In past years, Gallberry Farm Elementary School Principal Dawn Collins has kissed a rabbit and a pig at the school’s annual Fall Festival. 

Now she’s bracing to pucker up for a llama. Again. 

The vote to determine if Collins or Assistant Principal Natasha Norris gets to be a little too personal with the llama is one of the highlights of this year’s annual event. It’s scheduled for Friday, Oct. 12, from 5-8 p.m. at
the school of about 1,000 students. 

Collins started the festival about eight years ago after becoming principal because she felt they needed some kind of community outreach that would involve the school and surrounding area. 

“We talked about a spring fling, but so many children are involved in sports in this community (that) we decided the response would be better in the fall.’’ 

The event is always scheduled on the same Friday when Gray’s Creek High School has an open date on its football schedule. Collins said that’s because she borrows a host of volunteers from the high school student body, pulling from organizations like Future Farmers of America, Student Government Association, National Honor Society, JROTC and the school’s technology academy. 

“We truly do not have enough staff to pull this off on our own,’’ she said. 

She was briefly worried that Hurricane Florence was going to disrupt this year’s football schedule and possibly wreck the festival, but she remained hopeful things would work out, and they did. 

After Hurricane Matthew hit the area in 2016, Collins said Gallberry had the most successful fall festival in school history. She’s hoping for similar results this year. “People were looking for something happy and positive to do,’’ she said. “That’s what we’re hoping now. We know there is a lot of loss in the community. We are hoping we can bring them back together for something lighthearted.’’ 

For Collins, that probably means kissing a llama again this year. Last year she lost the vote to Norris, and she’s already fearful it will go against her again this time. 

She plans to use the same strategy for kissing the llama as last time. 

“I tried to go to the side, kiss him on the side of the mouth, and when I did, he turned his whole face to mine,’’ she said. “The kids love it.’’ 

Anyone from the Gallberry or Gray’s Creek community is welcome to attend, whether they have a child attending the school or not, Collins said. 

An entry fee of $10 gets you an armband that pro- vides admission to a host of activities, the highlight of which is the haunted hallway, a hallway in the school building that features child-friendly scares and thrills. There will also be a trunk-or-treat event and unlimited access to an assortment of games. 

The armband also covers a hot dog, drink and chips. 

There will be additional food items on sale that can be purchased either for cash or with tickets that can be bought on-site, $5 for 20 tickets. All transactions on site will be cash. An ATM will be available. 

Collins said the festival is by far the school’s biggest fundraiser each year and holds a special place both for faculty and students. 

“It makes me feel very positive about the culture of our school,’’ she said. “It’s just a great community event.’’ 

 Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Systems Security &Analysis program is a concentration under the information technology major. This curriculum provides individuals with the skills required to analyze and implement effective, comprehensive information security controls. Upon completion of the program, students receive an associate degree in System Security & Analysis and will be well equipped to enter the growing field of cyber security.

Alumni of this program have gone on to work for companies including the city of Fayetteville, Dell, and Cisco. 

The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated FTCC as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education. This designation is known by the acronym CAE2Y. FTCC’s Systems Security & Analysis program offers students a diverse educational opportunity by exposing them to materi- als from several academic partners, such as Cisco, CompTIA, EC-Council, Palo Alto, and Red Hat. 

The Systems Security & Analysis department is also a member of the National CyberWatch Center, a Data Privacy Day champion, and a National Cyber Security Awareness Month champion. The Department partners with the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg chap- ter of the Information Systems Security Association. 

Fayetteville Tech offers a broad range of programs of study lead- ing to the award of associate degrees, certificates and diplomas. Many educational choices are available in the field of computer and information technology, where graduates can seek employment as designers, developers, testers, support technicians, system administrators and programmers. Specialty areas include business intelligence, database services, healthcare informatics, security and more. 

Specific program areas to explore at FTCC include CISCO Networking Academy, Computer Programming & Development, Cyber Defense Education Center, Database Management, Digital Media Technology, Game & Interactive Programming, Mobile & Web Programming, Network Management, PC Support & Services, Systems Security & Analysis, and Simulation & Game Development. Within each of these program areas are additional specialty programs of study, which allow students broad choices for expansion in becoming well equipped for a great career in the computer technology field. 

Fall eight-week classes begin Oct. 18, and the spring semester begins Jan. 14. For students inter- ested in pursuing an exciting career in a high- demand field, FTCC is the smart choice for educa- tion in computer and information technology. Visit www.faytechcc.edu to apply now and begin the enrollment process. 

For more information about the program, visit www.faytechcc.edu/academics/computer-information-technology-programs/systems-security-analy- sis. Call 910-678-8509 or email herringc@faytechcc. edu with questions about pursuing Systems Security & Analysis education at FTCC. 

FTCC’s Cyber Defense Education Center also has information concerning the program, ISSA meetings and other current events. Visit www.faytechcc.edu/ academics/computer-information-technology-pro- grams/cyber-defense-education-center to access that information. 

The U.S. Department of Education has named Eastover-Central Elementary School of Arts a 2018 National Blue-Ribbon School. The honor is reserved for exemplary high-performing schools whose students are among the state’s highest achievers. 

“I’m pleased to celebrate with you as your school is named a National Blue-Ribbon School,” saidU.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a video message to the honorees. “We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers.” 

Eastover-Central was one of only eight schools sanctioned in North Carolina and 349 schools ac- knowledge across the country. “This national honor recognizes the tremendous work being done at East- over-Central to help each student achieve success in the classroom and beyond,” said Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr., Cumberland County Schools superintendent. 

School honorees will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 7-8. 

Fayetteville murder rate on par 

At least one city council member claims the city’s murder rate has skyrocketed since Police Chief Gina Hawkins took over. Police command staff members said they haven’t heard that. 

Hawkins’ first day on the job was Aug.15, 2017. During the13 1/2 months since then, there have been 32 homicides in Fayetteville, according to FPD spokesman Lt.Gary Womble. So far this year, the FPD has investigated 18 murder cases. 

Police records indicate that the annual murder rate trend over the last 10 years has been in the mid to upper 20s. Fayetteville’s all-time-record of 31 homicides was set in 2016 before Hawkins came to Fayetteville. 

Mosquito control 

Favorable weather conditions have been helpful as mosquito control efforts got underway locally. Cumberland County’s mosquito control contractor trucks have sprayed most sections of the county over the past week-and-a-half. The spraying is done overnight. The product being sprayed is EcoVia, a botanical insecticide with low toxicity to humans and pets. Beekeepers registered with DriftWatch.org were notified of the spraying by the Health Department’s environmental health division. 

“The (mosquito control) vendor has GPS, which allows these locations to be plugged in and avoided while they are spraying,” said Rod Jenkins, deputy health director. 

Mosquito dunks have been distributed to residents upon request. A Mosquito dunk looks like a small donut, which floats on standing water. As the dunk slowly dissolves, it releases a bacterium that is toxic to all species of mosquito larvae. Mosquito experts say floodwaters can cause eggs that would have otherwise laid dormant to hatch. The mosquitoes plaguing the Carolinas are called “Gallinippers,” according to entomologist Michael Waldvogel of North Carolina State University. 

Thousands of military veterans affected by Hurricane Florence 

Hurricane Florence dumped dozens of inches of rain on southeastern North Carolina, causing Veterans Affairs clinics to close. Appointments were cancelled, and untold numbers of veterans’ homes were ravaged from Fayetteville to the coast. Fayetteville VA officials continue to play catch-up with thousands of rescheduled appointments. 

