Some wise person once said there are no coincidences. By coincidence, I can’t remember who said it. But since someone said it, I believe it, and that settles it.

I began thinking about coincidences with the confluence of the visit to Japan of our very own Dear Extremely Stable Genius Leader over the Memorial Day weekend, which also coincided with the biggest weekend for mattress sales in the known universe. For reasons known only to mattress factory owners, Memorial Day weekend is the Super Bowl for sales on oddly named and expensive mattresses. We shall explore the mysteries of the timing of mattress sales in more depth a few paragraphs down if you can tolerate reading the entire column.

But back to Dear Leader’s visit to Japan. Little Rocket Man, as Kim Jong Un was known before he and Dear Leader fell in love, after an 18-month hiatus recently launched two shortrange ballistic missiles. Some people who are paid to think about such things for a living have suggested that Kim fired his rockets as a cranky message to our Dear Leader that their love affair has not yet ripened into a sanctionfree North Korea. Even the noted pacifist John Bolton, the nominal national security adviser, said publicly that Kim’s rocket show violated the UN’s resolutions, which barred North Korea from launching missiles.

Dear Leader ignored Bolton’s observation that launching of the missiles was a provocation. The Pentagon also took the position that the launches were violations. Unfazed, Dear Leader sided with Kim against his own administration. No big deal.

Dear Leader explained “My people think it could have been a violation, as you know, I view it differently. There have been no ballistic missiles going out. There have been no long-range missiles going out. And I think that someday we’ll have a deal. I’m not in a rush.”

The prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, who was next to Dear Leader, was more concerned, saying: “North Korea has launched a short-range ballistic missile. This is violating the Security Council resolution.” Abe is concerned, as Japan is in easy nuking range of North Korea’s missiles. Abe may be a worry-wart, but a missile by any other name would smell as sweet.

What are we to make of Dear Leader’s siding with Kim against the advice of the Pentagon and Bolton? As the King of Siam once said to Anna, “It is a puzzlement.”

Fortunately, I may have an explanation derived from Greek mythology and our old friend Icarus. Icarus’ daddy, Daedalus, was a handy guy around the workshop. King Minos of Crete had Daedalus build the labyrinth where the king imprisoned a Minotaur. The Minotaur is half man, half bull — and hungry all the time. The King didn’t want Daedalus and Icarus to spill the beans on how to get in and out of the labyrinth, so he locked them up in a tower.

Daedalus wasn’t happy about being imprisoned, so he made sets of wings for Icarus and himself. The wings were made of feathers stuck together with wax. The wings worked fine.

Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun as the wax would melt and the wings fail. Like most teenagers, Icarus didn’t pay much attention to what his dad said. Sure enough, Icarus started cutting fool when he was flying. He flew too close to the sun. His wings melted and down Icarus went into the sea, where he met a watery death. Bummer.

Now what does this have to do with Dear Leader’s love affair with Kim, you might ask if you have gotten this far. Dear Leader has been warned by his version of Daedalus — his advisers and the Pentagon — not to gettoo close to Kim. Like Icarus and the sun, Dear Leader has flown too close to Kim. Dear Leader even went out of his way on foreign soil to agree with Kim that presidential frontrunner Joe Biden was a “Swampman and a low-IQ individual.”

As someone said, love is blind. Dear Leader’s love for Kim is blind. You may be a murderous dictator, but if you criticize an enemy of Dear Leader, he will fly right up to you. What could go wrong?

As to the mattress sales that coincided with Dear Leader’s flight to the North Korean sun, consider the names of mattresses on sale. Most people consider a mattress a fairly mundane item. However, some branding geniuses came up with mattress names that sound more like fine wines or exotic sports cars. Imagine the safe and restful sleep you could get on the following mattresses: Cheswick Manor Bellefonte Pillow Top mattress, Performance Hybrid Trust II Reservoir III Luxury Plush, Hybrid Copper II Plush, Three Pools III Ultra Firm, Premium Achieving Luxury Firm, Premium Exuberant Luxury, Highgate Cushion Plus Hybrid, Rockwell Luxury Plush Euro Pillow Top, Airewood Karpen Wilshire Luxury Firm, Grandbed 7400, or the Kingsdown Wibraham Luxury Eurotop Hybrid. Makes me sleepy just thinking about it.

Even if Dear Leader gives away the farm while flying too close to Kim or Putin, America will always win the luxury mattress race, even if we have to use a CPAP to enjoy it.

We all want North Carolina to be an attractive place to live, work, create jobs, rear families and build communities. When we move from ends to means, the level of disagreement moves from low to high.

Generally speaking, progressives think that the best way to accomplish these goals is to expand government — to tax more, regulate more and spend more on government services. Conservatives generally think the best way to make North Carolina a more attractive place to live and work is to restrain government so that it delivers basic services more cost-effectively, allowing households to keep more of their own money and freedom to use as they wish.

The dispute is often framed solely in the context of interstate mobility. Certainly we want people, businesses and jobs to flow in rather than out. But let’s be more specific. Our growth over time depends heavily on our rate of entrepreneurship, the rate at which people — natives or newcomers — create and expand new businesses in our state.

There are many different ways to assess the rate of business formation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counts jobs and business establishments across the country. Over the past three years, new enterprises represented about 3.11% of establishments in North Carolina. That’s modestly higher than the national average but lower than that of regional rivals such as Florida.

A set of entrepreneurship indicators compiled by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation helps fill in the picture a bit more. While a higher proportion of Floridians (.42%) than North Carolinians (.28%) started a business last year, for example, that doesn’t tell the whole story. A higher share of those Florida entrepreneurs started their businesses “by necessity,” in other words because they lost a previous job. Entrepreneurship by choice was higher in our state. North Carolina startups were also slightly more likely than Florida startups to survive into a second year.

However our state might fare in an elaborate applesto- apples comparison, there’s little doubt that North Carolina would be better off if more people were willing and able to take a chance on new business ventures in our state. You often hear the claim that small businesses are more important than large businesses when it comes to creating new jobs, or bringing to market new products and services that satisfy consumer demands. This isn’t quite right. A disproportionate amount of new economic value, including employment, comes from new businesses, regardless of size, although of course most new businesses start out small.

So, how can policymakers foster a stronger culture of entrepreneurship in our state? Both ideological coalitions offer predictable sets of answers. Progressives insist that government ought to spend more on public services even if it means higher taxes and that the new regulations they favor would confer more benefits than costs on North Carolinians, including those inclined to start and grow new businesses. Conservatives disagree.

It’s a complex matter, naturally, but on balance the empirical evidence supports the conservative side of the disagreement. Most studies find that startups are more frequent, and more likely to succeed, in states where taxes and regulations are low, all other things being held equal. Higher government spending doesn’t boost entrepreneurship in most studies.

A different way to test the proposition is to ask entrepreneurs themselves. That was the approach taken by three economists who published a recent study in the Journal of Regulatory Economics. They zeroed in on entrepreneurs in Kansas City, which straddles two states — Missouri and Kansas — that exhibit differences in fiscal and regulatory policy. The vast majority of respondents said they would be less likely to start a new enterprise in a place that increased occupational licensing, corporate taxes or the time required to register a business.

