Christmas Day and New Year’s Day allow people to enjoy a complete week of holiday festivities. People decorate their homes and shops and purchase gifts for each other. We wish each other a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Common traditions include attending parties, eating special foods, watching fireworks displays and making resolutions for the new year.

The earliest recorded festivities in honor of a new year’s arrival date back 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. For the Babylonians, the first new moon following the vernal equinox — the day in late March with an equal amount of sunlight and darkness — heralded the start of a new year. Festivities have varied over time. Early celebrations were more paganistic, celebrating Earth’s cycles. It wasn’t until Julius Caesar implemented the Julian calendar that Jan. 1 became the common day for the celebration.

In many countries, modern New Year’s celebrations begin on the evening of Dec. 31 and continue into the early hours of Jan. 1. Americans often celebrate with parties featuring toasting, drinking and fireworks late into the night on New Year’s Eve. Some might even get a kiss at midnight. Customs that are common worldwide include watching fireworks and singing songs to welcome the new year, including the ever-popular “Auld Lang Syne” in many English-speaking countries.

New Year’s Eve has always been a time to reflect on the past, but more importantly, to plan for the future. Resolutions can be anything from meal prepping to volunteering. In many parts of the world, traditional new year’s dishes feature legumes, which are thought to resemble coins and herald future financial success. One example includes black-eyed peas in the southern United States. New Year’s resolutions are traditions. Some are more popular than others.

According to an Inc. study of 2,000 people, the most common resolutions that were made in 2019 include No. 1 eating healthier. More than two-thirds of American adults are considered to be overweight or obese. It should come as no surprise that diet is the first thing people want to tackle in the new year. Exercising more comes under the same umbrella as eating healthier. Working out more is the second most common new year’s resolution.

Many Americans are eager to get on top of their finances in the new year. Some want to get out of debt while others are more focused on bulking up their savings accounts. About a third of Americans make this their top goal. Debt.com says to be specific, set a budget, let go of unhealthy spending habits, track your spending, and use cash whenever you can.

Sometimes new year’s resolutions are about losing things: extra weight, debt or emotional baggage like letting go of nasty habits, such as eating junk food and smoking. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said, “it’s never too early to quit.” There are plenty of tools to help you through it. Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy products make it easier to kick nicotine without spending a fortune or even stepping a foot in the doctor’s office. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good, so don’t let a failed attempt discourage you. Happy New Year!

Here are the top ten Fayetteville and Cumberland County high school stories as selected by a panel of voters:

1. Tyler Bazzle scores for South View.

Tyler Bazzle, a student at South View High School, suffers from a form of cerebral palsy that causes him to be nonverbal and require a walker to get around.

He’s beloved by both students and faculty, and he is a fan of the South View football team and its star player, Matthew Pemberton.

South View athletic director Chad Barbour went to head coach Rodney Brewington with the idea of letting Bazzle suit up for a game, then running a play, giving Bazzle the ball and letting him score a touchdown.
The event was held at South View’s homecoming game with E.E. Smith, with the full support of the folks from Smith and the officiating crew.

Just prior to the kickoff, the ball was given to Bazzle, and best friends Kevin Brewington and Pemberton helped him into the endzone.

After the game, Pemberton gave Bazzle his game cleats.

“It’s an experience I’ll never forget,’’ Barbour said.

2. Wilson excels at wrestling

Dallas Wilson is following in the footsteps of his dad, Cape Fear High School wrestling coach Heath Wilson. His dad is a former state champ and Dallas has already surpassed his efforts.
Dallas won his second consecutive state 3-A wrestling title last year. Also winning from Cape Fear was Jared Barbour.

This year, Dallas is seeking to become only the second wrestler in Cumberland County history with three state titles.

The other is Richard “Pnut” Tolston of Jack Britt High School, who won three straight for Jack Britt High School from 2013-15.

3. Cumberland County athletic signings

Cumberland County Schools had a banner year for its athletes signing letters binding them to compete in athletes for colleges.

According to Cumberland County Student Activities Director Vernon Aldridge, 126 county athletes committed to play for a variety of colleges.

4. Special Olympics honors Gray’s Creek High School

Gray’s Creek High School was one of only two high schools in the state recognized by Special Olympics North Carolina for helping to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without disabilities.
Gray’s Creek became an early leader in the Unified Sports program, which partners able-bodied athletes with special needs athletes so the latter can compete in sports including wrestling, track and bowling.

5. Terry Sanford’s Herz drafted by Chicago Cubs

After a brilliant high school career, Terry Sanford pitcher D.J. Herz was chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 Major League Draft.

Herz was selected in the eighth round by the Cubs. In his final season at Terry Sanford he was 8-1 with a Cumberland County Schools best 0.50 earned run average. He pitched 56.1 innings and led the county with 106 strikeouts.
Herz played for one of the Cubs’ two Arizona rookie league teams last year.

The lefthander appeared in six games, finishing with an 0-1 record and no saves in 10.1 innings pitched. He had eight walks and eight strikeouts.

6. Terry Sanford football stadium demolished

After years of debate about its future, the oldest and biggest high school football stadium in Fayetteville was torn to the ground.

 That forced this year’s Terry Sanford football and soccer teams to play all of their games away at Reid Ross Classical High School’s John Daskal Stadium.
The football team played one game at Fayetteville State’s Nick Jeralds Stadium.

The new stadium won’t be used until the first football game of the 2020 season, which is scheduled on Thursday, Aug. 20, against Lumberton.

7. Jason Norton leads Pine Forest while battling cancer

If there was ever a profile in courage, it has to be former Pine Forest athletic director Jason Norton. First diagnosed with cancer in 2016, Norton continued to make a regular commute from his native Hamlet to work as athletic director at Pine Forest.

He continued to fight to regain his health and remain at Pine Forest until the strain finally forced him to step down as Trojan athletic director, taking temporary leave in September.

8. Cape Fear ends South View cross country streak

The Cape Fear boys’ cross country team  ended one of the longest winning streaks in Cumberland County history this season when they halted South View’s run of 21 straight conference cross country championships.
Jonathan Piland sparked the Colts by placing second in the championship race with a time of 17:04.20.

Julius Ferguson was third overall for the Colts while Juan Alvarado took fifth, giving Cape Fear three runners in the top five.

Placing in the top 20 for Cape Fear were Collin Gaddy 10th, Alden Bostic 13th and Colton Danks 20th.

The Colts went on to place fourth in the regional meet and qualified for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championship meet.

