The Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department recently held the first installment of its new Friday Night Lights basketball program for the younger generation in town. By all accounts, it was a tremendous hit. 

Stephen Kessinger has been working with the recreation department for about 10 months and, along with new recreation department head Lamorco Morrison, was one of the people behind the idea of the Friday night basketball program. The current plan is to hold the sessions each Friday, starting with the initial one held on June 7 and continuing until July 12.

The target group is boys and girls ages 14-20. Kessinger said registration for the first session started about a month ago. The plan was to cut it off at 30 participants, but they decided to let signups continue past that number and ended up with 44 young people for the first one.

After opening remarks from recreation department staff, the participants were divided into three-player teams. The court was split in half, and two full-court games with a total of 12 players on the floor were held at one time.

Each game consisted of four four-minute quarters with a two-minute halftime. No score was kept. About halfway through the evening, a 10-minute intermission took place.

While the event was planned to be coed, Kessinger said the vast majority of participants in the first one were boys, mostly middle schoolers. Most of the girls in attendance were there as spectators or came with family and friends, he said.

While the games were being played inside the recreation center, two food trucks were set up in the parking lot outside.

Signup for the next session of Friday Night Lights Out started anew at the first session. Kessinger said 25 of the original participants already signed up for round two, which was held June 14.

Kessinger said it was decided not to allow people just to sign up one time and permanently leave their name on the list, in case they didn’t show up and kept someone new from taking part in the event. “We decided to let them sign up each week,’’ he said.

The initial plan was to involve representatives from the Hope Mills Police Department in the event, either just to be present to interact with the participants or to actually play in some of the games. Kessinger said that didn’t happen at the first one but they will continue to work to involve the police.

One thing they definitely plan to add for future versions of the event is a music element, most likely a live DJ playing songs and sound effects and adding commentary.

Another potential change for younger people who were there as spectators would be to add some events for them outdoors, like cornhole boards, in addition to the food trucks, to give them some additional activities of their own.

Kessinger stressed the entire event was free to everyone who took part, and it will remain free for the future no matter what additional things are added to it. The best thing about the first one, he said, was the conduct of the participants.

“We didn’t have a single issue,” Kessinger said. “We didn’t have the first dispute.’’ In addition to two staff members who were working the games, Kessinger said he and Morrison were on hand getting feedback from participants and spectators.

He estimated all in attendance got to play in at least eight games each during the three hours.

“Everyone out there had an opportunity to play everyone out there,’’ he said.

Hi buckaroos! It’s time for my annual “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” essay. Remember when you had to write these reports? This yearly assault on the standards of world literature began several millennia ago under the tutelage of my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Charlie Delgrande. Mrs. Delgrande, wherever you are, this column is for you.

I had somehow managed to live for many decades without ever going on a cruise. My wife and I, being uncertain of how much time we might have left to undertake a voyage into excess, decided to hop a boat to Alaska with a couple of college friends. I had always heard everyone liked Alaskan cruises. Turns out, once again, I am not everyone.

The trip started with a bang when my wife Lani, imitating Thor, inadvertently, she claims, dropped a hammer on me from the top of the stairs while I was saying goodbye to the dogs. The hammer narrowly missed my bulbous head and the dogs, only causing a minor but bloody flesh wound on my elbow. After expressing a colorful string of Anglo-Saxonisms that I didn’t realize I knew, calm returned in the form of a Band-Aid.

It turns out people of a certain demographic tend to populate cruises. Like your columnist, most cruisers appeared to have been born during the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. Getting a bit long in the tooth, but not yet ready for sitting in the lobby of a nursing home. Cruisers tend to be very friendly and outgoing. They are not about to go gently into that good night.

Off to the wilds of Alaska. We did a week on land before a week at sea. Alaska is pretty big. It has a lot of mountains covered with trees, snow and tourist buses. Inexplicably, Skagway and Juneau have more jewelry stores than you can shake a stick at.

Allow me to explain what one does on a cruise in Alaska — eat with 2,000 of your closest friends. Every day is a Thanksgiving-level eating opportunity. Think of a church dinner catered by an expensive restaurant. Wall-to-wall food in the buffet line. Assigned seating for supper where your silverware is replaced every time you use a fork.

In addition to eating constantly, you wash your hands obsessively under the supervision of a hand-washing safety patrol monitor stationed at the entrance to the buffet. The monitor chants, “Washy, washy” at the tourists herding in for the next feeding.

The hand washing is to ward off the Norovirus cooties that are known to lurk on cruise ships. You then go in to grab your food with tongs that 2,000 other people had previously handled. One hopes the Washy Washy Guy was successful in shaming everyone into washing their hands.

When not eating, one goes on tightly structured and highly expensive land expeditions to see natural wonders and wild things like whales, mountain goats, bears, sea lions and eagles. In the cruise brochures, these critters are shown being right next to you. It ain’t necessarily so.

In the actual expeditions, the guide tells you the white dots on the mountain are Dall goats, the tiny blob flying overhead is a bald eagle, and that dark bump in the water 200 yards away is the back of a humpback whale. We have a plethora of pictures of white dots, tiny blobs and dark watery lines, which for $5 I will refrain from showing you.

The ship features numerous lounges in which one can purchase expensive adult beverages complete with an 18% gratuity with every drink. One night, we drifted lonely as a cloud into a Mahogany-paneled lounge that resembled Las Vegas’ idea of a British gentleman’s club. There was a live band with a pretty girl singer who could belt out the hits along with her male co singer. Until you have heard a Filipino singer croon “West Virginia, take me home, country roads,” you cannot say you have truly lived. One lady of a certain age, who may have had a bit too much to drink, vigorously and entertainingly danced the night away.

So what have we learned today? Once again very little. Would I go on a cruise again? Nope. Should you go? Sure. Pay no attention to me. Ride the high seas to adventure.

For weeks, the news and buzz around town have focused on homelessness and parking — or rather the lack of free parking or the fear of losing free parking.

Both situations are real, and both are concerns that warrant merit. But once the emotions have been extracted from these issues, what remains are the symptoms commonly associated with a growing and vibrant city. And, that pretty much describes Fayetteville.

We are a city in transition.

We have implemented a massive economic development plan to revitalize our downtown, including a $100 million investment that, at its center, includes a $46 million baseball stadium. Ironically, by some, it’s referred to as Fayetteville’s “Field of Dreams.”

“Build it, and they will come.” Well, sort of. And, that is what seems to be causing all the angst with downtown residents and businesses.

Let’s break it down.

Parking

First, Segra Stadium is enjoying a warm and welcoming reception by the community, posting exceptional attendance numbers since its opening in April. The initial reaction of the city and those with resources and entrepreneurial spirit was to get into the paid parking business at $10 a space. However, it wasn’t long before the law of unintended consequences had the city’s ready-fire-aim parking policy reduced to $5.

Baseball patrons, without intent or malice, continued to squeeze the life and vitality out of downtown merchants’ businesses. Adding to the perceived insult is the injury under consideration that all downtown parking, including street spaces, will convert to paid from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Ouch!

At this writing, a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, at City Hall to discuss the parking situation. The mayor and City Council are eager to hear what the consulting “parking professionals” recommend as feasible downtown parking solutions. Needless to say, this should have downtown merchants rolling their eyes, as the perception seems to be the city will attempt to escape criticism by handing off the parking issue to a private company.

This is interesting because city trash collection and grass cutting were deemed inappropriate for outsourcing.

Panhandling and homelessness

How does the city humanely deal with the panhandling and homelessness situation? Local people respected and trained to deal with indigents and the homeless population have gone on record in defining the cause and effect of homelessness in our community. Basically, they say our compassion and generosity attracts and enables the homeless by allowing them squatting rights on public and private property and providing them countless meals and other resources that only allow them to enjoy the lifestyle they subscribe to.

This problem has plagued downtown for years. However, the homelessness problem has come to the forefront because of the increased activity downtown. Not only are more people noticing it, but they are noticing our city elected don’t seem to have the intestinal fortitude to deal with the problem, thus making it worse.

Downtown residents and merchants site examples like the following: A homeless man, for weeks, set up a camp on Hay Street across from City Hall in the alcove of the AIT Building. Another did the same at the public restrooms across from Freedom Memorial Park. For months, a homeless woman set up camp on a public sidewalk on a main thoroughfare into downtown Fayetteville. Another lives in her car with an adult son and two dogs parked outside the main Cumberland County Public Library. This is not a good image for a community that is trying to brand itself.

Parking and the homelessness issue downtown are now high priorities. In the short-term, it will be a little rough for the downtown merchants. However, both problems will dissipate with critical mass. Baseball fans, hotels, condominiums, apartments, offices. All of these entities contribute to a people factor.

“Build it and they will come.” Downtown Fayetteville’s economic future will depend on how well we manage our brand. Currently, downtown is emerging as a unique destination point. As it emerges, look for the parking situation and the homelessness problem to dissipate. Critical mass. That’s the answer.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

In 2013, Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s founding director, Bo Thorp, produced a play called “The Dames You Thought You Knew.” It featured Thorp and four other prominent local women. Darlene Ransom saw the play with Laverne Oxendine and another friend, and it sparked an idea. “During intermission,” Ransom said, “I poked Laverne and said, ‘I would like to do this with Lumbee women.’”

