a safe, COVID-free environment is to have a drive-thru Christmas,” he explained.
“I used to do something similar years ago for Easter and I just thought it would be a great idea. So, we put together a team that could pull it off.”

Organizing a Christmas drive-thru event is no easy feat, but with the help of hundreds of volunteers since April participating in musical recordings, set design, acting, guiding traffic, hospitality, advertising, animal management and more, The Village anticipates an unforgettable experience.

Keeping in line with the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines and local ordinances and mandates, The Village Choir and orchestra has rehearsed virtually and in venues that allow for social distancing to prepare the recorded music for the event. The music and drama will be available through the Village Baptist Church App or with a CD available as you enter.

“(Attendees) will be immersed in eight scenes that retell the Christmas story through the eyes of a young shepherd all while listening to music recorded by The Village Choir and Orchestra,” Ferger said.

Attendees can expect to see live actors and animals, hear Christmas tunes and narration, and experience the anticipation of Christ’s birth with period-accurate clothing and carefully crafted sets. Don’t be shy about taking pictures and videos. The Village would love to see your pictures on social media with the hashtag #ChristmasatTheVillage.

In a year that has divided so many people both physically and ideologically, The Village uses their love of Jesus to unify the community. “Our community desires the joy and peace that only the true story of Christmas can bring now more than ever,” Ferger said. “People are tired of being cooped up in their homes and are ready to go somewhere that will help them feel the joy of the season. We want people to feel safe as they bring their family.”

The Christmas Drive Thru at The Village will take place at 906 S. McPherson Church Rd. and will run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 11-13. The event is free.

Travelling through all of the scenes will take approximately 20 minutes. Cars, people movers and vans are welcome, but no bicycles, pedestrians or buses will be permitted for the safety of the actors.

For more information about The Village visit https://thevillagebc.church/

Manna Church is hosting a Christmas Gift Giveaway for families in need this year. The church is collecting toys at all their locations across Fayetteville to include the Cliffdale campus, Anderson Creek, Executive Place, Hope Mills, Ramsey St., as well as the Raeford location.

The church does some outreach projects each year, but this is the first centralized gift give-away coordinated with all the church locations in the area, said Michele Damato, Manna Dream Center Administrator and Benevolence Coordinator.

Manna Church will be partnering with United Management that manages several low-income housing communities and the Department of Social Services for the toy giveaway.
After working with United Management for Manna’s “Trunk or Treat” event in October, Outreach Pastor Tommy Cartwright arranged to partner with them again for a Christmas toy outreach.

“It was a need they had heard from the residents and we decided to meet that need,” said Damato. “It’s just a simple way to show the love of Jesus with no strings attached.”

Toys will be distributed among Cross Creek Pointe, Blueberry Place, Tera Gardens and Brookside Hills Apartments in Spring Lake. The church will also be working with DSS to purchase gifts for children at Hope Mills Middle, East Hoke Middle and Overhills High School.

“We’re collecting toys from church members who have the heart to serve the community,” Damato said. Church members can sign up from lists provided by parents. The lists include not only toy requests but also clothing sizes. Church volunteers will wrap the gifts and deliver them the weekend of Dec. 17-20.

The toy give-away is not limited to members of Manna Church, but open to anyone in the community who can help, Damato said. Those wishing to participate can visit https://my.manna.church/outreach to sign up.

The goal for Manna’s outreach is to give away gifts for 300 children this year.

For more information about Manna Church, visit https://fayftbragg.manna.church

After months of staying home due to COVID-19, I felt comfortable visiting a gallery. My first stop was to see the exhibit Artists Who Teach 2020 at Ellington White Contemporary Gallery. I was not disappointed and upon leaving the exhibit I felt a sense of joy seeing works created by art educators from around the country.

Curator Dwight Smith extended the exhibit until Dec. 19 so more people could visit the gallery and see 36 original works in a variety of media from artists working in higher education and public schools. The gallery and online exhibit are the result of artists from 26 states participating in the national competition by sending 156 images to be part of the selection process.