9. Fayetteville Academy wins state basketball title

Bill Boyette is no stranger to championship basketball. After a long record of earning titles in public schools, Boyette added a private school championship to his resume.

Boyette’s Fayetteville Academy boys won the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A championship, defeating Wayne Country Day 64-45 in the title game.

Fayetteville Academy finished 27-3.

According to rankings posted at MaxPreps.com, the Eagles were No. 6 in the state among all schools, public and private, and No. 1 in their classification in the NCISAA.

10. TIE

Multi-sport standout and football broadcaster Don Koonce dies.

Don Koonce was one of the greatest multi-sport athletes in Cumberland County history.

After a successful stint in the minor leagues, he returned to his native county and became involved with the Mid-South Sports broadcasting team as a color commentator.

Eventually, he branched out on his own, founding DK Sports, Inc., which led to the creation of multiple broadcast teams covering everything from football to basketball to softball.
Koonce passed away shortly before the 2019 football season started.

His loss left a void in local high school sports coverage that will be almost impossible to fill.

Terry Sanford’s Dorian Clark sets school rushing record

There have been some great running backs at Terry Sanford, names like Nub Smith, Roger Gann, Dwight Richardson and Louis Craft just to list a few.
But among all of them, Dorian Clark now stands as the all-time leading rusher.

The senior running back finished his stellar career with the Bulldogs with 5,945 career yards and 67 touchdowns.

For the season he had 2,346 yards and 33 scores. The former was tops among Cumberland County running backs.

Picture 1: Tyler Bazzle celebrates his touchdown.

Picture 2: L-R, Dallas Wilson and Jared Barbour of Cape Fear pose with their championship brackets on the floor of the Greensboro Coliseum after winning NCHSAA state 3-A wrestling titles.

• Ah, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, where no one knows exactly what's going on, what day it is or where they are supposed to be.
  
  It almost feels like limbo in a way — done with the year, but still have a few days left. At times, this seemingly unneeded week feels like more of a test of patience than anything else. All that holiday hype surrounds us for months on end, and when it finally gets here and is over in a day, we're all left reeling from the parties, the hosting, marshmallows for toasting and caroling out in the nonexistent snow. Can the year just be over yet?
  
  In recent years, when I feel this certain kind of impatience rising up in me, I feel a bit of push-back in my own spirit. Yes, the Christmas hype is over, but I think I actually need this week — the week where everything slows down, things are put on hold until the new year, and my mind, body and spirit can just rest and regroup.
  
  Hopefully, resting and regrouping looks a little different for me this year. See, 2019 has left me wanting less. I want simple. I want purposeful. I want slow. I want to want less. However, it's not enough to just want less. I need a plan, and this week, I'm finalizing it.
  
  Maybe you're feeling this way, too. Here's a few ideas I've been tossing around to begin the journey to “simple living."
  
  
  • Less screen time
  • More time outdoors
  • Less stuff — purging what we don't need, making fewer purchases
  • More physical activity
  • Less concern for what I don't have
  • More concern for others
  • Less social media
  • More face-to-face socializing
  
  If you're craving simple, too, grab a pen and paper — because, really, what's more satisfying than a simple handwritten list? — and jot down some ideas for yourself and your family. It all starts with ideas, but it can't end there. What will these changes actually look like for you and your family? What are some things you can do to make it happen and see results? For me, I'm even considering not having a smart phone for an entire year just to force me to make a change. If you see me on the side of the road somewhere flipping a map around over and over with a panicked look on my face because I can't use my GPS, you'll know I'm making headway.
  
  Hopefully this will be a year where my heart meets my mind in truly believing that more will not satisfy, busy will not qualify, and good intentions will not modify.
  I'm believing less actually is more, and I'm riding that train all the way to 2021.
  
  Want to hear about the journey? Listen weekday mornings to the Daily Grind on Christian 105.7 WCLN for updates, and give us your own tips for simple living.
  

The Umoja Group, Inc. of Fayetteville presents its annual Kwanzaa celebration Sunday, Dec. 29 from 3-6 p.m. at Smith Recreation Center located at Seabrook Park.

Kwanzaa is a secular event that celebrates culture, family and community.

The activities include a drum call, welcome song, tribute to elders, a libation to honor ancestors, drummers, dancers, singers, a parade of African queens and kings, a feast, a  children’s candlelight ceremony and traditional dance performances. The candle lighting ceremony features the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which are values to live by daily.

 They include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. There will be a presentation of the annual Umoja Group scholarship at the event, as well.
The Umoja Group is a nonprofit organization and donations are appreciated and tax deductible. Bring your favorite food dish to share and dress in ethnic wear.

Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966 when Maulana Karenga introduced the celebration. Karenga modeled the event after traditional African harvest festivals and named it based on the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.” Although Kwanzaa takes place during Christmas and Hanukkah seasons, it is not a religious holiday.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 910-485-8035 or email umojagroupfay@gmail.com.

Editor's Note: On Dec. 20, The North Carolina Board of Elections approved making Smith Recreation Center an early voting site for the 2020 primary.

My wife and I recently watched a movie titled “The American President.” Michael Douglas plays the role of President Andrew Shepherd. In a press briefing near the end of the movie, Douglas makes this statement regarding his reelection opponent, Sen. Bob Rumson, played by Richard Dreyfuss: “Whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who to blame.” This statement is from a movie, but it is true in real life today. However, to fear, I would add anger.

The happenings in our time that demonstrate the truth of this approach are numerous. One is the push to make Smith Recreation Center an early voting site during the 2020 primary. The Cumberland County Board of Elections was unable to, as required by law, unanimously approve this proposal. All three Democratic members — Floyd W. Johnson Jr., Irene Grimes, Helen Nelson — voted in favor, while the two Republicans voted in opposition. Lacking a unanimous vote for approval, the matter must go before the State Board of Elections for a decision. That board has a majority Democratic membership, and only a majority vote is required to approve the Smith Recreation Center proposal.

In this case, the argument made by proponents of Smith Recreation as a site is that the surrounding area is home to many elderly citizens, convenient for voting by students at Fayetteville State University and would encourage voting by university students. This argument summary is based on comments made by citizens who spoke at a meeting of the County Board of Elections on Nov. 12.

Now consider the response of many Smith proponents when making it an early voting site for a primary was rejected by the two Republican members of the Board — Linda Devore and Bobby Swilley. There was an immediate rush to generate fear and anger while blaming Republicans for supposed unfair treatment of black citizens.

