Meetings 

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Until the Parks and Recreation building has been repaired following damage from Hurricane Florence, some meetings may be moved to Luther Meeting Room at Town Hall at regular dates and times. Those meetings are noted with an asterisk below. 

• Board of Commissionersand Mayor’s Youth Leadership CouncilMonday, Nov. 19: POSTPONED. 

• Parks and Recreation Advisory CommitteeMonday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building.* 

• Appearance Commission, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Building.* 

• Festival CommitteeMonday, Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall reception area. 

• Board of CommissionersMonday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Town Hall. 

Activities 

• ThanksgivingThursday-Friday, Nov. 22-23: Town offices closed. 

• Christmas at the LakeFriday, Nov. 30, 6-7:30, p.m. 

• Hope Mills Christmas ParadeSaturday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m. 

Promote yourself 

Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com. 

  Evergreens have been a symbol of life since even before the ancient Druids of Stonehenge fame. Early European Christians brought evergreens to their gatherings at Christmas to symbolize the birth of Christ. The tradition of our modern-day Christmas tree is believed to have begun in the 16th century in Germany when people, Martin Luther among them, brought evergreen trees into their homes and decorated them. Today, a brightly decorated Christmas tree has become the focal point for family gatherings. In keeping with Christmas tradition, Fort Bragg ushers in the holiday season with the annual lighting of the garrison Christmas Tree at the Main Post Parade Field Thursday, Nov. 29, from 4:30-7 p.m. 

   Ornaments on early Christmas trees were likely to be gingerbread, apples, sweets and colored paper. Later, decorations evolved as glassmakers crafted glass ornaments similar to those used today. Those early trees were lit by candles, which are still in use throughout much of Europe in modern times. Late in the 19th century, electric lights were first used to illuminate a Christmas tree in a New York City apartment. As electrification spread to homes throughout the U.S. and the U.K., strings of electric tree lights supplanted candles as a much safer way to provide that holiday glow. 

   Each year, a military family from among the Fort Bragg community is honored as the Family of the Year. The family is selected as one who demonstrates exceptional strength, character, service and commitment to both their unit and to the wider community. 

   Fort Bragg’s Family of the Year symbolizes all military families who sacrifice so much in service to our country. The senior commander will introduce the Family of the Year, who will then share the honor of lighting the tree. During this time of traditional holiday celebrations, the Fort Bragg tree-lighting ceremony has become a way of celebrating and honoring these families, many of whom may have family members currently deployed. 

Fort Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor for the 2018 tree-lighting ceremony and will be represented at the event by President and CEO Todd Kenthack. Gilbert Baez will act as the master of ceremonies. There will be a Kidz Corner and light refreshments while supplies last. 

   Among the highlights of the evening will be a demonstration of a parachute jump by the Golden Knights. The Poole Elementary Chorus will entertain the crowd throughout the evening with renditions of holiday favorites. The evening will be capped off by a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. 

   The event is free and open to the public. The rain date is Nov. 30. Call 910-396-9126 for more information. 

  Gilbert Theater’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” opening this weekend, centers on the themes of family and gratitude. Of all the Christmas classics, Gilbert chose to perform “It’s a Wonderful Life” this year because of its sobering values. 

  Gilbert Theater Artistic Director Matthew Overturf, who has played a part in the production for four years, said, “It has become a staple in the Fayetteville community. It still speaks here in 2018 about the ‘everyman’ and what in our life we can appreciate and what in our life makes us good people. We all need to see … that we truly have a lot to be grateful for, and our lives impact a lot of other people.” 

  According to Miles Snow, who will portray George Bailey, the show’s most critical theme is “the importance of family – being appreciative of what you already have. This is a guy who at the beginning of the show is in a suicidal state; he has to take a moment to reflect and (realize) ‘I have a wife and kids I love and a job in a town where people respect me, and that’s a lot – that’s more than enough.’” Snow looks forward to presenting the paradigm shift in Bailey’s life. 

  Director Ja’Maul Johnson welcomes the challenge of portraying a beloved classic in a new way. “I have been a part of this production since we started doing it at the Gilbert,” he said. “There will be a couple of twists and turns to reinvent it … but keep it the same story.” 

  Snow hopes to reimagine the show while still respecting its original narrative. He commented, “People bring their own expectations to it, and that’s already a part of the show in a sense, and you want to honor the piece.” 

