This time last year, we were just beginning to grasp what had already hit us. A man who visited a nursing facility in Washington state apparently brought COVID to North Carolina, but most of us did not know anyone infected with COVID even though other carriers were likely circulating. Wearing a mask had yet to occur to us, although we were beginning to think about what we now call “social distancing.” Those who could began isolating and schools shut their doors. An 80-year-old immunologist in Atlanta became a national guru.

What a difference a year makes! Amid illness and deaths that hit different parts of our nation at different times, we fast tracked the development and distribution of highly effective vaccines, and we figured out what to do to protect ourselves and our loved ones to some degree. We decided to protect our elderly first, even though COVID was spread by younger people more often. We made mistakes, but we have learned.

Among our lessons is that COVID is not the last pandemic we will face. Given that reality, what knowledge should we apply to prepare ourselves for the next one? With more than half a million Americans dead of COVID, public health experts have their individual takes on this, of course, but there is agreement on big issues.

Science trumps politics every time. People died while we mocked masks and partied. We can never allow this again.

Viruses do not know about or respect state lines, so it makes no sense to have individual states do their own thing during a pandemic. Communication, collaboration and common goals and practices will go a long way in stemming a national pandemic as will a significantly beefed up national public health system. COVID is a worldwide issue, and the United States will be more successful now and in the future if we act as a whole.

Racial and ethnic minorities and people in poverty have been disproportionately affected by COVID, both by contracting the virus and by its effects on families and economics. Inequities exist in our country in jobs, education, housing, food access, and health care, and the pandemic shone a glaring spotlight on them. Think the difference between having your groceries delivered to your door and the person making those deliveries. Think those able to work from home and those required to go to a workplace. During what is being dubbed an “inter-pandemic period,” it is time to address these disparities. We really are all in this together.

We human beings are social creatures, and forced isolation has been hard on us, including on children locked out of schools and trying to learn virtually. It has been hard, too, on parents trying to work remotely from home or struggling for child care. As we come out of isolation, we should cut ourselves and others some slack. We have missed human company, and it will take a while to ease back into what we think of as “normal.”

And, finally, as painful as it is to write this, we Americans have some soul searching to do. Millions of us apparently care more about our own individual rights than about the wellbeing of others, loved ones included. When we believe our own “right” not to mask is more important than the health of others with whom we have contact — many of whom are essential workers helping us, something is seriously wrong with our thinking. The pandemic has exposed such selfishness as never before, and it is not a pretty picture or a reflection of portrait we have historically shown the world. And, make no mistake — the world is watching us

Are you ready? Spring is officially here, and good news is everywhere! For those of the Christian faith, Easter is a time for renewal and refreshing, and that is exactly what's happening all around us.

The news recently reported Fayetteville's signature Dogwood Festival is back in action after an unfortunate hiatus brought on by the pandemic. The organizers promise it to be smaller and safer, but just as fun as we've come to expect of the hometown festival rooted right here in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

After a year of virtual everything, I've pretty much reached 'Zoom Fatigue' and have recently met with local church and civic leaders excited about everything from fun family activities like egg hunts and days in the park to what one local pastor called the “... super bowl of Easters.”

One thing is certain, over the past year we've learned we need each other. A recent survey cited a surprising 52% of Americans who volunteered to do things for others for the first time in their lives. Donating blood, caring for elderly neighbors, working with and donating to food pantries – the first time! That's a trend we can all hope will catch on.

This is a great time to be alive, and while we blame the virus for so many of the bad things that came our way, we can even find plenty to be thankful for on its heels.

While masks and other precautions may be the norm for now, it's still exciting to see the country – and our local communities – spring to life once again. I can honestly say I was never before happy to get stuck behind a school bus on the two-lane cut-through to get to work, but I almost clapped my hands when it happened a couple of weeks ago. NOTE: I didn't actually clap my hands; I was on a motorcycle, and that would have been a little irresponsible.

If there is a central point to any of this, it's that we can find reasons to rejoice regardless of the circumstances surrounding us. There is much more to this life than what we may see as the interruptions. The blessings we long for – family, friends and celebrations of both – are the very things we learned to chase and find when they were dangled six feet away, or held captive behind the walls of a senior care facility over the past 12 months.

If you haven't yet, thank God for allowing you to see and experience what you have. We are living in a historical moment as we create memories no one can take away. And while I wouldn't wish the bad parts of the pandemic on anyone, I will certainly rejoice in the good that has come through the experience. I hope you will too.

For 25 years, the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper has enjoyed echoing the achievements of a community that has for too long suffered from a bruised, tattered and unwarranted reputation.

During this past year, our community has struggled along with a frustrated and polarized nation in dealing with COVID viruses, mask mandates, vaccine choices, lock down's, shutdowns and destructive racial ambiguity that selfishly serves the self-serving.

A defenseless, vulnerable and abused Fayetteville has always been reluctant to tell its own story. This is why we have enjoyed a successful quarter-century run of doing just that: telling the Fayetteville and Cumberland County story.

Until this past year, we had plenty to write about: business events, arts and culture venues, and local concerts and festivals. After more than twelve months of Zoom meetings, even our most enthusiastic community cheerleaders are turning into anti-social zombies. Or perhaps I should say, Zoombies! OMG! I'm beginning to sound like Pitt Dickey.
I'll get to the point: this past year has been tough on all of us; however, your support and loyalty to our community newspaper have been steadfast and appreciated.

Thank you for your calls, emails and text messages. We hear your message loud and clear. Up & Coming Weekly has no intention of deserting this community or our mission and mandates of showcasing the people, programs, organizations, businesses and institutions that make Fayetteville and Cumberland County a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Up & Coming Weekly showcase features about the Two Docs, Gates Four, Kaleo Supports, Fayetteville Technical Community College and PWC are just a few of the contributors to our community's quality of life. Our features provide insights and vision you won't find on any social media platform. Enjoy!

One final note and message to those who would like to 'cancel' us: Up & Coming Weekly has battled the 'cancel culture' since 1996. Our foes are people who did something wrong, are doing something wrong, have something to hide, or all three. Otherwise, I ask you: What's not to like? Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

According to Varonis Systems’ 2020 Data Breach Statistics, a cyber-attack occurs every 39 seconds. The North Carolina Department of Justice reported it only took 1,210 data breaches to affect nearly 1.1 million North Carolinians last year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the current security issues, increasing the breeding ground for cybercriminals as more people work remotely from home offices. On this high-tech battlefield, cybersecurity professionals are outnumbered.

The shortage of cybersecurity professionals has resulted in overwhelming workloads, unfilled job openings and limited time for workers to learn the latest security technologies as they fight cyber-threats on the firewall frontlines. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated in their attacks, so security techniques must become more vigorous. To ensure a robust cybersecurity team, employees’ skillsets must align with the progressive expertise needed by companies as they combat the persistent cyber-attacks faced on a day-to-day basis. Without this specialized skillset, cybersecurity teams are ill-equipped to protect companies — the same companies we entrust with our personal and financial information — from being compromised by cybercriminals who have every intention of stealing data for their personal gain.

As the number of cyber-attacks continue to rise and the quantity of qualified IT professionals is stunted by an ever-growing workforce gap in the cybersecurity field, how does cybersecurity regain its advantage? The obvious answer is to shorten the workforce gap by hiring qualified cybersecurity professionals, and this wishful thinking is now a tangible reality through the Carolina Cyber Network.

Fayetteville Technical Community College and Montreat College have partnered to establish CCN to correct the cybersecurity workforce gap in North Carolina. The idea behind this initiative is to revamp the talent pipeline of workers to better align with the needs of employers. CCN created a unique triadic approach to solve this dilemma by providing support to K-12 educators, collaborating with neighboring colleges and universities, and partnering with businesses.

One of the goals of CCN is to supply K-12 schools with the resources needed to better prepare students to enter universities and colleges for cybersecurity-related degrees and certificates. These resources include providing training and certification vouchers for teachers as well as offering scholarships to students. The program will also give schools access to online IT teaching material through NDG labs hosted by partnering colleges and universities.

As high school students complete an Information Technology track, they can progress through the talent pipeline as they pursue higher education. CCN connects universities and colleges across the state to create a collaborative environment in which students can receive specialized training to enhance their technical and essential skills. The initiative will help provide college students with real-world experience through work study, internship and apprenticeship opportunities. With coveted skills and entry-level experience, students will be well-equipped, work-ready, cybersecurity professionals.