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, who grew up in Fayetteville, toured VA facilities here and in Wilmington. He also met with emergency VA employees who responded to Fayetteville from across the country and who continue to work to help local officials cope with the storm’s affects. 

“I could not be prouder of VA,” Wilkie said. “I could not be prouder of my hometown.” 

Wilkie said local officials will have the resources they need to recover from the storm. “This is my home. This is my wife’s family’s home,” he said. 

The Fayetteville VA covers communities around Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune. It is among the fastest growing regions in the VA, Wilkie said, with 2,000 veterans added each month. Close to 17,000 appointments were canceled because of the storm, officials said. 

The VA Medical Center on Ramsey Street remained open during the hurricane, despite being located along the Cape Fear River. 

Food stamps for Hurricane Victims 

Thousands of residents of 27 North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Florence got help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services received federal authority to implement the program. Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Bladen, Moore, Robe- son and Sampson counties are among those that were eligible for supplemental food stamps. 

“For North Carolinians working to get back on their feet after Hurricane Florence, help feeding their families will make a tremendous difference,” Gov. Cooper said. 

This program helped people who suffered losses buy food for their families. Most application sites were local social services offices. Wait times were long because of the volume of people who applied. 

New downtown Fayetteville official 

The Cool Spring Downtown District has hireda new marketing official. Melissa Purvines joined the team Sept. 17 as the marketing and communications manager. She brings with her 15 years of experience in advertising, marketing and sponsorship sales. Purvines holds a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University. 

Originally from Amarillo, Texas, Melissa moved to Fayetteville in early 2018 to join her husband, Scott, who is stationed at Fort Bragg. Their son, Connor, is a seventh-grader at the Capitol Encore Academy in downtown Fayetteville. 

“I am excited to call Fayetteville my home and look forward to helping the Cool Spring Downtown District continue growing as the vibrant center of artistic, cultural, civic and commercial activity,” she said. 

Former mayor Tony Chavonne has been named interim president & CEO of the organization. 

 “You’d better be careful,” my wonderful seventh grade teacher, Miss Winifred Potts, preached to my class more than 65 years ago. 

Miss Potts had a set of strategies to encourage us to behave, in and out of class. To discourage mischief- making while she was writing math problems on the blackboard, she told us that people said she could see out of the back of her head. 

Her most persuasive tactic, one she used when one or some of us were flirting with serious trouble, was to tell us about her visits from the FBI. 

“They come to talk to me when one of my former students is up for a big job in the government. I have to tell them the truth about what I know that person did in my class. Just remember that when you are thinking about getting into trouble with me.” 

Ironically, federal intelligence agents did visit my hometown about 10 years later to ask questions about me. I do not know whether they talked to Miss Potts, but one of my high school teachers told me that federal agents had asked about my connections to suspected troublemakers. 

Those questions were, I think, because of my effort to gain a top security clearance when I was in the Army and being considered for a position in the Army’s counter- intelligence corps and training in counterintelligence operations. 

That training was designed to prepare me to work on background investigations for others who were seeking security clearances or assignments to sensitive positions. 

After my counterintelligence training, I took on other positions in the Army and never had a chance to use the investigative skills I learned in training. 

Later on as a lawyer, I once was employed to investigate an alleged scheme to secretively and illegally funnel corporate funds into a political campaign. Working on this project, I learned the frustrations of seeking the truth from people involved in the activities that brought about the investigation and from their friends and colleagues. 

Finally, many years later, the FBI came to interview me about my connection to a political candidate. This connection was remote, but investigators heard that I had been in the same room with the accused when important information was promulgated. 

At first, I had no memory of the event whatsoever. But the FBI agent kept coming back until I remembered a few details. Then he requested copies of all of my emails that might have any connection with the accused or his family. I was impatient with what I thought was wasted time and effort on the part of the agent. But I was impressed with his diligence and commitment to get to the bottom of whatever connection I might have had. 

Why have I burdened you with all these personal details and unexceptional personal experiences? 

It is only to assert that I know just a little something about the intricacies and difficulties of conducting FBI and other serious investigations. I think that “little something” puts me in a position to assert that I know investigations can be amazingly productive when diligent investigators with good resources are put on the case and given the time to find the facts. 

Time is critical. 

Time to prepare and conduct the interviews. Time to run down leads and to follow up. The facts don’t magically appear, and when the facts do appear, they are often conflicting and require more follow-up. 

So at the end of a hard-charging but time-limited weeklong FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford, we may know much more than we do now. 

But that will not be nearly all there is to know. 

Photo: Dr. Ford

The ninth annual Running Water Singers Powwow is set for this Friday, Oct. 12, from 5-11 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 13, from noon-11 p.m., at 102 Indian Dr. in Fayetteville. 

“A Native American powwow is where several different tribes come together, and we dance, sing and do everything that has to do with our culture,” said Bradley Jacobs, event representative. “There will be handmade crafts and beadwork, speakers, dancers, Native American flute music, a hand drum segment, 20 cultural dances and competitions, three food vendors, 20 merchandise vendors, cultural songs, the honoring of veterans and much more.” 

Jacobs added that some individuals make a living by selling their handmade crafts at all the powwows throughout the East Coast. 

“We hold our powwow at Les Maxwell Indian School; it is the school where all Native Americans from Cumberland and surrounding counties were bussed to during segregation,” Jacobs said. He added that the opening ceremony is a significant part of the events each day. “There is one thing that we always do at the beginning of the powwow each day, and that is bring the American flag, Native American flag and our sacred Eagle Staff out.” 

One of the highlights of the powwow is the delicious Native American food. Look forward to Indian fry bread, buffalo burgers, buffalo Indian tacos, col- lard sandwiches and more. 

Like most cultures, dance plays a big part in Native American history. “There will be $10,000 in prize money for the Native Americans who compete in the dance competitions,” Jacobs said. 

Native American cultures across the United States are notable for their wide variety and diversity of lifestyles, customs, art forms and beliefs. “The pow- wow is more for cultural awareness and is open to the public, so you can come out and see how we really (are) rather than how TV portrays us,” said Jacobs. “We don’t go scalping people, and we don’t hit (anyone) over the head with sticks.” 

Native Americans have a rich history and a lot to share, which is why powwows are so important – so they can share their heritage with people who want to learn more about Native Americans and their tribes. 

“My grandfather, Chief James Pernell Jacobs, was the first Indian chief that was elected by ballot for the Coharie Indian Tribe of Sampson County,” said Jacobs. “He was awarded so many awards throughout his lifetime, received the Jefferson Award and was known for helping his tribe and others no matter what.” Jacobs added that growing up, he was taught about unity and helping others. 

The nonprofit organization is always in need of donations to support the event. “We do a lot of legwork, and we ask people we do business with for help,” said Jacob 

“The only thing we reap from the powwow is to educate the public and help the young kids to not lose their heritage.” 

This is a drug- and alcohol-free event that is open to the general public. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for youth ages 7-12, $5 for seniors 60 and older, $5 for military with ID, and free for children ages 6 and under. The weekend pass is $12. For more information, call 910-308-7249. 

This editorial originally ran in The Fayetteville Observer, Sunday Sept. 23, 2018. It is reprinted here, with Bill Harrison’s permission. 

Wesley Meredith has been a state senator for eight years, providing him ample time to build a record with the people of Cumberland County. If his latest television ads are to be believed, Senator Meredith wants the people to weigh that record come November, particularly his record of support for public schools. It’s important then that the voters of Cumberland County receive the whole story, so they can judge Senator Meredith’s record accordingly. 