An example of this fear, anger and blaming approach shows through in a statement attributed to Val Applewhite. It appears in an article titled, “Vote site fight: Should early voting be held next door to Fayetteville State University?” by Paul Woolverton. He writes: “Val Applewhite, a prominent local Democrat and former Fayetteville City Council member, said on Facebook that she thinks Republicans voted against the Smith Recreation site in an effort to prevent Democrats from voting.”

Then the following comments were made by Floyd W. Johnson Jr., chairman of the County Board of Elections, during an exchange with Linda Devore when discussing consistency in voting procedures as recorded in the Nov. 12 Board meeting minutes: “Polling sites primarily in African-American communities have been closed to save money, or the turnout is too low, so they combine polling sites. To me, that is a form of voter suppression. I believe it is a template to suppress the African-American voters. That is fact.”

Simply screaming “voter suppression” and blaming Republicans is typical employment of fear, anger and blaming in pursuit of political advantage and power. The unfair and destructive results of this tactic are compounded by the routinely accompanying misinformation and refusal to honestly consider the facts that support the position being questioned.

In the Smith Recreation situation, some speakers in the Nov. 12 meeting were clearly under the impression that Smith had been an early voting site for primaries in past presidential elections. Smith has never been an early site for a presidential primary. The only time it was an early site for a primary was in 2014. That was due to 2013 legislation that reduced the early voting period from 17 to 10 days. Terri Robertson, director of the Cumberland County Board of Elections, explained that Smith was added that year due to the reduced days and expected resulting need for relief at the North Regional Library site. The 2013 legislation was repealed, and the early voting timeframe returned to 17 days. That negated the need for Smith as a primary early voting site. What happened here points to sound reasoning and not to voter suppression.

Another bit of misinformation raised by some speakers was that Cross Creek 13, the precinct for which Smith Recreation Center is the polling place, was being closed. The minutes reflect the following: Secretary Devore was recognized to make a comment of clarification. Because several public commenters mentioned this, there is no proposal or discussion before this board to close CC13. It has never been a consideration. There are 77 precincts in this county, and they will all be open on election days.

My observation is that most of the fear and anger production, along with blaming, is done on social media, especially Facebook. Not surprisingly, I have seen nothing on Facebook from proponents of Smith as a primary early voting site correcting these two points of misinformation.

In 2014, when Smith was an early primary site, 362 votes were cast early. As of Dec. 12, 2019, 51 of those voters were no longer registered, leaving 311. Voters in  the 311 came from 54 different precincts. Only 10 of the 54 had six or more votes cast; most of the others had one or two. The distance from Smith to the nearest primary early voting site, Board of Elections at 227 Fountainhead Lane, is 2.5 miles. Of the 10 precincts from which most early voters came to Smith in 2014, following are the polling places that are less than 2.5 miles from Smith, along with the number of voters and distance: Cross Creek 5, 18/1.1; CC16, 88/.9; CC17, 19/1.9. Smith is Cross Creek 13 and had 24 early voters in 2014. This says 149 votes came from the Murchison Road area that appears to be the basis of the call for Smith being a primary early voting site. For good measure, add another 25 to allow for any low turnout precincts in the area that I did not include here. At the $20,000 minimum estimated cost to operate an early voting site, that is $115 per voter.

One can make the argument that 2014 was not a presidential election year as 2020 will be. That is a fair point. Look at the 2016 primary. In an article titled, “Last day of early voting brings lines and skateboarding voters,” Paul Woolverton writes that Terri Robertson said preliminary figures indicated 18,539 votes were cast in early voting for the March 15 primary. That was 31% of the 60,098 total votes cast in that primary. The four precincts that I contend make up the focus area for pursuit of early voting at Smith cast a total of 2,516 votes in that primary. Assuming 31% is a good early vote approximation across the board, 780 votes would be cast from those four precincts.

Jeff Womble, associate vice chancellor of communications at Fayetteville State University, stated that approximately 1,400 students live on campus at the university. A table at  www.census.gov labelled “Table 2. Reported Voting and Registration, by Race, Hispanic Origin, Sex, and Age: November 2018” indicates that 45.7% of black college students 18-24 years old register to vote and do so at a 31% rate. Applying this math to the 1,400 students indicates 434 students might vote. Applying the 31% early vote percentage yields 135.

Altogether, approximately 915 early votes might be expected from the four focus area precincts. At $20,000, that is $21.86 per voter. Assume the six sites used in 2016 each cost the high of $30,000. The total of $180,000 divided by 18,539 is $9.71. That is less than half the average for operating Smith at the low-end cost. Granted, only four precincts are used in these computations. That seems reasonable since the stated aim is to address the perceived needs of that specific area.

Distance between early voting sights should also come into play. The average distance between the six sites that are normally used is 12.21 miles, while the shortest is between Cliffdale Recreation Center and the Board of Elections at 6.2 miles. If Smith Recreation Center is made an early voting site, it will only be 2.5 miles from the Board of Elections, where focus-area citizens could vote early. That is less than half the distance between the two closest sites and just 20% of the average.

Regarding convenience, a person may take a 16-minute city bus ride from the Murchison Road side of Fayetteville State to 505 Franklin St. downtown and then walk 0.3 miles to the Board of Elections for early voting. A bus ride directly to the Board of Elections is 32 minutes.

The picture here is one of misinformation that is not widely and forthrightly corrected by those who initially contribute to forming it: accusations of black voter suppression not supported by facts or reason; focusing on a small segment of the population when, in this case, equal treatment of all should be the aim; disregarding the high financial cost of the proposed change; not recognizing the inequity of having one site so much closer to another than is the case with others; by declining use of city buses, calling for greater convenience than seems necessary.

Finally, this singular focus will very possibly conflict with the intent, if not the letter, of recently passed legislation. During the 2016 primary, in these four precincts, a total of 2,516 ballots were cast: 205 by Republicans, 2,301 by Democrats, and 10 by others. Having Smith Recreation Center as an early voting site during the primary would clearly favor Democrats and a primarily black population. Senate Bill 683/SL 2019-239, 163-227.6(b) speaks to voting site selection and ends with “... that the use of the sites chosen will not unfairly favor any party, racial or ethnic group, or candidate.”