  Staci Graybill, who will act as Mary Bailey, commented on the challenge of playing Mrs. Bailey for a second time: “A real challenge for me is going to be playing all the different ages that they go through.” 

  Snow, who has played Mr. Bailey several times, said, “I just want to see if we can collectively take it along, take it further.” 

  Johnson, in agreement, is excited to see the growth within the individual cast members this year. “Each year, someone brings something new – I want to see what this collection will bring to it,” he said. 

  Graybill said, “It’s so easy to get lost in all the hardships in life, but if you stop and look around and see all the loving people in your life, I think that’s a good reminder.” 

  Johnson added that he desires to take that message “throughout the year, not just in Christmastime.” 

  “It’s a Wonderful Life” runs Nov. 23-Dec. 16, with student matinees on the Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Gilbert Theater, 116 Green St. To purchase tickets, visit www.gilberttheater.com or call 910-678- 7186 for more information. 

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins says she needs more officers. Hawkins mentioned to city council that she is changing the patrol schedule to get more cops on the street. It was not part of her quarterly report to city council but came in response to a question from Councilman Larry Wright. 

Hawkins said Fayetteville’s pro rata number of police officers per population is below that of other cities our size. But she recognizes that city council, just three years ago, raised the property tax rate to hire additional officers. The city added 40 cops, bringing the authorized strength to 433. “We’re going to 12-hour shifts, putting 42 officers on patrol per shift,” Hawkins told Up & Coming Weekly. 

Traditionally, Fayetteville Police have worked three eight-hour shifts, resulting in an average of 26 patrol officers on duty at any given time, according to the chief. Each shift also has supervisory lieutenants and sergeants. Hawkins said she will be promoting three officers to sergeant to improve supervisory efforts. Councilman Johnny Dawkins said the longer shifts could put a hardship on the policemen. “Tired officers can create situations that are unpleasant,” he said. 

Chief Hawkins said the department’s personnel strength has stabilized in recent years, resulting in an average turnover of only three officers per month. She noted that 16 rookie cops took their oaths of office last week and that 25 more candidates will be part of the routine overhire employment plan in the January academy. 

  Officers will have a dependable work schedule that will give them every other weekend off. Monthly shifts will result in two days on duty followed by two days off, then three days on and two days off. Hawkins conceded that officers who work part-time jobs while off duty may have to adjust their secondary schedules but that the P.D. comes first. 

  Hawkins’ quarterly report to city council contained data explaining the departments work. The FPD’s narcotics and gang units seized a large amount of marijuana over the first nine months of this year. Seizures of opioids were way down, but the narcotics unit alone confiscated 732 pounds of marijuana compared to 43 pounds during the same time period last year. The gang unit seized another 439 pounds of weed. The chief said much of that which was nabbed resulted from two major drug busts. 

  As for major crimes, homicides, rapes and robberies were down 14.3 percent so far this year. Aggravated assaults rose 21 percent. Hawkins said 35 percent of the assaults were related to domestic violence. Property crimes, including burglaries and larcenies, were down 12.2 percent. Hawkins emphasized the need for motor vehicle owners to lock their cars. She said 812 larcenies were from motor vehicles, 74 percent of which were unsecured. 

It’s that time of year again. The city calls it loose leaf season. It’s the only time loose leaves and pine straw can be put at the curb uncontainerized. Loose leaf season usually runs from mid-November through mid-March. 

Vacuum trucks operated by the Fayetteville- Cumberland Parks & Recreation Department collect the yard debris on a published schedule of neighborhoods itemized by postal ZIP codes. This year’s schedule has not yet been announced. 

Leaves and pine straw placed in bags or brown roll-out containers are picked up on a regular weekly schedule. If garbage collection is Monday, yard waste collection is Friday. If garbage collection is Tuesday, yard waste collection is Thursday. If garbage collection is Thursday, yard waste collection is Tuesday. And if garbage collection is Friday, yard waste collection is Monday. 

Arts Council wins national award 

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County recently received special recognition from Ovation, the nation’s arts network. Ovation joined Spectrum to award the Arts Council $10,000 as part of its “Stand for the Arts” joint initiative. It is dedicated to supporting local arts, cultural and educational organizations. 

  The Arts Council will use the award money to raise awareness of available grants and scholarships that promote the arts throughout the region. 

