Fayetteville State University will celebrate its 2018 homecoming week Monday, Oct. 22-Sunday, Oct. 28. 

“Homecoming is a welcoming home for our alumni, supporters and the community; we ask the community to celebrate in homecoming with us,” said YaKima Rhinehart, senior director of alumni affairs at Fayetteville State University. “We also want to acknowledge our students; it is their homecoming as well.” 

Rhinehart added this is the time when students will begin to create their own traditions of how they celebrate, create their memories and do the things that will bring them back to campus years from now. 

The homecoming activities will begin Monday and progress through the week. “The student activities that kick off the week are the coronation for Ms. Fayetteville State and Ms. Homecoming,” said Rhinehart. “Fayetteville State has long been a campus that supported a large commuting student population, and we are always very deliberate about making sure our commuter students feel (as) much a part of the on-campus experience as possible.” 

“On Thursday evening, Oct. 25, we will have alumni headquarters set up at two hotels, which are the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and The Holiday Inn on Cedar Creek Road,” said Rhinehart. “That evening at 7 p.m., we will have a Bronco Paint & Sip Expo at The Holiday Inn as an opportunity to mingle and reconnect with one another while sipping on a glass of whatever it is you choose and paint.” 

   The homecoming parade takes place Saturday, Oct. 27, at 10 a.m. followed by the football game at 2 p.m. FSU will play Livingstone College. “After the game, we will celebrate our class that is in their 50th reunion,” said Rhinehart. “That will be with a reception at 5 p.m. on the lower level of The Rudolph Jones Student Center.” 

   Saturday evening concludes with the Fan2See Fest Concert featuring Young Dolph, G Herbo, Key Glock and special guests at 8 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum. 

   Other homecoming activities include the Gospel Explosion, Greek Yard Fest, the Alumni Sundown Party, the IA Homecoming Cookout, a Heroic Women-Comic & Pop Culture Art Exhibit, Toni & Terence Live Homecoming Podcast, McDougal Scholarship Dinner, SAC/WAC Bazaar, tailgating, The Alumni Welcome Center, Miss FSU Alumnae Queens’ Legacy Tea and much more. 

   “I like to remind our alumni that it is not just about reconnecting, it is also about reinvesting in the university as well,” said Rhinehart. “We would not have careers and these livelihoods that we have was it not for the time we spent and were shaped and molded along with the education we received at Fayetteville State University.” 

   Following homecoming, on Oct. 28, FSU will host The Walls Group and Koryn Hawthorne, a Gospel concert, at Seabrook Auditorium as part of the Seabrook Performance Series. It starts at 6 p.m. 

   For more information about FSU’s scheduled activities, visit www.uncfsu.edu. 

Haylie Bragg 

Gray’s Creek • Cross Country • Junior 

Bragg has an unweighted grade point average of 3.69. She recently placed 12th in the Patriot Athletic Conference cross country championship meet with a time of 21:46.10. 

 Garrett Sirois 

Gray’s Creek • Football • Senior 

Sirois has an unweighted grade point average of 3.91. As the kicker on the Gray’s Creek football team, he’s made 20 of 23 extra points and two field goals for 26 points as of Oct. 17 – the third-best kick-scorer among Cumberland County Schools kickers. His late 32-yard field goal gave the Bears a 25-22 win over Jack Britt. 

Richard Jenrette was a North Carolina boy who made good. 

Born in Raleigh in 1929 – just before the stock market crash that brought on the Great Depression – to an insurance salesman and his gardening wife, Jenrette went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, known then as Carolina. After a stint in counterintelligence during the Korean War, he headed to Harvard Business School, and the rest is both a stunning success story and American financial history. In 1959, he and two other Harvard Business School grads founded the first American brokerage firm to sprout since the Great Depression and took it into the financial stratosphere. 

Along the way, he collected, preserved and lavishly restored more than a dozen of our nation’s finest historic homes, including Ayr Mount outside Hillsborough, North Carolina, and the Roper House in Charleston, South Carolina, where he died earlier this year at 89. He was a meticulous and disciplined record-keeper and left behind a handwritten list of 24 rules of what he had learned about success and living a long and happy life. The rules were first shared with those who attended an intimate service for family and friends shortly after Jenrette’s death. 

   It is hard to argue about someone who apparently achieved both great success and happiness, goals deeply held by most human beings no matter our situations in life. Here are Jenrette’s rules, distilled through the lens of his well-lived life. 

1. Stay in the game. That’s often all you need to do – don’t quit. Stick around! Don’t be a quitter! 

2. Don’t burn bridges (behind you). 

3. Remember – Life has no blessing like a good friend! You can’t get enough of them. Don’t leave old friends behind – you may need them. 

4. Try to be nice. And say “thank you” a lot. 

5. Stay informed. Keep learning. 

6. Study – stay educated. Do your homework. Keep learning. 

7. Cultivate friends of all ages – especially younger. 

8. Run scared – overprepare. 

9. Be proud – no Uriah Heep for you – but not conceited. Know your own worth. 

10. Plan ahead but be prepared to allow for change when opportunity presents itself. 

11. Turn problems into opportunities. Very often it can be done. Problems create opportunities for change – people (should be) willing to consider change when there are problems. 

12. Present yourself well. Clean, clean-shaven, dress “classically” to age. Beware style trends. Look for charm. (Use) good grammar. Don’t swear so much – it’s not cute. 

13. But be open to change – don’t be stuck in the mud. Be willing to consider what’s new, but don’t blindly follow it. USE YOUR HEAD – COMMON SENSE. 

14. Have some fun – but not all the time! 

15. Be on the side of the angels. Wear the white hat. 

16. Have a fallback position. Heir and the spare. Don’t leave all your money in one place. 

17. Learn a foreign language. 

18. Travel a lot – around the world, if possible. 

19. Don’t criticize someone in front of others. 

20. Don’t forget to praise a job well done – but don’t praise a poor job. 

21. I don’t like to lose – but don’t be a poor loser if you do. 

22. It helps to have someone to love who loves you (not just sex). 

23. Keep your standards high in all you do. 

24. Look for the big picture, but don’t forget the small details. 

Dick Jenrette was not known as the “last gentleman of Wall Street” for no reason. 

The addition of live music and a beer garden highlight the major changes for this year’s 19th annual observance of Ole Mill Days in Hope Mills. 

The weekend event, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27, with a street dance kicking things off the day before, is the town’s annual celebration of its heritage as a mill village when textiles were king in North Carolina. 

Kasey Ivey, who heads up senior programs for the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department, doesn’t think of this year’s Ole Mill Days as expanding. “More like a revision, I would say,’’ she said. 

The party actually starts Oct. 26, with a Friday night street dance on Trade Street featuring a live deejay. 

There will be food trucks, and some of the Trade Street businesses will be open to customers during the dance. 

The beer garden and the live music are among the biggest new offerings the following day. 

The town’s board of commissioners approved the sale and consumption of alcohol at Ole Mill Days, and a local business, Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, will be the vendor for the beer garden. 

Ivey made it clear that access to the beer garden will be controlled and people who take part in it won’t be allowed to wander around other Ole Mill Days events with beer in their possession. 

She said town officials are working on finalizing the map for the various activities, which will be taking place on the two ball fields at Hope Mills Municipal Park. 

The addition of the beer garden and the live music is causing them to rethink where everything will be located. 

For the beer garden, she said plans are being made to keep it totally separate from the various child-related activities that are offered on Ole Mill Days. She said the town has portable fencing and a physical barrier will be erected to contain patrons of the beer garden and keep them from milling around freely with the rest of the crowd. 

   Patrons who are of legal drinking age will be provided with a wristband to indicate they’ve been cleared to purchase alcohol. 

   The other new attraction, live music, will be the Cumberland County Line bluegrass band. They are scheduled to perform from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. 

   Ivey said the band was included in hopes of encouraging people to stay around longer at Ole Mill Days, or to get them to return later in the day and bring other people with them. 

   One of the new attractions for children is Zorb Balls. These are giant inflatable balls that people can actually get inside of and bounce off each other. 

   The rest of Ole Mills Days features traditional favorites. 

