After ending their arrangement to have Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meetings aired by the city of Fayetteville’s television channel, the commissioners have returned to the air on the Fayetteville- Cumberland County Educational TV channel. 

Sally Shutt, assistant county manager for Cumberland County, first mentioned the idea to Hope Mills town manager Melissa Adams a few months ago. 

Hope Mills had ended its arrangement with the city of Fayetteville after the board of commissioners discontinued a trial agreement with Fayetteville to broadcast the meetings. Had the arrangement continued, Hope Mills was going to have to pay to have its meetings broadcast. 

Shutt said Cumberland County has a partnership with Fayetteville Technical Community College, which operates the FCETV channel, Channel 5 on Spectrum Cable TV. 

   The FCETV channel airs the meetings of the Cumberland County commissioners. Shutt said she reached out to Brent Michaels of FTCC and asked if they would be willing to air the Hope Mills commissioners meetings as well. She said Michaels agreed. 

   “They (Hope Mills) are filming their own meetings and putting them on their YouTube channel,’’ Shutt said. 

   Shutt said any local municipality that films its own meetings is welcome to pursue having them aired on the FCETV channel. 

   Hope Mills will record its meetings on a digital file and upload the file for broadcast on the FCETV channel. 

   At a recent meeting, the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to have board meetings air on the FCETV channel at 9 p.m. on Friday evenings. 

   To check the complete schedule of programs being aired on FCETV, visit the channel’s website at FCETV.org. 

   Most of the current programming is education-related, along with some government and county news broadcasts. 

Why would I ask you to read from a column I wrote almost 30 years ago? 

When I read that column, tearfully, at a recent family reunion, I knew I wanted to share it with you, just in case you missed it back in 1987. 

That year was one of triumph for my mother. 

In 1933, she finished college and left her home in South Georgia to go to New York to study theatre. She was admitted to the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse, training ground for many of America’s best actors. It was the Depression, hard times for everybody. But she worked hard and took extra jobs to make enough money to stay in New York. 

Would she have been a star? 

You can never tell which gifted people fate will select to be successes in the world of acting. But it is clear that she had the talent to be good – to be great. 

Fortunately for me, one of her jobs was producer and director of a summer stage production called “O Professor.” It traveled from place to place in the South during the summer of 1934. She recruited local talent, trained them, sold ads for the programs, managed costumes, directed the production and then split the profits with local charities or church groups. One stop was in Davidson, where my father (to-be) was working for Davidson College. 

The rest of the story? It’s obvious. Well, almost. Romance. Love. Marriage. Children. Happiness. And sorrow, too. Through it all, I don’t think she ever regretted her choice to be a wife and mother. 

But she was never able to prove what she knew in her heart – that she was good enough to be a star. 

Those few who saw her through the years in amateur productions knew that she was good. Meanwhile, she earned her reputation as the caring, exuberant wife of a college administrator, who pushed students to do their best, charmed potential donors, thought up wonderful connections to bring people and resources together – and most of all – for three generations of college alumni, she remembered your name when you came back to campus. 

When my father, who was as close to a perfect husband and father as could be, was struck down with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, she did not hide it or deny it. There was no shame in her sorrow. Instead, she used that tragedy to help other families struck by Alzheimer’s. She helped them overcome their anger and guilt with the knowledge that many other families who suffered were ready to help each other. 

She was a success by any measure, and at 76, she had every reason to sit back and relax, but she went through her entire life without ever making it to the professional stage, until... 

Until this spring (1987), when she got a chance to try out for the Charlotte Repertory Theatre’s production of the Broadway hit “Steel Magnolias.” To make this long story a little shorter, she won a leading part and was a smashing success in a cast with five professional actresses – I mean five other professional actresses. 

They packed them in. They wowed them. At 76, making her professional debut, my mom was a star. Triumph. 

Unfortunately, not long after the curtain came down, she noticed a dreaded lump in her breast. It was malignant, and she had a mastectomy. 

Down and out you would think she would be. Nope. Her first words to me on my first visit after surgery: “Can you get the script for ‘Steel Magnolias?’ Charlotte Rep is going to do the play again and they have asked me to come back and do my part.” 

She pushed through the recovery and was a star again, a reminder that we too may still have important roles to play, whatever our age or circumstance. 

Photo:  Louise McMichael Martin 

As a child, when I took more food than I could eat my mother would say, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.” Well, the same may be said of Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s appetite for initiating future economic development projects. 

Currently, public opinion is positive and cautiously optimistic about the economic development projects taking place in our city. Residents are excited and supportive of our new Houston Astros Advanced Class A minor league baseball team, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, and the forthcoming new $37.8 million stadium. This structure, along with the $17 million renovation of the historic Prince Charles Hotel into apartments plus a parking deck, hotel and office complex, is the nucleus of a much-needed healthy economic boom for the revival of Fayetteville’s downtown community. Add to that the prospects of a statewide Civil War and Reconstruction History Center, and this becomes a masterful undertaking. 

Is it needed? Yes. 

Will it succeed? Well that depends on how our elected leadership manages our resources. And from that point of view comes plenty of healthy skepticism. After all, the sports complex center, skate board park and east side senior citizen facility, all of which were included and approved in the $35 million parks and rec bond package, are still in the planning stages. 

Before the first Woodpecker home game or the first lease on a Prince Charles apartment is signed, our elected are spending tens of thousands of dollars with consultants on feasibility and location studies of a potential performing arts center in downtown Fayetteville. 

The need for a performing arts center has been talked about and even debated for more than a decade. There was a need then, and there is still a need. With new construction taking place and the number of future projects yet to be completed, even ardent supporters of a performing arts center feel it may be prudent to slow down the development frenzy to make sure we don’t overextend our resources. We need to be able to support and adequately pay for these cultural amenities without adding an undue burden on local taxpayers – a reasonable request. No doubt the need is upon us with the deteriorating conditions of the Crown Theatre. However, the question remains – will the demographics of Cumberland County support such a facility? With a potential price tag of $50 million-plus, there are still plenty of other questions that need to be addressed. 

What shows will it attract? And at what price? 

Recently, tickets at Durham Performing Arts Center for the touring company of “Hamilton” sold at Broadway prices. Given a choice, why would big-show promoters choose Fayetteville over larger markets like Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro and Winston-Salem? 

What effect would it have on other local cultural institutions like Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Charlotte Blume’s annual “Nutcracker” ballet, Community Concerts and the “Heart of Christmas Show?” 

And, the most critical question of all: How do we pay for it? 

Sure, the consultants say once built the facility will pay for itself. Historically, there are many who will dispute that claim. Besides, when it comes to taking advice and direction from any consultant, always pay close attention to who is paying them. It is a good indication of the outcome. 

A Fayetteville Performing Arts Center is a good, feasible and honorable idea. However, residents must first see and experience the positive effects of the economic impact promised as a result of the current downtown development and investments. Success here will add excitement, enthusiasm, confidence and support to a Fayetteville performing arts center proposal and any future projects that will enhance the quality of life in our community. 

Let’s develop Fayetteville on a solid foundation of proven successes and not on speculation. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

 A friend confided recently that she is mapping out her funeral – readings, hymns, flowers, pallbearers, homily suggestions for the minister and other details. She believes that such advanced planning takes some of the burden away from her family when the sad day arrives. I believe that as well. 

That said, I have not planned one single aspect of my own sendoff, not because I don’t want to ease the burden on the Precious Jewels but because I find the entire notion a tad creepy – not an occasion around which fantasies are savored. One thing I do know for sure, though, and I have communicated it to those who might be in charge. Under no circumstances is there to be a homily, sermon – or Lord forbid – eulogy of any sort. 

  I decided that in my 20s while attending the funeral of a good friend’s mother at a Charlotte church. The deceased, whose name was Pearl, had attended the church for a relatively short time after her two children had already flown from the nest. In about 20 seconds, the minister managed to call both my friend and her brother the wrong names. Then he went on to say – and I remember this word for word – “Forgive me, but Pearl was a real pearl.” I nearly bolted out the church doors, screaming all the way. 

