With “Music City,” Cape Fear Regional Theatre proves once again that audiences don’t have to travel far to get top-notch entertainment in Fayetteville. The season opener delivers a fun show full of song and dance, with a talented cast and crew. 

Written by Peter Zinn with music and lyrics by J.T. Harding, the show is directed by CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke.

Featuring five No. 1 Country Billboard hits penned by Harding, “Music City” is the “Mamma Mia” of country music. 

Set in 2000, “Music City” is the story of brothers TJ and Drew (Dez Duron and Jonathan Judge-Russo), who perform every Friday night at the Wicked Tickle bar, working hard to become the next Nashville sensa-tion. Eager to make enough money for a demo recording for a record producer, they make some bad choices and become indebted to a local drug dealer.

When the brothers meet a young singer named 23 (Kaylyn Marie Scardefield) at open mic night, TJ falls head over heels, and the trio form a group they call Dickerson Pike. TJ joins the National Guard to earn money to repay the drug dealer. Then, just as Dickerson Pike is on the edge of reaching their dreams, the attacks of 9-11 happen and TJ is deployed overseas.

“Music City” is a love story, but it also navigates the challenges faced when trying to protect, and eventu-ally forgive, loved ones battling their own demons. From beginning to end, “Music City” is a good time, even when your heart is breaking for the characters. 

Burke rounded up some incredi-ble talent for this production. These folks could be singing the recipe for gravy and biscuits and it would sound fantastic. There is twang, to be sure, but it is fun, unique and utterly amazing.

If you are not a big country music fan, not to worry. The lyrics and music so superbly support the story, it doesn’t matter which genre they come from. Although Harding’s hits have been recorded by the likes of Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Blake Shelton, the performances in “Music City” rival even those coun-try music icons. 

There were crowd pleasers that got feet tapping and hands clapping like “Y’allsome,” “Friday Night,” and “We Are Young.” Also included were “Somewhere with You,” “Sangria” and “Different for Girls.”

Duron and Scardefield brought down the house with “Smile.” The heartbreaking “For This Town” sung by Catherine Porter, playing 23’s mother Tammy, was perhaps the most emotionally powerful tune in the show.

Director Burke brought in Emmy-winner Tyce Diorio of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame as choreog-rapher. Diorio’s work is fresh, ener-getic, artistic and full of emotion. The choreography is a character all its own in “Music City.” The beauti-ful and at times sentimental shadow ballet of “Somewhere in my Car” was a highlight of the show for me. 

Also commendable is the ensemble cast lead by local stage veterans Greg King and Nicki Hart. They add personality and flair to the group of talented performers, which includes Demetrius Jackson, Tishmone,’ Sydney Moss, Tuck Sweeney, Sean Patrick Grady and Stephanie Feeback.

“Music City” runs through Oct. 7. There are a few scenes with strong language and drug use. For more information, visit www.cfrt.org or call 910-323-4233.

 Homestead

In September 1945, the Homestead Hurricane caused widespread damage in coastal North Carlina. What then became a tropical storm system produced heavy rainfall over the state, peaking at 14.8 inches in Rockingham in the period Sept. 13-18. The storm led to drenching rainfall, which saturated grounds. The Cape Fear River came out of its banks after cresting in Fayetteville to a record height of 68 feet, causing massive urban flooding along Person Street to Market Square. Fort Bragg soldiers used Army boats to make rescues. 

Hazel

On Oct. 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel made landfall near the North Carolina/South Carolina border with a 40-mile eye. Landfall intensity was estimated at 140 mph, or a Category 4, on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The eye of Hazel was tracked across sev-eral communities in North Carolina, including Fayetteville, as the system continued northward. The storm proceeded through Virginia and Maryland to Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York. Ha-zel is the benchmark by which hurricanes have been measured in eastern North Carolina, until now.

Unnamed storm

On Sept. 15, 1989, a localized, violent cluster of severe thunderstorms stalled over the city of Fayetteville. Intense rainfall – as much as 7.2 inches in six hours according to the National Weather Service – fell in parts of the city. The resulting runoff severed gates at the Clark Pond dam and breached dams at Country Club Lake, Evans Lake and Lock-wood Pond, resulting in flash floods that struck much of the city without warning. A dozen earthen dams were also breached. Two small children drowned when they and five others tried to abandon their stalled minivan on Morganton Road. 

By the time the water receded, 925 acres in the city along Cross and Blounts Creeks and their tributaries had been inundated. It was the most extensive flood in Fayetteville since 1945, with much of the damage resulting from flooding of the Cape Fear River. The event occurred one week before Hurricane Hugo struck the Carolinas.

Fran

Hurricane Fran occurred in September 1996. Fran peaked as a 120 mph, Category 3 hurricane Sept. 5. She weakened slightly before making landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina. The eye of the storm passed over Clinton, 30 miles east of Fayetteville. Local winds were recorded at 80 mph. Rain of up to 16 inches deluged interior North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Overall, 27 fatalities and $5 bil-lion in damage was attributed to Fran. In North Carolina, 1.3 million people were left without power, including thousands in the greater Fayetteville area. 

Matthew

On Oct. 3, 2016, the governors of Florida and North Carolina declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Matthew approached. The next day, South Carolina’s governor ordered an evacuation of residents living within 100 miles of the coast. Twenty-five people died in storm-related incidents across North Carolina. More than 680,000 North Carolinians were without power at one point. Sec-tions of Interstate 95 in the tar heel state had to be shut down for several days as a result of hurricane flooding. Just as happened in the fall of 1989, one week before Hurricane Matthew, 10 inches of rain had drenched Cumberland and adjoining counties. Matthew dumped another 14 inches. The Lumber River reached a record 24 feet in Lumberton. 

