The Greek community and much of Fayetteville are mourning the loss of Rev. Chrysostom Manuel, Pastor Emeritus of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. He died on June 11, following a period of declining health. He was 89. Manuel served the Fayetteville community for 37 years retiring as an active priest in August 2000. During his time in Fayetteville, the church sanctuary was built in 1964, with classical Byzantine iconography and architecture. The church was consecrated in 1984, and the education building with a library was completed in 2005. In 1964, Fr. Manuel became the first Orthodox clergyman to earn a master's degree from the Duke University Divinity School. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Amphitrite Anthoula Constantelos Manuel, four children and eight grandchildren.

Pictured: Rev. Chrysostom Manuel 

Fayetteville and Cumberland County property tax rates will remain as they are in the 2021-22 Fiscal Year which begins July 1. The city of Fayetteville’s operating budget will be $240.3 million. “I’m very pleased that we are able to continue our high level of service to residents,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said. “We’ve been able to focus on key strategic areas as set forth by Council.” The property tax rate will remain at $49.95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Cumberland County's property tax rate will also remain the same at $79.9 cents per $100 of property value. County Manager Amy Cannon’s $502 million budget plan includes more than $340 million for the county's general fund and $83 million for the school system. Most school funding is provided by the state. Cannon said she had expected to see a revenue drop over the course of the last year, but that didn’t happen. In FY22, sales tax revenue is expected to go up by close to $10 million. The city and county will receive combined stimulus funding of more than $113 million through the American Rescue Plan.

The month of June is observed as LGBTQ+ Pride Month and holds significance for members, supporters and
allies.

Several local organizations continue to strive for tolerance and inclusion. Leading the local effort is Fayetteville Pride, which focuses on instilling pride, celebrating unity and embracing diversity and inclusion while providing education and support within the LGBTQ+ community.

When the organization started in 2017, Fayetteville Pride Board President Sam DuBois said he expected pushback, but most efforts have been met with a positive response.

Fayetteville’s chapters of Free Mom Hugs and PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) offer various resources to the community.

“We’re a group of moms and allies that get together either at events or we host things and we just celebrate the members of our LGBTQ community,” said Audra Ferguson, Free Mom Hugs Fayetteville/Sandhills chapter leader.

Free Mom Hugs organization was established 2014 by Sara Cunningham, a southern Christian mother fighting for LGBTQ+ rights for her gay son. The organization became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2018. For more information visit, https://freemomhugs.org
Ferguson said she joined when she met the local chapter at a Pride event with her two sons who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. She joined after she fell in love with their mission.

“We go and give a hug to people who may just need a hug, we can be a stand-in parent if someone’s getting married and their family doesn’t accept that, we go and be their stand-in parent,” she said. “We just go out and support, be that for someone who doesn’t have it.”

The organization also blocks protesters at Pride events, drag shows and more by standing guard without engaging.

“In my group I always post different articles and resources to help people learn things they might not know,” Ferguson said.
PFLAG Fayetteville works with parents and families and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals in providing support, education and advocacy.

“Sometimes people come in with questions, sometimes they just want to observe what other parents are going through,” PFLAG Fayetteville Board President Devra Thomas said. “We are seeing less of let's not talk about it but more how do I talk about it, I need more information rather than this is not something I want to deal with.”

The organization hosts monthly support meetings on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. The meetings are currently over Zoom but are in the process of resuming into in-person meetings. For more details follow @pflagfayetteville on Facebook.

“Back in spring I had a mom contact me through email whose teenager was starting to have questions about their gender identity,” Thomas said. “She just wanted to talk to somebody and asked what the right thing was that she was supposed to say, so we jumped on a phone call, had a great conversation.”

“I identity as bi-sexual and have several family members who identity various ways,” Thomas said. “Pride month is a great month to see who else is in this space and fight for those rights. Any time we can get together and have a party and celebrate is great.”

Thomas mentioned there is a slow and steady upward trajectory for continued interest in pride in Fayetteville. With more information shared and more public recognition, some have seen increased support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Nadine Alonzo, a Major assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and recalls how things have changed over the years for members of the community even in the service.

“I couldn’t let people get close to me, people who I loved and served with, because I didn’t want them to have evidence, not because I thought they would tell on me, but because if they ever put me in a military court martial or asked to testify, I didn't want to put them in that position,” Alonzo said. “This was between 2002-2011, so that was what it was like beforehand, and people now may not know that and that’s why history is important.”

Alonzo said she has been lucky to be in the 82nd Airborne Division at Bragg and for their acceptance.

“I look diverse, not like most ladies that serve, seeing me knowing you can probably guess what my sexual orientation is,” Alonzo said. “They are willing to look past that and look at me as an officer and give me a lot of opportunity which I am grateful for because that’s not always been the case.”

Before gay marriage was legalized and it was legal by law to be gay in the military, she didn’t always feel accepted or comfortable during the days when “don’t ask, don’t tell” was the official policy for being gay in the military.

“It was tough, it gets dark and lonely because you can’t let people get to know you because, back in the day if someone had evidence, I could get kicked out, so I had to be very careful,” Alonzo said.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Alonzo joined the service after 9/11 to support her country and to give back to the country that helped her immigrant parents establish themselves.

“To be an out person that other young people can see, and it probably helps them seeing me walk around in a leadership position, I am trusted by others and it legitimizes who I am and what I represent other than my rank and uniform,” Alonzo said.

Representation is one way to help end the stigma still associated with the LGBTQ+ community.

Alonzo said people often act tense when same sex couples show affection and she encourages people to relax, and to treat them the same as everyone else.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community living their truth is perhaps one of the best examples for those who have questions or concerns, some advocates say.

“The more we educate, the more people come around," Ferguson said. "It used to be so many years ago that it’s a choice, and well it’s not.”

“There isn’t equality still and a lot of discrimination against the LGBTQ community — it's our hope to help that dissipate and make it better in the future for our children or our children’s children,” Ferguson said.

For more information visit, http://www.FayettevillePRIDE.org/

 Pictured above: Audra Furguson is chapter leader of Fayetteville's Free Mom Hugs. 

Pictured Left: Devra Thomas serves as Board President of PFLAG.

Pictured below: Nadine Alonzo and her partner, just want to be treated like everyone else.    

Why would John Shelton Reed write another book about barbecue?

After all, he is a co-author of the recently revised classic, “Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue” and in 2016, author of “Barbecue” in the UNC Press’s “Savor the South” Cookbook series.

The retired Kenan professor of sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill is the author of more than 20 books. He likes to write books and articles and other commentary that connect readers to their culture.

His new book, “On Barbecue,” is a compilation of writings about barbecue.

Barbecue means different things to different people. Just remember how many ways the term is spelled: barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-que, and so on. Reed explains how the term probably came about.

He writes, “the word came into English only some 500 years ago. In the first decades of the 1500s Spanish explorers in the Caribbean found the locals using frameworks of sticks to support meat cooking over fires. They did this either to slow-cook it or to cure it and preserve it (as we do with country hams and jerky today.”