Leaving the gallery, I realized my approach to writing an art editorial for Up & Coming Weekly would not be the same as before 2020. Too much has happened this year which has impacted our daily lives and community. A paradigm shift has taken place in Fayetteville, the American culture and around the globe. Then there is the obvious, why would people venture out to see Artists Who Teach 2020 when viewing works of art has become more online accessible than ever before?

We can stay at home and visit museums and galleries around the world from our living room. Technology and live streaming have defined “our today” in many positive ways; but unfortunately, it has also become a consuming mass distraction — the 2020 Zeitgeist of seeing reproductions online lacks the experiential or contemplation.

The concept of zeitgeist traditionally refers to the overall spirit of an age (politically, economically and culturally) and cannot be known until it is over. So why does it feel like the 2020 Zeitgeist is not only upon us, but “all over us?” I could go with the contemporary version of zeitgeist, though not pragmatic, and refer to what is tasteful in today’s culture … I do not think that is even possible.

The information highway is not new, but 2020 online, virtual accessibility and mass communication has fast-forwarded us into sensory overload. This includes, but is not limited to, the lingering COVID pandemic and the resounding influences of the internet: live streaming, hashtags to esports, social distancing to online education, podcasts, Zoom, video-based communities, what is factual, what is real, the video is becoming the main medium for critical cultural moments, and lots and lots and lots of tweets. According to internetlivestats.com, around 6,000 tweets are tweeted on Twitter every second with 145 million daily active users on Twitter, an average of which corresponds to over 350,000 tweets sent per minute, 500 million tweets per day and around 200 billion tweets per year.

If you do go to “internetlivestats” you will see a page of flickering, perpetually increasing numbers. Numbers across the screen flick as they are constantly totaling upwards to reveal what happens in a day, by seconds, to compute the increased usage of the following: internet users of the world, number of emails sent, number of websites, google searches, blogs and tweets, videos seen on YouTube, photos uploaded from Instagram, Tumblr posts, actives users on Google, Facebook, Pinterest and Skype, number of websites hacked, number of computers, smartphones and tablets sold, internet traffic, electricity used today on the internet and CO2 emissions from the internet. It is easy to see, hands down, how this website image affirms and IS the definitive 2020 Zeitgeist!

If you are still reading after the last two paragraphs, a slight sensation might be taking place — too much information! Sensory overload is a part of 2020. Sensory input is most often pleasing; but when we have sensory overload, when one or more of our bodily senses’ experience over stimulation — it can be very unpleasant.

The main purpose of the internet is to provide global access to data and communications. Sensory overload of information occurs when we do not practice the purpose of information: to resolve uncertainty. Full circle to the beginning of the article: technology and live streaming not only define “our today” in positive ways; but it also has the potential to become a consuming mass distraction - lacking the experiential or contemplation. Bottom line, the explosive growth of information has become sensory overload, unpleasant and even inhibits thinking.

A starting point to reestablish the best of the remnants of 2019 and back to the notion of thinking, feeling and the real is possible at Ellington White Contemporary Gallery. Curator Smith noted: “Due to the success of last year’s competition, this is the second year we conducted and presented the results of a national competition among art educators. The art educators are from higher education and the public schools’ systems across the nation. The exhibit is a very diverse group of paintings, drawings, prints, mixed media works, and three-dimensional works and showcases the arts as an essential part of a complete education. It does not matter if happens in the home, school, or community. Students of all ages, from kindergarten to college, and creative program all benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and the creative imagination.”

Smith, also an Associate Professor of Art at Fayetteville State University, and Vilas Tonape, artist, and chair of the Visual Arts Department at Methodist University, both juried the competition from the 156 entries. Tonape selected the six award winners. Ellington White Contemporary Gallery is not only hosting the gallery exhibit but also created an online exhibit. Both exhibits will remain on the gallery online website for one year.

Online exhibits have been extremely important in 2020 to galleries and museums, but it does not replace the real. Works of art in galleries and museum are more relevant than ever before. Comparing two of the works in Artists Who Teach 2020 is my way of exemplifying the differences and why supporting local galleries is important now and, in the future, when the COVID restrictions are finally lifted.