Florence

Were it not for the Jordan Dam opened 35 years ago on the Cape Fear River in Chatham County, this month’s flooding of the river in Fayetteville would likely have equaled or exceeded that of 1945. The river rose to within a foot of the Person Street bridge in downtown Fayetteville. Cross Creek and Blount’s creeks came out of their banks, flooding nearby ar-eas. Most reports indicated that Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission restored electricity to its service area faster than other power providers that serve some areas of Cumberland County. 

The city and FEMA this week began collecting storm-related debris. Residents are asked to be patient with storm debris pickup; it may take weeks to be completed. The Jordan Dam and Lake can be traced to the Homestead Hurricane, which became a tropical storm that struck the Cape Fear River Basin 73 years ago. Construction began in 1967, and con-gress named the project in 1973 in honor of B. Everett Jordan the former Senator from North Carolina.

Everybody talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. Someone out on The Internets said that the prolonged waiting for Hurricane Florence to hit was like being stalked by a turtle. I would give them credit for the phrase, but I can’t remember where I saw it, so I will steal it instead. 

As you may have noticed, we have had a bit of weather lately. We are now having 100-year storms every two years. Like Bob Dylan wrote, “Something is happening here/ And you don’t know what it is/ Do you, Mr. Jones?” 

These repeated weather events are getting old. Back in the good old days, when Willard Scott was in charge of the weather while wishing happy birthday to 100-year-old ladies, we never had hurricanes like Florence and Matthew. Willard needs to be recalled to active duty to take control of the weather again. 

The day before Flo hit, I made my daily walk through the FTCC campus. The usual flock of 50+ geese that hang out there was gone with the wind. Magically, the geese knew it was time to get out of town before Flo arrived. Geese are not bird brains. They don’t need a weather forecaster to know which way the wind blows. 

Watching the Flo news in the days before she darkened our doors was borderline depressing. The TV talking heads on the national networks were beside themselves with glee, warning us we were all going to die, and they were going to get great ratings. The local TV anchors were visibly upset as they were talking to viewers who were their neighbors. The network talkers were here for the drive-by gawking to poke at our misery and then leave town. 

The night before Flo hit, I turned off the news and watched the greatest Andy Griffith episode ever made – “Aunt Bea’s Pickles.” Watching Andy and Barney stuffing down Aunt Bea’s kerosene cucum-bers in order not to stomp on Clara’s dream of winning the best-in-show pickles for the 12th time at the County Fair was greatly calming. 

The boys replace Bea’s bad pickles with store-bought pickles so they won’t have to eat Bea’s abominations. After hearing Andy rave about her pickles, Bea decides to enter the pickle contest, not realizing that her zombie pickles have been replaced. Andy and Barney think this is funny at first until Andy hears from Clara how much winning the pickle contest means to her. 

Andy realizes that he can’t let Aunt Bea’s store-bought pickles beat Clara. Andy explains a great truth: “What is small potatoes to some folks can be mighty important to others.” The boys eat the store-bought pickles. Aunt Bea makes a new batch of her homemade pickles, which lose to Clara. All is right with the world as a result. There is no better way to go into a hurricane than after watching Andy Griffith. 

After our power went out, the internet was ablaze with people who had power but were complaining because their cable was out. I was not sympathetic to the fortunate but cable-deprived upper crust. Our street had power at both ends while we remained an island of darkness in a sea of lighted homes. Without power, we were plunged back into the 13th century. Living in a world lit only by fire, our matches were all soaked. And yet, we had a house and were alive. All over North Carolina, tragedies were unfold-ing as people lost their lives, homes and livelihoods. Grousing about a lack of electricity paled in comparison to the flood of real sorrow in North Carolina. 

The first morning after Flo hit was caffeine-free at our house due to no power. Fortunately, Waffle House was open. The federal government uses Waffle House reopening as a measure of how bad a disaster is. Waffle Houses are designed to function off the grid. There was a large and very wet but polite crowd waiting for Waffle House delica-cies. Armed with two large cups of coffee, I was prepared to meet the day. 

We whiled away the daylight hours sitting on the front porch watching cars go by, hoping to see an out-of-state license plate. Our basement collected knee-deep slimy water, which I waded into to set up a sump pump. I fully expected to see the Loch Ness monster charge out of a dark corner of the basement. 

You find out who your friends are in a hurricane. We got invited to eat and to use showers at the homes of Kiwanis members who had electricity. My political leanings are well to the left of the people who invited us in, and yet we were welcomed. A hot shower may be small potatoes most of the time. But like Androcles and the Lion, I will always remember who pulled the thorn out of my wet paw during Flo. 

It’s going to be a long recovery. Do what you can to help out. As Andy Griffith said, “What is small potatoes to some folks can be mighty important to others.”

 Natural disasters like Hurricane Florence often bring out the best in people despite the misery of thousands. Hundreds of Fayetteville-area residents were forced into shelters during the height of the storm last week. Many still have no other place to stay as they recover from the floods that inundated Cumberland County and rural eastern North Carolina. Local residents, businesses and organizations took the lead helping victims of the storms, especially those displaced from their homes.

Cape Fear Flooring and Restoration is one of those businesses. Owners Thomas Foldesi and Amie Crouter began receiving calls even before Florence struck. Both are veterans and responded immediately with disaster-related services, answering hurricane questions and assisting with damage restoration. Business Relations Director Casey Schaffer said, “We have the tools, equipment and know-how to help, and (we) want to make sure our community is safe and taken care of. A lot of what we do is getting people dry to prevent further damage.” The company donated some services to local residents during the hurricane.

In downtown Fayetteville, the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau teamed up with Papa Murphy’s of Cumberland and Wake counties to feed those in need. Thursday, Sept. 20, Papa Murphy’s was on location at the Person Street Visitor’s Center handing out free pizza and bottled water donated by the Wake County Community. 

“We have seen firsthand the hit that the Cumberland County com-munity has taken during Hurricane Florence, and … we have partnered with Papa Murphy’s Cumberland County locations to give citizens a warm meal and clean water,” said Angie Brady, director of tourism/cli-ent relations at FACVB. 