Given all that is presented here, I do not see a reasonable case for making Smith Recreation a primary early voting site. I am finishing this column on Dec. 13, 2019. It is very possible the N.C. Board of Elections will render a decision before this column is published. Whether the board’s decision comes before or after publication of this column, examining their decision in light of what is said here will be a worthwhile edeavor. The aim of that endeavor should be to examine the decision based on facts and reason as opposed to emotion and political manipulation (fear, anger, blaming). Remember the warning given by Michael Douglas in his role as President Andrew Shepherd.

The annual Cumberland County Holiday Classic basketball, now in its second year under a major format change, begins a three-day run Thursday, Dec. 19 at five different sites. This year’s tournament is sponsored by the Southeastern Sports Officials Association.

The boys are divided into the Len Maness and Ike Walker Sr. brackets while the girls will play in the Gene Arrington and Tom Jackson brackets.

The Maness bracket is at Westover, Walker bracket at Jack Britt, Arrington bracket at South View and Jackson bracket at Gray’s Creek.

The championship games in all four brackets will be played Saturday, Dec. 21, at Fayetteville State’s Capel Arena. Here’s a brief look at each bracket.

Boys
Len Maness

Westover coach George Stackhouse is cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances of winning the Len Maness bracket of this year’s tournament.

The Wolverines have been sparked by a trio of solid scorers so far, led by D’Marco Dunn, Traymond Willis-Shaw and Darius Jewell.

As of this writing, Dunn leads Cumberland County Schools scorers with 21.4 points per game.

Willis-Shaw is averaging 14.2 points and Jewell 13.4.

“We’ve got to concentrate on doing the small things,’’ Stackhouse said. “Our defense has got to improve. I do like the pieces we have.’’
Ike Walker Sr.

Pine Forest coach Jimmy Peaden enters the tournament with a young group of players he feels are buying into playing defense and learning more about offense as the season progresses.
“We’ve got a fun, young group,’’ he said. “I look forward to coaching them and watching them grow.’’

Team leaders so far for the Trojans have been Marquis Eskew and Tristin Harkins. Eskew averages 12.5 points per game and Harkins 11.0.

“I can always look to Marquis to know when a certain play needs to happen, when a certain call needs to be made,’’ Peaden said.

Pine Forest’s top scorer is Isaiah Washington with 16.8 points per game. Peaden said his team is still working on buying into the halfcourt offense.

“We can get out and run with anybody,’’ he said. “If we can execute like we’re supposed to, we’ll be a problem.’’

Girls
Gene Arrington

After a deep run in last year’s state 3-A playoffs, E.E. Smith coach Dee Hardy has been pleased to see her young team quickly regroup from key graduation losses.

Leading the way so far for the young Bullettes is freshman Miya Giles-Jones with an average of 11.8 points per game.

“Out of our first six games I know she’s had four double-doubles,’’ Hardy said. “That’s big for a freshman coming in.’’

Another freshman, Keshiana Murphy, is averaging 9.6 points. Ke’Onna Bryant, the team’s top scorer at 12.0 points per game, has also contributed.

“We are still young,’’ Hardy said. “We have to fine tune a lot of things.’’

Tom Jackson

Jack Britt coach Nattlie McArthur said her young team is learning the system and playing well together so far.

Terry Sanford transfer Nyla Cooper leads the Britt scoring with 13.3 points per game. Amber Nealy it at 11.5 and Kaya Goldsby at 10.3.

She expects the tournament to be tough but thinks her team is ready for the challenge.

“It’s just a matter of making sure we make the right decisions in our transition, continuing to talk on the floor, being vocal and having fun while they are out there,’’ McArthur said.

Holiday Classic brackets

After a successful effort feeding the underprivileged of Hope Mills at Thanksgiving, the ALMS HOUSE in Hope Mills is gearing up to do the same thing for its annual Christmas Day dinner at noon on Dec. 25.

The ALMS HOUSE is located at 5512 West Patterson St. near the historic Trade Street district in downtown Hope Mills, just off the main intersection downtown near Hope Mills Lake and Dam.

Grilley Mitchell, program coordinator for the ALMS HOUSE love lunches program, recently sent out an email to various supporters of the ALMS HOUSE seeking donations of food to make the annual free giveaway of Christmas meals possible.

Mitchell noted the Thanksgiving project resulted in the serving of 110 meals with the help of some 20 to 25 servers who volunteered their time to help with the project. Unfortunately between the servers and the many guests, the situation became a little crowded and confusing, Mitchell wrote.

For the Christmas dinner, the carry-out meals will be made ahead of time and individual meals won’t be served with people standing in line. Anyone planning to donate uncooked items must drop them off at the ALMS HOUSE by Monday,
Dec. 23. Cooked or prepared items can be donated as late as the day of the dinner by 11 a.m.

The ALMS HOUSE will also be preparing care packages to give away. A variety of items are put in the care packs. They include the following: nonperishable food items like small cans of tuna, cereal bars, cheese and crackers, chicken salad kits, pull-top pasta, veggie chips, fruit cups, applesauce and fruit. Also included in the kits are personal items like soap, washcloths, disposable razors, deodorant, shaving cream and lotion, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, mouthwash, small packs of laundry soap, tissues, ChapStick, wipes, sanitizer, band aids, nail clippers, pairs of socks and inspirational Bible verses.

The care packs are issued on Christmas Day. They are packed two days before distribution so all items for them should be delivered by Dec. 22.

As for the menu for the Christmas Dinner, following are specific items that are needed to prepare the meal, which consists of five 12-pound or more turkeys, four 10-pound or more hams, two large pans each of dressing/stuffing, 20 pounds of potato salad, two large pans of macaroni and cheese, two large pans of greens or green bean casserole, two large pans of sweet potatoes/yams, 20 cups of gravy, 10 cans of cranberry sauce, 80 dinner rolls, various desserts — including cakes, pies and cookies and assorted drinks, including iced tea and soft drinks.

“Thanks to everyone for your continued support,’’ Mitchell wrote. “We would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and may the grace of God, his love, peace and blessings be with everyone.’’

Anyone wishing to donate to the Christmas Day dinner or the care packs can sign up at the Love Lunch table at the ALMS HOUSE. You can also email Mitchell at hopemillslovelunch@gmail.com or call him at 910-476-3719.

Taitum James

Seventy-First • Volleyball • Senior

James has a grade point average of 3.6. In addition to volleyball, she’s involved with photography. She also officiates volleyball and is
a youth leader in her church.

Kaitlyn Bradley

Seventy-First • Cheerleader • Junior

Bradley has a grade point average of 4.25. She is active in the National Honor Society and is the secretary of the junior class.