While writing this article, I contacted Beverly Henderson, the student intern at Ellington White Gallery, and asked her one simple question: how do you like the exhibit? Her last remarks were: “… a lot of diversity in the works. It was different seeing the work online and when the original works arrived. After we hung the exhibit and I had time to look, I could see more details and felt an emotion from the real work which I did not feel when seeing the online version.”

Henderson is correct, as soon as you enter the gallery visitors will immediately see very diverse approaches to image or object making; but they will also, unknowingly, sense materiality. Then it takes real time in a real space to examine and compare how each artist creates the content of their work with style, composition and use of materials.

The materiality of the painting titled “Three Brushes” by Larry Hamilton, from Wichita Falls, Texas, is a masterful oil painting. The beautifully painted small still life captures the essence of a moment in time. Viewers can get close to the oil painting on panel and see a manipulated surface, transitions of light, saturated color, half tones and atmosphere. The physical richness of surface is subtle as it catches the light created of paint and paint medium.

In comparison, the style of Danielle Cartier, from Camden, New Jersey, is a mixed media work titled “Ever Knew” and is the opposite of Hamilton’s painting. Instead of a traditional still life, the artist has created a multilayered abstract and referential surface using acrylic paint, spray paint and mixed media. Her style is to juxtapose unlike images in the same work to evoke new meaning for the viewer.

Hamilton’s painting evokes an aesthetic sense of presence, calm, beauty and structure. Cartier’s work is ethereal, moving parts create a whole, we sense process and the act of looking. Whereas Hamilton’s’ pictorial space is about volumetric form, light and the effects of color; Cartier’s work is about decoding messages and signs.

In both works there is a time element. In “Three Brushes” we sense the artist is sharing a long period of contemplative looking. The exact opposite, Cartier’s “Ever Knew” are the many references and signs we overlook and do not see during the day.

One could say the attributes of each work is conveyed online. But it is not impossible. The online versions are pictures of a picture (the painting or mixed media). The absence of material results in passive looking. Seeing the actual constructed work is a visceral activity, an active experience which includes the physical presence of the object themselves.

Even though “Three Brushes” is enjoyed for the illusion of space that is created on a flat surface, it is still first and foremost, an actual object in space that has literal texture, density and weight. Even though most viewers do not think about the qualities inherent in the object, those inherent characteristics are integral to the overall authenticity of the work and are not present in the online version or the reproductions in this article.

One could say those same aesthetics are communicated online. My answer would be there is a resemblance, but it is not the same. We do not see or experience the physical depth of a painting medium or the tactile edges of mixed media work in an online version. We do not see the differences in the actual surface of the color from spray paint, the chalky quality of pigment blown onto the surface compared to the color of suspended pigment in an oil medium as leaves a tube of paint.

As an analogy, you do not need to know the science of a sunset to enjoy it. But the sunset would not exist without the science. And experiencing a real sunset is better than a reproduction. That premise relates back to the authenticity of the sunset which exists in time and space. So, it is with a work of art.

No matter how close technology can bring us to examine a microscopic, detailed surface of a painting – images in this article and online are reproductions. This idea was explored as far back as the late 1930s by Walter Benjamin in his book titled “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” The early 20th century was the beginning of mass communication, mass culture and mass commodification. Within that context, Benjamin emphasizes the value of an authentic work of art is the result of its “aura.” It is the “aura” we enjoy and that includes the object’s presence in time and space. It is the same with a sunset, the validity of seeing the real over a reproduction is its physicality, its “aura.”

In closing, I would like to share a personal story which summarizes everything. After seeing the paintings by Vincent Van Gogh in books and online for over 20 years, I had the opportunity to see a body of his work at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Upon seeing the real work, I immediately realized, after so many years, I had never really seen a painting by Van Gogh. What I had experienced before going to the exhibit, were not remotely comparable to seeing the real painting.

So here we are, on the precipice of an increasingly changing technological future. And since, according to Benjamin, “our sensory perspective is not completely biological or natural, it is also historical,” what does the future look like for us? How will the internet influence what we value? What choices will we make to prioritize what we do with our time, and how will we choose to deal with increasing mass media and internet overstimulation?