CCN’s partnership with businesses opens the lines of communication between industry and educational institutions to ensure the skills needed in the workforce are the same skills being taught in the classroom. The CCN program will also provide the opportunity of continued education for company employees seeking to advance their technical training.

The CCN is a win-win program for everyone involved. Students will be prepared for a lucrative career in cybersecurity; the existing workforce gap will decrease; and cyber-compliant businesses will have fully staffed and skilled cybersecurity teams capable of handling an onslaught of malicious hackers.

Now is a great time to plan for fall semester classes. Learn more about the many options available in the Computer Technology programs area. Call 910-678-8400 or email admissionscounselors@faytechcc.edu to find your way forward.

On March 24, 1969, a young Special Forces soldier from Georgia, found himself thousands of miles away from home and family. Instead of coaching Little League or playing catch, he was leading a group of Vietnamese soldiers who were serving in the Civilian Irregular Defense Group. The CIDG was part of the Mobile Strike Force Command — otherwise known as Mike teams, which were trained and led by American Special Forces.

The soldier, Staff Sergeant William Maud Bryant, came of age during segregation, a time of economic and social inequality. Unlike many people at that time, Bryant volunteered to join the Army at the age of 20. His first assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division. Later, he volunteered to go through Ranger School, graduating as the Honor Graduate. When he returned to Fort Bragg, he decided to tackle another challenge: Special Forces. He wrote in his journal that he would “see the guys on Fort Bragg who wore the Green Beret,” and "wanted to do what they did.” It was at Fort Bragg, as a Special Forces soldier, Bryant found his calling. He wrote that he had “found what he was looking for in the Army … a chance to lead from the front.” He further explained that “amongst the Green Berets, race, color or creed did not matter.”

With a career he enjoyed and a family he loved, Bryant continued to excel in his military life and his home life. He had a wife, a daughter and two sons. For love of country, he left his family back at Fort Bragg and headed to Vietnam. Sergeant Bryant was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). At that time, the 5th SFG (A) was leading the fight in Vietnam. Once in country, Staff Sgt. Bryant trained, advised and assisted a paramilitary counterinsurgency force that included those indigenous to the area — known as Light Force 321.

On March 24, while leading a patrol of the group in the Long Khanh Province, Bryant’s base camp came under fire. During a 34-hour attack, Bryant moved through enemy fire while establishing a defense perimeter, directing fire, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded and leading a patrol.

During the patrol, Bryant was wounded but called for helicopter support and directed suppressive fire toward enemy positions. Without fear, Staff Sgt. Bryant charged at an enemy automatic weapons position, destroying three of its defenders, before becoming mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. When a helicopter drop of ammunition was made to re-supply the beleaguered force Bryant, with complete disregard for his safety, ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men.

During a lull in the intense fighting, he led a patrol outside the perimeter to obtain information of the enemy. The patrol came under intense automatic weapons fire and was pinned down. Staff Sgt. Bryant single-handedly repulsed one enemy attack on his small force and by his heroic action inspired his men to fight off other assaults.

Seeing a wounded enemy soldier some distance from the patrol location, he crawled forward alone under heavy fire to retrieve the soldier for intelligence purposes. Finding that the enemy soldier had expired, Bryant crawled back to his patrol and led his men back to the company position where he again took command of the defense.

As the siege continued, Staff Sgt. Bryant organized and led a patrol in a daring attempt to break through the enemy encirclement. The patrol had advanced some 200 meters by heavy fighting when it was pinned down by the intense automatic weapons fire from heavily fortified bunkers, and he was severely wounded. Despite his wounds he rallied his men, called for a helicopter gunship support, and directed heavy suppressive fire upon the enemy positions.

Following the last gunship attack, Bryant fearlessly charged an enemy automatic weapons position, overrunning it, and single-handedly destroying its three defenders. Inspired by his heroic example, his men renewed their attack on the entrenched enemy.

While regrouping his small force for the final assault against the enemy, Staff Sgt. Bryant died.

For his actions on that day, Bryant was posthumously promoted to Sergeant First Class and was awarded the highest honor a soldier can earn — the Medal of Honor.

The citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His selfless concern for his comrades, at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.”

In September 1974, Bryant Hall, the headquarters building of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, was dedicated in Bryant’s memory. On Feb. 16 of this year, the SWCS Command commemorated the anniversary of the award presentation honoring Bryant’s sacrifice with a ceremony and the opening of the Bryant Gallery in the headquarters lobby. Bryant’s sons, Greg and Kelvin, and their wives were on hand to take part in the ceremony.

Prior to the ceremony members of the SWCS staff visited the Bryants and listened to their recollections and looked through what they had of their fathers, scrapbooks with photos, awards that proclaimed his bravery and love of country and love of his fellow soldiers. They also had the opportunity to see Bryant’s Medal that was hanging on a wall in Greg’s house.

Greg noted that his friends would come by and they would see it and think it was cool, but when he saw the reaction from the soldiers who visited his home, he realized where the Medal needed to be, and the family donated the Medal of Honor to SWCS as the centerpiece of the Bryant Gallery.

During the commemoration ceremony, Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, the Commander of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, noted, “Today, on the 50th anniversary of President Nixon’s presentation of the Medal of Honor to Sgt. 1st Class Bryant’s family, we once again gather to commemorate his legacy. Today, he would have been 88.”

“On 24 March, Sgt. 1st Class Bryant gave the last full measure of devotion to his teammates, his partners, and to the nation. Sgt. 1st Class Bryant so firmly believed in the values of freedom and prosperity, that he was willing to give his life to this cause. He fought bravely, leading from the front, until his last breath in the triple canopy jungle of Vietnam, on a lone fire base … with his comrades. The lessons learned from Sgt. 1st Class Bryant’s experiences — operating in austere and remote conditions and fighting by, with, and through indigenous partner forces — are timeless.”

While the Bryant brothers can barely remember the ceremony at the White House where President Richard Nixon posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to their mother, seeing it in the headquarters building that still carries his name was emotional for them, but it let them see and understand the kind of man their father was, and that while he is gone, he has not been forgotten.

Pictured above: Sgt. 1st Class William M. Bryant was killed in action in Vietnam on March 24, 1969. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

Pictured botton left: Together, Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson (left), Greg and Kelvin Bryant and their wives, cut the ribbon to the entrance of the new Bryant Gallery. The ceremony held Feb. 16 was the anniversary of the award presentation and Sgt. 1st Class Bryant's birthday.

Pictured bottom right: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Sgt. 1st Class Bryant's family donated his Medal of Honor to SWCS to serve as the centerpiece in the new Bryant Gallery. (All photos courtesy U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School)

 

By age 90, most people are settling into their twilight years resting, relaxing and enjoying time free from work commitments. Donald Kemp is not most people. Kemp keeps busy with writing projects, a passion that began more than five decades ago.

A Fayetteville resident for 40 years, Kemp is originally from Michigan. His serious writing began in 1968 with a series of articles in a Rochester City newspaper about his own heart bypass surgery. The articles lead to his first published book “I Live With A Mended Heart.” At the time of his surgery, Cleveland Clinic was the only place to get have the procedure. Kemp’s book was inspired by his own procedure and his life in recovery.

Kemp has also produced other works such as articles for magazines and newspapers during his time living in Michigan. As well as writing, Kemp explored his story-telling ability by directing plays in California, which he describes as “an explosion of emotion to see what is in your mind come to life on a stage.”

His first full-length novel, “Rendering,” is a mystery thriller published in 2016. The inspiration behind this novel was a newspaper article about three inches high. The book took Kemp seven years to write. The book developed over time while he was participating in a writing group that met every two weeks. The group would “toss chapters over the hot coals,” Kemp recalls as a way of challenging authors. Since that experience, Kemp said he chooses to stick to shorter books and writing projects.

His next book “Senior Touring Society,” was published in 2018. It is a comedy about elders going to and from a stage play.
Kemp has also written three children’s books, specifically for his grandchildren. He wrote them each year that his military son was stationed at Fort Bragg so that he could read them to his grandchildren at Christmas.

With two books waiting to be published, Kemp doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon. He said he has a bunch of stories and ideas that he keeps organized on little slips of paper around his office.

Kemp offers one steadfast rule for aspiring authors: make time to write every day. “Even if it is one hour, or just writing notes, writing every day will get your ideas down on paper.”

