“[The Soap Box Derby] began when Myron Scott, a photographer of the Dayton Daily News took a photo of some boys racing down a hill in little homemade cars. Scott noticed the cars had been built using soap crates. So, he dubbed the race, ‘Soap Box Derby' during the summer of 1933," according to soapboxderby.org.
The Kiwanis Club of the Cape Fear upholds the Soap Box Derby Race tradition on May 19, at Charlie Rose Expo Center, 301 E. Mountain Drive, Fayetteville. The Kiwanis Club of the Cape Fear Soap Box Derby race will begin at 10 a.m. Public admission is free.
The participants are youth within the age ranges of 7 to 18. Each participant builds their own car. The local winner can have the opportunity to compete in the All-American World Champion Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio on July 14 through 20.
The Soap Box Derby race promotes both boys and girls as participants.
“Eleven-year-old Karren Stead became the first female to win the All-American Soap Box Race in November 1975,” according to the International Soap Box Derby website.
The Soap Box Derby Race legacy is reflected by Bobby Spears, Grand Marshall of the 2023 Soap Box Derby event in Fayetteville. He was the winner of the Soap Box Derby Race of 1947.
Warren Hahn, Race Director, shares his enthusiasm about the Kiwanis Club of the Cape Fear Soap Box Derby, “Soap Box Derby originated in the 1930s and continues as an organization dedicated to youth, to grow and learn the good qualities to carry throughout their lives. The youth learn to value sportsmanship and healthy competition. They arrive as strangers and leave as friends.
"Families are empowered by the practice of building the derby. The assembly of a derby is a STEM activity. The Soap Box Derby Race is one of the activities that represent the mission of the Kiwanis Club, improvement of the world, one child, one community, at a time.”
Warren Hahn shares his zeal for the principles of the Kiwanis Club, “The Kiwanis Club provides funding, assistance, and volunteerism to local youth and family-oriented charities. The organization has a deep compassion for serving the greater Fayetteville community. I am personally proud of being a member of the Kiwanis Club of the Cape Fear.”
Join the Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear at the Soap Box Derby, at the Charlie Rose Expo Center on May 19. Admission is free.
For more information contact Warren Hahn, Race Director, at 910-988-6013.

(Photo: Jackson Stillman poses with his derby car during the 2023 Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. Stillman, a Gold Star family member, qualified to the event through the Kiwanis Club of the Cape Fear Soap Box derby. Photo courtesy of Kiwanis Club of the Cape Fear Facebook page)

The Museum of the Cape Fear is currently showcasing a unique exhibition titled "Seventeen Men: Portraits of the Men of the 25th US Colored Troops." This display narrates the tale of 17 soldiers from the 25th USCT Regiment, depicted through an array of portraits and life histories, masterfully crafted by artist and genealogist Shayne Davidson.
A tiny pocket-sized photo album was the inspiration for this project and led Davidson on a months-long research project. Each life-sized portrait of the 17 men is accompanied by a short biography of the man's life and a reproduced image of the original albumen print or tintype the portrait is based on.
Davidson, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, earned her BFA from the California Institute of the Arts and an MFA in Medical and Biological Illustration from the University of Michigan.
Post-retirement from her commercial illustration career, she shifted her interests toward genealogy. During the creation of a friend's family tree, she was introduced to an album held by Captain William Prickitt, which housed miniature photographs of 17 Civil War soldiers who were under Prickitt’s command in the USCT. Intrigued by these images, she delved into detailed research about these men’s lives and created life-sized portraits of them.
This led to the creation of a mobile display known as Seventeen Men.
Besides the Seventeen Men exhibit, the gallery also showcases details about the US Colored Troops who were actively involved in the Cape Fear region's Wilmington Campaign. The USCT regiments played crucial roles in the Fort Fisher battles and confronted the Confederate soldiers as the Union army advanced from Fort Fisher to seize Wilmington, the Confederacy's final significant supply route.
Particularly, during the Forks Road battle, the 5th USCT led an aggressive frontal attack against a firmly fortified enemy. Over half of the Union's losses in the campaign to retake Wilmington were men from the USCT Regiments. Without their valiant efforts, it is quite likely that Wilmington would have remained under Confederate control, prolonging the Civil War.
The exhibit can be seen through June 2, during regular museum hours, Tues. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Museum of the Cape Fear is located at 801 Arsenal Ave. Admission is free.

(Photos courtesy of Museum of the Cape Fear)

Cape Beard, a non-profit organization, not only encourages the growth of facial hair through their Beard & Mustache Club in Fayetteville but also makes a significant contribution to local community events that aid deserving charities. They have raised over $220,000 since their start in 2011.
One such event is the Annual Pig Pickin' where 100% of the proceeds will go to the Autism Society of Cumberland County. Cape Beard is set to host its Pig Pickin event for the 12th time this year. The event is planned for Saturday, May 18, running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The venue for the gathering will be Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson, located at 3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd. This is a child and family-friendly event. The event is also free to attend.
Throughout the day, Cape Beard will be preparing 750 pounds of shredded pork. Barbecue dishes are priced at $7 each. Event-goers will be able to enjoy a variety of vendors, bouncy houses, a children's obstacle course, a dunk tank, and live music.
The live music lineup will be:
Chris Cox 11 a.m. to noon
Fayetteville Sound Barbershop noon to 1 p.m.
Crow Kozak 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Fayetteville Sound Barbershop 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Stone Dolls 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Life of the Party Entertainment will be spinning hits between musical sets. Scheduled times are tentative and subject to change.
Since the inaugural Pig Pickin' event took place in 2012, a total of $109,180 has been raised to support the ASCC. Their objective for this year is to surpass last year's fundraising amount of $13,000.
The Autism Society of Cumberland County enhances the quality of life for people with autism, provides assistance to their families, and educates communities through a variety of resources.
The organization's programs and initiatives aim to educate and enlighten parents, caregivers, and professionals, while also offering guidance, resources, and avenues for families. By collaborating with various agencies in the county, they assist families in locating the most suitable services.
The organization offers support groups and programs for parents, giving them the chance to connect with other families and professionals in their community. This allows them to build a network of support tailored to their specific needs. Additionally, they provide conference scholarships, a 5 to 6 week summer day camp, classroom grants, resource directories, and a monthly newsletter. Through these initiatives, families have the opportunity to meet and learn from others, while also accessing valuable resources and information.
The Autism Society of Cumberland County is located at 351 Wagoner Dr, Ste 410. You can reach them by phone at 910-826-9100.

(Graphic courtesy of Cape Beard's Facebook Page)

Nurturing the mind and body is important, especially in 2024. The need to take care of the physical body and the emotional mind is essential to living a balanced life of work, kids, and home. Fayetteville has two events for the community to attend on May 18th, that will certainly help the community learn to take care of themselves and live a balanced life.

Health & Wellness Fair Expo
11 a.m. to 2 p.m., FREE
Fit 4 Life
2303 Ft. Bragg Rd.
For the 7th year, Fit 4 Life is hosting its annual Health and Wellness Fair Expo. This year’s event is highlighting nonprofits in the Cumberland County area.
The Standing Light Foundation is an organization dedicated to helping those who are victims of domestic violence, founded by Takieyah Mathis.
Through Tragedy Comes Light, founded by Rick Morano, locally known as Ranger Rick, brings awareness to suicide and suicide prevention. There will be shirts on sale to support the organization's annual run.
Dream Quest Foundation, a new organization in the area, was founded by Shayla Wright, to help create programs geared toward our at-risk youth that are critical to helping them succeed.
Attendees can look forward to a wealth of information when it comes to health. There will be vendors of all kinds. Representatives from local health organizations will be on hand to answer questions and get the right health information in the public’s hands. There will be a health presentation by a local youth group and plenty of opportunities to shop locally, with a range of businesses set up to sell products.
Community members will also have access to information about community resources available to help with several humanitarian issues. The fitness challenge is sure to be the highlight of the event. Fit 4 Life is located on Ft. Bragg Rd.
“The one special thing about our location is we have an obstacle course outside… it’s just a little fitness challenge to top it all off,” Nina Batton, this year’s event coordinator, explained. Those interested in entering the challenge can sign up on-site, on the day of the event between 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The obstacle course fitness challenge starts promptly at 1 p.m. There will also be raffles, door prizes, and of course, food trucks! The event is free to the public.
For more information, contact Nina Batton, Fitness Manager, at 910-568-5962.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

F.A.B. Fayetteville
6 p.m. $25
Select IV Hydration
212 Hay Street
A local mindset coach is bringing a transformative experience to Downtown Fayetteville. The Amazing Soul, published author and mental health activist, is hosting her inaugural FAB Fayetteville event at Select Hydration. FAB is a new unconventional, artistic approach to mental health developed by The Amazing Soul.
F- Feelings
At the event, attendees will learn about fun tools to “navigate overwhelming feelings” and explore fun ways to “feel present in the body.”
A- Arts
There will be vibrant and fun art by local artists featured at the event.
B- Book Launch
Along with learning some “amazing” techniques to help with mental health, The Amazing Soul will also be signing copies of her latest book “The Truth Is I Do Not Know: Fun Ways to Make Your Life Less Complicated.”
Attendees can look forward to a good time full of laughs, art, stories, tools for mental health success and finger foods. The Amazing Soul will share her story and impart the knowledge she has gained through her training.
Other guest speakers, such as local artists, will be presenting work that has significant meaning to their mental health journey.
According to the event site, art therapy will play a key role at the event.
"In our expressive arts therapy sessions, you'll have the opportunity to use colors, shapes, and textures to externalize your inner world, releasing emotions through painting, collage, or sculpture. Guided mindfulness practices will invite you to connect with your body and breath, offering gentle ways to ground yourself amidst life's ups and downs.”
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/4b7V6cM
For more information, visit her Instagram at theamazingsoul.