Perhaps it will not be gloomy, but it will have the opposite affect. We will take action to deal with internet sensory overstimulation of information by doing more of the activities we know helps: critical thinking and reflection, take a walk during our lunch break at work, visit parks or take long walks during the weekend, go to the theater, a musical performance or to a gallery.

The exhibit Artists Who Teach 2020 is a good place to start and if you take the time to look at each work you will leave the gallery with a sense of pleasure unlike seeing artwork online. Please note the exhibit will not be up for long, until Dec. 19. The gallery is not open Monday-Thursday, but only open on Friday and Saturday between 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Like all businesses everyone is required to wear a mask when they enter the gallery. The exhibit was possible by a grant from the Fayetteville and Cumberland County Arts Council. For information mail ewp-arts@hotmail.com or go to their website: https://www.ellington-white.com/

 Pictured above: "Ever Knew" by Danielle Cartier from Camden, New Jersey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top left: "Three Brushes" by Larry Hamilton from Wichita Falls, Texas

Top right: "Made in USA" by Dan Kuehl from Roanoke, Virginia

Bottom left: "Breath" by Paul Adams from Lindon, Utah

Bottom right: "Life Series" by Jennifer Salzman from Creswell, Oregon

Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in North Carolina, the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is canceling this year’s Holiday Jubilee at the 1897 Poe House in order to protect the health and safety of staff and visitors. The Holiday Jubilee was originally scheduled for Dec. 6.

In a media release Museum staff said routine operations will remain open to visitors.

Guided tours of the 1897 Poe House are offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and on the hour on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors must check in at the Museum of the Cape Fear lobby to sign up for the tour. Tours are limited to 10 people at a time, and visitors must wear a cloth face mask and observe social distancing guidelines. The 1897 Poe House will be decorated for Christmas through Jan. 9, 2021.

The Museum of the Cape Fear is open for self-guided tours Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors must wear a cloth face mask and observe social distancing guidelines. Admission is free but donations are accepted.

The Museum and the 1897 Poe House will be closed December 24-26.

Visitors are encouraged to follow the “Three Ws” as outlined by the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services – WEAR a cloth face mask; WAIT in line at least six feet away from others, and WASH hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. If you are experiencing symptoms of illness, we ask that you postpone your visit.

Break out those stockings, Christmas trees, and red or green masks — it’s time to enjoy a fun, festive and socially distanced holiday season with a visit to meet Santa. That’s right, Santa Claus is planning his trip down from the North Pole to see his friends in Fayetteville, though it will look a little different from years past.

Santa and his elves have already set up in the Food Court of Cross Creek Mall and will be there through Christmas Eve. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits will be no-contact, with families sitting six feet away to ensure proper social distancing. But don’t worry about those Christmas lists. Santa Claus can’t wait to hear what’s on your list and will still be available to talk with little elves-in-training.

Santa will be available for photos during the following days and times:
Monday — Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All guests must schedule their visit with Santa using the online reservation platform at https://whereissanta.com/northcarolina/crosscreekmall. You’ll select a date and time, as well as purchase your photo package. Walk-ups will be allowed during the first and last hour of the day, time permitting. All visitors must wear masks before, during and after photos.

Visitors are reminded that some of the usual holiday events are canceled for this year, including pet photos.

Individuals diagnosed with diabetes may have found themselves asking, “What am I allowed to eat?” Have you gotten a good answer to this question? Probably not. That’s likely because everyone responds to the same foods differently. There’s not a single “magic” diet that works for everyone who has diabetes. The good news is there are some simple rules that everyone can follow to help make sure your diet is working for you.

The next time you fix yourself a plate of food, try to imagine dividing your plate into four sections that are about the same size. Two of those four sections should be full of non-starchy vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables are things like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, green beans, lettuce, spinach and zucchini. That’s right, half of your plate should be made of vegetables. One of those sections should have grains and starchy foods. Grains are things like beans, bread, pasta, rice or tortillas. Starchy foods are things like apples, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, corn, potatoes and peas. Finally, look at your plate again. The last section of your plate should be protein. Chicken, eggs, low-fat cheese, fish, tofu and turkey are all good sources of protein.