Ryan’s Reindeer Run is a longstanding tradition in Fayetteville. It celebrates the life of Ryan Patrick Kishbaugh, who died in 2003 from complications of a bone marrow transplant after a 15-month battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The run celebrates Ryan and his passion for life and his love of sports while bringing people together to share a unique and uplifting experience. Ryan’s mom, Roberta Humphries, started the run in Ryan’s honor. This year, it takes place Saturday, Dec. 21 at Cape Fear River Trail’s Jordan Soccer Complex. The 14th Annual Ryan’s Reindeer 5K Fun Run/Walk is family-friendly and is open to walkers and runners. Bring your favorite people and log a few steps together celebrating life and good health.

Long-time participants will notice a few changes this year, but many of the traditions that make this run so unique are still a part of the event. There are two new organizations involved in hosting the event, although Ryan’s mom is still very much a part of the run.

The Fayetteville Running Club and Fayetteville Area Tri Warriors have come together to host the event. “FRC is a registered nonprofit, and we use our love for running to give back to our community,” said David Wilkes, FRC president. “We do that through proceeds from our Annual Firecracker 4 Miler race on July 4. We have 15 different meetups a week to choose from, and you do not have to be a ‘professional’ to run with us. We have great socials and expert guest speakers at our monthly meetings.”

Shelly Los is the vice president of The Fayetteville Area Tri Warriors. The Fayetteville Area Tri Warriors is a group of triathletes dedicated to the sports of swimming, biking and running. “Our athletes range from the beginner to the Ironman, teenager to senior citizen,” said Los. “We encourage people of all fitness levels and interests to branch out and push their limits. Our meetings and club events include swim, bike maintenance, transition and running clinics as well as group workouts with social get-togethers afterwards. Each year, our club organizes the Little Warriors Triathlon, a local triathlon for children ages 6-14. … We love to meet new people and welcome them to our community.”

Wilkes sees this run as a good fit for FRC because, “First, this race supports the Child Advocacy Center. We are all about supporting local nonprofits. Our members put in thousands of volunteer hours supporting many local events … and second, this race has been a longstanding tradition because of the cause and because it is one of the most fun runs in town. … We want everyone to know that even though Roberta Humphries is allowing us to present this run, this is still Ryan’s Reindeer Run, and it is still Roberta’s event.”

Los agreed, adding that it is a good fit for the Fayetteville Area Tri Warriors, too, saying, “The Tri Warriors have developed profound respect for Roberta Humphries and her team at the Child Advocacy Center, so we view this fun run as one more opportunity to serve our community. For me, Ryan’s Reindeer Run has become a Fayetteville Christmas tradition right alongside setting out milk and cookies for Santa Claus. Families with children of all ages come out to enjoy the costumes, camaraderie and Christmas spirit — all the while supporting a wonderful local charity. Plus, it allows you to bank some calories for holiday feasting!”

What’s new

There are a few changes this year, starting with the route and making it an untimed run. This year’s route unfolds on the scenic Cape Fear River trail. “This is the first year that FRC and Fayetteville Tri Warriors have presented this run, and it is our intention to help Roberta to continue having this run for many more years,” said Wilkes. “Next year, we look forward to moving this route back to its original route and making it a timed race again. This year, we just want to keep the fun in this 14th annual fun run.”

Registration is 50% off this year, at $15, although next year the event organizers intend to return the registration price to full cost. Registration for the first 250 participants includes an exclusive Ryan’s Reindeer Run bomber hat, as well. Regular long-sleeved shirts are also available.

This year’s proceeds will go to The Child Advocacy Center in memory of Ryan Kishbaugh.

What’s staying the same

One favorite aspect of the race for many long-time participants is the costumes. It brings a sense of lightheartedness to an already lively and entertaining morning. “We are definitely encouraging everyone to bring on the costumes,” Wilkes said. “This year, our main goal was to keep this race fun. We very much appreciate the support we have gotten from the regular sponsors, volunteers and the running community. … Our clubs know how to put on a fun and well-organized event, and this year you will … have a great time.”

Santa will be there. Come and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. There will be door prizes, too.

Work groups and teams are welcome.

Wilkes and Los are excited to be a part of the event. “I will leave with the words of Ryan Kishbaugh,” said Wilkes. “’So do a favor for me and whatever you’re doing today, just go out and RUN, somewhere, anywhere, just RUN because you can – RPK.’ — written three days after receiving his bone marrow transplant.”

Registration

Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Fayetteville/RyansReindeerFunRun5K online. Online registration closes Dec. 20. On-Site registration will be available Friday, Dec. 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Fairfield Inn and Suites, 4249 Ramsey Street. Call 910-223-7867 for more details. Same-day registration takes place Saturday, Dec. 21, from 7-7:45 a.m. at Cape Fear River Trail - Jordan Soccer Complex, 445 Treetop Drive.

The race starts at 8 a.m. Visit http://www.ryansreindeerrun.com/ to find out more.

One landmark that offers a glimpse into Fayetteville’s past year-round is the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex’s 1897 Poe House. In December, the house is decked out in holiday decor of yesteryear for the “Poe House in Christmas Splendor.”

In the deed for the home, the house belonged to Josephine Montague Poe, who then married Edgar Allan Poe, not to be mistaken with the famous American author. E.A. Poe was a prominent and affluent businessman in Fayetteville. He owned a brickmaking facility. He also served as a county commissioner in 1904 and on the Board of Aldermen in 1921. The couple had eight children together.

 “What people see when they visit the Poe House is what life was like for an upper class family at the turn of the 20th century,” said Megan Maxwell, the curator for the exhibit. With respect for historical accuracy and through careful recreations, Maxwell said that the home offers a glimpse into the past. 

The seasonal decor isn’t necessarily what would have been found in a home on a day-to-day basis during the holidays, but more of what you might expect to find in a home decorated for a Christmas party.

From evergreen garlands to beautiful red bows to trees covered in festive ornaments, the house looks like something out of a Thomas Kinkaide painting. “We use a lot of greenery — a lot of pine, magnolia and holly, “ Maxwell said. “We have two Christmas trees. The tree in the parlor is the formal tree.”

Follow the staircase to the second floor and find the second tree, a scrap tree, so referred to because the ornaments are handmade from scraps, like magazine clippings, for instance.

Aside from the lovely Christmas decorations, visitors can see vintage items for every day living throughout the home, from toys to clothes to kitchen appliances.