   Things get started at 10 a.m. with an assortment of food vendors, craft vendors, some local businesses as well as appearances by various politicians running for office. 

   One event that will be missing from Ole Mill Days is the annual Chamber of Commerce Chili Cookoff, which has been moved to Nov. 10 and will be hosted by Dirtbag Ales. 

   The activities for children will also start at 10 a.m. and, in addition to the Zorb Balls, will include a variety of inflatable attractions like bounce houses. 

   At noon, Mayor Jackie Warner will give the official welcome, followed by the playing of the national anthem and an introduction of various local beauty queens named during the year. All of this will take place on Fields 1 and 2 at Municipal Park on Rockfish Road. 

   From noon until 4 p.m., the antique tractor pull, a staple of Ole Mill Days, will be held. Plans are also in the works to have a petting zoo and pony rides. 

   The extremely popular wing-eating contest sponsored by Zaxby’s is scheduled for 2 p.m. 

   Another popular event of the festival, the annual reunion of millworkers, had to be relocated this year because the recreation center is still closed due to damage from Hurricane Florence. 

   The millworkers will gather in the boardroom at Town Hall from 2-4 p.m. The reunion is coordinated by the Historical Commission of the town and sponsored by the parks and recreation department. 

   The day will close with a showing of the family-friendly movie “Hotel Transylvania” at 6:30 p.m. in the park. 

   Ivey said parking is first-come, first-served and people will need to be patient because there will be fall league ball games taking place on the fields adjacent to Fields 1 and 2 at Municipal Park. 

   If anyone has questions about Ole Mill Days, they can call 910-426-4109 or send messages through the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page. If they need to meet someone face-to-face, the recreation department offices are temporarily located in Town Hall. Stop by the front desk there during normal business hours. 

Cumberland County’s cooler weather accompanies abundant and diverse ways for locals to get spooky. 

Hallowe’en Revels Night Tours of the 1897 Poe Housecapitalizes on the building’s namesake, a man named Edgar Allan Poe who was actually not the author of iconic American works “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.” This Poe was the owner of a brick company. None of that factual nonsense gets in the way of the creepy imagination associated with Poe the author, though. Oct. 24-26, the Gilbert Theater brings a series of short, early 20th-century vignettes featuring music and poetry that run every 20 minutes from 6-10 p.m. For details, call 910-486-1330. 

The Fayetteville Zombie Walk, presented Oct. 26 by Back-A-Round Records and Cool Spring Downtown District, is one big community party that’s now in its ninth year. A hoard of friendly zombies descends on the downtown to moan, shuffle and check out each other’s makeup – er, blood. 

Headquarters Library hosts a Zombie Pre-Party at 6 p.m. with a deejay, kids activities, and face-painting and zombie makeup for $5. Awards for best costumes are announced around 7 p.m., and the official walk begins at 8 p.m. Zombies proceed down Ray Avenue and up Hay Street, with the walk terminating at the Outdoor Zombie Walk Main Stage adjacent to Back-A-Round Records, at 1 Market Square. Live music from Nephilym, Motorjunkie and Carolina Committee’s DJ Moodswing will run from about 8:20-10 p.m. 

Zombies 21 and older can end the night at Paddy’s Irish Pub for the official after-party and Zombie Prom. Call 910-223-1089 or 910-568-5654 for more information. 

  Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s film screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”takes place Oct. 26 and 27 at midnight. The cult classic film is, in CFRT’s words, “a rock-musical send-up of old science-fiction and horror films.” 

  Guests are encouraged to engage in the interactive experience by coming in costume and utilizing their bag of props that CFRT will provide with admission. Tickets are $25. For details, visit www.cfrt.org. 

Halloween at the BOO-tanical Gardeninvites Harry Potter enthusiasts to enjoy this year’s family-friendly Hogwarts theme. Oct. 25, an adult-only Hogwarts & Allevent features Quidditch Pong, a horcrux hunt, a costume contest, free invisibility cloaks and more. From 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 26, 27 and 28, costumed attendees of all ages can walk the garden’s jack-o-lantern-lit pathways. Other luminous Halloween decorations, crafts, candy and food trucks will complete the experience. To learn more, call 910- 486-0211 or visit www.capefearbg.org. 

The Stoney Point Trail of Terrorstarted as a fundraiser for the Stoney Point Volunteer Fire Department 15 years ago and has grown into a statewide attraction. The Trail incorporates live actors and state-of-the-art sound, lighting and environmental effects to create memorable scares. Remaining dates include Oct. 26, 27, 30 and 31. Visit http://undeadfd.com for more information. 

Perfectly Horrible Carriage Rides with Count Dracula, hosted by CSDD, offers a chilling twist on an idyllic jaunt. Oct. 31 from 3-8 p.m., take a ride with the Count in his ghoulish carriage that came all the way from Transylvania. Rides leave every 15 minutes from 222 Hay St. Ticket sales start there at 2:30 p.m.; $10 for adults and $5 for children. For details, call 910-286-3979. 

After or before your ride, check out downtown trick or treatingfrom 3-5 p.m., also hosted by CSDD. Bring your little ones to the candy stops throughout downtown as over 30 local businesses participate in handing out treats. Call the CSDD office at 910-223-1089 for details. 

   The city of Fayetteville is making its first significant addition to facilities for seniors in decades. The city broke ground last week on the much-anticipated Senior Center West. It is being built along the western edge of Lake Rim, in the vicinity of 7510 Old Raeford Rd. Senior Center West is the sixth project to get underway with funds generated by the $35 million Parks & Recreation Bond Referendum secured in 2016. 

   The building will be a 19,000-square-foot lakefront property with a fitness room and a warm-water indoor pool. It is one of two nearly identical facilities funded in the referendum. A location for the Senior Center East has not yet been selected, but “the city is working on partnering with (Fayetteville State University) on the site located at the corner of Murchison (Road) and Filter Plant (Drive),” said city spokesman Nathan Walls. “That partnership will be presented to council for consideration soon.” 

   The new senior centers will address two growing needs in the community: providing more space and adequate facilities in Fayetteville to assist the heavily used Senior Center on Blue Street and providing quality programming and activities to a growing senior citizen population. 

   Studies from the National Council on Aging have shown the need for more senior citizen activities as statistics have shown that the more seniors remain active, the better quality of life they have and the longer they live. Senior centers focus on several wellness factors in efforts to improve those numbers: emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and vocational wellness. 

   In addition to the Blue Street Senior Center, Fayetteville/Cumberland Parks and Recreation operates the Tokay Fitness Center for Seniors and the Dorothy Gilmore Therapeutic Recreation Center. Tokay provides residents six treadmills, six stationary bikes, six ellipticals, three lower body and six upper body Nautilus machines, plus an abdominal machine, dumbbells, exercise mats, exercise balls and table tennis tables. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaires must be filled out before using the equipment. 

   The Gilmore Center on Purdue Drive offers “recreation and leisure programs to people with disabilities to improve functional abilities, enhance well-being and facilitate independence,” according to the city’s website. The staff of the Gilmore Center uses recreational services and leisure experiences to help people with limitations make the most of their lives. 

   The new senior centers are not operated jointly under city/county auspices. Cumberland County Commissioners chose not to participate in the bond referendum. So now city government keeps separate books for projects undertaken as the result of the $35 million Fayetteville package. Payrolls and other operating expenses for the senior centers have not been publicly discussed. 

   Splash pads at Kiwanis, Massey Hill and Myers Park recreation centers have already been constructed and opened since passage of the bond issue and initial sale of bonds. Other completed projects include Seabrook Park and pool deck upgrades and the new Massey Hill universally accessible playing field. It has been utilized by Buddy Sports programs, which have seen a 15 percent increase in enrollment since the field opened. 

When visiting the hospital, most people have no problem recognizing the doctor, nurse and even the lab technician. But how many can identify the respiratory therapist? 

Respiratory therapists are often those unsung heroes who care for our loved ones – or us – at crucial times. Respiratory therapists touch the lives of many. The work of the respiratory therapist may involve a patient receiving supplemental oxygen or perhaps a life-saving respiratory medication to ease the work of breathing during a crisis. In other situations, the respiratory therapist may assist individuals who are on advanced life-support equipment while in the emergency room or intensive care unit. 