  More recently, services featuring various family members and friends recounting the dearly departed’s struggles with various substances seem like too much information to me. They reinforce my desire to be barely mentioned at all. It probably does not help that the name Margaret is derived from the Greek word for – you guessed it – pearl. 

  I am sure people in other parts of the country plan their funerals as well, but Southerners seem to handle funerals and associated activities our own special way. 

  A cousin married a Belgian man, who was horrified when he encountered his first Southern funeral. The deceased was a friend close enough to be family, so we all trooped to the widow’s house, where a full party was in swing. No one called it that, but that is what it was, complete with a dining room table laden with food and all sorts of beverages, very few of them iced tea. 

  The scandalized Belgian urged us to leave immediately, insisting the family was mourning and needed to be alone, despite the fact the widow was in the living room having a glass of wine. We assured him that the family would have plenty of time to mourn and that for the time being, we were there for diversion. 

  The Belgian eventually came around and, as an accomplished cook himself, made appropriate food for just such occasions. 

  “Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral” by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays is a handy little book to keep around for when the need arises. Need a good funeral recipe to serve or to take to someone – say, tomato aspic topped with homemade mayonnaise? They have it. What’s more, they classify by denominations. Episcopalians sip wine and eat shrimp in the living room. Methodists eat casseroles with mushroom soup in the family room, and Baptists drink bourbon out of coffee mugs in the driveway. Other helpful tips include not rolling the car windows down when driving your loved one’s ashes home. 

  All Southern funerals make room for eccentric Southern ladies. One of my favorites is the much-loved aunt riding in the funeral limousine with her two 20-something nieces who had just buried their mother. The aunt, it seems, had been in high school with the funeral director who was driving the limo, which had already broken down once. The car was quiet until the aunt leaned through the sliding glass window into the front seat and said loudly, “Billy, I know the funeral business is lucrative, but how do you stand it?” 

  That same Southern belle, grief-stricken but stalwart, hated the urn in which the same funeral director had returned her loved one’s ashes. She did the only thing a Southern belle could possibly do under the circumstances. She buried the ashes in a sterling silver biscuit box taken from her dining room sideboard. 

 Jazz music changed American culture in the 1920s and ’30s, combining African and European influences. Originating in the bayous in and around New Orleans, Louisiana, jazz rocked the nation, reshaping the culture and leaving a lasting impression that has endured generations. From Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and more, jazz changed America. It made us better. Dec. 1, celebrate the holidays – and the magic of jazz – at Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s “Home for the Holidays,” featuring renowned New York jazz vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli. 

Harkening back to USO shows, this concert combines the warmth of the holidays with the swinging, toe-tapping magic of jazz. Paying tribute to legends like Fitzgerald, Ellington and Stan Kenton, it’s a surefire way to set your heart right for the holidays. 

“Our music director, Stefan Sanders, found Gabrielle by reaching out to some friends he had in New York,” said FSO President and CEO Christine Kastner. “We looked at her materials and thought she was a perfect fit. We are doing lots of Ella Fitzgerald, and Gabrielle does a great job and will be a great fit. She is really fun.” 

An award-winning vocalist and songwriter, Stravelli’s musical reach is wide. Exploring artists that include Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and John Fogerty, she’s put her own stamp on a variety of work. 

In 2018 Stravelli served as a U.S. State Department “Jazz Ambassador,” touring Southeast Asia. She headlined the WBGO Jazz on the Mountain Festival and released “Dream Ago,” her third album. The album received rave reviews from sources including DownBeat Magazine, the HuffPost, Scott Yanow of LA Jazz Scene and Tony Frankel of LA’s Stage and Cinema. 

In addition, she and her trio toured Italy and Norway – and in the U.S.: New Jersey; Lancaster, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; Detroit, Michigan; Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland in Ohio; Austin, Texas; Los Angeles and San Francisco in California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and the greater Washington D.C. area. 2014- 2017 were equally busy. 

After FSO’s “Home for the Holidays,” guests will likely get to meet Stravelli in person. “Typically, when we have a guest artist, we will get them to come out to the lobby to meet people,” said Kastner. 

Stravelli is not the only guest sharing the spotlight with the orchestra. “The older children’s choirs from Fayetteville Academy will perform again this year,” Kastner said. “About 25 students will be performing.” 

The concert will include many holiday favorites. Come early to hear the Music Nerd speak about the music and composers featured in the show in addition to other fun facts. For example, in 1948, Leroy Anderson composed “Sleigh Ride.” In 1949, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops recorded it. Today, it holds the title of most widely recorded and performed piece of Christmas music, according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. 

The pre-concert talk with the Music Nerd begins at 6:45 p.m. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Visit the FSO website, www.fayettevillesymphony.org, for tickets and information. 

 And now almost live from Washington, D.C., is the report on my recent fact-finding trip to our nation’s capital. In an effort to distance ourselves from the ongoing slow-rolling horror that is Carolina’s football season, we headed out of town. Unfortunately, 300 miles from Chapel Hill was not enough to avoid the moral victory that befell the Tar Heels in the Dook game. The Heels lost the game to the evil Dooksters. However, the Heels did improve our record to one win and eight moral victories. Carolina’s football team now leads the nation in moral victories, a slim reed upon which we can cling as we face the final game of the season against Moo U. 

In keeping with the theme of moral victories, I would like to give a shout-out to our Dear Glorious Very Stable Genius Leader who tweeted on Election Night: “Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” Dear Leader curiously found a tremendous victory by losing the House of Representatives to the Democrats. It turned out resistance is fertile. Despite precise gerrymandering, the House flipped, bringing back the Speaker’s gavel to Nancy Pelosi. As many of my Republican friends would say, “The horror. The horror.” 

Allow me to retort as Jules said in “Pulp Fiction.” Elections have consequences. As the Talking Heads on cable repeatedly say, “There is a lot to unpack here.” Let us robustly drill down into what it all means at the end of the day to see what’s it all about, Alfie. 

Dear Leader is like UNC football Coach Larry Fedora concerning the word victory. To quote Inigo Montoya from “Princess Bride, “You keep using that word – I do not think it means what you think it means.” 

In a spasm of lucidity, it occurred to me how much political speak and coach speak have in common. The event horizon between the two speaks is nonexistent. Consider George Orwell’s statement, “Political speech is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give the appearance of solidity to pure wind.” Now consider Fedora’s coach speak after yet another Carolina gridiron loss: “Our guys never gave up. We keep getting closer. I saw a lot out there I really liked. You have to give credit to the other team, they got the job done. I will have to go review the game film to see where we need to improve. Now excuse me while I update my resume. I have to meet with my financial advisor to determine how to invest my $12 million severance package.” 

  Both UNC football and Dear Leader’s administration are knee-deep in the Big Muddy and keep pushing on. Dear Leader skipped going to the U.S. military cemetery in France during the World War I commemoration because it was raining. The American soldiers buried there faced a lot worse than drizzle. Perhaps Dear Leader didn’t want to have a bad hair day. He was awarded the Morton Salt “When It Rains, It Pours” certificate of nonparticipation from the other world leaders who somehow managed to show up in the rain. Dear Leader loudly proclaims to be a supporter of the military but can’t pay his respects to American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in France or even attend the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington. As the King of Siam once said, “It is a puzzlement.” 

  So, what have we learned today? William Burroughs wrote, “Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.” I clearly do not have all the facts. Sometimes circumstantial evidence can be extremely strong, as when you find a fish in a bucket of milk. Under those circumstances, even though you didn’t see someone put the fish in the milk, it is reasonable to infer that someone put the fish in the milk. The fish did not swim into the bucket. To mangle Victor Hugo’s quote: “There is nothing so strong as a bad idea whose time has come.” 

  Gentle Reader, you may consider this entire column a bad idea. You could be correct. I submit that bad ideas have come to D.C. and Kenan Stadium. 