  “The Arts Council is honored and thrilled to be among only 12 national organizations presented with such a prestigious award,” said Deborah Martin Mintz, Arts Council executive director. 

  Also, Spectrum will run public service announcements to highlight its “Stand for the Arts” partnership with Ovation and reinforce the value local arts organizations bring to communities across the country. 

  Grant recipients were chosen based on three criteria: their level of community outreach and engagement, their ability to create inclusive access to artistic programming, and their innovative approach to arts education and skills development. 

Highway safety 

  As family and friends come together for the holidays, the State Highway Patrol has prepared in hopes of ensuring safe travel. According to the American Automobile Association, November and December are the busiest time of the year for travel across the country. Troopers will be out in full force to monitor driver behavior. 

  “Our mission is simple; reduce needless collisions in hopes of reporting zero fatalities statewide,” said Col. Glenn McNeill Jr., commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. 

  The safety campaign is taking place on the busiest travel days of the holiday period, especially on interstate highways. Motorists can assist with safe travel by expecting delays and planning ahead to use alternate routes. Drive cautiously. Speeding is still the leading cause of traffic collisions. Avoid distractions. Focus solely on driving, and never drive impaired. 

Citizens Academy 

  The next Fayetteville Citizens Academy class is being held Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the City Services Building conference room, 455 Grove St. Class begins at 9 a.m. Representatives of the Fayetteville Area System of Transit, Fayetteville Regional Airport and Traffic Services Division will be on hand. 

  “The Citizens Academy gives residents an opportunity to see city of Fayetteville employees at work, up close and personal,” said Corporate Communications Director Kevin Arata. 

  Applicants must be city of Fayetteville residents or work in the city. The class size is limited to 25 people, so early applications are encouraged. Residents will interact with department directors and staff and engage in hands-on learning. Lunch will be provided. 

  The application window closes Thursday, Dec. 6, and applicants will be notified of their acceptance by close of business Friday, Dec. 7. 

Small Business Saturday 

  Many small and independent retailers who are holding Small Business Saturday shopping events Thanksgiving weekend are banding together. Small Business Saturday started in 2010 to encourage consumers to skirt the big box stores and shop local stores instead. Some communal Small Business Saturday events have grown to the point where they’re organized by local chambers of commerce and community business organizations, although Fayetteville merchants have yet to capitalize on it in a big way. 

  Some downtown store owners got involved last year under the auspices of the new Cool Spring Downtown District. What’s considered the downtown district covers an area of 30 blocks and includes roughly 125 small, independent shops, restaurants and entertainment establishments. Last year, retailers said they saw a sales blip during Small Business Saturday, but their aim is also to remind shoppers that they are there year-round. 

  This holiday was created by American Express in 2010 and aggressively marketed via social media, radio and national broadcasting. Today, it is a registered trademark of American Express. 

 Each year, people gather from surrounding counties to launch the official start of the Christmas holiday season in Fayetteville. In its 19th year, the annual “A Dickens Holiday” transports revelers to Victorian England in hopes of catching a glimpse of Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley and other beloved characters from Charles Dickens’ story “A Christmas Carol.” Unlike the classic tale, there are no “Bah! Humbug’s!” uttered during this event, but rather “ooohs and aaahs!” by all the festivalgoers. Hosted by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County in Historic Downtown Fayetteville, “A Dickens Holiday” kicks off at 1 p.m. the Friday after Thanksgiving and ends after dark, around 9 p.m. 

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is traditionally Small Business Saturday, where people are encouraged to shop at small, brick-and-mortar local businesses for holiday shopping. In Fayetteville, people patronize small businesses a day early. Lampposts and storefronts are decorated with holiday greenery and ribbons. Merchants along Hay Street sell their wares to wandering festivalgoers, who leisurely stroll while sipping hot cider or hot chocolate. 

“‘A Dickens Holiday’ truly is the ultimate ‘Shop Local’ experience as merchants pull out all the stops,” said Janet Gibson, marketing and communications director for the Arts Council. “But it’s also a time to enjoy holiday music, strolling carolers, Annie’s Alehouse, horse-drawn carriage rides and to get your photo taken with Father Christmas – and, of course, enjoy gingerbread cookies and hot apple cider.” She added that the day ends with “an amazing candlelight ceremony for as far as the eye can see down Hay Street!” 