Respiratory therapists are highly trained pulmonary specialists who effectively assess, educate and treat patients with heart and lung problems. They apply their expertise to every patient population, from newborns and infants to children and adults. They work in all areas of hospitals, doctor’s offices, diagnostic centers, home health, education, research, rehabilitation centers and medical equipment sales. 

   These practitioners are highly skilled in critical thinking, patient assessment and cardiopulmonary diagnostics, cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology, advanced life support, evidence-based clinical care and advanced biomedical engineering and technology. 

   According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for respiratory therapists in 2017 was $59,710 per year. The entry-level education level required to enter the profession is an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program. CoARC, or the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, is a governing body that sets standards for respiratory therapy programs to ensure they prepare highly competent respiratory therapists for practice, education, research and service. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects that the respiratory therapy profession will grow by 23 percent within the next eight years, which is cited as being much faster than average. 

   Fayetteville Technical Community College offers an associate of applied science degree in respiratory therapy. The program is an advanced-level program that fully prepares the graduate to enter the profession right away and begin quality patient care and practice in all areas of respiratory therapy. The associate degree also prepares students to continue education and pursue degree advancement, such as a bachelor’s degree. 

   FTCC’s program accepts 24 students every August and runs for five consecutive semesters. Students will complete classroom lecture, laboratory skills practice and clinical rotation and application during each of these semesters. Students focus on patient assessment, critical thinking, diagnostics, and skills development and application in all aspects of the professional practice of respiratory therapy. The program accepts applications from Nov. 1 through Jan. 30 every year for admittance into the program during the following August class. 

   FTCC’s respiratory therapy program is competitive, so it is important to know and follow all the procedures and requirements for the program. 

   Those interested in becoming a respiratory therapist can begin their journeys at FTCC by calling 910- 678-9869 or emailing thompsok@faytechcc.edu. 

The Senate recently finalized plans for a new leader of U.S. military forces in South Korea. The move came in wrap-up work as lawmakers headed back to their districts for a monthlong legislative break for midterm campaigning. 

Senate Republican leaders had threatened to keep their chamber in session for all of October if a deal hadn’t been reached on a host of pending judicial nominations opposed by Democrats. Fifteen such nominees were approved in the deal, the latest in a sizable wave of new judges chosen by President Trump. 

The Senate also agreed on less controversial defense nominations. Without opposition, lawmakers moved ahead with plans to transfer Army Gen. Robert “Abe” Abrams from the lead role at Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg to head U.S. Forces in Korea. If the general’s name sounds familiar, he is the son of retired Army Chief of Staff Creighton W. Abrams Jr., who commanded U.S. forces for four years during the Vietnam War. 

Abrams will replace Gen. Vincent Brooks as the commander of U.S. Forces Korea. He takes over as a rare public display of discord between the U.S. and South Korea has raised concerns about a growing rift over efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. 

At the heart of the issue are fears that Seoul is moving too fast and letting its guard down by embracing North Korea despite a lack of progress in denuclearization, although the U.S. and South Korea insist they remain in agreement on the final goal. South Korea’s foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had complained about a recent inter-Korean military agreement. “It was discontent about how he was not briefed sufficiently, and he had a lot of questions,” Kyung-wha said. 

The two Koreas have agreed among themselves to a series of hostility-reduction steps in and around the heavily fortified demilitarized zone that separates the two countries. Steps taken include halting military drills, setting up a no-fly zone and beginning to remove land mines and guard posts. 

Forces Command Deputy Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, has assumed command of FORSCOM until a successor for Abrams is selected. Richardson was the first female Army officer to officially hold the No. 2 position of the largest command in the U.S. Army. 

Fort Bragg is often referred to as Pentagon South since Forces Command headquarters was realigned there 10 years ago. It is responsible for training and preparing active, reserve and National Guard troops to meet the requirements of combat commanders around the world. 

“Richardson personifies the highest standards of the Army and our officer corps,” said Abrams as Richardson received her third star. “Throughout her distinguished career, she has led by outstanding personal example from the front – in combat and in challenging command and staff positions of great responsibility.” 

Photo: Gen. Robert “Abe” Abrams 

Let us now praise famous vampire bats. Today’s hemorrhagic stain on world literature is going to swoop down into a mysterious and misunderstood world. Vampire bats have their very own alias, Desmodus rotundus, which sounds a lot like some fat guy named Desmond picked out their genus names. If you are a sensitive soul or have a sensitive stomach, please skip the rest of this column and go to the crossword puzzle. 

Vampire bats have gotten a bad rap. We shall try to erase some bat stigma. Bats are forever associated with Dracula and things that go bump in the night. The literary Dracula was dreamed up by novelist Bram Stoker. Dracula was based upon the real-life Vlad Tepes. Vlad was a bad dude who lived in the 15th century in Transylvania. His nickname was “Vlad the Impaler,” which indicates he was not a guy to be trifled with. Vlad’s hobby was sticking his enemies up on sharp poles to scare away invaders. This tactic is even more frightening than forcing your enemies to watch 24 hours of Fox News. 

When Dracula wants to get into a castle bedchamber of a voluptuous sleeping lady, he transmogrifies himself into a bat. Taking a hint from an old Beatles song, Dracula in his vampire bat form comes in through the bathroom window protected by a silver spoon. Once inside m’lady’s bedchamber, Dracula reverts from his bat shape back into Count Dracula. The Count then begins to drain his next victim. 

Count Dracula is not nearly as sweet as Count Chocula. Count Dracula is much more likely to cause anemia than the diabetes that Count Chocula causes. It’s a question of choosing your poison. 

But back to our friends the vampire bats. The actual facts in this column are based on an excellent article written by Michael Greshko in “National Geographic’s” November 2015 issue. The alternative facts in this column are made up by me. 

The diet of vampire bats is blood. They don’t care about the blood type, just that it is blood from people or animals. All they eat is blood. All you need is love. 

   Being busy critters, they need to consume blood at least every two days, or they can starve to death. Each night, vampire bats go out on a hunting trip to find someone to love and drain. Among their bat superpowers is the ability to sense body heat, which leads them to supper. They are so adept at stealthily removing blood that a person may not wake up while serving as Soylent Green for a bat picnic. After their meal, the National Geo says bats will then urinate half of the ingested blood volume in 30 minutes. Don’t look up. 

  Vampire bats, like Trump voters, live in groups. Bats are more politically evolved than humans in that female bats appear to rule the bat covens. Bats share. If one of the bats comes back empty after finding no one to snack upon, the other female bats will share their bloody dinner with the hungry bat. Lacking an Easy Bake oven, the blood stuffed-bat can’t prepare a soufflé for the hungry bat. Instead, the full female bat will regurgitate blood into the mouth of the hungry bat. In effect, a bat full of donor blood becomes a flying blood bank that the Red Cross would envy. 

    Bats are social animals. They know who their friends are who has shared blood with them in the past. They also know who refused to share blood with them when they were hungry. 

    A fellow named Gerald Carter who worked for the Smithsonian Institution took it upon himself to go hang with the bats in zoos to study bat etiquette regarding bat “vomit snacks.” According to the National Geo, Gerald spent three years   “crouching in the bottom of their enclosure with a camcorder” observing bat feeding habits. 

   One wonders if, when Gerald was a little boy, did he always dream of crouching in a bat habitat for three years watching bats throw up? What childhood trauma could have led Gerald to such an odd career choice? But then, one could ask the same question of a proctologist or a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. 

    Gerald reports that if a non-sharing bat returned with an empty stomach, the other bats would not share their vomit snacks with the non-sharer. If a previously sharing bat came home empty, the other bats would provide vomit snacks of blood to the sharing bat. Bat karma is a killer. 

   So, what have we learned today? Vampire bats are nicer than some people. What seems a disgusting vomit snack to some people is ambrosia to bats. We would all be better off if we followed the advice of the late, great Rodney King, who once plaintively asked: “Can’t we all just get along?” 