This apparatus was called something that the Spaniards heard as barbacoa, which soon became a Spanish word and then an English word that referred to the cooking device or method, not the resulting cooked meat.

Only in the 1800s did the term begin to be used to mean the cooked meat. As late as 1894, when the Statesville Landmark wrote about barbecue being served at an event, “the paper put the noun in quotation marks, suggesting that the usage remained colloquial. Still, by then, everyone seems to have known that it meant something you could put on a plate or in a sandwich. Once that was understood, Southerners began the eternal argument about what barbecue is.”

Reed writes, “whole hog in eastern North Carolina, mustard sauce in parts of South Carolina, mutton in Owensboro, Ky., ‘dry ribs’ in Memphis, beef brisket in Texas and so forth.”

Reed celebrates these differences, writing that he would order Memphis ribs in Memphis, but would pass it by if it were offered in North Carolina or elsewhere.

He mourns the development of “mass barbecue” chains that he calls “IHOB” or International House of Barbecue with menus, “where you can pile Texas brisket, Memphis ribs, and Carolina chopped pork all on one plate.”

However, Reed has no doubt. “All understand that cooking with hardwood makes the difference between barbecue and roast meat.”

He describes the world championship barbecue cooking contest in Memphis where barbecue is defined as “pork meat only... prepared on a wood or charcoal fire.”

He recognizes that many so-called barbecue restaurants “serve slow roasted meat untouched by even the bottled kind of woodsmoke and call it barbecue.”

Reed asserts this product is not barbecue and calls it instead “faux ‘que.”

“You see the problem. We start with barbecue cooked in a pit over live coals, or with heat and smoke from a stick burning firebox, and we end up with a Boston butt in a crock pot. Somewhere along the way we've crossed the line between True ‘Cue and faux ‘que. We do not intend to draw that line, just to point out that there is a hierarchy here, and the purveyors of faux ‘que are at the bottom of it.”

“Why do we care? Because we believe that real barbecue is rooted in three things increasingly lacking in today's world: taste, tradition, and a sense of place. Because we think the world will be a better place with more real barbecue in it.”

You do not have to agree with Reed’s hardline stance about the necessity of cooking with wood coals to learn from and enjoy his great storytelling gifts about one of our favorite foods—true or faux.

Local entrepreneur Dr. Fred Surgeon, and wife Anita, have once again created a vision for an entertainment venue that caters to the adventurous and focuses on customer service. As the owners of Sweet Valley Ranch, the Surgeons recently opened their latest and perhaps most exciting venture yet — Dinosaur World. The prehistoric adventure awaits visitors of all ages, and like Sweet Valley Ranch itself, has been years in the making.

Sweet Valley Ranch was established in September 2016 when the Surgeons purchased the land off of Sunnyside School Road. At the time they purchased 186 acres of raw land, for a few horses and goats. However, Dr. Surgeon saw potential with the land layout and knew that this could really become a place to share with the community. The ranch now consists of 300 acres.

Sweet Valley Ranch is more than just a business to the Surgeon’s, it is also a place that calls back to Dr. Surgeon’s own upbringing and he hopes it will eventually be their legacy.

“Sweet Valley Ranch is hands down, out of all the businesses, is one we had to do everything from
the ground up,” said Dr. Surgeon, owner of Sweet Valley Ranch.

After about 12 months of owning Sweet Valley Ranch, they decided to expand their animal collection with rabbits and peacocks. “When you said you want that animal, you have to understand the certain care and living situation for that animal,” said Dr. Surgeon. About six months after the rabbits and peacocks they expanded with introducing cows and horses.

Now the farm has around 350 animals of different types, from cows and horses, to peacocks and reptiles. The possibilities with the lay of the land were endless, and Dr. Surgeon knew that owning and running this farm in this location was an opportunity to give back to the community.

“Every business I own relates back to some part of my past. Sweet Valley Ranch is no different. Growing up my family lived on a farm, and I can remember times that we would be waiting on the chickens to lay eggs, so we could eat them for breakfast,” said Dr. Surgeon.

At Sweet Valley Ranch there is a 1954 Farmall tractor that belonged to his grandfather. This tractor is the most valuable possession to him on the farm, reminding him of his childhood and growing up
on a farm.

In 2017, the vice president of the company mentioned doing Christmas lights on the farm. So, Dr. Surgeon joined a display company out of Missouri. Once everything came in and the team looked at the extent of the project, they realized they needed more time to plan it through. Fast forward to 2020 and the COVID pandemic - the Surgeon’s realized that they could bring the joy of Christmas to the people of the community and give them something other places couldn’t — animals. With hard work and attention to detail, they were able to bring a Christmas light display to the community. The success proved to be incentive for the planning and development of Dinosaur World.

Now in 2021, Sweet Valley Ranch has opened its gates once again for Dinosaur World. It is a perfect place for the family to experience adventure and see many of the different species of Dinosaurs that now rule over Sweet Valley Ranch.

Different Ticket Options include:

Regular admission includes access to the Dinosaur World Trail, Abandoned Research Lab, Reptile House, Fossil Dig and Farm Animals

Regular admission with Farm Tour includes Dino World Trail, Abandon Research Lab, Reptile House, Fossil Museum, Fossil Dig, and a 30-minute guided tour to experience all Sweet Valley Ranch has to offer. Guests will be riding in a covered wagon pulled by a tractor.

Regular admission with Rescue Mission includes all mentioned above with an Interactive two-hour nighttime attraction that begins on Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. Participants are tasked with the mission of locating missing staff members who were involved with the creation of Sweet Valley Ranch’s Dinosaur World. Beware of “Big Rex” and his friends because they are hunting, too. Guests will also be riding through the farm to experience the lights and farm animals.

Regular admission with Farm Tour and Rescue Mission includes all mentioned above.

The Sweet Valley Ranch also has additional excursions that can be purchased onsite such as the Go-Kart Nature Trail Tour, Bouncy Castles, Fishing at the Ranch and Dino-playland.

The trail is a paved trail in the woods, and it offers over 25 animatronic dinosaurs. This experience is one that will take guests back in time to when dinosaurs ran the world. It is not only a fun interactive experience, but an educational one as well.

Sweet Valley Ranch also has concession areas, a produce stand and a gift shop with something for all price ranges. While Dinosaur World is sure to continue to be a summer success, fall will bring the return of the 10-acre Corn Maze, Haunted Hallows of Cedar Creek and the Festival of Lights.

“We don’t have to have the biggest and best at the farm, because we do our best to make it about the customer and their experience. Customer services is a big part of the farm,” said Dr. Surgeon.

Over 30% of the animals homed on Sweet Valley Ranch are rescues, providing them a safe, caring environment to grow and prosper. Sweet Valley Ranch does not only support local businesses but has also created job opportunities for many people within the community.

Sweet Valley Ranch is located at 2990 Sunnyside School Road in Fayetteville. For more information on tickets and events visit www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com/.

