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    02 cv4I yield to Pat King’s editorial below because it seems to be the sentiment of many educated and well-informed Fayetteville residents on the historical, educational, cultural and fiscal benefits our community would gain from having the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center located in our community. It would be a big win — unless small minds and personal political agendas crush another opportunity for us to enhance the quality of life of all citizens. The impact of this facility on Fayetteville would be grand and historical. Will it happen? Stay tuned. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          — Bill
     
    I just finished reading John L. Johnson’s letter published in The Fayetteville Observer Thursday, Jan. 23. It was the incentive I needed to write these comments. His characterization of “myopic attitudes and lack of visionary leadership” exactly matches my perception of the elected city officials — primarily the mayor — who are in a position to have the greatest influence on the possibility of the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center coming to fruition.

    In the Dec. 29, 2019, edition of The Fayetteville Observer is an article by staff writer John Henderson titled “Debate rages on about proposed Civil War History Center.” There is no raging debate, only the slow strangulation of support for this important project by the mayor and those he calls “concerned citizens,” primarily citizens that he needs to maintain his power base and time in office. On page A6 of that edition is a picture of the mayor, another local politician and a phalanx of Colvin’s “concerned citizens.” As the mayor continues his flip-flop about the NCCWRHC, he manages to keep this particular constituency opposed to what is already a functioning Civil War and Reconstruction History Center.

    If he took the time to learn about the great work that the History Center’s Cheri Todd Molter and her small staff are doing, he might come to understand that most of his incitement about the Center is false and harmful to eventually getting this significant project committed and under construction. Anyone who goes to the website http://nccivilwarcenter.org and reads all the articles and watches the videos will understand what this facility will be — a teaching and learning center for all our people and (that will show) how this period shaped and still affects us all.

    The mayor is resorting to the same tactics he used in his campaign to remove the Market House from recognition as the symbol of our city — keeping a number of our citizens hoodwinked into believing his version of the facts. It worked. And it will work again and lead to the demise of the NCCWR History Center by keeping it from becoming a full reality.

    Mr. Johnson, the lack of “visionary leadership” you see will continue to do harm to the growth and betterment of our community unless citizens, like yourself, continue to speak up and support what is so desperately needed for the growth of jobs, development and investment in our city.

    To the mayor I say: Take the time to fully understand and respond to Mr. Johnson like you did to Mr. Patrick Tuohey’s piece in Friday’s newspaper about the development along Hay Street. Your legacy is becoming one of keeping racial issues as part of what should be what is good for all of Fayetteville’s citizens. You should be focused on Fayetteville’s future — not on your future and re-election.
     

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    03 mohit tomar 9 g 6JcF6fk unsplashHow about these for some eye-popping numbers?

    There are apparently 2,153 billionaires — yes, with a b — in the world who have the same collective worth as the poorest half of the world. Put another way, these 2,153 vastly privileged people have the same collective wealth as 4.6 billion — yes, with a b — poor people. And, who is the richest person in the world? He is Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and his estimated worth is $131 billion, almost six times North Carolina’s annual budget at one man’s disposal. Bill Gates is No. 2 at $96 billion, followed by Warren Buffett at $83 billion. Donald Trump comes in at a mere $3 billion. Much of that wealth has come from exploding technology and financial sectors. The report also finds that 22 men have more wealth than Africa’s 326 million women combined.

    Oxfam, a group of 19 independent charitable organizations focused on reducing global poverty, issues an annual report on who holds the world’s wealth. The report, issued to coincide with this month’s gathering of the ultra-rich at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is based on data from the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report, an outfit that has a good handle on where the money is. More than a few observers see the irony in rich people flying in on their private jets to discuss world poverty, among other issues. The Oxfam report is full of economic statistics that can be sliced and diced in all sorts of ways, not all of them positive.

    The World Economic Forum also expands the elite billionaire category to the richest multi-millionaires, which means the top 1% of the world’s wealth holders have twice as much collective wealth as almost seven billion people. One way to visualize the disparity of this inequality is to imagine that if we all sat on our wealth in $100 bills, most of us would sitting on the floor. Middle class folks from a wealthy nation, say most Americans, would be sitting at chair height. The world’s two richest men, Bezos and Gates, would be sitting in space.

    One aspect of world poverty and global inequity is that women put in literally billions of unpaid, undervalued work around the world, at least 12.5 billion hours adding almost $11 trillion — yes, with a t — to the world economy every year. This work includes women who walk miles to get water for their families, providing cooking, child-minding and other care work that is undervalued and generally unpaid, keeping the women in poverty and generating massive wealth for others.

    In general, the rich get richer and the poor either stay the same or get poorer. Money makes money through investing — hence more billionaires, most of them Americans, but workers do not have enough money to make it work for them. Oxfam reports that while the poorest of the poor are making some progress worldwide, nearly half the world’s population lives on less than $5.50 a day.

    “Extreme wealth is a sign of a failing economic system,” says the Oxfam report. Still, no one is realistically advocating snagging billions from the big-time “haves” of the world, much less from you and me. But Oxfam does have some suggestions to right the distortions that allow a few to accumulate vast wealth while most people struggle.

    1.  Deliver universal health care, education and other public services to all, including women and girls. Limit or end privatization of public services.

    2.  Invest in public services that allow women to move from daily hours of unpaid care services into actual employment.

    3.  End the under taxation of wealthy individuals and corporations that now pay lower rates than middle-class individuals. Eliminate tax avoidance and evasion by the super-rich and corporations.

    It took decades to get to such economic unbalance, and it will take decades to right our worldwide economic ship. What has occurred and how to deal with it is well worth pondering as we surf the internet with our fingers hovering over “Buy Now” on the Amazon website.

     
     

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    12 nikolas noonan fQM8cbGY6iQ unsplashIf you want to see a play that tells a story that is both entertaining and relatable then “Ruins” is a must-see. This play is both humorous and in touch with what it feels like to experience a natural disaster. Written and directed by Montgomery Sutton, “Ruins” will be performed at the Gilbert Theater Jan. 24-Feb. 9.

    What starts as a simple story of a man who visits his former friend and lover, who has been affected by a horrific natural disaster, evolves into a reflection on their relationship, their memories and what led to their eventual breakup. This is production is an in-depth examination of what we feel like as people in romantic relationships and how these relationships affect our everyday lives.

    Unlike other plays performed in the Gilbert Theater, the set for “Ruins” has a look to it that is far from the glitz and glam of many typical sets. The set is so unique and life-like, it looks like a tornado blew through the theater, decimating the stage. Broken furniture is scattered everywhere. Remnants of a house have been spread all around the stage and the cast even describes where each room of the house formerly was throughout the course of the play.

    The performance starts off with a scene where we meet the two main characters, Grace Garson and Adam Smith. Grace is played by Megan L. Martinez, and the character that is Adam is played by Justin Matthew Toyer.

    During the opening scene, Garson and Smith meet for the first time in over a decade. They are in the literal ruins of Garson’s childhood home, reminiscing about all the memories they made in the home. Garson was not expecting to see Smith, and Smith is very nervous to see Garson after all of these years.

    The tension between these two could have been felt from miles away. Martinez and Toyer do an incredible job displaying the complexity of the many feelings their characters are feeling at that moment.

    The talent of Martinez and Toyer shines throughout the course of the play. Regardless of what emotion they are supposed to evoke, they show it with care and with intense passion. There was intense passion the audience could feel from the actors. It was almost as if the lines between actor and character were blurred.

    As the show goes on audience learns more and more about their relationship. The two started out as high school sweethearts. They were crazy about each other. They were so crazy about each other that in college they even contemplated the idea of going to New York City together.