“Well, then I am sure you will do it,” Oxendine replied. Six years later and a year in the making, “lumBEES: Women of the Dark Water” runs June 21, 22, 28 and 29 at CFRT.

“lumBEES: Women of the Dark Water” shines a light on the life stories of women from the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina. Attendees will meet Roberta Bullard Brown, Dolores Jones, Jinnie Lowery, Dr. Jo Ann Chavis Lowery, Della Maynor and Darlene Holmes Ransom — six extraordinary Lumbee women who tell their stories of growing up as American Indians in southeastern North Carolina.

“There is tremendous pride in each of these women — in being a Lumbee,” said Thorp. “And when they first started as young people, it was not easy being a Lumbee.”

This production is about more than simply six women telling their stories, although that’s also exactly what it is about. And it’s about why stories and lives matter and how they can change people, families, systems and cultures.

“I think it is important for people within the state to see us and to hear our stories because there are so many misconceptions about who we are as a people,” said Jinnie. “We have never been confused about it, but other people sometimes are. Everyone in this play came through the Jim Crow South. We are the product of the segregated system. We get to tell that story. We arethe products of all-Indian schools. It  is important to understand what our ancestors went through and how that shapes the lives we get to live today.”

Jo Ann added, “If you want to raise awareness, this production will do that. … By knowing these things, it helps overcome prejudicial fears.”

As they share their stories and their lives, the Women of the Dark Water may just change yours, too. “This is a story that has long-needed to be told,” said Thorp. “They talk about their families and who and where they came from and what they love, and some of what they hated as they were growing up; they loved swimming in the Lumbee River, and they hated farming.”

Just as it is a big part of the Lumbee culture, music is integral to this production and features talented local Lumbee musicians The Carters, Lorna McNeill Ricotta, Alexis Jones, and John Oxendine. “The music makes it a lot of fun,” said Thorp. “When you hear it put together, it shows perfectly how they are wonderful people who grew up in this place and how they are important to this place.”

All proceeds from the play will be divided between CFRT and the new children’s area in the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at UNC Pembroke. 

Tickets are available at the CFRT box office at 1209 Hay St., online at cfrt.org, or by phone at 910-323-4233. Ticket prices are: Friday, June 21, $15, preview; Saturday, June 22, $30, gathering with the BEES; Friday, June 28, $20; and Saturday, June 29, $20. The June 22 ticket includes a pre-show meal provided by Fullers Old Fashioned BBQ and beverages from Healy Wholesale.

Editor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

Brian Randolph was an assistant coach under former Jack Britt football head coach Richard Bailey during the period when Buccaneer football enjoyed consistent success. Randolph has been working hard to return the Buccaneer program to that same level of winning. Last year’s 5-7 record, which included a trip to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A state playoffs, was a step in that direction.

Randolph hopes to keep the march to championship contention going in the season ahead.

“I want to set a standard of excellence that’s been here since the school was open,’’ Randolph said. “Nobody is going to be perfect, but we can all reach for that higher level in whatever we’re doing, whether it’s football or academics. That’s what restoring order is all about this year.’’

Britt rebounded from a 0-3 start last season to go 4-3 in the Sandhills Conference, including a win against 4-A Eastern finalist Seventy-First.

“We were within one game of finishing second in the conference,’’ Randolph said. “The mantra last year was don’t quit, regardless of what happens. They did not quit.’’

But the Buccaneers did suffer substantial graduation losses on both sides of the football, especially defensively, where the entire linebacker corps was wiped out.

The good news on offense is almost the entire line will return, but Randolph will have to replace veteran quarterback Brennan Shortridge.

“I think there are pieces in place to be successful,’’ Randolph said. “But as you know, the conference we play in is difficult.’’

The Buccaneers open with a brutal non-conference slate that includes South View, Pine Forest and Terry Sanford. Pine Forest was the Patriot Athletic Conference regular season title. That trio combined for 31 wins in 2018, and all reached the third round of the state playoffs.

Pass defense will be critical for the Buccaneers as Randolph hopes his team can play a lot of man-to-man coverage. “That frees us up to do more things up front, especially with the loss of linebackers and defensive line,’’ he said. He said Britt needs to find ways to put pressure on the ball and create what he calls havoc plays.

A player who figures to be central in making that happen is cornerback Josh Townsend, who will be a senior this fall.

Townsend said last season the Buccaneers weren’t entirely in the same flow. The focus so far for 2019 is to get everyone doing their job and knowing what that job is on the field.

“Younger guys have got to step up,’’ Townsend said. “Older people have to lead them there, teach them to do it the right way.’’

Townsend expects some familiar teams to be in the hunt for this year’s Sandhills Athletic Conference championship.

“Seventy-First always gives us a good run,’’ he said. “Richmond Senior was really good last year. They had a great team.’’

Randolph is working to get Jack Britt included in the discussion when the subject is conference championship.

“People in this building understand there’s a standard of excellence you have to attain to,’’ he said. “We’re following that same mantra on the football field.’’

Photo: Josh Townsend

A few years ago, I got the sense that the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center proposed for Fayetteville had substantial public support and was moving toward realization. Over the past few weeks, media reports and commentary on social media, especially Facebook, tell a different story.

Given that the opposition, in my estimation, presents bits and pieces of information that fit their narrative, I decided to look for facts that would allow me to assess this Fayetteville opportunity fairly.

I started by attending a meeting, May 18, of Cumberland County Citizens United. Representatives of the History Center talked about the effort and answered audience questions. They were John “Mac” Healy, president of the Civil War & Reconstruction History Center board of directors; Mary Lynn Bryan, board vice president; and David Winslow, president of the History Center. In the days after that meeting, I spent substantial time researching this endeavor. In the end, I concluded that what is being pursued is desperately needed not only for North Carolina but for all of America. What follows are some of the facts and considerations that led me to this conclusion.

Start with the storytelling focus of the History Center as stated in the following segment from its information brochure: “North Carolina’s Civil War stories are much more than the stories of soldiers and battles. They are the stories of our homefront, and they include the experiences of women, children, the elderly, yeoman farmers and African Americans, freed and enslaved. They are stories of Quaker pacifists and strong secessionists living side by side.

“The NC Civil War & Reconstruction History Center will tell them all, truthfully, based on solid scholarship and honoring the memory of the sacrifices made by North Carolinians from all walks of life.”

My life experience says that knowing what others have gone through, what has shaped their thinking, makes it much more likely that we can successfully address the relationship-stressing differences that divide us.

For some years, I had a neighbor around the corner from me who had a huge Confederate flag in the window, facing a major street. Without a doubt, it would have been productive if anybody who was troubled by that flag could have calmly and respectfully heard the story as to why he or she put it in place. I believe the approach of this center will promote this process of hearing and appreciating one another’s stories.

The other value in storytelling is that those who hear the stories are often inspired and instructed in ways that contribute to success in their living. My father spent the early years of his life in Miller County, Georgia. He often referred to Miller County during his youth as being the most racist county in America. When Daddy was 16 years old, his father was shot and killed. Mama Nettie, my paternal grandmother, was left alone to rear six sons and a daughter. Another daughter was an adult. The family had spent years sharecropping, but after my grandfather’s death, they moved to a plantation where they rented land for farming. Times were hard, very difficult.

From that circumstance, Daddy, his two sisters and four of his brothers went on to finish college and build very successful lives. The one brother who did not earn a college degree completed mortuary training. He also became a valued scientist with the federal government. They accomplished all of this despite the pain and struggle experienced in Miller County and beyond.

I really got to know my father’s story as we recorded hours of conversation so that I could work with him to write a book about his life. Whatever success I have achieved is due, in great part, to being inspired and instructed by my father’s story. We live in a time when far too many Americans, especially the young, do not have access to these stories that inspire and instruct for successful living. Instead, there is an overabundance of stories and experiences that have just the opposite impact.

I firmly believe that this essential need for telling the stories of people from the Civil War and Reconstruction periods will be accomplished through this project. In part, that conviction is inspired by my reading some of the stories already collected and posted on the Center’s website at http://nccivilwarcenter.org/featured-stories.

There is further evidence that the focus will be on people, their thinking about the happenings of this period, the challenges and how they were addressed. For me, further evidence comes in the process being employed by the History Center. North Carolina’s leading scholars on the antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction periods were brought together over two days. They presented facts regarding these periods that are the History Center’s focus. Philip Gerard, the author of at least 12 books and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, was invited to attend the two days of meetings and, from it, construct a coherent narrative to bring together those facts.

The process described in the preceding paragraph resulted in a 30-page document that substantiates the History Center’s focus on people and their stories. As planned, this narrative based on facts was written by Gerard.

In words, he brings alive the harsh living conditions faced by people in North Carolina even before the Civil War. Then there is fact-based addressing of stories of struggle and perseverance. Woven in is a look at what caused the Civil War and the journey to it. There is a multitude of facts that dispel some of the assumptions about those who lived in the South. This matter of assumptions is a critical point because coming to grips with it can help produce an atmosphere conducive to productive conversation relating to race and other divisive issues. Gerard’s narrative was used in the beginning planning of the exhibits and the digital education program.

As I read Gerard’s straightforward narrative, I thought about the concern raised by many that any reference to the Civil War dissuades black Americans from engaging in the dialogue. The argument is that this response is due to the Civil War, and any reference to it, being a reminder of the horrible episode of slavery.