A few, 16%, indicated otherwise. Some business folks don’t see bigger government as a barrier. Some reside in North Carolina. You may have heard from them, and their opinions are valid. But they are also atypical. Policymakers, take note.

No one is more disappointed than Vernon Aldridge that the town of Hope Mills recently dropped its pursuit of building an indoor swimming facility at the old town golf course property. Aldridge was a member of the town’s recently-disbanded aquatics committee that was exploring a possible cooperation between the town, Hope Mills YMCA and other entities to bring an indoor pool to the community.

As student activities director for Cumberland County Schools, Aldridge knows there’s a definite need for a public indoor swimming facility in Cumberland County to help continue the growth of high school swimming at the county’s senior high schools.

“Swimming is probably the largest growing sport in Cumberland County right now,’’ he said. In just the past two years, he estimates the number of swimming participants in the county school system has doubled.

He said there are currently about 250 high school swimmers in the county, representing every senior high school that has athletic teams. While some schools have small teams of just a few swimmers, he said there are multiple teams at the high school level with 20 or more swimmers. The sport has risen from minimal participation when it first started a little over a decade ago in the county, Aldridge said.

The growth of the sport is more impressive when the burdens local swimmers have to endure to both practice and compete are factored in. Fayetteville State University has the only local indoor swimming facility that swimmers and their coaches can access for practice and competition. It is typically only available for practice sessions from 5:30-7:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The Christmas break has been a major problem for swimmers and coaches for years as the Fayetteville State pool completely shuts down for a three- to four-week period, meaning the athletes can’t practice at all there.

One thing that has helped the local swimming program recently is the addition of so-called bubble domes, or coverings, at outdoor recreation department pools at Westover High School and College Lakes Recreation Center. Aldridge said a third outdoor bubble-domed pool is in the works at Lake Rim.

An indoor swimming facility would not only benefit Cumberland County swimmers but would likely attract swimmers from neighboring counties, Aldridge said. Robeson County Schools swim at the pool at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, while schools in the Sandhills Athletic Conference that includes Seventy-First and Jack Britt hold their meets at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg.

Aldridge appreciates the cost of an indoor pool, which is why he was glad the Hope Mills YMCA wanted to partner with the town to pursue an indoor pool there.

While Aldridge could not make any promises the county schools would be willing to get involved financially in the project, he said they more than likely would be a regular customer if an indoor pool is constructed locally.

“We have a growing need for aquatic space,’’ Aldridge said. “We have a number of kids who are just swimmers, but we have a huge number of our teams with kids who are athletes in other sports. I think it’s a great way for those kids to stay in shape.’’

He said the Johnston County Schools have partnered with Smithfield Parks and Recreation and are opening a pool on land owned by Smithfield-Selma High School. He’s also heard Harnett County is working on an indoor pool at the former Wayside Furniture building.

“Whether (local) parks and recreation or Hope Mills or anyone is interested in opening that type of center (in Cumberland County), we’d definitely be interested in listening to what they have to offer,’’ Aldridge said.

The report at the May 29 Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meeting was a learning experience for all of us. We learned about legal, ethical and procedural dilemmas and how some might have been handled differently.

The independent investigator commissioned by the town of Hope Mills to investigate ethical misconduct and inappropriate protocols related to the town’s dealings with Lone Survivor Foundation found no ethical or illegal actions on the part of any of the parties involved. He did, however, find a procedural error in the presentation of the proposal to the Board of Commissioners. The presence of the nonprofit organization — LSF — at the closed meeting, where the possible lease/ purchase of “Lakebed #2” was discussed, appeared to throw off the decision-making process of the board members, giving them little or no time to digest the importance of what was being offered in terms of an economic opportunity to the town of Hope Mills. Nor were they up to date about the implications of future uses of the lakebed, which had been dried up and abandoned since at least the 1970s.

It sounded great at first: a national nonprofit organization providing therapy to veterans and their families on an abandoned and forgotten town property, Lakebed #2. What once was an enthusiastic response from the staff members involved in the initial meetings with Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation and LSF soon dwindled amongst the Hope Mills board members as they questioned other possibilities for the lakebed. They felt as if they were being backed into a corner. It appeared that some of them had assumed that Lakebed #2 was being studied by the McAdams Company for the future Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan for the town of Hope Mills because it was shown as “parkland” in the Southwest Land Use Plan.

However, at the Oct. 1, 2018, special meeting, according to the minutes, Principal Landscape Architect Rachel Cotter, representing the McAdams Company with some of its initial community responses to its study, surprisingly had not included the lakebed in its plan for recreational development because it was still shown as “other Town-owned properties...” As it had never been “...dedicated for use and a developed master plan adopted for those properties there isn’t a basis for including it under the umbrella of parks and recreation.”

So, here we are — almost four months after the board rejected the offer at a closed meeting — just now finding out that there would be no projected parks and recreation use for the lakebed in its Comprehensive Plan.

Isn’t that one of the main reasons stated by the board for not accepting the offer? Because they wanted to wait for the results of this plan? And the possible use of the lake as a reservoir?

The working tour of some of the town properties, including the lakebed, was shown in the same minutes to be scheduled for Friday, Oct. 19, 2018.

Now the lakebed is being talked about, but was it for the last 40 some-odd years?

So, what have we learned from this $26,000-plus investigation and its results? We are not perfect. The board, the mayor and the staff are not perfect. We all have flaws. We all can do better. As a result of questions about the initial closed session meeting, now Hope Mills videotapes them, like they once did. I would hope that express verbal agreements might be transformed into express written agreements to avoid future questions of misconduct.

Never having been presented with a prospective purchase or lease from the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation in the past, our town now knows the protocols for handling it right the next time, and Hope Mills Mayor pro tem Mike Mitchell acknowledged that another transaction has already taken place, without questions or accusations of improprieties or misconduct.

We all must learn from these costly mistakes.

The greatest lesson is to be inclusive, not divisive. We have too much of that in Washington, D.C., now. We need to set an example of working together, not pulling each other apart. The mayor and board were elected to represent the town of Hope Mills and its citizens. Back-stabbing and talking behind someone’s back can accomplish nothing, except to divide. They must realize that each of them has a heart and has the best intentions for this town and that they must learn to work together as a team, utilizing the best talents in each of them and improving the suspicious nature that led to this investigation and to the recent “lack of confidence vote” in the mayor. Commissioners, you are also not perfect.

Not only did we spend more than $26,000 for the investigation, but we lost a golden opportunity to transform an all-but-forgotten lakebed into muchneeded economic development for our town. We not only had a “bird in the hand” and lost it, but we may have also lost “the two in the bush,” while waiting for the magic solution for Lakebed #2.

Meetings

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

• Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, June 12, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

• Board of Commissioners Monday, June 17, Luther Meeting Room, Town Hall

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

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

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

• Board of Commissioners Monday, July 1, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

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.

Darius McLeod

Westover • Basketball/golf • Senior

McLeod has a grade point average of 3.8. He was a second team choice in the 2018 Holiday Classic basketball tournament. He played golf three years for Westover. He is a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and the Academy of Health Sciences.

Alaina Walker

Westover • Volleyball/softball • Senior

Walker is ranked third in her class, with a 4.18 grade point average. She has been a member of Health Occupations Students of America for four years. She is a member of National Honor Society and the Academy of Scholars. She helped the Westover softball team to its first state playoff appearance in school history, batting .400 and driving in 15 runs.