   Bon Appetit. 

Fayetteville Academy entered the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association’s 2-A state soccer playoffs last weekend as defending state champion riding a 10-game winning streak this year. 

The Eagles got the No. 1 seed in this year’s 2-A tournament and earned a double bye into the quarterfinal round, which was scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20. They were to face the winner of a second-round match between Trinity Academy and The O’Neal School. 

Fayetteville Academy is seeking its 17th state boys soccer title and fifth in the last eight years. 

If they’re still alive when this article is published, they’ll advance to this year’s state finals on Saturday at Westchester Country Day in High Point. 

Although Eagle coach Andrew McCarthy had a good feeling about this year’s team, there were some concerns about qualifying for the state playoffs because of changes in the NCISAA. 

The organization expanded from three classes to four. Fayetteville Academy remained a 2-A team but was placed in a four-team split 3-A/4-A conference, which meant it didn’t get an automatic berth in the state playoffs and strength of schedule was important in determining who advanced to the postseason. 

“We didn’t have a lot of head-to-head or common opponents with teams in our classification,’’ McCarthy said. “Luckily, our strength of schedule was good enough to give us the No. 1 seed.’’ 

The Eagles have been led in scoring by Hudson Zeisman with 20 goals and 10 assists. Following him is Boyce Purdie with 12 goals and 10 assists. 

Goalkeeper Langdon Boliek has recorded 10 shutouts in the Eagles’ 13 games. 

Senior captain Julian Barbaro said he’s not surprised the Eagles are back in the playoffs because of all the work they’ve put in this season. 

“Everyone gives it all every time they step on the field,’’ he said. “In the final third (on defense), we’re pretty good once we keep it simple. Our defense is strong as a unit.’’ 

   Barbaro praised both Zeisman and Purdie for being unselfish. “They try to look for open plays,’’ he said. 

   McCarthy agreed, adding that Zeisman was especially good on set pieces. “He’s a fantastic athlete, a kid who loves scoring goals,’’ McCarthy said. “He’s a gamer when it comes to game time. He’s ready to go and loves scoring.’’ 

   The No. 1 seed and double bye is both good news and bad news for the Eagles. While it gives them a break and allows them to heal from minor bumps and bruises during the regular season, it also means they’re not going to be playing. The team they’ll be facing Saturday, if the Eagles are still alive, will have had the benefit of one or two competitive games. 

   The Eagles have been in this position before, and McCarthy said it’s just something you have to accept. 

   “You’ve got to make sure every practice is as sharp as possible,’’ he said. “There’s a method to every practice and a goal at the end of every practice. 

   “We have some good players, and practice can get pretty intense the way we set things up. Intensity has to come in practice whether you have a double bye or not. That’s one thing we push for.’’ 

   Some of Fayetteville Academy’s biggest rivals in the 2-A classification last year moved up to 3-A this season, but McCarthy said there are still plenty of tough teams left to test the Eagles this year in their bid to repeat. 

   “There’s going to be a lot of really tough competition,’’ he said. “I don’t think there’s a lot of difference in the top teams. Any of the top ten could cause problems.’’ 

   As usual, McCarthy expects defense to be key for whoever wins, along with keeping everyone healthy and being prepared for the opponent. 

   “It’s the old cliche,’’ he said, “one game at a time.’’ 

Photo: Hudson Zeisman 

Cumberland County residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Matthew now have a reliable source of information for cleaning assistance. The Home Cleanup Hotline is 1-800-451-1954. The hotline is provided by Crisis Cleanup, a national organization that helps coordinate the work of volunteer organizations with survivors whose homes have been affected by natural disasters. Residents can ask for assistance from reputable relief agencies that can assist with services such as cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs and removing debris such as drywall, insulation and flooring. The services are free and are completed by volunteers who provide the necessary tools and equipment. 

For information about resources that can assist with these services, visit co.cumberland.nc.us/community-resource-directory1. 

Florence caused a sticky situation at one local shop 

Hurricane Florence caused a lot of damage to local businesses as well as dozens of homes. Rocket Fizz, the popular candy store in Marketfair Shopping Center, survived the storm, but much of its inventory did not. 

Co-owner Ann Sims said she lost a thousand pounds of bulk candy, which melted when the power went out, including 100 flavors of salt water taffy. Taffy must be kept in a dry, cool environment. Her store was anything but dry and cool during the three days it was without electricity. 

“We iced down the chocolate in coolers and took some of it home,” as the hurricane approached, she said. It was next to impossible to clear out the nearly 2,400 different items in the shop, which is much more than a candy store. 

Rocket Fizz sells a lot of Halloween treats this time of year, from candy corn to Pez, and Chuckles to Hershey bars. It also carries a variety of 400 craft soda pops, tin signs, replica concert posters and novelty items such as retro memorabilia and prank gifts. Sims said the average sale is $12 for a four-pack of soda and bags of candy. “Selection and service is what we pride ourselves in,” she said. 

  Rocket Fizz is located next to the Marketfair AMC Theatre. 

Baseball team name to be revealed 

  Minor league baseball officials had hoped to announce the name of the local Houston Astros affiliate, which will begin playing ball in Fayetteville in the spring, over a month ago. The approach of Hurricane Florence caused postponement of the announcement. The Fayetteville Baseball Club says it will unveil its team name on Sunday, Nov. 4. 

  Team memorabilia, T-shirts and ball caps will also be available at the name reveal event. 

  Team President Mark Zarthar told Up & Coming Weeklythat at least three firms have indicated serious interest in sponsoring naming rights of the new stadium, which is under construction on Hay Street. 

  Houston acquired the Advance Single-A minor league team when it played in California. The Carolina League had indicated an interest in expanding by adding two additional clubs to the league. One moved from California to Fayetteville, the other to Kinston. 

Busking comes to town 

  Busking has become popular in communities across the country. And now, Cool Spring Downtown District, in conjunction with Sweet Tea Shakespeare, has launched a busker program for local artists and performers. Sidewalk entertainers perform anything that people find entertaining – usually for money – singing, clowning, juggling, musical performances, fortunetelling, animal tricks, dance and much more. Organ grinders were among the original buskers. 

  Sweet Tea Shakespeare presents accessible performances of Shakespearean and other classical plays complete with delicious food, beer, wine and its signature sweet tea. 

  “Sweet Tea Shakespeare is delighted to partner with Cool Spring Downtown District to pilot its busker program, said Jeremy Fiebig, STS artistic director. “We have live music built into our culture, and it’s a natural extension of what we do to help build this exciting new program.” 

  Ten busking spots have been designated throughout the downtown district for performers selected by STS. Registration is required. Performance schedules are Thursday through Saturday evenings from 6-10 p.m. and weekends from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 

County Employee Health Fair 

  The annual Cumberland County Employee Wellness Fair is set for Oct. 22-26 at the Crown Expo Center, 301 E. Mountain Dr. About 400 county employees are expected to attend the fair each day. The county has contracted with Novant Health to operate the events. 

  During the annual wellness fair, Novant will screen employees for risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Vendors will provide employees with information on topics such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, weight management, hearing, vision, tobacco cessation, physical activity, nutrition, stress management, behavioral health, safety and more. The goal of the fair is to encourage county employees to lead a healthier lifestyle and improve their overall health status. 

  Hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 22 and 24 and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 23, 25 and 26. 

In her second year as a varsity volleyball coach at Jack Britt High School, Leigh Ann Weaver was supremely confident entering the 2018 season. 

“I think our team is on an elite level physically, with all the natural athleticism on top of the volleyball experience in school or travel (volleyball),’’ she said. “I knew that we were 100 percent capable. Our biggest battle was on the mental side.’’ 

  The Buccaneers overcame any misgivings Weaver had about the mental aspect. Last week, the Bucs traveled to Pinecrest and handed the Patriots their second conference defeat of the season, wrapping up at least a tie for the Sandhills Athletic Conference title and the league’s No. 1 berth in the state playoffs. 

  Through the Pinecrest match, with a couple of regular-season games to go, Britt stood 14-7 overall and 12-0 in the league. They’ll await the news on who their first-round opponent will be in the upcoming North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A playoffs. 