  In the classic movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” illegal space aliens landed in D.C., threatening destruction. Klaatu the Alien tells Earth “to live in peace or pursue your present course and face obliteration.” After Klaatu is killed, Gort can only be stopped by hearing the magic words: “Klaatu barada nikto.” 

  To quote Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?” 

  Will no one say “Klaatu barada nikto” in D.C. or Chapel Hill? 

Clara. Drosselmeyer. Nutcracker Prince. Snow Queen. Mouse King. These characters from the beloved Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” often bring to mind images of wonder, imagination and the enchanting beauty of classical ballet. One thing that may not come to mind, though, is inclusion and diversity. The Dance Theatre of Fayetteville, founded by Ann Clark Crummie in the 1950s, provides a unique take on “The Nutcracker” in that it creates a space where every young dancer in this community can perform in the iconic story. Factors that don’t matter one bit include income level, race, disability and a physical appearance that may not match the stereotypical ballerina. See TDTF’s production at Methodist University’s Huff Concert Hall Nov. 30, Dec. 1 or Dec. 2. 

When Crummie founded TDTF, she made sure it would be homegrown through and through. She encouraged parents of dancers attending any studio in Cumberland County to join the board. The goal was to connect and support young, local dancers. In the ’70s, Crummie homed in on a passion project that embodied her mission with “The Nutcracker.” Though she passed away last May, her legacy and this production continue to grow. 

TDTF’s “The Nutcracker” is not just open to all Cumberland County dancers – it’s solely comprised of them. “Every role in our (show) is performed by locally raised dancers that attend our local dance studios,” said Assistant Art Director Tara Herringdine. 

   Art Director Leslie Dumas said sometimes they get dancers who barely know anything about classical ballet, but nobody gets turned away. “They might have a very minute part, but they’re still in it,” she said. Some of those dancers stick with it every year and eventually perform major roles as they improve. 

   Herringdine, who owns Cumberland Dance Academy in Hope Mills, trained under Crummie from the time she was 5 and first danced in TDTF’s “Nutcracker” at age 6. She supported Dumas in creating most of this year’s choreography, along with Becca Fazekas, Thomas McGill and Beth Heisel. Some of Crummie’s original choreography is featured in the show as well. 

   A unique element in their take is the inclusion of dynamic acrobatics. Dumas’ studio, Leslie’s Dance Academy, is located in CountrySide Gymnastics. Consequently, many of her students are also gymnasts who have qualified for and won national competitions. “We have a great Russian sequence this year,” Dumas said. “Everyone is doing flips.” 

   Dumas added that this year also features 12 beautiful new character costumes. TDTF pays for all the costumes, a significant effort as expensive costume fees are a common deterrent to dancers participating in recitals. The TDTF board raises the funds necessary for “The Nutcracker” by holding two fundraisers each year. 

   This year features about 85 dancers ages 7 to 18 and a few college students who are returning to dance in their favorite show. Primary roles include Kiley Brunson as Clara, Riley Brantley as the Prince and Ti’era Basehart as Drosselmeyer. 

   Showtimes for “The Nutcracker” at Huff Concert Hall are Friday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door for adults, $5 for those 18 and under and free for children 4 and under. 

   Visit www.dancetheatreoffayetteville.com or call 910-850-6363 to purchase tickets. 

Put Givens Performing Arts Center’s “Holiday Extravaganza” on your holiday bucket list this year. It promises to be a musical smorgasbord with something to delight every palate. Classical and jazz, choral and a cappella, woodwinds and brass – and even tubas. Webster’s defines “extravaganza” as a spectacular, dramatic and elaborate production, and that’s exactly what the music department at UNC Pembroke promises to deliver. The UNC Pembroke “Holiday Extravaganza” at GPAC takes place Friday, Nov. 30, beginning at 8 p.m. 

Conceived 10 years ago by Dr. Timothy Altman, UNCP professor of music and director of bands and trumpets, the annual event draws talented participants from throughout the university’s department of music. Both students and faculty participate. 

According to Altman, music department faculty members create each annual extravaganza program around the talents and strengths of the students. 

The production is an interactive event. In addition to utilizing the full concert stage, various pieces are performed from spots strategically placed throughout the audience. This contributes to the pacing; it directs audience attention elsewhere while the main stage is being re-set and keeps the production moving forward. 

“The show is 99 percent music,” Altman said. “It’s full of musical variety and fast-paced.” 

   On tap to perform in the extravaganza are the vocal jazz ensemble, directed by Nathan Thomas; the UNCP Global Rhythm Ensemble, directed by Dr. Joseph Van Hassel; the jazz combo, directed by Dr. Aaron Vandermeer; the trumpet ensemble, directed by Altman; the flute choir, directed by Sarah Busman; the saxophone choir, directed by Marty Spitzer; the Pembroke Singers, directed by Dr. Jose Rivera; the UNCP string orchestra, directed by Michael Sparks; the wind ensemble, directed by Altman; and the university chorale, directed by Dr. Jaeyoon Kim. 

   Among the highlights of this year’s extravaganza will be Duke Ellington’s jazz arrangement of “The Nutcracker Suite.” Also debuting this year will be a completely original piece for the saxophone choir. 

   While “Carol of the Bells” is standard holiday fare, this year’s rendition will be somewhat of a departure from tradition. The finale promises to be spectacular, with more than 100 members of the wind ensemble and the university chorale onstage. Words to the “Hallelujah Chorus” are printed in the program, and the audience is invited to participate. With more than 1,000 voices raised in song, this is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. 

   Tuba Christmas, a nationwide event open to the community, will perform in front of the lobby beginning at 7:30 p.m. 

   Tickets may be purchased from the GPAC box office by phone prior to the concert and can be held at the will-call window. The number is 910-521-6409. Tickets may also be purchased from the box office in person, which is located at 1 University Dr. in Pembroke, at the center of the front entrance to the GPAC lobby. Box office hours are from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour before the performance. 

   General admission tickets are $12, children’s tickets are $5, and UNCP student admission is $2. 

Not that it is really in my interest to say this, but many of our political debates are a waste of time. 

They may well be about important issues. But they go nowhere. The two different “sides” disagree strenuously without making a real effort to understand what their foes are saying. 

So here’s a little time-saver the next time you get into such a debate. Assuming you’re somewhat on my ideological wavelength, just tell your opponent, “Mind your own business.” 

No, I don’t mean give him the brush-off. “Mind your own business” is a pretty meaningful phrase, if you think about it, and nicely describes a key element of the freedom philosophy as articulated by English philosopher John Locke in the 17th century, the American Founders of the 18th century, and free-market scholars of the 19th and 20th centuries. 

I say that it describes a key element of the philosophy because it is not, by itself, the philosophy. There are other aspects and areas of substantial disagreement among those who otherwise agree on the primacy of liberty in politics. But as a starting point, “Mind your own business” suffices. 

As it happens, the phrase did originate with a famous English writer and thinker of the 17th century. No, it wasn’t John Locke. It was one of his intellectual forebears and heroes, Sir Francis Bacon. A lawyer, statesman and essayist who lived from 1561 to 1626, Bacon served in several posts in the Stuart monarchy of the early 17th century, ran afoul of many powerful politicians, got removed from office amid allegations of bribery and then retired to write and conduct scientific experiments. 

It was only in about the 1500s that speakers of English began to use the term “business” to refer to trade or commercial activities, so earlier usages would have had a different connotation than the one usually ascribed to Bacon’s phrase. 

It’s worth considering the original meaning, though. The word “business” seems to have come from the obvious: “busy-ness.” It referred to something that kept one “busy,” that made one anxious or uneasy. Later came the notion that “business” was a particular matter needing one’s attention. 

  Consider two different ways to understand the phrase “mind your own business” in a political context. First of all, it basically means butt out. Don’t fixate on, or try to prohibit or regulate, what someone else is doing – unless, of course, that person’s actions would impinge on your own freedom. Applying this principle in public policy doesn’t invalidate government action. It demands government action, but only to maximize the freedom of individuals to make choices and act on them. 