Before Senator Meredith went to Raleigh, North Carolina was viewed as a shining light for education policy in the South. Our state was a national leader in bipartisan education reforms that had real, positive impacts on the students of this state. We led the nation in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, attracted the best and brightest into teaching via the Teaching Fellows program and we helped students earn college degrees while still in high school via the state’s award-winning Learn and Earn program. 

These investments drove student performance gains through the nineties and into this century. In 2011, North Carolina students outperformed their peers from educational juggernauts like Finland, the United Kingdom, and Canada on international math tests, and was singled out by Harvard University as one of six states for making the most academic gains per dollar spent. 

Things were not perfect. School districts were operating on tight budgets, teacher pay was below the national average, and too many students – especially those from low income families – weren’t provided the resources necessary to overcome barriers to success. These problems were compounded when a historic recession required substantial cut- backs in North Carolina’s budget. We assumed the budget cuts were going to be temporary, and that the state would continue on the path of growth and improvement once the economy recovered. This was the state of education when voters sent Wesley Meredith to Raleigh. Unfortunately, he’s failed to address the problems facing our schools. In many instances, he’s actually made things worse. 

In eight years in office, Meredith has starved our public schools of the resources needed to succeed. Adjusted for inflation, per-student funding remains 5 percent below pre-Recession levels. Under Senator Meredith’s watch, our schools are now getting fewer teachers, assistant principals, and teacher assistants. Funding for textbooks and classroom supplies is about half of where it was before the Recession. And over a period where school shootings are becoming distressingly more frequent, Senator Meredith has reduced funding for school nurses, psychologists, and counselors by 9 percent. 

Senator Meredith touts his record on teacher pay, but there’s little for him to be proud of. When Senator Meredith got to Raleigh, average teacher pay in North Carolina trailed the national average by 16 percent. Seven years later (no data exists yet for this school year), average teacher pay in North Carolina continues to trail the national average by 16 percent. In fact, a new report from the Economic Policy Institute singled out North Carolina for exceptionally poor marks in teacher pay. The gap between what teachers earn in North Carolina and the pay earned by other college-educated professionals in the state is the second-highest in the nation. It is no surprise then that enrollment in university teaching programs has plummeted under Meredith’s watch. 

Rather than providing schools with the resources they need to succeed, Senator Meredith has pursued an agenda grounded in misguided ideology, rather than evidence of what really works for our kids. Meredith has championed virtual charter schools that have failed in every other state and have been among the worst-performing in North Carolina. He has supported unaccountable voucher programs that have done more to boost fraud and embezzlement than they have to boost student performance. He supports an A-F grading system that stigmatizes high-poverty schools, even those making huge gains. And his effort to boost third grade read- ing scores by threatening to retain young children failing their end-of-grade test has backfired tremendously, with third grade reading scores nosediving precipitously over the past five years. 

Senator Meredith has gone to unprecedented ends to advance his misguided agenda. He and his colleagues have illegally gerrymandered voting districts and sought to make it harder for regular folks to vote. He has buried controversial programs in massive budget bills, released in the dead of night, to avoid open debate and input from knowledgeable stakeholders. Through it all, Meredith has consistently ignored and shunned our state’s greatest asset for shaping education policy: the expertise of experienced educators. 

A change in leadership in Raleigh will put our schools back on a path that will raise opportunities for success for all of Cumberland County’s children. 

First, Cumberland County needs education leaders who will invest in programs that help students from low-income families overcome poverty- related barriers to learning. Expansion of the state’s high-quality pre-kindergarten program and invest- ments in student health and nutrition will help to ensure that all students arrive at our schools ready to learn. 

Second, policymakers must admit that choice is not a substitute for quality. It does families little good to give them “a choice” between an under- funded charter school and an underfunded traditional public school. 

Third, we must continue to uplift the teaching profession, aiming for pay packages that are competitive with other professions, providing teachers with greater flexibility to mold curriculum to meet their students’ needs, and meaningfully including educators in the policymaking process. 

Finally, leaders must restore investments to the classroom to ensure that all students have the textbooks, supplies, and equipment necessary for all students to thrive. All students deserve field trips, after-school programs, exposure to the arts and music, and high-quality learning opportunities that engage students at all levels. 

If there’s one lesson to take away from Wesley Meredith’s eight years in office, it’s that he has no intention of putting Cumberland County’s schools back on that path to success. Despite what his misleading ads try to claim, his actual track record shows that his concern for our schools and teachers is – at best – an afterthought. Luckily, Cumberland County voters are smart enough to see through his claims and put North Carolina schools back onto a successful path. 

The #MeToo movement has been with us for a year or so now and has taken down a handful of powerful men, including movie producer Harvey Weinstein, journalists Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer and television executive Les Moonves. In the midst of all this, 81-year-old comedian Bill Cosby– once viewed as America’s doctor who holds a doctorate in education – has begun serving prison time for an assault that occurred more than a decade ago, with other allegations against him still pending. Layer on top of all that the U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing involving a Supreme Court nominee and a woman who accuses him of sexual assault, and it is fair to say that Americans have been swimming in uncharted waters. 

Never in the history of our nation have sexual harassment and sexual assault been more on our minds as we struggle with issues involving both workplace and private interactions between men and women. Survivors of sexual harassment and assault are swamping social media with stories of what happened to them, how they reacted at the time and how it affects them today. Ditto for abuse hotlines and other support organizations, which report that victims of sexual assault and rape suffer more anguish than any victims of violent crimes. Their experiences, many of them years in the past, are being dredged up by recent media attention. For many victims, these memories are a re-victimization that affects their lives long after the actual experience. 

Writing in The New York Times, Hayley Kirscher has some suggestions for how to deal with freshly stirred and painful memories. “Be kind to yourself,” she said. 

Assault survivors and sufferers of PTSD often experience thoughts of shame and judgment, and for them, self-care or self-compassion can help. The idea is to promote healing, and experts suggest ask- ing yourself what you need that you can provide for yourself. It may be time with friends and family, time alone, a change of scenery or something as simple as a bubble bath. These “gifts” to yourself will not erase memories or give closure, but they may ease suffering and point the way toward healing. 

Another technique is to acknowledge what you are feeling. Pretending the pain is not there simply pushes it back, and it will return, often when you are least prepared. Journaling can help by putting feelings on paper in private. So can sharing those thoughts with people close to you or with a professional counselor. Don’t be afraid to cry. It can be cathartic. 

Remember, we are all creatures of both mind and body. Our physical, mental and emotional selves are intertwined and affect each other. Rutgers neuroscientist and psychology professor Tracey Shors recommends both meditation and aerobic exercise. She says survivors who practice these techniques have fewer trauma- related thoughts and feel better about themselves than those who do not. 

Finally, Josie Torielli with the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault recommends “grounding,” a technique to keep us in the moment and not dwelling on past memories. She suggests finding and naming five objects you can see in a room, four sounds you can hear, three things you can touch or feel, two things you can smell and one good quality about yourself. Laugh as much and as often as you can – it is both a physical and an emotional release. 

All human beings harbor and sometimes nurture painful memories, few more than survivors of sexual abuse. But it is harder to dwell on them when we reach outside ourselves and toward others. Help and support are out there – both from within ourselves and from the outside. 

When strolling through downtown Fayetteville, it’s almost like taking a step back in time. The quaint local shops, the historic buildings, and, of course, the horse-drawn carriage rides. Run by the Cool Spring Downtown District, the rides run spring, summer and fall. There are two more regular tours scheduled for this fall – Oct. 13 and Nov. 15. 