Comic Con is returning to Fayetteville’s Crown Complex Convention Center June 19-20. This is a family event, where everyone can come and enjoy their favorite comics, video games and more.

Among celebrities scheduled to appear include John Turk, Kerri Hoskins and Lia Montelongo (“Mortal Kombat”); Gigi Edgely (“Farscape”); Megan Hollingshead (“Yu-Gi-Oh!”); wrestlers Magnum T.A., Caprice Coleman and Lex Luger; and many other actors, artists and writers in the industry.

There will be much to see and do, like take part in a cosplay contest where the winner will take home $500. Vendors will be selling your favorite video game and comic character merchandise. There will also be four food trucks, with Italian ice and kettle corn. The Crown will also be serving concessions. The lines are expected to be long for same-day ticket purchase, so organizers are also bringing some Comic Con outside to entertain guests to keep spirits up outside the building.

While the Crown has returned to full capacity, to help with overcrowding at certain vendor booths, the event coordinators decided not to run the American Tattoo Society tattoo alley this year. The tattoo alley will return to Comicon in 2022.
One of the biggest changes Comicon has faced coming back after a year of pandemic life is ticket sales. Due to the box offices at the Crown not being in operation, it has challenged the coordinators in how to get tickets out to the public. However, if there is a will, there is a way! Tickets can be purchased from the Comic Con website https://fayettevillecomiccon.com/, at the comic shop in Fayetteville called Dragon’s Lair, or on the Crown Coliseum website. Tickets for a single day will cost $15 and a weekend pass will cost $25 per person.

Comic Con of Fayetteville has been around for 5 years, and each year producing two events. Due to the COVID pandemic in 2020, they were not able to hold the event, but that did not stop coordinators from planning for 2021. The sponsors for June 2021 Comicon are the American Tattoo Society and Fayetteville State E-Sports.

For more information on Comic Con visit https://fayettevillecomiccon.com/. For panel and main stage schedules, visit the website or www.facebook.com/fayettevillecomiccon for information.

UNC Health Southeastern has appointed two new directors: Stephanie Fitchpatrick as director of critical care services and Magenta Smith as director of inpatient services.

Fitchpatrick earned a bachelor in nursing degree in 2020 and a master’s in science nursing degree in 2021, both from Chamberlain School of Nursing in Chicago. She also earned certification as a national registry paramedic from Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio, in 2006.

Before joining UNC Health Southeastern as emergency services coordinator in February 2019, Fitchpatrick held various nursing roles including head nurse/unit educator, flight nurse/crew manager, paramedic, staff nurse, and community educator.

Fitchpatrick lives in Fayetteville with family.

Smith earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst in 2001. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 2005 and is currently pursuing a master of science degree in nursing, both from UNC Pembroke.
Smith has worked for UNC Health Southeastern for 20 years in the following nursing roles: nurse manager, clinical effective nurse and staff nurse.

A native of Robeson County, Smith currently lives in Fairmont with her family.

Pictured : Stephaine Fitchpatrick (above) Magenta Smith (bottom). 

With the beginning of summer and people looking for outdoor entertainment, the Rock’n On The River summer concert series is the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends, enjoy food and drinks, and dance the evening away.

On June 18, all are invited for live, free entertainment from local Fayetteville band Reflections II and North Carolina band Trial by Fire.

Reflections II is a widely known local Fayetteville band of three professional musicians. Bringing a variety of music to the table from pop to Motown and the oldies. Known for their entertaining performances, the band will kick off the evening at 6:00 p.m. and it is sure to be a show you won’t want to miss.

At 8:15 p.m., headliner Trial by Fire takes the stage. The tribute band is named for Journey’s album of the same name released in 1996. Back in the day, after an injury suffered by lead singer Steve Perry, Journey was unable to tour and promote the album “Trial by Fire.” Now, five seasoned musicians from North Carolina are bringing the tour to life with area audiences — recreating the glory days of the Journey era to their fans.

Rock’n on the River is a free live concert, sponsored by Healy Wholesale, Bob 96.5 FM radio, and Up & Coming Weekly. The event will have beverages sold by Healy and food exclusive to Deep Creek Grill. Coolers and outside food are prohibited at this event. Pets are also not allowed onto the concert grounds. There is a $5 parking fee per person.
The event is first come first serve, as the venue can only host 1200 to 1400 people.

“Bringing a well-rounded live concert series to get people out after lockdowns in 2020, and having something they will enjoy listening to is the goal,” said Greg Adair, event coordinator.

Each monthly concert showcases a different genre of music, bringing together different crowds of people for a good time with friends and family.

Rock’n On The River is located at 1122 Person St. in Fayetteville (behind Deep Creek Grill). Parking for the event will begin at 5:00 p.m.

For information on the concert series, visit https://www.facebook.com/Rockn-On-The-River-271048666818630

Some people may think the world runs on Dunkin’ when in fact, it runs on data! You may think money makes the world go around when actually, data makes the money that makes the world go around. Have you ever heard the saying, “Behind every great man, there’s a great woman”? There is a line in a Beyoncé song that says, “I hear you be the block but I’m the lights that keep the streets on.” Money is that “great man that is the block.” And data is that “great woman that keeps the street lights on!”

Data is changing the face of the world in many ways. From our devices tracking our every move to artificial intelligence, data is at the root of it all. Businesses thrive on data to help improve processes, save money and maximize profits. Decision-makers rely on data to help make key decisions on business practices and processes. Data helps find solutions to problems that are as close to predicting the future as humanly possible. Data helps businesses be extremely strategic in their approaches to
success.

Data is extremely important. It molds everything we do so it’s vital that it is managed properly, kept secure and accessible immediately. The Information Technology Database Management curriculum program at Fayetteville Technical Community College prepares graduates for this purpose.

Course work includes the development of a student’s ability to understand the role of databases and database management systems within the field of Information Technology, to demonstrate knowledge of SQL data definition and SQL, to develop queries to extract information from large databases, and to implement a database solution in the area of Information Technology. Graduates understand the components of how information support systems and services work and are able to create, store, communicate, exchange and use information to solve technical issues related to database administration.

Graduates should qualify for employment in entry-level positions within the database administration field providing support to database administrators wherever reliance is on computer systems to design and management information. The program will incorporate the competencies of industry-recognized certification exams.

As the “keeper of data,” you will be responsible for ensuring the database is functioning proper, secure and is available to pertinent users. You are also responsible for ensuring that necessary backup and recovery plans are in place, if a database should suffer loss. You should be familiar with and support the different technologies that are used for a database to function at its optimal level, while providing support to data managers.

The duties of some systems administrator technicians include managing database environments as well as planning, implementing, configuring, and administering various database managements systems. They are also required to implement, configure, administer and secure database applications.

Data is a fast growing, highly lucrative field. FTCC will prepare you for what’s needed to enter the field of data. Sign up to take classes today. Fall classes begin Aug. 16. For more information, please contact Tomica Sobers at sobersto@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-7365.