The Highlands Chapter of the Red Cross in Fayetteville depended on local caterers to help families who were temporarily homeless and living in half a dozen shelters throughout the county. One of the participating companies was Two Brothers Catering, which prepared a thousand meals the first day the shelters were opened. Red Cross vol-unteers picked up the meals at Two Brothers’ kitchen, and with the help of dozens of volunteers, distributed them among the shelters. 

Brad McLawhorn and his brother Kelley own Two Brothers. As of this writing, they have prepared more than 8,000 meals made up of hot dogs, pasta, and chicken nuggets with mashed potatoes and green beans. 

The Red Cross subsidizes the cost, which doesn’t begin to cover the total expenses for food and prepa-ration. However, it doesn’t matter to the McLawhorns. “It’s a Godly obligation to assist those in need,” Brad said. 

The McLawhorns began their catering business 12 years ago. They opened a 6,000-square-foot catering, event and banquet facility on Katie Street about a year ago. It’s called The Vine and now serves as their base of operations. Besides hurricane relief, they intend to host local special events such as weddings, reunions, parties and holiday festivities. 

Stories of outreach, rescue and kindness in the aftermath of Florence could fill this entire publication. We live in a community that cares about its residents and takes care of them, and where PWC, city and county first responders work diligently to-gether in a coordinated effort to keep people safe.

Photo: Brad (far left) and Kelley (far right) McLawhorn of Two Brothers catering were two of many business owners who stepped up to help fellow citizens during Hurricane Florence. They were aided in their efforts by Sen. Wesley Meredith (center).

Some people simply love going to the movies. Others dream of making films themselves. Many in both camps want to explore stories and genres they can’t find at mainstream theaters. Fayetteville has its own film festival that creators Pat Wright and Jan Johnson debuted in 2016 for just these reasons. Indigo Moon Film Festival returns to downtown Fayetteville Oct. 12-14, offering a chance to meet many of the filmmakers responsible for the more than 70 films that will be shown. The films represent local, regional, national and international talent. 

The festival kicks off Friday, Oct. 12, with the opening night film and reception. Watch Susan Kucera’s docu-mentary “Living in the Future’s Past” at Cameo Art House Theatre from 7-9 p.m. Narrated and produced by Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, “Living in the Future’s Past” explores concepts about humankind and Earth’s inhabitants in relation to the past, present and future. Then, stroll over to SkyView on Hay to mingle with filmmakers and enthusi-asts while enjoying drinks, light fare and live music. 

Saturday is the longest and fullest day of the festival. Over the course of about 13 hours, 70-plus films will be shown at various locations in downtown Fayetteville. The films range from 2 minutes to 2 hours long and include a wide range of genres. Categories are narrative feature or narrative short, documentary feature or documentary short, student and animation. 

“It was very difficult this year because we had so many great submissions,” Wright said. “We got (submissions) from around the world: the Russian Federation, (former) Yugoslavia, India, Greece, Romania.”

Films at the festival from North Carolina-based creatives include “27 West,” “Almost Cured,” “Birds of the Sky,” “Calcutta Mercy,” “Facing Navassa,” “Ground Zero Goldsboro,” “Introduction,” “Learning Man,” “Robeson Rises,” “The Maestro,” “This Time It’s Shopping” and “Lens Flare.” Many of these films involve state-specific stories, themes, social issues and locations. 

Directors of many of the films will be present for 30-minute Q&A sessions following the screenings. “That’s one of the cool things about a film festival; you’ve got the filmmakers on-site talking about why they made the decisions or how they got that shot or what their motivation was,” Wright said. “You can ask any question you want.” Nearly all the North Carolina-based filmmakers are planning to be present for the Q&A sessions, along with others who will travel from out of state and out of country. 

“Last year,” Johnson said, “We had 44 filmmakers come and had only built in 15 minutes for Q&A. People were wanting to stay and ask more and more questions. And we felt like this was the really special thing about film festivals, so we wanted to add more time.” 

She and Wright won’t be sure of how many directors will attend this year until about 2 weeks before the festival, but she added that films’ editors, cinematographers and actors sometimes attend as well.

In addition to the Q&A sessions, festival-goers and casual passersby alike are invited to attend free “Out Takes” on Saturday, half-hour sessions where film industry professionals share insight on various topics. At Revolutionary Coworking (the Sustainable Sandhills office) is “How to Change the World Through Film” from 12:15-12:45 p.m. and “Coal Ash” from 5:45-6:15 p.m. 

At SkyView on Hay is “Doing Distribution” from 12:15-12:45 p.m. and “Why Every Director Needs a Producer” from 5:45-6:15 p.m.

All festival venues are within easy walking distance of each other, inviting attendees to make a day of it and browse downtown’s shops and eateries in between viewings. Wright and Johnson said they’re proud of the event’s walkability. “We’ve become a certified Green Festival,” Johnson said, referring to a designation given by the NC GreenTravel Initiative. “It’s really critical in this day and age that we all do everything we possibly can to reduce our carbon footprint.” She added that the opening night film “is all about what we all can do to save our beautiful planet.” 

The festival, which partnered with PWC and Sustain-able Sandhills in going green, will rely on recycling and composting for waste disposal. There will also be a Green Demonstration Area adjacent to Revolutionary Coworking, the film’s “Green Venue” that will specifically host films relating to environmental concerns. Visit the Green Demonstration Area to get information and freebies from environmental groups across the region. 

Sunday, come back to celebrate and reflect at the Awards BBQ Banquet. At 11:30 a.m., at SkyView on Hay, enjoy a barbecue meal with vegan-friendly options, then watch the presentation of audience awards and jury awards for each film category. Audience awards come with a $200 cash prize. Juried award winners receive a beautifully designed trophy along with the coveted laurel leaves. Laurel leaves are visual markers on trailers and posters for award-winning indie films. Throughout the rest of the day, three encore screenings at the Cameo will include the juried winning entries along with the opening night film. 