    Later down the road, their relationship faced much adversity. They wanted different things from life, which led them down two separate paths. The actors portray their story through reflections told by the characters and flashback scenes.
    The symbolism in the story was touching as well. One thing that really broke my heart  was the tree coming down. This tree was Grace and Adam’s favorite tree when they were teenagers. The tree coming down essentially symbolized the end of that time that they had together.

    To experience the artistic creation that is “Ruins,” visit www.gilberttheater.com for tickets and information.

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    08 VeryStableGenius 3D extend copyPresident Donald Trump blasted top military officials as “losers” and “a bunch of dopes and babies” for lack of success in recent wars during a tense meeting early in his presidency, which set a negative tone for the relationship between the Pentagon and White House, according to a new book.

    The book, “A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump’s Testing of America,” was written by Washington Post national investigative reporter Carol Leonnig and White House bureau chief Philip Rucker. It provides an insider narrative of Donald Trump’s presidency.

    “A Very Stable Genius” was named after Trump’s declaration of his superior knowledge. The book chronicles the first three years of the Trump presidency, with interviews about high-level administration discussions, which the authors say have not been made public before. Included are details of a meeting at the Pentagon in the summer of 2017, six months into Trump’s presidency, where top generals and administration officials met with the president to discuss U.S. alliances and military posture overseas. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn were present. All of them have since stepped down from their posts.

    For the first time, officials who felt honor-bound not to criticize a sitting president publicly or divulge what they witnessed in a position of trust, tell the truth for the benefit of history. Sources interviewed for the book say the Pentagon meeting devolved into an angry rant by Trump, who accused top U.S. military officials of incompetence. He called Afghanistan a “loser war” and told the generals that “you don’t know how to win anymore.” He attacked the group for the costs of ongoing military operations overseas and said that the United States should have gotten payments in oil from allies that the U.S. assisted in the Middle East.

    “I wouldn’t go to war with you people,” the book quotes Trump as saying to the military officials. “You’re a bunch of dopes and babies.”

    According to the authors, Tillerson defended the military leaders and told Trump his criticism was “totally wrong.” Tillerson was fired in March 2018. Mattis, a former Marine Corps general, resigned about nine months later, citing differences with Trump over support for foreign allies. Mattis declined to comment on the new book. During the meeting, the authors wrote, Trump suggested charging “rent” to South Korea for U.S. military forces stationed there and suggested that NATO countries owed America direct payments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

    Publicly, Pentagon leaders characterized the meeting in a positive light. But Leonnig and Rucker said the session led to a strained relationship between the generals and Trump and the eventual departure of several high-ranking officials who were upset over the administration’s policies. Predictably, President Trump lashed out at the authors of the book calling them “stone-cold losers.”

    In a tweet, Trump asserted that “almost every story” in the book was “a made-up lie.”

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    21 01 Jaden FordJaden Ford
    Westover • Basketball• Sophomore
    Ford has a grade point average of 3.51. She averages 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Westover girls basketball team. She has made 14 3-point baskets.




    21 02 Harmony MartinHarmony Martin
    Westover • Basketball/soccer• Freshman
    Martin has a grade point average of 3.75. She averages 12.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Wolverine girls basketball team. She has made 10 3-point baskets.

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     04 IMG 0365What’s that signpost up ahead? Beware, you are about to cross over into the Valentine Zone. It’s the middle ground between light and shadow, science and superstition. It lies between the pit of man’s fears and women’s expectations. This is the dimension of sensitivity. A place where no man is safe from making a bumble-headed move in affairs of the heart.

    As a public service to men everywhere, today’s stain on world literature will explain what love is. Gentlemen start your engines. As our Beloved Dear Leader might report: “Many people say that love is a hot-blooded emotion.” Au contraire, as our French friends would say love is best exemplified by the world’s greatest cold-blooded lover. I speak of the Casanova of Reptilian Love, the one, the only, Diego the Giant Tortoise of Amor. Diego was recently the subject of an admiring article in The New York Times written by Amee Ortiz. If Amee said it, I believe it and that settles it. Diego has recently retired as the King of Tortoise Love, which triggered The New York Times article.
    Let us first consider Diego’s background to determine what made him such a superstar in the giant tortoise world. Diego was hatched around 1920 on the island of Espanola. At some point in the 1930s, he emigrated from Espanola to his current home in the Galapagos. Diego’s personal stats are impressive. When he extends his full length, he is almost 5 feet long and weighs over 175 pounds. That is a lot of giant tortoise. Despite Diego’s uncanny resemblance to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Lady Tortoise’s can’t get enough of Diego. Who says love is blind? Diego says so.

    To misquote our old pal, Percy Bysshe Shelly in his poem “Ozymandias,” “Look upon Diego’s works, ye mighty warm-blooded mammals, and despair!” Diego is over 100 years old and a stud among studs. He had a way with the lady tortoises that resulted in saving his species from extinction. He was placed in a captive breeding program in the 1970s in the Galapagos Islands. When Diego signed up for romantic duty, there were only 14 giant tortoises of his tribe, the Chelonoidis hoodensis, on the island. The 14 giant tortoises consisted of 12 lady tortoises, Diego and another male with the uninspiring name of E5. Things were looking bleaker than the chance the Tar Heels would get into the NCAA tournament for the survival of the species until Diego rose to the occasion. When Diego had finished doing his thing in 2019, there were 2,000 giant tortoises on the island. These statistics demonstrate that baby giant tortoises are proof that male giant tortoises look good to female giant tortoises.

    Through the giant tortoise equivalent of 23 & Me genetic testing, it turns out that Diego was responsible for 40% of the resulting baby giant tortoises. This does mean that his buddy, E5 was responsible for 60% of the new giant tortoises, but Diego gets all the publicity. Obviously, Diego has a much better press agent than E5 — as well as a much catchier name. Professor James Gibbs, head guru of giant tortoise Love Island, explained Diego’s fame, saying that “Diego has a big personality — quite aggressive, active and vocal in his mating habits, and so I think he has gotten most of the attention. But it clearly is the other quieter male that has had much more success. Maybe he prefers to mate more at night.”

    Makes you wonder what sweet nothings Diego bellows in the ears of the lady tortoises. It also makes you wonder if tortoises have ears. Have you ever seen a giant tortoise’s ears? Not me. But apparently Diego knew where to look. Apparently, lady tortoises have an aural spot with which Diego could tickle their fancy. One can only wonder what Diego whispered to his lady loves — “If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be a giant tortoise,” “This giant tortoise is in love with you,” “I just bellowed to say ‘I love you’” “Tortoise love will keep us together,” “All you need is tortoise love,” “I want to hold your claw,” or possibly “My shell, Ma Belle.” The ways of giant tortoise love are a many splendored thing.

    Diego is going to be sent back to his home island of Espanola, where he is going to live out the rest of his days writing his memoirs, telling lies to his tortoise buddies about his multiple romantic conquests and appearing in commercials for Viagra.

    So, what can Diego teach mere mortal men about love in this most dangerous time of the upcoming Valentine Zone? Toot your own horn. Have a big personality. Promise her anything but remember to deliver. Slow and steady wins the race to repopulate. Never, ever give up. Even if you look like Mitch McConnell, there is a woman who is right for you.

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    07 homeless personFayetteville City Council is considering spending nearly $4 million on a facility to help the homeless. The money is available to the city in state grant funds. City Council invited officials of Raleigh’s Oak City Cares to make a presentation at a recent public meeting. Oak City Cares is an organization that bills itself as a multiservice agency that provides a day center and services to help the homeless.