  The second meaning is more literal: pay attention to your own needs. This may sound presumptuous to say, perhaps even somewhat in tension with the first meaning. After all, who are you to demand this of me? Shouldn’t I have the freedom not to mind my own business, my own personal or financial affairs, if I don’t want to? 

  Up to a point, yes. But practical people – and both Bacon and Locke were immensely practical as well as philosophical thinkers – understand that it can be hard to contain the effects of irresponsible personal decisions. 

  Adults who don’t adequately care for their children or their elders generate a problem that, perhaps contrary to good sense or libertarian principle, inevitably becomes a public one. People who don’t save for a rainy day, who don’t finish school and make sure they have a marketable skill, who indulge personal vices and addictions, who drive recklessly and act foolishly – in short, people who don’t mind their own business very well – somehow end up costing the rest of us a lot of our money and often quite a lot of our freedom when politicians pass laws to “save them” and to help others avoid their fate. 

  I think that we might have a better chance of getting governmental busybodies to mind their own business if we really and truly minded our own business. 

 It seems like yesterday that, around this time of year, I was the most excited kid in the world. I would, not so patiently, wait on the J.C. Penny, Montgomery Ward and Sears Christmas catalogs to come out. I meticulously made my Christmas list and marked every page so that Santa would not miss what I wanted. 

In the 1960s, those catalogs had everything in them. They had clothes, car parts, sports equipment, music equipment, guns (yes, you could order a firearm from Sears), and a few pages of motorcycle accessories. 

For many, those catalogs were the spark that fueled the engines of our dreams and adventures. As a child, I would look at the tricycles, bicycles, mini-bikes and go-carts. Bikes in those days had style and personality to them. They had everything from a real gear shift to a circular steering wheel, sissy bar, chopper extensions, banana seats and so much more. The toy section challenged me to be a cowboy, a soldier and an astronaut. 

Montgomery Ward went out of business in 2001 and is now an online company. Sears is almost a thing of the past, and J.C. Penny still struggles with market shares. 

In 1993, Sears discontinued its big Christmas catalog. These major brick-and-mortar stores will say they cannot compete with the internet, Amazon and eBay. On the surface that seems logical, but people still want that excitement of actually shopping, seeing and touching an item. 

Today, instead of finding my dreams in a Christmas catalog or finding everything in one store, I go to specialty stores. For local motorcyclists, between Fort Bragg Harley- Davidson and Baker American Cycles, you can find about 80 percent of the motorcycles on the market. 

The economy is on the upswing, and more people have more jobs than ever before. However, interest rates are going up. They still are not that bad, but they are expected to rise to hold inflation down. So, if you want to blow your loved one away this Christmas, take a surprise trip to the motorcycle shop and help them pick out a brand-new motorcycle or ATV. 

Trust me. Even if they are paying for it, your permission will earn you more cool points than you will ever know. 

As for accessories, I think that part of motorcycling is struggling. Motorcycle industry shows have declined over the past 10 years. At motorcycle industry shows, vendors used to bring their new ideas to the public and market, hoping for that big deal. With the shows going away, that means vendors do not see a big enough profit to make it worthwhile. That is why, when you go to so-called motorcycle shows or rallies, you see the same thing over and over: T-shirts, leather and tattoo artists. 

Cycle Gear on McPherson Church Road is the best place to see a variety of gear and accessories. The prices are competitive, and the staff has always been friendly to me. 

Of course, Fort Bragg Harley- Davidson has all things Harley- Davidson related. The other local shops have limited merchandise and inventory. There are so many choices, sizes, and types of gadgets that it’s probably not worth the return for most stores to carry everything. 

So that leaves you with the internet. If I have to buy motorcycle equipment online, I turn to RevZilla.com. They have great videos for most of their products, and so far, they seem to be honest on the pros and cons on their reviews. They also have a great return policy. Always check return policies before any internet purchase. 

I love our local motorcycle shops, though, and I try to buy locally. You might find a better deal somewhere online, but I don’t mind paying a little more to keep our businesses here. I don’t mind paying a little more to have someone I can talk to in person or who can make recommendations that improve my riding life. 

I hope everyone has a happy holiday season. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. 

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

 For the past 20 years, the Heart of Christmas Show has warmed hearts and spread joy, embracing everything good and fun about the holidays. The show takes place the weekend after Thanksgiving, and without fail, it puts the community in the Christmas spirit, celebrating everything about the season – from ugly Christmas sweaters to peace on Earth and baby Jesus. Saturday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 25, head to the Crown for one of the community’s most heartfelt and inspired productions.

Keeping things fresh from year to year while maintaining all the audience favorites falls squarely on the shoulders of the show’s founder, Laura Stevens. Last year, she changed about half of the show. This year, she’s done some more tweaking. “I went about this year’s lineup by thinking by about what got us here,” she said. “I have brought back a few (numbers) from the past.

“I have listened to our sponsors, performers, parents and audiences and tried to get all the favorites in the show and still add some new elements.”

The format remains the same, though. The first half of the show is lively and lighthearted – think snowmen, gingerbread, Christmas trees and more. The second half embraces the true meaning of Christmas with traditional songs like “Silent Night,” “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Mary Did You Know?”

Among the new elements are what Stevens called a very funny ugly sweater Christmas song that she predicts will be a crowd favorite. She also added a 1950s medley. “That style is a lot of fun,” she said. “In the second half, in the manger scene, I am going for what I think might be one of the most beautiful manger scene moments you have ever seen – including angels. It is a big moment with a ton of meaning.

“If you’ve never seen HOC, you owe it to yourself to see what the chatter is about. There is something for everyone; there’s funny things and beautiful things. It is an awesome way to celebrate everything there is about Christmas.”

Adding to the impressive nature of this endeavor are the 30-plus performers, all between the ages of 5 and 18. That can lead people to believe it is a kids’ show, but Stevens has proven that’s not the case time and again with Broadway-type performances that leave audiences raving.

Stevens said, “The No. 1 comment I get is, ‘Wow, I cannot believe what I just saw.’ The next is, ‘It’s hard to believe that is all young people!’ And the third is ‘Shows at Myrtle Beach aren’t this good. We also bring in dancers from Elite Dance Center. Michelle Hurd, Callie Leechford and Victoria Armstrong have partnered with me for 15 years and bring an element of beauty to the show. They bring in a team of eight dancers every year, and they are amazing.”

Another change to the current production is areach back to the show’s early years. “I am going to bring back the theme song to the Heart of Christmas Show,’’ Stevens said, “to show all the outreach and what we have been able to do, as a tribute to the people who have been in it and to the good work of the outcome of the show.”

Stevens came up with the idea for HOC when Voices of the Heart, a local, all-girl Christian music group, won a high-profile national competition in Alabama. VOH still makes up a big part of the HOC Show. “I didn’t want it to go to their heads,” said Stevens. “They were on TV and were getting a lot of attention. I wanted their focus to be the correct one. We decided to put on a show and give all the money away. That first year we gave away $8,000. Now, we give away about $35,000 and raise about $25,000 for the schools – after a while that adds up to be a lot of money.”

HOC has given more than $750,000 to date, and it all stays in the community. Organizations that benefit include the Autism Society, Child Advocacy Center, Friends of Children, Make A Wish Foundation, AGAPE and Falcon Children’s Home.

With more than 300 sponsors footing the bill for production costs, Stevens said the money from each ticket sale goes right back out the door. “Our sponsors set money aside every year – in spite of things like hurricanes. And we have done what we said we would do,” Stevens said.

“The show is run by parents and volunteers. The parents are nurses, doctors, judges, teachers and more who work backstage and make that show happen. They believe in the common good of it. When we give the funds away, it is a good feeling to know we can do something to touch someone else’s life. This is not just a Christmas show, it a show with heart and a purpose and a mission to do good things for other children.”