My observation is that American society has regressed to a point where we, almost totally,  lack the capacity to forthrightly address and work through tension-producing issues. Given that much of the racial divide and tension that we face today goes back to the Civil War and Reconstruction period, we fool ourselves if we think we can rectify our current disaster without coming faceto- face with the genesis of this disaster.

This lack of capacity for forthrightly addressing difficult issues is further reflected in the call by some to come up with a “generic” name for the History Center. That is, do not include the words “Civil War.” My position is to let us accurately identify what it is we are addressing. In so doing, we might just start the journey back to being able to productively tackle the myriad difficult topics faced by our country rather than dance around them and give them disgusting lip service.

The economic impact of this project is also a factor in my conclusion that Fayetteville and Cumberland County need this center. A study conducted by ConsultEcon, Inc. in 2014 stated, “The preliminary attendance potential is estimated at 75,000 to 135,000, with a midrange estimate rounded to 105,000 in a stable year of operation.”

That is no small economic impact. The projection considered Fayetteville’s total offering as reflected in the following statement. “When combined with: the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, the Transportation and Local History Museum and the other recreational offerings and events sponsored in Fayetteville, along with Fayetteville’s attractive downtown area, a sufficient ‘critical mass’ of visitor attractions will be created to significantly enhance the visitor profile of Fayetteville and its tourism economy.”

Given the increased “critical mass” of visitor attractions resulting from Segra Stadium, the Woodpeckers baseball team, a renovated Prince Charles Hotel and other downtown enhancements that were not in place at the time of this study, the economic impact will likely be even greater than the 2014 projections.

The History Center was projected to cost $65 million. Fayetteville and Cumberland County passed resolutions saying that each of them would contribute $7.5 million. The History Center’s board is endeavoring to raise $17.5 million. Every indication is that if the History Center, including local government commitments, raises $32.5 million, the state will provide the remainder. Further, when the History Center is completed, the state will take over all funding requirements.

For me, the economic impact component also speaks to the argument that the money could be better spent on more pressing needs. My response is that there must be balance between investing for long-term return and spending in the moment. Governments do a lot of spending in the moment while not investing for return. This center will give some balance. As a property owner whose taxes keep going up, I want to see some investment that produces return in terms of jobs and tax revenue. This project will do so.

The economic impact study makes a couple other points that I find to be of tremendous value when assessing this project. This study was done when the facility was referred to as North Carolina Civil War History Center. “Through its onsite education offerings, outreach programs and online programs, NCCWHC will expand informal educational opportunities for students in Fayetteville and State-wide. Enhanced opportunities for adult continuing education will also be created.

“The quality of life benefits of the new NCCWHC may have the most profound and long-lasting impacts on the Fayetteville community. This project will improve community self-esteem and citizenship by becoming a source of community pride and identity. NCCWHC will enhance Fayetteville and the downtown area as a place to live, work and recreate, thus improving all aspects of the local economy and community.”

Finally, I am amazed by the distinguished and extremely capable individuals who are actively involved in giving life to the History Center. There is some paid staff, but more than 100 volunteers are also investing their time and talents. Volunteers span civic leaders to educators and historians from here in Fayetteville, across the state and the country. I want to detail many of the staff and volunteers, but space will not allow it. Consequently, here are just a few.

John “Mac” Healy and Mary Lynn Bryan serve, respectively, as president and vice president of the History Center’s board of directors. They are volunteers and spoke at the Cumberland County Citizens United meeting referenced in the opening paragraph. Their vision, commitment and superb leadership skills showed through not only in their presentations but also in the progress of this effort to date.

David Winslow is president of the History Center. As president and founder of the Winslow Group, Inc., he brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and experience. This is coupled with a track record of successes in providing, from the company’s website, “a full range of fundraisingrelated services including campaign counsel, feasibility studies, emergency fundraising, campaign planning, prospect/donor database management, organizational assessments, and strategic planning.”

In an article from 2009 titled “The Finish Line,” David Wireback details how Winslow helped raise desperately needed funds to finish the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Here are two lines from Wireback’s opening: “Barely a year ago, efforts to transform the former F.W. Woolworth Co. building into a world-class civil rights museum faced a huge challenge. Enter David Winslow, a Winston- Salem consultant with a statewide reputation for raising money for daunting projects.”

Please visit www.winslowgroupinc.com to learn more about the track record of David Winslow.

Dr. James Anderson, outgoing chancellor at Fayetteville State University, is on the History Center’s advisory board and is forthright in his support for this project. He speaks and writes in support. Even further, his organizing of events that allow citizens to become fully informed demonstrates a level of understanding and commitment far above the routine.

In recent weeks, Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust, a historian of the Civil War and the American South, committed to assisting with the digital education component. Faust served as the 28th president of Harvard University from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2018. She was Harvard’s first female president and the first Harvard president without a Harvard degree.

Vines Architecture was chosen for this project. Victor Vines is president and principal. The design work is complete and available on the History Center’s website. Even though no construction had begun, the impressive design earned an Unbuilt Merit Award from American Institute of Architects in North Carolina in 2014.

America needs this center because it offers tremendous help in successfully addressing the racial tension and other issues that portend a dreadful future for this country. That help comes by way of a storytelling focus on people, an accuracyproducing process, positive economic impact, an effective educational approach and enhanced community self-esteem.

Finally, the effort is in the hands of people who are fully committed and extraordinarily capable.

Meetings

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113.

• Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

• Appearance Commission Tuesday, June 25, Parks and Recreation Center

• Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday, June 27, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

• CANCELED: Festival Committee Monday, July 1, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Front Conference Room

• CANCELED: Board of Commissioners Monday, July 1, 7 p.m.

• Historic Preservation Commission July 10, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

• Board of Commissioners Monday, July 15, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

• Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, July 16, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

Activities

• Independence Day Parade and Celebration Thursday, July 4. Parade starts at 10 a.m. near Rockfish Elementary School. Celebration runs from 4-10 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park.

• Good2Grow Farmers Market Saturday, July 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., between Town Hall and Parks and Recreation Building.

• Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240.

• Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at Parks and Recreation Building. Senior programs are for those ages 55 and up who are residents of Cumberland County. Various activities, especially Zumba classes, are scheduled Monday through Sunday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at townofhopemills.com. You can call the recreation center at 910-426-4109 or e-mail Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

The weekend of June 21-23, Sustainable Sandhills will join forces with local businesses and organizations to celebrate pollinators. It’s only fitting, as June 17-23 is National Pollinator Week. Dubbed “Pollipalooza,” the local event creatively spotlights the many ways pollinators like bees, bats and butterflies impact our world — and our wellbeing.

“Pollinators are vital to our ecology,” said Jonelle Kimbrough, executive director of Sustainable Sandhills. “We wanted to draw attention to the fact that pollinator populations are in decline.

“One-third of the food we eat depends on pollination. We wanted an outlet to bring awareness to the community about the importance of pollination. We thought a fun event that would highlight food and beverages that are pollinated would be a fun.”

Kimbrough noted that a lot of people don’t realize that tea plants depend on pollination. Winterbloom Tea came to mind as the perfect partner to showcase this fact. From 7:30-9 p.m., Friday, June 21, join the Pollipalooza Tea Party at 238 Hay St. Tickets cost $35 and include a hot and cold tea tasting, a honey tasting by Beehive Yourself and sweets by Ariana’s Cakes. There will also be an auction featuring items by Fayetteville Pie Company, The Household 6 Catering, Ariana’s Cakes, Sustainable Sandhills and more. Tickets can be purchased at www.pollipalooza.com.

Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., visit Sink Field at Methodist University to learn about pollinators and how to make your outdoor space inviting for these essential creatures. There will be educational workshops, including Beekeeping 101 and Gardening for Pollinators, as well as children’s activities and vendors. Tickets cost $5 at the gate.

“People can come to attend the workshops and learn about plants that pollinate and that bees are attracted to,” said Kimbrough. “And the Beekeeping 101 workshop will cover equipment, resources and certifications (involved with beekeeping).”

Saturday, June 22, from 5-8 p.m., Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom will host “Nature’s Nectar: Bites and Brews Pollinator Party.” The offerings all focus on pollinated products. This event features a flight of five beer and wine creations— all influenced by pollinators’ efforts. The ticket price also includes a flight of five tapas-style delicacies, also featuring pollinated ingredients. There will be a live band and a silent auction as well. Tickets cost $55 and are available at www.pollipalooza.com.

Sunday, June 23, enjoy Dirtbag Ales Famers Market from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The market will maintain a focus on pollinated products in honor of National Pollinator Week. Vendors offerings include local honey, flowers, candles and produce. There will also be live music, craft beer and food trucks.

Sustainable Sandhills will have an information booth and will be selling wildflower seeds and a Build-A-Buzz Children’s craft. The farmers market is free to attend. Prices for individual activities and products vary from vendor to vendor.

A portion of the proceeds from Pollipalooza will go to Sustainable Sandhills, whose mission statement is: Through education, demonstration, and collaboration we are dedicated to supporting and enhancing the communities and environments of the Sandhills region for current and future generations. Find out more about Sustainable Sandhills at its website, www.sustainablesandhills.org.