Another summer of smooth sounds by the Cape Fear River starts soon as the Rock’n on the River Summer Concert Series tips off on May 24th and runs until September.
The community can catch the free concert series jam-packed with tribute bands, bringing the nostalgia of the ’80s, ’90s, and 00’s. Concerts start at 6 p.m. at Deep Creek Outfitters at Campbellton Landing located at 1122 Person Street. While the event is free, there will be a $10 fee for parking. Parking fees help the host, Deep Creek Outfitters, provide a safe and navigable parking lot for concertgoers.
There will be no outside coolers or food allowed, but chairs are allowed and highly encouraged. Security will be enforced and clear bags are recommended.
The event is presented by Healy Wholesale, which will be on-site selling cold brews for concertgoers and Deep Creek Grill will be slinging food from their stall at the event venue. Half of the proceeds from this year’s sales of food and beverages will go to the Karen Chandler Trust, a local cancer charity that provides local patients will a multitude of services during treatment, from rides to bill assistance.
Rock’n on the River founder and Rivermist member, Greg Adair, is pumped about this season's lineup and is enthusiastic to bring back this concert series.
“I wanted to have another place for folks across the river area and everybody else, it’s very convenient for everybody… I just wanted to create another concert series for people to enjoy, something to do,” Adair remarked on the beginnings of the concert series.
This year’s event has several sponsors, a sign the concert series is an asset to the community. Corporate sponsors include: Up & Coming Weekly, Deep Creek Outfitters, Bob 96.5, MinuteMaid Press, Sandy’s Automotive, Darling Ingredients, and Deep Creek Grill.
Bill Bowman, owner of F & B Publications, publisher of Up and Coming Weekly, and continuous sponsor of Rock’n on the River spoke about Adair and the projects led by him.
“I’ve known Greg Adair for many, many years… there is not anyone in this community, especially in the entertainment arena, that has more integrity… Just community-minded…I didn’t know him personally until he won Best of Fayetteville 8 years ago and realized what a tour de force he was in this community. Matter of fact, he’s won Best of Fayetteville 8 years in a row. The guy is phenomenal. He believes in music, he believes in musicians, he believes in the quality and purity of music. Adair is a stark music professional. He really values the art,” Bowman said.
“He was involved with several concert series, including the Karen Chandler Trust. He and I started looking at the needs here to promote live music, quality concerts, you know that would add value to the community and try to get it to all areas of the community. He created Rock’n on the River, which is just the perfect venue for a music concert and we wanted to help him promote that, really tell the story of the bands and their history, give people the awareness of what it is, more than just a musical concert. We also wanted to promote it so we could promote those other people, like Healy Wholesale and some of the other major people who step up, too.”

Rock’n on the River Schedule

May 24
• 6 p.m. Mostley Crüe- Motley Crüe Tribute Band. See more about them at https://www.mostleycrue.com/
• 8 p.m. Shoot to Thrill- All Female AC/DC Tribute Band
Shoot to Thrill is a female AC/DC Tribute Band based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. Members, Susan, Kara, Jai, Wendy, and Kate tour the East Coast playing the best of the acclaimed rock band. Visit their website at https://www.shoot2thrillband.com/band

June 21
• 6 p.m. Joyner, Young & Marie and Friends - 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s Pop. For more information, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Joyner-Young-and-Marie-100063664837105/
• 8 p.m. Autumn Tyde- 70’s and 80’s Variety
Autumn Tyde brings the sounds of beach, oldies, rhythm and blues, Billboard Top 100, and hit originals to their audiences as a newly formed group (2022) based out of North Carolina. Members Doyle Wood, Ted Ray (TR), Bob James, Dez Humphrey, and Russell Garland have been playing gigs all over North Carolina including the 2022 Kinston Barbeque Festival. Their Facebook page has more information at https://www.facebook.com/autumntyde/

July 19
• 6 p.m. Dalton Davis- Country
Making sure the country fans get a night to celebrate too, North Carolina-based country music artist, Dalton Davis will hit the stage with his original hits, like current single Wild Child. See more about them at https://www.instagram.com/_daltondavis_/?hl=en
• 8 p.m. ZZ Top Notch- ZZ Top Tribute
Formed in 2022 by members Chuck Sirko, John Hubacheck and Joe Synder, ZZ Top Notch brings the same energy to the stage with over 100 years of musical experience between the three. Find more information on their website at https://zztopnotch.com/

August 16
• 6 p.m. Reflections ll- Variety
Winner of Best Cover Band in Fayetteville in 2012, Reflections ll is set to bring good vibrations to the stage. See more on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/partyband.net/
• 8 p.m. Tuesday’s Gone- Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band
Based out of Raleigh, North Carolina, Tuesday’s Gone brings the smooth rock of the Alabama favorite to stages up and down the East Coast. Since its beginning in 2005, the band has seen members come and go.
The current members are Ryan King (Lead Vocals), David "Elwood" Elmore (Bass), Michael Meeks (Piano/Keys), Joe Sprunt (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Spencer Carlson (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Dave Nicholls (Guitar/Backing Vocals), and Kevin Peele (Drums & Percussion). Their website is https://tuesdaysgoneband.com/

September 20
• 6 p.m. 80’s Unleashed- Local 80’s band
Hailing from right here in Fayetteville, 80’s Unleashed will be bringing all the 80s hits you loved and hate to love. Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/80sunleashed/
• 8 p.m. Beggers Banquet- Rolling Stone Tribute Band
Beggers Banquet is a North Carolina-based band that could almost be called an ensemble, as they have members who play a plethora of instruments, adding to the essence of their performances of some of the best rock'n'roll songs of this lifetime. Find out more about them at https://beggarsbanquetband.com/about-us

(Top photo: courtesy of ZZ Top Notch's Facebook Page.  Bottom photo: courtesy of Autumn Tyde's Facebook Page)

Experience the timeless magic of Little Women as Sweet Tea Shakespeare brings this beloved story to life in an immersive theatrical production June 6 through 9 and 13 through 16 at The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.
Witness the trials and triumphs of the March sisters — Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy — as they navigate the complexities of adolescence, love and family against the backdrop of Civil War-era New England. Based on Thomas Hischak's play adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, a grown-up Josephine (Jo) March recounts growing up with three sisters going through triumphs, tragedies, and loss.
Little Women has long been a beloved classic, captivating readers with its timeless tale of the March sisters and their journey through life. At the heart of this cherished story lies the enduring power of sisterhood, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams.
Reagan Carsten is the director and shares how she wants the audience to experience her rendition of this classic play.
“Our intimate staging, creative casting, and live music preshow will transport you to a world of sisterhood, sacrifice and self-discovery. Prepare to have your heart warmed and your spirit uplifted by this captivating production that celebrates the bonds of family and the strength of the human experience,” says Carsten.
Carsten is an alum of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts BFA in Drama, embarking on her first solo directing project. She started with Sweet Tea Shakespeare in 2014, so coming back for her has meant everything — especially with the story Little Women being one of her favorite plays.
A seasoned theatre professional, Carsten shares a deep appreciation for the collaborative nature of her craft. She finds immense joy in working alongside her talented, like-minded peers, all of whom bring a contagious passion and energy to the stage. Whether during evening rehearsals or moments of laughter and text analysis, Carsten feels grateful to be part of a community generously invested in the arts.
Carsten adds, “Working with Sweet Tea Shakespeare, I’ve always found that the participants are generous with their time and energy and are passionate theatre-makers. Even though some had other responsibilities earlier in their day, they showed up. I feel so grateful to share that time with them in a space laughing and uplifting one another.”
The classic play Little Women, written by Sarah Y. Mason and Victor Heerman, opened in November of 1933, and there have been many adaptations throughout the decades.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s mission is to gather diverse communities to delight in the magic of story, song, and stagecraft. You can join as a monthly or annual member to receive advance ticket rates, complimentary tickets, and other sweet deals and gifts. Go to: https://www.patreon.com/sweetteashakes
Do not miss your chance to be a part of this unforgettable theatrical journey.
Secure your tickets now and get ready to be inspired by the enduring power of this timeless tale. For tickets, go to: https://sweetteashakespeare.com/tickets