“A Dickens Holiday” celebrates the best of Victorian times and Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Attendees filled with joy merrily wish each other good cheer while the echoes of Christmas carols drift through the air. 

The Arts Council pop-up pub “Annie’s Alehouse” is found in the Arts Council building at 301 Hay St. This gathering place is perfect for revelers to warm their hands and tummies while pub tunes play in the gallery. 

Carriage drivers dressed in Victorian garb take riders through the streets of downtown in an elegant carriage. There are two choices for carriage rides. Ye Dickens Wagon begins at noon and starts from 222 Hay St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. If you’re looking for a fancier carriage ride, the Queen Victoria Carriage is hosted at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum at 325 Franklin St. Tickets for the Queen Victoria Carriage cost $15 for adults and $10 for children. Reservations in advance are recommended either in person at 222 Hay St. or by calling 910-223-1089. It’s a perfect way to snuggle up with your sweetheart! 

Father Christmas makes a special appearance to the delight of children of all ages, who eagerly run to meet the jolly, white-bearded man sitting in his colorfully adorned sleigh. Parents can snap photos and take videos of their kids with Father Christmas at the Arts Council building from 1-8:30 p.m. 

More recently, the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity began hosting the Gingerbread House Community of Hope during the festivities. The spicy scent and fun decor of gingerbread houses are a holiday tradition for many, and residents in the community are invited to construct their most creative gingerbread houses for display at SkyView on Hay, 121 Hay St. 

Bob Pinson, Arts Council operations director and longtime Dickens event planner, said the Gingerbread Community of Hope is a fun way for Habitat for Humanity to raise awareness of its mission to ensure affordable, quality housing for lower-income people. 

“With the recent hurricanes and the destruction they brought, (this event) seeks to show how grateful we are for what we have but remember that there is a great need for the community to support rebuilding efforts for so many,” he said. 

There is no fee to enter a creation for display, but an entrance form is needed. Entry forms and a base for the house can be picked up at Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 3833 Bragg Blvd. Voting for the best gingerbread house will take place between 1 and 5:30 p.m. The winner will receive $250. 

The historic Fayetteville Market House is also open to the public during “A Dickens Holiday,” where visitors can view the “This Victorian Life” exhibit. Local history is on display, including an interactive area where visitors can learn about the area, view the decorated Christmas tree and identify obsolete household items from Victorian times. It also offers the best bird’s eye view of bustling Hay Street below. 

Many other fun activities abound throughout the day, including Marvelous Mauve, the roving photographer – dressed in mauve, of course. Marvelous Mauve roams the streets looking for revelers dressed in Victorian attire so she can snap photos for the Virtual Costume Contest. Winners receive gift cards to local stores or eateries. Marvelous Mauve will also be at the Rainbow Room from 2-3 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. to take photos. 

New this year is the Canterbury Victorian Dance Group. The group will demonstrate various English country dances such as the Rufty Tufty, Hearts Ease and the Queen’s Waltz. There will be opportunities for audience members to participate during the Circle Waltz and the Halfe Hannikin. Dances will be performed in the front hall of The Capitol Encore Academy, 126 Hay St. throughout the day. 

The highlight of “A Dickens Holiday” is the anticipation of the candlelight procession. As the sun sets, crowds gather in front of the Arts Council and all along Hay Street to the Market House. With candles in hand, festivalgoers eagerly await the arrival of Queen Victoria. One by one, each person shares their candle flame with another until all of Hay Street is aglow with candlelight. 

Finally, Queen Victoria arrives. Once she’s tucked in her carriage, the procession begins. The Queen waves to onlookers as her carriage advances from the Arts Council to the Market House along Hay Street while the street is lit by thousands of candles. The excitement grows as the crowd strains to catch a glimpse of the queen. Bagpipers playing Christmas songs declare the Queen’s arrival by marching in front of her. Spectators hum along to the tunes. 

After much fanfare and cheers from the crowd, the evening culminates in a chorus of oohs and aahs as colorful fireworks burst above the Market House and the holiday lights are lit along Hay Street for the season. “A Dickens Holiday” showcases the best of Fayetteville and its community members on one enchanted day. 

According to Gibson, planning for the next event begins as soon as this one ends. Preparing for attendance numbers that hover between 15,000 and 20,000 each year takes a lot of forward-thinking. 