General performances are Saturday, Nov. 24, at 1 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 25, at 3 p.m. Purchase tickets at The Crown Center Box Office, Hailey’s Bicycle World or www.heartofchristmasshow.com/ticket-reservations.

There are also several school shows. Call 910-978-1118 to learn more about the school performances.

 Well, it’s done. Love it or hate it, the results are in. There are some new political players both nationally and locally, but how much is that going to change things, really?

The mortgage is still due on the first. The office still beckons on Monday. Chores still need doing, and errands still need running. While our leaders have big decisions to make, from day to day, we all still have lives to live and dreams to chase. I still get to choose how to spend my time, my money and my energy. We all do. There are big issues on the table and conflicts in ideologies in play. But it’s not the first time and  won’t be the last.

It’s been said that all politics is local. Maybe that is true, maybe not. But local is where we live and where we can make a significant difference all year long, elections or no elections. Local is where we invest our time and talent. It’s where we spend our money and build our lives. No matter how many votes your candidate got last Tuesday, there is plenty we can all do on a personal level to effect the change we want to see.

Regardless of your cause, there is a way to support it – locally. Donate. Volunteer. Educate. Organize. Serve. Give back. There are countless opportunities to make a difference, no matter which party is in power. Helping one another on a personal level builds relationships and community in a way a tax break, a check from the government or a public policy change cannot.

It is something we should all do. Study after study shows that being kind, altruistic and compassionate not only benefits the receiver, it positively affects the doer, too. An article titled “The Science of Good Deeds,” by Jeanie Lerche Davis, explores this concept and offers example after example of how helping ourselves and helping others is good for us – so good that it causes positive changes in our body chemistry – and good for our communities, too.

For example, the article notes, “Two large studies found that older adults who volunteered reaped benefits in their health and well-being. Those who volunteered were living longer than nonvolunteers. Another large study found a 44 percent reduction in early death among those who volunteered a lot – a greater effect than exercising four times a week.”

But that’s not all. There’s evidence in brain studies of a compassion-altruism axis.

According to the article, “Utilizing functional MRI scans, scientists have identified specific regions of the brain that are very active during deeply empathic and compassionate emotions.”

Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., a professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, is quoted, “These brain studies show this profound state of joy and delight that comes from giving to others.”

Take a minute and celebrate your victory or mourn your loss from last week’s election, and then go make a difference. Put actions behind your beliefs. Work to make your community the place you want it to be. Our leaders have big problems to solve, even if many of them are of their own making. That doesn’t mean we are off the hook. There are plenty of local problems we can solve if we each give what we can when and where we can.

Read the complete article “The Science of Good Deeds” at www.webmd.com/balance/features/science-gooddeeds#3. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

 The Oxford Dictionaries defines hypocrisy as “the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.” A trustworthy means of testing for hypocrisy is to observe the extent to which a person, or some entity, consistently responds the same way to similar occurrences. Without doubt, hypocrisy has been present across the ages. However, it seems we have reached a point in America where hypocrisy is totally routine, even expected. Consequently, it is allowed to, without effective challenge, influence our societal attitudes and actions in detrimental ways. Beyond the negative impact on society, there is the damage and the unfairness visited upon individuals and groups.

For example, I see all of the above happening in the response to a video by T.I., a rapper, whose recent music video features a Melania Trump lookalike dancing without clothes in a fake Oval Office.

A CNN Wires article titled “First lady’s office calls out rapper for ‘disgusting’ video depicting Melania Trump” describes the video as follows. “T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, stars in the video as himself, seated at a fake Resolute Desk in a setting made to look like the Oval Office. Video footage of President Donald Trump taking off from the White House in Marine One plays, and shortly afterward, a woman enters the ‘Oval Office.’ The woman is wearing only a jacket, which reads: ‘I really don’t care do u?’ a clear nod to the controversial Zara jacket the first lady wore during a June trip to Texas.

“The woman in the video, who has a clear resemblance to Melania Trump, then proceeds to strip off the jacket and dance atop the desk.”

In this age of rightfully heightened attention to protecting women from abuse of any kind – whether verbal, physical or any other form – one would expect overwhelming condemnation of T.I.’s video. Instead, as best as I can determine, there has been complete silence from people who are normally extremely vocal in speaking out against this kind of treatment.

The glaring difference here is that Melania Trump is the wife of Donald Trump. I can only conclude that this means disrespect of her is acceptable to those who, otherwise, would speak vociferously against this kind of treatment of a woman.

Google “T.I.’s video on Melania Trump” and you will, with two exceptions, only find reports on the content of the video.

The first exception is that Canadian model Melanie Marden, who appears as the Melania Trump lookalike, reports that she has received death threats. Clearly, this response is unacceptable. Roisin O’Connor writes the following in an article titled “Melania Trump lookalike who strips in TI video speaks out after White House criticism.”

“Marden has now shared a message on Instagram detailing the backlash she has faced since appearing in the video, and following Melania Trump’s response. ‘I was hired (as an actress) not a stripper to portray Melania Trump,’ she wrote. ‘It was a creative choice for me, and also an opportunity to empower women. I stand firmly in my decision to share all of myself in this role.’”

“She continued: ‘I wanted to be brave, be fearless and for the first time in my life do a role that required nudity. The body is nothing to be ashamed of.’”

The second exception is the White House response to the video, which prompted Marden’s comment above. This is also from O’Connor’s article. “The First Lady’s spokeswoman responded to the video calling it ‘disrespectful and disgusting.’”

“Like it or not, she is the First Lady and this is the White House,” communications director Stephanie Grisham said. “It’s disrespectful and disgusting to portray her this way simply because of politics. These kinds of vulgar attacks only further the divisiveness and bias in our country – it needs to stop.”

Grisham is absolutely right. The video is disrespectful and disgusting. However, there is no outrage from the so-called protectors of women. Further, the woman who appears as the Melania lookalike sees what she did as “an opportunity to empower women.”

Contrast the response to the Melania Trump lookalike video with the response to Roseanne Barr’s tweet regarding Valerie Jarrett, former Obama White House aide. The tweet compared Jarrett to an ape. In May 2018, ABC cancelled Roseanne Barr’s show, “Rosanne.” An article by Andrea Park titled “ABC cancels ‘Roseanne’ after Barr’s racist tweet” reports that Barr’s tweet said, “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”

Park writes the following regarding the response of Channing Dungy, ABC Entertainment president, and that of Robert “Bob” Iger. “Dungey said in a statement, ‘Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show.’ In 2016, Dungey made headlines when she became the first African-American to run the entertainment division of a major broadcast television network.

“Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, shared Dungey’s statement on Twitter and added the comment, ‘There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing.’”

ICM Partners, the talent agency that represents Barr, also dropped her as a client.

Roseanne Barr repeatedly apologized for her tweet. From Park’s article, here are some of the tweets reflecting Barr’s apologies, regret and acceptance of responsibility for the consequences of her action:

• “Don’t feel sorry for me, guys!!-I just want to apologize to the hundreds of people, and wonderful writers (all liberal) and talented actors who lost their jobs on my show due to my stupid tweet.”

• “@ValerieJarrett I want to apologize to you. I am very sorry to have hurt you. I hope you can accept this sincere apology!”

• “guys I did something unforgiveable so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting-it was memorial day too-i went 2 far & do not want it defended-it was egregious Indefensible. I made a mistake I wish I hadn’t but...don’t defend it please.”

• “hey guys, don’t defend me, it’s sweet of you 2 try, but...losing my show is 0 compared 2 being labelled a racist over one tweet-that I regret even more.”

• “’I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste’.”

Despite all of her apologies and expressions of regret, the show was cancelled within hours of the initial tweet being made public. ICM Partners, the talent agency that represented Barr, also dropped her as a client. Even further, as Barr tweeted, many people lost their jobs because of the cancellation.