Fayetteville has selected the Manna Dream Center, a local nonprofit organization and church, to operate the city’s Day Resource Center for a year starting July 1.
The Fayetteville City Council unanimously agreed to install the Manna Dream Center as the new operator during Monday’s work session, moving the item forward for a legally binding vote at a future council meeting. The Manna Dream Center has experience serving people experiencing homelessness, including running a men’s shelter and providing free meals to unhoused people in Fayetteville.
The decision comes after the DRC’s current operator, Cumberland HealthNET, declined to renew its contract, which was up for renewal at the end of June. In a presentation to the Fayetteville City Council on March 4, Shelley Hudson, executive director of Cumberland HealthNET, acknowledged that a number of challenges have arisen during the organization’s operational period. Among them: unexpected high traffic at the center, building maintenance problems, and the unexpected financial cost of operations and staffing. On March 6, Fayetteville put out a request for a proposal to find a new DRC operator.
Alex Baker, assistant director of the city’s Economic and Community Development department, said Fayetteville had received four proposals to operate the DRC. In addition to the Manna Dream Center, other proposals came from the Marius Maximus Foundation, ServiceSource and United Ministries in Christ.
Baker said the DRC committee made the decision to recommend Manna’s approval. Baker serves on the committee; other members are the chairperson of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Continuum of Care, a Fayetteville Redevelopment Commissioner, a community advocate, the head of Off-Road Outreach and the president of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.
As Manna takes over operations at the DRC, Baker said the organization will work with community partners to provide additional outreach services. Though Manna Dream Center is a faith-based organization, anyone can use the DRC’s services, Baker said, and no participation in religious programs is required. The Manna Dream Center will base its services on the model provided by Oak City Cares, a homeless support center in Raleigh, he added.
Baker said the organization also included in its proposal a maintenance commitment to the center, which is currently being upgraded.
“The kitchen is in the process of being upgraded with a sink and a conventional oven and other necessities to transform the kitchen,” Baker said. “All the showers are now operational, as well as the washers. The floor is being maintained. The phone station is fixed.”
Homeless community advocates have for months said that crucial support services — such as connecting unhoused people with shelter, employment, child and medical care — are absent from the DRC, despite the city previously advertising that support services from nonprofit partners would be available at the center.
Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin expressed optimism for the change in management.
“I think things will work out better this go around, because I think we learned from our past mistakes,” Banks-McLaughlin said.
Councilman D.J. Haire praised city staff for selecting Manna Dream Center as the new DRC operator.
“The group that's in now, Cumberland HealthNET, there were some missing [services] there, and I was glad to see that you all responded to those concerns,” Haire said.
Councilman Derrick Thompson emphasized the need to continue expanding the DRC’s operational hours beyond the typical workweek. Advocates and unhoused individuals have previously voiced concern about the limited hours of the DRC, which closes at 5 p.m. and is not open on weekends.
“Homelessness is not a nine to five, and extended hours and extended meals would be optimal,” Thompson said. “How do we get the county to fill in some of those gaps to help us until their facility gets built?”
In response, City Manager Doug Hewett said the city hoped to send a list to the county this week with requests for assistance in filling service gaps. During a recent meeting of the Joint City-County Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s City-County Liaison Committee, Glenn Adams, chairman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, had requested the city send a detailed list of such gaps.
“It was the chairman's request that we send something to him, and we're looking forward to his positive response back once we get it to him,” Hewett said.
Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen noted that the city previously sent a list of service gaps, but the county had requested a more detailed list.

(Mana Dream Center, located in downtown Fayetteville, has been selected as the city's Day Resource Center.  Photo by Aly Hansen)

The City of Fayetteville Fire Department has been awarded an Office of State Fire Marshal and Blue Cross Blue Shield grant for its Summer Teen Certification and Fire Academy.
The program is set to run from June 10 to June 14, at the Fayetteville Fire Station 14, located at 632 Langdon St.
This summer camp is designed to engage local youth, particularly rising 9th to 12th graders from Cumberland County, in a variety of critical skills ranging from Community Emergency Response Team Basic Training Certification to life-saving techniques such as Stop the Bleed and Hands-only CPR. The program also addresses important issues like teen depression, bullying, distracted driving, human trafficking, drugs, gangs, firearm safety and financial awareness.
"We are deeply committed to not only providing first-rate emergency response training but also to cultivating the next generation of first responders," said Deputy Fire Chief Moisbiell Alvarez. "This grant enables us to offer this enriching program free of charge to the first 25 students who sign up, ensuring wide accessibility for our community's youth."
The Summer Teen CERT & Fire Academy is part of the Fayetteville Fire Department's broader goal to inspire young individuals to pursue careers in firefighting and public safety. Program activities will introduce participants to various aspects of the fire service and other public safety careers through hands-on learning and real-life simulations.
"We’re grateful for the support from the OSFM and BCBS, which helps us make a tangible impact in the lives of young people in our community," added Alvarez.
The program includes partnerships with local and state organizations like Cape Fear CERT, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, NC Highway Patrol, and Cape Fear Valley Hospital System Trauma Program, among others.
The grant amount of $6,000 will cover expenses such as training materials, emergency preparedness kits, and other program necessities, ensuring a comprehensive educational experience.
For more information on the Fayetteville Fire Department Summer Teen CERT & Fire Academy, or to apply for the program, email CapeFearCERT@gmail.com
Space is limited to 25 individuals. Applications will be accepted until the program is full.

(Photo courtesy of Fayetteville Fire Department's Facebook Page)

The Bidens have a new addition to their family, and he made his first public appearance when he delivered the State of the Union address. Officially named Joe Biden, he should be called Angry Joe because of his over-the-top manner of speech that evening.
Instead of attempting to unite our country, a promise he made countless times during his 2020 presidential campaign, he castigated many Americans by accusing Donald Trump (referred to only as “my predecessor”) and MAGA Republicans of being a threat to democracy.
In all honesty, Angry Joe, or some version of him, has appeared in public before, but without the extreme aggression or menacing tone that was on display when he addressed Congress. Biden yelled non-stop for over an hour, attempting to project an image of a strong and confident leader. While it is a mystery to me where he found this sudden energy, it seemed, at least for the evening, that he was a new man.
One early prototype of Angry Joe is Dark Brandon, a figure in numerous memes in which the president looks simultaneously demonic and heroic.
This image was created by Biden supporters as a response to a conservative anti-Biden chant, “Let’s Go, Brandon,” whose meaning contains profanity unsuitable for publication. What was originally meant to be an insult was turned into an avatar that represented a tough and fearless leader. Dark Brandon is the visual equivalent of the Hellfire and Brimstone orator delivering the State of the Union address.
A second prototype emerged in September of 2022 right before the midterm elections when Biden delivered a speech in Philadelphia in which he predictably accused the MAGA Republicans of being a threat to democracy. This version of Biden was a kind of Dark Brandon redux, only with a scarier background. Speaking in front of Independence Hall, of all places, Biden looked like a creature from the underworld with blood-red lighting designed to make him look frightening and powerful. This backdrop did not frighten me. It made me look at Biden and see a second-rate Vincent Price who didn’t know when to leave the stage.
This Joe Biden, Angry Joe, should not be confused with the other Joe Biden, someone I call Addled Joe because of his difficulty exiting the stage after a speech or his curious habit of discussing recent telephone conversations with world leaders who have been dead for decades. I wouldn’t be surprised if he announced that he soon has a lunch date with Winston Churchill.
Addled Joe may have trouble remembering names or keeping his balance, but he does have one area of expertise—he knows how to enjoy his ice cream in public. This skill is especially impressive when he is discussing foreign affairs with a journalist while savoring his frozen treat.
When I think of American presidents, I think of George Washington crossing the Delaware during the Revolutionary War, Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, or George W. Bush standing atop a pile of rubble at Ground Zero shortly after 9/11 and assuring us we would defeat our enemy. I do not think of a president whose most memorable image reminds us of a six-year-old at a birthday party wiping ice cream off his lips.
Joe Biden may have two different public personas, the Tough Guy and the Blunderer-in- Chief, but he isn’t fooling anyone about his inability to be a good leader.
He isn’t fooling members of his own party, who simply deny his shortcomings to create the impression that all is well. He isn’t fooling conservatives who know his policies are disastrous for this country. And he certainly isn’t fooling our adversaries, who see a weak man willing to tolerate their malign behavior.
And no amount of yelling, inexplicable energy, or ice cream will change the fact that neither one of the two Bidens is a good president.