The charming affair is held Nov. 23 from 1-9 p.m. Find out more at www.theartscouncil.com/things-to-do/a-dickens-holiday. If you want to turn your experience up a notch, consider dressing Victorian-style! The Arts Council has a handy How to Dress Dickens Style guideline available here at www.theartscouncil.com/sites/default/files/HowToDressR_links-compressed.pdf. 

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

Player of the year:Toni Blackwell, Cape Fear 

Coach of the year:Todd Edge, Cape Fear 

First team 

Cape Fear:Toni Blackwell, Gary Bynum, Madison Burrell, Mary Catherine Hales 

Terry Sanford:Carmen Tucker 

Gray’s Creek:Marisol Morento 

Second team 

Pine Forest:Kennedi Whitener- Mason, Jasmine Cotton 

Terry Sanford:Gabby Tucker 

Cape Fear:Jaclyn Daniels 

Gray’s Creek:Rebecca Collins 

Photo: Toni Blackwell

Vance McAllister, who has been overseeing the opening of the new Surge Trampoline Park in Hope Mills, said the 2-year-old company’s mission can be summed up in three words. 

Fun, friends and family. 

“It’s a family-style environment,’’ said McAllister of the Louisiana-based business. “That’s what brought Drew Brees on to be a partner of Surge. It’s a great atmosphere for kids of all ages.’’ 

Brees, the standout quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, appears in a promotional video for the newest Surge facility that recently opened in Hope Mills in the former Bi-Lo Supermarket building. The video can be seen on the Surge Trampoline Park Hope Mills Facebook page. 

With a growing family of three boys and one girl, Brees has an obvious interest in activities for the family, and McAllister said that’s exactly what Surge has to offer. 

“He’s all about keeping them active and competitive, not getting caught up in the world of Fortnite,’’ McAllister said of Brees and his family. 

In growing the business to seven facilities nationwide, with another four scheduled to open in the coming months, McAllister said the company looks mainly for existing buildings that can be converted into Surge franchises, if the demographics show there are enough families in the area to support it. 

   “We go in and rehab the building, change it over to the Surge look and logo,’’ he said. “The two things we are always looking for are high ceilings to put one in and obviously parking.’’ 

   While trampolines were the initial focus of the Surge parks, McAllister said they have been transitioning toward a 50-50 mix between trampoline and climbing features like rock walls. 

   The Hope Mills park includes many of these attractions. “We try to keep them engaged and not just a straight bounce, turn, roll, flip and tumble type thing,’’ McAllister said. 

   One of the attractions at the new park is called High Nine, where you try to jump high enough to hit a sensor as you compete with others. 

   Another popular feature is called Wipeout, where a long beam rotates in a circle and you have to jump over it as it passes. 

   Other activities include pits of soft foam, climbing walls and a giant Rubik’s Cube. 

   With so many physical activities, McAllister said safety is among Surge’s utmost concerns. 

   While on the mats, everyone must wear trampoline socks that have grips on the bottom. They can bring their own or purchase a pair there for $3. 

   For all climbing activities, customers must wear a safety harness and fall restraint. 

   All of the rules of the park are clearly posted at various locations within the facility. 

   Surge isn’t just for individual customers. There are party and banquet options available. 

   There are 12 party tables, along with a separate private banquet room for any type of corporate event, birthday or other celebrations. 

   And the park isn’t just for kids. Some adult groups have already scheduled exercise classes at Surge. 

   With its emphasis on activities for families, Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner said Surge fits right in with the family-oriented, small-town atmosphere Hope Mills is trying to promote. 

   “I believe it’s going to be a destination spot because you don’t have to go all the way into town,’’ she said, referring to people having to drive from surrounding areas to Fayetteville. 

   “We’re a family place to live, and this just adds to it, all the way around a good addition for Hope Mills,’’ Warner said.

   It’s hard to celebrate Christmas at the Lake when you’re missing the lake. 

   That’s been the problem for several years in Hope Mills as the community struggled with losing its centerpiece lake following two failures of the Hope Mills Dam. 

   But now that the dam is back and the lake has been restored after years of absence, Christmas at the Lake will return in all its glory this month. 

   The event is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 30, from 6-7:30 p.m. 

   Cathy Johnson of the Hope Mills Appearance Committee described the evening that has been planned as “an old-fashioned Christmas in the mill village.’’ 

   Everyone is hoping for good weather because if it’s raining, Johnson said, there are no plans to move the event indoors anywhere and it will have to be canceled. 