Kemp also offers a tip he learned from reading one of his writing inspirations, Ernest Hemingway. Known for his economic prose, Hemmingway’s writing is minimalist with few adverbs or adjectives. Hemmingway made a special effort to write in simple and direct language. Kemp said he tries to follow that philosophy too.

Kemp’s book are available online in e-book and soft cover formats. For more information visit https://donkempauthor.com/

Editor April Olsen contributed to this article.

The Justice for Our Neighbors Immigration Clinic, Inc. opened in downtown Fayetteville in November of last year aiming to provide low-cost legal aid to low-income immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers while providing education and advocacy of the immigration system in the U.S.

Their mission is to meet the needs of our neighbors in a complex and ever-changing U.S. immigration system, said Oscar Hernandez, Executive Director for Fayetteville JFON.

Fayetteville JFON was born as a result of a forum on immigration in 2018 at St. Andrews Methodist Church.

“I saw that children were being ripped away from their parents that really bothered me, so I wanted to raise awareness about how God cares about immigrants and foreigners,” Scott Foster, pastor at St. Andrews Methodist Church, said. “I just wanted to have a forum about that and connect to our world through education.”

Foster, who serves as the fundraising chair for Fayetteville JFON said they received funding from the United Methodist Church to reach out to those who are marginalized like immigrants often are.

The immigration clinic started seeing clients as of Dec. 1 and had 100 to 200 people reach out for help.

“There is a great need for low-cost immigration services in the area,” Hernandez said. “North Carolina itself has a growing immigrant population and more options are needed in the Sandhills region and rural areas.”

The clinic’s team includes a full-time attorney, administrative assistant, executive director, intern, volunteers and a board of directors.

Services are offered at low-cost to low-income immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers of all faiths, backgrounds and identities and fees are based on income. Each case is assessed individually, and the clinic offers services like DACA, Temporary Protected Status VAWA, U and T Visa, family reunification, citizenship and permanent residency.

Foster said they hope to grow as they receive more funds and are currently hiring for a Grant Writer.

National JFON located outside of Washington D.C. supports 18 JFON sites with about 50 clinics across the U.S.

“We welcome volunteers and interns who are excited and know more about the immigration legal system and be part of our team,” Hernandez said. “Immigrants make this country great, join us in our mission to serve our immigrant neighbors.”

The Fayetteville JFON is located in the Self Help building at 100 Hay St., Suite 300. For more information on their services, call 910-441-3753 Monday to Thursday noon to 4 p.m. or send an email to information@fayettevilljfon.org. To donate visit, https://fayettevillejfon.kindful.com/

Despite pandemic restrictions, two new small businesses have opened their doors to the public in downtown Fayetteville recently. Tru Perfections Salon and Stachia’s Fully Loaded Grill are now open in the Cool Spring Downtown District.

Serving clients for their hair, makeup and beauty needs, Tru Perfections, located at 125 Person St, is owned and operated by De’Von Buie.

An artist of 13 years, Buie is skilled in makeup, body painting, hair style and color, props and more. The salon has two other stylists specializing in natural hair and eyebrow tinting. “I knew this would be a good opportunity for me and I just had to do it,” Buie said. “My aunt helped me finance opening the store which means a lot to me since she passed away recently due to cancer.”

As far as the pandemic, it's been challenging, he said, but in this career it’s a bit different because people constantly need their hair done.

“I have three kids, so that's what keeps me going, and it motivates me,” Buie said. “I need to stay alive, do what I love.”

For more information about Tru Perfections Salon, call 910-224-1530.
Stachia Arnold opened Stachia’s Fully Loaded Grill and Mart located at 200 Robeson St. What started in 2018 as a food truck led to a permanent location in Spring Lake and now Fayetteville.

“We used a food truck and visited downtown, we had a good business model, then we got ready to do brick and mortar,” Arnold said.

The veteran-owned restaurant offers simple American cuisine with a twist and is located alongside a convenience mart to enhance the customer experience. Some of the popular items on their menu include chicken wings, fully loaded baked potatoes, fully loaded cheesesteaks, fully loaded fried rice and fully loaded fries. We have about 25 to 30 flavor combinations for wings, she said.

“I am the oldest of three children, my mom was working and would work late … she taught us to make the simplest things and make them good,” Arnold said. “From then I always had to create something different, so I started Stachia’s Fully Loaded Grill when I moved back to North Carolina.”

The restaurant will be expanding its Spring Lake location in March to provide a 3,000 square feet, dine-in food and bar location. Stachia’s is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more info call 910-502-0123.

Located on the west side of Fayetteville, Gates Four has been a part of the Cumberland County community for about 54 years. The 18-hole championship golf course and club was built in 1967, and the residential community followed in 1974. The community has grown over the decades.

Gates Four Golf & Country Club and its residential community Fayetteville will be adding more developments and various amenities for residents and club members this year. In addition to hosting the Cumberland County Golf Championship again this year, new entertainment amenities will include the Fayetteville Dinner Theatre in April and the Summer Concert Series beginning in May.

“Gates Four is really unique to this market at the price point that we offer, there’s really nothing like it around,” Kevin Lavertu, general manager of the Gates Four Country Club said.

The club and residential development are located in proximity to each other, but they operate separately and membership to the club is open to everyone and one doesn’t have to reside in their community, he said.

The full-service country club includes the golf course, junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, four USDA tennis courts, JP’s Bar & Grill dining room facility, a banquet facility, and an outdoor pavilion among other things.

“There are about 400 members and some are social members and some sports,” Lavertu said. “We have different categories of memberships to meet different lifestyles.”

The golf-course for the club is a semi-private facility, open to outside play after 10 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends.

“Having a golf course here is nice, it’s top-rated, I go up there every day,” said Mike Molin, a club member and resident of the community. “I am retired and I can play almost every day.”

Lavertu does a great job with the course and club, and it's a great place to be, eat and hang out with friends, he said.

Gates Four Country Club is family centric with single or family dues packages available.

“It provides a getaway for people, whether you play golf, tennis or just to dine or swim. There’s something for everybody and it’s really a getaway for a lot of people,” Lavertu said.

The Dinner Theatre will include events planned inside the ballroom for members to watch shows in an intimate setting and enjoy dinner and entertainment, while the Summer Concert Series hosted at the club’s pavilion will showcase local bands for members and guests to enjoy outdoors. The concert series will kick off Friday, May 14.

The Cumberland County Championship will be played this year Oct. 15 through Oct. 17 and is one of the biggest tournaments around for amateur golfers, and a staple for golfers and the Cumberland County area, Lavertu said.

“Just like anything it's a getaway and way for people to enjoy. We are open to anybody who wants to join and we have some great promotions on memberships,” Lavertu added.

Surrounding the club house is the residential community of Gates Four, a combination of 760 houses and townhomes.
“I think it’s the best community in Cumberland County and the area with a top-rated golf course, country club and a gated community,” Molin said. “There’s nothing around like it.”

Molin, a resident of the community of 41 years, also serves as the Home Owners Association Treasurer.

We have grown from 200 homes to 760 since I have lived here, and it is almost like a small company that the HOA runs. There's a property manager and we expect people to live by certain standards when they move home to help keep the community looking nice, he said.

“Having a 24-hour gated community, it provides all these amenities in a safe environment for people to live in, which does help people gravitate towards Gates Four and what I noticed with the school system, we are getting younger and younger within the community moving in,” Lavertu said.

Some may have the impression that the community is far out of town, but Lavertu says the Gates Four community is only about 10 minutes from Raeford Road, adding that the area offers a great school system.

“I call it the best kept secret of Fayetteville, honestly,” said Jay Dowdy, Broker/Owner at All American Homes with Berkshire Homes. “Gates Four has one of the best school districts and a lot of people call me from out of town looking for homes there, the whole area is nice, and has a unique environment.”

Molin said the biggest things he liked about living in Gates Four is the gated community and also having a Fayetteville address but not having to pay the city taxes because the community extends out to Hope Mills.

Dowdy mentioned the demand for the community is very high and about 20 percent of his buyers live in Gates Four.

“The price point out there starts around the 250’s and goes up to about a million, so it’s not going to your beginner buyers, more upper end buyers” he said “But there’s a lot of very affordable townhomes out there too priced in the 100’s.”

The growth in the area due to Gates Four has been high, Lavertu said.