Here is the Patriot Athletic All-Conference softball team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

Coach of the year: Stuart Gilmer, Gray’s Creek

Player of the year: Jaden Pone, Gray’s Creek

Pitcher of the year: Katie Murphy, Cape Fear

First team:

• Terry Sanford — Anna Suggs, Maddie Beard

• E.E. Smith — Kayla Parson

• Pine Forest — Zareeya Watson, Brianna Crosby, Brittany Maultsby, Korie St. Peter, Mary Lee Sullivan

• Gray’s Creek — Mackenzie Mason, Drew Menscer, Kylie Aldridge, Morgan Brady, Courtney Cygan, Jaden Pone

• Overhills — Malik’s Dones, Kiana Jones

• Cape Fear — Katie Murphy, Morgan Nunnery, Alyssa Meredith, Taylor Melvin, Aubrey Griffin, Jess Oxendine

• South View — Mia Ayers, Danielle Golcher, Alex Deville

• Westover — Alaina Walker

Honorable mention:

• Terry Sanford — Mylie Leahy

• E.E. Smith — Madilyn Hotchkiss, Abraonna Williams

• Gray’s Creek — Summer Powell, Madi Badley, Rebecca Collins

• Overhills — Taylor Nunn, Megan Maurer, Liz Mitchell

• Cape Fear — Marlin Horne, Aleiyah Payne, Lauren Adams, Ava Basket, Toni Blackwell

• South View — Faith Franklin, Raven Camacho, Bailey Lockwood, Katie Smith

• Westover — Chkylie Boado, Jasmine Kelsey, Maya Johnson

Here is the Patriot Athletic All-Conference baseball team as chosen by the league’s head coaches.

Coach of the year: Sam Guy, Terry Sanford

Player of the year: Davidjohn Herz, Terry Sanford

Pitcher of the year: Nick West, Cape Fear

First team:

• Cape Fear — Cade Oliver, Cole Altman

• Douglas Byrd — Edwardo Alfons

• Gray’s Creek — Landen Harris, Tyler Strickland, Aaron Smith, Ryan Miller, Dillon Taylor

•Overhills — Ricky Kelly

• Pine Forest — Justin Honeycutt, Isaac Gonzales, James O’Brien, Lance Lockamy

• South View — Riley Caudle, Damon Evans, Keshawn Dunham

• Terry Sanford — Justin Ebert, Jackson Deaver, Marcus Sanchez, Dorian Clark, Tommy Cooney, Hunter Wiggins

Honorable mention:

• Cape Fear — Nick Minacapelli

• Gray’s Creek — Hunter Smith, J.J. Rivera

• Overhills — Johnny Vickers, Richard Hooks

• South View — Caleb Shinn

• Terry Sanford — Jack Cooney

Freedom Christian Academy’s softball team experienced tragedy before its 2019 season ever started. But by season’s end, the coaches and players were able to move from tragedy to triumph as they bought home the school’s third North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association state title in four years.

The Patriots entered this year’s NCISAA 2-A state tournament as the No. 3 seed but cruised through the double elimination portion of the playoffs unbeaten. They beat both top-seeded Rocky Mount Academy and No. 2 Halifax Academy along the way, the former on its home field in a 16-inning duel lasting over three and a half hours.

Freedom finished the season 16-4 under the leadership of first-year head coach John Smith. Smith was no stranger to the Freedom softball program. He became the school’s director of security in 2016 after his longtime friend, the late Eddie Dees, had become Freedom’s softball coach and led the Patriots to their first-ever softball championship.

Dees passed away that same year. Smith, a former member of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and the Hope Mills Police Department, continued in an assistant coaching role until he was asked to take over as head coach entering the 2019 season.

It wasn’t long after he was hired that the team experienced misfortune. Haley Roberson, the starting third baseman, died at her home in late September one morning before school.

“She was a solid defensive player and an offensive threat,’’ Smith said of Roberson. “Between the emotions of losing her, starting the season without her and trying to fill that void, it was some trying times.’’

It was reflected in the team’s record as they struggled to a 3-3 start.

“We only had five returnees and eight new girls,’’ Smith said. “The nucleus of that bunch was seventh and eighth graders. They had travel ball experience, but they hadn’t been with our program. We had to learn their skill set.’’

Smith praised the work of two veteran assistant coaches, Russell Montgomery and Jimmy Nelson. “They know the game inside out and were there to help me,’’ he said.

So were their two daughters, pitcher Haley Nelson and catcher Molly Montgomery. Nelson, a junior, is committed to play at Queens University of Charlotte. Montgomery, a senior, has a scholarship to Gardner-Webb University.

Just getting to the postseason was a brutal test for Freedom because of the tough competition it faced in its own league, the Sandhills Athletic Conference. Cape Fear Christian Academy won the NCISAA 1-A state championship. Fayetteville Christian made the final four in the 3-A playoffs, and Village Christian was a top ten seed in the same classification.

The Patriots lost at Rocky Mount Academy 4-0 in their second game of the season, so Smith knew when they faced them again in the state playoffs it was going to be a challenge.

“It was definitely a pitching duel for 16 innings,’’ he said of the rematch in the state tournament. Finally, Marissa McQueen, a seventh grader, drilled a double to right center to score a pair of runs that held up for the win.

Nelson went the distance on the mound and recorded 13 strikeouts in the win. Both she and Montgomery were selected to the NCISAA 2-A All- State team.

But those aren’t the most interesting numbers about the championship season. Roberson’s jersey number was three, her position third base, and that number kept popping up for Freedom in the postseason. To begin with, they were the third seed in the state tournament.

They won the final game of the tournament over Halifax 6-3, after scoring three runs late to break a 3-3 tie. And when the season was over, the Patriots had their third state title.

“Although Haley was not present, she was there in spirit and mind with us,’’ Smith said.

Photo: Haley Nelson

Meetings

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

• Festival Committee Monday, June 3, 6 p.m., Town Hall Front Conference Room

• Mayor’s Youth Leadership Committee Monday, June 3, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Front Conference Room

• Board of Commissioners Monday, June 3, 7 p.m., Luther Meeting Room, Town Hall

• Historic Preservation Commission Wednesday, June 12, 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building

• Board of Commissioners Monday, June 17, Luther Meeting Room, Town Hall

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

Activities

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

• Pet Fest Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Hope Mills Park.

• 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.

Another school year ended for Cumberland County this past Friday, and that was cause for concern for Delores Schiebe and the folks at the ALMSHOUSE in Hope Mills. “We have no contact with the children after that,’’ said Schiebe, referring to the regular ALMSHOUSE house program of providing free meals to those in the community in need while school is open.

Just three days after school closed this year, the ALMSHOUSE began a new program that will help solve the problem of making sure hungry people, especially children, can get a meal at lunchtime while school is out. The ALMSHOUSE will provide free bag lunches Monday through Friday during the summer months for anyone in need. People just need to come by the ALMSHOUSE headquarters on Ellison Street off Trade Street in downtown Hope Mills to pick up the lunch.

Plans for the bag lunches aren’t final, but what Schiebe said the ALMSHOUSE hopes to provide is something basic, including a bottle of water, a sandwich, a bag of chips and a piece of fruit.

