South View’s Emery Simmons is the lone Cumberland County football player chosen to appear in this year’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas high school all-star football game.

The annual contest that pits the top senior football players from North and South Carolina against each other is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15, at Gibbs Stadium on the campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Simmons has put together a personal highlight reel of catches this season, including a spectacular one-handed grab in South View’s only loss of the season so far against Terry Sanford.

According to statistics at ncprepsports.net through Oct. 23, he led Cumberland County Schools receivers in total yards and touchdown catches with 40 total receptions for 775 yards and 12 scores.

Already committed to Penn State, Simmons said he’s been taking the season game by game, putting in his best effort to impress the coaches who picked this year’s Shrine Bowl team.

“Not many people get to say they play in an all-star game like this, the longest-running all-star game in the country,’’ Simmons said. “It’s a blessing and an honor to be a part of it.’’

South View coach Rodney Brewington said Simmons has gone from being a running back in middle school to a 6-foot-2 receiver with loads of athletic ability and a work ethic to match.

“From a work ethic standpoint, I can’t say I’ve coached a kid who works as hard as he works,’’ Brewington said. “From an athletic standpoint, he puts you in the mind of Eric Ebron, who had athletic ability you couldn’t coach.’’

Ebron played for Brewington when Brewington coached in Greensboro and is currently the tight end for the Detroit Lions.

On the field, Brewington said one of Simmons’ greatest gifts is his aggressiveness. “He’s a kid that doesn’t wait for the ball to come to him,’’ Brewington said. “He goes to get it. He can dunk a basketball from a standstill. That’s a coach’s dream to have him as a receiver.’’

Simmons is one of six wide receivers chosen for this year’s Shrine Bowl team, but Brewington has no doubt he’ll have no trouble seeing his share of passes in the game.

“If they want to win, he’s going to have a lot of touches,’’ Brewington said.

Photo: Emery Simmons

 When Earl “Early Bird” Horan IV was announced as homecoming king at Gray’s Creek High School’s homecoming game recently, it was just a small sign of the overwhelming support the Gray’s Creek family has showered on special needs students like Horan and his counterparts.

Earl Horan III, Horan’s father, is a special education teacher at Gray’s Creek and has been a first-hand witness to how open and supportive the school has been of its special needs population.

“They have jumped in with both feet,’’ the senior Horan said. He and his son came to the Gray’s Creek community four years ago, and Early Bird immediately began hanging out with the football players and making friends on the team. His father also involved him in the school’s wrestling program where he made more friends.

Eventually, the elder Horan approached football coach David Lovette about getting his players involved with young Earl’s Buddy Football team. The Buddy sports program helps promote activities for special needs youngsters.

The Gray’s Creek football team has continued its involvement with Buddy football ever since. Coach Jeff Nance, who coaches the Gray’s Creek baseball team and is the school’s adaptive physical education coach, has been involving his team with the Very Special Arts Festival every year.

Meanwhile, bowling coach Sam Bullard has two of Horan’s autistic students on the Gray’s Creek bowling team.

Non-sports groups like Future Farmers of America and the school chorus have also incorporated special needs students into their programs.

But one of the biggest steps forward took place last year when Vernon Aldridge, student activities director for Cumberland County Schools, began promoting the idea of offering Unified Sports programs.

Unified Sports is a project promoted by Special Olympics that helps partner athletes with intellectual disabilities with traditional athletes who help their partners compete in select events in sports like track and field.

Last year, the first Unified Sports athletes from Cumberland County took part in local track meets.

“We had tons of volunteers and over 20 students on our team,’’ Horan said. He said Gray’s Creek athletic director Troy Lindsey made sure the team members had everything they needed to compete.

In other developments, the school has partnered with Terry Sanford High School soccer coach Karl Molnar, who with his wife Kim has founded an organization called Miller’s Crew that offers opportunities for special needs students to become more functional in society. They have opened small businesses operated by the special needs students at West Bladen and Jack Britt High Schools. Gray’s Creek will soon open a coffee shop in the former teachers’ lounge.

Horan said the experience is heartwarming because the students have so much to give.

He said a doctor once told him that special needs children are God’s example of how things should be on Earth.

“They’ve got the purest souls, the sweetness,’’ he said. “They lift everybody up by being around them. They are innocent.’’

When Early Bird was named homecoming king, Horan said the students treated his son like a rock star.

“He was bum-rushed before he got off the football field,’’ Horan said.

Asked what he enjoyed most about the experience, Early Bird said talking to the girls and waving to the crowd while he rode around the field in a convertible wearing his crown and cape.

“We don’t just put them in a hut like we did back in my day,’’ Horan said of the special needs youngsters. “I think Cumberland County Schools is doing everything correctly. They are in the forefront of inclusion of the special needs population. It’s really heartwarming.’’

Photo: Gray’s Creek principal Lisa Stewart (left) poses with Earl Horan, homecoming king (right

 While Hope Mills residents may still be debating what costumes to wear for Halloween, it’s already time to start entertaining thoughts about the town’s annual Christmas parade.

This year’s event, scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Dec. 1, has an application process that’s already begun. The deadline for receiving applications from any organization or business interested in being a part of the parade is Nov. 19.

Forms can be picked up at the recreation department’s temporary headquarters in Hope Mills Town Hall or downloaded at www.townofhopemills.com.

Applications have to be turned in just under two weeks before the parade is held to allow time to review each one and to set the parade lineup and deal with all the logistics involved, said Kasey Ivey, head of senior programs for the town of Hope Mills.

Ivey said there have been some minor changes in the rules for this year’s parade.

Previously, stopping during the parade was prohibited to avoid creating gaps in the parade lineup. A new policy has been added that allows individual units to stop if they feel the need to for an unspecified safety reason.

Spectators are encouraged to arrive early where possible so they can find parking along the parade route and to get to adequate seating for themselves and everyone in their party.

Another parade rule still in place is that no one will be allowed to throw candy into the crowd from any float or other unit in the parade.

Ivey said this is to prevent the possibility of children running into the path of parade units to retrieve candy.

Businesses or organizations that have candy or material they’d like to distribute during the parade will be allowed to have people on foot handing it out as they pass by the crowd on the street.

A precaution for floats requires them to have a safety hold or side railings for all riders on the float. Also, Ivey said anyone driving a vehicle that is in the parade or pulling a float must be 18 years of age.

Even though Election Day will have passed, political campaigning along the parade route is not permitted.

Everyone is reminded that Santa-themed entries are not permitted because, according to the application form, “the real Santa Claus has agreed to participate.’’

Lineup for the parade begins at 1 p.m., judging of floats at 2:15 p.m. and roll call at 2:30 p.m.

Contact Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com or Maxey Dove at 910-426-4108 with specific questions about parade entries. Questions can also be answered via the recreation department’s Facebook page, Hope Mills Parks and Recreation.

If anyone needs to get answers face-to-face, the parks and recreation offices remain closed due to damage from Hurricane Florence. Ivey said they have relocated to temporary headquarters in Town Hall on Rockfish Road. Visit the front reception desk at Town Hall during normal business hours.

 As Cumberland County’s newest teacher of the year, Amy Stovall of Gray’s Creek High School hopes to use the platform she’s been given to help spread awareness for arts education and the important role it can play in developing the total student.

Stovall, who teaches vocal music and choir at Gray’s Creek, was named the county’s teacher of the year at a banquet in mid-October.

A native of Louisiana, a connection with the military first brought her to Fayetteville.

After starting her education at Louisiana State and Austin Peay, she earned a bachelor of music education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and followed it up in 2014 with a master’s in the same field.

It was during her college years that she first felt a calling to become a teacher.

She grew up around music; she was the daughter of an Elvis impersonator who made money on the side during his college years with his act.

Stovall’s grandmother played piano, and Amy remembers taking piano lessons off and on from the time she was 8 years old.

She began teaching at Lumberton Junior High School, spent three years at Scotland High School and has been at Gray’s Creek for the past 10 years.

She’s mainly taught vocal music and choir. This year, she’s teaching advanced placement music theory for the first time. She also helps out with the school’s band and theater programs, working with the school’s theater teacher to put on a fullscale musical every spring.

Stovall admitted she was surprised when she learned she was a candidate for teacher of the year.

“A lot of the messages of congratulations that came to me were from fellow art educators who said, “We’re just so thrilled not just that you got it but that an arts educator got it,’’ she said.

She said it’s hard for people who don’t teach in the arts to understand or see that arts teachers have a detailed curriculum just like other academic teachers. “I think there’s a misconception that we sit in our classrooms in a circle and sing cute songs,’’ she said.

She fears many people see arts-oriented classes like hers as little more than places where the teachers are glorified babysitters.

She said that’s never been the perception of her peers of her classes at Gray’s Creek.

“I really feel like my kids get a pretty good education in history, in cultural awareness, mathematics and physics,’’ she said. “We talk about the properties of sound also. We put all those frames of reference into the lesson, into the things that we sing. We’re not just learning notes and rhythm.’’