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has decided to engage a law firm to deal with Chemours contamination of well water in the Gray’s Creek area. “Developing a long-term financially sustainable water system that will address GENX contamination is one of this board’s top priorities,” said County Commission Chairman Charles Evans. County Manager Amy Cannon noted the county has been in discussion with Chemours for a year and a half about funding a public water system to address the contamination of private wells in the area near Chemours’ Fayetteville Works plant on the Cumberland-Bladen County line. “We had hoped to be able to resolve it to our mutual satisfaction,” Cannon said. “At this point, we believe the next step is to hire a legal team to assist us with funding.” Cannon has projected that it will cost about $64 million to build a water system in the Gray’s Creek area. Commissioner Toni Stewart, who lives there, said her neighbors are worried about their health. “Ultimately the sooner we can get a public water system in place the sooner we can mitigate this serious public health issue,” said County Attorney Rick Moorefield. In January 2020, Cumberland County Commissioners agreed to set aside $10.5 million to help pay for public water in the area. The first phase would provide water along Alderman Road and the Gray’s Creek Elementary Schools.

Woven into the fabric of who and what we've become, we all have threads of regret muting the bold colors of success in our lives. There's not much I'd change about the path I've walked thus far, because to change any one of them would be to alter the outcome. Some of life's highest pinnacles rise from the low ground of pain and defeat. It seems somewhat apropos at this time of year to realize my single greatest regret is that I didn't have my dad to share most of the highs and lows with.

A veteran of World War II, Billy DeBruler was a high school track athlete raised in western Kansas. His adoptive family owned a local pharmacy and had always intended that he join the family business, which was perhaps the furthest thing from his mind during high school. After invading Poland, Hitler had become the scorn of the western world, and as the Allied nations got increasingly involved, the boys in dad's small town were becoming men and volunteering to ship off and right this great wrong.

By volunteering as a Navy harmacist Mate, my dad was able to get his parents' signatures to join before his 18th birthday, and was soon on his way to Navy Boot Camp, followed by a trip to Hawaii. Not the paradise Hawaii, the naval base Hawaii. The unfortunate twist in the story is that Pharmacist Mates were not as great a necessity in the war raging in the Pacific as were medics to accompany the Marines as they roamed the tropical jungles. So began his career as a Combat Medic.

He carried fond memories of the friends he made, and had mementos from Hawaii around the house, but the haunting memories of the rigors and horrors of combat were a silent and driving force behind much of his adult life. The same kid who made the local paper for both his athletic and academic abilities in high school and earned medals on the local track and remote jungles, saw his first marriage collapse from what we now commonly know and treat as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

I don't remember seeing any uniformed men walk up to the door, but I remember my dad holding a letter and weeping at the table after receiving the news his first-born son had died in the jungles of Vietnam. I recall him pouring all that he missed from that relationship into my brother and I — the two children from his second marriage. I have fond memories of building lopsided projects in his little workshop in the basement, the cold and smell of the meat locker in the store where he worked as a butcher, and the trips to the lake on Independence Day because you couldn't use fireworks in town.

Dad traveled to see us just after our first son was born. I have a single photo of the two of them together in the driveway of our southern Arizona home in 1980. He died less than a year later, succumbing to the effects of cancer brought on by the habit he picked up while he was in the Navy. He had truly been-there-and-done-that, and could have steered me through and maybe even around some of life's hardest moments.

And there it is — the thread of regret. If your dad is still living, go to him. If you have children, open up to and listen to them. Let the shared experiences become a beautiful part of the tapestry of your life.

A lot has certainly changed since this time last year, therefore, inevitably so have the markets. And maybe you have decided it’s time to own your own business and do what you’ve been putting off for years. As a potential buyer or entrepreneur, it is important to understand which industries you might be interested in, what types of businesses find success in your area, etc., in order to find the right business to buy.

Buying an existing business already comes with several benefits. For instance, an existing operational and financial history (i.e., you are not starting from scratch), offers less risk. Particularly this past year, surviving businesses had to change and/or evolve to stay afloat uring lockdowns and capacity limitations. By purchasing an existing business, you inherit this insider knowledge.

Of course, choosing the right business goes beyond surviving the pandemic. There are a few personal elements to consider and evaluate:

1. What is your current lifestyle?

2. What are your skills and strengths?

3. What is your target market? In what industry? Have both factors been positively or negatively influenced by the pandemic?

4. Where are you located? Where will your business be located?

5. What are your price parameters?

First and foremost, do you already own several businesses? Are you hoping to add another to your portfolio? In this case, you may need to look for something that does not need much day-to-day involvement as you may already have your hands full. Or, are you free as a bird and looking for your next large project? In this scenario, a business that needs a more hands-on approach may be better suited for you. This goes hand-in-hand with your skills and strengths. Depending on your level of involvement, you will need to choose a business that falls within your skillset. Does it need help with its marketing? Are there operational or inventory issues? Is it a computer-based business or more consumer-facing? You do not want to get involved in a business that does not fall within your comfort or skill level.

Next, you need to consider what industry you’d like to enter — and therefore, your target audience, as well. Is this business within fashion and beauty or IT support? Although both can impact large groups of people, you should narrow down what your specific consumer might look like. Understanding this will help you best perform within specific marketing and sales parameters.

Finally, two very important things to consider that will also affect each other — location and pricing.

Before you buy a business, think about whether you know and understand consumer preferences in the market area or segment of your choice. Although you can virtually run a business from anywhere, is that the best option for you specifically? Keeping that in mind, location will also inevitably affect business’ sales price. You need to figure out what you are willing to invest, and how long until you may see a return on your investment.

Contact us today to get started on your path to entrepreneurship. Transworld Business Advisors has created the Buyer Match program that will match you with businesses that meet your criteria when searching for the right business to buy. With a wide array of businesses for sale, our advisors can help you narrow down your wish list and find the perfect business based on your criteria.

In honor of June 19th, known as Juneteenth, Up & Coming Weekly sat down with Dr. Carla Fagan, Director of the Social Work Program and Associate Professor of Social Work at Methodist University. We asked her to help us understand the history and continued relevance of Juneteenth.

Can you explain the significance of Juneteenth?
Dr. Fagan: Juneteenth is short for June 19th. On June 19, 1865, Major Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, with orders to read General Order Number 3 — a proclamation stating that all enslaved people were to be set free. “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involved an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

Most people know that Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, freeing enslaved people. There are many versions of why this news did not reach Texas, but it did not until June 19, 1865.

For African American people, Juneteenth is Independence Day, Freedom Day - the official end to enslavement. Juneteenth represents many different things to different people. Juneteenth is a day to remember, a new beginning. It is a day to celebrate the resilience of our people, to bring families together to reflect, to educate, raise awareness about the many challenges faced by African Americans — how far we have come and how far, still, we have to go, to reach that place of total freedom, equality, equity and inclusion.