It’s not too early to start planning to submit for next year’s festival. This year’s submission period ran from March-May 2018 and into July for late and extended deadlines. Notification of acceptance went out at the end of August. 

“More support by local filmmakers makes a better festival,” Johnson said. Her and Wright’s efforts represent just one example of local visionaries helping to build a community that brings creatives in rather than forcing them to seek opportunities and growth elsewhere.

IMFF film screening venues are the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County at 301 Hay St.; Cameo Art House Theatre and The Loge at 225 Hay St.; Hay Street United Methodist Church at 320 Hay St.; and the Sustainable Sandhills office at Revolutionary Coworking at 100 Hay St. Parking is free in the Franklin Street Parking Deck or in the Maiden Lane lot across from Cumberland County Public Library Headquarters Branch. Street parking is also free after 5 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. 

The Rainbow Room at 223 Hay St. serves as box office, logo merchandise sales and volunteer check-in. For $100 ($90 for military, student or senior), the VIP All-Access Pass grants entry to all the festival’s films and events. Tickets to the opening night film and party are $25. Individual tickets to any film or shorts block except the opening night film cost $10 ($9 for military, student or senior). Tickets to the Awards BBQ Banquet are $15. 

Purchase tickets online at https://squareup.com/ store/indigomoonff. Click “Shop” and “Tickets & Festival Events.” Pick up online purchases during box office hours of Oct. 11, noon-6 p.m.; Oct. 12, noon-7 p.m.; Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Passes and tickets are non-refundable. 

Visit www.indigomoonfilmfestival.com for a full list of films and showtimes and for more information.

Editor’s note: This edition of the Hope Mills calendar may be affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Please check to see if events are still scheduled before attending.

Meetings 

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Town Clerk Jane Starling at 910-426-4113. Most meetings take place at Town Hall or the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation center.

• Veterans Committee, Thursday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. Luther Meeting Room at City Hall

Activities

• Hope Mills Area Kiwanis Club at Sammio’s, second Tuesdays at noon and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m. For details, call 910-237-1240. 

• Acrylic painting for seniors Thursday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. until noon or 1-3 p.m. Supplies are $5, and only 10 spots are available. Sign up at the reception desk at the recreation center. Painting will take place in the small activity room. 

• Ole Mills Day 2018 Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more details and vendor in-formation, contact Parks and Recreation Director Kenny Bullock: 910-426-4107 or kwbullock@townofhopemills.com.

• 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 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 but not required. There will be a costume contest and pumpkin decorating contest. Potluck social. Bring main dish, side dish or dessert.

Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

Sometimes I wonder if I have too much time on my hands to think. Perhaps I have not matured enough to understand the nature of things – or maybe I’m just too stubborn to accept them. At what point does a person stop being curious and stop asking questions? Why are things the way they are? I find it difficult to truly understand the whys of the world. 

For example, nationally, why has 

our two-party system of govern-ment become so combative and downright nasty? Unfortunately, this self-serving and contentious divisiveness has taken priority over serving the American people. It’s also difficult to understand why high-ranking politicians and feder-

al employees found guilty of committing crimes and abusing and misusing their government office escape prosecution and never go to jail. 

Why do government officials give credence or credibility to anyone, man or woman, who makes criminal accu-sations against another human being without proof, witnesses, credible col-laboration or the slightest evidence of a pattern of behavior? The case of Dr. Christine Ford versus Brett Kavanaugh comes to mind – especially since her allegations are coming 37 years after the claimed incident. If this were attempted locally, the person or persons making such an accusation would be either sued for defamation of character, laughed out of the police station or charged with filing a false police report. Or, if the case got to court, the judge would rule that the case was frivolous and throw it out. Why would they even allow themselves to go down that rabbit hole? Try it your-self. Pick any date 37 years ago and try to remember where you were and who you were with. 

Has our nation become so politically polarized, insensitive and irresponsible 

that we have abandoned our pride, honor, integrity and common sense? 

Here in North Carolina, with all the computer technology, GPS and mapping devices at our disposal, why can the state lawmakers not create congressional dis-tricts that are fair and equitable? We see blatant, unapologetic partisan politics hindering the state’s ability to effectively address and solve problems. And it is all at the expense of our citizens – especially when it comes to poverty, education, attracting economic development and protecting and preserving our environ-ment and natural resources. 

Why is it that the elimination of pov-erty here and throughout North Carolina is basically considered a Democrat-in-clined initiative? What? Really? Repub-licans don’t care about the poor and underserved? I doubt that. I was invited to a reception next month sponsored by the NC Justice Center, honoring one of Fayetteville’s most respected and re-sponsive citizens – Dr. James Anderson, chancellor of Fayetteville State Univer-sity. Anderson is a great leader and is de-serving of recognition. I appreciate the invitation, and I intend to be there. How-ever, reading the invitation and seeing 

who the event organizers and spon-sors were made me wonder: Where are the Republicans? Are they not in favor of creating an economy that works for everyone? Are they not for economic and social advancement that endorses inclusive policies that advance equity and opportunity? Of course they are. So why are so many prominent Republicans not part of this recognition? It will be interest-ing to see who attends. 

Why is it that only in a time of extreme heartbreak and tragedy like the devastation of the Twin Towers on 9/11 or Hurricanes Matthew and Florence do we demonstrate our natural instincts for charity, toler-ance, love and compassion for our fellow man? Why is it that American 

compassion, cooperation and resilience only emerge in times of desperation when help, patience, love and generosity are in the greatest demand? In situations like these, it does not matter what race, color or sexual orientation you are or what political affiliation you champion. Yet, without such tragedy or disaster looming over us, we seem to care little about the virtues of humanity and think mostly about our self-serving and politi-cally charged selves. 