   This year’s resumption of Christmas at the Lake will include familiar features from past years. Most of the activities will take place in the open area of the lake park between the gazebo and the opposite end of the park near the rebuilt dam. 

   Special events will include the lighting of the Christmas tree and the burning of the traditional Yule log. 

   Johnson said the plan also includes the singing of Christmas carols by groups from a variety of local churches. 

   Free hot chocolate and cookies will be provided for all in attendance, Johnson said. 

   Phyllis Hales, longtime Hope Mills resident, said Christmas at the Lake offers special memories for older residents of the area and she’s glad to see it return. 

   “It’s something for everybody,’’ she said, “kind of the opening of the Christmas season.’’ 

Hayden Diaz Figueroa 

Gray’s Creek • Senior • 

Soccer 

Figueroa had an unweighted grade point average of 3.83. He helped lead the Bears to the Patriot Athletic Conference tournament championship, scoring 15 goals for the season and handing out five assists.  

 Drew Menscer 

Gray’s Creek • Senior • 

Tennis 

Menscer has an unweighted grade point average of 4.0 while competing for the Gray’s Creek varsity tennis team. 

About 50 percent of all turkeys produced in the United States last year came from four states: Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri. Minnesota is responsible for 18 percent of all turkey production. North Carolina is No. 2, producing 14 percent of turkeys, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While Minnesota had the edge on the number of turkeys, the value of turkeys produced in North Carolina was greater. At $848.8 million, North Carolina’s turkeys are worth about $10 million more than Minnesota’s. 

Butterball, LLC, is one of America’s most iconic brands. Headquartered in Garner, North Carolina, Butterball is the nation’s largest producer of turkeys. The company owns and operates farms, processing facilities and support offices. Butterball opened its newest processing plant in nearby Raeford three years ago with an initial investment of $30 million. 

The company recently added another $20 million to expand the Raeford operation, including a new production line for turkey bacon products. “When Butterball opened the Raeford plant in 2015, we knew we had a great workforce and a state-of-the-art facility, but the overall operation has exceeded our expectations,” said Barry Gum, Butterball chief financial officer. “We are a proud North Carolina-based company and are excited about the opportunity to continue to grow our business within the state.” 

In 2015, then-Gov. Pat McCrory said the plant would create 367 jobs in Hoke County over three years. The company expects to add an additional 50 jobs to its Hoke County workforce. “I think when we had that first announcement... we were talking about the employees being close to 500 or 600 associates at some point in time,” said Mike Bliss, vice president of operations. 

Plant production climbed to 130 million pounds of turkey in 2017. Data compiled by Iowa State University’s Agricultural Marketing Resource Center found that growth in poultry consumption has outpaced that of red meat over the past decade and has grown twentyfold since 1910. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays typically feature traditional turkey feasts. 

The history of the Thanksgiving turkey is a mystery. Historians have different theories. Thanks to letters and records kept by early American settlers, we know that when the pilgrims sat down to dine with the Wampanoag Indians, beef and fowl were on the menu. This historical meal would later become known as the first Thanksgiving. 

Although historians cannot say for sure which types of fowl were served that day, a letter written by pilgrim Edward Winslow mentions a turkey hunting trip before the meal. The wild turkey is native to North America. Benjamin Franklin claimed this made the turkey a more suitable national bird than the bald eagle. Not everyone agreed with Franklin, and the bald eagle became the national emblem for the United States in 1782. The bald eagle may be America’s bird 364 days a year, but the turkey has one day all to itself – Thanksgiving. 

 A pair of Cumberland County high school football coaches were recently presented with their Shrine Bowl jackets. These jackets signify the honor of their being chosen to coach in this year’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas high school football all-star game on Saturday, Dec. 15. The game takes place at 1 p.m. at Wofford College’s Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 

In the left photo above, South View assistant coach Marcus Wall (center, in green) is shown getting his jacket while South View’s Emery Simmons (second from right) and Mariana Blount (far right) clap. Simmons was the lone Cumberland County football player picked for this year’s Shrine game. Blount will serve as a student athletic trainer at the game. 

   In the right photo, Westover head coach Ernest King is also shown being recognized by the Shriners at his team’s game with E.E. Smith last Friday. Like Wall, King will also serve as an assistant coach on this year’s North Carolina Shrine Bowl staff. 

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!