“We encourage visitors to take pictures and post them on Instagram or Facebook,” said Maxwell. The parlor, in particular, is a beautiful place to take pictures, but they are welcomed throughout the home. Visitors are also encouraged to tag the museum on social media.

The Christmas decorations will be up through Jan. 5, and the house will be closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

The tours of the Poe House run Tuesday through Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Saturdays on the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and on Sundays from 1-4 p.m. The tours are free, but the Museum accepts donations. Visitors can also tour the Museum at their leisure, as well as Arsenal Park, from  10 a.m-5 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday or on Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

Davidson Whetstone is only 9 years old, yet he’s the man of the house while his dad Dave is away, and he often is. Dave is a Green Beret and often deploys to places unknown. The family once called Fort Bragg home but now lives in northern Virginia.

Davidson is used to not having his dad around, but he never forgets him. “Sometimes it’s fine … but it’s also sad because he’s just not here,” Davidson told CNN. “My mom sometimes breaks down and cries a lot because she misses him.”
Whetstone is a fictitious name. The family asked that their real name not be used for security reasons.

Davidson helps his mom, Elizabeth, by reading bedtime stories to his three younger siblings. But Davidson does more than read books. When he was 6, he wrote a book about what a military parent’s absence means to a child. When Elizabeth began putting “feelers out” about publishing the book, she was introduced to Kimberly Taws at The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines. The book was published just in time for Veterans Day last month. It’s called “Brave for my Family.” Davidson’s father illustrated the book.

When Davidson was 3, his dad was wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan, just before Christmas in 2013. “My mom cried, and I was pretty scared that my dad was going to die,” Davidson wrote in the book. “We got on an airplane to Washington, D.C.”

Dave was flown to Germany and then to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he underwent several surgeries. Shrapnel hit him in the face and down his right side. He lost peripheral vision in his right eye and some shrapnel remains in his body today.

“I wanted to write the book because I wanted to show other kids that they won’t have to be scared when their dads are deployed to countries that war is going on and scary things,” Davidson said. Seeing the illustration of Dave in the hospital brings back the emotions of what happened. “When you look at it in the book, it just looks so real,” Elizabeth said in between tears.
As the Green Beret recovered in the hospital, a visitor showed up at Christmas 2013 and promised Dave they would do lunch one day. In 2014, the visitor came through. The family went to Vice President Joe Biden’s house for lunch. A few years later, the father and son decided they wanted to share their story. Dave suggested the idea of a book. He was home between deployments, so he and Davidson sat together after church on Sundays to work on it. Davidson would write and his dad would draw.

Dave said he is grateful to have his family in his life, especially his wife, who is raising their four children. “I can’t express how proud I am of my whole family, and how immeasurably blessed I am to have each of them in my life,” Dave said. “I am so proud of Davidson for writing this book.”

The book opens with a G.K. Chesterton quote: “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

I believe Fayetteville is a wonderful place to live, serve, work, raise a family, educate children, grow a business and enjoy the golden years.

I have traveled the world and lived in many places, large and small. Fayetteville is special. Our amazing arts, business and banking, churches, downtown, education, families, geography, homes  (are wonderful)... but the people, they make Fayetteville special. I challenge those with repeated negative thoughts to take the time to share what is great about the place we call home.

Fayetteville and Fort Bragg are primed to experience a historic revival led by Generation Z and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We are primed to realize the tremendous competencies from Fort Bragg, which will fuel our future. We are on the eve of breakthroughs in economic, community and quality-of-life advancement grounded in cyber, drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, data and the careers of the future. The future is here.

We should spend less time on the last 150 years and the history it produced and more on the next 50 years and the value and quality of life it will birth. Populations are changing and citizens are moving. We are in the perfect location to benefit from this change.

The future is very bright, and it is about people first. When we make people first and operate with integrity and fairness, then we will realize our best future. The future is bright, and that is where we are wise to place our focus. People first, our best future.

 Rodney Anderson, soldier for life and proud parent of three young adult children — Lindsay, Danielle and Rodney Jr.

I covet my editorial space in our community newspaper and I’m reluctant to yield it to others unless their message is of vital importance to the residents of Fayetteville, and Cumberland County retired Maj. Gen. Rodney Anderson has such a message with his response to my editorial last week, “People Over Politics.” For the most part the general and I agree on the virtues of this community and the opportunities afforded here. Actually, we agree on almost every point. However, his experience, training and intellect being what they are, he introduces two concepts that I doubt many people in our community are familiar with — the first being Generation Z and the second and, most important, the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Granted, together these two phenomena are the reality of the nation’s future. So, if you have never heard these terms then I suggest you Google them right away.

In addition, Anderson puts tremendous value on the virtues of integrity and fairness. This is what “people first” is all about. The reality is that intelligent, focused and visionary leadership puts people first. It is this type of leadership that is needed to attract young talent to our community and keep them here to capitalize on the changing nature of our world and community. He is right. The question now is do we have the leadership and resources to attract and retain such talent to grow our population here in Fayetteville and Cumberland County? Well, as Margaret Dickson points out in her article “Growing Pains,” probably not. In eight years, 2010-2018, Cumberland County’s population grew a measly 1.4% lagging embarrassingly far behind smaller counties like Harnett (+15%), Hoke (+13%) and Moore (+12%). So, while Anderson provides us valid and intellectual insights into the future, in reality, it is history that becomes the looking glass into our future. In this particular case of 1.4% growth in eight years, a study of our past would reveal what we have done or, not done, that resulted in these dismal numbers. It’s the difference between “talking the talk” and “walking the walk.” The proof of success, or failure, is always in the net result. Knowing what to do and understanding what to do are useless if the leadership is not there.

People first! We always enjoy hearing from our readers. I want to personally thank Anderson for his letter and his valuable insights. Now, let’s see where this will lead us. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  — Publisher Bill Bowman

Ah, the holidays. Music. Performances. Shopping. And lights. The cheerful, glowing, twinkling lights. If you haven’t been yet, bring your favorite people and head to Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s  9th annual “Holiday Lights in the Garden” Dec. 19 – 23 from 5:30-9 p.m. It celebrates this special time of year and showcases the splendor and magic of the winter season in one of the area’s most sublime settings.

“Holiday Lights is a walking tour of Cape Fear Botanical Garden at nighttime,” said Lia Hasapis, marketing coordinator of Cape Fear Botanical Garden. “We light up the garden with lights, other gigantic lights, twinkling lights and it showcases beauty in the winter.”