In addition to learning, Stovall hopes the young people in her classes are also growing and expanding their minds in areas that will help them in whatever field they might try to pursue.

“This is going to translate into their adult life, when they’re working with people in the real-world settings,’’ she said. “It’s really important that these kids have their imaginations stirred.

“Their brains need time to imagine, create and play, otherwise we’re just spitting out kids who can pass tests. What are they going to do with that knowledge? If they aren’t imagining and creating now, when they are young, they are going to become scientists who don’t know how to invent anything.’’

That’s why Stovall feels an obligation to use the platform and voice she’s been given as teacher of the year, even if it’s just local, to speak out about the importance of music and arts education.

“We need equity in arts funding,’’ she said. “We need to protect our arts teachers’ jobs. Funding is a hard issue, and the arts are usually the first thing to get cut.’’

She fears cutting arts positions eliminates an essential piece of education for children. She hopes to use her voice to bring awareness to the importance of arts education, what its needs are and how it benefits students.

“To me, it’s important that I’m standing here being the voice of my fellow music and arts educators,’’ she said.

Photo: Amy Stovall (center) stands with husband Tommy (left) and Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. (right), superintendent of Cumberland County Schools.

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 Commissioners and Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council Monday, Nov. 19: POSTPONED.

• Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m., at Parks and Recreation Building.*

• Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Monday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m., at Parks and Recreation Building.*

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

Activities

• Pumpkin decorating for seniors Tuesday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-noon in the small activity room of Parks and Rec. No fee, but advanced sign-up is required. Only 20 pumpkins are available. Prizes will be awarded for the best three pumpkins.

• Ghostly Gala for seniors Wednesday, Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Parks and Rec community room. Advanced sign-up at the reception desk required. Costumes are preferred. There will be a costume contest and pumpkin decorating contest. Potluck social. Bring main dish, side dish or dessert.

• Trunk R Treat Wednesday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. at Hope Mills Municipal Park. For details, call 910-426-4109.

• Veterans Day Monday, Nov. 12: Town offices closed.

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

 A handful of elected Hope Mills government leaders, along with some members of the town staff, recently toured some of the town’s undeveloped property. The purpose was to put eyes on what’s there in order to hopefully solidify plans for what can be done with the land.

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell and commissioners Jerry Legge and Meg Larson were among those who took part in the in-person inspection of the old golf course, the planned Heritage Park and the remnants of Hope Mills Lake No. 2.

“I think the main reason we did it was so the board would be familiar with the properties,’’ Warner said. She said the walk helped the board members get a visual feel for what may or may not be feasible at the various locations.

Warner said she previously visited the golf course four years ago when it was about to be returned to the town.

She noted some or all of the properties had undergone numerous changes over time.

The golf course in particular has become more overgrown in the wooded areas. Some trails and paths for golf carts have been washed away because of flooding caused by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

“There are areas where it gets really soggy due to the fact we had a good bit of flooding,’’ Warner said.

At Heritage Park, where there are remnants of the old mill, there is a lot more graffiti.

Warner thinks that of the three locations that were toured, the one that offers the most promise for quickest development is Heritage Park.

“We have a plan for it,’’ she said. “We had it set up as phase three of the lake park plan.’’ That plan is currently on hold at the request of the Board of Commissioners. Warner feels if the plan was put into motion it would be the easiest to complete and the least expensive of the three.

As for the golf course property, Warner is optimistic about getting grant funding to move forward. But she’s concerned that it will be far more expensive to advance the kind of projects the community has expressed an interest in seeing developed.

“I think we’re going to have to have partnerships,’’ she said of development of the golf course property. “I’m much in favor of partnerships with the YMCA or others to fund things that the community wants there.’’

She doesn’t think a good portion.of Hope Mills Lake No. 2 can be used for many things because of the terrain there.

This was the area that the Lone Survivor Foundation attempted to purchase for use as a veterans retreat. The LSF was repeatedly rejected by the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners in its quest.

Warner said even if the land around Hope Mills Lake No. 2 is left in a natural state and opened to the public for recreational use, the town will have to spend some money to make the area more secure.

Another problem at the site is it’s been used as a place for the town to dump rocks and gravel.

“If we leave it natural and you have access to it, I think you’ll have to have some form of lighting, some form of monitoring to make sure you don’t have injury or people in there that shouldn’t be in there,’’ Warner said. “There would be a lot of cleanup that would have to be done.’’

 Sometimes, you are on top of the world, and other times, the world is on top of you. Fall has finally arrived, and people are out there riding. With all of the crazy weather we have had this year, I am not sure how long good riding weather will actually last, but every mile is a good mile, almost.

This year, my riding season has been tame. In fact, except for a decent few days before Memorial Day, my riding has been almost nonexistent. For those of you who follow this article (thank you), you know that I will quickly put 1,000 miles down over a few days with no problem. But this year has been an exception.

About 10 years ago, I started riding with some local guys here. We would meet about every other weekend and tear up the roads between here and Chapel Hill, Pittsboro or Uwharrie National Forest on Sunday mornings.

Some of these guys have 10 years on me. At first, the conversations were about motorcycling, bikes, maintenance, riding techniques and all the crazy things we have done in our lives. We’d laugh and joke like good-oleboys do. Over time, I noticed the conversations started changing to health issues, retirement, disability, Social Security and Lord-knows Medicare Part A and Part B.

To be honest, it was kind of a fortune cookie to my future. As I am now older, I have witnessed that the longer we live, the more stages we pass through. I see new riders, “infants.” Beginner riders, “no fear.” Experienced riders, “technical.” And those who are slowing down, “aging riders.” For those who live long enough to be forced to give up riding, “retired riders.” Sad, but no matter what we do in life, we all go through various stages. We all evolve.

This year I have been hit with medical issues, and like everyone else here, the weather. It was either raining or too hot to enjoy a day’s ride.

Now I’m the guy who has to consider his health. For now, I may not be able to jump out there and ride a Trans American Trail and travel offroad across the county.

My original riding friends have all retired. We still ride when we can. Now we talk about riding, our aches and pains, who is sick and funerals we have attended. They have worked through their setbacks and are loving life, telling me to go ahead and retire so I can ride more. Part of me appreciates their enthusiasm, but the other part is cautious because, in the end, retirement is a math problem and a betting game.

Ideally, we probably all would like to retire while we are still young enough and in good enough health to enjoy ourselves, and if the Lord is willing, we will live a long and happy life. Of course, as anyone who rides knows, it does not take long to rack up some severe costs on the road. As a general rule, I usually estimate $150 a day for a road trip. That is $4,500 a month to get out there and ride. That does not include maintenance or new tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. And there are still bills on top of that and those fact-of-life necessities like room and board. Then there is that problem of how much in retirement savings it will take to enjoy riding, enjoy life and make it to our final day on earth.

Ideally, we would pass away on the same day we run out of money. That seems like the perfect financial plan! Of course, the Bible says, “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). No pressure there – now I can’t die broke because the Good Book just told me to leave some goodies for my heirs.

Age, medical setbacks and rough times do not mean there is not some good riding left in us. I think that is the difference between a phase and stage.

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

RIDE SAFE!

 Grammy Award-winning and multiplatinum selling band Casting Crowns will release its new studio album, “Only Jesus,” Nov. 16. “Nobody (ft. Matthew West)” was the second of six songs that will be released early from the new project before street date.

Talking about the new album theme and idea behind it, Casting Crowns’ frontman Mark Hall asked, “What does it look like when Jesus is our only answer?

“The theme that continued to come up while working on these new songs was that ‘I am not the point’ – it is not about me, it is about pointing to him,” Hall said. “God is already at work in our lives, and he has a plan that he places us in so that others can know him. We are here to show the way to God by how we live, how we react to difficult situations, how we handle trials and troubled relationships. Our hope is that through these songs, you can see what it looks like when Jesus is our only source, our only solution and we are pointing to only Jesus.”

The band released the title track to radio and digital outlets and has already seen it jump into the Top 15 at all AC radio charts in just four weeks. “Only Jesus” has 3.5 million streams across all platforms, and it has been featured on key playlists on Spotify (New Music Friday, New Music Friday Christian, Top Christian), Amazon (Fresh Christian, Playlist Cover, Top 100 Most Played, Christian Hits) and Apple’s The A-List Christian list.

Casting Crowns kicks off the “Only Jesus” tour in early 2019. The group will conclude 2018 with the “It’s Finally Christmas” tour with guest Hannah Kerr.

Prolific contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns has achieved sales milestones with more than 11 million albums sold, including one Recording Industry Association of America 2x multi-Platinum album, five RIAA Platinum albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, seven RIAA Gold albums, four Gold DVDs, one RIAA Platinum certified single and five RIAA Gold certified digital singles. The band currently holds the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.

Casting Crowns has also been honored with four American Music Awards out of seven total nominations, a Grammy Award for its 2005 album “Lifesong,” and seven Grammy nominations. In addition, the group has garnered 18 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and two Billboard Music Awards from 11 total Billboard Music Award nominations.