  At season’s start, Weaver decided to put the focus of this year’s team on her two power hitters, Lexy Cole and Kaiah Parker. “I told the girls what their roles are,’’ Weaver said. “Everyone has fallen into that perfectly, and identifying the roles straight away definitely helped.’’ 

  As the team met various expectations during the season, Weaver and her coaching staff kept lifting the bar and setting new ones. 

  “The goal for a volleyball team is not to peak too early,’’ she said. “We definitely made sure to have the girls progress at an appropriate time within each part of the season.’’ 

  As for her concerns about the mental aspect of the game, Weaver said it’s something she preached to the team from the beginning, along with playing with a purpose. “If they don’t play with a purpose, their heart isn’t fully into it,’’ Weaver said. “You’re poking around in the dark, for lack of a better term. 

  “You play with a purpose, warm up with a purpose. You’ve got to do everything with a purpose if you expect to do better at your craft.’’ 

  Cole, who leads Cumberland County Schools in kills with 199 through Oct. 10, has played a major role in Britt’s success. 

  “Lexy has stepped it up 110 percent,’’ Weaver said. “She has blown my expectations out of the water. She’s going to UNC-Asheville to play volleyball. That standard was set high for her, and she had a reputation of being a great volleyball player.’’ 

  In addition to being a power hitter, Cole is a vocal leader on the court. That may be as important as her skill at spiking the ball. 

  “I feel like I’m very loud and energetic,’’ Cole said. “I keep the energy pretty high so everyone stays alive.’’ 

  She tries to keep her chatter positive. “The only thing I want to be doing for my team is to make sure that everyone feels like they can do it,’’ she said. “If they mess up, I don’t want them to think they’ll keep messing up. They can just forget about it and no one is mad at them. 

  “I want them to do their best.’’ 

  The whole Buccaneer team will need to do its best to have a chance of advancing deep in the state 4-A playoffs. 

  Cole feels the team needs to stay focused with the same end goal in mind. “We’ll have to speed up our game to match theirs,’’ she said of teams Britt might face in the postseason. “As long as we keep up with the speed, I feel we’re perfectly fine.’’ 

Photo: Lexy Cole

  The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department is preparing to conduct its annual drop-off of prescription and over-the-counter drugs in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. 

  The event is scheduled Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and there will be three locations in the Hope Mills area where residents can safely get rid of expired or unneeded medications. 

  The three drop-off points are Hope Mills Fire Department, Pearce’s Mill Fire Department and Stoney Point Fire Department. 

  Lt. Shawna Leake, who heads the community policing section for the county sheriff ’s department, said the drug drop-offs are normally held twice a year, once in the spring in conjunction with National Poison Prevention Week, and again in the fall. The three locations in Hope Mills are among seven countywide where people can drop off medications. 

Leake said fire departments are a good location for the drop-offs. “Those are places the public is familiar with,’’ she said. She added locations are chosen based on where there has been the best response from the public in previous years. 

  Leake said the public is encouraged to bring any kind of prescription or over-the-counter drug they’d like to safely dispose of – not limited to medications. 

  “Sometimes people bring us diabetic needles,’’ she said. “(Like) when they’ve lost a loved one and don’t know what to do with their medicines and have a lot of different drugs they are taking.’’ 

  Even seemingly harmless items like cough drops that aren’t being used anymore or any medicines that have expired are welcome. 

  The main drugs that need to be turned in are any narcotics, especially opioids, to prevent them from falling into innocent hands or the hands of those who would abuse them. 

  “We have an opioid epidemic we are currently combating,’’ Leake said. “Those are the things we really want people to turn in. We don’t want them to be flushed down the toilet or put in the trash.’’ 

  Any drugs disposed of in that manner have the potential to get into the local water system, Leake said. 

  The only kind of drugs that should not be brought to the drop-off are illegal drugs, she said. If individuals or families have substances like that they need to dispose of, they need to contact law enforcement directly. “We’ll respond to that call in a different fashion,’’ Leake said. “We would rather they not bring them to this event.’’ 

  For specific questions or concerns about the drug drop-off, call Leake at 910-438-4015.

The Town of Hope Mills will hold its annual Trunk R Treat celebration on Halloween night this year from 6-8 p.m. on the athletic fields at Hope Mills Municipal Park on Rockfish Road. But the preparation for the event is going to be a little different from past years. 

Meghan Hawkins, recreation programs supervisor for Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department, said there will be a deadline to register to have a vehicle at the event and there is a form individuals and businesses need to fill out to take part. 

“This is the first year we actually have a registration form,’’ she said. “It gives us the option to track who we’ve got, who’s coming, how much space is needed and also to establish some guidelines and policies regarding the night of the event.’’ 

  Anyone planning to bring a vehicle and give out Halloween treats at the event must fill out a registration form and return it by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22. 

  In addition to gathering information about the person or business taking part in the event, the form includes information about what is and isn’t allowed at each individual display. 

  As in the past, participating vehicles in the Trunk R Treat will be parked on the outfield area of one or both fields at Municipal Park. 

  Hawkins said vehicle check-in for the vendors will begin at 4:30 p.m., and all cars or trucks must be in the field area and parked by 5:30 p.m. Late arrivals will not be allowed to enter. 

  There will be no electricity available on the field, so any displays on cars that need electric power will have to get it from the vehicles themselves or from batteries. Portable generators are not allowed on the field. 

  The actual Trunk R Treat will run from 6-8 p.m. Once vehicles are in place on the field, they will not be allowed to leave the area until the event ends at 8 p.m. 

  Businesses are encouraged to take part and are allowed to give out items to promote themselves. 

  All candy or edible treats given away must be pre-wrapped. No homemade goods of any kind are permitted. 

  Hawkins stressed that the Trunk R Treat is both family-friendly and kid-friendly. There should be no adult-themed displays or costumes. 

  Displays should not be designed to attack or disparage anyone, and no profanity or alcohol are allowed. 

  There are two contests currently planned in conjunction with Trunk R Treat, Hawkins said, one for best decorated trunk and one for most original. 

  Judging of both contests will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the winners will be announced at 7 p.m. 

  Copies of the registration form are available on the town of Hope Mills website or the Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page. 

  For those who need to meet someone face-to-face about the event, the recreation department offices are temporarily located in Town Hall on Rockfish Road. For other questions, call 910-426-4109. 

Photo:Mayor Jackie Warner at last year’s event. 

On Oct. 8, the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners voted against selling a piece of land to the Lone Survivor Foundation. 

Here is a statement from Tim Byrom, board president of LSF: “We’re very disappointed with the actions of the (town of Hope Mills) board. I made plans to attend the November meeting and was hoping to discuss our offer with them in person. Of all the people I’ve spoken to, only a half dozen indicated they were opposed to this partnership, and three of them were the board members who voted against it. We want to thank the Hope Mills community for the generous support and encouragement they’ve provided. But now it’s time to refocus our efforts elsewhere.” 

LSF first established a facility in Crystal Beach, Texas, in 2010, and provides rehabilitation retreats to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma. More than 30 percent of the veterans treated at the Texas center came from the Southeast, so LSF has been scouting potential sites for a second retreat facility for more than a year. 

Terry Jung, who served as executive director for LSF until stepping down recently, presented the idea of establishing a local LSF center to the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners in a closed session on June 4. Five of the six board members were overwhelmingly in favor of the project. Commissioner Mike Mitchell was the only board member who showed hesitation. On June 5, the board directed town staff to contact LSF and let its representatives know the Hope Mills Board was excited to receive an official offer. But on June 11 when the town of hope Mills board met again, three of the commissioners were suddenly opposed to the idea and voted to deny the offer. 

At a July 23 Hope Mills board meeting, Jung spoke to the board again. Members of the audience were so moved by his comments and so enraged by the board’s actions, they signed up to speak on behalf of LSF. Commissioner Jessie Bellflowers made a motion to hold a public hearing, and one was scheduled for late August. But on Aug. 1, the board voted to cancel the hearing until the members had seen the results of a comprehensive parks and recreation study. Officially, the board members were waiting to know what the study indicated the town should do with the land LSF wanted to purchase. 