(Photo courtesy of rawpixel.com)

News released last month angers me, scares me, and breaks my heart all at the same time. I am not alone. Americans in all 50 states, from all walks of life, and of all ages have been sickened to learn that the leading cause of death for children between birth and 18 is not a terminal illness, drowning or some other accident, or a fiery vehicle crash.
It is death by gun shot.
No other cause is even close, as child death by guns rises and rises. Try to process this. Firearm fatalities for children increased by more than 87 percent between 2011 and 2021 and a stunning 50 percent in the 2 years between 2019 and 2021. The non-profit Gun Violence Archive says that 1335 people under 18 have already died by gunshot just this year, putting us on target to more than 5000 children dying by guns in 2024.
Every single one of those children belonged to someone—parents, grandparents, siblings, other caretakers, people whose lives are forever affected by violent and sometimes avoidable death. Some readers of this column have lived this devastating experience in our own community or know someone who has.
No need to take my word for this grim situation. The American Association of Pediatrics, the National Center for Health Statistics, and Pew Research Center’s data analyses along with confirmation from other reputable institutions affirm this grim new reality. It is no comfort to know that North Carolina is one of 10 states where most child gun deaths occur, according to the Children’s Defense Fund.
There are also large disparities in who is most affected by gun deaths. Boys are, especially those between 12 and 17. Black children are nearly 5 times more likely to die from gunshots than white children. And, while children do die by gun suicide, child gun deaths are more likely to be homicides. The opposite is true for adult Americans.
Parents may not be aware of statistical evidence of the problem, but they are worried nonetheless. Urban parents are more worried than their suburban and rural counterparts, and lower-income parents are more concerned than middle and upper-income parents. And like almost every issue in our culture, this one is also split down partisan political lines. Democratic parents are about twice as likely to say they are worried than Republican parents.
All of that said, no one, including this writer, seems to know what to do to protect our children, in some cases from themselves and from each other.
Americans have come to believe that the right to bear arms is sacred to each individual, not just to militias and other organizations. The result is we now have 60 million plus more guns than people, according to the Small Arms Survey, far more than any other nation on God’s green earth. With differing state gun laws, some laxer than others, it is rarely clear where guns are or who possesses them. In reality, they belong to everyone from teenagers to centenarians, legally and illegally.
It is very clear, however, that our guns are killing us and our children, and with polarized and toxic politics fully in control of our government, we are not likely to address our gun issues any time soon.
The rest of the world is watching our failure to protect our children, and we should be deeply, deeply ashamed.

Again, I am yielding my editorial space to Greg Adair, a concerned citizen of the Fayetteville community. This is the third letter we received and reprinted in the past month. It is encouraging that more and more citizens are speaking out and going on record with their feelings and concerns about issues impacting our community.
Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper does not scour Facebook, social media, or the internet for stories. I detest social media being interpreted as a “news source” and feel it is the worst thing ever to happen to society and humanity. Yet, I do acknowledge it has limited value when used for communicating and messaging limited groups.
Legitimate news media and valued community newspapers allow all voices to be heard, and U&CW has been doing that proudly and consistently for twenty-eight years. Our only requirement is that the writer or contributor own their message. U&CW is a first-person publication that respects the rights of free speech and the opinions of all our readers.
This is what “community newspapers” do and why they are essential in providing checks and balances of local elected governmental officials. Thank you for reading the Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper!
— Bill Bowman
Publisher

Now that I have settled down and my blood pressure has gotten back to normal, I want to share my experience, concerns, and frustrations over the growing infestation of Fayetteville and Cumberland County's homeless, drug addicts, panhandlers and prostitutes with your readers.
On Wednesday, May 8, I spent hours waiting for a tow truck to come and retrieve my wife's car, which had become disabled within two miles of my home. I was at the BP Convenience Store and Subway Sandwich shop on Cedar Creek Rd and I-95.
The longer I was there, the angrier I became as I witnessed countless homeless, panhandlers, prostitutes and drug dealers approach, solicit, intimidate and frighten innocent patrons and customers of the business. I got solicited three times before I finally issued a severe warning to them all to back off!
Hours passed, and no city or county law enforcement officer was in sight the entire time. I can only imagine what the thousands of travelers visiting Exit 49 for food, fuel, and shelter must ultimately think of our community.
Mr. Mayor, is this the image and brand Fayetteville wants to develop? Is this the Fayetteville city and County we are asking the Distinctly Fayetteville organization to spend tens of thousands of dollars on getting people to visit and convene here? I think not.
But, it is Mayor Mitch Colvin's Fayetteville and a Fayetteville that nine members of the City Council are creating to the detriment (and expense) of the residents. This infestation of prostitutes and drug dealers in this commercially derelict neighborhood is a thriving 24/7 industry, with the Mayor and City Council cluelessly subsidizing the debauchery by conveniently housing them in several abandoned motels where they scurry about like cockroaches.
The same day I posted my frustrating experience on social media, the CityView Today newsletter reported that Cumberland County's 24-hour count of the homeless population showed a 21% decrease over last year. Are we to celebrate this? Are we to celebrate that our community has also decreased our "unsheltered" population by a whopping 35%? What constitutes the "unsheltered" population?
Who is counting the panhandlers, drug dealers, and prostitutes? That's the big lie! I'm not buying it, nor are many other Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents. We are law-abiding citizens. We need all City and County elected officials to address this problem and enforce the same law and order for this decadent population instead of subsidizing it.
I have heard comments and complaints of the exact nature from dozens of my business associates, friends, and neighbors. It makes no sense to build a $145 million event center or even consider building a water park or amusement park if we are going to invite the public to stay in such a decadent part of our city. Mayor Colvin, please get with County Commissioner Glenn Adams to discuss this problem, and for heaven's sake, do your jobs!
This letter informs the Mayor, our elected officials, and residents of Cumberland County of this dangerous and unabated situation degrading and endangering our community. I have already shared these frustrations with my family, friends, and business associates. Here are a few of their comments:

Kathy A.: It's terrible over there. I won't even go on that side of town, and it used to be gorgeous.
Mack H.: Ride downtown, they are sleeping on Hay Street on the sidewalk in front of businesses in the block where the old "Capital" building which now is a school, I kid you not. Fayetteville government is disgusting, starting at the top.
Maria W.: Just some FYI: The Mayor is part of the 300-unit apartment building that is trying to be built around exit 49! Guess he didn't want it in his city either! So he wants to put it in the County and states he doesn't have anything to do with the planning or the development of it……We are fighting it, because there is no trust with these people! I'm in the mood now to try my best to make Colvin responsible for his job. Right now, he only shows up for the praise this idiot town still gives him.
Joe G.: I went to McDonald's on Cedar Creek Road last week and saw/experienced the same thing. I can't count the number of times I said, I don't carry cash. It's a shame what WE have allowed in our country!
Bob B.: We don't stop in that area anymore, check out behind the circle K on the other side of 95. I think that's the true identity of our elected officials.

I hope this letter serves as a notice to Fayetteville's Mayor Mitch Colvin and all the County's elected officials that we love our community and are severely aware of your motives and incompetencies.
You are not operating in a vacuum; know we are all registered voters. Again, let me emphasize that we are law-abiding citizens who need City and County elected officials to address these problems rather than subsidize them. DO YOUR JOBS!
— Greg Adair
Fayetteville/Cumberland County

“The future is always uncertain, but we who celebrate what you have done, who celebrate all of your achievements, we are certain of one thing on this day: You will not let us down.”
— Tom Hanks
The Board of Trustees of Fayetteville Technical Community College and FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells invite the community to join in celebrating the graduating class of 2024. On May 17, FTCC will hold graduation ceremonies at the Crown Complex, 1960 Coliseum Dr. Due to the large number of graduates, FTCC will hold two ceremonies.
The first ceremony, at 10 a.m. on May 17, will recognize graduates from FTCC’s Allied Health, Business, College & Career Readiness, Computer Information Technology, and Nursing programs. Students graduating at 10 a.m. should arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. Guests attending the morning ceremony may enter the Crown Center starting at 9 a.m.
The second ceremony, at 2 p.m. on May 17, will recognize graduates from FTCC’s Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Applied Technology, Math & Sciences, and Public Service programs. Students graduating at 2 p.m. should arrive no later than 12:45 p.m. Guests attending the afternoon graduation may enter the Crown Center starting at 1 p.m.
For both ceremonies, students may only use the Expo entrance doors, and guests should use the north, east, and west doors but not the Expo entrance doors.
Please be mindful of heavy traffic. Guests attending the morning ceremony should leave as soon as the ceremony ends to make room for guests attending the afternoon ceremony.
Both ceremonies will last roughly ninety minutes. FTCC asks everyone who attends a commencement to remain for the entire ceremony.