Another important part of building a diet that helps you manage your blood sugar is looking at what you’re drinking. Sugar sweetened beverages are loaded with sugar and carbs, which increases your blood sugar and your waistline. When you can, choose unsweetened tea rather than sweetened tea. Try to stop drinking sodas and soft drinks. Even diet sodas raise your blood sugar. Water is always a safe choice. If water is too boring, try flavored seltzer waters. Seltzer water has no sugar, no calories, and no sweeteners but more flavor.

If you’re looking for a more measurable way to use diet to manage your blood sugar, give carb counting a try. Carbohydrates, or carbs, are the starches, sugar, and fiber in food. Your body breaks down the carbs you eat into glucose, or blood sugar. Your body then uses that blood sugar to fuel your muscles and brain throughout the day. When you have diabetes, your body has trouble using the carbs in food. Carb counting is a way to keep your body from being overwhelmed by the food you eat.

Carbs are naturally found in most foods. You can find the number of carbohydrates in a food by looking at a food label. You’ll find this value under “Total Carbohydrate.” If a food doesn’t have a nutrition label, there are plenty of online applications which can help you find this information. Get started today by writing down what you eat and drink at each meal and snack throughout the day. You’ll want to make sure you write down the serving size of the food you’re eating as well. A serving size is how much of the food you’re eating at one time. Add up all the carbohydrates you ate at each meal and snack on any given day. Bring your diary to your next appointment and your diabetes care team will help you adjust your meals to help you better manage your blood sugars.

Kelsey Simmons, D.O., is a family medicine physician who completed a fellowship in diabetes at Duke/Southern Regional AHEC in Fayetteville. She provides care at Southeastern Health’s Southeastern Medical Clinic Gray’s Creek.

The year 2020 has seen many ups and downs due to COVID-19, especially in the job market. Many students who are finishing out their college time virtually now face a job market that is global, online and more competitive than ever.

For those fresh out of college, and with less experience, trying to find a job in the pandemic can be challenging. Up & Coming Weekly spoke with Dr. Antionette Bellamy, the director of career services at Methodist University, on what guidance she is providing to local students about to enter the workforce.

“Recent college graduates should be very flexible with little geographic restrictions and a willingness to relocate,” Bellamy said.

“The job market can be different depending on the location of the position. New graduates must have the ability to effectively work remotely.”

Graduates should apply to organizations that have formal recent graduate and leadership development programs, she said. These programs are designed specifically for new professionals, and employers are not expecting a ton of experience. College career fairs are a good place to begin the job search.

Bellamy answered a few additional questions offering advice for those entering the workforce.

How can one set themselves apart while looking for a job?
Students or new professionals should focus on developing core career readiness competencies to enhance their professional profiles and be ready to demonstrate these skills through examples. These competencies include written/oral communication, critical thinking/problem-solving, and leadership. These skills can be obtained through internships, professional organizations, and athletics.The ability to write well and analyze data can make a huge difference in candidates.

What are some do’s and don’ts of resume writing?
Do’s for new professionals:
·Do limit resumes to one page.
·Do include contact information with a professional email address that is checked often.
·Do use power verbs and numbers to
clearly demonstrate your skills and
experience.
·Do proofread your resume and ensure it is error-free.

Don’ts of resume writing:
·Don’t include pictures of yourself or irrelevant graphics.
·Don’t include your high school
experience.
·Don’t include personal hobbies that are not related to the job.
·Don’t include your birthdate or professional affiliations related to your religion or political views.

Are cover letters important?
While not all recruiters or hiring managers consider cover letters, for those who do, they are important. Cover letters give candidates the opportunity to elaborate on their skills by sharing examples of their work and relevant accomplishments. While the resume is limited to short bullets, the cover letter will connect those bullets to your experience.

How can one be a good interview candidate?
Good interview candidates are prepared. They have researched the organization, they know why they want to work there, and they are able to articulate why they should be selected over other candidates. Good candidates also look the part. They are well- groomed, and they are dressed professionally. In addition, they speak industry language.