So many whys and so few answers. Maybe we have some answers but no real solutions – at least none that would be politically prudent. One thing is for certain. In the end, we will all come to understand the importance of the contributions (or lack of them) we have made to humanity. Our children will live with the consequences, good or bad. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Brett Kavanaugh with family

Since coming to South View High School as the school’s ROTC advisor, retired Sgt. Maj. Ruby Murray became aware of a problem. 

“I noticed there were a lot of kids that weren’t getting nutrition, not getting any food whatsoever,’’ she said. 

She was referring to students who did not qualify for either a free or reduced lunch, but still had problems finding enough to eat. 

Murray shared a vision originally pushed by South View’s principal, Dr. Tonjai Robertson, of finding a way to help out those undernourished students who fell through the cracks. 

Over the summer, Murray said she had the idea of coming up with a food pantry created from public donations. 

Now she’s on the way to achieving that goal. 

“Basically, donations will be non­perishable food, stuff for breakfast and lunch,’’ Murray said. The plan is to store the food in a pan­try at South View, then Murray and par­ent volunteers will prepare pre-packed breakfasts and lunches and give them to students who qualify. 

Murray is hoping to get donations from the general public and is also lining up donations from commercial vendors. 

Anyone interested in making a dona­tion to the program can drop off food at South View during regular school hours, or call the school and make arrangements for Murray to come and pick it up. 

For those who would prefer to give monetary donations so Murray can go and purchase the food directly, those will be accepted as well. 

It’s hoped that the program will be up and running by the end of the month. Murray said they are still working out the kinks that will determine which stu­dents at the school will be eligible for the free meals. 

For further infromation on the program, contact Murray at South View at 910-425-8181.

Photo: Retired Sgt. Maj. Ruby Murray

Kayden Antonson 

E.E. Smith • Volleyball • Senior 

Atonson has a 4.26 grade point average and is currently ranked No. 1 in her graduating class. She’s a two-year captain and a four-year starter on the E.E. Smith volley­ball team. She’s also vice president and historian of the National Honor Society. She’s a member of the E.E. Smith Math and Science Academy, Academy of Scholars, Science Olympiad and was part of the Fire Science and Technology Academy at E.E. Smith.

David Platt 

E.E. Smith • Soccer/ wrestling • Sophomore 

Platt has a 3.75 grade point average. He is a two-year starter for the Golden Bull soccer team. He is a member of the E.E. Smith Gaming Club. 

Fayetteville’s mayor said he will establish a city council committee to develop a proposal for county commissioners on the future of sales tax distribution. Both local governments had agreed to settle the issue by next year. Council members hope to renew the current sales tax distribution agreement based on population.

Mayor Mitch Colvin’s idea is to cap the percentage of revenue distribution through 2026. County government by law decides how to distribute the millions of dollars in state sales tax receipts returned to the community by the state. 

The current inter-local distribution agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2019. The towns of Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Stedman, Wade, Falcon, Godwin and Eastover are also parties to the arrangement. They’ve agreed to the current allocation made on a population basis, as well as a 50 percent rebate of city sales taxes to the county in areas annexed by Fayetteville in recent years. 

The rebate is the heart of the issue. City council wants to phase it out and retain all sales tax proceeds received via the population method. 

“I hope that as we approach this, we don’t even let ad valorem enter the vocabulary,” county commission chairman Larry Lancaster said recently. It’s the other method the county could use to allocate funds.

World War II hero dies

Former Staff Sgt. Russell Brown was one of the legendary paratrooperswho made every combat jump during World War II, forever cementing his place in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division. Brown passed away Aug. 31, at the age of 96 in Georgetown, Kentucky, according to his obituary. 

A spokesman for the 82nd Airborne confirmed the Purple Heart recipient was one of the soldiers who parachuted into Salerno and Sicily, Italy, as well as Normandy, France, and Nijmegen, Holland.  

Brown’s story was featured in “Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of the 505th Parachute Infantry” and “All American, All the Way: The Combat History of the 82nd Airborne Division,” nonfiction accounts by Phil Nordyke, who told the story of his time as a mortar squad leader with Brown. After the Army, Brown went to work as an explosives technician at DuPont and Co. He is survived by two daughters, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, according to his obituary.

New police cars

The city police department will soon be replacing about 16 percent of its fleet of cruisers. Unlike many law enforcement agencies, the FPD has avoided switching to SUVs. Chief Gina Hawkins said the department can purchase additional patrol cars with the savings. City council just authorized the purchase of 46 Dodge Chargers at a cost of $1.375 million from Performance Automotive Group of Clinton. It was the low bidder of three dealerships that submitted bids. For several years, the Fayetteville Police Department has been phasing out Fords in favor of Dodge Charger Pursuit models with 5.7-liter Hemi-V8 engines.

Editors Note: Due to Hurricane FLorence this event has been cancelled. 

A touch of Germany is coming to Hope Mills later this month as the Boarding House Treasures & Tea Room on Ellison Street holds its first ever Oktoberfest Beer and Brat Bash. 

Owner Carla Welsh got the idea for the event after frequent visits to the town of Helen, Georgia, which she said is built around German culture and even includes German architecture, shops and food. 

“It’s about as close as you can get to the real Oktoberfest,’’ Welsh said. “They start Oktoberfest in Munich on Sept. 15 and it goes a month and a half. We’re doing this in the last weekend of September.’’ 

Welsh has scheduled her event for Saturday, Sept. 29, from 6-9 p.m. 

Because of limited seating, only 25 people inside the tea room at a time, call ahead and make a res­ervation. The cutoff is Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. After then, you can try to take part, but it will be first come, first served after the folks with reservations are taken care of. 

If the weather’s nice, Welsh said there is limited outdoor seating available. 