Key Facts
• The event is free and open to the public.
• Graduates may bring an unlimited number of guests.
• Metal detectors will be at every entrance.
• No food, drinks, flowers, balloons, gift bags, etc., will be allowed in the Crown Complex.
Everyone is encouraged to eat before arriving at the event.
• Bags are not encouraged and only the following bags will be permitted:
• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12 x 6 x 12.
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
• Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5 x 6.5.
• Medically necessary items (after proper inspection and tagging).
• Parking is limited, and guests are encouraged to carpool, when possible.
• The event will be livestreamed through the FTCC YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@faytechcc/featured
• Handicap access will be handled by the Crown Complex. More information about handicap access is available at https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/visit/safetyaccessibility or contact the Crown Complex directly at 910-438-4100.
For more information about the commencement ceremonies, please visit the FTCC commencement website. https://www.faytechcc.edu/campus-life/academic-resources/graduationandcommencement/commencement/
If you have any questions about graduation, please contact the front desk in the Tony Rand Student Center at 2220 Hull Road. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or call 910-678-8379. For more info, email gradceremony@faytechcc.edu

In a world where music and trends are ever changing, tribute bands like Mostley Crüe not only bring iconic musicians back to life but keep their music alive, too. Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic night of fun and rock music or a new experience, Mostley Crüe’s tribute performances to Motley Crüe could be exactly what you need.
Motley Crüe, a legendary rock band which arguably defined a generation of metal fans and musicians alike, remains to have a special place in many people’s hearts. Though the band might have played their final concert in 2015, their wild performances and unapologetic debauchery of the '80s will forever remain in fans' hearts, a likeness that Mostley Crüe brings back in full force with their shows.
Motley Crüe has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and released their new single, “Dogs of War,” this year.
Fans no longer have to rely on memories of concerts to hear their favorite songs live again. Thanks to groups like the Mostley Crüe with uncanny similarity in vocals and instrumentals, fans from the Carolinas can enjoy their music live again.
To many fans, Mostley Crüe acts as a portal to the past as they continue to tour around America’s Southern East Coast, often performing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Not only do the band members sound like the well-loved rockstars of the past, but embody them. Many fans rave in reviews about their uncanny ability to mimic their idols and have even higher praise for how they sound covering Motley Crüe songs. Adorning their best rockstar outfits, hair, and make up, Mostley Crüe, like many tribute bands, have the “look” of these iconic bands nailed.
Music industry experts see tribute bands such as Mostley Crüe as an essential part of keeping legacies of classic bands alive. Tribute bands give the younger generations a chance to experience music loved by thousands and hear it live. They keep the music of the past relevant, despite the almost forty years between now and when Motley Crüe first formed.
The tribute band is comprised of Gabriel Pettit in the role of vocalist Vince Neil, Darius Rose as drummer Tommy Lee, Kevin Dollar as guitarist Mick Mars and Miller Barefoot as bassist Nikki Sixx. Formed in Raleigh, NC in 2007, Mostley Crüe quickly grew in popularity amongst rock fans and has played over one hundred live events. The band is very active on Facebook and is supported by thousands of followers who praise the skill and talent displayed by the Mostly Crüe.
According to their Facebook page, the band explained they “had a slow start to the year [and had situations that] kept us from committing to shows until we knew we could do them right,” with the intention to come back better than ever.
Mostley Crüe will be joining the line up for Rock’n On The River on Friday, May 24. Rock’n On The River is a Fayetteville based concert series that happens once a month throughout the summer.
The May event will kick off the Rock'n On the River summer concert series with Shoot to Thrill, an all woman AC/DC tribute band, and Mostley Crüe. Rock’n On the River is held at Campbellton Landing at 1122 Person St. in Fayetteville. The show starts at 6 p.m. with Mostley Crüe. The event is free, although there is a fee to park. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049990406810, and see next week’s edition of Up and Coming Weekly.
Fans of the tribute band can find plenty of future shows to attend on their Facebook and website so don’t miss any of their spectacular performances and get your tickets now. Be a part of what keeps music from the ‘80s alive.

(Photo courtesy of Mostley Crue)

From March till October, every fourth Friday is nothing less than a celebration in the Cool Spring Downtown District. They organize a monthly gathering known as '4th Friday'.
This event is a grand display of Fayetteville's best visual and performing arts, accompanied by live music and street performances. However, the 4th Friday of May is expected to be even more special as it also includes their unique Nerd Market.
The Nerd Market will set up on Anderson Street in Downtown Fayetteville on May 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Nerd Market boasts an impressive lineup of over 30 vendors, offering a wide range of merchandise that caters to enthusiasts of comic books, anime, collectibles, and fantasy artwork. It's your ultimate destination for all things nerdy and beyond!
Come for the vendors and stay for the entertainment, a DJ and food truck rodeo on Green Street and Gillespie Street.
There will also be a costume contest. Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite comic book, anime or fantasy character.

(Photo: Cosplayers attend the Nerd Market and compete in the 2023's Nerd Market costume contest.  Photo courtesy of Cool Springs Downtown District)

“Mornings start with hot tea or coffee. It is the best way to feel fresh and give a kick-start to a busy day. You might be a coffee-lover or tea fanatic; your cup gets the attention. Have you felt that drinking from your own mugs adds to the flavor? Yes, more than sixty percent of people are emotionally attached to their mugs. Sipping the hot beverage from your mug is what you choose to crave,” according to elementary.com.
Many of us have a favorite mug. One of the unwritten rules in offices is to not use or touch another person’s mug. Bring your own mug or use a plastic cup. Cape Fear Studios is exploring this idea with "The Mug" exhibit. The Cape Fear Studios Mug Exhibit opened April 26 and runs to May 21. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free
“The first mugs were made of bone during the Neolithic Stone Age. Japan and China crafted pottery mugs in 10,000 BCE. Just ask the Greeks, they made clay mugs back in 4000-5000 BCE,” said Gareth Parkins.
What is the origin of the name mug? Mug is associated with human face and head. Ceramic mugs are a common choice. Mugs can be produced in bronze, gold, lead, and silver. Clay was not workable for the Greeks.
“Clay mugs proved too thick to fit into the mouth,” said Gareth Parkins.
“Mugs are physical links to memory. According to research, mug shape and color play a role in our perception of coffee taste and smell. A 2014 survey presents the finding that sipping coffee out of a white mug boosted its intensity and taste as compared to glass mug,” said Alexandria Brooks.
Why do we love our mugs? Nostalgia, comfort, warmth, stressbusting and relaxation are several reasons.
Jill Dieffenbach, Curator of Cape Fear Studios, shares “We are hoping to show how an ordinary vessel, The Mug, can be elevated by each potter’s creativity and skill into a piece of art enriching the life of its owner. The way it fits the users’ hand as they drink their morning tea or coffee, and the joy that comes from the way the decoration has been applied to the surface, turns an ordinary vessel into an artistic experience. We feel this work will illustrate the joy and importance of ‘The Mug.’”
The artists exhibiting their work include Leah Leitson, Mark Hewett, Tammy Josephson, Ray Im and Gay Smith Bakersfield.
Mugs can be an obsession, a reflection of our personal identity, awareness, wisdom, and living in the present moment. Mugs can be a contributing vessel in our process to make sense of our lives.
“Art is not what you see but what you make others see,” according to the Pinterest website. When we purchase a mug from an artist, we have a shared moment of creation, our memory, and the soul of the artist. Immerse yourself in the art encounter of “The Mug” exhibit at Cape Fear Studios. Contact information for “The Mug” exhibit is the Cape Fear Studios website www.capefearstudios.com, or by phone at 910-433-2986.

(Photo: One of the mugs in the exhibit at Cape Fear Studios.)