Casting Crowns’ seven band members all remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and tour according to their local church commitments. Serving for 25-plus years in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall maintains his role as the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.

 I am looking for iconic North Carolina eateries for a new book.

The dictionary defines iconic as “widely recognized and well-established” or “widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence.”

The iconic restaurants should be (1) widely known in North Carolina, and better yet, known throughout the country and the world; (2) have been in business for many years and have a compelling backstory that includes ownership by interesting people; (3) have a loyal following; and last, and maybe least, (4) put good food on the table.

Sunnyside Oyster Bar in Williamston, Sanitary Fish Market in Morehead City and the two Bridges barbecues (Red’s and Alston’s) in Shelby are examples.

Keeping these considerations and examples in mind, what would you say is our state’s most iconic eatery?

My answer is one that might surprise you. The most iconic eatery in North Carolina is Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy. Why would a simple sandwich shop in a small North Carolina town get my nod? Following the criteria outlined earlier, here are the reasons:

1. Widely known: Without a doubt, Snappy Lunch’s name is better known throughout the world than any of our other eateries. For that, give Andy Griffith the credit.

Although Andy died in 2012, the continuing re-runs of his television program still make him a celebrity throughout the world. It has made the TV character Andy’s fictional hometown, Mayberry, a part of the world’s language, meaning “idyllic small town.”

Though Mayberry’s sandwich shop gets mentioned only a few times during the TV program’s series, many Andy Griffith fans all over the world remember its quirky name: Snappy Lunch.

The fictional Mayberry is based on Andy Griffith’s real hometown, Mount Airy, where there is a real Snappy Lunch.

2. History: Mount Airy residents – like the real Andy and many others – have eaten here since it opened in 1923. “Make it snappy,” some  customers said when they ordered sandwiches. Hence the name, Snappy Lunch.

Although the founder, Charles Dowell, died in 2012 at age 84, his legacy is still present. He created Snappy Lunch’s classic, a pork chop sandwich described as “a boneless, tenderized loin chop dipped in sweet-milk batter and fried until golden crisp.” His widow, Mary, and daughter, Jamie, own and operate Snappy Lunch, with help from Jamie’s husband Seth Dowell-Young, who is in charge of the grill where Charlie held court. The family is determined to keep Charlie’s legacy alive.

3. Loyal following: Snappy’s customers include a host of locals and visitors. One local is Raymond Keith Massey, who was eating breakfast when I dropped by. He said he comes five times a week. When I asked why so often, he said, “It’s cheap; two eggs and a big piece of pork, just $2.14.”

4. Food: The food is special. On my visit to this icon, Mary’s great-nephew, Brady Horton, took my order for the famous pork chop sandwich, all the way. He brought it to me wrapped in wax paper, almost dripping with juicy slaw, tomato and sauce, with pork so large it was poking outside the bun. I needed several napkins to keep this delicious mess from spilling into my lap.

The other fare is simple and good. Breakfast is a great time to visit and listen in on the talk of the regular local clientele who gather and hang around until after 10 a.m.

There you have it. Snappy Lunch is known throughout the world, and it’s got history, loyal followers and a special food dish. No other North Carolina eatery fits these considerations so well.

So, Snappy Lunch it is – North Carolina’s most iconic eatery.

If you are willing to share your opinion, whether you agree or disagree, drop me a line at nceateries@yahoo.com.

 Paul Thompson, owner of Paul’s Place, is multifaceted. In addition to being an entrepreneur, he is a veteran, a musician, a comedian and now a producer. He’s bringing these passions together Nov. 10 for “A Patriotic Dinner Theatre” at VFW 670.

“I am (a retired Army first sergeant), and I was at VFW 670 for a wake,” said Thompson. “I looked at the facility and thought it would be a great place to put on a show. I talked to the commander and decided to do something to help get (VFW 670) back on its feet. I got a great chef – a young lady who is starting her catering service – and got together some good entertainment.”

Not only is Thompson helping to organize the event, he is also the master of ceremonies for the evening. “I am an amateur comedian,” Thompson said. “I have been on comedy stages at Myrtle Beach. I will do some comedy and introduce people. I host a lot of events at Paul’s Place, but this is my first show that I have produced.”

Lee Jean Music, Richard Garey from “Mark Twain Himself,” and Elvis and Neil Diamond tribute artist Bobby J. will share the stage. 

Lee Jean is a former “American Idol” competitor. “He placed in the top eight in season 15 of the show in 2012,” said Thompson. “He’s good.” Jean is known for covering song from the folk, soul and pop genres.

“I went to high school with Richard Garey,” Thompson said. “He owns a theater in Missouri where he does a lot of Mark Twain, including his play ‘Mark Twain Himself.’”

Garey has entertained audiences in the United States, Canada and Bermuda for more than 30 years. He has committed more that seven hours of original Twain writing and letters to memory and interacts with the audience as Twain to provide an engaging experience. Garey said that while no two shows are exactly alike, all of his shows are 100 percent Twain.

Garey credits his high school English teacher/ drama coach for inspiring his acting career. “If you can hold the interest of high school sophomores for nine months, you can rivet just about any audience for 90 minutes.”

“Making people happy,” said Bobby J. “That’s my reason for doing my tribute to Elvis.” As a performer, J. said he has performed all over the continent “from New Jersey to Venezuela.”

He’s performed with Bobby Rydell and been featured on the “Today” show as well. He loves creating an energy with the audience no matter where he performs; it’s what keeps him returning to the stage. “I take pride in duplicating the voice and the moves that made Elvis famous,” J. said. “I am constantly working on my craft.”

Thompson said the audience can expect to see both of J.’s impersonations – a set featuring a Neil Diamond impersonation and another featuring Elvis.

The evening’s menu features a choice of two meats – a ribeye roast or herb-crusted pork loin – and includes two vegetables and dessert. “I’ve tried the food,” said Thompson. “It is delicious. This event is a sit-down dinner. And it will be a familyfriendly show.”

Thompson added that if the event is a success, VFW 670 has invited him to produce dinner theaters there quarterly.

Dinner is at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10th and will be at VFW 670 at 3928 Doc Bennett Rd. Tickets cost $30 per person or $50 per couple.

Call 910-476-9524 or visit Paul’s Place at 719 Starling St. in Fayetteville for tickets and information.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, the Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Chili Cook- Off. Once part of Ole Mill Days, this year, the Hope Mills Chamber decided to partner with Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market, WKML, Heroes Homecoming and The Lone Survivor Foundation to make this event even better.

“We wanted to change the venue because of the date, mainly,” said Hope Mills Chamber President Jessica Seagroves. “Last year, it was so hot we were sunburnt when we left Ole Mill Days! We wanted more ‘chili appropriate’ weather. October in North Carolina? It’s still 90 degrees outside sometimes.

“We wanted to partner with Dirtbag Ales to add a fun change to the chili cook-off. This is our second year serving on the Heroes Homecoming committee, and I felt that if we were able to get everyone together for this event, it would be a better event for the veterans and our community.”

Locals who have not been to a Hope Mills Area Chamber Chili Cook-Off in the past are missing out. Chili enthusiasts from all over the area bring their best dishes for a chance to win one of eight cash prizes. There are hot and mild categories, which will have three different winners for each category. There will also be a veteran’s choice winner and a people’s choice winner.

Not only will there be cash prizes for the best chilis, a cornhole tournament has been added as well. Teams can pre-register or register the day of. There will be a cash prize awarded to the winner. The cornhole tournament starts at 2 p.m.

The event is scheduled to coincide with Veterans Day. A tent to include live music, food and swag bags will be set up for veterans. Veterans eat free at the event, and there will be several veteran-focused groups in attendance that exist to serve our military community better.

“We wanted to find a way to make this more for the members of our community, and a vast majority of those are veterans,” Seagroves explained. “We wanted to show our support of the men and women who have gone above and beyond for our community. I really love Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market and how much they support the veterans. That made it a natural transition to partner with Lone Survivor Foundation for the chili cook-off and to focus on the veterans in our community. It all came together to make a great event.”

This event is ideal for the entire family. In addition to the Chili Cook-Off, cornhole tournament and various vendors, there will be a bounce house for children as well as face painting, live music and local food trucks. Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market also includes a dog park and a playground.

If you would like to submit a chili for the event, email the Hope Mills Chamber at hmacc@ hopemillschamber.org or call 910-423-4314. The cost to register is $15. All entries are welcome. Vendor spots are still available as well.

Tickets will be available the day of the event and are offered at several levels. It’s $10 to taste each chill or $5 for one bowl of chili. The $20 VIP bands include chili tasting, a bowl of chili and specialty beverage. Veteran bands are free and include chili, food and drink in the VIP tent. Additional beverages (non-alcoholic) are one dollar.

The event runs from 1-5 p.m. and will take place at 5435 Corporation Dr. in Hope Mills. Call 910-423- 4314 or email hmacc@hopemillschamber.com for more information.