How does Juneteenth compare to other days of remembrances?
Dr. Fagan: Juneteenth is not as well-known as other remembrances. While it is celebrated in 48 of the 50 states, efforts to make it a national holiday have not yet been successful. Most recently, Sen. Ed Markey (D) introduced S.475-Juneteenth National Independence Day Act earlier this year. One could compare Juneteenth to Independence (July 4th), Armistice Day (now Veteran’s Day-Nov. 11th), or International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27th). These days of remembrance are about freedom — the end of British rule, the end of WWI, the freeing of the Jewish people in Auschwitz. All represent a new beginning, as does Juneteenth. All represent the mandated end of oppression, enslavement, genocide, but also signal the beginning of a new struggle to keep the freedoms won. Juneteenth inspires African Americans to remember the resilience of our ancestors, celebrate their victories and educate and motivate our children to follow their dreams.

How do you celebrate Juneteenth personally, and how can others?
Dr. Fagan: As an African American woman, Juneteenth is a great time to reflect on who I am, where I came from and where I am going. I take great pride in my heritage. My people have had to be stronger, more resilient, more determined and more skilled, just to survive. Historically, African Americans have had to be twice as good to get half as far. Living while Black can be hazardous to one’s health if one does not remain ever vigilant and wary. Living with micro-aggressions and being the target of explicit and implicit bias can be very tiring and wearing on the psyche. Juneteenth is a time of reflection, new inspiration and renewal.
“We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in his Holy Word, He’s never failed me yet…” (lyrics by Carlton Pearson). Juneteenth is a time to renew spirit, mind and body.

Juneteenth is a time to spend with family, reconnect with our history, our heritage and share this heritage with others. Juneteenth celebrations are filled with educational activities, family reunions, games, decorations, symbols, sharing all the greatness of African American history. Juneteenth is also an opportunity for African Americans to embrace others and share our history with the rest of the world. This world can only celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion if we all learn to practice these principles in our everyday lives.

How can we honor Juneteenth and be better allies in general?
Dr. Fagan: This country has committed a huge disservice to all people in that history has been distorted, sanitized and plain lied about. There are hundreds of historians who have carefully researched American history and have exposed the many untruths told in our history books. Recently, many more people are becoming aware of this and are asking to learn the “truth.” The willingness of people to recognize the distortions in our history books is a first step to learning the truth. Education, affirmation, understanding, all play an important part in laying bare the real history of this country.

Why did it take 2 1/2 years for the enslaved people of Texas to learn that they had been free for 2 1/2 years? Why, in 2021, are African Americans still fighting for the right to vote? Why must I teach my son how to respond if stopped by the police? Why must I still be twice as good to get half as far?
Allies have stepped up all through the Civil Rights Movements and have marched shoulder to shoulder, sacrificed their lives and freedom, stood by to the end. That kind of commitment is still vital in the struggle of African Americans to achieve equity and inclusion.

Considering recent events and the racial injustices being highlighted in the country, what can we do as individuals in terms of activism, education and more, to be supportive and fight injustice?
Dr. Fagan: Fighting injustice requires one to be a strong proponent of social justice, equity, inclusion and diversity. Having said that, one must be willing to learn, think, examine one’s personal values and take a stand.

The Black Lives Matter movement encompasses people from all races, ethnicities, etc. This has been somewhat downplayed by media. Black Lives Matter is a vehicle through which all people can take a stand for equity and inclusion. Over fifty years ago, the Freedom Riders, young people — Black and white — risked their lives to integrate interstate transportation. They took a stand.

One of the ways change takes place is by communicating, one-on-one, with a person with a different point of view. We must communicate with people who view African Americans as less than, and, one by one, deconstruct their arguments. This requires that we have the facts to back up our points. There are still people out there who respond positively to facts.

When you witness a micro-aggression or implicit bias, don’t just ignore it. If someone tells a racist joke in your presence, call them on it. We must learn to have the courage of our convictions.

If you witness unwarranted aggression against African Americans, speak up. And, yes, doing the right thing is not always the easiest thing.
Elected officials at every level make policy that impacts social justice. We must elect people to office who support equity and inclusion. Sadly, we have learned that bias transcends political party. We must carefully scrutinize the positions of candidates regarding social justice.

Are there any books, clubs, movies that can help educate people?
Dr. Fagan: There is a wealth of information out there. We just need to want to find it. Some of my favorites are: “13th “ directed by Ava Duvernay on YouTube and Netflix; “Amend” on Netflix, and any book written by Ibram X. Kendi (“Stamped From the Beginning”). Authors James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Michelle Alexander, Ijeoma Oluo are among my favorites. Circa 1865 is an organiza
tion in Fayetteville that will sponsor a Juneteenth Virtual Festival this year. Organizing Against Racism Cumberland County is committed to educate the community and take action against racial inequities, wherever they exist. Juneteenth.com, is a repository of information about this historic day.

You marched and participated in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. What can you share about your experiences?
Dr. Fagan: Growing up in New York City, I did not regularly experience overt racism. I could eat a hotdog and drink a Nehi at the counter in Woolworths on 125th Street in Harlem as a child in the early 1950’s thanks to the efforts of Adam Clayton Powell. I remember visiting family in North Carolina, moving to the back of the bus, drinking from the “colored” water fountain, sitting in the balcony in the movie theater in Plymouth, North Carolina, and not fully understanding why.
I first became aware of the bigger issues at age 10 when I brought an article for current events to school that was about a boycott in Clarendon County, South Carolina. When my teacher asked me why I chose that article, my response was that I felt sorry for the people who were conducting the boycott because they were losing their jobs because they were fighting for civil rights. Further discussion led to a food drive by my elementary school to support the people of Clarendon County participating in the boycott.

Growing up in New York City (Brooklyn) gave me opportunities I probably would never have had in other parts of the country. I attended Hunter College High School after elementary school. I had to pass a test to get into Hunter. I attended City College of New York (now City College of CUNY) — free tuition — and am a founding member of the Onyx Society, the first Black student organization at CCNY.

Upon graduation, I worked full time in corporate New York. I joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and volunteered in the New York office. I later joined the Black Panther Party. The activism of my youth taught me many lessons. I learned that the country that I thought I was a citizen in was the country that wanted to keep me oppressed, depressed and a failure. But I was blessed to have the tools to fight back and that is what I did.

Is there a parting thought you’d like to share with our readers?
Dr. Fagan: If you shake a bottle of soda and take off the top, the explosion is all that Juneteenth brings forth when an African American is asked to respond to it. Juneteenth is celebration, introspection, raising awareness, intrusion, education, frustration. Juneteenth can invoke anger, pain, grief, emotions that keep us connected to our reality. This is a huge topic, needing much more than one article to do it justice, but this is a good start. Thank you for the opportunity!

Pictured above : Dr. Carla Fagan 

Pictured on left: Photograph of the Civil Rights March on Washington Aug. 28, 1963. (photo courtsey National Archives)

Pictured on right: A plaque in Texas commemorates Juneteenth. (photo courtesy of Wikipedia) 

Students who graduated from a North Carolina high school in 2021 may be eligible for grants of $700-$2,800 a year for two years if they enroll this fall at one of the state's 58 community colleges.