    The “concept is to coordinate rather than compete with other agencies,” said Oak City Cares Executive Director Kathryn Johnson.

    Wake County provided $7 million, and the city of Raleigh gave $3.4 million for the multipurpose center in downtown Raleigh, according to Rick Miller, retired regional director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, which operates the facility.

    Wake County provided an old warehouse as a shell building for the center. Catholic Charities employees operate the facility, which raised $2.5 million in a private fundraising effort. The funds are paying the nonprofit agency’s share of operating costs for the first few years and provide $400,000 in reserve funds, Johnson told Council.

    Local Fayetteville agencies that serve the homeless insist a multimillion-dollar complex would be a waste of money since the services offered by such a facility are already available in the community. Fayetteville’s Operation Inasmuch has many of the programs and facilities provided by Oak City Cares. FOI’s website says its 40-bed lodge has led more than 200 men to get jobs, assisted over 100 men to find stable housing, provided individualized case management, offered job search and interview training and reduced the homeless population. Just as Oak City Cares does, the Operation Inasmuch lodge provides shower facilities, laundry services and computer access.

    Unlike the capital city area where city and county governments worked together, Cumberland County Commissioners have said they have no interest in joining the city in a multipurpose center for the homeless. Other groups are also active in Fayetteville in meeting the needs of people living on the streets. Street people who live a public, transient lifestyle on the streets of a city are among the homeless and are often mentally ill. Organizations here that serve the homeless agree the city should focus on job creation and providing affordable housing.

    City Council also heard from the director of Communities in Communities, which builds and leases tiny homes for those in need. It’s a Greensboro-based company that replaces vacant and blighted properties in the Triad with small houses of 500 to 1,000 square feet. Scott Jones outlined cottage communities in pocket neighborhoods that have been developed in High Point and Greensboro with a new development underway in Winston-Salem. “They are designed to serve the needs of the chronic homeless,” Jones said. “The idea is to replace tent-living with small homes that are practical and affordable.”

    Rent is subsidized based on the occupants’ earnings. City officials took no action on the proposals and did not schedule a subsequent meeting.

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    14 car at side of roadReturning from a funeral in Texas, I encountered on the west outskirts of Columbia, South Carolina, on I-20, a 10-year old Lincoln four-door sedan, which had “just died”. Occupants were “Kiki”, the driver, a 30-something-year-old woman with a purple wig, “Estevan” a 25-year old guy and two young grade-school kids. Kiki told me that the clamps to her battery posts — battery was in the trunk — were loose and the car had cut off several times.

     I asked how she knew the clamps were loose. She replied that she had gotten a jump start from someone else who had told her that, but this person didn’t have any tools to tighten the clamps. I figured that getting the clamps tightened would be easy, and it was — only one clamp was loose, but it required six 1-inch-long segments of paper clip wire inserted between the clamp and post to add enough bulk to the post. This paper clip trick on the battery worked, since the engine started right away and kept running. 

    In the trunk, I noticed that the vehicle’s donut spare had no air; there was a gap where there should have been a bead between the tire and the rim. The spare was not needed since there was no flat tire, but when I told Kiki about the empty spare and offered to try to inflate it, she agreed.

    I was hoping that my new more-powerful Viair compressor would pump air into the tire fast enough to reseal the bead without having to use a ratchet strap around the tread to force the tire’s inner lip against the rim. After massaging the tire with my hand as the compressor hummed away, I was delighted to hear a very loud pop as the bead sealed. As Estevan looked on I pointed out a jack in the trunk, but there was no lug wrench.
    I informed Kiki of all this, recommending she get a lug wrench. It was then that she told me also that the vehicle’s steering was very loose so the car was hard to keep in a lane. I advised her to call for a tow or drive the car slowly and directly to a shop like Pep Boys in Columbia.
    She replied that she had no money for either so she would have to try to drive it another 20 miles to her original destination. Before we split, Kiki and Estevan both thanked me for helping them. I hope they made it.
    Walt’s tips:
    Keep battery clamps tight, so they cannot be moved by hand.
    Check the spare tire for proper inflation.
    Have tire changing tools.
    If the car cannot be steered safely, park it!
     

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    The Fayetteville Sports Club has announced its Hall of Fame class for 2020.

    The new list of inductees includes four voted into the traditional Hall of Fame and two added as members of the Legends category, which was introduced for the first time last year to honor candidates who had been considered for some time but had not been inducted.

    The four members of the regular class include veteran high school official Neil Buie, former Terry Sanford High School and Elon football standout Brent Sexton, three-sport high school star and UNC-Pembroke volleyball All-American Melanie Grooms-Garrett and former E.E. Smith boys basketball coach Roy McNeill.

    The two Legends selections were longtime minor league baseball player Bob Spicer Sr. and the late Jimmy Edwards Jr., standout dirt track racing driver.

    Here are brief biographies of each honoree.

    Neil Buie

    A 1965 graduate of Fayetteville High School, Buie has been involved in various levels of officiating since 1967. He was a baseball umpire for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association from 1967-98. He umpired five high school state championship series.

    He also called seven American Legion state title series plus a dozen area championships.

    Buie also worked at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels calling baseball.

    In addition to baseball, Buie called high school football. He was involved with six NCHSAA regional championship games, two state championships, the 1993 North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star game and the 1996 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

    Buie has served as regional supervisor of baseball officials from 1998-2019 and has done the same for football officials from 2013 to the present.

    He has won a number of awards from the NCHSAA including the Golden Whistle Award, the highest award given to officials, along with the Special Person Award and the Distinguished Service Award.

    Jimmy Edwards Jr.

    Better known by his nickname "Porky," Edwards was one of the most successful dirt-track racers in North and South Carolina.

    He began his career in the lower levels of both dirt and asphalt racing in 1975, then advanced to the popular Late Model division in 1976. Edwards claimed more than a dozen track titles and took his 400th career win in July of 2007 at the Fayetteville Motor Speedway.

    In 1979, he won 40 races. In 1983, he won 24 times in only 35 starts.

    He competed head-to-head with NASCAR stars like Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson in short track competition.

    Edwards died at the age of 57 in 2011.

    Melanie Grooms-Garrett

    Grooms-Garrett was one of the most versatile and outstanding athletes in the history of South View High School.

    Her senior year with the Tigers, she was the athlete of the year in three different sports, volleyball, basketball and softball.

    She enrolled at UNC-Pembroke and continued her athletic success there, becoming the only player in school history to be named an NAIA All-American in the sport of volleyball.

    Grooms-Garrett also played softball for the Braves and was All-Carolinas Conference from 1991-92 and All-District her senior year.

    She returned to UNC-Pembroke to serve as head coach of the volleyball and softball teams.

    She coached softball for two years, nearly tripling the school’s win total from the first season in her final year as softball coach.

    She was inducted into the UNC-Pembroke Hall of Fame in 2003.

    Roy McNeill

    During his stint as head basketball coach at E.E. Smith, McNeill compiled a record of 185-62. He coached from 1993-1999 and earned one Holiday Classic championship, two conference titles and three sectional championships.
    Those are impressive numbers considering he inherited a team his first year that went 4-22 in the previous season.

    He ended his career with six 20-win seasons, nine consecutive state playoff appearances and nine straight winning seasons. His prior head coaching stops included Northwest Halifax, Wilson Hunt, Lumberton and Littlefield.
    He was voted Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year in 1999.

    McNeill played college basketball at Fayetteville State and was inducted into the Fayetteville State Hall of Fame in 1993.

    Brent Sexton

    Sexton was a football standout at Terry Sanford High School before going on to star on the football team at Elon University.