  The results of the study were presented Oct. 1 by Rachel Cotter, project manager for McAdams Group. The study indicated the municipality has more than enough land for current and future development. In fact, it has enough to cover the 10-year plan plus an additional 60 acres. Cotter’s presentation also indicated municipalities often choose to partner with outside organizations, such as LSF, to offset the costs of funding development projects. But the plan does not identify specific parcels of land to be developed or indicate what should be built on them. 

  While the results should have cleared the path for LSF’s purchase, it did not. Commissioner Meg Larson blasted McAdams Group during the Oct. 8 meeting. She indicated the study had been a waste of money and the information obtained could have been found in a Google search. 

  Larson made a similar claim several months ago when Hope Mills Public Works Director Hector Cruz presented information to the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners. Cruz resigned soon after. 

  Commissioner Jerry Legge echoed Larson’s comments and went on to say investing $87,000 into the survey on the off chance the town is able to obtain grant money was a poor investment. Both Larson and Legge voted to spend the $87,000 on the comprehensive plan earlier this year. And on the night of Oct. 8, they voted to have Cotter move on to the second phase of the survey, despite their reservations. 

  After the regular meeting, the board left for a closed session to discuss personnel issues. It’s common for the board to remain in closed session for an hour or more then reconvene to adjourn, so most of the staff and nearly all the audience members left. When the board reconvened just a few minute later, there were four people in the audience. Mitchell immediately made a motion to decline the offer from LSF. Bellflowers made a lengthy statement, arguing that the board members don’t own the land in question, but the people do. He said the board had an obligation to hold a public hearing not just because they said they would, but because the people of Hope Mills had a right to be heard. He also asked the board to seek an appraisal of the land before considering LSF’s offer. 

  But Larson interrupted to remind him there was a motion on the floor. Mayor Jackie Warner, who was visibly upset, insisted each board member give a reason for their decision as they voted. 

  Legge voted no and stated the land was never for sale. But the land was most definitely for sale as of June 5, when the board asked to receive a financial offer. Larson voted no because the board’s consensus on June 11 was to not sell. But that consensus pertained to LSF’s first offer to purchase 4 acres for $35,000. Mitchell voted no and stated an 8-1 margin of his constituents, including veterans, have spoken against it and asked him not to sell their land. 

  Bellflowers and Commissioner Pat Edwards both voted to sell the land to LSF. And Warner, who does not have a vote, went on record as being in favor of selling the land. She reminded the board of how much the town needed the money the sale would bring them and mentioned that it would be years before the board could even consider developing the land. 

  On the morning of Oct. 9, news of the board’s decision spread across social media. Wherein the board silenced them, the public found a platform on social media, and people are making their voices heard quite effectively. The discussion and vote weren’t on the agenda for this meeting. The public had a right to know prior to the decision. Hope Mills citizens had a right to be present, and they had a right to be heard. The hundreds of online comments indicate the people are furious and feel like the board manipulated the situation. 

  The comments also indicate the public won’t be silenced next November when this board is up for reelection. 

For some time, I have thought that objectivity is dying in – or disappearing from – America. The confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh solidified my suspicion. Objectivity is very near death in America. From the Cambridge Dictionary, objectivity is “the state or quality of being objective and fair.” Then, for being objective: “Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.” Given these definitions, consider some of what transpired during this confirmation process. 

President Donald Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court. He met, individually, with all senators who were willing to do so. Included was Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-C.A. Kavanaugh also testified for over 30 hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

After his testimony, but just before the committee was to vote on making a recommendation to the full Senate, an allegation of sexual assault against Kavanaugh from 36 years ago was made public. The allegation was made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford who had written to her congresswoman, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-C.A. 

Ford requested anonymity. The letter was passed to Feinstein, who did not act to address the allegation in accordance with procedures of the Judiciary Committee on which she is the senior Democrat. Instead, after the letter was with Feinstein for about two months, in a manner yet unexplained, the media was given the allegation and ran with it. 

Ford’s allegation is summarized as follows in an article by Eli Rosenberg and Lindsey Bever titled “‘Shut up and step up:’ Sen. Hirono’s blunt message to men.” 

“In an interview with The Washington Post, Ford alleged that Kavanaugh corralled her into a bedroom during a gathering in Maryland when she was in high school, pinned her to a bed, groped her over her clothes and attempted to pull off the clothing she was wearing.” 

There were two other women who later made allegations against Kavanaugh – these also from 30+ years ago. They were Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick. After extensive negotiations with Ford and her attorney, a hearing was set before the Judiciary Committee. Ford and Kavanaugh testified. Republicans engaged Rachel Mitchell, an Arizona prosecutor specializing in sex crimes, to question Ford. Democratic senators did their questioning of both. 

When it became clear that the nomination was about to move forward, Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, along with opponents of Kavanaugh around the country, pushed for and got a supplemental FBI background check. Indications are that the FBI report did not unearth any additional information to support the sexual abuse allegations. 

In the end, Judge Kavanaugh was confirmed. However, this highly accomplished man who had a sterling reputation as a judge, Harvard professor, father, husband, public servant and gentleman has had all of that destroyed. Not only was his life destroyed, but those of his wife and two little girls were also tremendously adversely impacted. These human beings were treated as meaningless by Democrats in the Senate and by others across this country who are so focused on possessing power at any cost. 

  That quest for power by any means also ensnared Ford. She wanted to remain anonymous but was forced into the fray by one or more opponents of the Kavanaugh nomination when their primary tactic of obstruction failed. Sexual abuse allegations should be, and must be, investigated. Women and men who make such allegations must be heard and treated with respect. 

  The great challenge is to address these cases, and all matters, with objectivity. The Democrats’ handling of the Kavanaugh abuse allegations came nowhere close to objectivity. Prosecutor Mitchell provided a report as to her conclusion based on the testimony of Ford. It is available at www.axios.com/brett-kavanaugh-rachel-mitchell-prosecutor-memo-2c3233cc- 1d42-416b-af04-02700aa9a711.html. Her summary follows, but I encourage reading the full report. 

  “In the legal context, here is my bottom line: A ‘he said, she said’ case is incredibly difficult to prove. But this case is even weaker than that. Dr. Ford identified other witnesses to the event and those witnesses either refuted her allegations or failed to corroborate them. For the reasons discussed below, I do not think that a reasonable prosecutor would bring this case based on the evidence before the Committee. Nor do I believe that this evidence is sufficient to satisfy the preponderance-of-the evidence standard.” 

  Mitchell explained, “There is no clear standard of proof for allegations made during the Senate confirmation process.” 

  Given this situation, she provides an assessment of Ford’s allegations in the legal context. That is, the world in which Mitchell operates. Consequently, she presents facts and reaches a conclusion based on examination of those facts. This is being objective and fair. Here are a few of the facts presented and assessed in her report. 

• “Dr. Ford has not offered a consistent account of when the alleged assault happened.” 

• “Dr. Ford has struggled to identify Judge Kavanaugh as the assailant by name.” 

• “Dr. Ford has no memory of key details of the night in question – details that could help corroborate her account.” (Who invited her; how she got there; location of the house where the attack took place; how she got home.) 

• “Dr. Ford has not offered a consistent account of the alleged assault.” 

• “Her account of who was at the party has been inconsistent.” 

• “Dr. Ford’s description of the psychological impact of the event raises questions.” (Afraid to fly but flies frequently.) 

  Mitchell’s list of facts goes on. Now turn to how Democrats conducted themselves during this process. Without any corroboration of the allegations, they labeled Kavanaugh a sexual abuser. The following quote from an article by Thomas Jipping titled “Opposing Kavanaugh by ‘Whatever Means Necessary’” sent a clear message that Democrats would not be objective in considering the Kavanaugh nomination. 

  “Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) is out to show us that he’s one politician who can keep a promise. On July 9, within minutes of President Trump’s announcement of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his Supreme Court nominee, Schumer vowed to ‘oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination with everything I have.’ When he said everything, he meant it.” 