How does one network, and why is it important?
Networking can be done in small, informal settings and in organized settings such as career fairs. Young professionals can also network with professors, their parents’ colleagues, and former internship supervisors. Professional social media platforms like LinkedIn are also great for networking. Networking is important because it creates a pathway into the workforce. This is also why your brand is important. People should be confident in your abilities and work ethic so they can refer you for positions and serve as references.

What are some good websites to look for jobs?
LinkedIn is a good website that is used by recruiters to post positions in various fields. There are also a few industry specific sites that provide career opportunities such as agcareers.com for agricultural/environmental positions, usajobs.gov for federal positions including the Recent Graduates Pathways program, and ncworks.gov which posts positions state-wide.

Since COVID-19 many more interviews are virtual, do you have tips on how to do well in a virtual interview?
·Make sure you have a good internet connection.
·Test your camera and microphone.
·If you are using a video platform that displays your name, make sure your full name, not the computer’s nickname is displayed. For example, your name should read Jordan Doe, not Doe Family PC.
·Select a space that is free from noise, distractions and mirrors. You would be amazed at what people see from reflections in mirrors.
·Dress for the virtual interview as you would if it were in-person. You should assume that the interviewer will ask you to stand up for a complete picture.
·Participate in a virtual mock interview with a career services professional or a trusted friend and get feedback on your body language.
·If possible, engage in small talk prior to the interview beginning. This will help relax you.

What are some good questions to ask the company you are interviewing with?
First, never ask a question that can be easily found on the organization’s website. Secondly, you should always ask a question or two. A few good questions to ask are:
·Does the organization offer a formal mentorship or professional development program?
·What does a typical day in this role
look like?
·What do you like most about working here?

Methodist University offers resources through the Career Services Hub at www.methodist.edu/career-services.

Pictured: Dr. Antionette Bellamy, Ed.D., the director of career services at Methodist University spoke with Up & Coming Weekly to offer advice for new graduates navigating the job market during the pandemic.

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation offers a variety of locations to enjoy the great outdoors. There are a number of activities schedueld for the month of December.

Archery Clinic — Dec. 5, noon to 3 p.m., $5, Ages 8+
This class is designed to introduce the sport of archery to beginners. Participants will use compound bows as they learn the basics of archery to include safety, proper stance and follow through. Adults are welcome too. Registration is ongoing, but space is limited.

Mazarick Park Kayak Tour —Dec. 5, 10 to 11:30 a.m., $15, Adults and ages 10+
Explore the cypress filled waters of Glenville Lake at Mazarick Park from a kayak. All the equipment and basic instruction for beginners will be provided. This program is offered with special permission from PWC, no private boats are allowed on the lake. Registration is ongoing, but space is limited. Participants under 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Clay Play — Dec. 11; 3 to 4 p.m., Free, all ages welcome
Mold it, shape it, create something useful, or just get your hands dirty. Join us for clay play at the park to see what you can fashion out of this moldable, malleable substance. Call to register, space is limited.

Meteor Shower Viewing — Dec. 13; 8 to 10 p.m., Free, all ages welcome
Learn about asteroids, meteorites and comets then head outside to view the Geminids, one of the most impressive meteor showers of the year. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and dress for the weather. This program occurs after park operating hours, please arrive promptly at 8 p.m. so staff can let you in the gate. Call to register, space is limited.

Christmas Scavenger Hunt — Dec. 22, 2 to 4 p.m., Free, all ages welcome
Drop by the park office anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. to pick up a map and loaner compass that will guide you to the lost Christmas presents. Once you have completed the course, return to the office to claim your prize. Call to register beginning Dec. 7.

Year’s End Walk —Dec. 31, 2 to 3 p.m., Free, all ages welcome
Bid farewell to 2020 on this interpretive walk around Lake Rim Park. Get a jump start on two great New Year’s resolutions: to spend more time in nature and to continue learning about the world around you. Call to register beginning Dec. 14, space is limited.

All facilities are open to the public on a first come, first serve basis unless they are reserved.