The recent arrival of the Woodpeckers and the Segra Stadium represent a new page in the long history surrounding baseball. Most of us are familiar with the recent history of local baseball to include the Generals and the Crocks, and some will even remember the Highlanders. This article will test your knowledge of the earlier Fayetteville history concerning one of America’s favorite sports.

Q: When and under what circumstances did baseball as we know it arrive in North Carolina?

A: It was during the Civil War. A group of Union prisoners in 1863 engaged in games of baseball at the prisoner-of-war camp located in Salisbury.

Q: When was baseball first played in Fayetteville, and what was the name of the first team?

A: Baseball was first played in Fayetteville in 1867. The first team was named the Lafayette Club, in honor of Fayetteville’s namesake, Gen. Lafayette. He was a young French nobleman who aided the colonies during the American Revolution.

Q: Where was baseball first played in Fayetteville?

A: The first game was played on an empty lot off Rowan Street but quickly shifted to the Military Green, which served as a militia parade field. The Military Green was located where the Transportation & Local History Museum is now located at 325 Franklin St., just a few blocks from the new Segra Stadium.

Q: When did African American baseball teams begin to play in Fayetteville?

A: An African American club was formed soon after the Lafayette Club. The local newspaper reported in July 1867 that the Fayetteville African American Baseball Club would be engaged in competition against a team in Charleston South Carolina. The name of one of the early Fayetteville African American teams was the Teasers.

Q: How much did it cost to watch a baseball game in Fayetteville during the late 1800s?

A: The admission was between 5 and 10 cents, and to encourage ladies to attend, they were often admitted free.

Q: How did our local citizens support Fayetteville teams playing out of town?

A: Bit by the baseball fever bug, many local citizens would board steamboats or trains and travel to other towns to root for the Fayetteville teams. Fayetteville and Cumberland County were consumed with the spirt and enthusiasm of baseball fever.

Q: By the early 20th century, Fayetteville had the reputation of having one of the best baseball fields in the South. Where was it located?

A: It was located at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds, where the Department of Transportation is now located, at Gillespie Street and Southern Avenue. The fairgrounds featured a covered grandstand and an oval track with the baseball diamond laid out in the middle of the track.

Q: When did Fort Bragg first get involved with local baseball?

A: Camp Bragg was established in 1918, and within one year, the assigned soldiers formed teams and engaged in competitive games with Fayetteville teams and surrounding cities. They were part of the Red Circle Baseball League organized by the War Camp Community Service.

Q: What is Fayetteville’s earliest connection with professional baseball?

A: It dates back to 1909 with the incarnation of the Fayetteville Highlanders, which was a Class D Eastern Carolina League franchise in 1909- 1910. The Highlanders won the 1910 ECL title with the help of future sports legend Jim Thorpe.

Q: What is Fayetteville’s connection with the famous “Babe” Ruth?

A: On March 7, 1914, while playing an intra-squad exhibition game at the Cape Fear Fairgrounds, Babe Ruth hit his first home run in professional baseball. Ruth hit the ball a distance of 135 yards. It was Ruth’s fifth day as a professional, his first game, and his second time at bat. It was also here that he acquired the nickname “Babe.”

Q: What is the connection between Crown Ford automotive dealership near the intersection of Skibo Road and Bragg Boulevard and baseball?

A: Crown Ford occupies the land that was developed shortly after World War II as the Cumberland County Memorial Stadium, later renamed Pittman Stadium. From 1946 to 1956, the stadium was home to Fayetteville Cubs, A’s and Highlanders, which were minor league baseball teams. After the 1956 season, the Highlanders decided to disband the team, and shortly after that, Pittman Stadium closed.

Fayetteville is rich in baseball history. If you wish to explore this fascinating topic further, visit the “Fayetteville Baseball Fever” exhibit at the Fayetteville Transportation and Local History Museum located at 325 Franklin St. The exhibit features a wealth of local history, trivia, photographs and artifacts. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. Tours and guest speakers can be arranged by calling 910-433-1457, 910-433-1458 or 910-433-1944.

I just returned from a motorcycle adventure ride that was so challenging I actually feel shorter. While most motorcyclists were heading to Rolling Thunder, a few crazy guys were traveling across Virginia and West Virginia on what I was told would be “a pretty easy off-road ride with mostly graveled forest roads.” I was thinking Jeep trails, which for the most part it was. It’s the parts that are not Jeep trails that make "adventure riding" adventure riding. Little did I know I would be experiencing narrow trails almost like jungle canopy, red-clay slippery mud, 400-foot drop-offs and many water crossings.

At moments, I asked myself, “What am I doing this for? I’m tired; I hurt. Should I sell my dual-sport bike, get me a nice traveling bike and stick to the roads?” Getting stuck in what I will call mud quicksand took us two hours to get out of and required us to build a makeshift bridge in the middle of nowhere.

My wife watched my exploits on Facebook and said to me, “There is no way that looks fun at all.” Every night, I agreed with her. Strangely, the day after I got back home, my body was in full-on travel mode. I wanted to get back on that bike and ride. Then I found myself wondering what my next trip would be. Crazy, right?

Most of my life has been in and around military, firemen and policemen. All of these jobs are high-risk jobs. Their friends and family worry every day if they will get back home. They, in turn, go to work every day and dream of some sane job doing something safe — but they choose to get back on it.

Thrill-seeking and risk-taking varies. For some, going to a scary movie is enough. For many, it is jumping on a motorcycle and going for a ride. For others, it is parachuting or tickling a bear’s belly. So, where does this motivation come from?

The amygdala is the answer. It's a small, almond-shaped set of neurons in the brain's medial temporal lobe, which is kind of the center of the brain. Here, our mind processes a convergence of inputs of chemicals the body produces. These chemicals are generated based on what our senses tell our mind, and the body produces respondents. If danger is perceived — real or not — it triggers our instinct to respond to the situation. Part of our instinct is stimulated by our body’s ability to produce adrenaline, endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Together, they produce substances that stimulate positive and even euphoric feelings. Our body gets high from accomplishing or surviving something.

Adrenaline is the chemical that gets us ready for action when we perceive danger. It is that moment that often defines success or failure.

Endorphins keep up our endurance. It is the runner’s drive and ultimate will to keep going when their body tells them to quit or walk.

Serotonin feeds brain cells related to mood, sexual desire and function, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation and some social behavior. Serotonin aids a wide variety of tasks in the body and is often called the “happy chemical” because it works for our wellbeing and happiness.

Dopamine comes up when we are attempting to accomplish a challenge. It’s that decision-making process that says “Hey, let's go jump in the ocean, feed sharks and take pictures.” Together, these chemicals are highly addictive and connive to drive us to seek out that thrill or scary challenge.

Thrill-seekers often operate in unpredictable situations. Thrill-seekers are usually not good with being deliberate, focused, concentrated or patient. They overcome these things by being prepared, training for situations, doing mental rehearsals or having an excellent medical plan.

To keep us in check, the brain's frontal lobe acts as an internal control panel that gives us cognitive skills like problem-solving, language, judgment, sexual behavior and emotional expressions. It gives us our personality and ability to communicate. It is also the part of the brain that tells us, “Danger. Stop. This is not safe.”

I deduce that the most significant challenge for the thrill-seeker is between their amygdala and frontal lobe. They have to calculate the amount of risk, gain and loss they're willing to give for their next adventure.

If there is a topic you would like to discuss, email motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

Nunny Reece has been open during her two-year battle with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She has shared regular posts on Facebook about her journey and her crusade to increase treatment options for people like her who are suffering with the advanced stage of the disease.

A new treatment she is undergoing has pushed her to another challenge in her battle: the loss of her hair. But like everything else she’s endured with battling cancer, Reece decided to take control of the issue.

Instead of waiting for her hair to fall out in clumps, she attacked it head-on. She invited some family and friends to join her, drove herself to a Hope Mills barber shop, and had everyone watch as Victor Fontanez shaved her head bald.

It was an emotional decision for Reece, who has for years seen her purple-colored locks as a statement of who she is. She said getting her hair done is something that makes her feel pretty.

She asked Fontanez to shave her head because he had been a longtime friend of Reece’s sons when they attended school together in the South View district. “He was really, really great making me go through this transition,’’ Reece said.

Nine members of her family came out for the event, including her three sons. She was surprised by one cousin who drove all the way from Greensboro to take part.

Moving forward, Reece is leaning toward remaining bald and not wearing a wig or any other covering for her head. Her first plan was to wear a purple wig made by friends because she feared that her 9-year-old son might be scared seeing his mother with no hair.

Reece said she was afraid he might think the treatment she was getting wasn’t working and that was why she went bald. “I had to explain with this new medication it’s going to bring mommy’s hair out but it’s going to help mommy live,’’ she said.

If she does wear a wig, it will be to special events, like next February, when she plans to renew her wedding vows with her husband.

“We’re hoping by then my hair will grow back,’’ she said. “If it doesn’t, I will wear one for the wedding.’’

Reece said the message she’s trying to send to women like herself is it’s OK to go through the emotional side of things, to cry and to be upset. “It’s our truth,’’ she said. “It’s something we have to deal with, something we have to go through.’’

She’s also sending a message to families of women who are dealing with breast cancer. “I hope other family members understand and try to be supportive,’’ she said.

“I just want to enjoy in the blessing that I’m still here with my family and my friends, that I still have life.’’

Picture:  Nunny Reece at First Impressions barber shop with her sons: Tylan (top left), Ryan (lower left) and Tavon (upper right).