“There was a time in the past when we had been able to do a lunchtime meal every day of the week, but we had to eliminate that,’’ Schiebe said. “We are very concerned because there are people needing meals at lunchtime and we’re very concerned about the children when they are going to be out of school.’’

Once the summer bag lunch program is ready to begin, Schiebe said a notice will be posted on the door of the ALMSHOUSE building on Ellison Street. “Anyone who needs a meal can come by and get that meal from us,’’ she said.

It’s possible the lunches could begin before mid-June if the details get worked out, but for now Schiebe said that will remain the target date for starting.

One thing that will keep the program running during the summer months will be regular donations from the public of sandwich items like bread and various types of meat and cheese, as well as fresh fruit like apples, bananas, oranges and tangerines.

Schiebe said the sandwiches will be prepared in advance as much as possible, and they can store them for a time in refrigerators and freezers at ALMSHOUSE. “We’ll do the sandwiches in advance so we can put them in sealed containers, Ziploc bags,’’ she said. “We won’t put mayonnaise or mustard on them. They’ll receive little packs of that.’’

If anyone would like to inquire about specific donations needed to help with the summer bag lunches program, they can call the ALMSHOUSE at 910-425-0902, or contact Grilley Mitchell via email at grillmitch@gmail.com.

“One of our main concerns is the children,’’ Schiebe said. “We want to take care of adults as well. But we’re unable to get to children now that school is out, and we want to be able to do that.’’

When Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner first got the phone call some 18 months ago, she admitted she was skeptical.

It was a woman from Cypress, Texas, named Virginia Valentine, who said she represented an organization called Angels Serving With A Purpose. Valentine had seen news reports on television about how Hope Mills was struggling from the after-effects of back-to-back hurricanes in the fall of 2017. She wanted to offer her organization’s help.

It took more than a year and a half, but when Valentine and her volunteers arrived in Hope Mills just over a week ago, they found local residents who were still in need of help long after the storms had passed.

Valentine and her group have been in operation for four years. They travel to any area of the United States that has suffered a disaster or an emergency or where there are simply people with no resources who need help.

“I have a heart and a love for this,’’ said Valentine, who is originally from Arkansas and grew up picking cotton. “We have started doing this with my foundation, and I want to continue doing this.’’

She watches news reports on local and national television to find out the places that might be in need of her charity. Then she reaches out to the officials of those cities, starting with the mayor, and finds local organizations she can partner with to distribute what she has to offer.

She recently arrived in Hope Mills with two rented trucks and two vans filled with her and her team of eight volunteers.

They brought along furniture, clothing, toiletries, cleaning products, brooms and mops. Some of the items were donated to Valentine; others she purchased with her own money.

She doesn’t screen anyone who comes to one of her giveaways. “We just bless them,’’ she said. “We try not to discriminate or hurt. I do this generously, willingly and lovingly. Everything is free. I don’t charge anybody for anything.’’

Valentine’s giveaway set up shop at the Hope Mills Shrine Club. Warner put Valentine in contact with the Shriners because she felt their site provided enough parking and space for Valentine to spread out all the things she planned to give to people.

News of the giveaway was quickly spread by word of mouth and social media the day before the event was held.

Warner said even before Valentine’s volunteers had completed setting up, people were already lining up to take advantage of the event. 

Expecting a mad rush for the various free items, Warner said the atmosphere was calm and orderly. “They let them come in five at a time,’’ she said. “Gradually, people would take what they wanted, then the next wave came in. Nobody was grabbing. Nobody was fussing over anything.’’

On many occasions, Warner said, Valentine would meet with people, talk with them and ask them what their specific needs were. In some cases, where families wanted the same item, Valentine would talk with them and try to determine who had the greatest need in an attempt to make sure the item went to the most deserving family.

Warner said she saw a young soldier, who had a wife and baby and no furniture, pick up a sofa, chair and some baby items. An elderly gentleman who lost everything in the 2017 floods got a recliner and a chair.

When the giveaway ended and there were a few items left, Valentine and her group didn’t want to take anything back to Texas with them, so Warner arranged for it to be donated to a local charity that agreed to take it.

Valentine and her volunteers stayed in Hope Mills through the weekend, worshipping at a local church on Sunday and returning to Texas the following Monday.

“The people that needed stuff got the message and they came,’’ Warner said. “It was very calm and orderly. It was a good thing.’

On June 1, Brothers For Brothers will honor Sgt. 1st Class Joshua “Zach” Beale, 32, who was killed Jan. 22, in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. Beale was assigned to Operational Detachment Alpha 3123, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The June 1 event is a poker ride that will start at Charlie Mike’s, 195 Star Point Dr. in Fayetteville. Stops along the way will included PK’s Grill & Pub, 155 Airport Dr., Raeford; The Dog House, 3049 Owen Dr., Fayetteville; Legends Pub, 4624 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville; and a return to Charlie Mike’s.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. The first bike will leave Charlie Mike’s at noon, and upon the riders’ return, food will be served at 4 p.m. The fun will continue at 4:30 p.m., to include the Best Poker Hand, Worst Poker Hand, a three-gun raffle and a 50/50 drawing. There will also be an auction.

All proceeds will go to the Special Forces Charitable Trust. The SFCT is a 501(c)(3) charity that provides meaningful and sustainable support to the families of our Green Berets. The SFCT supports timely, innovative and comprehensive programs and services designed to enhance the wellbeing and health of both the Special Forces soldier and his or her family.

The 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) is a home to heroes. The group has seen extensive action in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. The men of the 3rd SFG have received two Medal of Honors, 56 Silver Stars, 183 Bronze Star with valor devices, and 239 Army Commendation medals with valor devices.

If there is a topic you would like to discuss, you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE!

Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Joshua “Zach” Beale

I recently stood amid hundreds of American flags placed in memory of men and women who answered the call to serve this nation. I made my way over to a man in a Rolling Thunder vest and asked for his thoughts on the importance of the local display known as the Field of Honor. “They say everyone dies twice. Once when we die physically,” he said, “and again when people stop talking about you.”

My dad didn’t talk about his military service very much. In the summer of 1941, he lied about his age to join the U.S. Navy without his parents’ permission before his 18th birthday. The Second World War was just getting started in the Pacific and, like many other American boys, he was anxious to do his part. Classified as a pharmacist’s mate, much of his 16 years of service were spent as a more necessary combat medic with the Marines.

Much of what I learned, I gathered from a friend my dad served with, Henry Hornak. We had visited Hank and his wife, Dottie, in West Virginia when I was in my teens, and I had called him years later to hopefully fill in some blanks after my dad’s passing in 1981. “Your dad saw some awful things in the war,” he told me. “Most of his memories probably weren’t good ones. I’m glad to share some of those that were.”

We just celebrated Memorial Day in the United States. The holiday is often regarded as the beginning of summer more than a time to remember those who stood in the gap for the oppressed across the globe. My thoughts wander to people like my father, to the courageous stand they took and the friends they left behind. He would go on to lose his first son to the war in Vietnam, a kid whose name I have photographed or rubbed off the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on more than one occasion, but whose face I can’t recall at all.

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville is a great place to remember. And it’s a fitting place for conversations with others who remember. The adjacent North Carolina Veterans Park and nearby memorials afford visitors many spots to pause and reflect, and whether or not you or your family is represented in any of the impressive displays, a visit will surely stir a sense of pride and awe for the collective good some of America’s most honorable men and women have accomplished on our behalf.