    He earned All-American recognition at Elon in 1974 and was elected into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

    Sexton was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975 and played three seasons with the organization, winning a Super Bowl ring in 1975 when the Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X by a score of 21-17.
    Sexton was the third-highest player drafted in Elon history, taken in the fifth round. The only players who went higher were Rich McGeorge, a first-round choice of the Green Bay Packers in 1970 and Jimmy Smith, who was taken in the fourth round by the Washington Redskins in 1984.

    Sexton set an Elon record in 1971 when he intercepted five passes in one game vs. Gardner-Webb.

    Bob Spicer Sr.

    Spicer, a native of Richmond, Va., and a longtime Fayetteville resident after his baseball career was over, was among a trio of players drafted by the old Philadelphia Athletics before they relocated to Kansas City.
    During his high school days he played on a two-time state championship basketball in Newport News, Va. He later played semi-pro football in the Dixie League.

    Spicer made appearances with teams in Lumberton, Fayetteville, Macon and Springfield before spending a number of seasons in the Pacific Coast League with Los Angeles. His best pitch was a screwball, complemented by a knuckleball and a slider.

    One of his teammates in Los Angeles was the actor Chuck Connors of "The Rifleman" fame.

    One of his best years was with Macon in the South Atlantic League in 1949 when he compiled a 20-6 record with an earned run average of 2.73. He struck out 119 batters.
    In his lone season in Fayetteville, 1948, he was 18-4.

    In 1958, he won the Rawlings Silver Glove Award for his fielding.

    Spicer was also a successful billiards player who competed against legends like Willie Mosconi and Rudolf Wanderone Jr., better known as Minnesota Fats. In golf he was a one handicapper.

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    06 01 Memorial auditorium and arenaSpectra Venue Management, the company that manages Fayetteville’s Crown Complex, has selected Conventions, Sports, and Leisure International to conduct a market analysis and feasibility study for a new venue to replace the Crown Theatre and Crown Arena. Memorial auditorium and arena will be closed in October 2022. The study will analyze and determine whether a new facility is feasible, and if so, its type, size and location. Results of the market analysis and feasibility study are expected by May of this year. The study is being paid for by Spectra Venue Management, utilizing funds that were set aside in its 2017 management agreement with Cumberland County. “We are excited for CSL to get started on this project,” Trent Merritt, Spectra’s regional vice president, said. CSL clients in North Carolina include Hickory Performing Arts Center; Keenan Stadium at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; the Charlotte Coliseum; and proposed venues in Wilmington and Mooresville. CSL will establish a date, time and location for public forums for those who wish to provide insight or feedback on the project.

    County extension of water lines to Grays Creek underway

    06 02 chemours2Several dozen Grays Creek residents were on hand at a county commission meeting this month when the board agreed to spend $376,000 for engineering work on a water line extension. The need for public water came to the surface two-and-a-half years ago when GenX, a potential carcinogen, was found in Grays Creek water wells. The culprit is the huge Chemours chemical plant on the Cumberland/Bladen County line. Chemours has provided bottled water and water filtration systems to some homes in the area. The project is a $10.5 million water line extension commissioners approved Jan. 6. GenX has also been reported in the Cape Fear River and in drinking water supplies of communities downstream from Chemours that get their water from the river. Residents claim the contamination has reduced property values and that Chemours should be held responsible for the cost of the water line extension.

    SBA provides loans for Hurricane Dorian repairs

    The U.S. Small Business Administration says Working Capital Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations in some North Carolina communities as a result of Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 6 - 10, 2019. Locally, loans are available in Cumberland, Bladen, Harnett and Hoke counties. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of the hurricane. Disaster loans are not available to 06 03 hurricane dorin 2agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers. The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 2.75% for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at Disasterloan.sba.gov. Disaster loan information may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
    Fayetteville airport opens new concourse

    The new concourse features an open rotunda with large viewing windows, a new waiting area with in-seat charging stations and three new boarding gates. American Airlines is utilizing the new 06 04 Fayetteville Regional Airportconcourse, servicing its daily flights to and from Charlotte. The concourse will soon feature a new restaurant, which is expected to open in the spring. The facility is Phase 1 of a $45 million renovation project at Fayetteville Regional Project.
    “The opening of the new concourse is a big milestone for us,” said Airport Director Bradley Whited. “No major improvements have been made to the airport terminal since its opening in 1969.”
    Plans to start Phase 2 are already underway, including renovation of the front façade, a refreshed interior, a new TSA checkpoint, renovated ticketing and baggage wings and an updated second floor. Offering service to two major airline hubs, travelers have access to more than 230 one-stop destinations.

    Public countywide education program set
    A local state of education event scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 4, will shine a spotlight on various educational institutions in Cumberland County. During the event at J.W. Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University, participants will learn about major initiatives and strategic priorities in Cumberland County schools. Leaders from Fayetteville State, Methodist University and Fayetteville Technical Community College will also be featured. The program begins at 6 p.m.
    06 05 State of Education of CC 2 1200x496 copy

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    15 valentinesA Hope Mills tradition, the annual 55+ Valentine’s Day luncheon, will be held Friday, Feb. 14, in the community room at the Hope Mills Recreation Center.

    The time will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the cost is $8 per person.

    All those interested in attending need to come to the front desk at the Hope Mills Recreation Center during regular business hours to sign up. This year’s event will be limited to 100 participants.

    “It’s an opportunity to come celebrate the holiday with music and a fully catered meal,’’ said Kasey Ivey of the Recreation and Parks department. Ivey said there is not a designated cutoff date for signing up for the luncheon, but those planning to attend are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to avoid not being able to attend.

    The registration fee covers the meal, which will include two main dishes, two sides, rolls, desserts and drinks.

    The music will be provided by a disc jockey.
    This year’s event will feature a new catering service, Ivey said. After years of using Fred Chason’s Grandsons Buffet, which Ivey said has been wonderful, the Valentine’s Day luncheon will be changing to A Catered Affair by Chef Glenn and Company. Chef Glenn also operates The Diner in the former Becky’s Cafe, as well as two popular food trucks.

    Ivey said Chef Glenn has done several events for the town, including an event held after the swearing in of the new Board of Commissioners last December. Chef Glenn has also catered the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

    Ivey said the new arrangement with Chef Glenn will include a carving station where people will be served as they go through the line instead of the self-service format from past Valentine’s Day luncheons.
    “I hope they will enjoy that,’’ Ivey said.

    If anyone has questions about this year’s 55+ Valentine’s Day Luncheon they can call the main number at the Hope Mills Recreation Center, 910-426-4109.

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    10 dayne topkin cB10K2ugb 4 unsplashWomen have made many contributions to western music. The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is taking the initiative to recognize and celebrate women composers in its production of “Music She Wrote” Saturday, Feb. 8. This concert, held in the Seabrook Auditorium at Fayetteville State University, will feature pieces exclusively written by women.

    One of the women featured in this concert is Florence Price. Born in the late 1880s in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price is credited for being the first African-American woman composer. Her musical endeavors began at an early age under the guidance of her mother, who was a music teacher. At the age of 11, Price had her first composition published. She also had success in her academics and graduated at 14 with the title of valedictorian and later studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. During her lifetime, she worked as a music educator, organist and composer. Her Symphony No.1 in E minor can be heard at the FSO concert. The composition won first prize in the Rodman Wanamaker Competition in 1932.

    Another woman featured in the“Music She Wrote” program is Amy Beach. An American composer, Beach is considered to be the first American female composer of large scale art music. Also known as serious music, art music refers to any music derived from Western classical music. The FSO will honor her by performing her “Gaelic” symphony. The symphony premiered in 1896, performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Beah was also a successful pianist who performed her works in the United States and Germany.