North Carolina likes to be No. 1 — at everything.

We declare ourselves to be “First in Flight.” But it took a couple of Ohio boys to make that happen.

We declare ourselves to be “First in Freedom” based on the May 20, 1775, Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, a controversial claim that many historians dispute.

We also love it when books written by North Carolinians or set in our state become No. 1 best-sellers on The New York Times list.

So this year we are bragging about “Where the Crawdads Sing,” a book set in the fictional eastern North Carolina town of Barkley Cove, and the surrounding marshes, coves and ocean waters.

This book by Delia Owens has been on the Times’ list, usually at No. 1, for 35 weeks.

But there is a problem. We will get to that in a moment, after we consider a few things about the book that explain why it has already sold more than 2 million copies.

“Crawdads” is literary fiction with strong writing and lovely descriptions of nature’s plants and creatures. A compelling murder mystery with an unexpected ending gives readers a superior entertainment experience.

Owens is a fan of “A Sand County Almanac,” a book of nature-themed essays by Aldo Leopold. She wanted to write a book with a similar nature focus, but one that also has a strong storyline.

“Crawdads” is the result. Its success demonstrates that the combination of good writing, a solid story and interesting information about serious topics can be a commercial success.

The book’s central character, Catherine Clark or “Kya,” lives by herself in a shack in the marshes, miles away from town. People in Barkley Cove think she is weird, keep their distance, and call her “the Marsh Girl.” She spent only one day in school and cannot read or write. However, because she is smart and diligent, she learns about the nature of the marshes.

She meets Tate Walker, a young man from Barkley Cove. He senses her strengths and shares her love of plants and animals. He teaches her to read and write, and falls in love with her.

When Tate leaves Kya behind to study science at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, she is devastated. But she rebounds to the seductive charms of Chase Andrews, a town football hero and big shot. Their secret affair is interrupted by Chase’s marriage to another woman, and Kya is again distraught.

Overcoming these disappointments, Kya leverages her reading, writing and self-taught artistic talents to record the nature world that surrounds her. When Tate, now a scientist, returns to her life, he persuades her to submit her work for publication. That book is a great success, and she writes and illustrates several more.

All this is background for the story that begins on the first pages of the book. Chase is found dead at the bottom of an old fire tower. Kya is a suspect and is ultimately charged, arrested, put in prison and tried for Chase’s murder.

The author’s deftness in setting up this situation, and resolving it smoothly, has helped make it a best-seller. “Crawdads” gained the attention of beloved actress Reese Witherspoon. Fox 2000 has acquired film rights and plans for Witherspoon to be the producer.

We can hope that the movie will be shot in North Carolina. But here, the book’s problem jumps up. The geography described in the book, with palmettos and deep marshes adjoining ocean coves, seems to fit South Carolina or Georgia coastal landscapes better than North Carolina’s coastlands.

Nevertheless, whatever the moviemakers decide, North Carolinians can bask in the reflected glory of a No. 1 best-seller that claims our state for its setting.

North Carolinians participate in both major multi-state lotteries, Powerball and Mega-Millions. Charles W. Jackson Jr. of Hope Mills won the June 1 Powerball jackpot of $344.6 million.

Powerball was established when then-Governor Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act. North Carolina has one of the nation’s youngest lottery systems, enacted in 2005. The act created a nine-member lottery commission, which oversees all aspects of the education lottery.

The law outlines how each dollar produced by the lottery is spent. Fifty percent goes as winnings to players. Seven percent goes to retailers as commission. All lottery net proceeds go directly to benefit public education, with the current figure sitting at more than $5.5 billion since its inception.

By law, lottery funds go to pay for school construction, need-based college financial aid, transportation, salaries for non-instructional support staff, and pre-kindergarten for at-risk 4-year-olds. The lottery has continued to generate controversy among North Carolina constituents upset with teacher layoffs who believe the lottery should have made up the difference.

Voter photo ID election requirement public seminar

Beginning in 2020, North Carolina voters will be required to provide photo identification when they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution, requiring voters to present photo ID at the polls. State law requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before Sept. 1, 2019.

The Cumberland County Board of Elections will hold its seminars about photo identification requirements Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m., at the North Regional Branch Library, 855 McArthur Rd. in Fayetteville and at 6 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Dr., Fayetteville.

The seminars are free and open to the public. Attendees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, early voting and Election Day voting. Information about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided.

For more information, contact the Cumberland County Board of Elections at 910-678-7733 or visit boardofelections@co.cumberland.nc.us. 

Cumberland County human trafficking court

A local jurist has been selected to preside over a new human trafficking court being established in Cumberland County this month. District Court Judge Toni S. King has been chosen to spearhead the first-of-its-kind human trafficking court in North Carolina. It will seek to offer treatment to victims as well as defendants and to help achieve a common understanding of human trafficking.

“The depth and breadth of the problem in Cumberland County and across North Carolina will be exposed,” King said in a news release.

Dr. Sharon Cooper will conduct training for court personnel and justice system stakeholders June 28 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, 1225 Ramsey St., Fayetteville. Cooper is a nationally renowned forensic pediatrician who is an expert on sexual trauma. She lives and practices in Cumberland County.

This all-day opportunity consists of four sessions: 1) the vulnerabilities of victims of sex trafficking; 2) the impact of trauma; 3) the offender dynamics; and 4) internet victimization and homicide. 

Murchison Road farmers market open again for the season

The Murchison Road Community Farmers Market is now open in Bronco Square across from Fayetteville State University. It will be open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 23.

This neighborhood farmers market, financially supported by the Fayetteville State University Chancellor’s Office and the city of Fayetteville, was started as an initiative by four FSU students. They received permission to apply for grants and funding to start a farmers market when neighborhood grocery stores closed. When the stores closed, the Murchison Road community became a food desert since the nearest full-service grocery store is a mile-and-a-half away.

FTCC designated Top Military Spouse Friendly School

Fayetteville Technical Community College has earned the 2019–2020 Top Military Spouse Friendly School designation. The Military Spouse Friendly Schools list is considered a reliable resource for military spouses and sets a standard for higher education institutions to provide the best post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members. “Schools that are selected for the list are at the forefront of supporting the goals of military spouses,” said Brian Hucik, national program manager for Military Friendly.

Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

FTCC was established in 1961 and serves over 35,000 students annually by providing more than 280 occupational, technical, general education, college transfer and continuing education programs to meet students’ needs and desires as well as those of the community. More information about the designation can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

June has barely arrived, and Hope Mills and Fayetteville have already experienced temperatures over 100 degrees. That has veterinarians like Dr. Kent Dean of Southern Oaks Animal Hospital in Hope Mills concerned about heat dangers for outdoor pets.

“Over the summer we’ll see from five to 10 heat strokes,’’ Dean said. Normally, those occur in older and heavier dogs, but as hot as it’s been already, Dean thinks all pet owners need to take precautions to make sure their animals are safe from the heat.

Most of the preparations involve common sense, like making sure the dogs have access to shade and fresh water to drink when outside. When the thermometer reaches 100 degrees or more, Dean said it’s best to bring the animals inside to make sure they stay cool.

Another precaution to keep them from getting injured is to be careful where and at what time of day the dogs get out for a walk. “We see people walking dogs on asphalt,’’ Dean said. “It will burn the pads on their feet. If it were me, I’d walk my dog early in the morning or late in the evening instead of at midday.’’

One of the biggest mistakes a dog owner can make is leaving their dog inside a closed car when making a quick stop while out shopping or running errands. Dean said that’s a terrible idea, even when it appears to be a reasonable outdoor temperature as low as 80 degrees. “Even when it’s 80 degrees, it can get pretty hot in a car,’’ Dean said. “A lot of people can get in trouble for that.’’

North Carolina law prohibits confining a dog, cat or other small animal in a motor vehicle where its health could be endangered by temperature or lack of food.

If a dog is exposed to excessive heat for too long a period of time, Dean said it’s critical to get the animal’s temperature down as quickly as possible. If the animal can’t be immediately transported to an emergency clinic, one possible aid would be to put the animal in a child’s wading pool filled with cool water.

Dean said symptoms of heat illness in dogs include passing out, vomiting and diarrhea. Too much exposure to excessive heat can cause neurological problems that the dogs won’t be able to recover from.

If possible, the best remedy is to transport the dog to an emergency animal clinic so it can have intravenous fluids administered to both lower the temperature and rehydrate them.

Dean also suggested some dogs with medical issues need to be checked out before hot weather arrives. “If they have any kind of heart issues or respiratory issues, they need to be extra careful,’’

Dean said. “They get to where they are breathing too hard or can’t breathe. They start panting and the temperature starts to rise.’’ Dean said when he conducts annual vaccinations he gives dogs a full physical to check for those problems. He suggests that all dogs more than 7 years old should have blood chemistry work done to see if there are any underlying problems with their kidney, liver or heart that the owner needs to be aware of.

For those with additional questions about heat safety for dogs, or any other concerns, Dean’s office can be reached by calling 910-424-3011 or visiting www.southernoaksanimalhospital.com. The Facebook page is Southern Oaks Animal Hospital.