The Field of Honor is a good place to start. The moving and colorful display will be in place until June 27. You can sponsor a flag in honor or memory of someone you know and love by visiting the ASOM gift shop or the website, www.asomf.org. Flags are folded and offered to their sponsors concluding the display and can serve as a fitting tribute in the home of America’s finest families.

Alpha & Omega Dance Academy is ending its 12th year with a new kind of Cinderella story. “The Glass Slipper” will incorporate all ages and 10 styles of dance into an end-of-year recital and production with one mantra: “Have courage and be kind.” AODA welcomes the community to the production, which takes place Saturday, June 8, at Huff Concert Hall (formerly known as Reeves Auditorium), Methodist University.

Rachel Choi, who owns the studio and teaches many of the classes there, is also the artistic and productions director for “The Glass Slipper.” She said she wasn’t at first planning to produce a recital based on the Cinderella story. “I didn’t want to do ‘Cinderella’ … because in most versions of the story, they portray Cinderella as maybe a little wishy-washy,” Choi said. “They don’t show her strength. I don’t want to communicate to girls that you need to be this passive person, just waiting for your prince to come. We have a life of our own that we can live before we meet that perfect someone.”

A few “Cinderella” renditions with more inspiring messages, along with instructor Maria Choi, who will portray a stepsister in the recital, swayed Rachel’s opinion. “The 2015 version with Lily James, to me, has a better storyline … which is ‘have courage and be kind,’” Choi said. “She chooses to be a servant and to be kind versus letting someone push her into it. That’s what made me change my mind.”

The students and staff at AODA strive to show kindness, too. “Ever since I’ve gotten here, everybody’s just been so welcoming … and they really do focus on storytelling and having a community here,” said Justin Nolen, who will play the prince.

AODA is one of the only local noncompetitive studios of its size. Instead of competing, the studio focuses on developing artistry in students and telling stories through dance. “I don’t feel any competition with any of my classmates,” said Collette LeFavor, who plays Cinderella in the production. “And I also love that it’s a Christian studio. The prayer before class really gets your mind right.”

Maria commented on the family environment at AODA: “I feel like I know everyone; it’s relational. The students are excited to be here, and I think there’s just a friendly atmosphere that people enjoy being in.”

“The Glass Slipper” begins at 3 p.m., June 8. AODA will have a shorter recital for children ages 3-6 at 10:30 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online for $10, or at the door for $12, and include access to both the morning children’s recital and the afternoon production. Huff Concert Hall is located at 5400 Ramsey St. Children under 6 years old and all AODA students enter free. Doors open 30 minutes before the show.

For more information, call 910-860- 1405 or visit the studio’s website, www.alphaomegadanceacademy.com.

Photo: L to R: Maria and Angel Choi as Stepsisters Olivine and Carnelia; Ashlyn Clark as Stepmother; Collette LeFavor as Cinderella; Ebony Norris as Fairy Godmother; Isabel Beck as Young Cinderella; and Allison Todd as Cinderella’s mother

Sweet Tea Shakespeare presents “Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” on alternating nights, beginning Tuesday, June 4, on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House.

From this famous opening line, “Now is the winter of our discontent…” to the last line the eponymous Richard utters, “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!” Shakespeare’s “Richard III” is an epic play with reams of dialogue and a huge cast of characters. STS’ challenge in presenting it is to condense the script and the cast to fit the Sweet Tea format and yet still tell the sweeping tale that effectively put an end to The Wars of the Roses.

“This production will feature a ‘Sons of Anarchy’ vibe,” said director Jeremy Fiebig. “But what I’d love to mention is that ‘Richard III’ is source material for some of the storylines in ‘Game of Thrones.’ In particular, Tyrion Lannister is modeled after Richard.”

A brief synopsis of English history is helpful in establishing context. The House of Plantagenet held the English throne from the mid-12th until the waning years of the 15th centuries. Midway through the 15th century, a decades-long struggle to capture the throne ensued between two branches of the House of Plantagenet — the House of York with a heraldic white rose and the House of Lancaster with the heraldic red rose. These battles and betrayals, which came to be known as The Wars of the Roses, killed off the direct male line of both houses and merged York with Lancaster when Henry Tudor, of dubious Lancastrian descent, ascended the throne and subsequently married Elizabeth of York. “Richard III” tells this story.

Shakespeare’s script involves the audience as an accomplice to Richard’s single-minded intent to seize the English crown. Richard’s soliloquies establish his motive, means and methods while, at the same time, his dialogue with others seeks to obscure them — often humorously. Aaron Alderman plays Richard while Cheleen Sugar plays Richard’s wife, Lady Anne.

Asked how he intended to portray Richard, Alderman said, “I can’t imagine him being a straight villain. I’ll try to find the man who fits into the oddly shaped hole that the text has left us. I believe there are moments where he is human, frail and afraid in ways many can understand.”

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” is full of marital intrigue and comic impediments to young love. Intrigue ensues when Falstaff, whose name has become synonymous with ineptness, woos two married women simultaneously. A subplot revolves around one father’s attempt to marry off his young daughter. “Wives” is directed by Fiebig as well. Alderman plays Falstaff, which should demonstrate his diverse acting talent as the bumbling Falstaff is a 180 from the Machiavellian Richard. Traycie Kuhn- Zapata plays Mistress Ford, and Sugar takes the role of Mistress Page.

“Show up early at 6:45 p.m. for live music, great food and beer and a great backyard party atmosphere,” said musical director Jacob French. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary, and there are discounts for students, seniors and members of the military. See Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s website, sweetteashakespeare.com, for performance dates and ticket prices. Tickets can be purchased online. Be sure to bring your own seating.

Photo: Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” are next up in Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s season. STS actors left to right: Traycie Kuhn Zapata, Aaron Alderman, Cheleen Sugar Photo credit: Jacob French

Army and Air Force spouses can apply for reimbursement of up to $500 for professional relicensing costs when they relocate with their service members. The new policy is retroactive to Dec. 12, 2017. It’s designed to ease the financial burden of spouses having to renew licenses each time they move to new duty stations. In many cases, spouses can’t get jobs in their fields unless they meet the requirements of their new states for licenses to practice in their professions. The policies apply to spouses of active-duty Army and Air Force, Guard, and Reserve on Title 10 orders.

The Navy is still working on its policy to allow the reimbursement and expects to release it soon, according to a Navy administrative message. Information was not immediately available from the Marine Corps.

The Army and Air Force policies apply to fees paid during each permanent change of station move. But reimbursements in connection with each move cannot exceed $500. Local and state-level licenses or certifications are required for a long list of professions, thousands in our area involving Army spouses. They range from dental hygienists and accountants to nurses and doctors, hair stylists, teachers and attorneys. The requirements vary widely from state to state, and from one profession to another.

Here’s how the Army program works: Instructions on how to apply for reimbursement can be found in the All Army Activities message, or ALARACT 036/2019. Instructions will also eventually be available on the Military One- Source website. Department of Defense officials have been working for years to bring attention to state lawmakers that transferring occupational licenses from previous states is an important issue for military spouses who want to be able to continue to work in their professions.