 For several years, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has brought the magic of live music to Cumberland County Public Schools third-graders via a free concert. On Nov. 3, FSO is changing up the format and offering a free children’s concert open to all families with children, no matter where they live or go to school. As a nonprofit, FSO can’t do free educational programming like this without the support of the community it serves. Nov. 9, the orchestra will host a Friendsgiving Brewery Tour, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward FSO’s education programs.

“Once Upon a Symphony, A Children’s Concert”

The free event takes place this Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Fayetteville Academy Gym, 3200 Cliffdale Rd. It will start at 11 a.m. and last about 45 minutes.

It’s not hard to imagine why hearing orchestral music performed in person by professional musicians is thrilling for young ones. Brief selections of music are accompanied by child-friendly interactive elements and explanations.

These elements include using the introduction to

“Peter and the Wolf” to talk about how instruments and sounds can create different personalities; using Darth Vader’s theme from “Star Wars” to explain tone and mood; and offering an instrument “petting zoo” for the children to touch and try different instruments.

“We added (music from) ‘Frozen’ to the children’s concert two years ago and the kids just burst into song,” said Christine Kastner, FSO president and CEO. “We realized that they were putting together that music they know was produced by an orchestra. We wanted to expand it.”

“Once Upon a Symphony” will also feature selections from “Harry Potter,” “Jurrasic Park” and “Trolls.”

Children will also get to act out a tea party to George Frideric Handel’s famous “Water Music,” march to John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes” and take a field trip to a farm with Joseph M. Daly’s “Chicken Reel.”

Fayetteville Academy’s gym has a capacity of about 600. Seating will be in the bleachers, or families may bring blankets to sit on the floor.

Kastner said the concert is designed to be appropriatefor children with special needs. “It’s one ofthe reasons we chose to do it in a gym instead of in a concert hall,” she said, referring to the more relaxe and spacious environment and there being more lighting and sensory-friendly elements.

The concert is sponsored by Terri Union andBrown and Associates Investment Services.

To learn more or to view a list of FSO’s 2018-19 season concerts, visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

Friendsgiving Brewery Tour

Promoted as a chance to “party for a purpose,” FSO’s Friendsgiving Brewery Tour is an opportunity for friends to celebrate Thanksgiving together by both giving back and having a fun night out.

Attendees will gather for dinner in the FSO’s community room at 6:30 p.m. for a meal and then hop on a bus at 7 p.m. for a tasting tour of the area’s breweries that will end at midnight. Stops include Bright Light Brewing Company; Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom; Mash House Brewery Company; World of Beer; and Paddy’s Irish Pub.

Each brewery will highlight a seasonal beer. Coolers on the bus are also welcomed.

In between stops, Friendsgiving-ers will learn about what their money is supporting: FSO’s numerous education programs.

“It’s a way of taking this group of people out, having a fun evening together and also introducing them to the idea that their funds will be supporting charities in this community,” Kastner said.

Registration is required and costs $75 per person. Groups of six or more will receive a $10 discount per head. Beer tastings at each stop are not included in the price of admission. The FSO offices are located at 308 Green St. To reserve your spot, call 910-433-4690.

 Four times a year, The Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch brings local women together to inspire, educate and empower one another. Wednesday, Nov. 7, is the final power lunch of the year, featuring keynote speaker Lisa Saleeby-Powell.

Now the president of Future Unlimited, Inc., Saleeby-Powell started working at the business’s first McDonald’s franchise restaurant in 1982 when her parents switched from building restaurants to owning one. After attending a meeting and seeing the energy in a room filled with entrepreneurs, she decided she wanted to own a McDonald’s and worked toward that goal for 10 years.

Now the company owns six McDonalds restaurants here in Cumberland County and employes more than 300 people.

Lisa has won several civic and business awards as well as the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year from Methodist University’s Reeves School of Business. She serves on the board of a number of local organizations and is involved with numerous charitable organizations.

The power lunch starts at 10 a.m. with a shopportunity, which includes vendors as well as a wine bar and tasting. The luncheon and Saleeby-Powell’s talk follow from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. After the meal, attendees are invited to stay and shop until 3 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation. The Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that offers funding assistance for reading and educational resources that are provided at no charge to children grades K-6. Since 1998, Kidsville News! has been distributed to all elementary school children in Cumberland and Hoke Counties.

The luncheon takes place at the Ramada Plaza at Bordeaux. Visit www.fayettevilleladiespowerlunch.com or call 910-273-2820 to make your reservation. Tickets cost $35.

Photo: Lisa Saleeby-Powell

 Longtime locals are familiar with a pair of tall, friendly red doors at 301 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville. And new residents can’t help but notice these same doors. Above them reads a simple but stately title: “THE ARTS CENTER.” This month, the organization behind those doors, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, turns 45.

Since its founding by local visionaries in 1973, the Arts Council has become an integral driver of Cumberland County’s culture and economy – and not by accident.

Deborah Mintz, executive director who’s worked at the Arts Council for more than half its existence, is retiring early next year. She’s responsible for the development of many of the nonprofit’s beloved community events, including A Dickens Holiday and the International Folk Festival. These events also draw thousands of outside visitors each year. In September, the IFF celebrated its 40th year and saw about 120,000 people enjoy downtown Fayetteville.

“I see the cultural arts industry as a dynamic partner with our local and state governments, economic development and educational organizations and institutions,” Mintz said. “Today, the nonprofit cultural arts industry provides close to $60 million annually in direct investment in our community.”

Behind those red doors, the Arts Council also runs a gallery that showcases art from local and international artists. Its exhibitions highlight and spark discussion of issues that range from the community to global level. The gallery’s latest exhibition, “Touchstone: Images Of Service,” opened last week and invited photographers to submit works that capture heroism, sacrifice and courage.

The Arts Council also spearheads public art installation initiatives with results that can be seen peppered throughout downtown.

While most residents are familiar with the Arts Council’s events and gallery, not as many know much about its Artists in Schools program and the grant money it disburses.

Artists in Schools brings high-caliber arts educatorsto over 80 public and private schools in Cumberland County and Fort Bragg. The program offers matching grants to schools to cover fees for residencies, assemblyperformances and workshops conducted by teaching artists. The Arts Council vets these teaching artists from a pool of local, regional and national talent.

Last year, said Arts Council Education & Outreach Director Adrienne Trego, Artists in Schools helped students learn about physics through circus acts, create their own silk banners celebrating their school and use drumming to learn about math.

The Arts Council also grants more than half a million dollars annually to support community organizations and individual artists in this community. These grants include the support of local nonprofit treasures like Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Janet Gibson, a Fayetteville native who joined the Arts Council early this year as director of marketing and communications, remembers writing about the Arts Council as a young reporter in November of 1987.

“That was when the Arts Council moved into the building at 301 Hay St.,” she said. “I remember being here for a reception, and it was beyond celebratory. … It’s been very fulfilling to watch the Arts Council] grow and prosper and become admired by the arts community – not only statewide but nationally – in its reputation for being a leader and a trailblazer.

“The thing about the arts in our area is they provide jobs and really feed the economy.”

Mintz said the quality that’s best served her in leading the Arts Council is tenacity – that and “a passionate knowledge that the arts are critical to the growth and success of our citizens and community.” Gibson put it this way: the Arts Council is successful because of “so many visionaries and people who refuse to give up. They know that Fayetteville is this… center of creative expression.”

Mintz said the thing she’ll miss most in her retirement is working with these passionate people, though she’s not moving. “I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else. I am a Fayettevillian, not by birth, but by choice,” she said. “I will still be right here in my adopted hometown.”

The Arts Council is conducting a national search for a new executive director who can build on Mintz’s legacy.

To learn more about the Arts Council and view a full list of upcoming exhibitions at The Arts Center, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

 Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” is what going to the theater is all about– inclusive entertainment, inspiration and showcasing great talent. It is a funfilled show with laughs for all ages.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” is the origin story of Peter Pan. It is based on the 2004 book “Peter and the Starcatchers” by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, which was adapted for stage by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. The play provides a backstory for Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook.

Director Michelle Tattenbaum and the cast deliver a show not to be missed. Like sticky pudding, it’s so good!

Molly, played by Malena Pennycook, is a young starcatcher in training, whose father is protecting a trunk of magical “star stuff.” After a series of mishaps fueled by greed and deception, Molly and an orphan boy, played by Graham Baker, survive a sinking ship and go on a swashbuckling adventure battling pirates, island natives and a crocodile to protect the trunk.

Timothy John Smith steals the show with his bravado and flamboyance as the pirate Black Stache. He is prone to malapropism and delivers a number of anachronistic jokes that keep the audience amused. Although his mission is to steal the trunk, what Black Stache really wants is to find a worthy opponent. The villain finds a hero in the orphan boy (to be named Peter).

Smith does an outstanding job, but as his character says, “No man is an archipelago,” and he shares the stage with a tremendous cast.