For more than three years, S and S Carriage Rides has been meandering along the cobblestones of downtown, offering rides to couples, individuals and families. There is nothing like the nostalgia of hearing the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves along the pavement. Not only are the rides a relaxing, unique way to enjoy downtown, they offer a great way for newcomers and visitors to learn more about the area. Over one-third of carriage riders are from out of town, with two-thirds of those being from out of state. 

That being said, the rides can even provide life- long citizens with surprising historical tidbits and narratives that aren’t often heard. 

Dr. Hank Parfitt has been organizing the carriage rides since they started in Fayetteville, and it’s easy to see his passion for the job. “We have a love for local history. We don’t just rattle on, we relate the events to the people and the times,” Parfitt said. 

His favorite part of the job is watching guests connect with Fayetteville. “You see somebody with that ‘aha!’ moment with a new historical fact,” he said. “It’s so much fun to see people respond like that. We are exposing people to the best side of Fayetteville.” 

The carriage rides are not just a job for Parfitt, they are a part of his life. “All of our tour guides go to a one-on-one training session with the city historian,” he said. “We are constantly looking for ways to increase our knowledge.” 

Parfitt is currently enrolled in American History courses at Fayetteville State University. 

In addition to the regularly scheduled monthly rides, there are themed rides that take place throughout the year. Themed rides are some of the most popular offerings, especially around the start of the holiday season with A Dickens Holiday taking place in downtown Fayetteville the day after Thanksgiving. 

“It’s a gentler, kinder way to start the season” Parfitt explained. “You can avoid the crazy chaos of the mall and Black Friday.” 

The rides during A Dickens Holiday on Nov. 23 run from 1-9 p.m. Expect to see the drivers, carriage and even horses decked out for the occasion. 

There is also a Halloween tour led by Count Dracula, a Christmas ride with Santa Clause and an Easter ride with the Easter Bunny. Valentine’s day is also a very popular time of the year – the carriage drivers have seen their fair share of proposals and anniversaries. Mother’s Day gets its own theme as well.

Whether riders are seeking a romantic date, a charming family outing or a spur of the moment jaunt around town, they can relax and enjoy the beauty of downtown Fayetteville – and learn some- thing new – on a historic carriage ride. 

Carriage rides are offered throughout the year, with a small break during the colder months. Tours take place from 1-6 p.m., leaving from the Cool Springs Downtown District office at 222 Hay St. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $20 with a military ID and $15 for children under 12. 

To make a reservation, call City Center Gallery & Books at 910-678-8899 or visit www.sands- carriagerides.com/ or www.facebook.com/ Sandscarriagerides. 

“Othello” is a Shakespearean tragedy, based on Giovanni Battista Giraldi’s “Un Capitano Moro,” that is estimated to have been written in the year 1603. The story centers around the lives of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his love, Desdemona, shortly after their elopement. This tale is fraught with duplicity, racism, envy, revenge and love, and it is because of these human elements that “Othello” is still widely regarded as relevant, even today. 

Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s apt retelling of “Othello,” entitled “OthelLIT,” guides willing patrons through the winding trials of its characters by enveloping the audience in well- timed and hilarious satire, all the while with drink in hand. 

“OthelLIT” is a part of STS’ traveling LIT series, which features intimate settings in Fayetteville and beyond, audience participation, adlibbing, drinking games, music ranging from Bon Jovi to Lily Allen and so much more. “OthelLIT” is the definition of a mixed bag. Each element of its reimagining – from kazoo trumpets to slow-motion knife fights and everything in between – exhibits an array of authenticity, wrapped generously in candid humor. Filled with pop culture references from a variety of eras, every audience member will be able to enjoy the endearing marriage of humorous contemporary colloquialisms and the eloquent speech of Shakespeare’s time. 

The experience of audience members is full of surprises. Scene after scene provides complete immersion into a new kind of world. Villainous Iago, played by Nathan Pearce, has theme music (cue “Pink Panther” theme!) as he devilishly monologues. The dazzling Desdemona is denoted by whichever cast or audience member quick-changes into the blonde Renaissance wig and blue peasant dress; six separate people played the same beauty in one night. Usher’s “Yeah!” heralds each of Othello’s entrances. Three cheers for Music Director Jacob French for intuitively engaging the actors and audience while creating the perfect aura for the night through music and sound. 

“OthelLIT” encourages the audience to participate in themed games and activities meant to enhance the whole experience, so grab a friend – or 10 – and allow yourself to be swept away in the colorful reverie. With Director Marie Lowe at the helm, the fluidity and talent of the actors and the willingness of the audience to go along for the ride, “OthelLIT” is a splendid evening full of fanciful fun for anyone of age in search of a well- earned laugh. As the actors laugh, ponder, gallivant and sing, they continue another strong season for STS. 

“OthelLIT” will continue showing through Tuesday, Oct. 30, with tickets ranging from $17.50 to $25. Some military, senior or student discounts may apply for certain showings. By its closing night, the show will have traveled to Paddy’s Irish Pub, Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, Hugger Mugger Brewing Company in Sanford and Fainting Goat Brewing Company in Fuquay-Varina. 

For more information and to order tickets or view showtimes and locations, visit sweetteashakespeare.com or call 910-420-4383. 

There were plenty of opportunities for cleanup in Hope Mills in the wake of Hurricane Florence, but once she determined most of the needs of the living were met, Mayor Jackie Warner sought help for a group that couldn’t help themselves: the deceased. 

When Morgan Sierra, regional director of the Lone Survivor Foundation, reached out to Warner for something her group of volunteers could do, Warner pointed her to two local cemeteries, Adcock and Legion Road.

Warner’s concern for the cemeteries was prompt­ed by a phone call from a resident who had recently buried a family member at the Legion Road cem­etery. “He wanted me to check the grave and make sure the cemetery was alright,’’ said Warner, who doesn’t live far from the Legion Road cemetery. 

While the grave she was asked to check out was intact, Warner noticed there were numerous limbs down and many of the American flags that deco­rated graves of veterans were damaged or destroyed. 

When Warner contacted town manager Melissa Adams to see if there were specific cleanup needs that weren’t being addressed, Adams suggested someone might want to help at the cemeteries. 

After Sierra’s group contacted Warner about help­ing with cleanup, Warner called her back and said the cemeteries would be a good project if she and her group were interested. 

Sierra, a retired military policeman from Fort Bragg, didn’t hesitate to take on the challenge. 

“It really boiled down to what we can do for the community,’’ Sierra said. “Being a nonprofit, giving away money is not something we can easily do, but we can give away our time.’’ 

Sierra posted on Facebook seeking volunteers for the project and got responses from about a dozen people, some military-connected and some Hope Mills residents. 

The sight at both cem­eteries was similar, she said. There was a lot of tree debris, including limbs, leaves and pine needles.

And of course, there were the American flags. “Every veteran flag was knocked down or tat­tered beyond belief and needed to be replaced,’’ she said. 

A local business sold them 8- by 12-inch American flags at a sharply reduced rate. Sierra estimated they put out 116 new flags. She thinks they’ll need to put out another 40 or 50 flags in coming days that will be provided by a donor who agreed to pay for them. 

Sierra said replacing the flags on the graves of vet­erans is the least her group can do.

“They’ve done so much for us throughout their tenure,’’ she said. “Our creed is never quit on those that never quit on us. If it’s something as simple as replacing a flag and saying, ‘We honor you and your sacrifices,’ then that’s our responsibility.’’ 

Sierra said if there are other cemeteries in Fayetteville and the surrounding area that would like to replace flags damaged by the hurricane, her group will be glad to help out.