Obviously, beer will be a featured attraction at the event. Welsh will offer an assortment of domestic and foreign beers. The list of domestics includes Bud and Bud Lite and Coors and Coors Lite along with Yuengling. The foreign selection includes Corona and Corona Lite, Blue Moon, Guinness Stout and a Dirtbag Mocha Porter. 

Prices for the beers are $3, $4 or $5, Welsh said. 

The main course food items will be bratwurst braised with onions and beer or hot dogs for those who aren’t fond of bratwurst. 

There will be an assortment of sides, including German potato salad, red cabbage with apples, beer cheese and hard pretzels. 

You can put together a meal with bratwurst and one of the main sides for $12, or for $10 you can get a hot dog or bratwurst with the beer cheese or pretzels. 

At press time, Welsh was working to get a live band to play German music during the event, but said that failing that, German music would be pro­vided in some format. 

In addition to the Oktoberfest, Welsh’s husband, Mason, will also be having a sale of the various antiques, collectibles and gifts that are located on the premises. There will be a 20 percent discount on all items available for sale. 

Welsh added that reservations for the Oktoberfest are $10 per person in advance and are not refundable. 

For further information on the event, visit the Facebook page, Boarding House Tea Room. 

To make a reservation, call 910-527-7455.

Editor’s Note: This story was written prior to the arrival of Hurricane Florence in the Fayetteville area the weekend of Sept. 14. 

High school football coaches are used to analyzing film and formulating game plans for each opponent throughout the annual football schedule. 

But Cumberland County coaches were dealing with a host of unknowns recently as they awaited the approach of Hurricane Florence to see how it would impact both their teams and the remainder of the 2018 high school football season. 

Up & Coming Weekly reached out to the coaches of a handful of teams who are near the top of their standings headed into what some were concerned might be a lengthy delay in the season. 

The biggest concern for all of them was the safety and well-being of their fellow coaches and athletes as they braced for a storm some experts suggested could be the worst one ever to strike the region. 

Duran McLaurin of Seventy-First voiced the main concern of all the coaches, worrying for his players who might be displaced by the storm and how the wind and water could do damage to their homes. 

“I’ll be happy to have them back, make sure they are all fine; then we can get back to football,” he said. 

The potential delay is especially frustrating to McLaurin as the Falcons are coming off their first loss of the season, 36-32 at Southern Durham. Prior to that game, Seventy-First had risen to a No. 10 ranking in the first Associated Press state 4-A high school poll of the season. “Having to sit around and wait only makes me ponder on the mistakes we made in the last game,’’ he said. 

But headed into the break, McLaurin’s focus was on safety. “We’re... focusing on things that are important, just looking out for one another,’’ he said. 

South View coach Rodney Brewington, who has the only unbeaten team left among Cumberland County Schools at 4-0, said his players have pledged to run on their own to try and stay in shape if they are away for an extended time following the storm. 

“Football is really secondary and we are hoping nobody loses their homes and everybody can be made whole again,’’ he said. 

His worry when the team does return is what he calls football jet lag. “Tt doesn’t take you long to get out of football shape,’’ he said. “It’s like a kid coming off an injury. He’s a step slow. 

“When you’ve got your whole team away from it, you’re limited as far as what you think you can do.’’ 

Terry Sanford coach Bruce McClelland said routine is critical to success in a high school football team and being out of school unexpectedly is a major disruption. McClelland said Terry Sanford is dealing with multiple injuries of key players and had hoped to spend most of the week of the storm taking advantage of a bye week and giving some younger players work in practice. 

“Not having them on the field to focus is a big concern,’’ McClelland said. But the safety of all the players is the biggest concern, he added, saying several players lost their homes in Hurricane Matthew. 

With big wins in its last two outings, Cape Fear had built some momentum, but Colt coach Jake Thomas and his team are now forced to wait and watch. 

“We tell the kids you can’t worry about things out of your control,’’ he said. “That’s our mindset going ahead. We won’t know anything until this has passed through.’’ 

Thomas hopes his players will go home, watch videos of previous games on the HUDL video service, and possibly, if it’s safe, get outside and practice on their own. But he said the first thing he told them was to go home and ask their parents what they needed to do to secure their homes. 

After player safety, Pine Forest coach Bill Sochovka is concerned how much time all of the teams will have to practice when they return before having to play a game. 

“It was one thing when we were supposed to play on Wednesday,’’ Sochovka said, referring to a plan that had the schools playing the games of Sept. 14 two days earlier before they were postponed indefinitely. “We had two days to practice and we had been practicing all summer,’’ he said. “Now these kids could be sitting, hopefully not a week. Trying to get them back into a groove is somewhat difficult.’’ 

Sochovka was also concerned some of his players weren’t grasping how bad the storm could be. 

“They are waiting to see what happens, to see if it’s for real, and that’s what worries me,’’ he said. 

Photos Top to Bottom: Duran McLaurin; Jake Thomas; Bill Sochovka; Rodney Brewington; Bruce McClelland

In the late 1970s, John Malzone was asked to plan a parade for a local festival that would celebrate the many ethnic and cultural groups that make up Fayetteville’s community. He did so, and he also emceed the festival hosting the parade. That event was Fayetteville’s very first International Folk Festival; it was 1978. In a few weeks, Sept. 28-30, the IFF will cel­ebrate its 40th anniversary in downtown Fayetteville – and Malzone will return as emcee. He’s never missed a year since doing it for the inaugural event. 

This year’s 3-day celebration kicks off with the Arts Council’s Bon Temps Ball on Friday from 7-9 p.m. Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, a Grammy-winning musical group, will bring the spirit of New Orleans-style Mardi Gras onstage at the intersection of Hay Street and Ray Avenue. Simien’s band will also perform Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. 

The parade Malzone created all those years ago, which is today known as the Parade of Nations, takes place Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. on Hay Street. Local people will proudly represent more than 30 countries or cultures, wearing traditional clothing and costumes and sometimes playing instruments. 