Hasapis added that this year, they decided to bring the focus of the experience back to what they are —  which is a Botanical Garden. There are natured themed displays throughout the garden to enhance the light displays.

While lights are a big part of the event, there is so much more that makes it a special place to visit this time of year. “The event will feature caroling hayrides, live performances each night, pictures with Santa, s’mores and much more,” said Hasapis. “The live performances will take place each night, and it will feature community members from churches, schools and up-and-coming artists from Fayetteville,” said Hasapis. “There will be a holiday market that will have vendors that will sell holiday crafted items. … We have consignment items in our garden gift shop from holiday crafts and necessities that everybody will need this holiday season.”

Hasapis added there will be several food trucks, s’mores, apple cider and hot chocolate available for purchase. “The hay riders will ride through a special path that is only for the hay riders that is through the garden and it is roped off,” said Hasapis. “They will see different kinds of lights, other parts of the garden. And at the end of the hayride, there is an animated story that has gigantic lights that form characters from the story as well.

“The event is going to be a lot of fun, and you just need to come and glow with us this holiday season,” said Hasapis.

Admission cost is $12 for nonmembers and members will get preferred pricing every other night at $8. A family picture with Santa is $10. For more information call 910-486-0221.

Since 1993, The CARE Clinic has been serving the residents of Cumberland County and the surrounding areas. Providing free quality health care to low-income adults is the mission of the clinic. To run the clinic with the excellence they desire to provide to their patients, the clinic and staff rely on generous donors, grants and fundraising events. One such fundraising event is an annual event known as an Evening of CARE Dinner. It’s as much a social tradition as it is a fundraiser, bringing together participants from all walks of life for an evening of fun to support an important institution. The next Evening of CARE takes place Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. Tickets and slots to host sell out fast.

Those who offer to host an Evening of CARE Dinner, provide a memorable evening for their guests where the meal is either provided by the clinic, prepared by the host or prepared by and/or served at a restaurant of their choice. The hosts can be creative by providing hors d’oeuvres and beverages and have a small group of a few people, or they can host a much larger group. It depends on how many people the host decides to accommodate. There can also be co-hosted dinners to allow more people to join in. Or, if you’re new to town or you’d like to provide a home to those who are new to town, that’s an option as well.

If the host decides to have the meal provided by the clinic, there are two types of dinner menus to choose from, either chicken or lasagna. No matter what the hosts choose to do, the entire evening is about raising funds for the CARE Clinic. If you’re unable to host but would like to be a sponsor, that’s an option as well.

One of the perks of hosting, is the freedom to get creative with the tone of the event. If a fire pit suits you and your guests — do it. Want to hire a magician to entertain your guest? Perfect. Want to bring in a local musician to set a lively mood? Yes, please. Hosts are encouraged to customize the experience as they see fit.

If you’re interested in having a fun and adventurous evening while raising money for an organization that is vital to our community, visit www.thecareclinic.org to find the Host Response Form. For more information, contact Angie at development@thecareclinic.org or call 910-485-0555. Once you’ve reached out to be a part of the Evening of CARE Dinner, a packet will be sent, which will assist you in organizing your evening. The cost to host or co-host an event is $50, and a ticket to attend is $75.

Certain Christmas tree species last longer and remain fresh much longer than others. Among the best is the North Carolina Fraser fir. North Carolina has an estimated 50 million Fraser fir Christmas trees growing on more than 25,000 acres. The Fraser fir is grown by 1,600 growers in the higher elevations of the Western North Carolina counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey. North Carolina produces nearly 20% of the real Christmas trees in the U.S., ranking second in the nation in the number of trees harvested.

The North Carolina Fraser fir has been judged the nation’s best through a contest sponsored by the National Christmas Tree Association and chosen for the official White House Christmas tree many times. The Fraser fir is the most popular Christmas tree in North America and is shipped to every state in the U.S. and all over the world. Fraser firs have soft needles, incomparable needle retention, long-lasting aroma and more pliable yet stronger branches for even the heaviest ornaments.

Festive celebrations, flickering lights and winter greens are hallmarks of the holiday season. They also present fire risks that can quickly turn this festive time of year into a devastating one. The National Fire Protection Association works to educate the public about potential fire risks during the holidays. Most Christmas tree fires can be prevented. Fresh trees need water. A six-foot tree needs about 1 gallon of water every other day.

Between 2013-2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 160 house fires that started with Christmas trees per year. On average, one of every 52 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 135 total reported home fires, according to the NFPA. Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 44% of home Christmas tree fires.

A new Christmas tree safety system by LifeKeeper can detect low water in the tree stand and send a warning if a fire starts. The system’s low water detector is placed in the tree stand. It’ll send an audio alert and trigger flashing lights on the attached heat sensor angel if the water level gets too low. Fire officials caution homeowners to unplug tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed.

Fayetteville’s 25th Annual Grinding of the Greens Christmas tree recycling program is designed to enhance the environment. Residents are encouraged to recycle their live trees. Since 1994, the program has kept thousands of pounds of recyclable material out of landfills. This year, employees of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, City of Fayetteville and Duke Energy Progress are partnering to turn the trees into mulch for local parks.

The City of Fayetteville will collect live trees in a special tree collection in early January. Pickups are separate from yard waste, trash or recycling collections. City residents should put their trees out for curbside collection the first of the new year. Lights, stands and trimmings should be removed from the tree. PWC and DEP volunteers will grind them into mulch at the Grinding of the Greens.

The North Carolina of my childhood was a state of small towns, places where people made their own fun and visited with neighbors at home and in other nearby places. As we end the second decade of the 21st century, that is no longer the case in North Carolina — or most other states. All across the nation, cities are booming with flush economies, educated populations and social and culture amenities earlier generations of North Carolinians could hardly imagine. Rural areas are losing population as young people move to cities for opportunities on all levels.

As with most issues, the numbers tell the story. Recent population data reveals that 15 North Carolina counties grew by 10% or more between 2010 and 2018. Unsurprisingly, these include Brunswick at an astounding 27%, Mecklenburg and Wake at 18%, Johnston at 17%, Durham and Harnett at 15%, New Hanover and Currituck at 14%, Hoke at 13%, and Moore at 12%. The 43 population losing counties include our neighbors Bladen and Robeson (-2%), Sampson and Scotland (-1%), and Columbus (-2.6%) with the most dramatic loses coming in sparsely populated counties in the northeastern part of the state east of I-95. It is clear that North Carolina’s growing areas are either urban or bedroom communities of urban areas, and the shrinking areas are clearly rural.