“If somebody is willing to donate flags, I’m willing to go there with my group of volunteers,” she said, “We will continue placing flags where we can.”

In my writing, I frequently criticize American governmental entities at every level. That is, from local to federal, I do not hesitate to voice my general disappointment with the actions, and lack of action, by various political bodies and individuals. Granted, failure to act is an action. It is against this back­drop that I share what, for me, was an encouraging, absolutely refreshing, experience. Even in the midst of my despair regarding the condition of our nation and world overall, I do see and write about hope-inspiring observations. 

On Monday, Sept. 10, I attended a meeting of the Fayetteville City Council. There was a time when I attended these meetings on a frequent basis. The meetings became so chaotic, confrontational and filled with grandstanding by council members, that I stopped attending. I would watch meetings on television from time to time. Given my interest in one item expected to come up during the meeting, I went to that Monday night’s meeting. 

It happened that Michael Worrell, chairman of the Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit, was on the agenda to give a report. This was not my reason for being there, but his report proved to be, in my esti­mation, very encouraging. One source of my ongoing disgust with governmental bodies is the scarcity of thoughtful assessment of issues followed by actions that make sense and hold promise of proving effec­tive. I saw all of these rare qualities in Worrell’s report. Here is a summary of what he presented regarding the work of his committee over the last year: 

1. The transit center was certified and is fully oper­ational. The bidding process is underway for renting office space and attracting food service vendors. 
2. Greyhound and Megabus are operating from the transit center. 
3.  Bus routes were modified. Sunday bus service was added. 
4. Shelters and benches were added at various bus stops. 

These actions are planned for the coming year: 

1.  Identifying and instituting procedures for moni­toring system performance. 
2. Rework the marketing plan, with a focus on col­lege students. FAST was represented at Fayetteville State University’s Freshman Orientation. The presentation was well received. Similar efforts will be made at Methodist University and Fayetteville Technical Community College. The aim is to inform students so that they get into traveling the city on the bus system. 
3. Educate citizens regarding use of the system. The desire is to provide the basic information – from purchasing a ticket to actual travel. Given that the system is looking at ways to better use technol­ogy, the resulting improvements in this area will be part of the citizen education endeavor. Among the technology improvement possibilities is ticketing through mobile devices. This effort will also seek to, among citizens, develop pride in the system. 
4. Introduce shuttle service for major events such as The Dogwood Festival, baseball stadium events and so forth. 
5. Discuss expansion of the FAST service that is now available to Fort Bragg. 
6.  Prepare a five-year plan for the system that will detail system efforts for each year and include finan­cial projections/analysis. 
7.  Work on a fare discount program for students. Such an arrangement must be approved by the city council. A semester pass is one idea that’s being considered. 
8. Work with human resources to revamp the current FAST personnel evaluation process to give better feedback to employees. Further, action will be taken to share the impact of and responses to key initiatives with employees. Have employees know that their performance influences how citizens view the system. 
9.  Give attention to improving connectivity with other nearby municipalities. 

I realize what is presented above is a long list. My contention is that the list is worth reviewing because reflected in it is a high level of thought, planning and execution that is rare in government. It only takes a moment of pause and reflection to see the truth in that statement. 

When you finish reading this column, go to your television. Turn on any of the networks that do news and commentary 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I guarantee that you will see report after report, commentary after commentary, that ad­dress actions, and lack of action, at every level of government that make absolutely no sense. They reflect zero productive thought, a lot of meaning­less talk by politicians who are far more concerned with winning reelection than doing what is good for their constituents, and citizens protesting, or otherwise complaining, while accomplishing noth­ing that improves the conditions underlying their protest or complaint. 

What I observed in the council meeting was tremendously impressive and encouraging. That refreshing experience was extended when I visited the city’s website to research FACT. The statement of purpose reads: “To address the public transporta­tion needs of Fayetteville North Carolina in a proac­tive way by providing recommendations to the City Council, management, users and the general public in an effort to create a comprehensive and cohesive transit system that responds to our community’s present and future needs.” 

Wow – a governmental entity that is actually deliv­ering on its stated purpose. 

As though that “wow” was not enough, I looked at the composition of the commission. Here is what it shows: “One FAMPO director or designee; One Lo­cal Community Business Representative; Two ADA riders or representatives; One Bus rider; Two city residents; One city resident who resides outside the area services by FAST; One FAST driver/operator. All Commission members must reside in Fayetteville.” 

At the bottom line, in the midst of paid elected officials and employees, this committee is made up of volunteers. In my estimation, they are performing in a fashion that provides a model for others in every area of service or business, not only in government. However, given that this is a governmental entity, their approach and performance should be seri­ously studied and adhered to by other individuals and entities in government at every level. 

Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit, I commend and thank you.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his followers to ask and it will be given to them. 

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner learned that in a time of natural disaster, the Lowe’s store in Hope Mills takes that admonition literally. 

Immediately after Hurricane Florence came and went through Hope Mills, a disaster relief team from the Alabama Baptist State Convention arrived at Southview Baptist Church on Elk Road and set up operations with their mobile trailer. 

They were here to provide meals for various relief shelters around the county. 

Warner stopped by to introduce herself to the Alabama visitors and ask if there was anything she could do to help. 

As it turned out, there was. A second wave of vol­unteers from Alabama would be arriving within days to help with the cleanup. Unlike the cooking team in the trailer, they would not be coming fully equipped for the job they wanted to tackle. 

They provided Warner with a shopping list, a rather lengthy one. It included items like rakes, wheelbarrows, masks, safety glasses, gloves and protective suits for cleaning up hazardous substances like asbestos. 

Warner immediately turned to Jennifer McMillan, the manager at the Hope Mills Lowe’s, which opened about a year and a half ago. 

“Lowe’s has come in and become a part of the Hope Mills community,’’ Warner said. “They started by making a contribution to the special needs playground we’re going to set up. Anything we need, they’ll support.’’ 

McMillan wasn’t working that day, but Warner gave her the shopping list and McMillan’s team at Lowe’s took care of the request. 

McMillan told Warner to give her a number on how much of each item she needed. The folks from Alabama gave Warner an estimate but would have been glad to get anything they could, she said. 

Warner said Lowe’s came through with 35 pairs of work gloves, 30 masks, 30 pairs of safety glasses and protective suits, along with 10 rakes and six wheelbarrows. 

“I went there for whatever I might get, and they gave us exactly what I needed,’’ Warner said. 

McMillan, who saw the damage Hurricane Matthew did to Hope Mills, said Lowe’s isn’t just a for-profit organization. We are an organization that is there specifically to take care of the community,’’ she said. “We position ourselves to be available, especially in areas that are impacted.’’ 

McMillan said Warner has been an avid supporter of Lowe’s since it came to Hope Mills as well as a good customer. “When she came, we knew there was going to be a need in the community,’’ McMillan said. “We wanted to be there to support the community from Lowe’s perspective and to be able to support the mayor as well.’’ 

McMillan said it comes down to basic human kind­ness. “We care about our communities. We live in our communities, and we want to make sure everything gets back to normal as quickly as possible and that those in need have the ability to provide solutions for themselves as quickly as possible,’’ she said. 

“They have become a great team member of Hope Mills,’’ Warner said. 

As for cleanup of the entire town, Warner said Hope Mills is ahead of where it was after Hurricane Matthew came through.

“I believe the difference between Matthew and Florence is we were prepared,” Warner said. “People have started signing on to FEMA because they have the contact information. We already have trash and debris pickup.”