    The FSO also offers a unique opportunity to experience the music of a living composer. Anna Clyne currently resides in the United States. She is a Grammy-nominated contemporary English composer. Her compositions are known for their acoustic and electro-acoustic elements. She has had many accomplishments and has had pieces premiere at various music festivals, such as the 2019 Carrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. She has also served as an in-residence composer for various symphony orchestras, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Berkeley Symphony, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the L’ Orchestre national d’île-de-France. Her works “Masquerade” and “Seascape,” which is the second movement from her orchestral suite titled, “Abstractions,” are to be performed for this concert.

    Other women composers that will be featured in the concert are Ellen Taafe Zwillich, Joan Tower and Cecile Chaminade. The Fayetteville symphony promises an evening of empowerment, and listeners will be exposed to music created by intelligent and groundbreaking women.

    Visit http://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/ or call 910-433-4690 for tickets and information.
     

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    09 Picture1Once upon a time, not so far, far away, in the Land of Cape Fear Regional Theatre, fairytale creatures wove a mesmerizing story with song, dance, comedy, love, self-acceptance and, of course, a princess, a hero and a villain. In this magical place, also known as CFRT, the townspeople watched ever so closely as the landscape magically transformed from a kingdom into an ogre’s swampy home and then to an open field, a dragon’s keep with a tall-tower and so much more — right before their very eyes. In fact, the enchanted land was innovative and brilliant as  “Shrek: The Musical” unfolded upon the stage. There is still time to see it —  the play runs through Feb. 16 at CFRT.

    The characters within the performance have stupendous vocals — whether speaking, shouting at each other (did I mention the ogres or the dragon yet?) or singing. The show is choreographed by Sebastiani Romagnolo and music is directed by David Maglione. From their storybook homeland, to the spellbinding music, it’s clear the performers are engrossed in the story, and it reflects in the the performance.

    The audience travels along on a  journey with Shrek, played by Nicholas J. Pearson , Donkey, played by Marc De La Concha, Princess Fiona, played by Becca Vourvoulas and Lord Farquaad, played by Gabe Belyeu. The youth ensemble includes Zoi Pegues as Teen Fiona. Both Vourvoulas and Pegues appeared in CFRT’s production of “Annie” last season. It truly is an adventure for all involved. The townspeople’s involvement is not only welcomed, but expected.

    CFRT does not hold back when it comes to imaginary depiction of detailed characterizations for each and every part of their productions — especially with this particular story — “Shrek: The Musical.” The talented team members at CFRT are inventive visionaries.

    The first moment  audience members are received into the spellbinding world of Shrek and the others, they are whisked away on an eye-catching journey.

    The costuming was impressive. Each fairytale character or person had the accurate whimsical attire to perform their representation of their character and  bring this magical production to life.

    The harmonious movement in the choreography and dazzling execution of lighting and sound made an already incredible show that much more entertaining and engaging.

    In a nutshell, everything about this show is amazing. The outstanding vocals of the performers, the interaction with the audience and the characters, the moments when you will literally laugh out loud, the dynamic costumes, the dancing and movement on stage during the scenes, the props and music, all of it will not only grab your attention, but hold it throughout the show.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to take a trip to CFRT for this theatrical performance of “Shrek: The Musical.”

    There is still time to purchase tickets to see how the story plays out on stage. Visit www.cfrt.org for your entrance into a fairytale like no other!

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    17 Parish House doorFew people are more qualified than Hope Mills commissioner Bryan Marley to speak on the situation involving the future of the town’s Parish House.

    In addition to being one of the newest members of the Board of Commissioners, Marley has dedicated his life to the job of firefighter, going back to 1991 when he joined the Pearce’s Mill fire department as a junior firefighter.
    From there, he moved on to jobs with the Hope Mills fire department and Cumberland County Emergency Services.

    Today, he works in Hoke County as emergency management director and fire marshall.

    Marley was one of three commissioners who recently voted to accept an offer from a demolition firm to raze the Parish House and free up the property for other pursuits he considers more viable for the town
    to pursue.

    His reasons for removing the Parish House, which although it is located in the Hope Mills historic district is not specifically listed in the National Registry of Historic Places as some claim, are rooted in fact, not politics.
    “In my opinion, the building is structurally unsafe,’’ Marley said. “It’s a life safety issue.’’

    Marley’s reasons to get rid of the Parish House go beyond the problems with the structure. He’s read all the reports that have been done by town staff and by people hired by the town to examine the structure.
    “There are reports of mold growing in the building,’’ he said. “That’s a respiratory hazard.’’

    The reports also indicate the structure is in danger of collapse.

    While he doesn’t think there’s an immediate threat to the town or its people, should the building fall or burn on its own, he called it an eyesore that does nothing to improve the aesthetics of the area where it’s located.
    To those who consider the building historic, Marley shares his personal experience as a resident of Hope Mills since his youth. “I’ve never heard of anybody talk about the historic Parish House,’’ he said. “I don’t see the great historical value there.’’

    But the price tag for making it usable is high, and Marley thinks the town has more critical projects that need town money than a building with questionable history.

    “We’ve got a new police and fire complex that we are trying to get off the ground,’’ he said. “We are looking at that being a $16.5 million project.’’

    There’s also a need to use the land where the Parish House is located to help with the parking situation downtown, especially for events at Hope Mills Lake and the long-planned Heritage Park.

    Something else Marley said people need to consider is the figures that have been quoted on the restoration of the Parish House are superficial, and will likely go higher should workers get inside the building and look for other problems.
    “If they find asbestos or lead paint, they’ve got to mitigate that,’’ he said. “Once you get into a project like that, the price goes up.’’

    Marley wouldn’t be surprised if the final number for bringing the Parish House back to life soared closer to $ 1million. “That’s a million dollars the town is taking out of the general fund,’’ he said. “They have to put that money back eventually.’’

    The only way to do that, Marley fears, is to increase taxes, and that’s something no elected official wants to discuss. “That conversation hasn’t come up,’’ he said, “but how are you going to recoup that money and be able to carry on the same level of service to the citizens that we are doing now?’’

    Marley stressed that he is not against preserving town history, adding that he’s fully committed to saving the Christ Episcopal Church building adjacent to the Parish House. He thinks the town can save the money it would spend on the Parish House renovation and use a smaller portion of it to complete repairs on the church, which is in far better condition.

    He thinks it’s a doable option to finish work on the proposed town museum and the church and have both ready for the town’s citizens to use by summer.

    “I’m not against town history or preservation,’’ he said. “We’ve just got to think common sense.’’

    Marley thinks the negativity about the history of the Parish House has gotten out of hand. He’d like to see people discuss the matter like adults. “I agree it’s an old building,’’ Marley said. “We just can’t sit here and continue to go like we’re going. It’s never going to get anything accomplished.’’

    He said that includes efforts some would like the town to pursue with Preservation North Carolina, which would reportedly restore the Parish House without costing the town valuable taxpayer money.

    But Marley doesn’t think the entire story is being told. “They take your building and property and market it for you,’’ he said. “They find private investors or companies to come in and they purchase your property.’’

    Once that’s done, Marley said the town no longer has direct control over the building or the property. Marley doesn’t want to surrender town use of a piece of premium property in the downtown area.
    “All the citizens I’ve talked to, the greater majority if they even know about the Parish House do not care and want to see it gone,’’ Marley said.

    “I’m trying to put the dollar figures out there and let people know. That’s my point. If you’re going to say one side of the story, say both sides of the story.’’