“If it wasn’t for the community of Gates Four you wouldn't see businesses making financial investments in the community here in close proximity so obviously this has a huge financial impact on the area due to the community,” he said.

Due to the high demand, all of the new construction has been sold and pre-sales are happening on the next construction, Dowdy said.

Lavertu emphasized the convenience of the Gates Four community having dining, sports and other amenities right there for members.

“It’s a gated community with a country feel, it’s got ponds,” Dowdy said. “It’s your hometown country club, with lots of amenities, affordability, location.”

For more information about Gates Four, visit https://www.gatesfour.com or contact the club at 910-425-6667.

The 82nd Airborne Division’s First Brigade Combat Team at Fort Bragg, is slated to receive the first of its kind Infantry Squad Vehicle — a light all-terrain troop battlefield carrier intended to transport infantry squads and their equipment.

The 82nd is scheduled to receive 59 ISVs. Division spokesman Lt. Col. Michael Burns says they are not yet on the ground.

Eventually, 11 Army infantry brigade combat teams will be outfitted with 59 vehicles each under the first contract. The vehicle is being built by GM Defense LLC, a General Motors subsidiary.

Since 1941, the Army has relied on the Jeep and more recently the Humvee for battlefield mobility. But the ISV is the first vehicle designed to carry an infantry squad of nine soldiers and their equipment, according to the Army. The ISV is largely based on the frame of the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize pickup truck. Ninety percent of its parts are commercial off-the-shelf components, said Steven Herrick, the Army's product leader for ground mobility vehicles.

GM Defense renovated a plant in Concord, North Carolina, for its production.

“Having soldiers ride in a vehicle with their equipment instead of carrying it across many miles of cross-country terrain to their destination means they'll be much less fatigued and better able to carry out their missions,” Herrick said.

The ISV sacrifices protection for mobility. The fast attack vehicle is completely unarmored and fully open with roll bars rather than traditional siding. The ISV doesn't even have a roof. This tradeoff leaves troops exposed to all forms of enemy fire.

A Pentagon assessment said the vehicle will provide infantry soldiers with valuable off-road mobility. The assessment described the ISV as cramped, lacking convenient storage space for equipment, but that it meets the Army’s requirements in tests and evaluations. The ISV “key requirements are being met, and we are increasing soldier operational readiness by providing an operationally relevant vehicle that can transport small tactical units to a dismount point faster and in better physical and mental condition for the fight,” Herrick said.

The ISV has undergone testing in the Yuma Proving Ground's desert in southwestern Arizona. The vehicle has completed successful tests in the static drops category for low velocity airdrops — the airborne delivery of equipment and weapons systems from aircraft. The service staged live drops with soldiers executing missions after the drop, he said.

Initial operational tests and evaluation exercises were held at Fort Bragg last August.

The vehicle is air-droppable from aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and the C-17 Globemaster. It’s small enough to ride inside a CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter, and it’s light enough to be slung beneath a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The initial contract is for production of 649 vehicles, but the Army plans a total of 2,065.

I emailed the office of Senator Richard Burr after he voted in favor of impeaching former President Trump. This came after the NC GOP Central Committee unanimously voted to censure Senator Burr (https://www.nc.gop/central_02_15).

Not surprisingly, our local newspaper did not find this to be newsworthy. His belated reply follows:

Dear Mr. Goldstein:

Thank you for contacting me regarding my vote to convict former President Trump on the article of impeachment presented against him. I appreciate hearing from you.
January 6, 2021 was a grim day in our nation’s history. The attack on the U.S. Capitol was an attempt to undermine our democratic institutions and overrule the will of the American people through violence, intimidation, and force.

Seven lives were tragically lost as a result of that day. Law enforcement officers, outnumbered and overwhelmed, sustained debilitating injuries as they bravely defended Congress against an angry mob. We now know that lawmakers and congressional staff came dangerously close to crossing paths with the rioters searching for them and wishing them harm.

When this process started, I believed that it was unconstitutional to impeach a president who was no longer in office. I still believe that to be the case. However, the Senate is an institution based on precedent, and given that the majority in the Senate voted to proceed with the trial, the question of constitutionality for a former president is now established precedent. As an impartial juror, my role was to determine whether House managers had sufficiently made the case for the article of impeachment against President Trump.

I listened to the arguments presented by both sides and considered the facts. The facts are clear.

The President promoted unfounded conspiracy theories to cast doubt on the integrity of a free and fair election because he did not like the results. As Congress met to certify the election results, the President directed his supporters to go to the Capitol to disrupt the lawful proceedings required by the Constitution. When the crowd became violent, the President used his office to first inflame the situation instead of immediately calling for an end to the assault.

As I said on January 6, the President bears responsibility for these tragic events. The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Therefore, I voted to convict.

I did not make this decision lightly, but I believe it was necessary. By what he did and by what he did not do, President Trump violated his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

My hope is that with impeachment behind us America can begin to move forward and focus on the critical issues facing our country today.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Should you have additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to let me know or visit my website at http://burr.senate.gov.

Sincerely,
Richard Burr
United States Senator

Pay particular attention to what Senator Burr (or one of his staffers) wrote:

“However, the Senate is an institution based on precedent, and given that the majority in the Senate voted to proceed with the trial, the question of constitutionality for a former president is now established precedent.”

In other words, Senator Burr, you hold that a "precedent' set by the Senate is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which you were obliged to support per Article VI. The U.S. Constitution provides for the impeachment of the president, but not a former president no longer in office. That is sophistry as well as impeachable conduct.

This “impeachment” was also a bill of attainder. That is an impeachable offense under Article I, Section 9. For that matter, every representative and senator that voted to impeach the former president is also a participant in this unconstitutional act.

Now, I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but it does not take legal genius to read what is in the U.S. Constitution. The language is plain. But just to be sure, I asked an old friend of mine from college, who is a lawyer, for his opinion on Senator Burr's reply.

“His response could have come directly from CNN. I’m not aware of this precedent notion to create law by non judicial procedural fiat. The blather justifying his vote seems no more valid than sports banter. Precedent is established by a court which is subject to evaluation by other courts up the jurisdiction train. This senate choice seems misuse of process or contrived authority to increase its power, just what the President was accused of.”

It is now obvious that Senator Burr does not represent all of the North Carolina voters, both Democrat and Republican, that voted to reelect President Trump.

The vote of censure was a vote of no confidence. Senator Burr has demonstrated that he will place his own agendas, whatever they may be, over the will of his constituents. For this reason he should resign immediately.

— Leon A Goldstein, Fayetteville

Things are not always what they seem. The surface may be bright and sparkling but beneath may lie a pool of unremitting darkness. “Leave It To Beaver” is one such example. Being a person of the retired persuasion, on most mornings I have settled into a Rona induced rut. The alarm goes off at 5:45 a.m. Taking a tip from the Baha Boys’ greatest hit, I let the dogs out. I can catch the last 15 minutes of “Dragnet” on ME TV which means I get to watch Friday and Gannon exchange meaningful glances and walk without moving their arms. This is just in time to watch them bust the Bad Guy. The announcer intones in a voice that predates Morgan Freeman by saying “Trial was held on such and such a date. In a moment the results of that trial.” I always hope that just once the Bad Guy is found not guilty. It does not seem too much to ask. But alas, the Bad Guy never hires Perry Mason or even Matlock. He is always found guilty. He is still serving time in San Quentin. Then comes the sweaty arm that pounds Mark VII into a metal plate. The show is over. The coffee begins to kick in about the time the dogs begin scratching at the door.

Next up is “Morning Joe” who was much more entertaining when the Former Guy was President. Recently it was Boring Joe. I changed channels to watch “Leave It To Beaver.” That particular episode involved Beaver switching a birthday present. Naturally, he got caught lying about the old switcheroo. Ward called Beaver into his study for a good talking to. Beaver learned his lesson like he did in all 234 episodes. All of this was standard “Leave to Beaver” stuff. But the episode suddenly took a hard turn into the “Twilight Zone” when Ward and June sat down to discuss Beaver’s faults. Ward was reading the Mayfield newspaper which had a giant headline that had the word MURDER in all caps.