  Then there is this, regarding Kavanaugh, from Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, as reported in an article by Tyler O’Neil titled “Dem. Senator: Kavanaugh Doesn’t Deserve ‘Presumption of Innocence’ Because I Disagree With Him.” 

  “‘I put his denial in the context of everything that I know about him in terms of how he approaches his cases,’” the senator said, suggesting that the presumption of innocence — a core tenet of English common law and American law going back more than one hundred years — depends on a person’s judicial philosophy.” 

  Hirono sees no need to review this candidate in light of qualifications, experience, intellect, judicial temperament or basic facts. No, simply reject this man and destroy his life while doing great harm to his wife and daughters simply because you disagree with what you think is his judicial approach. There is no objectivity here. 

  I could go on for pages making the case that Senate Democrats and their cohorts across this country showed zero objectivity in this confirmation process. The question now is how will those Americans who recognize the great danger that is faced by our country in this near-death condition of objectivity respond to the crisis. My hope is that we will take action to save objectivity from death. Doing so requires that we follow the example of now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. 

  In the face of the onslaught by Judiciary Committee Democrats, he said, “You may defeat me in the final vote, but you’ll never get me to quit. Never.” By voting and every other action that is civil and legal, we must act – never quit. 

  As you decide how to respond to the Democrats’ treatment of Kavanaugh, consider the following from an article titled “Howie Carr: We are all Brett Kavanaugh.” 

  “We are all Brett Kavanaugh now. The politics of personal destruction that the Democrats and the media – but I repeat myself – have used in this despicable campaign to crush Kavanaugh could just as easily be deployed against anybody who gets in their way, male or female.” 

The city of Fayetteville needs and wants a vibrant downtown. The new Astros baseball stadium and tens of millions of dollars in new construction and economic development on our doorstep bring us nearly endless opportunities. Now is the time for city officials and downtown organizations like the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, the Downtown Alliance and Cool Spring Downtown District to come together to define and solidify a joint mission and to brand downtown as a destination. It’s time to find common ground that nurtures cooperation, instills confidence and exudes enthusiasm and hospitality. 

Spending $38 million on a baseball stadium will not be enough to accomplish this. Case in point: the unfortunate closing of the Walmart store in the Murchison Road community. I’m not a Walmart shopper, nor am I a fan of its overall national corporate strategy. However, this was a national corporate entity that stepped up to solve a Fayetteville community problem after a study identified that neighborhood as a food desert. 

Walmart Inc. is savvy when it comes to corporate planning and development. Walmart built that store on the premise that not only was it needed, but it would be supported by the people of the community and serve as the economic catalyst for Fayetteville’s future development of the Murchison Road corridor. 

But in less than four years, those warm and fuzzy sound bites and politically motivated assumptions failed to materialize. 

Why? Three reasons. 

  The study was based on political bias and faulty information. There was a lack of sufficient planning. And there was no advertising, marketing or promotion. Lesson learned? We’ll see. 

Back to downtown Fayetteville and its future possibilities. Cool Spring Downtown District, a nonprofit organization under the interim direction of former Fayetteville mayor Tony Chavonne, seems to be emerging as the catalyst for promoting the history, charm and attributes of downtown Fayetteville. Most impressive is the recent hiring of a marketing professional who understands how media works and acknowledges that if we want people to come downtown, they must first be invited and have a reason for coming. 

  I say this because for the first time that I can remember, downtown Fayetteville – via the CSDD – is actively marketing and promoting Fayetteville to more than 10,000 visitors who will attend the annual Comic Con at the Crown Coliseum the weekend of Oct. 20-21. 

  Like I said, the first step is to invite them. Comic Con visitors, vendors and celebrity guests have all been invited downtown, and we are giving them a welcoming party on Saturday night at Huske Hardware House Oct. 20 from 8-10 p.m. And guess what? You are also invited! 

  We tip our hats to CSDD and the folks at Huske Hardware. This is a wonderful example of how to successfully market, promote and advertise our community. We want to invite people to visit downtown to experience our history, view our art, eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores. And this is a great start. 

  Congratulations to CSDD. This is the start of something good, and we are proud to be a part of it. 

  Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. 

D.J. Jones 

Pine Forest • Football/ track • Junior 

Jones has a 3.69 grade point average while splitting time between playing football in the fall and running track for the Trojans in the spring. 

Jalonni Gadist 

Pine Forest • Volleyball/ softball • Senior 

Gadist has a 3.13 grade point average. She has 30 digs in volleyball for the Trojans this season. 

I met Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather at a movie screening a few weeks ago. My wife and I were invited to attend and learn more about the movie, which was pitched as an inspiring new film about families finding the faith and love to fight through hardships that threaten their marriages. Chaplain and Mrs. Turner attended because the movie was their story. Literally. 

“Indivisible” revolves around the true story of Darren Turner – an inexperienced Army chaplain who believes his faith and resolve will transcend circumstances. He finds himself haunted by battlefield experiences that put his marriage in jeopardy. 

If you’ve lived in Cumberland County or around the military for long, you have likely encountered wives like Heather Turner: strong, supportive and ready to fight for her marriage. In the movie “Indivisible,” we see a reflection of those wives as we witness how this resilient family bravely fights to reintegrate with each other and for love to ultimately win. 

“‘Indivisible’s’ true story shows there is no marriage too broken for God,” said Director David Evans. “We hope husbands and wives who see the Turners’ story on film will stop fighting one another and join forces to fight for their marriages together instead.” 

“Indivisible” isn’t just another movie – it’s a tale of heroic love and the will it took for a marriage to survive both the rigors and aftershocks of combat. This extraordinary true story follows a couple whose lives are fully devoted to serving God, family and country. From the comfort of a seat in a movie theater, we see that devotion face its greatest foe as war etches deep battle scars – both overseas and on the homefront – as the Turners’ rock-solid marriage is shaken to its core. 

Each carrying burdens the other can’t comprehend, they must decide if they’re willing to face one more battle: the fight to save their marriage. 

The film premieres in theaters nationwide, including AMC’s Fayetteville 14, on Oct. 26, featuring Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George, Tia Mowry and Madeline Carroll. 

The term “barbershop quartet” often brings to mind a vision of men wearing boater hats and striped vests. But local crooners The Cross Creek Chordsmen are anything but dated. With a modern twist on a classic theme, this chorus brings the best of both worlds to every show. The group offers a unique blend of sounds combined with crazy humor and a lot of fun. The Chordsmen have come a long way since the group formed five years ago, and they’re proud to announce their first fundraiser concert, “Fun, fun, fun,” Saturday, Oct. 20. 

The Cross Creek Chordsmen consists of 15-20 men varying in age, profession and background. Many of its members have been singing together for much longer than five years. Some of them originally belonged, in the ’70s and ’80s, to a different group, which eventually dissolved. 

“We are going to showcase many of our classic barbershop songs with a modern twist,” said Joshua Gray-Heim, events coordinator for the Chordsmen. “We are so excited to have our District Quartet Champions, ‘Technically Sound,’ as our guest quartet as well as a quartet from our singers.” 

The theme for “Fun, fun, fun” came from one of the group’s new songs that morphed into an entire show because the whole group loved it so much. The group is close-knit, and the members describe it as more than just a group of men who sing together. 

“For me, it’s like being in a fraternity,” Gray-Heim said. “It’s another family. Each of us is completely different from the next; however, we all come together for the love of music.” 

This group has a lot more to it than “Fun, fun, fun.” The members participate in several community events for local nonprofits, including “Christmas in the Garden” at Cape Fear Botanical Garden; Heritage Days at the Poe House; Singing for the Carolina Highlands and Carolina Inn Facilities; Cottonade Parade of Homes; SwampDog Games; Eastover Days; and many others. 

Part of the attraction of this group is the fact that the performers specialize in being unique. They customize each performance. Heading into the holidays, the Chordsmen are booking up quickly for Christmas sets. 

“I first met the Crosscreek Chordsmen last Christmas season when they performed live on The River/106.5 WMRV,” said Christy “Sweet Tea” Andrulonis, afternoon host on All American Country/100.1 WFAY. “If you are planning an event and are in need of a unique sound and lots of fun, this is the group for you! Weddings, local events even singing telegrams. – you name it, and these talented vocalists can sing it.” 