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    13 LIVE CONCERT 1aThe Fayetteville Community Concert series put in a tall order for the midwinter 2020 show. The response? A show as big as Texas. Community Concerts brings singing sensation The Texas Tenors to the Crown Theater, Friday, Feb. 14,  at 7:30 p.m.

    The Emmy Award-winning vocalists rose to fame on “America’s Got Talent” in 2009. World renowned, The Texas Tenors are the most successful music group and third highest-selling artist in the history of the TV show. Now the tenor trio of John Hagen, Marcus Collins and JC Fisher are bringing their 10th Anniversary Tour to Fayetteville for a one-night performance.

    Community Concerts attractions director Michael Fleishman is excited to host The Texas Tenors in this 84th show season themed “It’s Showtime.” The Texas Tenors is the third hit attraction in the all-star concert line-up, coming after Chicago and Mannheim Steamroller’s stellar productions and ushering in The Four Tops and The Temptations combo March 6 and The Oakridge Boys May 21. Adding to the anticipation for The Texas Tenor performance is the concert date, a day as synonymous with love as the tenor voice is with romance.

    “This is the perfect Valentine’s Day show. Skip the restaurant lines and do this instead. From Bruno Mars, the Righteous Brothers and John Denver to country music and Broadway hits, The Texas Tenors are a nonstop wow,” said Fleishman.

    The versatile vocals of the trio make for a night of exciting entertainment. The 10th Anniversary Tour includes a collection of music from the past decade, including selections from the 2019 album “A Collection of Broadway & American Classics,” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Charts. The hit parade pinnacle is a second for the band, as their 2017 studio album “Rise” met the same acclaim. The Texas Tenors look forward to sharing their songs with Fayetteville fans.

    “We are excited about our upcoming Valentine’s Day concert at the Crown,” said Tenor Marcus Collins. “We’ve put together a special repertoire of some of our favorites but also what we feel are the most romantic love songs ever written. Of course, there will be a mix of our signature patriotic, country and classical songs as well.”

    Over the past decade, the classically trained tenors have performed more than 1,300 concerts around the U.S. and world, including headline shows in Las Vegas, Nevada; Branson, Missouri; China; and a 24-city tour in the United Kingdom. The Texas Tenors perform three different live concerts, “Rise: Live on Tour,” “Let Freedom Sing” and holiday favorite “Deep in the Heart of Christmas.” The 2019-20 10th Anniversary Tour celebrates the group’s success with hits fan love and brand-new music.

    With four studio albums, four DVD releases, two Public Broadcasting Service specials and multiple singles to date, their music appeals to all ages and blends many music genres, so much that they were named Billboard’s Magazine’s 2017 #10 Classical Crossover Artist in the World. The Texas Tenor music has roots in country, classical, opera and Broadway show tunes, and meets success in all venues from performing arts centers and casinos to symphony halls and outdoor festivals. The group even performs on cruise vacations, with private performances for members of their official and ever-growing fan club.

    In addition to collaborations with some of the more prestigious symphonies in the world, including the Houston Symphony, Pittsburg Symphony and The City of Prague Orchestra, the group has performed at the White House National Tree Lighting, Medal of Honor ceremonies, charity events, NBA games and the Professional Bull Riding World Finals in Las Vegas. Of special distinction is the fact that The Texas Tenors are among the top 50 artists from the AGT series invited to compete on the show’s NBC prime-time championship spin-off, “America’s Got Talent: The Champions” and the only U.S. vocal group invited to participate.

    Beyond music, Hagen, Collins and Fisher are also published authors. Winner of the 2015 Gelett Burgess Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature, “Ruckus on the Ranch” is the inaugural picture book from The Texas Tenors, a western-themed read about playful ranch critters. A six-song CD of accompanying music for “Ruckus on the Ranch” accompanies the book. The Texas Tenor’s second and newest book, “Moon’s on Fire,” is soon to be released and is a sequel to “Ruckus.” It also comes with a CD and features “The Cowboy Lullaby” for the youngest fans.

    The men that make up The Texas Tenors are as varied as the music they sing. John Hagen, referred to simply as “The Tenor,” has an extensive classical background, while Marcus Collins, “The Contemporary Tenor,” has a past that includes TV and film work. JC Fisher, aka “The Romantic Tenor,” is the group’s founder who grew up singing in church. Collectively, their influences include artists from the modern, classical, spiritual and operatic traditions.

    A member of The Texas Tenor fan club, Francene Taylor lives in Havelock, North Carolina, but plans to travel to Fayetteville for the Feb. 14 special. She has seen the group over 70 times and in states ranging from North Carolina and New Jersey to Missouri and Arizona, including two cruise concerts. For her, and other devoted fan club members, traveling to see their favorite band is not a problem.

    “Wherever they go,” said Taylor, “people just gravitate to them. I know we do.”

    Hooked on The Texas Tenors since the first AGT broadcast, Taylor described their personalities, not only musicality, as “magnetic.”

    “Each of the Tenors brings something special to the trio, and each has unique character. But when they combine, watch out! They are also very audience-oriented; the guys draw the crowd into every performance. Even though I have seen them many times, each performance is unique, and they never do exactly the same show twice.”

    To buy single-show tickets to The Texas Tenor performance, visit the Crown box office in person, the Cape Fear Tix website online or call 1-888-267-6208. For season memberships, see http://www.community-concerts.com/tickets/.

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    16 town hall For the fifth consecutive year, the town of Hope Mills is preparing to conduct its annual Citizens  Academy program. Designed to teach town citizens the basics of local government and administration, it was created by current town manager Melissa Adams.

    This year’s sessions will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 11, and continue for eight consecutive weeks, with the final session scheduled for Thursday, March 17. That’s the only session that won’t be on a Tuesday and was necessary to mesh with the fire department’s schedule.

    After the opening session, which will introduce the participants to all the department heads from the town, each session will deal with a specific area of town administration or government. The initial session will include an explanation of the town’s council-manager form of government and the roles of the members of the Board of Commissioners.

    The departments involved include police, fire, parks and recreation, planning and zoning inspection, infrastructure and public works, finance and budgeting, stormwater and town hall administration.

    Most of the classes are held at the department being studied that week, with hands-on opportunities to work with some of the equipment like the police and fire departments use, among others.

    In the session on town finances, each participant will get a chance to craft a budget for the town.

    All those interested in taking part need to complete the online registration form at www.townofhopemills.com and email it to town clerk Jane Starling at jstarling@townofhopemills.com. It can also be faxed to 910-424-4902. The program is limited to a maximum of 15 people to allow more individual attention and to make touring the various locations where the class is held easier.

    The usual cutoff for applications is the Friday before the first class, which this year will fall on Feb. 7.

    A graduation ceremony for all participants is scheduled on Thursday, April 2, at a meeting of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners. Each member of the class will receive a plaque from the town for completing the course.
    If you have questions about the program, call Starling during regular business hours at 910-426-4113.

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    11 fbphotoPiedmont Natural Gas, Fayetteville State University and The Fayetteville/Cumberland County Arts Council present “True to Yourself 2020: A Black History Month Talk Series” Saturday, Feb. 1 at J. W. Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University from 7-9 p.m.

     “We are in the third year of our ‘True to Yourself’ Black History Month Talk Series that celebrates and highlights Hollywood movie stars who have been true to themselves and the things they have believed in throughout their lives. That is part of what makes them successful,” said Greg Weber, president and CEO of the Arts Council. “That particular event focuses on successful Hollywood black artists. They come in and share their story and do a question and answer session. … We hope it inspires people.”

     Weber added that no matter what challenges one may have or what’s around you, as long as you stick to the things you believe in that make you who you are, you are going to be a success.