The new Longleaf Commitment Program provides grants, not loans. Funds do not have to be repaid. The program starts for the Fall 2021 semester and will conclude at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

Here are the eligibility requirements:

•2021 graduate of a North Carolina high school.

•Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes.

•Be a first-time college student (Career & College Promise and Early/Middle College High School students are eligible).

•Enroll in a curriculum program during the 2021-22 academic year with at least 6 credit hours per semester.

•Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2021-22.

•Have an Expected Family Contribution from $0 – $15,000. (EFC is based upon student’s FAFSA determination).

•Renew FAFSA for the 2022-23 academic year and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements of the college
The program will supplement the federal Pell grant and existing aid with the aim of helping students earn an associate degree and/or credits to transfer to a four-year college of university in North Carolina.

Students do not have to make a separate application for a Longleaf Commitment Program grant. They will be automatically considered for the grant upon applying to FTCC for Fall 2021. Those who meet the eligibility requirements will receive an award letter from the financial aid office.

For information about FTCC’s admissions process visit www.faytechcc.edu/apply-now/ftcc-admissions/#steps or contact the Admissions office at admissions@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-8473.

For more information about the Longleaf Commitment Program visit www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/student-services/north-carolina-longleaf-commitment-grant

The month of June has been observed as LGBTQ+ Pride Month since 1970 to honor the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. According to the Library of Congress, the commemorative month’s purpose is to recognize and honor the impact of the LGBTQ+ community on history locally, nationally and internationally.

“It does have a lot of significance for me personally, obviously,” Fayetteville Pride Board President Sam DuBois said. “The amount of friends and families of LGBTQ+ community that have come out and supported us really shows me how far we’ve come over the years.”

Fayetteville Pride was established in 2017 and focuses on instilling pride, celebrating unity and embracing diversity and inclusion while providing education and support within the LGBTQ+ community.

For more information on the organization visit www.FayettevillePRIDE.org/

DuBois said he used to think of Fayetteville as an uber-conservative area and expected pushback when the organization first started.

“But at the end of the night we were flabbergasted by the positive response from people attending the event,” he mentioned. “It has been extraordinarily welcoming
to Pride.”

Due to the pandemic the Pride Fest 2021 is postponed until further notice.

“We have hopefully reached a satisfactory substitute with Cool Springs Downtown District, and we will be setting up an info table at their weekly Summer Markets downtown and there will be part of the field dedicated to the Pride Community Picnic on June 24 from 4-8 p.m.,” DuBois said.

The Summer District Markets are held on Thursdays and will feature live entertainment, food trucks and games.

“Everyone is welcome, come with that attitude and we are happy to have you,” he said.

There are a number of other Pride events scheduled this month.

There will be a free online chat event June 20 from 8-9 p.m. The Free Mom Hugs Social Happy Hour is hosted by the Free Mom Hugs Fayetteville/Sandhills chapter. For more information visit, https://freemomhugs.org

The NC VA Coastal Health Care System invites all LGBTQ+ veterans and allies to participate in the 2021 Pride Car Parade & Drive-Thru from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on June 21. The event will take place at the Fayetteville VA Health Care Center at 7300 S. Raeford Road. Participants are encouraged to decorate their cars for the free event.

The Rainbow Reunion, a business mixer for LGBTQ+ community to network and connect, will be held Jun. 26 and 27 at Hampton Inn & Suites located at 2065 Cedar Creek Road. The event will have a happy hour mixer from 4-6 p.m., a kickback from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and a night swim from 8-10 p.m. The hotel will have limited rooms and those interested can book by calling 910-635-3200

Cool Spring Downtown District will host Drag Me Downtown on June 25 from 5-9 p.m. on Maxwell Street featuring performances by local drag queens, and a cabaret headlined by Miss Minnie Bouveé. Tickets are available for purchase on their Facebook page, $25 general admission and $125 for a VIP Table seating up to 6 people.

Drag Me to Designer BINGO will take place at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom from 6-9 p.m. on June 30. The event will feature Tatianna Matthews. Tickets are $40 with a portion of the proceeds going to Fayetteville Pride. Dirtbag Ales is located at 5435 Corporation Drive in Hope Mills.
For more information about Pride events, follow @fayncpride on Facebook.

Pictured above: Although the Pride Fest 2021 was postponed, there are a number of local events scheduled in June to celebrate diversity in support of pride month. (Photo Courtesy of Fayetteville Pride). 

Pictured bottom left: Morgan Richards preforms at an event 2019.

Pictured bottom right: Friends come together to enjoy an event celebrating diversity and inclusion. 

A new sports federation is including Fayetteville among its franchises. The National Indoor Soccer League says Fayetteville's Crown Coliseum will be home to men’s and women’s teams. The Fayetteville Fury will participate in the NISL's inaugural season which will begin in late December. Inspired by his four daughters, NISL executive board member Joshua Blair saw the opportunity to break new ground beyond bringing professional soccer to the host cities.

"Let’s face it! There is a lack of professional sports teams where our girls can interact with and emulate the male athletes," he said. The NISL will be the first professional indoor soccer league in the country to have both men’s and women’s divisions.

"It is nonstop action and it’s going to be great for the city of Fayetteville and the surrounding area," said team co-owner and operator Andrew Haines. The NISL was formed in January and its first franchise, the Memphis Americans, was unveiled in
late April.

No one — I repeat, no one, enjoys paying taxes. I can almost feel my blood pressure rise when income taxes come due. That said, we all want safe and accessible roads, high quality public education for our young people, and the same quality health care for Americans of all backgrounds and ages. The reality is that our taxes support those goals.

The ongoing American myth has been that we all pay our fair share, like it or not, and that wealthy individuals pay more.

ProPublica exploded that myth last week as part of its ongoing analysis of our tax system. The non-profit investigative journalism organization which exposes abuses of power and betrayals of the public trust released secretly obtained IRS documents confirming what millions of Americans have long suspected. The richest of the rich are not paying their fair share of income taxes at all, much less more than the rest of us. In fact, several of the 25 wealthiest Americans as defined by Forbes magazine managed to pay no income taxes at all! These include such household names as Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Elon Musk (Tesla), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and the grandfatherly Warren Buffet (all manner of investments), all of whom have more money than they could ever spend.

Moral considerations aside, there are no allegations that any of these people did anything illegal by paying a miniscule percentage of their wealth in income taxes or none at all. They simply took advantage of existing federal and state laws that treat “wealth” differently than “income.” Mere mortals earning a paycheck from which taxes are deducted cannot take advantage of these laws, which generally require the services of high-dollar attorneys and accountants to navigate.