“Strong commitments to one another and shared commitments to our business helps keep us forward on the long-term outcome of our family. Entrepreneurship is absolutely a team sport. It is the overlap between time we spend with family and time we spend working.”
— Daniel Wesley
Lori Tracy Stobbe, spouse, parent of a child experiencing Autism, president and co-owner of Lori’s Ace Home and Hardware, embodies the principles of empowerment, family, and entrepreneurship teamwork.
All of these will be on display at the Lori’s Ace Home & Hardware BBQ Battle, which will take place on May 17 to 18.
“We are ‘all in’ on grilling at Lori’s Ace. We have a wide selection of high-quality grills with trained associates to find the right grill for them,” said Stobbe.
The BBQ Battle will be located at Lori’s Ace Home & Hardware, 2800 Raeford Road, Suite 24A. The BBQ Battle is sanctioned by the Southern BBQ Network. Teams are competing in the specialty areas of pork butts and ribs. A tasting event for the public will be held 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tickets are ten dollars for the sampling event and can be purchased at the event. The proceeds of the sampling event will be donated to the Cumberland County Autism Society.
Lori Tracy Stobbe and her husband Nate Stobbe are a COVID love story.
“We met each other in 2020, as COVID was just beginning, yet thought it would be over in a few months. We lived in the Twin Cities, (St Paul and Minneapolis), Minnesota. So, while everything was closed, we chose to take long walks each day and talk about the future,” said Lori.
Lori Stobbe has a degree in Marketing and Public Relations. She was formerly Vice President of Creative Services at a large financial institution. She has a twenty-five year career span in Marketing. Nate Stobbe is an original resident of Saskatchewan, Canada. His career track is inclusive of being a Journeyman, CEO of a commercial fabric building and former owner of a custom home building company.
“In 2022, we married in St. Paul, Minnesota. We wanted to work together, and we wanted a warmer climate. After a few months, we chose Ace Hardware and North Carolina. We chose to open an Ace store because we knew it would be a good fit for our backgrounds, and we could help people,” Lori said. “Ace Hardware is a time-tested brand. Ace stores are in the Midwest. I would visit Ace in Marshall, Wisconsin with my father, a retired electrician. It was named ‘Ace’ after WW1 Fighter pilots. Fayetteville is a good fit. The specific site at 2800 Raeford Road proves to have the perfect size and location. There are no other Ace Stores in Fayetteville.”
“We named our store 'Lori’s Ace Home & Hardware' because of the robust home décor, gift section, garden center, toys and games. We designed the store to appeal to both men and women of all ages, a place that feels welcoming, a place that provides personal service, and a place where everyone can feel a sense of belonging to the community,” states Lori Stobbe
Autism Awareness is a family passion. Lori and Nate Stobbe are parents to a son experiencing Autism.
“I was fortunate to have a school system with Autism specialists and therapy resources that helped him navigate his sensory issues, and improve his speech, and motor skills. There was a network of parents to share ideas, successes, challenges and dietary recommendations. As with many Autistic children, he had strong interests. His interests were weather maps and cars. When bad weather approached, he would go outside, not inside. He would study the Rand McNally Road atlas for hours. He would collect Hot Wheels cars, read Car & Driver and watch NASCAR,” said Lori Stobbe
“Today, my son is twenty-seven and has a master’s degree in meteorology, lives independently, and is working for NASA on the Artemis project. The Artemis project explores technology development and preparation for human missions to Mars. He has just purchased a blue Ford Mustang. Without access as a child to therapy and trained school personnel, my son’s story would look different. It is saddening when I think about the children in years past who had no diagnosis and were placed in general special education rooms and labeled as ‘different.’ I am thankful for research and resources so that children in the autism spectrum today have a chance to reach the heights they never could reach before,” said Lori Stobbe.
The Autism Society of Cumberland County is a community resource for families dealing with autism spectrum disorder. The organization “strives to create a community where people with the autism spectrum and their families receive respect, services, and support based on individual differences, needs and preferences,” according to the website. This organization will receive the proceeds from the Lori Ace Home & Hardware BBQ Battle.
Lori Tracy Stobbe also has a zeal for women's entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.
“Women have to fight and work hard to achieve their goals. Depending on your industry, you may have to fight harder and work harder than others. Do not assume you can not do something, Ditch the stereotypes in your childhood or past workplaces that may have prevented you from achieving your goals. If you are a leader, help your employees bury their stereotypes too. Start with one person—yourself—and go from there,” said Lori Stobbe.
“We provide Women in Power workshops at Lori’s Ace. These free workshops help women learn what equipment is best for them. Women can get their questions answered and learn how to operate power equipment safely and confidently. Women may not know the difference between gas and battery equipment. Women may not have grown up learning how to use power equipment,” shares Lori Stobbe. The next Women in Power workshop is May 21 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The Lori’s Ace BBQ Battle will be held May 17 to 18. The sampling event for the public is 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tickets for the sampling event are $10, and tickets can be purchased the day of. The proceeds are a fundraiser for the Cumberland County Autism Society. For more info about the BBQ Battle, contact office@loris.ace.com

(Photo: Nate Strobbe and Lori Tracy Stobbe stand next to a barbecue at Lori's Ace Home & Hardware.)

In recent years, yoga and meditation have experienced a remarkable surge in popularity. Once considered niche practices, they have now reached the mainstream, captivating people from all walks of life. This transformation can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as increased awareness about mental health and well-being, as well as the accessibility of these practices through online platforms and local studios.
Fayetteville happens to be one of the areas with a good variety of local studios offering both great disciplines. Below is a compilation of nearby studios and a selection of the yoga and meditation classes they provide.

 Blissful Alchemists
414 Ray Ave 910-303-0192

• Inner Journey Meditation with Barbara
Tuesdays at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
https://tinyurl.com/3bkxw6uc

• Vinyasa Yoga With Sydnei
Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
https://tinyurl.com/2nme96d3

• Hallowed Heart Meditation with Kris
Wednesdays at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
https://tinyurl.com/capw43ax

• Meditation with Saha
Thursdays 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
$10 per class
https://tinyurl.com/y2cc7785

• Yoga & Sound
Saturdays noon to 1 p.m
https://tinyurl.com/y8yckb8h

Prima Elements Holistic Wellness Center
124 Anderson Street 910-483-8406

• Yoga with Yolanda
Tuesdays at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
https://tinyurl.com/mryyzaye

• Weekly Mindfulness Meetups
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
https://tinyurl.com/u3musvs6

• Morning Soul Yoga
Thursdays at 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
https://tinyurl.com/ycyhu565

Living Balance Studio
201 South McPherson Church Rd, Suite 225
434-409-6415

• Check out their website for the full class schedule:
https://www.livingbalancestudiosnc.com/group-classes

Triangle Rock Club
5213 Raeford Dr #103 910-868-7625

• Yoga Classes-See their website for the full class schedule:
https://tinyurl.com/2ctbuwc4

Cape Fear Botanical Garden
536 North Eastern Boulevard 910-486-0221

• Yoga in the Garden
Thursdays at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
https://tinyurl.com/y8j4nx59

Wana Navu Kava Bar
500 N Reilly Road #106 910-339-1822

• Community Yoga with Celeste
Sundays at 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
https://tinyurl.com/dy78pb7z

Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom
5435 Corporation Dr, Hope Mills
910-426-2537

• Yoga at Dirtbag Farmers Market
Sundays at 10 a.m.
https://tinyurl.com/yrxykcme

Patriot K Nine Training & Behavior
3760 Sycamore Dairy Rd 910-920-1000

• Dog Yoga
Recurring monthly on the 2nd Sunday at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
https://tinyurl.com/294cjuw4

Soul Dimension
(Online)

• Breathwork
Wednesdays at 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
https://tinyurl.com/55brme3u

As more people recognize the profound benefits these practices offer for both the body and mind, their popularity will likely continue to grow in the future.

The thing about the Karen Chandler Trust — that thing that most people, like the members of Cape Beard or musician Greg Adair, mention when the organization comes up — is that it operates with zero overhead. Everyone who works in the organization volunteers.
All of the money raised by the members of the trust is given to families fighting cancer within Cumberland County. Each year the trust can help cancer patients within Cumberland County with $120,000 to $130,000.
“Every dime we raise goes to patients. We cover rent, mortgages, utilities and transportation,” said Mike Chandler, founder of the Karen Chandler Trust or KCT. “When we run out of funds, we stop.”
The only requirements are they live in Cumberland County and have a letter from the treating physician stating they are in active treatment. The trust began in 1999 and was named for local musician Karen Chandler who developed breast cancer and saw overwhelming support from the community when her disease took her ability to work away.
The local musicians got together and did a number of shows to help Karen with her financial needs. Eventually, Karen succumbed to her disease but her brother and dad couldn’t forget the help she received when she was alive.
“We were so moved by what the local community did for my sister. We asked what we could do to give back,” said Chandler.
“ … Here we are 25 years later, still doing the same thing — trying to give back to the community.”
The trust began with $1,300. Initially, Chandler said, they were only trying to do a “little bit.”
“Lord knows it kind of snowballed,” he said.
Chandler said they often get calls in the middle of the night. Once a cancer patient had to call them at night in the middle of winter because gas had been turned off at that patient’s home. Over the years, Chandler says the organization has given about two million dollars back to the community.
“We have no paid staff,” he said. “But we have a wonderful board.”
One of the annual events the trust does is a music benefit down by the Cape Fear River. This year the event will be hosted at Campbellton Landing on May 19 starting at 10 a.m. and ending around 7:30 p.m.
“Music has the ability to bring us together and create a sense of belonging,” said Cindy Mangiboyat, Chairman of the Board for KCT. “It is my goal to harness that energy and unite our community and empower them to give back.”
Mangiboyat said she hopes that by organizing this event each year, the organization will create a platform for people to connect, share their passion for music and experience “the joy of togetherness.” This year there might even be a guest appearance for the event.
“Rumor has it the original Carolina Girl, Terri Gore, will be making an appearance,” said Mangiboyat.
The event will feature five bands in total including Rivermist, Reflections II, Classic Soul, The Holiday Band and Band of Oz as the headliner. Greg Adair, musician and member of Rivermist, said he is excited for another year at the event.
Adair does a lot of work for the trust and is part of the board. He does most of the approaching bands for this event. This year Adair is even donating his time for the concert.
“ … But I’m making sure my guys get paid,” he said.
Adair said the event is always looking for more volunteers to help. The price of admission is a $20 donation but groups can purchase a VIP table at the event for $500. Tables will seat eight and will include a meal and their name on the banner.
Adair said they encourage event goers to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Tickets can be purchased at the event or in advance through Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/44r7nGu
Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
This year, the members of the trust are hoping to raise about $8,000 to $9,000 at the event. Most of the bands will be playing beach music but there will be a variety band bringing an array of music from the Temptations to Bruno Mars.
Mangiboyat, Chandler and all the musical talent invite anyone within the community to come out, support the organization and in doing so, support the cancer patients within Cumberland County.
“We need the community's help to sustain these needs,” said Mangiboyat. “My motto is, ‘No one fights alone.’”