Murder in Mayfield? This went against everything known about Beaver’s hometown. Previously the most exciting thing that ever happened was when Beaver got stuck in a giant coffee cup on a billboard. I was so startled I backed up the TV to see if I had been mistaken. Sure enough, the last word in the headline was MURDER. Realizing that no one would believe this without proof, I took a picture of the Cleavers and the headline which appears with this column. Who was murdered? Was there a serial killer loose in Mayfield? Had Eddie Haskell finally slipped the thin veneer of civilization that coated him in a thin candy shell like an M&M candy left in a hot car in July and gone into a homicidal rage? Had Lumpy Rutherford flipped out because the gang kept calling him Lumpy instead of his real name Clarence? Was Miss Landers actually a North Korean Spy who tired of indoctrinating fourth graders and went on a killing spree at the VFW Lodge? Had Principal Cornelia Ray gone “Full Metal Jacket” and finally killed Eddie Haskell herself? These questions went unanswered as just the last word of the headline was visible in Ward’s formerly nicotine-stained hands.

Perhaps the MURDER headline was just an inside joke some screenwriter put into Ward’s hands thinking no one would notice it. Wouldn’t you think that Ward would be discussing a murder spree in Mayfield with June rather than the birthday party incident? Unless Ward was trying to divert June from the article by discussing birthday trivia rather than a gruesome murder in Mayfield. Look at the way Ward is holding the paper so that June can’t see the headline. Does Ward have something to hide? Is Ward the Mayfield Murderer? Was Ward sitting on the couch reading about the murder, chuckling because he had committed the perfect crime when June unexpectedly finished the dishes and sat down beside him? Had Ward finally snapped under the incessant pressure from his boss Fred Rutherford to sell more insurance? Had he hired Eddie Haskell to whack Fred? Having watched many episodes of “Dragnet” I have been trained to look for clues. The seeming nonchalance of Ward carefully folding the paper to conceal the headline from June can mean only one thing. Ward did it. Ward is the Mayfield Murderer. Friday and Gannon would have cracked this case wide open in thirty minutes. Ward would spend the rest of his days in San Quentin.

Due to the pressure of Ward’s impending trial Beaver turned to drugs to escape. Kinky Friedman chronicled that sad result in his great song “Somethin’s Wrong with the Beaver” which describes the fateful morning that June went to get Beaver ready for school. Ponder these words: “She climbed the stairs that morning/ Found him rather pale/ His eyes they were the color/ Of half-drunk ginger ale/ Faithful as a Magnavox/ Hung up on a song/ She cried down to the breakfast nook/ Ward? There’s something wrong/ Somethings wrong with the Beaver/ The Beaver I believer is gone/ Beaver was a dreamer/ Never got it right/ Died in living color/ Lived in black and white. “

So, what have we learned today? Sadly, once again nothing. I apologize for wasting your time.

Let’s be bluntly honest with ourselves. Americans have become so polarized with our politics that it is as if we speak different languages and are unable to communicate with or understand each other
at all.

This polarization is so acute that Congress is no longer functional. It struggles to pass important legislation, and dealings among members, once congenial, are so toxic they have taken to name calling and posting signs about each other. Several have expressed fear for their personal safety because of other members. Most state legislatures are functional to some degree, but Congressional-style gridlock remains a threat in some places.

Pundits will debate for generations how we got to this dangerous place, but one truth is obvious now. The U.S. Senate tradition of the filibuster is antiquated, frustrating and destructive to
democracy.

What exactly is a filibuster? It is a delaying tactic never mentioned or apparently contemplated in the Constitution. It developed in the mid-1800s as a way to stave off a vote on legislation a Senator opposed by allowing him—and in the early days, it was always him — to slow proceedings to a crawl by talking... and talking... and talking. It has been used by both parties, notably by Southern Democrats in the 20th century to oppose various civil rights legislation.

In 1957, Strom Thurmond, a South Carolina Democrat, talked for an astounding 24 hours and 18 minutes in opposition to just such a bill, eventually reading from law books to pass the time. More recently, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas yapped for more than 19 hours in 2013 against the Affordable Care Act, at one point reading Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs and Ham” on the
Senate floor.

Along the way, Senators figured out that they do not actually have to talk for days on end. They just have to threaten to do that, and such a threat is generally invoked by the opposing party to stop popular legislation put forward by the other party.

Current Senate rules call for 60 of 100 votes to end a filibuster, which in a closely divided chamber as most have been for decades, it is almost impossible to get those 60 votes, so actual filibusters rarely occur and significant legislation is exceedingly difficult to pass. Right now, two critical pieces of legislation, another COVID economic stimulus package and a sweeping voting rights protection measure, face exactly this filibuster threat from Senate Republicans, even though both are popular with voters of both parties.

No matter what one’s party affiliation or views on any particular legislation, few of us elected our Senators to stonewall the process. We elected him — and in recent years, some hers — to inform themselves and then to vote on our behalf.

Sometimes one side will prevail, and sometimes the other will, but it serves neither party nor the American people for the business of our legislative branch to be held hostage by procedural rules.

Both Democrats and Republicans have toyed from time to time with amending the rules regarding filibusters, sometimes referred to as “exercising the nuclear option.” Most legislative bodies, including the U.S. House, operate on a simple majority principle, except on special votes such as veto overrides. The U.S. House has long since limited filibuster privileges and does not suffer the stalemates that beset the Senate.

It makes increasing sense to many Americans that the filibuster go the way of the dodo bird, so that decisions can be made. Failing that, it also makes sense that if the Senate is going to allow filibusters, its members should actually suffer through them, 24 hours, “Green Eggs and Ham,”
and all.

Omg! Watch out! Fayetteville and Cumberland County's streets have gotten much more dangerous and deadly in the past few years.

I know what you are thinking: Fayetteville has always been a problematic town to drive in because of how our streets and roads are laid out, and the myriad driving styles. These things added to the fact that drivers are often unfamiliar with the streets makes our city and county a pretty dangerous place to drive.

I've been driving in Fayetteville for over 50 years, and the very first rule that was instilled in me was: Whenever I'm stopped and waiting at a traffic light: "DON'T go on the green!" That's because this community is notoriously known for ignoring signals and running red lights.

Now, in the last couple of years, it seems we have a much bigger and treacherous problem on our hands and our streets. The problem is caused by the fact that hot-rodder’s and lawless "fast and furious" twerps riding four-wheelers, crotch rocket motorcycles, and mini cars with roaring obnoxious tailpipes and exhaust systems have taken over our city streets.

And, in their wake, they leave telltale signs of their destruction and contempt for the law. If you travel around the city regularly as I do, seldom a day goes by when you don't come upon two or three accidents involving personal injury, loss of life, or property damage.

Telltale signs are everywhere. Look around and pay attention as you casually drive along the streets of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

Notice the 25-100 yards of tire skid marks on the surface of the street where sudden braking became a matter of life or death. Notice the tire tracks in the medians, traffic signs run over, the orange barrels and pylons marking the spot where someone lost control and hit a guardrail. Last and one of the most blatant indications of motor vehicle lawlessness is the mounting number of donut-style burnouts in the middle of the road. When a motorcycle driver locks his front brake and spins his bike in circles burning up his back tire, it creates dense smoke while leaving huge black circular tire marks in the middle of the street.
Also, have you ever wondered why you see all those damaged plastic bumpers alongside the road? They didn't just far off a car. They were knock off when that vehicle collided with an inanimate object, most likely a concrete curb.

Here are a few other signs that speed and traffic law defiance are causing community concerns. Pay attention to the makeshift memorials, crosses, and flowers of street side memorials dedicated to victims who have died from vehicle negligence. Just look around. Pay attention. These disastrous signs are just too numerous to ignore. And, it will only get worse unless our leadership takes direct action and does so soon.

Several factors compound this problem. First is the "fast and furious" trend promoted and idolized in recent movies where young people are going out and buying small cars and installing loud, boisterous and obnoxious exhaust pipes that get louder as the vehicle accelerates. So, go figure. The race is on! The faster they accelerate, the louder the pipes sound.

Then comes the adrenaline rush when they realize they are exceeding 100 mph on city streets. Then comes the panic, loss of control and the crash. The evidence is everywhere. With the city down about seventy enforcement officers, our streets are becoming lawless racetracks. Traffic laws are not enforced, no tickets are written, and many officers feel it's not worth the hassle since they are not supported with most of the empathy going to the violator. Sad but true. Law and order are what defines our civilization. Right now, what is taking place in our community is only the tip of the iceberg of what we are in store for if we allow people to ignore the rule of law in our community intentionally.