Editor’s note: It’s no secret that Fayetteville is divided when it comes to the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center. Thank you to The Fayetteville Observer, specifically its executive editor, Matt LeClercq, and WIDU radio co-host Troy Williams, for allowing us to share this important community message and initiative with our Up & Coming Weekly readers. This opinion piece by Williams originally ran in The Fayetteville Observer May 25, 2019.

One of the storylines circulating since recent discussions about the N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center is that some African-American leaders, including Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, are worried that the proposed project will attract racists.

Before we dive into it, here is an actual quote, courtesy of WUNC Radio. “There are a lot of people I’ve spoken with in the community that are concerned with the museum itself,” Colvin said. “We’re trying to bridge the divide here in Fayetteville, we don’t want a Charlottesville, Virginia.”

Colvin has taken some heat for his role in creating this controversy, and to be frank, he should accept full responsibility. After all, at one point he said he supported the project. Maybe I’m reading this entirely wrong, but to me, Colvin’s original Facebook post’s tone and context would suggest that he has changed his mind and is presently against this project. His first post said, “Family, Asheville state representative asking for $10 million for cybersecurity, Greensboro state representative asking for $7 million for mental health program, Fayetteville/Cumberland County state representative Szoka and Lucas — $46 million for Civil War History Center. Priorities? Tell your state representatives we deserve more than this.”

What did he mean by family? To whom was he referring? Shortly after his post, I asked him if he still supported the project. He said he wasn’t necessarily against it, whatever that means. One of his sycophants, a former City Council member, posted in social media referring to the mayor and the project that, “He is not with it.” I sent him a screenshot of the post. He said the post did not represent his views, nor did the former council member speak on his behalf. I suggested he counter the comments publicly with a more exact position of his views, and he has thus far resisted doing this.

Other members of his inner circle have openly and repeatedly called the History Center a Confederate museum. By his own admission, he says a lot of people are concerned with the museum. That’s understandable, especially when fear mongering is involved. In the first place, it’s not going to be a museum; it’s a proposed history center, a digitally interactive center on top of that. Of course, there’s going to be opposition to this project if citizens believe it’s a memorial to the Confederacy, that’s a no-brainer.

WUNC Radio also interviewed Fayetteville NAACP President Jimmy Buxton, who said, “If we have a bunch of rallies here with the sheets and the Confederate flag, that’s going to divide the city. That’s going to divide the state.

“Even if those who are in charge of this say it’s not, this is what racists are thinking — a Civil War museum. When they get here they may be fooled, but they’re coming anyway because they feel like what they’ve been worshipping all their lives is going to be in this museum,” Buxton concluded.

Two of our high-profile, African- American leaders are playing a pivotal role in shaping a negative perception of a significant state project poised to benefit our community. The operative word is leadership. However, some might believe, including me, that what’s happening is more akin to misleading than leading.

Our neighbors in Richmond, Virginia, have a similar museum situation. But their approach is in sharp contrast to our own. Richmond has a rich Confederate history. Lest we forget, Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. In 2016, Richmond elected its youngest mayor, 35-year-old African-American Levar Stoney. Stoney succeeded Dwight Jones, another African-American who was preceded by Doug Wilder, the first black to serve as a governor since Reconstruction.

About six years ago, Richmond took some bold steps with the creation of the New American Civil War Museum, which they merged with the Museum of the Confederacy with the intent to tell a whole story in hopes of dispelling the myths and misconceptions that linger into the 21st century. Christy Coleman, an African-American female, is the museum’s chief executive.

The only way to deal with racism is with courage, which the leaders in Richmond decided to do. Have they been overwhelmed with racist protesters? The short answer is no, and they are a lot closer to Charlottesville than we are. The difference is they are armed with visionary leadership, which has garnered the attention of The New York Times.

Fayetteville has a similar opportunity, and if our present leaders don’t get (it), maybe it’s time to elect new leaders. Homelessness, poverty and other social problems will always be a part of our big picture. But they should never become the reason we cease to strive for excellence in other community pursuits. It’s not going to be easy. Frederick Douglas said it best, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

Troy Williams is a legal analyst and criminal defense investigator. He is a WIDU radio co-host on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon. He can be reached at talk2troywilliams@ yahoo.com.

After nearly 60 years on Fayetteville radio airwaves, Curt’s Coffee Club has convened for the final time. Curt Nunnery, who got his start locally as a Fourth of July replacement on WFAI back in 1960, passed away recently at the age of 83.

Show guests and professional cohorts remember him as man with an incredible passion for his work who had an almost magical connection with his loyal radio fan base.

Janet Gibson, marketing and communications director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, had some family connections with Nunnery and, like him, was a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She got to know him best during the last couple of years when she made regular appearances on his morning show on Sunny 94.3 FM, promoting the Arts Council’s 4th Friday events.

“He would teach me how to speak in the microphone,’’ Gibson said. “He was a great teacher. I’m not the only one he’s done that with. People have similar stories about his generosity of spirit.’’

Gibson said Nunnery’s fans loved his morning show, and they were people of various generations and cultural backgrounds. “He was the quintessential Southern gentleman,’’ Gibson said. “You want to protect someone like that and revere them. I think there was a lot of respect.’’

Gibson said it was little things that made Nunnery special to listeners. For example, when he read a commercial for a local restaurant, he’d list all the names of the servers there as he talked about the food they offered.

In a time when technology is moving so fast and people are glued to smartphones, Gibson said Nunnery reminded everyone to slow down and show gratitude. “He always showed gratitude,’’ she said. 

Carolyn Justice-Hinson, also a regular guest on Nunnery’s radio show, is the communications and community relations officer for the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Justice-Hinson recalled a time when Nunnery helped host an event for PWC that was being held outdoors on a cold and rainy day. “His listeners that came to visit that day were upset,’’ Justice-Hinson said. “They wanted us to move him inside. They didn’t want him out there in the cold.’’

Justice-Hinson said Nunnery was part of the lives of his listeners. She is certain there is going to be avoid that can’t be filled now that he’s gone.

“I can’t imagine what’s going to happen,’’ she said. “It’s going to be very difficult for people. We were all blessed we knew him and had him as long as we did.’’

Danny Highsmith, regional vice president for Beasley Broadcast Group, where Nunnery worked for many years, said Nunnery had deep roots in the community that endeared him to his listening audience. “He could talk about what’s going on in Fayetteville,’’ Highsmith said. “He was not some syndicated guy from New York.’’

In the end, Highsmith said Nunnery was not unlike the name of his program, Curt’s Coffee Club — that morning cup of coffee that everyone depended on to start the day.

“When they turned on the radio or woke up to the clock radio, he was familiarity,’’ Highsmith said. “That familiarity is something that endeared him to people as well.’’

Photo: Curt Nunnery

There is a fine line between a seller and a sucker, and the difference is a scammer.

A few weeks ago, I put my wife’s beautiful F 700 GS BMW up for sale on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Two days later, I got a text asking if the bike was still available. I wrote back, “Yes.” They answered, “I like the bike, but it’s a little higher than I want to pay, but I want it. I will send you the money, but I am pretty far away and will need you to work with a trucking company to ship the bike to me.” Next, they asked for my PayPal account and said they would send the money.

I looked at a friend I was with and said, “This is too easy. I smell a scam”. 

I got another text saying, “I have sent you the payment plus $900 for the shipping company. Please check your PayPal.” I looked at PayPal and there was nothing there. A few minutes later I got another text saying, “Check your email. You may need to check your junk mail”.

There was an email from PayPal that told me I needed to go to a convenient store and make a Walmart-to-Walmart money transfer to John Doe to pay the shipping company.

And there it was — the scam. It said that once I transferred the money, I was to take a picture of the receipt and email it back to PayPal and they would release the money for the bike, and the shipping company would contact me. Of course, the scam is to get your money to this “shipping company,” and you would never hear from them again.

When you think about it, why would PayPal send you an email asking you to go to transfer money to another money-transferring company?

I quickly Googled Craigslist, Walmart-to-Walmart scam. Boom, there was some information about a scam. It said that if you did not pay, the scammer would harass you and tell you their money was tied up until you paid the shipping cost.

A few minutes later I got another text asking if I got the email. I said, “Yes, nice try. I’m on the phone with the FBI. You should be hearing from them soon for Interstate Wire Transfer Fraud.” That was that.

A few days later, I got an email from a guy asking if the bike was still available, and he was from Raleigh. He asked if there were any dings on it and if I could send him pictures of them. Later in the afternoon, I got another email asking, “Would it be possible to send me the bike history report from checkvinup.us because my mechanic told me to ask for that, and since I asked for it, I will repay you money for it when I come to look at the bike. If you send me the report and if everything is ok. I could come on Thursday so we can discuss the price and get everything done.”

He had the checkvinup.us as a hyperlink. I never click on an unknown link from someone I do not know. I typed in the web address and it needed my credit card information to get the report. Again, I Googled it and found the same scam but with a different car history website.

Never click an unknown link. If you do, it can launch a file and do a lot of damage to your computer or devices.

As I wrote this article, I wondered if I’d removed the metadata from thephotos I sent that second scammer. Metadata is information that is captured when you take a photo. This includes time, camera information and your location.

I went back to check, and I had not removed it from the photos I’d sent. Not thinking about what I was doing, I’d sent my metadata to a scammer, and now they have my address.