(Photo: Karen Chandler was a local musician who found help in the community when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Her brother, Mike Chandler, has since been donating money to cancer patients throughout Cumberland County in her honor.  The Karen Chandler Trust Beach Music Festival is an annual event to raise money.  File Photo)

The beloved Gilbert Theater has announced its lineup for next season and it has a few heavy hitters sure to pack the house and sell out fast.
The Gilbert Theater is known for putting on lesser-known productions and productions that explore humanity at its best, worst and everything in between. But next season will look a little different, while still keeping the weird and wonderful that is Gilbert Theater.
Artist Director Larry Carlisle is looking forward to the upcoming season and put great thought into what the season, with some financial backing, would look like.
“This new season we were lucky enough to be awarded a rather large sum of money from our friend Rep. Diane Wheatley,” he said. “One of the reasons I love doing stuff here is because we do weird stuff, we do shows that while recognizable, we also do our fair share of fairly mainstream stuff. When we did Sound of Music, you don’t get any more mainstream than that. Most of the time, those more recognizable shows end up being our most successful, obviously. We did Rocky Horror Show for our 30th season and it blew the doors off the place, almost. So we kind of decided while we have the ability and while the iron is hot, so to speak, we would kind of go BIG. We decided to go with a season that really has a lot of name recognition… shows we have always wanted to do here but couldn’t for any of number of reasons… We are opening the season with Heather’s the Musical.”
Theatergoers can look forward to a great season full of familiar favorites.

Heathers the Musical
September 13- September 29
Based on the 1989 cult classic, Heather’s, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, this show is sure to be a nostalgic comedic journey down the “cool kids” rabbit hole. Written by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy, Heather’s the Musical follows main characters Veronica Sawyer and Jason “J.D.” Dean through the parallels of ‘fitting in’ with the high school elite.

A Christmas Story
November 22- December 8
Keeping its 80’s theme, the holiday season will see A Christmas Story on the stage. Another adaptation of a 1980s cult classic, A Christmas Story tells the tale of a boy (Ralphie), and his family and his epic Christmas gift, not to mention his dad's leggy lamp.

Misery
January 31- February 16
Adapted from Stephan King’s 1983 novel of the same name, Misery looks to start 2025 off strong for the theater. A cautionary tale of fact vs fiction, reality vs fantasy, this twisted tale of fandom gone seriously wrong is surely going to hit the audience in the…gut.

The Prince
March 21- April 6
A season at the Gilbert wouldn’t be complete without uplifting and performing the work of an LGBTQ writer. This season will see trans writer Abigail Thorn’s The Prince highlighted on the stage. The story of actors in a play who newly discover they are indeed actors in a play. The new realization for the actors brings up bigger questions of identity. Do they want to be the characters they are playing?

Little Shop of Horrors
May 16-June 1
Ending the season with a jump to the 60s, The Gilbert looks to undertake its most sophisticated and technically complicated show yet. This show calls for the use of puppets, one of which will be almost the size of the stage. Audience members can look forward to singing and laughing along with this classic hit by Howard Ashman.

(Photo: Graphic courtesy of the Gilbert Theater Facebook Page)

Things are changing at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. A remodel and upgrade to the building is in the works, but this leaves Artistic Director, Mary Kate Burke, with a need for a remote location for the next two years while the theatre undergoes its renovation.
However, this isn’t the first time the folks at CFRT have had to pivot. During Covid, the crew found makeshift event spaces to continue producing their art. They performed at a few outdoor spaces like the old Haymount Auto spot, now the Truck Stop.
“Covid gave us the opportunity to learn how to create theatre in non-traditional spaces,” Burke said.
This change will be a little more traditional. Burke and the others at Cape Fear Regional will be moving their production space to The Bordeaux Hotel at 1707 Owen Drive — the space is now known as The Good Homes Bordeaux — transforming the top floor into an “engaging, dynamic” theatre.
The hotel itself is being converted to one-bedroom apartments. Burke said she is excited for the change since there is a housing shortage in the area. Even more exciting, is the sort of kismet around the partnership. Burke notes that the motto of the company that owns The Good Home Bordeaux is “Good Homes for Great People” and Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s slogan has been “Great Stories Told Here.” For her, they seem to fit together.
CFRT will have a five-season show for 2024-2025 including The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which has been going on for 33 years this year. The season’s opening show is still to be determined but it will be followed by Puffs in October. This production is about a “very well-known wizard series,” Burke says with a smile.
“It’s a 90 minute tour de force,” she says. “If you liked The Play That Goes Wrong, you’ll love Puffs. It’ll be a silly good time.”
Following that will be The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. This year the show will have four different casts and up to 40 youths involved in the production. After that, the theatre will put on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This production will be directed by Marc De La Concha. De La Concha is the director of education and directed Matilda. Burke says this production will have a lot of opportunities for youth performers.
“Its going to be a family favorite.”
The follow up to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be Steel Magnolias. Burke describes it as a beloved Southern masterpiece. This production will happen in the springtime for CFRT.
“We are really excited to bring this story to life,” she said. “It’s both hilarious and touching.”
With all these productions and managing the change of locations, Burke notes that it’s ironic that Steel Magnolias has a large theme about change since the theatre and staff will undergo so much change during the next two years.
“Change can be something you have to be thoughtful about when you manage.”
The last production in the theatre's 2024-2025 season will be Once on This Island. The show is a different story from The Little Mermaid, with “incredible” music, according to Burke. She and the other members of the staff at the theatre are excited about the upcoming changes and any challenges along the way.
Their new space will have less seating than their home space in Haymount so Burke recommends getting a season pass as those pass holders will have priority in seating. The theatre will still have all the education programs but where they will be held will be forthcoming.
“Even though it’s going to be in a different location, we are still going to be serving the community in the same ways we always have,” she said.

(Photo: The Good Homes Bordeaux, formerly the Holiday Inn Bordeaux, will be the new home of Cape Fear Regional Theatre for the next two seasons.  Photo by Linda McAllister)

Early Voting for the Republican 2nd Primary Election ends May 11.
Voters will be required to show photo identification in order to vote in this election. Citizens who do not have a photo ID can get a free ID at the Board of Elections office.
The Republican Primary Election is Tuesday, May 14, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Only registered Republican or unaffiliated voters that voted Republican in the March 5, 2024 election, or unaffiliated voters that did not vote in the March 5, 2024 election may vote in the Republican 2nd Primary Election.
Early voting hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and early voting hours on Saturday, May 11 are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Early Voting will be held at the Cumberland County Board of Elections office, located in the E. Newton Smith Center at 227 Fountainhead Lane, Fayetteville.
To register to vote, you must be a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of Cumberland County for 30 days before the date of the next election.
If you are not a registered voter, you may register and vote only on Election Day if you are newly eligible to vote because you:
• Became a new county resident between Feb. 5, 2024 and April 14, 2024
• Were naturalized as a U.S. citizen after March 5, 2024
• Completed a felony sentence after March 5, 2024
• Were absent on Feb. 9, 2024, due to uniformed service.
For more information, go to the N.C. Board of Elections website at ncsbe.gov.
Voter ID Requirements
Starting in elections in 2023, all North Carolina voters are required to show photo identification in order to vote. Many forms of ID are already accepted in order to vote including:
• North Carolina driver’s license
• State ID from the NCDMV (also called non-operator ID)
• Driver’s license or non-driver’s license from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)
• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card
• Voter ID card issued by a County Board of Elections
• College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections
• State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections
To learn more about the photo ID requirements, acceptable forms of identification and how to get a free Voter ID, ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id.
For more information about the Cumberland County Board of Elections, call 910-678-7733 or visit cumberlandcountync.gov/elections.
Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Board of Elections is located in the E. Newton Smith center at 227 Fountainhead Lane in Fayetteville.