The Chordsmen also have a special event planned for Oct. 28 called “Paint Fayetteville Pink.” It is a breast cancer awareness fundraiser. This event will be located at Huske Hardware in downtown Fayetteville and will feature a classic car show and special guest local musical talent Kascie Page. 

“Fun, fun, fun” is set for Oct. 20 at the Arran Lake Baptist Church Family Life Center, which is located at 1130 Bingham Dr. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call 910-729- 2063 for more information. 

A newly-constructed sign on the Fayetteville Academy soccer field lists the 16 state boys’ championships and two girls’ championships the school has won. 

Two men, Jimmy Maher and Andrew McCarthy, were directly involved in bringing 13 of those titles to the school. For their efforts, Maher and McCarthy have been chosen for induction into the Fayetteville Academy Hall of Fame. 

The ceremony will take place on Nov. 20 as part of the school’s annual alumni boys’ and girls’ basketball games. 

Maher was head boys soccer coach from 1994-2000. He won four titles before stepping away to pursue a business venture with Fayetteville Academy benefactor Dr. William Jordan. 

“I had a group of parents come to me and say ‘please don’t go,’’’ Maher said. He reassured them and told them he was confident a young man who had started helping out with the soccer team a couple of years before he stepped down would be an excellent coach. 

  That coach was McCarthy. “They thought the sky had fallen when I left but Andrew didn’t miss a beat,’’ Maher said. “He took it to the next level.’’ 

  McCarthy, who took over in 2001 and has been there ever since, said he and Maher have a similar vision about how to coach the team. “Every day we’re talking about life lessons,’’ McCarthy said. “We talk about getting ready for games and dealing with issues that will help them in life. 

  “We’re trying to teach the things that will help them become good fathers in the future. Very few, if any, are going to make a living out of the game. From the lessons they’ve learned, they’re going to be successful. I see a lot of our players going on and doing great things.’’ 

  Maher said the two approach the game with the same work ethic and share it with their players. “We worked extremely hard and tried to become better coaches,’’ Maher said. “We traveled the state, scouting teams we are going to play. It was rare we came up against a team we hadn’t seen on at least a couple of occasions.’’ 

  When Maher first wanted to come back and help coach the team in 2008, he asked McCarthy to let him work during the preseason only. McCarthy coaxed him into helping coach the boys and girls for one year. That has extended into 10 seasons. 

  Maher praised McCarthy for his success and is convinced McCarthy could be a coach at any level of soccer. 

  Neither is the type to promote personal success or accomplishments. “The game itself is enough for us,’’ Maher said. “The most important thing is the relationship with the kids. That’s the most valuable thing I get from what I do.’’ 

  McCarthy agreed. “It’s nice to be rewarded, but at the end of the day, we’re in it for the kids, how we see them growing and moving on to do wonderful things in the workplace.’’ 

Photo:Andrew McCarthy (left) and Jimmy Maher (right)

Photo credit: Sonya Bruffey

When Terry Sanford’s Jared Miller talks about what makes him such a dangerous scorer in soccer, he doesn’t waste a lot of words. 

“Being fast and being able to dribble,’’ he said. 

But his Bulldog coach, Karl Molnar, said there’s a little more to it than that. 

“He’s fast,’’ Molnar said. “He’s as fast with the ball as he is without. He changes directions a half second before you think he changes directions. His movements are so quick, he’s always a half step ahead of the defender.’’ 

Through Oct. 7, Miller leads Cumberland County Schools in scoring with 26 goals and four assists for a total of 56 points. 

The Bulldogs are 14-1 overall and 10-0 in the Patriot Athletic Conference. They have a two-game lead on second-place Pine Forest, three up on Cape Fear. The Patriot Conference is a split 3-A/4-A league, so one 3-A and one 4-A team will each get a first-place berth in the playoffs. 

Molnar said Miller has continued to fool him each season he’s been with the Bulldogs. “Every time you think they are going to figure him out, that they’ve got his number, he steps it up a notch,’’ Molnar said. 

But while Miller has enough talent to be a prima donna if he chose, Molnar said he’s anything but that. “He’s just one of the guys and bonds well with everybody,’’ Molnar said. “He’s a very good team player.’’ 

  It shows in talking with him as Miller prefers to talk about his teammates and not himself. He praised defense as a main reason the Bulldogs are leading the conference. 

  “Our defense is big,’’ he said, “our work ethic and our defense. We go hard in practice.’’ 

  The Bulldogs are assured of a state playoff berth, but Miller isn’t looking ahead to the postseason. 

  “We can’t let our guard down against easy teams,’’ he said. “We have to keep our intensity up.’’ 

  Molnar sees similarities in this Bulldog team and his 2016 team that advanced to the 3-A Eastern finals before losing to Chapel Hill 2-1. 

  “I think we’ve found our identity with stingy defense, the same as two years ago, and finding a way to score,’’ Molnar said. 

  “Two years ago, we did it off corner kicks and long throws. This year, it’s been Jared. He finds a way to score or set somebody up while the back line and goalkeeper are keeping other people from scoring.’’ 

  Molnar feels the Bulldogs have continued to improve all season and have shown good chemistry between offense and defense in the last few weeks. 

  “If they continue to do that, we might go a little further than anticipated,’’ he said. 

Photo: Jared Miller

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Bad news travels fast.” That seems like the case these days. In fact, a reporter once told me the news doesn’t report on planes landing. I guess no one would read a story with the headline “Plane successfully lands at Charlotte Douglas.” That’s why I’m very happy to see folks here in North Carolina report on good news that really matters. 

A little over a week ago, WSOC-TV Channel 9’s headline read, “Senate sends President Trump bipartisan opioids bill.” This comprehensive, bipartisan package will help get to the root of the opioids epidemic that’s ravaging communities across the country, including many right here in North Carolina. The package includes three of my bipartisan bills to help get unused opioids out of medicine cabinets and off the streets. 

While this might seem minor at first glance, it’s a huge issue – over 70 percent of heroin addictions begin in the medicine cabinet. As many as 92 percent of patients don’t use their full opioid prescription. Making sure we safely dispose of opioids before they fall into the wrong hands is a critical step in solving this national problem. 

  As your voice in Congress, I’ve worked to combat the opioid crisis for years, and I’m proud to be a leader on this front. 

  This isn’t a partisan issue – it’s an American one, and I’ll continue to work with my colleagues, President Trump and local leaders to stop the deadly cycle of opioid addiction. 

  In The Fayetteville Observer, another recent headline read, “Trump signs spending plan, avoiding government shutdown.” Representing Fort Bragg, the epicenter of the universe, I was proud to not only support this critical funding bill, but also to have my amendment included to provide more training for our Special Forces. Overall, this bill provides $17 billion to our military to increase training for our troops and improve warfighter preparedness. And it gives out troops a well-deserved 2.6 percent pay raise. This is in addition to another pay raise last year. 

  The Charlotte Business Journalalso reported, “Ivanka Trump talks higher education, workforce pipeline during Mooresville visit.” As Senior White House Advisor, Ivanka joined Congressman Ted Budd and me at the NASCAR Technical Institute to discuss job training. As a former trustee of Rowan- Cabarrus Community College, I know these programs are some of the best avenues we have to train workers for jobs in high-demand fields that would otherwise go unfilled. That’s exactly why I’ve made this a top priority and worked with the Trump administration to transform our career and technical education system. 

  We’ve made incredible progress – especially with the recent signing of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2353). I will continue to work to close the skills gap and help equip workers with the tools they need to get good jobs. 

  Last, but not least, The News & Observerreported, “Washington sends $1.7 billion to the Carolinas in Hurricane Florence aid.” Getting responsible disaster relief funding was truly a bipartisan effort. This is just the first installment to help families in North Carolina rebuild, and I’m glad to see this bill head to Trump’s desk to be signed into law. 

  You see, if you look closely, there is some good news out there. We’ve taken major bipartisan steps on issues that impact our daily lives, and we’ll continue to do so through the end of this year and beyond.