Local actress Becca Vourvoulas plays Mrs. Bumbrake, Molly’s nanny. James Martin is Lord Leonard Aster, Molly’s father. Paul Urriola plays Alf, a sailor aboard The Neverland. The ensemble includes Zane Burkhardt, Michael Carney, Karsten Otto, Justin Toyer, John Salvatore and Ben Schrager.

A standing ovation goes out to the cast and crew for the fine production, where just about everything stands out as a quality effort – from the stage direction to the set decoration. The ensemble cast merges nationally recognized actors with local talent and is a testament to the leadership and artistic vision that makes CFRT such a gem for the local community.

CFRT backstage veterans David Rawlins (scenic artist), Kenneth Blinn (production coordinator) and Bryan Hitzigrath (sound designer) are joined by regional and national talents Robin Vest (set designer) and Marika Kent (lighting designer), among others, to do an amazing job of making the words on the page come to life for the audience.

A special shout-out to the CFRT interns, who make sure all the prop and costume changes go smoothly backstage. They are surely on their toes for this production, making sure the right actor has the right sword, fish or flying cat in hand when he or she re-enters stage right.

At first glance, the set may seem minimal compared to some productions at CFRT, but it is quite extravagant in its styling and detail. The wooden planks and boxes that make up the foundation of the ships and the island prove versatile and accommodating to the volume of movement during the show. The set beautifully fits a child’s imagination of a fanciful story of pirates, singing mermaids, ships and a fearsome crocodile.

Also noteworthy are the efficient costumes by Whitney Locher. The quick changes for the ensemble cast members display a sense of creativity and splendor that add to the characters without detracting from the performance itself.

I could say something about the mermaids and their costumes at this point, but nothing I can write here would do justice to the performance at the beginning of Act 2. That is where the whole show changed for me. I admit, I thought the first 30 minutes or so was a bit wordy and slow. However, the rest of the audience thought otherwise, as indicated by their laughter and applause (as well as my own post-show polling of anyone under four feet tall). The rest of the audience found the heavy dialogue at the beginning of the show to be a quiet buildup to the action that followed. For the entire second act, I was applauding and giggling. It was fast-paced and had a rewarding conclusion for all Peter Pan fans.

Fans and newcomers to theater will not be disappointed in this show. It is a treat for theater-goers of all ages.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” runs through Nov 11. Military Appreciation Night will be Nov. 1. A sensory-friendly performance sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield will be Nov. 4. To reserve your tickets or get more information, visit www.cfrt.org or call 910-323-4233.

 In the State Senate District 19 election, you have a choice between two very different candidates. We have an opportunity to elect a senator who will put the interest of our entire community first. In me, you will have a senator who will fight for a quality public education system, not dismantle it; who will work to expand Medicaid, not reduce it; who will protect our drinking water from poison, not ignore it; who believes in the equal rights of all people to vote and live their life the way they see fit, not restrict their rights. A senator who will stand up and fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to the opportunities and basic rights they deserve no matter what zip code they live in or were born in.

I have had the honor of serving our country in the U.S. Army and serving Fayetteville as a city councilman. In both positions, I learned firsthand the value of service, of giving back, and of bringing people together to find common solutions. Too often today,our current state senator has just “looked out” for partisan interests and not the best interests of the people. He claims to have “brought millions of dollars back to our community,” but the sad truth is that many of the policies he voted for hurt people that live in our community. Though he helped bring a residency program to our hospital, he has shut patients out from accessing treatment by blocking the expansion of Medicaid – who is he really helping?

I will work to expand Medicaid to provide access to affordable healthcare. It is time we put patients over politics. We have over 500,000 people in our state without healthcare, which is why I support expanding Medicaid. Every person deserves access to affordable health care. Expanding Medicaid can lower insurance rates as well as create jobs and help our rural hospitals. The expansion of Medicaid will also renew our commitment to address mental health issues in our state.

My top priority is the education of our children and reinvesting in our public schools and teachers. I will give our teachers, children and school employees the support and respect they deserve. My fight is to boost  public education spending, and increase teacher pay to match or exceed the national average so we can recruit and retain the best and brightest. I will support investments in our schools’ infrastructure and in classroom resources so that our teachers don’t have to pay for needed items out of their own pockets.

We must also protect our drinking water and waterways from pollutants and poisons. Safe drinking water shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This is a public health issue and demands our attention. We need to provide the resources to our state departments that are there to protect us. I will fight for the need to review and potentially reverse many of the environmental deregulation bills that have been put in place over the last 8 years. Many of these laws give polluters amnesty for their dumping and pass the cleanup cost on to taxpayers. Additionally, we need to work with our local officials for a county-wide water system.

Everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed and we must work to create an economy that supports this success. Too many families in our community are being left behind in the economic recovery, and reinvesting in education is only part of the solution. We need to create a skilled labor force to attract good paying jobs to our state and community. Supporting the university system, community colleges and trade schools is critical to investing in our people’s success.

There is a clear difference between the two candidates in this senate race. My commitment is to put people first when creating policies and ensure they are equitable and fair. I expect to be held accountable for my votes. I ask that we hold our current senator accountable for his votes over the last eight years that have hurt families and people in our community.

I am a father, husband, veteran, small business owner and community servant who asks for your vote for State Senate. Together we can find common solutions to the critical issues that are facing our state and community.

 It is no exaggeration to say that our great American free press in all its various forms is under siege. Our own president calls the Fourth Estate “the enemy of the people” and demeans its work as “fake news.” But the greatest threat to our oldest and most traditional medium, the American newspaper, comes not from Donald Trump but from technological developments and proliferation of niche media, including social media. The American newspaper that was our watchdog during the founding of our nation, the Civil War, the Great Depression and great social upheavals into the 21st century faces severe diminishment if not outright extinction.

Into the early years of this century, the newspaper on our kitchen table told us a bit of everything about the world around us – hard news, sports, trends in living, who had died – and gave us the crossword puzzle. Its core mission, as our nation’s founders understood and supported, was to be a check on governments at all levels, but it strove to be the total package. As technology exploded in this century, though, bringing us cable and satellite television, the internet and smart phones – all of which operate in the moment 24/7 – newspapers could not keep up. Throw in the Great Recession and the future got even shakier and scarier.

Consider these facts from a study just released by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Media and Journalism.

More than one in five newspapers has folded its tents since 2000.

Newspapers that remain are sometimes called “ghost papers” because they are now ghosts of their former selves. Dramatic drops in advertising revenue mean greatly pared-down staffs unable to provide the news coverage they once offered to local communities – city council and county commission meetings, school board happenings and local spot news. What is more, over half of our nation’s newspapers have changed hands in the last decade, often moving from locally owned and operated businesses to newspapers chains, owned and headquartered elsewhere, accountable to shareholders, not local communities. As the UNC-CH study puts it, “the people with the least access to local news are often the most vulnerable – the poorest, least educated and most isolated.”

The Fayetteville Observer, North Carolina’s oldest continually published daily newspaper and owned and operated by a local family for almost a century, was sold in 2016 to a newspaper chain headquartered in New York with a stable of 144 daily papers, according to its website. Up & Coming Weekly remains a locally owned and operated community newspaper distinguished by its community engagement rather than a commitment to news content.

Several weeks ago, I sat in on two focus groups, one composed of Democrats and the other of Republicans, talking about various political topics. Everyone in each group was conversant on and shared opinions about national politicians and national issues, but almost no one in either camp had any idea who represented them in the North Carolina General Assembly nor what the legislature has been up to in recent years. Most had a vague sense that Gov. Cooper was focused on hurricane recovery, but that was about it for state concerns. In a word, both groups were clueless about state issues and state candidates.

All sorts of entities, many of them digital, are working to fill the void left by the dramatic shrinkage of Americannewspapers, but most of these are in major metropolitan areas, leaving the hinterlands to become what are increasingly known as “news deserts.” The cold, hard reality, though, is that no fixes are on the horizon, which leaves us, the American people and voters, on our own to find out what our governments, especially at the state and local levels, are doing. It also gives both elected officials and bureaucrats much more rein to do whatever they want to do with very little public scrutiny.

No matter how one feels about “the media,” we should all understand that a free and available press is fundamental to the operation of our democracy. As the UNC-CH study authors put it, “We need to make sure that whatever replaces the 20th century version of local newspapers serves the same community-building functions. If we can figure out how to craft and implement sustainable news business models in our smallest, poorest markets, we can then empower journalistic entrepreneurs to revive and restore trust in the media from the grassroots level up, in whatever form– print, broadcast or digital.”

You can learn more about this national problem atwww.usnewsdeserts.com.

 Longtime county commissioner and civic leaderEd Melvin died last week. He was 72. Melvin servedhis community in many ways but is best remembered as a four-term county commissioner. He chose not to seek re-election in 2014.

Melvin was admitted to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Oct. 18 after suffering an apparent heart attack. He died five days later.

A native of Bladen County, Melvin spent his adult life in Cumberland County but never lost touch with friends and family in the Tar Heel area. He belonged to dozens of civic, advisory and business groups and owned and managed 50 rental homes.