In North Carolina, state law provides in part that “licensure for military spouses... an occupational licensing board, as defined in G.S. 93B-1, shall issue a license, certification, or registration... to allow the applicant to lawfully practice the applicant’s occupation in this state.” Certain ordinary provisions must be met.

Relicensing costs can include exam and registration fees where the new duty station is located — fees that are required in order to engage in the profession the spouse was in while with the service member at the last duty station. The reimbursement is a pilot program authorized through Dec. 31, 2022, by the current defense law, the fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.

Family advocates have been frustrated by the delay in implementing the program. “We’re really encouraged to see that it’s retroactive back to Dec. 12, 2017,” said Jen Davis, government relations deputy director for the National Military Family Association.

The association will be watching to see how reimbursement programs get rolled out for the Navy and Marine Corps. Because the individual military services are responsible for both the permanent change of station moves and related reimbursements, they have the discretionary authority to provide the payments.

Downtown Fayetteville business owners have high hopes for the impact of professional baseball on local commerce. Those Up & Coming Weekly have spoken with seem to agree Segra Stadium is a good thing for business. That, of course, was the hope of Fayetteville City Council when it decided to put together a $40 million business plan to build the ballpark and entertainment venue.

“In many ways, the stadium is delivering the audience, but it’s up to the business owners to entice attendees to come in the door,” said former Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne. He knows the downtown market as well as anyone. Chavonne lives on Person Street in a house that would be thought of anywhere else as a twostoryrow house.

“Early business reports are somewhat mixed as we all try to figure it out,” Chavonne added. “There’s a lot of continued excitement right now with the new stadium. We expect that to die down some as people get into more of a routine.”

Merchants tend to be optimistic because of the new ballpark and the thousands of downtown visitors it has drawn. “We love the stadium and hope with time that more ballpark fans become downtown customers,” said merchant Molly Arnold. She and her husband have owned two downtown businesses for many years, including Rude Awakening Coffee House at 227 Hay St.

However, dozens of merchants showed up at City Hall earlier this month to complain that city government had made hasty decisions, which city manager Doug Hewett acknowledged need work. “We hope to come back with a larger and more comprehensive parking management program late in 2019 early in 2020,” he said at that meeting.

That’s months away, and Arnold suspects delays will be a problem. “We are hoping that City Council recognizes the need to also stop charging in (parking) lots, at the least,” she said.

Chavonne agreed, saying, “Many are avoiding the city paid parking lots and find abundant free parking in other parts of the city.”

Without saying so directly, Arnold suggested that merchants may have the answers. She said newcomers who come downtown for ballgames wonder about the police presence. “We hear that the regular blocking of Hay Street and the flashing blue lights is off-putting to people,” she said.

The city blocks off Hay Street between Ray Avenue and Pittman Street for pedestrians and stations police cars at each end. “I am still amazed with folks’ concerns on security,” Chavonne noted, recalling his eight years as mayor.

“We are encouraged” about the future, said Laura Laycock, store manager of Center City Gallery & Books at 112 Hay St. She said she has seen an increase in pedestrian traffic in recent weeks. The store closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays, but weekend afternoon games seem to generate traffic. Asked if owners Diane and Hank Parfitt have considered staying open later, Laycock said, “We’ve talked about it.”

Former Cumberland County Public health director Buck Wilson resigned nearly two years ago. At about the same time, county commissioners considered whether to consolidate human services agencies. While that process was ongoing, the county decided to suspend the recruitment of a health director. Assistant County Manager Duane Holder was named acting director to provide departmental leadership. Several months later, during the May 21 meeting, the board of commissioners voted 5-2 to retain the existing governance structure. The Board of Health then formed a search committee to resume recruitment of a health director and retained a consultant to find a permanent director. That was one year ago.

“Following an initial search, the committee decided to repost the position with a targeted marketing effort to reach potential candidates from communities across the country with similar demographics and health priorities,” Holder said. The search continues.

Hospital gets an “A”

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center was awarded an “A” from The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2019 Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes Cape Fear Valley’s efforts to protect its patients from harm. The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers. It grades hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care.

“To be recognized nationally as an ‘A’ hospital is an accomplishment the whole community should take pride in,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measurements of publicly available safety data to evaluate more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice a year. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center was awarded an “A” grade following a period a few years ago when safety data was not as flattering. For information and patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.

The Baby Store is open again

The Cumberland County Health Department’s Baby Store has reopened for public health clients. The Baby Store is a prenatal health promotion program that aims to create healthy moms and healthy babies. Health Department clients can earn baby bucks by attending prenatal care appointments and participating in health education programs such as smoking cessation, childbirth, parenting and breastfeeding classes. Clients with children who visit the Women, Infants and Children program; Women’s Health Clinic; Family Planning Clinic; Child Health Clinic; Immunization Clinic; and many other programs for moms with newborns can also earn bucks.

These baby bucks can be used to purchase items such as diapers, baby wipes, clothing and more. Store hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The Baby Store program helps expectant moms and families by aiding in the healthy development of their babies,” said interim health director Duane Holder. “This is one way we can help decrease the infant mortality rate and low birth weight percentages in Cumberland County.”

The Baby Store is made possible through a grant awarded by the North Carolina Office of Rural Health. The Baby Store has been open, when funding has been available, off and on since 2010. 

Local volunteer honored

Cumberland Disaster Recovery Coalition Secretary Diane Chandler has received the Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service in recognition of her contributions to the coalition’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Al Foote, administrative officer for Medicaid Transportation and Disaster Coordination at the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, surprised Chandler with the award during CDRC’s May 14 meeting.

The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors the spirit of volunteerism by recognizing individuals, groups and businesses that make significant contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

“In the wake of Hurricane Matthew... Diane’s detailed minutes have allowed the CDRC to maintain records of our rise from a small group to a nonprofit long-term recovery group and now to one of the most productive and successful LTRGs in the state,” Foote said.

Chandler joined the CDRC in 2011 shortly after tornadoes struck Cumberland County. The coalition was established as a result of the 2011 tornado disaster. For more information, or to find out how to become a volunteer, go to cdrcnc.org.

Local business changes hands

FASTSIGNS of Fayetteville, a locally owned and operated sign and graphics company, has a new owner. Vic Cannon, a resident of North Carolina since 1987 and of Fayetteville since last year, bought the business from the original owner. Cannon said he hopes to expand and further improve the high level of quality and customer service that the Fayetteville community has experienced in the past with the same team.

As a member of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, Cannon looks forward to continued involvement in his community as a new business owner.

“I have run many businesses for others, but I wanted a business of my own,” Cannon said. FASTSIGNS of Fayetteville is located at 2807 Raeford Rd.

Photo: Duane Holder

I am glad that the city appears to be moving in the right direction in reducing parking fees during home baseballgames. It troubles me, however, to hear some elected officials say that these are really “user fees,” needed because parking has been “subsidized” by all taxpayers whether they come downtown or not. This is a gross over implication of the facts that doesn’t serve the truth well.

First, downtown property owners and businesses are contributing to the cost of parking through the Municipal Service District tax that they — and no one outside the district — pay. The city is taking $50,000 annually from the MSD tax fund to help offset the cost of parking: $25,000 toward debt retirement on the new deck and $25,000 to McLaurin Parking.