One local who will play an instrument – bagpipes, to be specific – is Jackie Morgan. “When I first came to America, I didn’t think I’d ever see a Scottish flag again,” said Morgan, who immigrated to the U.S. as a young adult. “Then I came to Fayetteville, and I was walking downtown (during the IFF) and I saw (a Scottish flag), and I was like woah! I got excited. And so I’ve been a part of (the IFF) ever since.” 

Saturday at 2:30 and 5 p.m., Canadian band Mélisande [électrotrad] will bring centuries-old Quebecois songs to the Festival Park stage. There’s a twist hinted at in the group’s name, though. Mélisande uses electronic instruments, pulsing drums, fiddle, flute, jaw harp, banjo and bass to create a new sound for the traditional tunes. 

At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the 11-piece Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra will serenade the Festival Park stage crowd with swelling, sultry covers of Indie rock tunes, from Arcade Fire to M83 to the Black Keys. 

Immediately following their performance, the IFF will see its first fireworks, sponsored by Hale Artificier. 

Mélisande [électrotrad] will play again to finish the IFF at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. 

Throughout the weekend, visitors can also enjoy the International Cafe, storytellers, more than 50 arts and crafts vendors, a mime, a jug­gler and more. 

Malzone summed up what the IFF is all about. “When I look out on the crowd, I see all the different people … I see their faces, I see all the different shades of skin, I see all the different styles of hair, all the different styles of clothing – and you realize that that is America,” he said. “That is really America.” 

To learn more, visit www.theartscouncil.com/ things-to-do/international-folk-festival or call 910-323-1776.

Kicking off the Gilbert Theater’s 25th season, “Godspell” the musical tells the story of Jesus Christ as portrayed through the New Testament, with a few twists. 

“The (play) is about the book of Matthew and this group of people who use creative ways to tell parable stories,” said Artistic Director Matthew Overturf. The story is told through a collection of diverse tunes, dances and games, with a healthy dose of comedy. Despite its playful tone, the life of Christ is por­trayed in a reverent manner. 

“It may come off as satirical, but it’s not intended to be,” said Overturf. “The play … really does take a respectful take on the stories, but it is always done in a creative way, with a lot of creative, funny ways of telling the stories.” 

The lighthearted nature of “Godspell” emphasizes the human nature of biblical characters. “This is a show that talks about a group of people that … learned how to become a community. They learned how to love each other,” said Overturf. 

Overturf spoke of the jovial relationship portrayed between Christ and his followers: “He’s very fun … not a stoic Jesus.” More than that, the production recognizes love and grace, even in its darker themes. Overturf, who plays both Judas and John the Baptist in the production, commented on the relationship between Jesus and Judas: “Everyone thinks Judas was the great villain of history. For me, it’s finding the heart of who he is and trying to understand what his motivation might’ve been.” 

One of the most powerful aspects of the produc­tion is the way it will immediately draw viewers into the story, according to Overturf. Most of the show’s actors use their real names dur­ing the performance to encourage a real-life connection to the audience. Overturf commented on this practice: “It bridges the gap between old and new – we can still learn something from these stories.” 

Overturf emphasized the accessibility of the play, saying that anyone can relate to the plot and the characters and find some truth in the story. “We live in a world where love isn’t necessarily number one on people’s mind, and this is a show that asks how can we help people try to love other people a little better.” 

With this kind of love, “you can legiti­mately change the world a little bit,” added Overturf. The cast look forward to inviting the audience into their own lov­ing community. 

“Godspell” runs Sept. 21-Oct. 7. Tickets are $16. For more information or to order tickets, email the Gilbert Theater at boxoffice@gilberttheater.com, call 910-678-7186, or order online at https://gilberttheater.com.

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said city council is in no hurry to amend a city ordinance governing Fayetteville’s human relations commission. The advisory commission has suggested adding gender identity and sexual orientation to its mandate. The proposal was deleted from the agenda of council’s last meeting. Some observers suggest that the longer the city puts the issue off, the more difficult it will be to deal with it. 

The issue was discussed briefly during a city council dinner session that preceded the regular meeting. “Discrimination is unacceptable,” said Councilman Jim Arp. A couple dozen residents attended the meeting prepared to talk about the issue and did so during a public forum. Many of those who spoke identified themselves as members of the LGBT community. They urged council to adopt the proposed amendment. 

Two months ago, the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission voted unanimously to ask council to make the change. The ordinance as structured decades ago allows the commission to investigate complaints of discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability and age. The change would add “sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran status” to the list.

Tammy Fitzgerald of the North Carolina Values Coalition said the group has a petition with 329 signatures, 223 of which were those of people from Fayetteville. She urged council not to change the ordinance. The group believes it would violate state law, which prohibits cities and counties from changing local laws regarding public accommodations and private employment practices. 

City Attorney Karen McDonald said, however, that the ordinance amendment would not violate the law since the Human Relations Commission does not have regulatory authority. It serves only as an advisory agency to local government.

Members of Fayetteville Pride, which has a mission to embrace diversity, urged the city to make the change. “I’m very proud of who I am,” said Ashley Williams, who identified herself as a transgender woman who is a Christian. “Thirty-two percent of transgender North Carolinians report being fired, denied a promotion or not hired because of their gender identity or sexual expression,” Williams added. Several others spoke in favor of the proposed change.

City Council created the Fayetteville Human Relations Advisory Commission and Human Relations Department in 1968 to provide channels through which racial tensions could be reduced and cooperation could be obtained. Cumberland County Commissioners also created an advisory commission that year. The city’s initial advisory commission was composed of 11 members representing a racial, ethnic and economic cross-section of the citizens of Fayetteville. 