Melvin also had a chain of auto repair shops. Several years ago, he sold all but one of them: Ed’s Tire and Auto Shop on Murchison Road.

Melvin was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Village Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Julie, and their five children.

Health department leadership post still vacant

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health hasn’t had a permanent director for nearly a year and a half. In August, the board of health selected an executive search firm to help recruit the next health director, but it has not yet begun the search. Former director Buck Wilson resigned in June of last year. Other county executives have filled in since then.

“We are excited to initiate our search for a permanent health director,” said Interim Health Director Duane Holder.

The board’s search committee met with the firm on Oct. 17 to begin the formal recruiting process. Staff and community listening sessions are being planned. Public input will be solicited, and the board of health says it welcomes feedback.

Four-year terms on the ballot

Local ballot issues Nov. 6 include proposals to change the terms of Fayetteville City Council members and Hope Mills Town Commissioners. Both bodies want to extend terms of office from two years to four.

The prospect has raised little voter interest in Fayetteville, but opposition by Hope Mills residents has surfaced since the board rejected offers made by Lone Survivor Foundation to purchase property at Hope Mills Lake Bed #2 for a military veterans’ retreat. Residents have organized Hope Mills Citizens for Change, a political action committee opposed to longer terms. They have distributed signs around town.

The four-year referendum idea was first proposed by Hope Mills Commissioner Mike Mitchell in February. If adopted, four-year terms wouldn’t begin for Hope Mills commissioners until the 2019 election. The mayor and five board members would serve staggered terms.

The Fayetteville City Council proposal is nonbinding. If authorized by voters, council would then decide whether to make the change.

Local youth wins statewide honor

A Cumberland County NCWorks Career Center student, Lamonty Bullock, 24, was named Outstanding Young Adult at the 2018 Governor’s NC Works Awards of Distinction ceremony held Oct. 11 in Greensboro.

Bullock was enrolled in the Fundamental Skills for Substance Abuse Counselor Program at Fayetteville Technical Community College when nominated for the honor. He has completed part one of the program and is preparing for part two, with a goal of becoming a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor to help teens and young adults.

“I really want to focus on prevention because that’s where it all starts,” Bullock said. He was living in a group home until he turned 18, when he aged out of the foster care system. He did not complete high school but later obtained his diploma and approached Cumberland County NCWorks for career training assistance.

Bullock’s former NCWorks career advisor, Victoria Grey-Allen, described him as an “extraordinary example of what resilience, hard work and determination can accomplish.”

Local university leader honored

Fayetteville State University Chancellor Dr. James Anderson was honored this month by the North

Carolina Justice Center for his years of “extraordinary advocacy for and commitment to social justice, inclusive community engagement, and educational opportunities.” The NC Justice Center describes itself as the state’s preeminent voice for economic, social and political justice.

“My task is to apply leadership and management strategies that reflect integrity, quality, transparency and excellence,” Anderson is quoted as saying on Fayetteville State University’s website. “Our most precious commodity is our students and everything that we do should support their growth, maturity, and success.”

Fayetteville Technical Community College

still top notch

Military Times has ranked FTCC No. 5 nationally in its 2019 Best Colleges for Vets. The rankings are based on the results of Military Times’ annual survey, considered the most comprehensive schoolby- school assessment of veteran and military student services. About 500 colleges took part in this year’s survey.

“Military Times’ Best for Vets designation... can’t be bought with advertising dollars – unlike some other supposedly veteran-friendly rankings – only earned through a record of steadfast service and dedication to those who have served,” said George Altman, the editor in charge of the rankings. The publication also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments.

Photo: Ed Melvin

 

 The eventual development of barren property three miles north of Fayetteville “is going to be fabulous” for the northside, said City Councilman Johnny Dawkins. The city has agreed to a voluntary annexation of 254 acres of land by Broadwell Land Company. The property is located in a triangular area west of Ramsey Street between Elliot Bridge and Elliot Farm Roads.

Dawkins believes the multiuse development proposed by Broadwell will lure residents of the unincorporated area between the old Fayetteville city limit and the new project to also request annexation.

The Public Works Commission has developed a plan to extend city water and sewer to the Broadwell property. That makes the utilities available to others along the route, but they have to agree to voluntary annexation.

The Broadwell firm proposes to build 350 single-family homes in two phases over the next several years. Attorney Johnathan Charleston, who represented the company in talks with the city of Fayetteville, said the homes will range in price from $250,000 to $400,000. Also planned are 250 multifamily units, a school, commercial buildings and 24 acres of green space. The entire venture will take 10 to 15 years to develop.

The huge project is the first of its kind in Fayetteville. Broadwell and the city say it’s the area’s first smart growth neighborhood. Smart growth is a concept of serving the economy, the community and the environment. It changes the terms of the development debate away from traditional growth patterns to how best to accommodate the community as a whole. Charleston noted the neighborhood would become the southernmost part of the Research Triangle region.

Fayetteville city planner Jerry Newton told city council that stakeholders had worked cooperatively for several months to perfect the project. PWC’s willingness to provide water and sewer utilities was considered the key to bringing the area into the city.

“No matter what we decide up here, it’s going to be built,” Councilwoman Kathy Jensen said. She represents the district on city council. “The real question is whether the project will be built to county standards or more stringent city standards,” Jensen added.

A few residents of nearby neighborhoods objected. Businessman Jimmy Jones, who lives just south of the proposed development, worried about whether apartments would negatively impact his property value. “All the impact in that area will be positive,” Councilman Larry Wright countered.

Dennis DeLong, who lives on Ramsey Street, said he will do everything he can to stop the annexation. “Any legal avenue I can possibly take, I will” he said.

Newton was unable to provide specific details on multi-use plans, which could range from duplexes and town houses to three-story apartment buildings. City council voted unanimously to grant the satellite annexation and initial zoning established earlier by county commissioners.

 Fort Bragg has sent America’s sons and daughters across the world to fight wars,

keep peace, build nations, undo the damage left by Mother Nature’s wrath and other countless missions. For the past century, the citizens of Cumberland County have stood in the gap for military families as their friends and neighbors answered Uncle Sam’s call. So, it’s no surprise that proper Veterans Day celebrations around here take more than one day. Heroes Homecoming is packed with activities and ceremonies showing respect to the many generations of veterans who have served this country.

Through Dec. 31

“Celebrations While Deployed”

Displayed at Headquarters Library in the Local and State History Room, this display showcases holidays and other family celebrations during deployment. Call 910-483-7727 to learn more.

Nov. 1-30

“Happy Birthday United States Marines”

The North Carolina Veterans Park will host a monthlong exhibit. Call 910-433-1457 for more information.

Friday, Nov. 9

Military and veteran spouse empowerment luncheon

Sponsored by the Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic and Military Child Education Coalition with Cumberland County Schools, this event is for spouses of active-duty military member and veterans. It will include motivational speakers and will cover topics like empowerment through volunteering, employment, starting your own business, education and resources within the community. It will take place at Cape Fear Botanical Garden and includes a free lunch and free childcare. The luncheon starts at 11 a.m.

Veterans Day Concert and art exhibit

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum will host a gallery reception for the exhibition “The Arts and the Military.” There will be a musical performance afterwards. The event runs from 6-9 p.m. It is free. Call 910-643-2778 for details.

Saturday, Nov. 10

Veterans Day Parade

The Veterans Day Parade has more than 100 participants, including active-duty military members, numerous veterans’ organizations, military equipment, and ROTC units and marching bands from local high schools and universities. It begins on Hay Street at ASOM and ends on Person Street at Liberty Point. It starts at 10 a.m. and is free to attend. Call 910-920-0454 to learn more.

City of Fayetteville Veterans Day Proclamation

Immediately following the Veterans Day Parade, head to the North Carolina Veterans Park for the Veterans Day Proclamation, a ceremony honoring the veterans of the community, state and nation. It is free and open to the public. Call 910-433-1457 for details.

Heroes Homecoming Community Challenge

From noon to 4 p.m., Fort Bragg Harley Davidson

invites the community to enjoy family-friendly

entertainment, including a hot wing eating contest;

strength competitions, such as tire-flipping and

pull-up and push-up competitions; face painting and

arts and crafts; bouncy houses and a kids’ obstacle

course; K-9 demonstrations and cute civilian dogs to

pet; live music; food trucks; mini-golf; and resources

for suicide prevention in our community. The event is

free. Call 910-615-3714 to learn more.

Second Annual Heroes Homecoming Motorcycle

Rally

Bikers interested in riding as a group, meet at the old Bank of America building across from Festival Park after the Veterans Day Parade. The group will ride together to Fort Bragg Harley Davidson for an afternoon of wholesome entertainment, including live music, vendors and food. Call 910-567-2221 to learn more.