     The event features actress Meagan Good and her producer husband DeVon Franklin. “We chose these two individuals because we have not done a husband and wife team and Meagan has been so successful as an actress,” said Weber. “DeVon brings to the table the producing side, and he was voted one of the top 100 most influential black people in Hollywood. … We thought that would be a nice combination.

     “How do these two people that are in high profile positions and on this ‘A’ league level still make certain they are not just true to themselves as individuals but true to themselves as a couple?” asked Weber. “Hopefully it will inspire married guys like me that we can really still be supportive of everything our wife is doing.”

     Meagan Good is an actress who has appeared in numerous television shows, films and music videos. Some of her movies and TV shows include “The Intruder,” “Think Like A Man,” “Stomp the Yard,” “Waist Deep,” “My Wife and Kids” and more. DeVon Franklin is an award-winning Hollywood TV and film producer, New York Times best-selling author, preacher and international motivational speaker.

     “The Arts Council is an organization that supports every single artist and every single cultural arts organization in town,” said Weber. “We actually have a very broad footprint here in the city for what we do, which is support anything that has to do with lifelong learning through the arts, economic development, cultural preservation and individual artists.

     “We would like to thank our sponsors, Piedmont Natural Gas and Fayetteville State University because we would not be able to do this event without their support,” said Weber.

     Tickets cost $20, student cost is $10 and VIP Meet and Greet is $100.

    For more information, contact UniQue Webster at 910-323-1776 or uniquew@theartscouncil.com.

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    Here are the results from the Patriot Athletic Conference Cheerleading competition held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Douglas Byrd High School.

    Overall champion

    Gray’s Creek

    Nonbuilding champion

    Westover

    Building champion

    Gray’s Creek

    Game Day champion

    Terry Sanford

    All-Patriot Athletic Conference
    The following cheerleaders were chosen All-Conference

    E.E. Smith - Jasmine Myrick, Mikayla Staten, Connieyah Polk
    Douglas Byrd - Navaeh Owens, Na’Lyssia Walls
    Westover - Jak’yah Bozier, Martina Simms, Serenity Spraill
    Cape Fear - Nakiyah Wright
    Pine Forest - Julia Sanders, Cynara Cooper
    South View - Asa Moore, Mya Bartell
    Gray’s Creek - Cailyn Fontaine, Mackenzie Neasbitt, Blakelyn Mote
    Terry Sanford - Avery Schenk, Ella Lewis, Isabel Chavis

    Coach of the year

    Jamila Parks, South View

    Cheerleader of the year

    Avery Schenk, Terry Sanford

    NCCCA All-Region
    The following cheerleaders were selected to the All-Region Cheer team chosen by the North Carolina Cheerleading Coaches Association:
    South View - Mya Bartell, Valencia Williams
    Terry Sanford - Avery Schenk

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    19 Super Bowl logo Here are the Cumberland County Schools head football coaches’ forecasts for this weekend’s Super Bowl LIV game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.

    Brian Randolph, Jack Britt — I like Kansas City, 37-34. Kansas City has a wealth of skill and speed on offense, and I love the Honey Badger (defensive back Tyrann Mathieu) on their defense.

    Mike Paroli, Douglas Byrd  — I think Kansas City will win 41-38. The 49ers had a great running game and pass rush against the (Green Bay) Packers, but Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid will find a way to win.

    Jacob Thomas, Cape Fear — Two evenly matched teams. Kansas City has the edge at quarterback, but I feel that San Francisco is a better team in all three phases of the game and this seems to be their year from start to finish. Forty-Niners in a close one.

    David Lovette, Gray’s Creek — Chiefs, 35-28. The Chiefs have so much speed on offense and (quarterback Patrick) Mahomes is a difference maker.

    Bill Sochovka, Pine Forest — Kansas City by two touchdowns. Their offense is so explosive and has a lot of weapons. Very tough to stop.

    Bruce McClelland, Terry Sanford — Great matchup. Speed vs. power. Old school vs. new school football. I like San Francisco being more physical — running game and pass rush getting home without having to blitz. San Francisco 34, Kansas City 28.

    Duran McLaurin, Seventy-First — Chiefs will win, 34-21. Slow starts haven’t seemed to hurt the Chiefs because their opponents have struggled to maintain offensive execution and special teams play. Just too many weapons and an underrated defense will be too much for the 49ers.

    Rodney Brewington, South View — San Francisco, 31-21. San Francisco has a very special defense. The defense has the ability to rush and hurry the quarterback with only four defensive linemen. They have a strong running game and a solid quarterback.

    Ernest King, Westover — I feel the teams are evenly matched, but I give the edge to San Francisco. They have a great running game and a whole lot of weapons, three running backs and a receiver corps that can score anytime. A defense that really gets after it and the team has enthusiastic pride about what they do.

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    05 moneyRecently, we’ve seen an increased interest in mindfulness, although the concept itself is thousands of years old. Essentially, being mindful means you are living very much in the present, highly conscious of your thoughts and feelings. However, being mindful doesn’t mean acting on those thoughts and feelings — it’s just the opposite. With mindfulness, your decision-making is based on cognitive skills and a rational perspective, rather than emotions. As such, mindfulness can be quite valuable as you make investment decisions.

    Two of the most common emotions or tendencies associated with investing are fear and greed. Let’s see how they can affect investors’ behavior.

    • When investors are fearful … Investors’ biggest fear is losing money. So, how did many of them respond during the steep market decline from late 2007 through early 2009? They began selling off their stocks and stock-based mutual funds and fled for “safer” investments, such as Treasury bills and certificates of deposit. But mindful investors witnessed the same situation and saw something else: a great buying opportunity. By looking past the fear of losing money, they recognized the chance to buy quality investments at bargain prices. And they were rewarded for their patience, long-term perspective and refusal to let fear govern their decisions, because 10 years after the market bottomed out in March 2009 (as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average), it had risen about 300%.

    • When investors are greedy … We only have to go back a few years before the 2007-09 bear market to see a classic example of greed in the investment world. From 1995 to early 2000, investors chased after almost any company that had “dot com” in its name, even companies with no business plans, no assets and, in some cases, no products. Yet, the rising stock prices of these companies led more and more investors to buy shares in them, causing a greed-driven vicious circle — more demand led to higher prices, which led to more demand. But the bubble burst in March 2000, and by October 2002, the technology-dominated Nasdaq stock index had fallen more than 75%. And since some of these companies not only lost value, but went out of business, many investors never recouped their investments.

    To avoid the dangers of fear and greed, take these steps:

    • Know your investments. Make sure you understand what you’re investing in. Know the fundamentals, such as the quality of the product or service, the skill of the management team, the state of the industry, whether the stock is priced fairly or overvalued, and so on. The better informed you are, the less likely you’ll be to chase after “hot” investments or to bail out on good ones.

    • Rebalance when necessary. If you’ve decided your portfolio should contain certain percentages of stocks, bonds and other vehicles, stick to those percentages and rebalance when necessary.

    • Keep investing. Ups and downs are a normal feature of the investment landscape. By continuing to invest over time, rather than stopping and starting, you can reduce the effects of volatility on your portfolio.
    It’s not always easy to be a mindful investor and to avoid letting emotions drive your decisions – but it’s well worth the effort.

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    20 01 isaiah Bridges copyIsaiah Bridges

    Westover • Basketball• Senior

    Bridges has a grade point average of 3.5. He is the starting point guard on Westover’s boys’ basketball team. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Successful Students mentoring program. As of this writing, the Wolverine basketball team is 14-0. Bridges currently averages 5.5 points, 3.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.