Cumberland County is an outlier in these numbers, an urban county that grew at an unimpressive pace of 1.4%, while our bedroom neighbors, Hoke, Moore, and to some extent Harnett, dramatically outpaced us. Pet theories abound as to the causes of Cumberland’s seeming stagnation — a disappointing outcome of BRAC 2005, a lower tax base and lower educational levels than other urban areas, the quality of political and civic leaders and many others. The reasons are likely all these and more.

None of this is new. It has been building around the country for decades, with variations state by state. In the Midwest, rural troubles have a lot to do with the industrialization and mechanization of farming, along with government policies that support those changes. That is true in North Carolina as well, but here, the collapse of manufacturing around 2001 posed a significant hit. Rural counties highly affected had not fully recovered when the Great Recession struck in 2007, and in many of our rural areas, it lingers today. The frustrating reality is that as population declines, so does the tax base, which affects schools and other human services. Young folks do seek opportunities elsewhere, leaving older, less educated and less productive people behind to fend for themselves.

All across North Carolina and our nation, communities are working to reinvent themselves as arts, recreational or some other specialized community. In some cases, urban residents are moving to less populated areas to fulfill career dreams, to find closer community relationships, to feel safer than in urban situations. Communities are learning there is no one way to reinvent themselves and that it is different for every community based on location, history and the will and drive of residents to change and prosper.

Cumberland faces special challenges as an urban area not growing the way most of North Carolina’s other metro areas are. As with rural areas losing residents, answers will come not from the outside, not from the federal government, not from private benefactors, not even Santa Claus. Answers, whatever they may be, will come from within. They will come from local governments ceasing to pit themselves again each other, from businesses and individuals willing to give back to this community with their time — running for public office, serving on local boards that pay only in goodwill and good works, and reaching out to others less fortunate not only during the holidays but all year long. Answers will come from citizens also willing to give of their treasure to local nonprofits, schools, and institutions constantly shortchanged in challenged communities.    
Waiting for the cavalry is futile. The only rescue for us is us.

This is a first-person report that my colleagues at Up & Coming Weekly thought would be interesting and perhaps helpful to readers. I dare say, most people know someone who has cancer. Many of us are experiencing the dreaded disease. I am one of the many. Until a year-and-a-half ago, I had never heard of porocarcinoma. It’s a rare malignancy of the eccrine sweat glands. Unlike the more common forms of skin cancer, it is unrelated to sun exposure.

Eccrine porocarcinoma mainly occurs in the elderly. I just turned 78. The most common presentation of this cancer is an ulcerated red, dome-shaped nodule. Porocarcinomas are typically slow-growing tumors most often diagnosed on the lower legs or feet but may also affect the trunk and head. My cancer first appeared as a bump on my forehead in July of 2018. Technologists at the Polley Dermatology Clinic, where I had a biopsy, were unable, initially, to diagnose the nodule.

A second laboratory determined it was porocarcinoma. I’m told there are only about 600 confirmed cases of the disease.

I was referred to the Cary Skin Center, an outpatient surgical center specializing in Mohs Micrographic Surgery for the removal of skin cancer. Dr. Robert E. Clark performed the operation. Layers of skin are removed one at a time and examined under a microscope until noncancerous margins are established. Six weeks of radiation treatment followed at Cape Fear Valley’s Cancer Center.

I learned that surgery cures porocarcinoma in up to 80% of cases. About 20% of patients will have local recurrence and metastases. Sure enough, a second nodule popped up on my forehead near the area that had been excised.
I sought advice from Dr. Shirish Devasthali, an oncology specialist with Cape Fear Valley Health System. Given the unusual nature of my cancer, he suggested that I see someone at the University of North Carolina Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill — where I now have a team of three oncology physicians and a Mohs surgical dermatologist, Dr. Brad Merritt.  

He excised the second ‘pop up’ as well as a third growth nearby, which he suspected might also be a porocarcinoma. Surgical incisions require daily care so they will heal quickly without becoming infected. I have my daughter, Angie, to thank for changing my bandages every day. I call her my surgical assistant. All three of the incisions have healed nicely without the need for skin grafts.

Soon after the first of this year, the lymph node on the left side of my face swelled up and minor soreness occurred internally below my left ear. Not a good sign, I thought.  Dr. Michael Myers, a UNC surgical oncologist, suggested a PET scan, which revealed a small marker next to the carotid artery. At about the same time, another of my UNC doctors, medical oncologist Dr. Frances Collichio, suggested immunotherapy. The immune system is a powerful weapon against disease. Immunotherapy is a cancer therapy designed to stimulate the body’s immune system.

Interestingly, there is no established medical protocol for the treatment of porocarcinoma. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and acitretin have been used against this cancer with varying degrees of success. A new drug that I am receiving, Keytruda (Pembrolizumab), inhibits the growth and spread of cancer cells and accelerates white blood cells that are of key importance to the immune system. So-called T-cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy targeted invaders. T-cells, also known as “killer cells,” kill cancer cells.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Keytruda, manufactured by Merck, on an “accelerated” basis in 2014. In 2015, Keytruda received national attention because former president, Jimmy Carter, revealed he received the drug for advanced melanoma and responded to it favorably.

Dr. Collichio worked out an arrangement with Cape Fear Valley Health System for Keytruda infusions so that I wouldn’t have to travel to Chapel Hill as often. My case was assigned to Dr. Mikhail Vinogradov at Cape Fear Valley’s Health Pavilion North Cancer Center.

To make sure the Keytruda stays focused on my cancer cells, I have blood drawn before each infusion. After the infusion, it’s examined by “Dr. V.” as I call him. The recommended dosage is 200 mg slowly administered as an intravenous infusion once every three weeks. So far, I have had four infusions in the cancer center’s chemo suite, where half a dozen Cape Fear Valley oncology nurses take care of a dozen patients at a time. They are the best, making all of us feel comfortable and well cared for. While side effects are common, I am fortunate to have experienced none.

Eighteen months into my cancer treatment, so far so good! The lymph node swelling has gone down, and there is no more soreness in my jaw. I was told a couple of weeks ago that radiologists determined the most recent scan I had indicates the small object near the carotid artery is virtually insignificant. They don’t know for sure if it’s a tumor. And, while a new porocarcinoma nodule could develop, there is no indication at this time. Knock on wood!