Here is the situation. The average American has an income of roughly $70,000 and pays income taxes of about 14-percent, usually deducted by the employer. The wealthiest Americans do not earn much in salaries. Instead, they make money on their assets — dividends on stocks, for example, and their tax bills come due when they sell assets. They are also able to take offsetting losses on their investments, thereby lowering their earnings, in some cases, to zero. According to ProPublica, while Joe Blow pays 14-percent on his salaried income, the 25 richest Americans paid a true tax rate of only 3.4-percent on what they took in between 2014 and 2018.
Is this legal? Yes. Is it fair? Most Americans do not think so.

The wealth gap in our country, often referred to as wealth inequity, has grown significantly in recent decades. It has become not only a starkly divisive issue among Americans across the wealth spectrum but a political issue. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and other leftish political figures have raised the issue in public debate, and they are right to do so. Congress is beginning to talk about tax code reform, albeit tentatively, and President Biden is cheering on that conversation.

In a democratic republic, fairness is the underlying concept. Our system will work only as long as we believe it is fair. We all want to believe that we will be treated fairly by our legal system. We all want to believe that we have access to quality health care and that our children will be able to get educations that will make them productive adults. We all want to believe that we have a shot at upward mobility. It is sometimes hard to believe any of that.

Paying taxes is a necessary reality. Most of us recognize that and are willing to pay our fair share, but we want everyone else to do so as well. We do not want to feel like schmucks as asset-heavy folks zoom past us in their Teslas.

This week Publisher Bill Bowman yields his space to Fayetteville City Councilwoman Tisha Waddell who sets the record straight and combats the rumors and innuendo that have undermined her effectiveness as a public servant. Thank you, Councilwoman Waddell, for serving our community.

To my Fayetteville constituents:

I am not running for re-election, and I am also NOT running for Mayor. I appreciate all the support I have received and even the naysayers, as you have each helped me grow. I am also grateful to the handful of people I shared my decision with before submitting this article that completely understands why this is my choice.

There was a marked difference between the first two years I served as an elected official and what will be my last. I was fortunate to serve with councilmen like Ted Mohn, Bill Crisp and Jim Arp. These legislators weren't perfect, but they researched, were more consistent in policy application, and were not afraid to challenge the status quo. It was demanding but rewarding. I learned quickly and was complete in my decision-making. I earned a stable reputation as one who weighs the facts and makes decisions based on what's in the community's best interest, whether it was popular with the political bullies or not.

I regret that those new to their positions have not benefited from serving under different conditions and hope the tide shifts for them and all of us represented by them.

Had my first two years been anything like my last two, there wouldn't have been a second term. It is difficult to accept the amount of hypocrisy and fear in our local government and even more so that it is excused as expected. We should not expect our leaders, at any level, to be ego-driven or inconsistent in process and policy.

Disagreements should not be allowed to become flashpoints, and unstable agitators should not be permitted to pull focus away from our legislator's actual responsibilities. The abusive mishandling by members of the Council or members in the community of our leaders should not be tolerated. Whether we like them or not, they were elected by a majority of the people who voted and belong precisely where they are.

Initially, I only promised to do my part to communicate and make sound decisions. Focusing on sharing the tools needed to guide their elected's choices for this city and removing barriers to access between them and their representative has hopefully helped District Three understand their power.

When looking back, I hope the things people remember are that I supported legislation that seeks to increase transparency in how the Council makes decisions. I've called for undeviating policy practices in the hopes that we could level the playing field for future council members to be able to do their job.

I've helped the Council shift its focus from implementing fee increases to more meaningful investments into our neighborhoods through street resurfacing and stormwater investments. There have been measurable successes in some regards, and in others, the needle has barely moved.

I respect each of my peers on Council and recognize where we have worked well and where there is room for improvement. It was my great pleasure to work in this capacity, and I will always be fond of how God chose to use me in this season.

I have learned that it isn't one person's job to change leadership, directly or indirectly. That is the job of all the citizens in this city who are of voting age. So, as some celebrate the announcement of my departure from the Fayetteville City Council and others are saddened to lose me as one of their champions for common sense in governing, the takeaway for all should be to register to vote, VOTE, and then hold your elected accountable by staying involved. Your city is counting on YOU!

Appeals Court Judge John Tyson has been cleared of an assault allegation after a state prosecutor said there is no evidence of a crime.

“My client is pleased to hear of the rightful dismissal of the summons against him,” attorney David Courie said in a statement released today. “False allegations should be dismissed. It is bad enough to be falsely charged and to suffer a rush to judgment by some despite the evidence, but it need not be followed up by blind prosecution.”

In May, Myahtaeyarra Warren swore to a magistrate that Tyson committed assault with a deadly weapon by attempting to hit her with his SUV. Warren had been protesting in the vicinity of the Market House in downtown Fayetteville when Tyson drove his vehicle around the traffic circle on May 7.

At least two other protestors reported witnessing the incident, claiming people had to “jump back to not get hit by the vehicle” and “people standing on the mural section had to back up to the fence…”

The charge was referred to the independent Conference of District Attorneys after the local District Attorney’s office recused itself from handling the case, citing conflict of interest as Judge Tyson hears direct appeals of cases prosecuted in the county.

According to Cumberland County Court documents released June 11, “the State obtained, reviewed, and agreed to release six different city cameras that captured various aspects of the described event.”

The state reviewed the footage with Warren on June 10. “After this review, Ms. Warren and her mother acknowledged that Ms. Warren was standing on the sidewalk, leaned up against the fence before, during, and after Tyson’s car passed by them. Tyson’s car never moved towards Ms. Warren or any other protestor present.”

The Dismissal document goes on to state that “the State finds no credible evidence that a crime was committed … the video evidence clearly shows no interaction between Ms. Warren and Mr. Tyson and no evidence of an assault.”

The document further provides that “none of the three people on the circle side of the street reacted in any way to Mr. Tyson’s vehicle passing.”

After the summons was dismissed, Courie elaborated on Tyson’s service as a lawyer, judge, professor and local businessman. “He has spent his life taking responsibility, caring for his family and others, and investing and giving back to his hometown and state.”

“Our laws and criminal justice system cannot support the opportunistic use of the law and smearing of honest reputations earned over a lifetime of work and contributions to our state,” Courie said in a statement. “It can ruin lives and reputations, undermine the credibility of actual criminal acts, and result in the wasting of valuable local law enforcement and court resources in our community.”

Pictured: Judge John Tyson courtesy nccourts.gov

The Broadway musical “Urinetown” opened at the Gilbert Theater to sold-out shows, an indication that audiences are willing to overlook the odd title in exchange for an evening of hysterical entertainment.

Set in a dystopia where the masses are suffering from a drought, one giant corporation has monopolized bathroom usage. Citizens are forced into a pay-per-use urinal by law, with the ultimate punishment of being sent to Urinetown. The musical addresses important social issues and freedoms while keeping it fun with music.

The show is narrated by Officer Lockstock (played by Zech Williams) and Little Sally (played by Hannah Smith) who win the audience’s heart with their mesmerizing performances. Smith does a terrific job with her vocals and acting in her debut show at the Gilbert.