     




    20 02 Tyler StricklandTyler Strickland

    Gray's Creek• Basketball/baseball• Senior

    Strickland has a grade point average of 4.125. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Future Farmers of America. He played travel baseball for the Canes American team last summer. He is committed to play
    for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington on a baseball scholarship.

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    06 01 Logan MelgarA Navy SEAL has pleaded not guilty after being charged with murder in the strangulation death of a Fort Bragg Green Beret staff sergeant while both were deployed in West Africa a year-and-a-half ago. Special Warfare Operator Chief Tony E. DeDolph was arraigned on charges of involuntary manslaughter, hazing and felony murder plus conspiracy, assault, obstruction of justice and burglary, according to court records. DeDolph and three other service members — a fellow SEAL and two Marine Raiders, including Gunnery Sgt. Mario Madera-Rodriguez — were initially charged in the June 4, 2017, death of Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar in Bamako, Mali, where the men were on a counterterrorism deployment. Madera-Rodriguez was arraigned on charges late last year. The other co-defendants, Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell and Navy SEAL Adam C. Matthews, pleaded guilty to lesser charges in 2019. DeDolph’s attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, told Military Times Jan. 10 that the government had denied his client’s requests for expert witnesses, which included a criminologist, DNA analyst and forensic pathologist. But the judge in the trial granted the requests. “This case is nothing short of sad for everyone involved,” Stackhouse said. He called Melgar’s death a “tragic accident” that has since “snowballed into an injustice” because of the way it has been handled.

    Federal Emergency Management Agency grants local government financial assistance

    The state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have announced that more than $1.6 million has been approved to reimburse expenses for damages to the Cumberland County landfill, which was 06 02 Burrow Pitdamaged during Hurricane Florence. Reimbursements include costs for dredging and reconstructing the landfill’s borrow pit after hurricane-related flood damage. A borrow pit is a large hole that has been dug for a particular purpose. FEMA has approved more than $5 million in Hurricane Florence-related expenses for Cumberland County. FEMA’s public assistance program provides grants for state and local governments to reimburse the cost of debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent repair work. FEMA reimburses applicants at least 75% of eligible costs, and the state covers the remaining 25%.

    Vets service office recognized

    Cumberland County Veterans Services has been ranked No. 1 in the state for distribution of veterans’ affairs expenditures for fiscal year 2018. Cumberland County ranked first in the state with VA expenditures of $897,700,000. VA expenditures include compensation and pension, construction and education and vocational rehabilitation employment.

    In a letter to Cumberland County Veterans Services, North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Regional Manager Robert Johnson said, “The news of Cumberland County Veterans Services achieving this prestigious position does not come as any surprise.”

    06 03 DMVA Newsletter HeaderNEWSThe Cumberland County Veterans Services Department helps veterans and their dependents obtain benefits to which they are entitled by submitting claims benefits to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The office is located at 301 E. Russell St., Fayetteville. Call 910-677-2970 or go to co.cumberland.nc.us for more information.

    VA staff vacancies mount

    Despite new incentives to help the Veterans Administration fill vacant staff positions, the number of vacancies rose to nearly 50,000 over the last year, according to the latest federal data. A key Democratic senator wants to know why the employment shortfall isn’t being fixed.

    06 04 VA SealIn a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member, Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he has “serious concerns” that officials have not found a way to deal with the department’s “persistent workforce shortage” despite assistance from Congress. “I remain consistently frustrated that VA medical facilities, particularly those in rural areas, are dramatically understaffed,” Tester wrote.

    Tester said lawmakers have offered new hiring incentives such as loan repayment and relocation incentives but have been disappointed with the results. VA press secretary Christina Mandreucc said in a statement that many vacancies are attributed to “normal retirements and job changes” and not widespread problems with department hiring practices.

    Citizen interest in serving local government is lacking
    The city of Fayetteville needs more than 30 citizens to fill vacancies on various advisory boards and commissions. Here are the vacancies the city says need to be filled:
    Airport Commission – two openings
    Audit Committee – two openings
    Fair Housing Board – three openings; one is required to be a real estate representative
    Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit – four openings; one is required to be a FAST Driver, one is required to be an ADA representative, one is required to be a resident who lives in the FAST service area and one must be a business representative
    06 05 citizen participationRedevelopment Commission – two openings
    Historic Resources Commission – five openings; one must be a building designer
    Linear Park – two openings
    Personnel Review Board – three openings
    Public Arts Commission – three openings; two are required to be arts council appointees
    Planning Commission – two openings
    Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission – one opening
    Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission – one opening
    Applications are being accepted until midnight Jan. 31. All qualified applications will be presented to the city council’s appointments committee in February. The city is accepting applications on its website at www.fayettevillenc.gov.

  • Details
    03 margaret picRemember bell-bottom pants from the 1970s? How about shag haircuts and midriff-baring outfits and skinny suits for men? They are all back in some form, generally with new monikers like “flares,” “bedhead” and “hipster.” At the end of the day, though, these blasts from the past are comebacks of ideas that worked before and are working again.

    The same is true for the names we bestow on what is most precious to us in life, our children.

    The Social Security Administration has kept track of what we name our children since the 1880s, and it turns out that vintage names are making a comeback, especially for baby girls. A century ago, the 10 most popular names for girls were Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret (yay!), Ruth, Mildred, Virginia, Elizabeth, Frances and Anna. I know babies and little girls today with some of those names, even though none of them are in the current top 10. Still, the SSA says traditional names are popping up on birth certificates, including Violet, Hazel, Faye, June, Millie, Eloise, Vera, Elsa, Stella, Rosalie, Olive and Josie. I know a few of those as well.

    As for boys, the 1920 top 10 names were John, William, Robert, James, Charles, George, Joseph, Edward, Frank and Richard. William and James are still among the top 10 in 2020, which indicates that parents may be more willing to take a flier on girls’ names than with those for boys. Like the girls, boys are also experiencing a return of vintage names, including Clyde, Warren, Silas, Everett, Otto, Hugh, Jasper, Leon, Amos, Otis, Dean and Archie. Our family has a new double-traditional, George Claude.

    North Carolina parents seem right on trend in our baby-naming. In 2018, the latest year available, we named our little girls Ava, Emma, Olivia, Charlotte, Harper, Isabella, Amelia, Abigail, Sophia and Elizabeth, a nice mixture of tradition and a bit of modern. Tar Heel boy-naming continues to lean on tradition, with William and James still in the top 10 in second and fourth place, along with Noah, Liam, Elijah, Mason, Jackson, Carter, Lucas and Benjamin.

    Make no mistake, though. American parents are perfectly willing to be creative on names when the mood strikes, according to Huff Post, which seems to be every bit as interested in baby naming as I am. For example, Maverick is more popular for boys than the first man’s name, Adam. Brooklyn, originally a New York borough, is more popular for girls than the traditional Anna. Oaklynn, a word that does not register on spellcheck, is one of the fastest rising names for girls. Axel was recently bestowed on more little boys than ever-popular Edward, and Genesis is both more popular than Lauren for girls and the fastest-rising name for boys between 2017-2018. Jason was a biggie several decades ago, but it has now been passed by Angel, and Roman now tops Justin. For girls, Serenity has edged out the traditional Julia, and Brittany, once in the top five, has declined to only a few hundred in 2018. Dior is one of the fastest risers, with more than 1,000 baby girls receiving it in 2018. Kairo, another made-up word, is zooming up the name chart for boys, while Cairo, the actual spelling of the word, has never hit the 1,000 mark.

    The real question for parents with a new and precious bundle of joy is whether his or her name has already stood the test of time or whether someone will say 20 years later, “Oh, you must have been born in 2020!”
     
     

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