Dr. Hank Parfitt and former State Rep. Diane Parfitt are hosting a reception for Fayetteville/Cumberland County resident Dr. Sarah Taber, the Democratic candidate for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
The event will occur on May 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the City Center Gallery & Books in Downtown Fayetteville.
The event will be a historic moment and celebration since Dr. Taber will be the first candidate from Cumberland County to run for a statewide office since the late Senator Tony Rand in 1988.
She is also the first woman ever to run statewide from Cumberland County. The reception supports her efforts to become the new NC Agriculture Commissioner.
Taber is a homegrown and well-known crop scientist with 26 years of agriculture experience working with North Carolina farmers and the food industry, assisting and advising them in producing quality crops vital to building successful businesses. Taber’s priorities are promoting North Carolina Agriculture and supporting NC farmers and the farm industry.
The meet and greet reception is open to the public. For more information about the event, call or text 910-227-9162.
To reserve tickets to the event, visit https://bit.ly/4doVcOI Tickets begin at $50 for the "Seed" level.

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Sarah Taber's website taberfornc.com)

I read the New York Times so you don’t have to. A recent Times article about Polyamory caught my attention. Frequently their articles are informative. I will not bore you with anything useful. Oh, no. Dig up useful stuff yourself.
Today’s stain on world literature dives into the deep and rancid stew of Polyamory. What is Polyamory you might ask? I wondered the same thing. Does it involve putting a suit of armor on a parrot to protect against tiny Chlamydia parasites which cause avian pneumonia? Nope.
Does it involve putting Armor All on a parrot? Polly want an Armor All? Who wouldn’t want a shiny, highly polished, easy-to-clean, and rain-resistant parrot? We do not own a parrot, but if we did, I would want one that was spick and span, pollen resistant, that would make the neighbors jealous of my bright shining parrot.
Alas, once again No.
Double Trigger Warning: (I do not refer to Roy Roger’s wonder horse- Trigger) This column is likely to be highly offensive to both friends and foes of Polyamory. I count as a win any time I can generate a column likely to offend people on both sides of an issue. If you have a sensitive or insensitive nature, tear this page out of the Up & Coming Weekly and wrap up some 4-day-old fish.
“Normal” people won’t like the column because it shines a light on what they perceive as an aberrant lifestyle. “Progressive” people will not like the column because it makes fun of this current trend. What more could any writer ask? Although I think Polyamory is pretty weird, it did not keep me from reading the article. I would pay to see a two-headed goat if one was available, so naturally I was fascinated by the concept.
Polyamory has nothing to do with parrot hygiene. Polyamory is what the progressive crowd of younger folks, hip middle-agers, and desperate Baby Boomers are doing to stave off the existential dread of being alone. Mr. Google defines Polyamory as: “Consensual nonmonogamy, having the practice of multiple intimate relationships, whether sexual or just romantic, with the full knowledge and consent of all parties involved. It is generally not gender-specific: anyone can have multiple partners of any gender.” Back in the ‘60s it would just be called “whatever turns you on.”
The Times article went into great detail about the jargon that has developed to explain the many wonders of Polyamory relationships. Our old pal Voltaire once said: “If you wish to converse with me, define your terms.”
Polyamory terms are “pretty, pretty, pretty entertaining” as Larry David would say in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Let us define Polyamory’s terms as explained in the Times. A group of people who are in a cohort of Polyamorous folks is a called a Polycule which is an amalgam of ‘Polyamory’ and ‘molecule.’ The polycules resemble amoebas with highly ambiguous borders. Members in one polycule are not limited to fooling around only in their polycule. Like the old Yellow Pages ad said, they can reach out and touch someone in their polycule or an adjacent polycule.
Many folks in the polycule are heteroflexible and enjoy the company of either sex.
The goal of Polyamory is Ethical Non Monogamy or ENM. ENM says if you tell your partners what you are doing, everything is OK. If you are in a relationship with a Significant Other but dallying with a third person, your Significant Other and the partner of the third person are called Metamours.
If there was a Mr. Stormy Daniels, then Mr. Stormy Daniels and Melania Trump would be Metamours. Not everyone in a Polycule follows the ENM rules; those folks are called “Relationship Anarchists.” The Times described a subgroup in a Polycule made up of “Radical alien witch academic nerds.”
If you are interested in becoming ENM, there is a how-to manual called “The Ethical Slut” which could help you on your way. If you have achieved full ENM and are happy when your Significant Other is making whoopee with someone else, you have achieved a state of being Polysecure. This level of ENM is called Compersion. If you are quaintly actually married, your spouse is called your Nesting Partner. Not every Polyamory party ends up in an orgy, sometimes folks just end up in a big cuddle pile of puppy love.
Speaking of puppies, this column nearly ended without mentioning South Dakota Governor and Dog Murderer Kristi Noem. Kristi’s new book relates she shot her puppy Cricket in the face in a gravel pit because she “hated that dog.” For good measure, Kristi then shot her goat because it had a bad attitude. I suspect that sort of animal cruelty would get Governor Kristi kicked out of any Polycule.
Old Yeller and I would never vote for Kristi. Fortunately, no two-headed goats were harmed during the writing of this column.

Ron Brewington, Fayetteville native, husband, father, entrepreneur and successful businessman has been my friend for over four decades. Below is the second article he has submitted to Up & Coming Weekly in 28 years.
I know this because he was the first to write for this newspaper when I created it in 1996, 28 years ago. He loved the idea of a publication promoting and showcasing the Fayetteville community. His article immediately captured the hearts and minds of the entire Fayetteville community, catapulting him to near-celebrity status, resulting in interviews and guest appearances on local radio shows.
His topic? Fayetteville is NOT FayetteNam. In his article, he effectively articulated the many reasons the Fayetteville community needed to actively initiate an aggressive awareness campaign to eliminate the negative FayetteNam moniker so it would not be detrimental or impair the progress, development, and growth of the Fayetteville community.
I credit Brewington for bringing that invaluable awareness to the forefront of community leaders. Fast forward 28 years: Mission accomplished. We need many more concerned and courageous citizens like Ron Brewington who are willing to speak up for the community they love, if for no other reason than to let our city and county elected officials know that we are aware of their actions and they are not operating with impunity.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.
— Bill Bowman

I saw a sign in front of a building on Village Drive: "Coming Soon — Lumbee Bank."
I've heard that Lumbee Bank would be vacating their downtown location. This may confirm that rumor.
This is not good for downtown. Small start-ups come and go, but losing banks on high-profile corners is unsuitable for anyone in the downtown community.
Mayor Mitch Colvin's rooftop restaurant atop Lumbee Bank took forever and a day to open and was only open a few months before closing. Not good.
Huske Hardware House Restaurant has shut down. They'd been there for quite a while. To lose one of downtown’s longest-tenured and significant businesses is devastating.
Across the street, the Prince Charles property is again for sale. Fayetteville City's parking deck next door took over five years to build, and still isn't complete. It isn't ADA-compliant, and the building has no elevator. In addition, there was supposed to be a hotel on top. What's up with that?
And where is the high-end steak house that is supposed to be at the Prince Charles? How do a baseball stadium, a museum and a performing arts center function and succeed without a hotel, bank and sufficient parking?
The success of downtown communities depends on the success of other merchants and businesses. Companies don't locate where parking decks aren't finished or where corporate visitors have no place to stay. It is a lousy location when their staff has to leave the downtown community to get lunch.
Our financial security with the baseball stadium was that the Astros had a long-term lease to pay off the note. I haven't read it, but I bet the city has violated many parts of that lease, giving the Astros the right to walk away.
We need a vibrant downtown. It is essential to the entire city and county. Downtown is a city's image. Downtown Fayetteville has more tenants leaving than entering. The only industry that is growing in downtown Fayetteville is the homeless. A few blocks away is a multi-million-dollar investment to build a resource center for the homeless, while just a few blocks in the other direction is the Department of Social Services. DSS is responsible for that population. Insist that they do their job.
What's the problem? I don't think there's a community commitment to a master plan. I don't even think there is a plan. We're throwing pasta onto the wall, hoping something sticks even if it conflicts with other plans.
Except for Up & Coming Weekly, newspapers and objective journalism no longer exist in a way that holds our elected official's feet to the fire. For the most part, local radio no longer exists, and with over 330,000 residents, Fayetteville community has no local TV station.
No one is asking questions, and our leaders are all too happy to tell us nothing. They have gerrymandered city council districts that give us just one person to hold accountable. I don't know the answer to this BS, but I do know that, Fayetteville should be the third or fourth largest market in North Carolina. Our demographics could make us a desirable and entertaining city with great earning potential. We've squandered many opportunities.
When our young people leave for school, they don't come back. Is there any wonder?
We have a huge investment in our downtown. It is OK to make mistakes, but our leaders need to identify and acknowledge them and get them back on track.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FAIL. If we fail now, the decay of downtown Fayetteville will be inevitable.

— Ron Brewington
Fayetteville, NC

(Photo: An aerial photo shows the businesses of Downtown Fayetteville. File photo)