Contact the park office ar 910-433-1018 to reserve facilities or register for activities. Office hours are Mon. — Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit www.fcpr.us/parks for more information.

Cumberland Choral Arts is continuing its efforts of making music by adapting to a virtual format during the pandemic. Instead of performing for live audiences this year as they have since 1991, they are using YouTube and Facebook to reach people and present their music.

“In order to operate in the times of COVID, you kind of have to throw dynamite underneath the concept of what a performance organization is and just reconstruct how you see things,” Dr. Michael Martin, artistic director for Cumberland Choral Arts, said. “We moved away from the standard concert method, and we’re going to do these concerts virtually, it's not an easy format to adapt to.”

They are in the process of recording different choral pieces and are enlisting community members to join them for a virtual presentation of the “Hallelujah Chorus" from “Messiah.” The English-language oratorio was written in 1741 by German-born composer George Frideric Handel. Originally written for Easter, “Messiah” has become a Christmas holiday favorite. The CCA performance of the piece is usually delivered to full audiences, many joining in for the “Hallelujah Chorus" — the most widely known section of the composition.

Martin said Cumberland Choral Arts is inviting community members who know the music to submit a video. There is online learning material available to use as a guide, as voices will be synchronized better later.

The Campbellton Youth Chorus will be participating in the “Hallelujah Chorus" as well, said Donna Jo Mangus, artistic director of the Campbellton Youth Chorus, affiliate of the Cumberland Choral Arts.

All the videos will be compiled by the director and assistant director, mixing video and audio and synchronizing all the pieces to make the finished product, Mangus said.

Martin said he had been working on new technology since last year that allowed them to do a series of projects virtually. Some of the challenges with going virtual have been getting the synchronization right and getting the rights to upload those things on the internet, he said.

“That’s kind of what we’ve been doing, trying to navigate technology and stay relevant in the eyes of people who would want to come and watch us sing,” Martin said.

The organization has two concerts planned for the next year, a women composer concert in March celebrating Women’s History Month and suffrage, as well as a “Tour of the World” themed concert in May displaying music from different cultures.

Martin said he might blend the two but teaching them in a virtual format will be a challenge and may affect how the timeline will work out.

“We are going to have a series of things uploaded to our social media that people can watch on their time,” he said. Martin plans to have next year’s scheduled finalized over the holiday season.

The Campbellton Youth Choir hosts four concerts a year with children aged 9-14. It is open to all, regardless of their schooling situation.

Mangus said they will be posting their songs virtually to the Cumberland Choral Arts handle at www.youtube.com/channel/UCcxVHG97aIEIGP_645K11DQ

Going virtual has given young singers a chance to learn how to collaborate with other interested singers in the area, she said.

The youth choir is an opportunity for young singers to perform in a group and make music together for the shared experience, to have appreciation for the song and lyrics, and the beautiful melodies, wider range of dynamics, there's nothing like it when you're a singer, Mangus said.

“I think the artistic community sees relevance for any kind of ensemble that’s part of our community especially now that COVID has hit, it brings us together and it's so important and music just answers that equation,” Martin said.

Mangus and Martin both encourage anyone with a singing talent to participate virtually, to strengthen the community of singers.

“As we become technologically advanced and have every reason in the world to stay away from one another but that's not the human condition and I feel so strongly about this,” Martin said. “Even before COVID, we could find so many things that were just disposable means of entertainment that you could just come do and leave, but there's nothing of longevity, but here we are and all those means of entertainment are closed down or regulated but here we are, still singing and making music together.”

For more information on submitting a video for the “Hallalujah Chorus," the Cumberland Choral Arts and Campbellton Youth Choir, visit https://cumberlandchoralarts.org.

Pictured above: Dr. Michael Martin (left ) is the Artistic Director for Cumberland Choral Arts. Martin and the CCA are working to offer virtual performances that audiences can view online.
(Photo courtesy Cumberland Choral Arts)

Pictured below: Cumberland Choral Arts is encouraging members of the communty to submit videos of themselves singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah," to be inlcuded in the virtual performance. (Photo courtesy Cumberland Choral Arts)