On the other hand, T.I. does a video that is rightly described as “disrespectful and disgusting.” His disrespect and disgust are directed at the wife of the president of the United States. His action is not challenged by the “protectors of women,” but Roseanne was punished unmercifully for her offense.

Why the difference in treatment? Roseanne is a bold Trump supporter, while T.I. is at the other end of the spectrum. There it is – a clear manifestation of the hypocrisy that is alive and well in America like never before in my lifetime.

Against the backdrop of Roseanne’s apologies, Andrea Park writes, “But she also retweeted tweets from her supporters that seemed to contradict the earlier statements, including comments that ‘leftist’ celebrities wouldn’t have gotten the same treatment.”

Park seems to indicate Barr’s claim of different treatment for “leftist” lessens the sincerity or her apologies. I say no … she spoke truth regarding the hypocrisy that has been unleashed in this country. Even though the cost of doing so is high and unfair  we must forthrightly call out this life-destroying, society-contaminating hypocrisy.

Photo: T.I.

 Fayetteville and Hope Mills voters have put to rest their governing boards’ wishes to extend their terms of office. In unofficial returns, 35,386 people voted against the question in Fayetteville while 19,377 were in favor. In Hope Mills, 2,591 people voted against the change and 1,955 voted for it.

Fayetteville City Councilman Larry Wright was the principle proponent of 4-year terms. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell raised the issue in Hope Mills. Both bodies wanted to lengthen their traditional 2-year terms, claiming that they spend half their time in office campaigning for re-election.

The Fayetteville ballot proposal would have put a favorable outcome to a vote of the people. In Hope Mills, a positive vote would have established staggered terms of office to begin following the 2019 election.

 The military has reportedly punished six troops, including an Air Force two-star general, for their roles in the October 2017 Niger ambush that resulted in the deaths of four American and four Nigerien soldiers, The New York Times reported.

The punished troops include Air Force Maj. Gen. Marcus Hicks, who was the commander of all special operations troops in Africa, and two senior members of Fort Bragg’s 11-man Green Beret team that was ambushed. Three others in the team’s chain of command also were reprimanded, according to the Times report.

The Times said a letter of reprimand cited the team’s insufficient training and a lack of mission rehearsals. Hicks was reprimanded for not having appropriate oversight of the officers below him.

A 6,300-page investigation detailed by the Pentagon in May said the mistakes leading up to the ambush were widespread. An unclassified eight-page summary was released for public viewing.

“The direct cause of the enemy attack in Tongo Tongo is that the enemy achieved tactical surprise there, and our forces were outnumbered approximately three to one,” said AFRICOM’s former chief of staff, Army Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier, who led the investigation.

The Green Beret team and 30 Nigerien troops were returning from a village near the Malian border in West Africa when they were overrun by scores of extremist fighters

Photo From left: Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio;

Sgt. La David Johnson of Miami Gardens, Florida; and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia. All four were killed in the Niger ambush last year.

 Some of us are pleased with the results of last week’s midterm elections in our nation. Some of us are distressed. Some of us are a bit of both, and a great many of us remain saddened by the ongoing levels of division and accompanying vitriol among some segments of our population.

Here are some points to ponder as we digest election results our community, our state and our nation.

The North Carolina General Assembly is no longer veto-proof. Democrats made enough gains in both the House and the Senate to sustain gubernatorial vetoes in the next session beginning in January. This means that if and when Gov. Cooper vetoes a bill, there will likely not be enough votes in both chambers to override his veto. Ours is a nation built on a system of checks and balances, and veto power is a check on legislative overreach. The same is now true in the U.S. Congress, as Democrats prepare to take control of the House of Representatives.

This is what our founders intended, even though both our state and our nation have been controlled by the Republican Party in recent years. A judge once told me that if one side left his courtroom cheering and the other side weeping, he did not do a good job. If both sides left “slightly miffed,” then he had probably made a good decision. Compromise is what greases our system of government, not one side strong-arming and simply overpowering the other.

Since the 2012 election cycle, North Carolina has been among the most gerrymandered states in the nation, and the midterms confirm that yet again despite years of lawsuits resulting in not much change.

Here is the proof for the 2018 cycle. Going into last week’s midterms, North Carolina had 13 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 10 Republicans and three Democrats. Even though both parties voted for congressional candidates at approximately the same rates, 50 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of Democrats, North Carolina came out of the midterms with 13 members of Congress, 10 Republicans and three Democrats.

How is that possible, many voters wonder? It is possible because Republican legislators doing the redistricting in 2011 crammed large numbers of Democrats into three districts and spread Republicans into the other 10 districts, practices known as “packing” and “cracking.” One redistricting committee chair, David Lewis of Dunn, even bragged that the only reason the districts are not more lopsided is that “I do not believe it is possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.”

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that North Carolina’s seven largest counties, including Cumberland, Durham, Guilford, Forsyth, Wake and Buncombe, elected African-American sheriffs, five of them for the first time in their histories. It is interesting to note that Buncombe County, whose largest city is Asheville, did so with a white population of 90 percent. Election observers and several of the newly elected sheriffs attributed their victories to avoiding hardline stances on immigration enforcement, which appealed to voters who felt fear or marginalization. Their elections highlight minority participation in law enforcement, as do minority women serving as chiefs of police\ in Fayetteville, Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham and Winston Salem.

Some see these outcomes as two steps forward and one step back, while others see the reverse. What does seem clear, though, is that the political pendulum is doing what it has always done in our nation’s history. It is arcing away from an extreme.

 The Department of Veterans Affairs has released the newest performance ratings for each of its 146 hospitals. The department cited improvements in the past year at some of its lowestperforming facilities. The fiscal 2018 ratings include nine one-star hospitals, the lowest possible, down from 14 hospitals that received one-star ratings in 2017.

Fayetteville’s VA received a two-star rating, which the agency describes as trivial. A star ranking system was used to designate a facility’s performance in individual measures, domains and overall quality. Ratings indicate each hospital’s quality of care and are based on data such as death rates, patient satisfaction and efficiency.

In years past, VA withheld the data from the public. In 2016, the performance ratings were released under pressure that followed a USA Today investigation. Overall, 38 hospitals improved their star ratings in 2018, 40 dropped in the ratings and 68 stayed the same as the year before.

Five VA hospitals received onestar ratings in 2017 and showed no improvement this year: Big Springs and El Paso, Texas; Loma Linda, California; Memphis, Tennessee; and Phoenix, Arizona. Four other hospitals were added to the worst-rated this year: Montgomery, Alabama; Tucson, Arizona; Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. Georgia.

Eighteen hospitals received five stars in 2018, the best possible. Four of them are in Pennsylvania. The Asheville, North Carolina, VA was one of the fivestar facilities. “With closer monitoring and increased medical center leadership and support, we have seen solid improvements at most of our facilities,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement. “There’s no doubt that there’s still plenty of work to do, but I’m proud of our employees, who work tirelessly to move VA in the right direction for veterans and taxpayers.”

A VA Inspector General’s Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Fayetteville VA released in March of this year indicated that current leadership has been stable with the most recent assignment of the associate director in February 2017. In the review of selected employee and patient survey results regarding facility senior leadership, opportunities to improve both patient experiences and employee attitudes toward leadership were noted.

The report found that the leaders should continue to take actions to improve performance of the Quality of Care and Efficiency metrics likely contributing to the current two-star rating. In the review of key care processes, the inspector general issued 10 recommendations attributable to VA Medical Center Interim Director Mark E. Shelhorse, the chief of staff, and associate director.

Of six areas of clinical operations reviewed, office of the inspector general noted findings in five needing improvement: quality, safety and value; medication management; coordination of care; environment of care; and post-traumatic stress disorder care. The report noted a generally safe and clean environment of care at the facility.

The Veterans Integrated Service Network Director and Shelhorse agreed with the Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program review findings and recommendations and provided acceptable improvement plans.