Second, the majority of building owners have title to the ground under their building but not one inch beyond. There are some exceptions, like the owners of Huske Hardware House or John Tyson, who owns much of the 100 block on the south side. Most building owners simply have no place for parking for themselves, their staff or customers unless it is provided by the municipality. This is unique to downtowns everywhere.

Third, the amenities offered in the downtown’s art and entertainment district add quality of life to our whole community — city and county — and if promoted properly, can be a powerful recruiting tool and also increase revenue from out-of-town visitors. People have to have access to these amenities, and only the city can provide that access.

Like other cities, ours provides services that are desirable even if not fully funded by a user tax. It is similar to public schools. I think most people would agree that public schools are essential in a community, especially for families who cannot afford a private school, and deserve public funding — even if they are not used by some taxpayers, like retirees or people without children.

Dictionary.com gives the following definition of white privilege: “White privilege is a term used to describe unearned rights and benefits afforded white people in Western society because of the color of their skin.” I give very little thought or attention to discussions of white privilege. Therein is my recommendation to anybody who will listen. Years of living and struggling with life have taught me that focusing on considerations that do not move a critical effort forward is a sorrowful waste of time and effort.

A friend recently shared a joke with me that illustrates how my comment in that opening paragraph looks in action. The joke has several iterations, but all of them make the same point. This from an internet post titled “The ‘Streetlight Effect’: a metaphor for knowledge and ignorance”:

“A parable featuring the Seljuk Sufi mystic Nasrudin Hodja may be the earliest form of the story: ‘Someone saw Nasrudin searching for something on the ground. “What have you lost, Mulla?” he asked. “My key,” said the Mulla. So they both went down on their knees and looked for it. After a time the other man asked: “Where exactly did you drop it?” “In my own house.” “Then why are you looking here?” “There is more light here than inside my own house.”’

It seems that at every turn, I hear or read about white privilege. The topic has even taken centerstage in the 2020 presidential campaign. For me, the pressing question is what productive outcome will, or might, result from the profuse back-and-forth regarding this matter? All I see is a lot of meaningless talking, increased tension between whites and nonwhites, and a feeding of the notion that nonwhites, especially black Americans, are victims in this country. The result is that we invest tremendous time and effort in a pursuit that does not better the condition of blacks or other nonwhites. This approach excites citizens, attracts attention to seekers of power and probably produces financial gain for some people and organizations.

What is happening is like the joke. Attention is given where it is easy and satisfies the aims of those who contend that negative consequences result from white privilege. The efforts are not directed where they would be more difficult and far less rewarding by way of gaining power and would set people free of the chains of victimhood. No, this is about operating where there is light, not about making a real difference in the lives of people.

Let me be clear. I do not doubt for a moment that advantages go to some white Americans because of their skin color. Note my use of “some.” It seems a stretch to hold that this is the case with every white person. Support for that comment simply requires honest examination of the difficult living conditions faced by many whites in our country.

Given this white privilege condition, the challenge for nonwhites, and for those who claim they want to help this population, is how to best respond in this situation. I read a devotion recently that succinctly described how I respond to this hyper-emphasis on white privilege. The devotion is titled “His affirmation is our contentment” and appeared in the May 2019 Stand Firm magazine of devotions.

The scriptural basis for the devotion was Matthew 25:14-30, the New King James version. This is where Jesus tells “The Parable of the Talents.” In it, a man travels far from his home. Before leaving, he gives varying amounts of money (talents) to his servants. Verse 15 says: “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” The man returns and wants to know how each servant used the money they were given. Each of them reports. Two made good use of the money while one buried his and produced no return.

Most of the time when this parable is addressed in a sermon or discussion, the emphasis is on how we should make the fullest possible use of the capabilities or resources God provides to us. However, the devotion writer raised another point. That point has to do with what does not happen between the servants who received the talents. Even though they had different amounts, not one of them complained about those differences. There is no indication of jealousy. Each one decides how to use what they had been given. Two of the three make wise investments, while one does nothing productive. The success- feeding truth that is to be grabbed hold of is that they focused on what they each had and not on the possessions or advantages of others.

A fact of life is that we only have so much time and energy. Wisdom dictates that we invest that time and energy where it is productive. That point shows through in the parable. It seems to me that all the attention given to white privilege discussions only diminishes the capacity of nonwhite Americans for giving attention to endeavors that would prove productive for us.

As I review my life, I see wheel-spinning when I failed to follow the approach recommended in the opening of this column. On the other hand, when I have focused on doing my best to make full use of my capabilities, while not complaining about the natural advantages that others have, life has been pretty productive.

Again, there are some who benefit from white privilege. However, we must not allow barren discussions of the topic to distract us from productive endeavors, from actions that might assist others to successful living and, in general, help make the world a better place. Doing so requires leaving the ease of light and turning from wasted motion while focusing on what is productive. 

We Americans pride ourselves on our diversity. Some of us come from Native American families with millennia-deep roots in this great land. Others descend from people who arrived in time to found this nation. Others hail from families who arrived from all over the world, and some of us arrived much more recently from everywhere. Somehow over more than two centuries, Americans both maintained our diverse backgrounds and melded ourselves into one people, growing into the strongest nation — economically, culturally and militarily — in the world today.

As diverse as we are, for the better part of the 20th century and especially around World War II, Americans largely pulled together. Most of us considered ourselves religious. Our children went to public schools. We read newspapers and later watched network television, so we received the same news, even if we disagreed about it. In other words, we had common experiences. We had “glue.”

Far, far different are we in 2019.

We are as diverse as ever, really more so, but our glue has worn thin. We are more secular, with many Americans describing themselves as “spiritual” but not identifying with established denominations that meet as communities. Our children have many educational options, and charter schools are sharing — some would say draining — the resources of public schools. We now consume more news from sources we agree with and less from those striving for objectivity. Our choices are isolating us from other Americans.

It is as if Americans are spinning off into our own orbits.

Young people are increasingly moving to urban areas for educational and career opportunities, enriching cities at the expense of rural America in that demographic shift. Some see this as the rise of “brain” jobs and the decline of “brawn” jobs, a hard reality to fathom, and it is creating resentment in rural communities. No one can argue that our politics are not toxic. Both the right and the left view those who disagree as “the other,” so different and so incorrect that we cannot understand each other.

Few of the 327 million people in the United States express ideas for bridging our divides with a goal of healing, but an old proposal — one I have long supported — is receiving renewed attention.

National service for young Americans would provide a common experience at the beginning of adulthood, a formative time of life in all societies. It could take many different forms. It could be mandatory, a year or so of service required of all able American young people. This service could take many forms. It could be military. Such service could be educational, health care related, environmental, agricultural, social or cultural. It could be voluntary, as some young Americans are already doing with Teach for America, AmeriCorps and other national, regional and local organizations. Options are likely fluid and endless.

The point is not what our young people do but that they do something both for themselves and for their country. The point is that young Americans pause for a year or so and think not so much about themselves as about their communities and our nation. The point is that we remix and spread our national glue, creating common experiences and bonds for future generations.

National service is politically and economically fraught, and I do not pretend to have answers to how to pay for national service, voluntary or mandatory, or how it would affect existing jobs. Tuition support and student loan forgiveness could make national service attractive to young Americans, but how to structure such programs is challenging.