Photo: A group from the Hope Mills Lowe’s (left) helped provide supplies for volunteers who came from the Alabama Baptist State Convention (right) 

Americans watched in horror last week as the U.S. Senate Judiciary Commit­tee contorted itself over the nomination of Brett Kava­naugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a woman from his distant past, has accused the nominee of sexual assault, and the commit­tee heard from both the accuser and the accused. Both gave emotional and riveting testimony to the committee. No matter whether one believes Ford is a blatant liar or Kavanaugh is either that or a blackout drinker, the entire process was excruciating to watch. 

Decades ago, I was part of a small group of women who founded Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County, an agency that continues to provide coun­seling and other support services to victims of sexual assault, both women and men. 

Here is what I know from my own experiences and from factual data from the U.S. Justice Department and its various data reporting arms. 

Nearly a quarter of a million Americans 12 and older are victims of sexual assault every year, with the highest risk being between the ages of 12-34. About 10 percent of them are men. All victims of a completed rape sustain physical injuries as do many victims of other sexual assaults. In addition, victims are three times more likely to suffer depression and six times more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder than non-victims. 

More than half of all sexual assaults are reported to have occurred in the victim’s home or in the home of a friend, rela­tive or neighbor between 6 p.m. and midnight. The closer the relationship between the victim and the assaulter, the less likely the assault is to be reported. Two-thirds of all assault­ers are known to their victims. Stanford University research finds that about 2 percent of sexual assault claims are false, making 98 percent true, though only about 40 percent are reported to authorities. 

Our nation’s highly charged and toxic partisan poli­tics have victimized both Ford and Kavanaugh. It has exposed a woman apparently motivated by the good of her nation and a man with a long and distinguished career and turned them into puppets for partisan purposes. Their lives and those of their families will never be the same after national exposure and result­ing death threats. Republicans in Washington, D.C., see Ford as a Democratically controlled Jenny-come-lately obstructionist trying to block decades-old plans to control federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Democrats see Kavanaugh as a pawn of the right wing, whose appointment could hijack our nation’s highest court for a generation. Both of them – indeed all Americans – are being jerked around by a handful of U.S. Senators while they attempt to strong-arm enough votes to confirm Kavanaugh. 

All any of us can do is watch and wait while the power struggle continues behind closed doors in Washington. The cold, hard reality is that even with an FBI investigation, truncated as it may be, we may never know more truth than we know now. This painful episode may go down in history as “she said, he said” forever. 

One way or another, Ford and Kavanaugh will eventually exit our national stage’s glaring spotlight. What will remain and continue to poison us is the toxicity of our highly charged partisan politics. Two emotional women identifying themselves as survi­vors of sexual assault confronted Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona in a Capitol elevator last week, with one demanding, “Look at me and tell me that it doesn’t matter what happened to me. Don’t look away from me.” 

She was talking about sexual assault, but we can­not look away from our political reality either. 

The partisan politics that everyone despises has so tainted our public life that we are allowing it to undermine the foundation of our country. If we or our elected representatives cannot act for the good of country over the good of party, we are endanger­ing our democracy.

Photo: Judge Brett Kavanaugh 

Jalen Broadhurst 

Jack Britt• Football• Senior

Broadhurst has a 4.45 weighted grade point average. In addition to playing football, he’s a member of the youth chapter of the Sandhills Red Cross. 

Alaina Kazmierczak 

Jack Britt• Cheerleader• Senior

Kazmierczak has a 4.25 weighted grade point average. She’s a mem­ber of Key Club and National Honor Society. She’s also a member of her church choir.

Every year, The CARE Clinic hosts a dinner – an Evening of CARE. It is a fun, intimate evening of food and fellowship. Local residents assume the responsibility of hosting and serv­ing a dinner. The hosts choose how many guests they can accommodate, many opening their homes for the evening. They provide the location, beverages and appetizers while The CARE Clinic provides the main meal - unless the hosts wish to do that as well. While the dinner is not until Feb. 2, now is the time to sign up to be a host (or to purchase tickets). 

“This fundraiser is unique because you are doing it in your own home and you can do it any way you want,” said Cynthia Deere, The CARE Clinic development and marketing direc­tor. “When it started 22 years ago, hosts were holding it in their homes and using fine china and crystal. That has changed. Last year, we had a host who did the dinner, and after everyone ate, there was a band and firepit outside. They basically threw a party. We had people who, because the next day was the Super Bowl, they did a pre-party. You can do a game night or a girl’s night out. It doesn’t have to be a formal affair. 

“We want to get young people involved and let them know they can have fun with it. We do have people who still do the formal dinners, and we love that, too. Put your own spin on it.” 

Deere noted that the host gives a brief explanation about the purpose of the dinner and what The CARE Clinic does. 

Two years ago, because of Hurricane Matthew, a number of host homes could not participate. This is a concern this year as well because of Hurricane Florence. 

“We would really like to see people sign up to host. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Deere said. “There are many people that have either hosted or attended the event since the beginning. If you are not able to host a dinner on this specific date, you could hold it the following weekend and provide your own food.” 

In 2018, the Evening of CARE raised more than $60,000. 

“What many people don’t realize is that it costs about $44,000 a month just to keep The CARE Clinic doors open,” said Deere. “So, if this raises $60,000, that is only six weeks of ser­vice to people. 

“The biggest need we have is phar­maceuticals. Our patients who come in and need medicines like antibiot­ics, diabetes medications or things like that, can get them filled with us at no cost to them.” 

The clinic offers multiple services ranging from basic medical care and chiropractic care to commu­nity resource information, social services and limited referrals to specialists. To be seen at The CARE Clinic, patients must be: an adult; be uninsured; meet a household income requirement; and have a valid and current NC DMV picture ID or license. 

Patients of the clinic seeking a medical appointment must call between Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For dental appoint­ments, patients must call on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Patients are seen every Tuesday and Thursday as well as the second and fourth Wednesday evenings. 

Visit www.thecareclinic.org or call 910-485-0555 for more information about how to become involved with The CARE Clinic and the Evening of Care.

In the Fayetteville community and all over the world, people rise up and dedicate their time and resources to serve and protect those who can’t protect them­selves. Fayetteville’s Child Advocacy Center runs with this mission in mind. In that spirit, Saturday, Oct. 13, the CAC presents its fifth annual Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse at the Metropolitan Room in downtown Fayetteville. This fundraiser and others like it help the CAC keep its services for survivors of abuse and their families free of charge. 

The CAC works with 19 community agencies, from the District Attorney’s office to Cumberland County Schools, to support child abuse victims. Its integrated system allows the CAC to work with children in the most empathetic and efficient way possible. 

Guests to the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction are encouraged to dress up and attend wearing creative masks. As in past years, awards will be given for best mask in the categories of male, female, couple, group, overall ensemble and most unique. There will also be a DJ, dancing, a photo booth and delicious food and drinks. 

For many, the evening’s highlight is the live and silent auctions. Trips, pack­ages and various items will be up for grabs. 

Trips to bid on include luxurious vacation packages for stays in Bali, Argentina, Belize, Italy, Tuscany, Canada, California, Alaska and Kentucky. As an exam­ple of what these packages offer, the trip to Tuscany is an eight-day, seven-night stay at a five-bedroom restored 16th century villa in Cortona. A dinner and wine pairing prepared by a master chef is included. “A group of five couples could go in on this trip and have the possibility of winning a vacation of a life­time at a very affordable price,” said CAC Executive Director Roberta Humphries. 

Other locations include activities like scuba div­ing, wine-tastings, spa treatments and more. A 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Tournament experience will also be auctioned off. 