To help protect against this kind of mistake, if you have an iPhone, go to Settings, Privacy, Location Settings, Camera, and then set “Allow access” to Never. On an Android, tap on the Settings icon in the Camera app and from the menu tap on the Settings icon again. A window will pop up. Tap on the Settings icon again and you should be able to see a “Location tag” option. Tap on it, and from the prompt tap “Off” to turn Geotagging off. Now you can take and send pictures without disclosing personal information.

I hope this article helps keep you safe from scammers.

If there is a topic you would like to discuss, contact me at motorcycle 4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

Two wonderful friends, one from my childhood in Fayetteville’s Haymount neighborhood and one of more recent vintage, are raising grandsons because their daughters are addicted to opioid drugs. One has custody of a rising ninth grader, a sterling young man who is doing well in school and a pleasure to know. The other shares custody with another grandparent of a just-turned-2-year-old, whose future may be a bit iffier. He spent his first 18-months or so in an apartment with little furniture and few toys because his parents sold most of their belongings to buy drugs. He sees his mother once a week for up to an hour and will not allow her to touch him.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 130 people die every day in the United States from opioid overdoses. It reports that there have been three waves of opioid addiction — prescription drugs in the 1990s and 2000s, followed, beginning in 2010, by heroin because it is cheaper, and now fentanyl, the deadliest of all. The economic burden on individuals, hospitals, communities, states and our nation is beyond staggering, not to mention the human misery laid down on both addicts and people who love them.

These two boys are fortunate in having grandparents willing and able to step up to the parental plate for a second round. Many children of addicted parents wind up in foster care, a percentage that has risen to a full third of all children in foster care in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sadly, no one knows what this means for children of addiction.

Associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, Dr. John Carter, told the American Psychological Association, “Because we are trying to put out the fire in terms of stopping overdose deaths, we haven’t really been tending to other casualties, including kids — most importantly.”

If and when we end the epidemic, its collateral damage will remain with us.

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Hope Mills resident Charles Jackson, 66, had his — and millions of other people’s — wildest dream come true last week. Wearing jeans and a baseball cap, Jackson picked up a ceremonial check for $344.6 million, which will be considerably less after taxes. His is the largest jackpot in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s history. Jackson did not realize he had won initially, and when he did, he thought it was $50,000 or so, not the multi-millions he will eventually pocket.

Jackson says he will get some new jeans and take his wife on a trip back to her native country, Vietnam, but otherwise has no big spending plans. He seems like a fellow with his feet firmly planted, but other big lottery winners — well, not so much. Experts say that as many as 70% of them are broke within a few years of winning and recommend that big lottery winners step back, take a deep breath, hire legal and financial experts and keep a low profile.

The Jacksons have no idea how many long-lost “friends and relatives” are going to come out of the woodwork.

*********************

Americans have just commemorated our brave military service members who have protected us and others all over the world, most recently those who took part in the Normandy invasion that ended World War II in Europe. There are other forms of bravery as well.

Former United States Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., of Greensboro served in both the North Carolina General Assembly and the U.S. Congress, and last week, she appeared at the groundbreaking of an airport facility she helped to make possible as a U.S. Senator.

She and her husband, Chip Hagan, were all smiles, demonstrating the bravery of perseverance and ongoing service.

Photo: Kay Hagan

Editor’s note: This is part of a series on Cumberland County high school spring football workouts.

A big senior class entering a football season is a plus, but when that year is over, it can be a major liability. Gray’s Creek football coach David Lovette is dealing with that harsh reality as his Bears lost 20 players who played a variety of key roles last season.

The good news is there were a lot of youth in the offensive line. Most of them return this year, along with the quarterback, who just happens to be Lovette’s son Ben. Ben threw for 729 yards in the Bears’ runoriented Wing-T offense.

Another key player returning is promising running back Jerry Garcia, who saw a lot of playing time last season and rolled up 529 yards and five touchdowns.

“It’s not like the cupboard is bare,’’ Lovette said of the graduation losses. “We’ll miss those guys, but a lot of them (the returners) have seen playing time.’’

Garcia has been timed electronically at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. “He’s one of those kids that if the weight room is open, he’s there,’’ Lovette said. “He’s a hard worker.’’

The Bears used much of the spring to put in a few changes to their system. “We’re doing the same things, just doing them differently,’’ Lovette said. Some changes are being made in the defense, and Lovette is still searching for a punter to complete the special teams.

One of the top defensive players back for the Bears is defensive end Kendall Evans. At 6-foot- 3 and 240 pounds, he’s being recruited by such schools as Wake Forest, North Carolina A&T, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State.

“I just want to work on my technique, my speed and my strength,’’ Evans said of the summer and fall workouts.

He feels the Bears need to focus on working together better as a team. “I think we did a lot better last year than we did previous years,’’ he said. “We didn’t have anyone selfish on our team. We were selling out for each other.’’

Last season the Bears were 7-5 and lost to Northern Durham in the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A state playoffs.

Photo: Kendall Evans

If you missed the first Fayetteville After Five concert, it’s not too late to enjoy the next installment of free music in Festival Park. Every second Friday, May through August, free concerts under the stars, food trucks and beverages beckon citizens to kick up their heels and welcome the weekend with free entertainment and a night of familyfriendly memory making.

June 14, it’s a local favorite that takes the stage — Eagles tribute band On the Border. Taking the tribute band experience up a notch, each member gets into character and performs as their respective band member from The Eagles during the performance. The members of On the Border are Tracy Maples (vocals, guitar), Tim Giovanniello (vocals, guitar), Bill Morgan (vocals, guitar), Andy Young (vocals, drums), Scott Sobota (vocals, bass) and, Bob Orazi (vocals, keys, guitar). Their delivery of spot-on music has not only garnered them a loyal following. They have been declared the greatest Eagles tribute band in the world by AXSTV and host Katie Daryl.

On the Border hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been granted licensed rights for live musical performances of the Eagles catalog. Known for their delivery, the band brings some of rock ’n’ roll’s best classics to Fayetteville — and it is free to attend.

The Eagles originated in Los Angeles, California, in 1971 with founding members Glenn Frey (guitars, vocals), Don Henley (drums, vocals), Bernie Leadon (guitars, vocals) and Randy Meisner (bass guitar, vocals). The Eagles were one of the most successful bands in the 1970s, with five No. 1 singles, six No. 1 albums, six Grammy Awards and five American Music Awards. To date, the band has sold more than 100 million albums. Songs like “Hotel California,” “Take It Easy,” “Witchy Woman,” Peaceful, Easy Feeling,” “One of Those Nights” and “Desperado” are just a few of their most well-known songs. The Eagles split in 1980 and reunited in 1994. The band is currently on tour through October of this year.

A local band with a solid following, Rivermist headlines the July 12 concert. The band has been playing in the area for more than 20 years in different iterations. Rivermist as it is known today formally came together in 2014. A classic rock and variety party band, the group is known for being energetic on the stage. The band knows its audience and hits every chord just right when it comes to pleasing the crowd. Rivermist tours the East Coast with a focus on Virginia and the Carolinas. The band has won several awards locally, including Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville.

Aug. 9, Kasey Tyndall closes the season. Tyndall’s debut single, “Everything is Texas,” dropped in 2017, and the video was in the top 10 on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown.

“For as long as people have been breaking hearts or getting their hearts broken, there’s a bar, that bar’s regulars, and its staff to help,” says Tyndall on her website. “We all have that bar in our life — no matter what we’re going through, we’re somehow family when we come together there.”

The gates open at 5 p.m. for all the concerts. Music starts around 6:30 p.m. and ends around 10:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. No canopies, please. No coolers or outside food is permitted. Service dogs are welcome. The concerts are free. Visit www.thedogwoodfestival.com/fayetteville-after-five to learn more.

Anyone longing for the days when the fireworks on the Fourth of July were launched from the bridge on the dam at Hope Mills Lake is going to have to keep on longing.

Changes to the local fire code over the years make it unlikely that the fireworks display will be moving back to the lake from its current home at the Hope Mills Municipal Park athletic fields on Rockfish Road.

Brett Ham is the fire marshal for the Hope Mills area. He handles fire safety inspections as well as fire investigations and fire safety education.

Ham, who’s been in the fire safety business for 22 years, said the protocol on handling fireworks has gotten stricter in recent years, resulting in tighter regulations.

“Technically what has happened is (that) the higher a (fireworks) shell flies in the air, the farther you have to extend the safety distance for spectators,’’ Ham said.

Because of that, the size of the shells used has to be adjusted to decrease the amount of a safety distance required. For example, at Municipal Park, the largest shell they can use to stay within safety limits is a three-inch shell.

It would seem the lake would be a perfect location to launch fireworks with all of that water for them to land in and extinguish them. But landing’s not the problem. It’s providing a safe place for the people handling the fireworks to launch them.

Ham said there are multiple issues that make the lake a difficult place for launching fireworks because of the code restrictions.

One of the biggest is that if they are launched from the bridge, the people doing the launching don’t have enough options for where they can escape if something goes wrong.

“They don’t want to jump off the bridge, and that’s what they’d have to do,’’ Ham said.  

Shooting fireworks from the bridge would also block access for emergency vehicles answering fire, public safety and medical calls, he said.

“You can’t have a vehicle near that stuff,’’ Ham said. “That cuts us off from the other side of the lake.’’

Another common-sense problem at the lake is a lack of parking. People would have to walk too far to get close enough to see the fireworks.