What I do know is that our communities and our nation will be stronger if we nurture ways to bring ourselves together — if we mix some new glue.

On April 27, the Hogs & Rags motorcycle rally held its 14th annual fundraising event as part of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival celebration. Hundreds of cars and motorcycles lined up at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum ready for a day of music, food and a fun, casual ride to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The Hogs & Rags rally is the largest motorcycle and car rally in North Carolina and attracts all makes and models of motorcycles and cars for the purpose of raising money for three Fayetteville/ Cumberland County nonprofit organizations, rain or shine. This year, it was made possible by Fort Bragg Harley- Davidson, Rodney Sherrill State Farm Insurance, dozens more sponsoring businesses and organizations, and approximately 40 dedicated volunteers. Thanks to them and this community, Hogs & Rags proudly announced this year’s event raised a record-setting $18,000 for the Fayetteville community.

Last week, a special Hogs & Rags sponsor/volunteer appreciation event was held at Mellow Mushroom on McPherson Church Road. Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson and Hogs & Rags cofounder Bobby Bleecker presented the American Cancer Society and the Special Forces Charitable Trust donations of $6,000 each. Fayetteville Dogwood Queens Kelcie Farmer, Rachel Addison McLeod, Amelia Caroline Cook and reigning Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Queen Ashley Rooks were on hand to accept the checks on their behalf. Board member Julie Melvin accepted a $6,000 donation on behalf of the Cumberland County Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation. I am proud of this organization and the community that supported them.

I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun Memorial Day and took the time to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Pete Hegseth said it best: “Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans, it’s honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that’s a reminder (that) when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It’s a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.”

Again, thanks to everyone who made this year’s Hogs & Rags event such a huge success. I am extremely proud to be living in such a kind, caring and generous community. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Cape Fear Regional Theatre welcomes the community to its 17th annual Blues-N-Brews Festival, its largest fundraiser of the year. This year’s theme is Beach Party. The event takes place in downtown Fayetteville’s Festival Park on Saturday, June 8, from 5-10 p.m.

The tropical theme was handpicked for a reason. “Because next season we are starting with ‘Mamma Mia!’ we wanted to get people in a sea frame of mind,” said Mary Kate Burke, artistic director at CFRT.

To help create the vibe, The Catalinas — America’s premier beach band — are headlining the event. Members of both the Beach Music Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, The Catalinas have been playing together for 62 years and have released classics like “Summertime’s Calling Me,” “You Haven’t the Right” and “Dancin’-Romancin’,” among many others. Nattalyee Randall, Willie Bradley, and The Guy Unger Band will also be playing at the festival.

Randall has performed as a backup vocalist with Sam Smith, with the choir in Broadway’s “Rocktopia” and on the national tour of VOCALOSITY. Besides adding a few classic country songs to the mix, Randall is most excited about showing the crowd a good time.

“I just like to get the party started, and I love to see people jamming along and feeling good with me,” she said. “I don’t perform with bands too often, so to get to perform with one is always such a special and amazing opportunity to me, especially a band like this. I’m super excited for what we’re going to bring.”

Besides playing in his own full performance, Bradley will join Randall on the stage. “I have a full rhythm section … for Nattalyee. She’s going to feature me on one song with her,” he said.

The soulful Bradley is a charts-topping jazz artist from Orangeburg, South Carolina. He graduated from South Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in music education and performance. Bradley’s first performance at Festival Park will certainly be one to remember. “I’m out in the audience with a wireless microphone,” he said. “I’m all over the place, so it’s a high-energy show.”

The artists at Blues-N-Brews aren’t just there for a performance; the goal is to make sure everyone in the audience has the time of their life. “When people drink, they like to sing songs they know,” Burke said. “Nattalyee — (who) was our Effie in ‘Dream Girls’ — she sings blues songs people know so that they can sing along, which I think has really made the event feel more participatory and engaging for the audience … and Guy did the same thing.”

As an all-American rock band, The Guy Unger Band will put a different spin on the festival. “We kind of had the idea of taking some blues tunes and playing them like a beach-type thing,” said Unger, who played in CFRT’s premiere of “Music City.” Known by their fans as “The GUB,” this band prides itself on bringing the party to any and every venue. “All of it for me is fun; I love performing,” Unger said. “All of us do. We just love to bring it — that’s what we do.”

Music is only half the fun, however. What would the beach be without an ice-cold beer? Event coordinator Derek Jordan promises just that and more. “We have asked our brewers to think of a summer beer or a light beer that they could bring to the festival,” he said. “We also are going to be having some kind of shag dancing at the event.”

There will be more than 35 brewers at the event and 100 or more beers, including those sourced from craft and local breweries. “We’ll have some out of Raleigh,” Jordan said. “Hugger Mugger (Brewing Company) will be here. Dirtbag (Ales Brewery & Taproom) and (Lake) Gaston (Brewing Company) are two that are local. Bright Light (Brewing Company) will be there.” Big names like Guinness and Smirnoff can also be expected.

“As far as food venders, we have everything from Caribbean cuisine... to hotdogs — some from out of Raleigh, some from Fayetteville — so (we’re) really trying to just bring more of a regional flavor to it,” Jordan said. “And then we’ve got some shop venders coming in as well.” Other refreshment options include pizza cones, lime slushies, R Burger and its new “R Brat”, fried chicken, ciders and sparkling seltzers, and more.

There will even be a cigar section provided by Anstead’s Tobacco Company. There are three varieties of tickets for the festival. Nondrinking tickets are $15, general admission tickets are $40 if purchased online prior to the event and $55 if purchased at the gate, and VIP tickets are $80. There will also be a $5 activeduty discount at the gate for general admission tickets. Individual alcoholic beverages can still be purchased with the $15 ticket.

According to Ashley Owen, marketing director at CFRT, the VIP ticket is worth it. “I think the most exciting thing is you get access to the field for an hour,” she said. “The festival is from 5-10 but VIP hour is from 4-5, so you have total access to the field. There (are) only 300 (VIP) tickets that we sell; every year, since I’ve been here at least, they sell out.”

The Mash House Brewing Company and Texas Roadhouse will provide a catered VIP meal along with The Mash House’s exclusive “unicorn beer.” VIP tickets also include a souvenir pint glass with the Blues-N-Brews logo, along with the opportunity to vote in the festival’s “Best in Show” contest. This contest crowns one brewery as determined by VIP votes. Lake Gaston Brewing Company won last year.

“(The VIP tent) is the only place in Festival Park where there are seats with shade, so that is worth the $80 ticket in itself,” Owen said. The Dunn-based business Table Toppers and Debbie Bender of Debbie Bender Design will decorate the VIP tent according to the beach party theme.

“It originated as truly a tasting event, but it offers so much more now. I think it’s working its way toward being something... that’s fun for the whole family,” said Zach Pritchett, co-chair of Blues-NBrews. “In its 17th year, it’s nice to kind of have a new spin on it and see what sort of an audience it can draw. That’s something the theater constantly works toward expanding — the community that is part of the theater family. So this is hopefully reaching out to a new demographic for the event.” 

CFRT’s Blues-N-Brews festival takes place June 8 from 5-10 p.m. at Festival Park, 335 Ray Ave. For tickets and more information, visit www.cfrt.org/ bnb or call 910-323-4233.