Hometown Hero Awards and Centennial of Service Speaker Series

ASOM will honor retired Gen. James J. Lindsay with the Hometown Hero Award for his efforts to nurture and develop the relationship between the city of Fayetteville and the military. After the ceremony, there will be three speakers – part of a series featuring ordinary

people doing extraordinary things. The speakers are EJ Snyder, Kevin Maurer and Lewis Hunt. The event runs from 1-5 p.m. Call 910-643-2778 to learn more.

Hope Mills Chamber Chili Cook-Off and Veterans Appreciation Day

Hosted at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom, the Chili-Cook-Off and Veterans Appreciation Day is designed with families in mind. It will include food, cornhole, entertainment, craft brews and more. Veterans can relax in the Veterans Tent. The cook-off will include the usual hot and mild categories as well as a people’s choice and a veteran’s choice award. It runs 1-9 p.m. Call 910-423-4314 for details.

243rd Marine Corps Birthday Celebration

The Shawn Knisely Detachment, Marine Corps League, Dept. of North Carolina will host a celebration at Stryker Golf Course. The evening includes a reception, opening ceremony, dinner and a cake ceremony. It runs from 6-9 p.m. and costs $40 per person. Call 910-263-1102 for tickets and information.

“A Patriotic Dinner Theatre”

From 6-10 p.m., enjoy a patriotic dinner theater at VFW 670 with Paul Thompson as Master of Ceremonies. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 per person or $50 per couple. Call 910-424-8675 for tickets and information.

“I Was There: A Staged Reading of Veterans’ Oral Histories”

Headquarters Library will host this event from 6-7:30 p.m. Dr. Cyndi Briggs and Dr. Brook Davis of Winston-Salem and Wake Forest University are interviewing Fayetteville area veterans. Actors will present segments of these interviews in a staged reading. Call 910-483-7727 to learn more.

Sunday, Nov. 11

Armistice Day Bell Ringing

Armistice Day marks the end of World War I. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the Museum of the Cape Fear invites all residents, churches and businesses in Cumberland County to ring a bell 11 times at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month (Nov. 11, at 11 a.m.), in recognition of the anniversary. Call 910-500-4240 to learn more.

Balloon Doves Release

From 6-9 p.m. Hope Mills will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day at Hope Mills Lake. At dusk, 100 biodegradable balloon doves will be released at the lake. Call 910-424-4555 to learn more.

Field of Flags

From 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Veterans Memorial at Hope Mills Municipal Park will sport flags in memoriam of all residents, past and present, who have served in the U.S. armed forces. Call 910-424-4555 for details. Hope Mills VFW Post 10630 Veterans Day Ceremony Honor local veterans at the Veterans Day ceremony at Hope Mills Veterans Memorial. Refreshments will be served in the Parks & Recreation Building afterward. The ceremony starts at 3 p.m. Call 910-424-4555 for information.

Reading of Names

Local JROTC cadets will read from a list of names of all Hope Mills veterans. The reading will start after the ringing of the bells at 11:11 a.m. and will pause during the VFW Ceremony. Call 910-424-4555 for more information.

Spring Lake Memorial VFW Post 4542 Veterans Day Ceremony

Held at the Spring Lake Memorial VFW Post 4542, the Veterans Day Ceremony will be from 2-3 p.m. Search the event on Facebook to learn more.

Home Front

Eastover’s Veterans Day event incorporates the families and friends left behind when the service member deploys. It will include agencies that are available to provide different types of support, and some agency representatives will be serving as guest speakers at this event. The event runs from 3-5 p.m. at the Eastover Civic Club. Search the event on Facebook to learn more.

Veterans Day Run and Veterans Services Fair

There will be a 5K and a 1-mile run/walk, both starting in Festival Park. After the race, enjoy the Veterans Services Fair. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Search the event on Facebook to register.

Veterans Day at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum

Celebrate Veterans Day at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum. See artifacts of the soldiers who celebrated the end of World War I a century ago. The museum is located at 5108 Ardennes Rd., Fort Bragg. It will be open from noon-4:30 p.m. Call 910-432-3443 to learn more.

Monday, Nov. 12

Hope Mills Chamber Veterans Appreciation

Luncheon

The Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce wants to thank all veterans by treating them to lunch during the chamber’s monthly meeting. The luncheon is from 12:30-2 p.m. at VFW 10630. Call 910-423-4314 to RSVP.

 Do I wish President Donald Trip would be less confrontational, less “in your face” with some of his comments? Yes, I do. However, I confess that I give him more latitude than I give to Democrats when it comes to assessing strategy, tactics and general conduct.

There are two major reasons for this response. One is that Trump is producing extremely positive results for America and even the world. The other is that what I see as negative in his conduct pales in comparison to the mob-inspiring actions and comments of Democrats. They are desperate. Alexander Suvorov spoke truth when he said, “There is nobody more terrible than the desperate.”

Consider recent comments by several leading Democrats. References are not given here because the statements have been reported widely in printand by video:

Hillary Clinton to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour: “You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about. That’s why I believe, if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and/or the Senate, that’s when civility can start again.”

Eric Holder, Attorney General in the Obama Administration: “It is time for us as Democrats to be as tough as they are, to be as dedicated as they are, to be as committed as they are. Michelle always says, Michelle Obama, I love her. She and my wife are really tight. Which always scares me and Barack. Michelle always says, ‘When they go low, we go high.’ No. No. When they go low, we kick them.”a

Representative Maxine Waters, D-C.A., referring to the Trump Cabinet: “If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”

The three individuals quoted above will likely argue that they were not calling for violence against those who differ with the positions taken by Democrats. The problem is that no matter what one intends by their words, the speaker must always consider how people might react to what is said. These pronouncements, and others like them, have, and are, contributing to creating a mob mentality among many adherents to Democratic intentions for the direction of this nation.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a mob as “A large and disorderly crowd of people especially: one bent on riotous or destructive action.” The following incidents certainly fit the mob criteria.

From an article by Leah Millis titled “DHS Secretary

Nielsen Shouted Out of Mexican Restaurant by Protesters:” “Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was chased out of a Mexican restaurant Tuesday evening by protesters confronting her over the Trump administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. Protesters crashed her meal, yelling ‘shame!’ and ‘If kids don’t eat in peace, you don’t eat in peace!’ while Nielsen appeared to look down at her phone before eventually exiting the restaurant.”

From an article by Avi Selk titled “Ted Cruz and wife are shouted out of D.C. restaurant over his support for Kavanaugh:” “Members of protest group Smash Racism DC heckled Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and his wife until he left a restaurant in Northwest D.C., on Sept. 24. Heidi Cruz stood frozen in the middle of the restaurant, hands clenched beneath her shawl, teeth bared in what might have started as a grin before it changed to something else. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, had not yet removed his overcoat. He and his wife had not yet reached their table, which sat set and ready for them just a few paces away: a cream-cushioned booth, as reserved. But the Cruzes had not ordered all this chanting.”

These are just two examples of the mob action I believe is being prompted by the Democrats’ ruthless disregard for life and privacy; a ruthlessness rooted in their desperation. Look again at how Heidi Cruz was affected by this mob action. If this is what we want – and are willing to accept – in our political process, this country is in far more trouble than I realized.

Another outgrowth of desperation is to, at almost any cost, seek to control the thinking of people who, by their speech and actions, make a desperate situation even more desperate. The current prime example of this point is Kanye West, an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer. This is a black man who unabashedly supports Trump. He, along with Jim Brown (former outstanding player in the National Football League), recently met with Trump in the Oval Office.

To appreciate the lesson from how West is being treated because of his support for the president, one must view the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRY3UHI7cTU.This video shows the entirety of what West said during the portion of the meeting that press were present. Summarized below is just some of what he addressed:

1. Welfare is the reason so many black Americans are Democrats. There came a point when jobs were limited and fathers lost their employment. Democrats offered welfare that came with more money for having more babies.

2. There is a connection between decreased mental health facilities and the increased prison population.

3. “Bravery helps beat the game of life.” He talks about his mother and father separating; leaving his home with not a lot of male energy. His view of himself as a man is helped by the way Trump makes things happen.

4. If the president does not look good, we don’t either.

5. When a reporter asked why he said President George Bush did not care about black people, West responded that he was “programmed to think from a victimized mentality, a welfare mentality.” He has broken free of that destructive mentality.

6. “Stop and Frisk” is not a tool that would help relationships in Chicago.

7. Open industries in cities like Chicago so that people have employment. Implement tax breaks so that creating jobs in cities can be profitable. Bring jobs back to America.

8. Relook at how we teach. Kids lose interest in school because they are bored. Be creative, such as using playing basketball to teach math.

Look at that partial list of what West said to Trump. Now consider some of what was said in the media about his visit, as reported by Craig Bannister in an article titled “CNN Panel: ‘Kanye West Is What Happens When Negroes Don’t Read,’ ‘Token Negro of the White House.’”

“CNN panelists repeatedly slurred rapper Kanye West over his support for President Donald Trump, and host Don Lemon did nothing but laugh when they did. A former South Carolina state representative, Democrat Bakari Sellers, now a CNN contributor, warned that Kanye’s opinions show ‘what happens when Negroes don’t read:’ ‘Kanye West is what happens when Negroes don’t read. And we have this  now and now Donald Trump is going to use it and pervert and he’s going to have someone who can stand with him and take pictures.’”