Smaller auction items include fine jewelry, North Carolina athletic event tickets, fitness classes or rec­reation experiences, events at the Crown Complex, restaurant offerings, gift baskets and more. Nearly 50 local business donated these items. 

Volunteer committee members Sue Perkins and Sharon Mozingo headed up the search for culinary sponsors, and their results will not disappoint. The evening’s diverse food spread will be provided by Evans Catering, Inc.; R Burger; Chris’s Steak House; Sherefé; Sammio’s Italian Restaurant; Metro Diner; Agape Bakery; Southern Coals; and Burney’s Sweets & More. Guests can look forward to enjoy­ing a spread and dip buffet, bacon and blue cheese sliders, pork medallions, chicken pot pie, mac and cheese, shrimp ceviche, spanakopita, croissants, pinwheel cookies and more. 

Emily Herring, chair of the event, said there’s no question that the evening will be enjoyable, but that the real point of it all is to serve the children. “It’s a fun time for everyone, but it’s benefitting a cause that is truly (remarkable),” she said. “I want people to know that what they are paying to come experience is helping children feel safer, (giving) them a voice. 

“Those children and their families can get the help they need because of this event and other events like it that the advocacy center puts on.” 

Tickets to the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction on Oct. 13 cost $100 per individual, $175 per couple and $1,200 for a table of eight. They can be purchased in person at the CAC at 222 Rowan St. or online at www.CACFayNC.org.

Labor Day historically launches annual election campaigning. This year’s election is a so-called off-year, or midterm, election because it is midway through the term of the U.S. president. It’s an off year for Fayetteville City Council, but impor­tant county and state elections will be held in November. 

October is an important and busy month for the fall election. Voter registration in Cumberland County closes Oct. 12. Residents who cast ballots on a regular basis remain per­manently registered so long as they continue to vote. The board of elec­tions periodically purges those who do not vote from the books. 

Wednesday, Oct. 17, one stop voting begins for the November election. It’s a two-week early voting period that ends at 1 p.m. Oct. 31. 

The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail for the general election is Oct. 30. Absentee ballots, which are the last to be counted, can be delivered two ways, either by hand to the board of elections no later than 5 p.m., Nov. 5, or by mail. Mailed ballots must be postmarked and received no later than the third day following the general election to be counted. 

Also on Nov. 5, ballot requests for the sick and disabled begin at 8 a.m. 

The first Tuesday in November, which is the 6th, is election day. 

There’s a popular expression that all elections are local, and that’s never more important than in off years. Elec­tions in the United States are adminis­tered in a highly decentralized process through which each state shapes its own election laws, which in turn shape the roles counties play. The nation’s 3,069 counties traditionally administer and fund elections at the local level, in­cluding overseeing polling places and coordinating poll workers for federal, state and local elections. 

This is an off year for presidential and North Carolina gubernato­rial elections, but voter turnout will determine who at least one new local congressman will be. The state’s 9th Congressional district is without an incumbent. The 8th Congressional district is also up for grabs, but a three-term incumbent has the edge. There is no U.S. Senate race this year. 

The two state senators represent­ing Cumberland County in the North Carolina General Assembly, one a Democrat and the other a Republi­can, face challengers. The four mem­bers of the North Carolina House of Representatives have opponents. Cumberland County’s appointed sheriff is being challenged and is seeking election for the first time. The district attorney does not have an op­ponent. Two women are running for the Superior Court clerk’s office, one of whom is serving in an appointed position. Three local superior court judges and seven lower court district judges are up for election. 

Cumberland County Commis­sioners serve staggered terms. This year, the three incumbents elected at large face challenges from two oth­ers. The two incumbent candidates elected from District 1 have in effect been re-elected since they have no opposition. 

The board of education is structured similarly. This year, the three at-large members are seeking re-election. The six board members elected from indi­vidual districts are in an off year. 

For information about where or how to vote, visit http://www. co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/ election-group/elections.

Editor’s note: The following submis­sion is in reference to Rep. Billy Richard­son’s opinion piece titled “Profit before people? No thanks, Smithfield!” which ran in the Sept. 19, 2018, issue of Up & Coming Weeky. 

Livestock farms stink. They always have. 

We should be extremely grateful for hog, poultry, cattle and dairy farmers who are willing to work long days in tough conditions to provide food for our tables. 

Recent outrageous and excessive jury awards against the hog industry in our state threaten to put farmers out of business, so it is important that those representing us in the North Carolina General Assembly understand the appropriate role of government in ad­dressing this challenge. 

Sound public policy is needed – not reckless spending. 

A battle has been brewing in the North Carolina hog industry for some time. It boiled over this spring. The story really started several years ago when a group of attorneys developed legal arguments that would allow them to circumvent caps on the amount of punitive damages a jury could award - legal arguments that allowed for a $50 million judgment this spring on behalf of 10 homeown­ers living near hog farms. The appeals process may reduce that amount to $2.5 million, but more plaintiffs have been recruited, and their cases are awaiting trial. Total jury awards could reach half a billion dollars. 

The problem is clear. Homeowners living near hog farms have been able to secure judgments many times greater than the entire value of their home and property – something that our laws never intended. 

Our legislature did the right thing during short session this year. They changed the law. Judgments in any future lawsuits for “nuisance” livestock odors may no longer exceed the total value of the property exposed to the natural consequences of livestock operations nearby. That is good public policy. We should not be punishing our farmers who are fol lowing the rules in place. 

There have not been any new hog operations permitted in North Carolina the past 20 years, so the sparse populations nearby are not just figuring out there is a hog farm around. Yet, many lawsuits remain in the pipeline, and the agenda driving them is searching for an agreed path forward. 

What ought to be clear is that it is not the respon­sibility of taxpayers here and across the state to come up with what is likely to be hundreds of mil­lions of dollars for new state-of-the-art technology that can contain most of the odors. The hog industry is a highly profitable business controlled by multi-national corporations, who need our farmers. 

Rep. Billy Richardson has proposed asking Governor Roy Cooper to call a special legislative session, so that the General Assembly can appro­priate taxpayer dollars for upgrade costs of nearly 2,300 hog operations in North Carolina. He wants to use millions of dollars from our state’s rainy day fund to provide matching money for the upgrades that will reduce odors. 

This is where sound public policy needs to push back. It is not the respon­sibility of the taxpayers in North Caro­lina to retro-fit hog lagoons. And, Rep. Richardson is wrong to suggest spending down rainy day funds intended to carry us through the next economic downturn or natural disaster. 

It was just a decade ago that recession struck, and despite the highest tax rates in the southeast at that time, our state did not have sufficient funds to meet payroll. Teacher pay was cut in May and June 2009, and remained frozen for five years, while our state repaid a $2.6 bil­lion debt, and climbed out of the hole. All because we had been spending and borrowing so freely that we had little in reserve. We are only now able to offer substantial pay raises that will once again allow our teachers here to earn above the national average pay – for the first time in a decade. Why? Because our current legislature has not been lured into throw­ing money at problems that are not the responsibility of government to fund. 

If Rep. Richardson is successful in persuading Gov. Cooper to call a special session of the legislature to prioritize hog farm subsidies over critical needs that ARE the responsibility of govern­ment – such as schools and resource officers for our children’s safety – we should insist that the effort be defeated – because it is bad public policy. 

North Carolina families should not be asked to pay for hog industry upgrades that subsidize private production costs – no matter how much we love our bacon.