I write this because I am worried and afraid of the consequences we will have to endure if we cannot get this situation under control. I'm worried about that van of young children being driven home from the daycare. I'm afraid my employees won't arrive safely to work. I'm worried those two early morning joggers won't be able to get out of the way of that speeding car, losing it on the "high side." I'm concerned that my wife may leave the house on a simple trip to the grocery store, and I'll never see her again because we neglected to enforce the traffic laws that were designed to keep us safe and protected. I don't foresee our current leadership addressing this problem anytime soon. However, it is on other people's radar. So, in the meantime, please, please, please be careful on our city streets, county roads, and interstate highways. Drive extra, extra defensively, and take nothing for granted. At Up & Coming Weekly, we love our readers and don't want to lose any! Thank you for reading our community newspaper.

Leaders are supposed to make the hard decisions and embrace the mantle of responsibility, or so I learned in my 20 -year Army career. For too long, the current Fayetteville Mayor and City Council have shirked their responsibilities and avoided making the hard choices that come with their positions. This vacuum has resulted in the waste of taxpayer money, destruction of public and private property, a rise in crime and a decrease in morale within our city's police department. My heart breaks for the city that I have made my home and grown to love. In the past few years, this wonderful town took a turn for the worse due to failures at City Hall. I owe it to my children, grandchildren, friends, family and neighbors to turn Fayetteville into a safe and prosperous city for them.

For these reasons, I, Jose Alejandro "Alex" Rodriguez, have decided to become a City Council candidate for Fayetteville District 1. This city is in dire need of leadership, and I am more than capable and willing to provide it. As a retired soldier, a middle-school teacher and police officer, I have served my country and community. I will continue to do so should the citizens of my district bless me with the opportunity to serve them.

For too long, the mindset in City Hall has steered this city in a destructive direction. Excessive spending and the waste of taxpayer funds are plaguing the weak members of the current City Council. Their lack of knowledge and inability to ask the difficult questions has made them ineffectual at being proper custodians of taxpayer dollars. The same weak-willed City Council enabled the burning and looting of our Market House and Downtown District. Those same "leaders" ordered the police to stand down, allowing the rioters to destroy property and failed to protect the livelihoods of residents and business owners alike. As I watched this occur, I was disappointed at the lack of respect that City Hall has for Fayetteville's citizens.

Change is also needed at the very top of the Fayetteville Police Department. The current leadership is failing at serving and protecting the citizens and property of this city. Morale continues to decline because of the toxic climate and failed indecisive leadership within the department. As a result of this command climate, the decline in personnel willing to serve in the department is growing with early retirements and officers leaving for other agencies. The men and women in blue serve to protect this city's citizens; they need leaders that will serve and protect them.

Our city can be better with leadership that is serious, committed and decisive. Leaders willing to make the hard decisions, expose the ugly truths, and have the courage to accept the consequences regardless of the outcome. I need your help and support to help Fayetteville live up to its title as an "All-American City." I am Alex Rodriguez, and I am running for Fayetteville City Council in District 1.

It is not like we did not know this was coming. It is just that now we know how bad it really is. To absolutely no one’s surprise, North Carolina’s public school students have fallen behind during our state, nation and world’s year-long ordeal with COVID-19.

The numbers do not lie. A majority of our state’s high schoolers did not pass end-of-course exams last fall. Younger students are not faring well either. Almost 60% of third-graders scored at the lowest level of the beginning-of-grade reading exam and a full 3/4s of them tested not proficient in reading.

Results vary, of course, among individual students, schools and school systems, and no one is cheering. Said North Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Catherine Truitt, “It has been a year of lost learning."

But what did we expect?

Under even the most favorable circumstances, students have been outside classrooms and physically away from teachers and each other for a year. Some are contending with difficult family situations such as job losses, reduced income, food insecurity, illnesses and even death. All are dealing with the reality of a worldwide pandemic unlike any in an entire century. My own Precious Jewels are long out of classrooms, but I spent some time during the spring with two little boys, ages 10 and 7, contending with virtual school. The 10-year-old, a thoughtful boy able to concentrate for more than a few minutes, did his sparse online work, if for no other reason than to have it behind him. The 7-year-old, a live wire with two speeds—full-tilt boogie and asleep - learned nothing except how to operate his iPad, and the mom overseeing all this was stressed to the max herself. That mother and millions of other parents and educators will now admit that virtual learning is not optimal for many students, especially younger ones and those with special needs.

It feels now, though, that we are turning a corner on COVID-19. More vaccine shots are administered daily, and schools are beginning to reopen for in person classes with various precautions. The road ahead nevertheless looks long full of challenges. In a letter to state school superintendents last month, acting assistant U.S. Education Secretary Ian Rosenblum wrote, “To be successful once schools have reopened, we need to understand the impact COVID-19 has had on learning and identify what resources and supports students need … We must also specifically be prepared to address the educational inequities that have been exacerbated by the
pandemic …”

It is hard to find a silver lining in any of this, but there may be some. Having life as we have always known it change in a matter of days a year ago offers lessons not necessarily taught in classrooms. Students may have learned that life brings hardships, and not all of them are under anyone’s control. They may have learned resilience — that when life brings on hardships, do the best you can and keep going. They may have learned to enjoy their own company and that of their family members and friends. Not every moment in life is scheduled like a busy school day, and using time wisely and pleasurably requires thought and effort. They may have learned that not all food comes fully prepared from restaurants. More and more Americans cooked in during the pandemic, with families sitting down to meals together in ways we may not have done in years.

Only a handful of living Americans actually experienced the flu pandemic of 1918, and because they were children, they remember little of it. COVID-19 is fresh for all of us and will be for a long time — the fear, the sadness, the seclusion, the loneliness. We are changed people in so many ways, and we now know to appreciate our lives before COVID and after.

Over 16,000 residents live in the Town of Hope Mills. It's one of the friendliest and fastest-growing communities in North Carolina.

Unfortunately, there are about a dozen residents who find it extremely difficult to get comfortable with the existing and competent Hope Mills leadership and the progress the community has made during the past decade.

These malcontents choose not to speak up in public with innovative ideas or constructive criticism. They prefer to operate subversively by lurking in the shadows and taking guerilla style potshots at the current leadership.

It has been a strategy that has proved flawed and ineffective, forcing them to resort to a more direct and sinister tactic — character assassination via trumped-up conspiracy theories.

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Postal Service delivered a letter to my office without a return address or signature. As many as five of these anonymous letters were circulated in Cumberland County, all of which made false, derogatory and disparaging claims and accusations about unsuspecting citizens in Hope Mills leadership positions. All were without substantiation or merit.

These letters were written purposely to cast aspersions, ruin their reputations, rob them of their livelihoods and embarrass them publicly.

No doubt this Dirty Dozen of mean, ruthless, hateful, self-serving malcontents are extremely desperate to destroy what they can't control.

Well, here's my message to this cabal:

1. We know who you are! Your letters may be anonymous, but you are not. The content and context of each piece of correspondence point directly to its authors, who are the same mean-spirited ugly trolls that dominate the Hope Mills social media scene with fake news.

2. Unsubstantiated and unsigned letters of this nature carry no credibility. Only cowards and criminals use this method of intimidation.

3. Responsible, respectable and ethical people, businesses, organizations and institutions will continue to reject this tactic, exposing it as the ruse it is.

4. This unethical tactic of utilizing anonymous conspiracy letters to defame people has the opposite effect. Someone not willing to sign their name to a document means they cannot own up to its content. This is why we have whistlerblower laws— to protect the innocent from retaliation for coming forward with a truth or injustice.

These hostile and vile anonymous attacks on innocent and unsuspecting citizens can only be viewed as "desperate people, doing desperate things."

They will never, I repeat, never, be in leadership positions because their character will not allow it.

The Town of Hope Mills has excellent leadership, and the town is growing and prospering.

The Dirty Dozen are on the outside looking in, and that's where they will stay.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

I never really understood the story of Rip Van Winkle. Until recently, that is. It seems the more I look around, the less I recognize any more. It's not that progress or change bothers me. In fact, I'm a huge fan of many things new and emerging, but I've come to regret some of the things we choose to abandon. Namely values.