“Another CNN contributor, Tara Setmeyer, called West the White House’s ‘token Negro.’ ‘He’s an attention whore, like the president. He’s all of a sudden now the model spokesperson. He’s the token Negro of the Trump administration.’ She went on to suggest that West’s support of Trump is a sign of mental illness.”

Note that Lemon, Sellers and Setmeyer are black; however, their attacks on Kanye are totally representative of what, without regard to race, gushed forth from liberal media types and their followers. Tucker Carlson asked the right question: “If they think he is crazy, why are they attacking him?”

They are attacking Kanye because he is thinking for himself and exposing the Democratic game of making amazing promises to Black Americans while delivering little or nothing. Democrats cannot afford to have black people start thinking for ourselves. That’s why they must stop the Kanyes of the world, almost at any cost. Desperation demands it.

Sadly, in pursuit of power, Democrats not only seek to control thought, but they will literally destroy lives in pursuit of power. That is especially the case when power seems beyond their reach and desperation sets in. The latest example here is their despicable treatment of then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh in his Supreme Court confirmation process. Equally reprehensible was their treatment of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. This lady made what proved to be totally uncorroborated sexual assault allegations from 36 years ago against Kavanaugh. She wanted to remain anonymous. Her allegation was only known to Democrats but was passed to the media. That act of leaking resulted in Ford losing her anonymity and having her life turned upside down.

The picture here is one of Democratic desperation that is producing a mob mentality, which results in loss of civility, attempts to control thought and employing tactics that unfairly negatively impact the lives of people. We cannot allow this mob approach to reside in America.

 The greater Fayetteville area is a transient community, and this election, many people may be voting locally for the first time. Voting places are assigned by the Cumberland County Board of Elections office when residents register or change addresses. Voters registering to vote for the first time will have provided required identification and will have received voter cards that indicate the names and locations of voting places. Or, voters may call the elections office at 910-678-7733 for locations.

There are 36 polling places in Fayetteville, five polling places in Hope Mills and 39 others across Cumberland County. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 98,744 to 49,686 locally, according to October 2018 board of elections statistics. Women typically vote more often than men in off-year, or mid-term, elections. Of the 218,339 registered voters in Cumberland County 113,817 of them are women; 92,686 are men.

Persons who move but fail to update their change of address by the registration deadline may go to their old precincts and fill out voter update/transfer forms. They would then take the forms to the new precincts where they will be allowed to vote.

Voting rules and regulations change in all 50 states from time to time. In North Carolina, residents are no longer able to register on Election Day, according to board of elections director Terri Robertson.

On Nov. 6, to receive a ballot, a voter must give his or her name and address to the election officials. North Carolina currently does not require voter identification. At most precincts, people can choose if they want to use paper or electronic ballots. If properly registered, they will proceed to the voting booth. If precinct officials are unable to locate registration records, voters may be asked to vote provisional ballots. They must return provisional ballots in the sealed envelopes provided to a precinct official.

If age or physical disability prevents someone from entering the polling place, he or she will be allowed to vote in their vehicle. Curbside voting is available at all voting sites on Election Day. Voting sites have designated parking spots for curbside voting as well as alert systems that advise election officials that a curbside voter has arrived. Before a ballot is issued to a curbside voter, the voter must swear an oath affirming his or her qualification.

Registered voters qualified to vote are entitled to assistance from a spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, in-law, stepparent or stepchild. Disabled voters may receive assistance from a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union or by telephone.

 In just a few days the midterm elections will be history, and many of us will be overwhelmed with joy.

Politics at all levels havegotten completely out of control, mean-spirited and ugly. And it’s not about the people and issues any more. It’s about power, it’s about control, and it’s about money– but mostly about power and control. And our current politics know no boundaries; just check your mailbox.

On the bright side, it was refreshing last week to read an article by a former North Carolina representative, Rick Glazier, in the Oct. 27 issue of The Fayetteville Observer. Glazier wrote about the need for civility in politics, saying, “I see campaigns again this election cycle demeaning the process, filling every media possible with disgusting, debasing, destructive ads. And, being positive on one side of a piece of a mailer, but talking smack on the other, hardly enhances public debate of policies and positions in an intelligent, informed and thoughtful manner – which is precisely what we look to and need from our leaders. Of course, campaigns do this because they believe negative campaigning works. To a degree they are right, if by ‘works’ you mean winning an election. But holding public office is a public trust that goes far beyond winning elections – a contract between the office holder and the people who elected him or her. We breach that contract when we fail to campaign with dignity, or use the power of our office in a retaliatory or intimidating manner, because once that breach of trust occurs, you never get it back – with your constituents or your colleagues with whom you have to work while in office.”

He continues, “Only we can break that cycle. Only we the people can stop empowering these tactics by voting, even outside our own party preference, for candidates who don’t lower public discourse into the gutter. Indeed, if we mean it when we say we hate negative campaigning, then now is our chance to prove it with our vote; otherwise it is just whining without meaning.

“Words here are no substitute for deeds. In the end, Admiral Hyman Rickover had it right: ‘Great people talk about ideas; average people talk about events; and small people talk about other people.’

“Let’s together elect folks to office who talk about ideas! Let’s give rise to our better nature and selves.”

These sentiments are not surprising coming from a Southern gentleman like Glazier. You may not agree with his leftleaning political ideology, but no one can argue against his integrity, sincerity, statesmanship and lethally effective utilization of facts, logic and common sense when it comes to discussing and debating important issues.

Glazier’s observations here are accurate. Common sense, logic, compassion and decency seem to have dissolved at all levels of government. In Fayetteville and Cumberland County, we must ask ourselves some very serious and important questions: Do we have the best and brightest filling our elected positions or have we given in and surrendered to identity politics, intimidation and political correctness? Are these people innovative, thoughtful leaders with ideas and vision for the future, or are they self-serving political hacks taking up space and collecting pay checks for literallydoing nothing?

This begs another question. Why are good men and women shying away from public office? I believe the short answer is that they do not want to be associated with these do-nothing, ineffective scoff-offs who have no incentives to cooperate or compromise. Their priority is to stay in office at all costs – hence the ugly slander, personal attacks and assault on humanity. This is all they have left in the absence of knowledge, vision and compromise.

The good news is, this is America. We are an innovative and self-correcting nation. We are resilient. We are a country that will not easily yield to this kind of craziness long term. We have a responsibility to leave our children and grandchildren a nation that is freer, safer and better off. In the short term, this might be painful. However, in the long term, logic, common sense and civility will prevail and return as we realize these traits are essential to our survival as the greatest nation in the world.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Playing the 50th Cumberland County Golf Championship on his home course at Gates Four Golf and Country Club, Jack Britt High School senior Spencer 

Oxendine wasn’t lacking for confidence. “I told my mom if I didn’t win this thing I’m going to be pretty upset,” the N.C. State golf commit said.

He had little reason to be upset Sunday after turning in a 74-72-146 that led him to the title over previous champions Billy West and Gary Robinson. 

Robinson and Thomas Owen tied for second, Robinson shooting 79-72-151 and Owen 74-77-151. West, the defending champion, recorded a 75-77-152. He apparently made history in the process, becoming the first CCGC champion in the tournament’s 50-year history to win the event while still attending high school. 

In 1984, Pine Forest product Mitchell Perry won the title after graduating the previous June. The tournament was held in September that year. Oxendine just began his senior year at Jack Britt this fall. 

Oxendine, who blistered the Gates Four course with a 62 this summer that was one shot off the course record of another Cumberland County high school star, South View’s Todd Gleaton, said his effort over the course this weekend was “nothing stellar.”

He felt he drove the ball well and kept it in play for the most part. “ I played the course how I always do,” he said. “I play this course very aggressive. This is not a golf course where you can hit it off line, because if you start to hit it off line, you can make some big numbers.”

 Oxendine’s goal was to keep the ball in play and get it on the green. The first day he recorded four bogeys and only three birdies. He finished Sunday’s round with three birdies and three bogeys.

 
His near-course record 62 over the summer featured nine birdies, an eagle and one bogey. He called the win a great confidence boost going into his senior season of golf next spring at Jack Britt and looking ahead to his freshman season with the N.C. State team a year from now. 

“Winning is always good no matter what it is,” he said. Oxendine said he was looking forward to playing the full three days of the tournament and was disappointed when bad weather forced cancellation of Friday’s first round. 

“I was kind of upset but there was nothing we could do about it,” he said. “We didn’t want to tear up Stryker.” The tournament had been scheduled to open on Fort Bragg’s Stryker Golf Course, which would have been a first for the event. 

“It didn’t change my approach,” he said. “My approach was I was probably going to shoot par on Stryker, maybe one or two under, then I would kind of tear it up on Gates Four. That was my mindset.”