 Fayetteville City Council members not only wanted to extend their terms of office, they are seeking legislative authorization to remove a member from office should the need arise. Voters said no to changing the terms. Council voted unanimously at a work session to ask the North Carolina General Assembly to grant it recall authority.

Members have not said why they prefer recall to amotion, an existing process by which elected officials can be removed from office. This year, 2nd district Councilman Tyrone Williams faced the amotion process and chose to resign. The recall proposal, authored by city attorney Karen MacDonald, is patterned in part after recall ordinances in Durham and Greensboro.

A recall procedure would allow Fayetteville citizens an opportunity to address any “serious concerns that may arise between regular city elections with regard to allegations of misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance or a violation of the oath of office,” as stated in the proposed resolution adopted by council.

A recall ordinance would also provide an opportunity for a council member to resign rather than face a vote of the people. A recall document would be submitted by a five-member council committee asking for a formal petition.

Councilman Larry Wright commented that the process seemed lengthy.

“It is a high bar and will require a lot of work,” responded MacDonald.

Fifteen percent of registered voters in the effected member’s district would ask the Cumberland County Board of Elections for certification of the petition. It would then be sent to the city clerk, who would submit it to the city council and notify the elected official whose removal is sought. If the elected official does not resign within five days, the city council would then order a date for a recall election.

In other business, city council agreed to strengthen the city’s code enforcement ordinance and fine property owners who ignore nuisances on their properties. Owners could be fined for noncompliance with regulations governing overgrown lots or yards, junk and abandoned vehicles, maintenance of structures, illegal signs and other public nuisances. Fines of up to $1,000 could be imposed for repeat offenders.

Michael Martin, assistant development services director, said more than 90 properties in the city had four violations last year.

Several council members expressed concerns about burdening property owners with financial hardships. Councilman D.J. Haire said people in his district dump limbs, refrigerators and furniture on vacant properties and the owners are held responsible.

“It’s just a vacant lot and it’s always, of course, on that property owner,” he said. Other council members took a harder line. “Whatever happens is their responsibility, and they must be held accountable,” said councilwoman Tisha Waddell.

Council agreed on a tiered approach in which a $500 fine would be levied on a fourth violation in any 365-day period. After that, property owners would face $1,000 fines for each violation in that year. A property would no longer be a nuisance when there have been no violations within 12 months.

 Recent hurricanes have brought disaster on parts of the community, causing people to lose their homes and prized possessions. It is crucial for communities to stick together and help each other in times of need. With that in mind, United Way of Cumberland County presents the 2018 Community Homeless and Hunger Stand Down Friday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at VFW Post 6018 located at 116 Chance St. in downtown Fayetteville.

“The purpose of the event is to provide a one-day wraparound service for people in need – and not just homeless people but working people who are in need,” said Crystal Williams, community impact director for United Way of Cumberland County and coordinator for the Community Homeless and Hunger Stand Down. “We usually have anywhere from 30 to 35 agencies that participate, and our goal is to connect people with the services they need.”

Williams added The American Red Cross and Operation Inasmuch will provide breakfast, and The Salvation Army will provide a free lunch using chicken provided by Mountaire Farms of North Carolina.

The services offered include voter registration, prescription assistance, job placement assistance, blood pressure and glucose screenings, dental screenings, housing authority assistance, veteran services, continuing adult education, free personal hygiene kits, a prayer tent, free haircuts, flu shots, new and gently used clothing and more. Local artists will provide free entertainment.

“Second Harvest Food Bank will provide carry-away groceries that consist of non-perishable food items,” said Williams. “Some of the agencies that will be there will set up an appointment and the individual will have to come to their office.”

Free bus transportation by Fast Transit will be provided to and from the event. “All the person needs to do is let the bus driver know they are going to the stand down and your travel will be free,” said Williams. “And when you leave from there, your travel will be free back to your destination.”

Last year’s event rendered assistance to 300 to 400 people, and Williams is expecting more this year. “This is a community event for those who are in need in our community, and especially now because we had Hurricane Florence and people are still suffering from Hurricane Matthew,” said Williams. “If folks want to get involved, this is a great way to give back to the community.”

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, call 910-483-1179.

 It’s been said that small businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy. It can be easy for consumers to forget the risks entrepreneurs face in building sustainable businesses and the impact these organizations have on a community. Thursday, Nov. 15, Methodist University will host the 4th Annual Reeves School of Business Symposium and Awards Dinner to do just that – celebrate our risk-takers and change-makers.

This year, the symposium will focus on keys to success and the changing landscape of the golf industry. The event will recognize the achievements of leaders and individuals associated with the PGA Golf Management Program who have made outstanding contributions. There will be nine awards presented: Alumni Business Person of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Greater Good Award, Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Silver Spoon Award, Small Business Excellence Award, University Service Award, and Friend of the Program Award.

David Maher, president and CEO of Acushnet, will be the keynote speaker. Maher has worked at Acushnet since 1991. He started as a sales support representative and worked his way through field sales and sales management for Titleist. For the company’s success, he credits its ongoing investment in product innovation, commitment to quality, strong trade partnerships, rich golfer connections and an enduring, rewarding company culture.

In celebrating small businesses, Maher noted, “It’s important to recognize and support talented business partners whether they are large or small. As you might expect, small business, in the form of golf courses and their golf pro shops, is an especially important component of the golf industry.”

Like any field, the golf industry faces headwinds that require thoughtful solutions. It’s an unchanging fact of life and has been for years.

Maher noted that Titleist’s founder, Phil Young, back in the early 1930s, believed he could make a better golf ball by employing a better manufacturing process. Young’s entrepreneurial spirit lives throughout Acushnet today.

“The game is filled with stories of equipment innovation, golf course design innovation and even golf course maintenance innovation,” he said. “I expect these advancements will continue for as long as the game is around.”

He continued, “It is important to understand and build upon your strengths and competitive advantages while establishing strong customer connections. Golf has been around for hundreds of years and is as inviting and enjoyable as ever. … More recently, we have seen thousands of facilities become more family-friendly and more inviting to beginners and juniors over the past decade.

“Today there are more junior golfers in the U.S. than at any other time, which is an exciting byproduct of these efforts.”

As for the future of golf and the golf industry, that’s up to the next generation of golfers and what they want from the game. In the next 10 years, Maher sees technology and connectivity playing a more prominent role for some, while for others it will mean an opportunity to disconnect for a few hours to enjoy the game, competition, camaraderie and exercise. “The point is, the golf industry must adapt to evolving golfer preferences, and I am confident that it will,” Maher said.

The 4th Annual Reeves School of Business Symposium and Awards Dinner takes place at the Embassy Suites Fayetteville/Fort Bragg. Networking starts at 5:30 p.m. The symposium begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Krista Lee at 910-630-7148.

Photo: David Maher, President and CEO of Acushnet

 On Saturday, Nov. 17, Better Health will host its 6th annual Red Apple Run for diabetes in downtown Fayetteville. It’s a fun event for the entire family whether they are running or enjoying what the vendors have to offer. The Red Apple Run aids Better Health in its mission to help those in the community who are uninsured. It also supports Better Health’s diabetes program, which was started in the 1970s. The program provides clients with one-on-one meetings with a nurse and dietitian, offers participation in cooking demonstrations, access to diabetic supplies and more.

Over the last six years, the Red Apple Run has had a turnout of about 300-400 participants of all ages. The run offers a 5K course, 10K course and 1-mile fun run that all wind through Historic Haymount.

Better Health Executive Director Amy Navejas said, “Last year, 5K participant times ranged from our first-place winner Mack Brooks’ 18-minute pace to an hour. Participants in the 10K ranged from Mary Tramazzo’s incredible 36-minute completion time to an hour and a half.”

Children can participate, too. In fact, children from one of Better Health’s programs will join the event with the Honeycutt Elementary School’s running team. Both groups of children will participate in the 5K. The 5K and the 10K races will be timed, while the 1-mile race will be just for fun.