Gallery 208 has hosted many solo exhibitions by photographers during the last several years. Each artist brings a theme to their work – capturing the beauty of the landscape, a stopped action moment or an unreal circumstance crafted by the use of Photoshop or Light Room. From purist photogra­phers to those who use photographic software, each artist brings an intent. Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 5:30-7 p.m., Gallery 208 will host a reception for photographer Andrew Johnson. The exhibition, “Night Silence: Photographs by Andrew Johnson,” is a masterful group of photographs by an artist who uses the existing light at night to create an alternate reality. 

The public is invited to the reception to meet the artist, hear a brief artist talk and preview a body of work that is unique. Johnson’s photographs lure viewers into looking more closely at something familiar, like a building or a set of doors in the urban or rural landscape. We recognize a familiar subject, but it is as if we are seeing something unfamiliar. The beauty of the light in the photographs contrasts with the conceptual – familiar versus unfamiliar – and we are fixed in a moment of discovery. As in all great works of art, the image succeeds in representing what it does not represent. In other words, the artist is able to transcend the limits of a photograph. 

Johnson is a minimalist. He is not copying what he sees, but he uses photography to transcend a subject – to create an illusion beyond itself. He has crafted a physical presence as well as a story that goes beyond the subject. For me, Johnson distills his experiences in image-making to evoke a new order – one that is distinguished by an illuminating, colored light. 

As viewers, we each bring our sensibilities to the work. Yet Johnson talks about his work from a differ­ent perspective. He shared the following: “For me, shooting at night is a singular experience. It’s not an aloneness. It’s at night, of course, and no one (is) around. But it’s more than that, it’s as if no one else is on Earth and I am consumed by artificial light and the sounds of nature at night. I feel comfort in the absorption of a night environment.” 

He continued, “You don’t usually think about it this way, but light at night can actually create crisp images when the light reacts with different surfac­es, creating dramatic effects. I am drawn to these surfaces, the stillness of the night and surreal effects of artificial light to create a mood.” 

Shane Booth, a professional photographer, is familiar with Johnson’s work, since Johnson was an art student at Fayetteville State University. “Andrew’s works are very complicated,” Booth said. “We, the public, are not used to looking at the world at night and so we don’t pay attention to the ways in which light effects things or places. On the other hand, Andrew is drawn to the light at night. He sees what we do not see. He is drawn to the different temperatures of light rays at night. He captures those temperatures to add a sense of mystery to his content.” 

Booth continued, “Technically, artificial light has the potential to flatten out objects. In Andrew’s case, the light flattens out a doorway, so it becomes a new way of viewing a doorway. As well, artificial light, particularly at night, can mute colors and turn an or­dinary place into a surreal environment. So, Andrew uses this to add emotion to an inanimate object... like a building; he is giving the building a personality by his use of light. As well, he is creating a forebod­ing sense of place by contrasting a dark atmosphere with artificial light. 

“Andrews’s photos are void of people, yet he creates a supernatural presence. In looking at the photos, you may feel as if there is always someone behind you, or behind the door in the photo. In some ways, the artist has created a moment when the viewers become vo­yeuristic; we are not supposed to be at that location, at that time of the night. It’s uncanny. At the same time, tension is mixed with beauty and stillness, and we are memorized to stare at the photo.” 

Photography is a popular medium for untrained artists, especially since cell phone and “selfie” imag­es are easy to produce. In some circles, photography is still underrated when compared to painting or sculpture. But in the hands of an exceptional artist, the photograph becomes the quintessential medium to bring meaning and content to viewers. 

The above is best said in John Berger’s well-known book, “Ways of Seeing.” The author states, “unlike any other visual image, a photograph is not a rendering, an imitation or an interpretation of its subject, but actually a trace of it. No painting or drawing, however naturalist, belongs to its subject in the way that a photograph does.” 

Gallery 208 is excited to introduce this talented lo­cal veteran artist to the community. Johnson served in the U.S. Army for six years before he attended and graduated from Fayetteville State University. After graduation in 2017, he became employed by the city of Fayetteville as its graphic production supervisor. 

Gallery 208 invites everyone to attend the reception to meet the artist. But, if that’s not possible, “Night Silence” will be on exhibit until late December. 

Gallery 208, located at 208 Rowan St., is open Mon­day through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call the gallery at 910-484-6200 for more information.

What explains the staying power of Harper Lee’s book “To Kill a Mockingbird” and the film that starred Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch? 

For some, it is its poignant story of Jean Louise, or “Scout.” Scout’s love and respect for her father, Atticus, gave her the courage to face the dangers and unfairness of a flawed world. For others, it is Atticus him­self and his example of dignity, kind­ness and courage. 

But things are much more compli­cated according to a new book, “Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters: What Harper Lee’s Book and the Iconic American Film Mean to Us Today,” by Tom Santopietro. 

“Mockingbird’s” staying power is evidenced by its inclusion on PBS’ list of 100 novels in contention for selection as America’s best-loved book. The list is a part of PBS’ “Great American Read” broadcast series airing on UNC-TV September through October. 

That staying power is remark­able, according to Santopietro because in “the nearly 60 years since Mockingbird was originally pub­lished, the world has changed much more than the previous 300 years combined.” 

Santopietro gives us a biography of the “Mockingbird” phenomenon. He takes us to Harper Lee’s home­town, Monroeville, Alabama, and introduces us to the friends, family and neighbors who were models for the characters of her book. Readers also learn about Harper-Lee’s gentle home life and her town’s oppressive segregated social system. 

Readers learn how the book was written, how it was sold to a publisher and how it took the country by storm. They also learn how the movie was made, includ­ing the key casting decisions that brought Gregory Peck onboard and how a North Carolina woman from Reidsville, Alice Lee “Boaty” Boatwright, made the key selec­tion of a 9-year-old Birmingham, Alabama, girl who had no acting experience to play Scout. 

Santopietro describes how “Go Set a Watchman,” a sequel or a pre­quel to “Mockingbird” written in the 1950s, came to be discovered in 2014 and published the following year. That book shocked readers with its very different look at Atticus Finch, the hero of “Mockingbird.” 

In “Watchman,” Atticus is shown, in the words of Isabel Wilkerson, as a “gentleman bigot.” He is a supporter of the White Citizens Council and a firm opponent of the court-ordered desegregation of public schools and the efforts to open public accommo­dations to African-Americans. 

Santopietro asserts that the Atticus of “Watchman” resembles “no one as much as Strom Thurmond.” 

He continues, “Like Thurmond, Atticus here seems to believe that the worst of all possible worlds lies in any involvement on the part of the federal government, an evil topped in his mind only by the participation of the NAACP.” 

A better model for “Watchman’s” Atticus than the sometimes mean-spirited Thurmond might be I. Beverly Lake, the segregationist can­didate who opposed Terry Sanford in the 1960 North Carolina gover­nor’s race. Lake sincerely believed in segregation, and like Atticus, he was a gentleman. In fact, according to John Drescher in his “Triumph of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat a Champion of Segregation and Reshaped The South,” Lake support­ed the liberal Frank Porter Graham in the 1950 race for U.S. Senate and condemned the racist attacks from the campaign of Graham’s opponent. 

According to Drescher, “Lake’s personal and public generosity was part of his appeal as a candidate and set him apart from other leading Southern segregationists of the 1950s and 60s. He was not a hater.” 

The racial views of Lake in the 1950s were like those of Harper Lee’s father, A.C., the model for Atticus. According to Santopietro, these men “represented the typical white south­ern male viewpoint in the 1950s.” 

Can we still honor the contribu­tions and good qualities of those who held to this discredited view­point of their times? 

If not, “Mockingbird” will slip off the lists of best-loved books.

Photo: Gregory Peck played Atticus Finch in the film adaptation.