For people planning to stage their own fireworks displays in their backyards or on private property, Ham offered some advice.

Don’t cross the border into South Carolina and come back with a carload of aerial fireworks. They are illegal. “Private citizens are not supposed to be launching those in North Carolina,’’ he said. “Nothing that flies.’’

Ham said the fireworks you see sold in temporary locations around Cumberland County are legal as long as they don’t fly. “My best safety tip is to follow the laws,’’ he said.

Even if you are following the laws, there are still some precautions to keep everyone out of danger in the backyard.

It’s a good idea to have a bucket or other large container of water around to throw on even smaller fireworks that might misfire or otherwise get out of hand.

Ham urges parents to supervise children with fireworks closely, even simple things like sparklers and firecrackers.

“Most of the injuries are with children,’’ he said. “Parents lose track of them. You can get a thirddegree burn from a sparkler.’’

Adults also need to be careful and keep fireworks away from things like propane gas cylinders or cans of gasoline for lawnmowers. Stay away from piles of brush and other things that are highly combustible.

“They have to be aware of their surroundings,’’ Ham said. “If you or your children catch something on fire, you’re responsible for it.’’

Photo: Brett Ham

Three artists, with backgrounds in three different art concentrations, found themselves together in a small-enrollment printmaking class. The new exhibition at Gallery 208, “The Art of Possibility: Three Artists Explore Printmaking,” is the result of a year of comradery and exploration, each artist discovering an opportunity to refigure meaning in their work through printmaking materials and techniques. The public is invited to attend the opening reception Tuesday, June 18, from 5:30- 7 p.m. at Gallery 208.

Visitors to the exhibition will see traditional and unexpected ways each artist approaches the printmaking medium. For example, the background for two of Angela Stouts’ monoprints have been goldleafed or silver-leafed by the artist on large sheets of printmaking paper. Jade Robin incorporates a piece of stained mulberry paper, the result of the last big hurricane, in a chine-collé process, combined with the process of using a box cutter to scratch across a pronto plate before printing. Both artists contrast with the seemingly effortless minimal prints by Maria Anglero. Her pristine patterns, referencing nature, float across an off-white paper surface.

Knowing the backstory of each artist will help to unfold the whole story: How the works of three emerging artists from different medium preferences — a printmaker, a painter and a ceramicist — resulted in a printmaking exhibition at Gallery 208.

Robin, an undergraduate student in printmaking at Fayetteville State University, knew she wanted to become proficient in printmaking during her first class in that subject. Since that introductory class, Robin has systematically investigated the technical rigors of each category under the printmaking umbrella — relief, intaglio, serigraphy and lithography. While practicing the many techniques in each category simultaneously, Robin had to come to terms with meaning in her work. For Robin, she was enrolled in one of the printmaking courses in her degree track when the backstory begins.

Stout, a highly talented painter, is in the process of completing her last several semesters as an undergraduate student in art education with a painting concentration. She needed to complete a required printmaking course, was ready to take a short break from painting and found herself in the same printmaking class with Robin.

Then we add Anglero to the mix. Anglero, who is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in ceramics, had room in her schedule to add an elective. She decided to take an advanced printmaking class. All three end up together in Robin’s printmaking world: Practice new assigned techniques, become proficient in those assigned techniques, and experiment with unconventional techniques. And while you’re at it, bring personal meaning to a body of work.

Anglero had already completed an introductory printmaking class at Fayetteville Technical Community College, so early in the year, she felt comfortable practicing several advanced relief printing techniques. Robin’s printmaking experience was helpful to the group, and for Stout, it was all new.

Everyone brought advanced experiences from a different degree concentration. Each had already created a body of work in their concentration. All three were enamored with the printmaking processes.

The successes that resulted in an exhibition were also the result of each artist’s confidence in themselves and their shared philosophy about image- or object-making. There is no one way, no one culture, no right or wrong meaning. There is simply the power of material and compositional unity to express personal meaning.

For all three artists, printmaking has informed their art across disciplines. It is not required for visitors to Gallery 208, but understanding the value and influence of printmaking on the artists’ work has the potential to enrich an appreciation of the individual works in the exhibit.

Of the ways the processes in printmaking influence meaning in her work, Robin said, “From the very beginning, I liked that there are so many steps in printmaking — sketching, making the matrixes, color selections, proofing, then printing the edition or doing a series of monoprints.

“With each step, you have a different direction you can go. For me, each option has the potential to create new meaning. I love the open-ended possibilities of processes; even a mistake can take your image in a new direction.

“As an artist, I am presently preoccupied with the idea of identity. As I develop ideas about identity, process can influence new meaning for me, so (having) variations in the process is important to me. Variations in process inspire variations of feeling as well as distinctions in meaning and content.”

In comparison, ceramicist Anglero noted how she likes the physicality of the printmaking medium. “In ceramics, I use tools, and I include my hands as tools, to shape form. So I immediately responded to the act of using gouges to carve a block for a relief print.

“My love of nature, trees in particular, is reflected in my ceramic vessels. Bringing the idea of nature’s surfaces to printmaking opened up new ways of seeing the potential of patterns across disciplines. Although I began to use the silk-screening process with ceramic slips on three-dimensional forms, my greatest lesson was not separating the two mediums as completely distinct — both processes inform the other.

“For me, printmaking is a way to explore ideas about surface and meaning in new ways that always has the potential of continuing to influence my love of ceramics.”

As a painter, Stout immediately discovered the potential of printmaking to explore new meaning in her work. Stout stated, “As soon as I let go of the idea of a preconceived end-result and allowed myself to see the potential of new techniques and experimentation to inform content, I was liberated and comfortable to think about painting in a new way. Using paper, exploring new techniques, experimenting with new color combinations — I was working in an environment of trying multiple ideas and multiple techniques in ways that I would have not approached on canvas.

“Like painting, printmaking has become a neverending search on ways for me to express my core intent of expressing unity in opposition.”

“The Art of Possibility: Three Artists Explore Printmaking” is the result of three very different artists experiencing the difficulties and successes of printmaking processes. The value of informal dialogue with each other, sharing approaches to creative problem-solving, and ultimately understanding how all artists wrestle with personal meaning and content also underlie this show.

The public is invited to see the exhibit and meet the artists during the opening reception June 18 from 5:30-7 p.m. The exhibit will stay hanging in Gallery 208 until mid-August 2019. Gallery 208 is located at Up & Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan St. There is plenty of parking behind the building. For more information, call 910-484-6200.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare presents “Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” through June 22 and June 23, respectively.

From repeated comparisons to “Game of Thrones” to its “Psycho Killer” theme song to the corpses littering the space in its opening moments, STS’ presentation of Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” which opened June 4 at the Poe House, was an ambitious attempt with a promising beginning that fell a bit flat.

The play depends upon dialogue to move the plot forward and to describe the action, most of which occurs offstage. Dialogue delivery was hampered throughout the evening by intermittent microphone problems and often overwhelming traffic noise from the MLK highway just beyond the tree line. Despite copious program notes, because of the inability to hear the dialogue and the fact that Elizabethan English is an arcane tongue to modern ears, Richard’s convoluted machinations to gain the crown of England were often hard to follow. The players gamely carried on.

Standout performances were Evan Bridenstine’s rendition of “Psycho Killer,” Jen Pommerenke’s strutting Buckingham and Jane Moran’s commanding performance as Queen Margaret.

The premiere performance of “Merry Wives of Windsor” coincided with some much-needed rain. Undaunted, the plucky troupe cobbled together a play space in the fellowship hall of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and in the best tradition of the theater, the show went on. And what a show it was!

Aaron Alderman was brilliant as Sir John Falstaff, the greedy, lascivious “fat knight” who woos two married women in hopes of gaining access to their husbands’ wealth.

Playing Dr. Caius, one of three suitors of young Anne Page, Jen Pommerenke’s French accent, reminiscent of the best of Peter Sellers and Emma Thompson, never failed to elicit laughter. Her comic timing, along with that of Alderman, was always spot-on. The spirit of the ensemble was upbeat and merry throughout the entire performance. It was infectious, drawing the audience in and carrying us along on a rollicking adventure that definitely transcended the less-than-stellar play space.

Dena Vassey, costumer for "Richard III," does a lot with a little. She used white-infused and predominantly scarlet plaid shirts to differentiate between Richard’s York (white) and Lancaster (red) cohorts. Sana Moulder's costumes for “Merry Wives” were more elaborate but no less inventive as costume changes for several characters were crafted from one basic piece that could be quickly manipulated offstage into an entirely different look.

Jeremy Fiebig and Molly Malone co-directed both shows, with Avis Hatcher-Puzzo also joining as a co-director for "Merry Wives."

This intrepid band of itinerant players deserves both kudos and community support for their dedication to keeping theater at its most accessible alive and well in our midst. They are a multi-talented group. Not only do they have prodigious memories and the ability to master reams of difficult dialogue, they are talented singers, musicians and dancers.

Under the direction of Jacob French, STS pre-show and intermission mini-concerts are always a delight with songs both contemporary and traditional chosen to fit the mood of the play.

Food, nonalcoholic and adult beverages are available during the pre-show concert and again at intermission. The pre-show begins at 6:45 p.m. with showtime at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and online with discounts available for students, seniors and members of the military. For show dates and times, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com. Unless it’s raining, be sure to bring your own seating.