Back to Mr. Van Winkle. When he awakens on a mountain after a 20-year nap, he discovers shocking changes: his musket is rotting and rusty, his beard is a foot long, and his dog is nowhere to be found. He returns to his village, where he recognizes no one. He arrives just after an election, and people ask how he voted. Never having cast a ballot in his life, he proclaims himself a faithful subject of King George III, unaware that the American Revolution has taken place, and nearly gets himself into trouble with the townspeople until one elderly woman recognizes him as the long-lost Rip Van Winkle.

When it comes to music, entertainment and even transportation, I'm completely on board with the changes. I like the new. I like the path we're taking, and can still enjoy the fruits of a harvest gone by without bothering anyone else with my sense of melancholy. Technology? A little different, but I am usually quick to embrace the latest, and keep my eyes peeled for whatever is coming over the horizon. It's just that the devices we used before become more quickly obsolete.

Then we come to values. I can't really discuss values without mentioning how closely aligned they are with the morals I live by. Those morals come from the Bible. Love God. Love others more than you do yourself. Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. These are not catch phrases to me – they are the basis for the moral code I feel like we've begun to abandon.

One Sunday a couple of years ago, I found myself having insults bounced off me while I was saluted with a single finger more than once by numerous passers-by. The offense? Holding a sign which simply read, “Pray to end abortion.” Four written words. I didn't speak a single one. I didn't confront anyone. I wasn't blocking an entrance or a roadway. Just standing on the public right of way near a closed clinic at which abortions are offered.

This February my wife was at the same spot, with the same four words on a sign and was approached by a young woman who beckoned her to her car. Hesitant at first, she moved closer to the car as the woman said, “I want to show you my miracle.” She said that four years ago she was at the clinic to have an abortion, but stopped to talk with one of the people with a sign, and changed her mind. And that changed her world. The miracle was a child.

After a 20-year career standing in the gap for the defenseless as a soldier, standing in a similar way for the unborn is somewhat natural for me. It's how I pray. It's how I think. It's one way I place value on others more than myself. When I observe our legislators considering whether a human child in the third trimester of gestation is worthy of drawing its first – or second – breath outside the womb, I am grieved at what we've abandoned. Our culture lines up for programs promising a better future for children, while granting legal access to murder of the very children who could have taken part in that future.

As for us, we'll continue to stand. That's our choice. And it's a choice we can all live with.

As a student, do you want a direct link to university representatives? Are you positive that the classes you are taking will 100% transfer into a university within North Carolina? Are you certain you know the correct pre-requisite classes for your professional program?

The process of transferring to a 4-year university after obtaining an associate degree can be confusing, but FTCC’s Office of University Outreach helps provide answers to these questions and provides other assistance.

FTCC’s University Outreach office serves as the central hub at the Fayetteville campus for all transfer needs. Equipped with the knowledge of articulation agreements, University Outreach staffers can provide students with a course evaluation. Students request an appointment for a personal evaluation, which ensures that they take the correct courses at FTCC in order to transfer academic credits to the student’s 4-year college of choice. The evaluation also assists students when specific requirements must be met concerning competitive professional programs. Students may walk in during “Transfer Thursdays” for a transfer evaluation for two qualified university majors. Currently, students also have the option to request an appointment via zoom or telephone.

The University Outreach office sponsors a series of events to provide resources to students including direct access to university representatives who can further answer specific questions. This includes but is not limited to Week of Welcome and College Transfer Day—an event that normally has between 57 and 62 university representatives each fall and spring term. During these events, universities designate specific times for Fayetteville Tech students to meet, greet and receive answers to questions concerning admissions and program requirements, scholarship and internship opportunities, as well as other transfer information.

During the pandemic, the University Outreach office has expanded its offerings to students to make sure that students’ needs are being met. We have done this by providing zoom question-and-answer sessions with various colleges across the state of North Carolina, reorganizing our College Transfer Day event to one that is virtual, and initiating a new program called Ask a University Rep, where students can submit questions to specific college and university representatives on designated days.

FTCC University Outreach has expanded Zoom capabilities by partnering with various North Carolina universities to offer students between 30-45 sessions on a monthly basis. These offerings provide a means of engagement between students and university representatives and cultivate strong rapport during the pandemic.

The process of transferring to a four-year college/university may cause students to feel overwhelmed, unheard and filled with unanswered questions. Staff members from FTCC’s University Outreach office are committed to making the process smooth, well planned and seamless.

Students may schedule an appointment by emailing me at nelsonl@faytechcc.edu or calling 910-678-8205. The University Outreach office is located inside the Horace Sisk Building in Room 610. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Personal assistance from the University Outreach office is another reason why FTCC is the smart choice for education.

The Cape Fear Friends of NRA will be hosting their 24th Annual Banquet and Auction on March 18, at 6:00 p.m. at Paradise Acres Event Center. There will be raffles, games, an auction, and of course, great food.

“We are family-friendly,” said Tony Forte, committee chairmen. “We are apolitical. Our issue is putting funds into programs that keep shooting sports safe and renewable.”

Friends of NRA is the fundraising program under the NRA Foundation. Cumberland and Harnett counties provide a grass-roots effort to ensure the future of safe, responsible firearms ownership and participation in shooting sports. The event also helps raise money, in particular, for funding youth safety programs in eastern North Carolina. The organization hosts youth competitions, training and safety courses and provides scholarships to help ensure the future of shooting sports for America’s young people.

“Some of the things that excite me is we have more and more success locally with programs,” said Forte. “Cross Creek Rifle and Pistol club received a grant for competitive youth shooting program. The Eddy Eagle gun safety program teaches that guns are not toys and that kids should “Stop. Don’t touch. Run away and tell an adult.” I am excited to see what the Fayetteville Police Department is doing with Eddie Eagle and Operation Ceasefire. We support those programs. We support 4-H, sharpshooter clubs, the Scouts. You name the group, and if they are eligible to receive a nonprofit grant, we do everything we can to ensure – if they meet the requirements – that we get them something. Last year, we had $750,000 in grant requests. We were able to support $250,000. The demand for education and safety programs is insatiable.”

The Friends of the NRA provides a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports. Across the country, more than 13,000 volunteers work tirelessly to make these events happen with the generous of attendees and donors who support their efforts.

“We are a zero-sum charity,” said Forte. “Everything we bring in goes back as grants. We are all volunteers. The committee tries to limit our overhead to less than 1%.”

There is something for everyone at a Friends of NRA event. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is brimming with excitement, and they will make sure you have a good time while meeting great people.
Forte added that the auction items include several firearms, ammunition and other items like luggage, outdoor equipment and artwork.

“If you are serious about youth safety and firearms,” said Forte,“Outside the political arena, there’s one known resource to get that done, and it is the NRA Foundation.”

For tickets or information about their programs, contact Tony Forte at 910-824-4681, Jerry Parsek at 910-309-9755 or Don Talbot at 910-977-7776. There are group discounts available, plus a sponsorship and underwriting program. Donations are always welcomed and are tax deductible.

The 24th Annual Banquet and Auction will be held March 18 at Paradise Acres Event Center located at 1965 John McMillan Road, in Hope Mills

The All American Patriot Association will host its Patriotic and Veterans Day celebration on March 20 at 4480 Doc Bennett Road in Fayetteville. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with the opening ceremony starting at noon.

There is a $5 entrance fee.

The event was originally scheduled to be held in conjunction with Veterans Day last November, but was postponed due to COVID-10 restrictions.

The outdoor event will offer a variety of food vendors, entertainment from live bands, raffles, a historic Constitution contest, and plenty of activities for the kids. There will be an all veterans jump team drop-in, as well as guest speakers. This will be a fun-filled day showing support for our veterans, active duty military and their families.

The AAPA is a non-profit organization that was founded with a focus on teaching the histories of the American flag, Pledge, National Anthem and the Declaration of Independence. Their goal as an organization is to educate Americans on the importance of history within our country.

AAPA founder Franco Webb said, “History is so in-depth and there is a history in Fayetteville that a lot of people do not know about.” He added that there is a lot of history within the Declaration and the Pledge that some schools do not teach, and his non-profit organization aims to help teach this content to students. The AAPA also provides American flags and teaches proper flag etiquette.

This Patriotic Day Celebration will help the AAPA organization raise money for an upcoming Suicide Prevention and Deployment team. This program was created to help those facing suicidal thoughts or tendencies to reach out to real people and actually have a unit deploy to their location and help them through what it is they are going through. This is made possible through an app that when the number is called it locks in the person’s location using GPS. The number is 844-NEED-YOU.