There will be multiple sponsors for the Red Apple Run as well as vendors like Master Exterminators, which will provide information about its services, and New Deli, which will provide delicious snacks for the finishers.

The top three overall male and female winners in each age group of the 5K and the 10K runs will receive awards.

Better Health was started 60 years ago as a nonprofit to provide emergency medicine to those without insurance. Over the years, it has evolved and now offers multiple services and programs like emergency dental extractions, vision screenings, a diabetes program, a childhood obesity program and a new Fayetteville Fit program meant to support obese children and help their families start healthier lifestyles.

Navejas said, “Our new Fayetteville Fit program requires funding to help these children and their families become active and create healthier lifestyles. Another recent need would be for hurricane victims who are unable to afford emergency medications or dental care. Without the funds, we can’t offer these services.”

Navejas added, “Diabetes has many facets, and, if not well controlled, can contribute to or lead to many other issues occurring in the body.” 

Diabetes is said to be the leading cause of blindness for those between the ages of 20-74 years old. The disease is also the main cause for nontraumatic foot amputation, affecting 73,000 people per year in the United States. The best way to stay healthy and avoid diabetes includes getting vision and foot screenings, attending regular checkups, eating healthy and exercising regularly.

Better Health is partnering with Cape Fear Eye Associatesto offer free quarterly vision screenings. The clinic also provides quarterly foot screenings with the help of podiatrist, Dr. Dan Laut.

The Red Apple Run helps secure funding for Better Health and its programs, allowing it to continue to provide for the community. Better Health uses these funds to serve more than 5,000 clients every year, creating a tremendous impact on the community.

Register for the run online at https://its-go-time. com/red-apple-run-for-diabetes or in person at the Packet Pickup, 1422 Bragg Blvd., on Nov. 16 from 4-6 p.m., or the day of the race at 7:30 a.m. behind the Medical Arts Building. The 10K starts at 8:30 a.m.; the 5K starts at 8:45 a.m.; and the 1-mile fun run starts at 8:50 a.m.

Contact the Better Health Clinic at 910-483-7534 or visit https://its-go-time.com/red-apple-run-fordiabetes for more information.

 Virtually every organization is connected to the internet. As such, virtually every entity has a network that needs to be managed – including your home network on a much smaller scale. Whenever someone buys or upgrades a wireless router, connects their devices and/or configures wireless parameters, they are managing a network.

Organizations, on the other hand, have multiple computers that need to be connected to each other and to the internet. The range of technologies involved in setting up and managing a network is vast.

Information technology specialists receive training in various aspects of the industry to bring it all together. Fayetteville Technical Community College can help students learn the necessary skills to enter an exciting and lucrative career in IT/network management.

What is a network?

A network is a series of connected devices, such as personal computers and servers, for sharing resources. End devices, like PCs, cell phones and tablets, are devices used by individuals. Intermediary devices, like routers, switches and firewalls, are typically not seen. All of these devices comprise the network.

Switches connect multiple end devices together. A router connects networks. Connecting the switch to a router provides a path for the end devices to connect to other networks, including the internet.

Some devices are capable of performing more than one function, while others are designed to perform a series of dedicated functions very well and can easily scale to handle millions of events per second, such as forwarding packets. Enterprise grade routers and switches fall under this category. A packet is a unit of data that includes addressing information. The addressing information specifies where (what device) the packet came from and where (what device) it is going.

Addressing devices

Every company has a dedicated phone number followed by individual extensions to access each employee. To communicate with an employee, two parts are needed: the main number and the extension number. In a similar way, the network address of a specific computer has two components: the network portion, or main phone number and a host portion, or extension.

The address used for networking devices is called an IP (internet protocol) address. There are two flavors: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 allows for just over 4.2 billion unique addresses. IPv6 offers the capacity for enough unique combinations to theoretically assign a unique IPv6 address to every grain of sand on planet Earth and not come close to running out.

Other things to consider in a network

Suppose you need to install 2,000 new computers. Do you want to assign an IP address to each one individually? Of course not. You set up a DHCP – dynamic host configuration protocol – server to automatically assign IP address to devices as they are powered up.

If you need to connect 100 networks using, for example, 20 routers, do you want to configure each router with entries that tell it how to reach every single one of those 100 networks? No. You enable a routing protocol that allows each router to tell its neighbor about its directly connected networks. This information is propagated to all the other routers until the network converges. When the network converges, every router will have an entry allowing it to forward packets to any one of the 100 networks based on the destination IP address in the packet.

Security is another important concern. If the network is not secure, end devices could be at risk. The more you know about how a network is managed, the better you will be at securing it.

FTCC’s programs

FTCC offers an associate degree program in IT/ network management as well as a Cisco Networking Certificate. Both offerings prepare students for the Cisco Certified Networking Associate industry certification exam, which gives credibility to accomplishments and abilities as a networking professional. FTCC students spend at least 75 percent of classroom time performing hands-on activities that put into practice the concepts learned.

According to Glassdoor.com, the national average for salaries for network engineers is $76,970. Salary varies with location, experience and level of education.

Upon completion, FTCC students will be ready for an entry-level opportunity in the networking field and be on their way to a rewarding, lucrative career.

 Rev. Wesley Holmes is a newcomer to Hope Mills, but he plans to bring a familiar message about giving thanks when he leads the annual community Thanksgiving service scheduled this Sunday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. at Highland Baptist Church on Legion Road.

Holmes, a native of Rome, Georgia, became pastor at Hope Mills Church of God in July of this year.

He’s been a full-time minister since 2002, pastoring at North Carolina churches in Sanford, Greenville and Morehead City.

He called the community Thanksgiving event a wonderful time to come together, worship the Lord and offer thanks.

“I believe thanksgiving is an everyday experience,’’ Holmes said. “I think we should be thankful each and every day.’’

During the entire month of November, Holmes puts extra emphasis on the importance of giving thanks.

He thinks it’s important that Christians of all denominations share the experience. “I believe when we get to heaven it’s not going to be just one denomination,’’ he said. “We’re all the body of Christ and we believe in Jesus Christ. We need to worship together.’’

He believes for many people the only time they stop to give thanks daily is at meal time.

“To take a day or a month to emphasize thanksgiving is very important for people,’’ he said. “Just to slow down and remember the blessings of the Lord. Be thankful for what he’s done in our lives.’’

While Holmes will be delivering the message at the community service, pastors from other congregations in Hope Mills will take part in the service.

An offering will be received at the service, with the money going to local flood relief efforts.

Photo: Rev. Wesley Holmes

 A tradition that started in 2009 at the Hope Mills ALMSHOUSE will continue this Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, as volunteers at the ecumenical community ministry will again serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal to those in need in the community.

Grilley Mitchell, volunteer program coordinator for the ALMSHOUSE Love Lunch program, said the Thanksgiving meal was such a big hit when it was first tried that the ALMSHOUSE has made it an annual event.

Regular meals are part of what the ALMSHOUSE does, serving food Monday through Friday at noon and 5 p.m. and on Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5 p.m.

Mitchell said the only difference at the Thanksgiving meal, which will start at noon and continue until the food runs out, is the fare focuses on the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Mitchell said this year’s meal is planned to include turkey, ham, candied yams, green peas, green beans, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and desserts.

Community support and a variety of donations make the special meal possible, Mitchell said.

ALMSHOUSE volunteers prepare and serve the food. In some cases, Mitchell said, whole families come in to take part in helping with preparation.

“They want to do something to serve and teach their kids how to give back,’’ Mitchell said.

There are no restrictions on who can show up to take part in the meal.

“Anybody that needs a meal and wants a meal is served,’’ Mitchell said. “We do not turn anyone away. Show up and let us serve you.’’

Anyone who would like to make a contribution of food or money to support the ALMSHOUSE ministry can drop by during normal business hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at 3909 Ellison St. or contact Mitchell directly at 910-476-3719.

“Come out and enjoy,’’ Mitchell said. “We give each and every one love and respect.’’