“Urinetown” is a satirical comedy written by Greg Kotis and directed at the Gilbert by Robyne Parrish. The show draws in the audience for a night filled with many laughs.

The first act reflects on the injustices done by the Urine Good Company and its president, Mr. Cladwell (played by Bill Saunders) — a shrewd, selfish man. The lead Bobby Strong (played by Tim Zimmerman) begins to light the fire of revolution and justice amongst the people after his father, Old Man Strong (played by Gabe Terry) breaks the law and uses the urine facility without paying and is sent to the ultimate mysterious bad place – Urinetown.

Hope Cladwell (played by Linda Flynn) is the naive, kind daughter of Mr. Cladwell, who falls in love with Bobby Strong, leading to a series of humorous interactions and drama.

“There is the star-crossed lover’s aspect,” said actor Jacquelyn Kessler (who plays McQueen).

While the lead urges the masses to uproot governmental control and tyranny, the urine facility’s supervisor Penelope Pennywise (played by Jennifer Newman), Lockstock, and rest of law enforcement and UGC’s employees resist their advances.

Newman, also in her debut at the Gilbert, deserves a special shoutout for her performance of Penelope Pennywise.

With musical delight, the show encompasses a classic class struggle between the rich and poor, the have and have nots and sends the audience for a spin to question different social constructs like the legal system, capitalism, corporations, corporate mismanagement and bureaucracy.

The latter half of the show focuses on the masses kidnapping Bobby Strong’s love interest and leading lady Hope, to get her father and villain to agree to their terms. The corrupt old man then refuses to save his daughter and has Strong arrested and sent to Urinetown.

What happens next reflects strongly on misuse of power and authority by the rich and law enforcement, as Urinetown is a violent death to anyone who disagrees with the authority. The production’s last bit shows Hope leading the masses against her father. The show, however, doesn’t necessarily end in happiness for all as many lose their lives or move away due to lack of water after their freedom led to overuse of the resources, as Lockstock narrates. Overall, the production delivers a fantastic time with great actors, band and a successful execution by the crew.

“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.

For tickets or more information call 910-678-7186 or visit www.gilberttheater.com

Above photo: The cast of "Urinetown" delivers an entertaining performance at the Gilbert Theater. (Photo by Tori Barker)

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and while crime has gone down overall during the pandemic, homicides and other gun crimes have surged nationally, according to a recent report.

The city of Fayetteville’s 2021 murder rate will likely exceed the local record of 31 violent deaths set in 2016. There have been 21 homicides in Fayetteville so far this year, according to police spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Glass. That’s a 38% increase over the first half of last year. There were 13 homicides during the first six months of 2020 and 11 during the corresponding period in 2019. “There are too many victims of gun violence that could have been prevented,” Gov. Roy Cooper has said.

CBS News recently researched the 2019 murder rates of 65 U.S. cities with more than 100,000 residents. Fayetteville was ranked 55th. Charlotte was tied with Nashville, Tennessee, for 59th place. Winston-Salem was rated 56th, Durham 52nd, Greensboro 44th and High Point 34th. The lower the number, the higher the murder rate. CBS News’ calculations used the FBI's 2019 Crime in the United States data, as well as information culled directly from city police officials and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins says the record sale of guns in 2020 was a major factor for the increase in homicides so far this year. “Violent crime is increasing around the nation and we’re part of it,” she said.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation noted that 2020 was record-breaking in nearly every measurable metric. More than 8.4 million people purchased their first guns last year. The increase in homicide rates across the country is both historic and far-reaching, as were the social movements that touched every part of society in 2020.

"Those that are predisposed to commit violent crime are not likely to remain in their homes away from other people because there is a stay-at-home order," said Kansas City Police Sergeant Jacob Becchina. “I think the pandemic — COVID — has had a significant emotional impact on people across the country,” Detroit police chief James Craig said.

Chief Hawkins agrees with Craig. She told Up & Coming Weekly that individuals are not processing how they manage disputes. What used to be a fist fight has become a gun fight.

Hawkins said that it’s difficult for law enforcement agencies to prevent murders, most of which are inflicted as the result of domestic disputes, gang activity, violent conflicts and predatory violence.

“We absolutely are proactively on the forefront to eliminate crime,” Hawkins said. “The entire department works very hard to incorporate technology into solving crime.”

She said that most of the 100 downtown video cameras are operating. They are monitored during special events such as the Dogwood Festival and baseball games at Segra Stadium.

The National Council for Home Safety and Security has ranked North Carolina’s 50 safest cities. Fayetteville is not among them. Hope Mills is ranked 42nd. Pinehurst is North Carolina’s safest municipality. True to its image as an upper-crust resort community, Pinehurst recorded a low 0.93 per 1,000 violent crime rate along with the lowest property crime rate in the state.

Methodist University erased a four-shot deficit on the final day of the NCAA Division III Women's Golf National Championship in May and scored its 26th Championship.

“To say I am excited is an understatement,” said head women’s golf coach Tom Inczauskis as his team was greeted on campus by students, faculty and staff after the long trip from East Lansing, Mich.

“I am so proud of the players and all they’ve overcome during this COVID-impacted school year and athletic season.”

Combined with the success of the men’s golf team, which finished as the national runners-up, the MU women brought home the Monarch’s 38th national championship in golf.

The women’s team — consisting of Ingrid Steingrimsen, Jillian Drinkard, Paige Church, Maggie Williams and Abby Bloom, and led by Inczauskis and assistant coach Brock White — took over second place from George Fox University with Day 2’s tournament-low round of 300, inching to within one stroke of leader Carnegie Mellon University.

CMU extended that narrow margin to four strokes but was unable to hold off Methodist in the final round.

The deficit was down to a single stroke after three holes, was erased on No. 4 and tilted in Methodist’s favor on the par-4 sixth hole, when the Monarchs played the hole in even par while CMU played it in three over.

That three-stroke advantage grew to as many as six before Methodist settled for a five-stroke victory and its national title.

“I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work, sacrifice and days on the road,” added Inczauskis. “They came together as a team. They played their best golf when they needed it most. They stayed upbeat and positive throughout the event. I hope they enjoy the moment with their families, friends and supporters. They had one of the greatest seasons in Methodist women’s golf history and I look forward to our future successes together.”

At Oglebay Golf Resort in Wheeling, W.Va., the MU men’s golf team took home second place in the national championship tournament. A pair of Methodist golfers — Cooper Hrabak and Andre Chi — finished in the Top 5 in individual scoring.

Hrabak ended in a two-way tie for second place. That is the highest finish by a Methodist golfer in the NCAA championships since Jeff Wells in 2015. Chi finished in a two-way tie for fourth place and just one stroke back of Hrabak.

Methodist secured its spot in second place early in Round 4, then finished 11 strokes ahead of third-place Guilford College, falling short of Illinois Wesleyan University for the title by 13 strokes. The MU men’s golf team’s most recent NCAA Championship was in 2018.

You can find additional information on the women’s and men’s championship matches at mumonarchs.com