For more information on the event or more about the All American Patriot Association visit their website at https://aapanc.org/.
For more information on the Patriotic Day Celebration, contact Franco Webb at 910-237-8492.

The Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Cumberland County will host its 2021 Master Gardner Spring Symposium virtually on March 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The purpose of the horticultural event is to help educate local residents in “state and research approved horticultural practices,” and raise money for education. With this event, two $1,500 dollar scholarships will be awarded to FTCC horticulture students, as well as a $500 grant for a horticulture professor teaching hands-on horticulture education.

Participants will not only be helping those students and professors with an educational opportunity, they will also be helping Master Gardeners to go out to provide physical and financial assistance to surrounding area gardens. These area gardens include Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Wounded Warrior Garden at Fort. Bragg, the Second Harvest Food Bank and Garden, and more.

Guest speakers at this year’s symposium will be Kirk Brown, who is a nationally known horticulturist. His presentation, “A Gardeners Guide to 200 Years of Growing America,” will speak to the importance of “sowing, growing and owning green in our lives.” During the presentation, Brown will be talking about travels in America and how to recognize the design and art within gardening. In a second presentation, “If I had an Apple,” Brown which will discuss what the digital generation knows that older gardeners may have forgotten and how social media, crowdsourcing, etc., can actually work for people who work hard in the dirt for their gardens. This presentation will show different examples of gardens that he calls “American Edens.”

Another guest speaker will be Craig LeHoullier, also known as the North Carolina “Tomato Man.” LeHoullier will discuss how those who garden in the 2020s are the most fortunate and will use history to explain why. He will also talk about how his 15-year-old dwarf tomato breeding project has now landed him with 135 new varieties. LeHoullier will also explain his techniques in producing such a great garden and compare how the different living zones contributed.

Registering for the symposium will allow Master Gardeners to provide assistance to the community as well as educate locals and help them to get their gardens up and blooming this spring/summer season. This event will be include door-prizes, a virtual auction and a virtual tomato sale of LeHoullier’s variety of tomatoes. The registration link, action link and tomato sale link are provided below. This event is one you will not want to miss and provides a “once in a lifetime learning experience” from professional gardeners.

Judy Dewar, chairperson for this event said, “We hope to improve all of our quality of lives by providing educational opportunities for residents to learn how to be good stewards of our environment while also being sustainable. And just because life is short, we hope our participants will have a ‘fun time’ while they are with us.”

Registration for this “one in a gardening lifetime event” can be made on Eventbrite on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cumberland-county-master-gardener-virtual-symposium-2021-tickets-13508558

To bid on items in the auction – with items ranging from artwork, handmade quilts to live plants – visit https://www.32auctions.com/CCEMGVA . The tomato sale link is https://www.32auctions.com/Tomatoes. The tomato plants offered for sale are dwarf tomatoes that are part of the “Dwarf Tomato Project.”

Pictured above Craig LeHoullier

Each year many celebrate the month of March as Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Awareness Month, but Nancy Szymkowiak strives year round to spread awareness and help those in the community living with disabilities.

Kaleo Supports was founded by Szymkowiak and Karen Campbell in August of 2007 to provide services leading to meaningful and real outcomes for those living with disabilities and to help Szymkowiak’s daughter who has disabilities.

“I learned early on that services and information were not easy to obtain, so I became a self-studied advocate,” Szymkowiak said. “I started researching and learning so I could get my daughter what she needed.”

When looking for the right programs for her daughter Lacey, who was then four and was offered the pre-school handicap service, made Szymkowiak realize that Lacey needed to be with her peers without disabilities to learn.

“I didn’t know then that was inclusion, meaning you are included in the world and you’re not just in a segregated community, she said. “And she’s now about to be 31 and she lives in her own place.”

Szymkowiak’s daughter suffered a stroke at birth and currently has a speech impediment, left side paralysis in her leg, and limited use of her left hand.

Our children take us on journeys, she said.

What began as a journey to find her daughter the right programs, tools and support led to her helping other families, getting involved in support groups and workshops, and in 2007 she quit her job and decided to launch Kaleo Supports.

“I started in the corner of my living room, I pulled it together, got credentials to do services through alliance and now we do services with four different managed care organizations,” she said.

Some of the services Kaleo Supports offer are in-home intensive support, residential support, community networking, supported employment, personal care, natural support education and more.

We provide innovations waiver services, which is a North Carolina Medicaid waiver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; traumatic brain injury waiver, which is the pilot program through Alliance Health Plan; and vocational rehabilitation services, Szymkowiak said.

Through the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation service, Kaleo provides job placement, job training, stabilization and closure to recipients. The team at Kaleo helps clients with daily living by promoting physical wellness and quality of life.

“We don’t just cook a meal, we help them learn to prepare a meal, we teach them to be more independent,” Szymkowiak said. “Then we have people working jobs, we provide support at the job site.”

Currently, Kaleo Supports currently has two licensed facilities. The staff helps clients including Szymkowiak’s daughter to cook breakfast, budget and shop for groceries, laundry and more.

We try to make it as natural as possible and not clinical like home help,” Szymkowiak said.

Currently the company has a staff of about 67 to 74 people serving about 25 different counties in North Carolina.

“My job functions are to make sure that my clients' needs and goals are met, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” Direct Support Professional for Kaleo, Alisha Kelley, said. “I focus on making sure that the life they live is happy and full of laughter and structure by meeting goals that are laid out and trying to go above and beyond.”

My staff, they think big for them, they want them in the community, want them doing things, Szymkowiak said.

Terri Kane, a family member of a 58-year-old Kaleo Supports client with developmental disabilities said Szymkowiak saved her sister.

“We've been with Kaleo for several years and I truly appreciate Nancy because she walks the walk, it's not just lip service,” Kane said. “She began her company because she has a daughter with certain disabilities so she's the owner of the company, but she's also a parent of someone who needs the types of services she provides.”

We did not realize my sister was going through depression, but Nancy did and once she identified the issue, we took my sister to the doctor and she's much better now, she said.

Helen Black works as a direct support professional for Kaleo Supports as well as uses their services for her 40-year-old son who lives with intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy and strained speech. He receives community living and networking services.

Through the years as my son has gotten older it has become difficult because he needs total care and it became difficult with other agencies in the past to find male providers to help him but with Kaleo he has had at least two, she said.

“It’s like a unicorn in this field, really really wonderful that he’s been able to have male providers,” Black said. “I believe that Kaleo is extremely dedicated to helping find the right fit for each client and I know personally with my son they have, sometimes it takes a little while, but I know they continuously work on it.”

Black has been an employee with the company since 2019 and currently services two clients and assists them with every day and engaging activities.

“Through the years I have noticed that once you get a client and you work good together, to really keep those same people and expand that so the work involved advances their capabilities more,” she said. “It’s good for them to have some stability.”

Kaleo in Greek means ‘called to a purpose’ and in Hawaiian means, ‘to speak up for,’ both of which are my God called purpose, Szymkowiak said.

“One of the things is when I started my company, with my strong philosophy, I thought we could help everybody but It took me a bit, but I came to realize not everybody wants what we offer, and that's okay,” she said.

Kane said Nancy truly cares about the people she serves and her staff. I have seen her be selfless and creative as she's assisting a family seeking services.

“The people employed here love what we do, and who we work for. Kaleo Supports has not only made a difference in the disabilities community but also in the employees’ life,” Kelley said. “We are happy coming to work, and therefore make our clients' lives happier as well.”

Kaleo Supports hopes to provide more supportive living, independent living and to expand to a community guide which is an advocate for families.

We would like to have a conference room along with some other rooms, where we could get 10 to 12 people, classroom style, have a sensory room to work on sensory issues, an area to work on motor skills, and life skills and such, Szymkowiak said.

It is important that people with an IDD are not secluded and are active participants in the community just like everyone else and they just need a little support to do that, and it’s the right thing to do,
she said.

Organizations like these are important to our community because even though it's behind the scenes, it’s there for a population that otherwise may not be able to have the best quality of life and it makes us a better and more inclusive community, Black said.

“Kaleo takes great pride, we are an outcome-based service,” Szymkowiak said. “I always tell my staff it’s not enough to say we did six hours of service, but at the end of the day, what difference did we make in that person’s life.”

For more information about Kaleo Supports visit http://www.kaleosupports.com or call 910-630-2255.