As a governmental body, the commission was subjected to the same supervision, personnel management, operation and budget procedures that applied to other city departments. Rep. Elmer Floyd, D-Cumberland, was an early director of the department. The commission’s task was to study problems of discrimination in various areas of human relationships and to encourage fair treatment and mutual understanding among all racial and ethnic groups in Fayetteville. Vacancies on the commission were filled by city council.

Farmers and agriculture communities are the backbone of our great state, and every time I see a billboard proclaiming, “Thank a Farmer Three Times a Day!” I wholeheartedly agree. Our farmers are the reason each of us has food to eat and clothes to wear. More specifically, hog farmers in our state work day and night, with little time off, to put food on all of our tables. They do so with limited resources. Meanwhile, our General Assembly willfully ignores the needs of our farmers and agricultural communities, failing to provide them with necessary financial resources to convert antiquated open-air hog waste lagoon systems to environmentally sustainable waste management systems. Ignoring this issue pits farmers against their neighbors rather than constructively solving the dilemma to serve the best interests of everyone in our agricultural communities.

Hog lagoons are open-air pits, the size of a football field or larger, where hog waste is stored before it is sprayed onto surrounding land – so the lagoons do not overflow. As anyone who has been near one of these large hog farms can attest, the stench can be overpowering. The vast majority of the hogs creating that stench are owned by Smithfield Foods, now a Chinese-owned entity; that is the company that some neighbors have sued for the nuisance Smithfield has caused by continuing to use an antiquated waste-disposal method. Sadly, Smithfield refuses to use superior technology, identified by scientists at North Carolina State University, that’s been deemed operationally and technically feasible. In other states, such as Missouri, Smithfield has been forced to adopt superior technology. Refusal to act both by Smithfield and by our state government has caused our farmers’ neighbors to desperately seek relief from the courts. As a result, three juries have returned verdicts to force Smithfield’s hand. 

So far, there have been three trials, and each respective jury unanimously decided that not only has Smithfield unreasonably caused a nuisance for these neighbors, but also that Smithfield should be punished – to the tune of more than $500 million – for using antiquated waste-disposal methods when better, cleaner methods are available. Instead of heeding these juries’ advice, Smithfield decided to attack the court system! 

Smithfield-backed politicians and other industry representatives have falsely claimed the judge and jurors have a bias against farming – despite all evidence pointing to the contrary. In fact, the judge was born and raised on a farm in the heavily agricultural Robeson County. The three juries collectively consisted of 34 Eastern North Carolina citizens, many from leading agricultural counties and with varying political and economic backgrounds. Yet still, all 34 jurors agreed on one thing after hearing all the evidence: Smithfield must clean up its act.

Not only has our veto-proof General Assembly ignored this problem, it recently passed legislation prioritizing the financial interest of Smithfield, a Chinese-owned corporation, over the safety and welfare of rural North Carolinians. The sweeping legislation was passed, over Gov. Cooper’s vetoes, stripping citizens of their constitutional property rights and destroying over 200 years of North Carolina’s law on nuisance. The law effectively bans North Carolinians from suing bad actors, such as Smithfield, for nuisance, enabling Smithfield’s continued use of outdated waste practices for the foreseeable future regardless of harm caused to our agricultural communities. 

Smithfield claims that forcing it to make changes on these farms will force Smithfield out of North Carolina and force family farmers out of business. This is nothing more than a scare tactic to make its own employees, farmers and even jurors fearful that Smithfield will leave. Actions, however, speak far louder than words, and Smithfield’s actions include a $100 million expansion of the Tar Heel processing plant in 2017 as well as adoption of new technologies in other states, all while remaining operational and profitable. They have no intention of leaving North Carolina – nor should they. Not with folks like Tom Butler raising hogs.

Tom Butler is a 77-year-old hog farmer in Harnett County. Once he became aware of the extent to which his operation was harming the environment and his community, he took matters into his own hands. He installed lagoon covers and other improvements – despite receiving no financial backing from the hog industry. After his lagoons were covered, his neighbors reported to him that it was as though the farm and its odors practically disappeared. Smithfield continues to ignore the problem, and solutions, putting its bottom line before the welfare of North Carolinians. 

Last year, Smithfield made $1 billion in profit on the backs of our North Carolina farmers and paid nearly $250 million to just four of its executives from 2010-15. Yet our underappreciated and underpaid farmers have not seen meaningful increase in revenues for years. Our farmers simply cannot afford to improve or correct our hog lagoon waste problems, but Smithfield can. Smithfield must.

Since the good citizens of Cumberland County returned me to the General Assembly three years ago, I have become painfully aware that, as a body, we are quick to blame and short on solutions. It seems we would rather play political football with issues of vital importance than fix those issues and actually improve the lives of our people. Simply put, we must have a clean environment in which to live, and we must also support our farmers. Smithfield knows this and continues to use its time-honored scare tactics to push our farmers and the General Assembly into acting irrationally.

I plan to formally request Gov. Cooper to make this a top priority item in his budget and to back our introduction of the bill in the Nov. 27 session of our General Assembly. If Gov. Cooper or legislative leaders call a session earlier, I will request the governor call for its passage at that time. Simply put, our agricultural communities and wonderful rivers and streams are too stressed to delay action. Specifically, I propose that the state and Smithfield equally share the costs of covering the lagoons and installing innovative waste management systems. The state would fund this public-private initiative using a portion of the state’s $1.8 billion “Rainy Day” fund. Smithfield’s costs are feasible given it is merely a small fraction of just one year’s profits. Doing so would give much-needed relief to our environment as well as to the families living in our agricultural communities. As Mr. Butler said in the cover story of the most recent Campbell University magazine: “I just want to do the right thing. If we don’t do the right thing – as an industry – people are going to suffer.... We don’t have the right to make anyone suffer while we profit.” 

A clean environment and a strong, sustainable agricultural industry are both essential to North Carolina’s future and are not mutually exclusive. Attacking our court system is an excuse, not a solution. While I realize my solution would use our citizens’ precious tax dollars, I can think of no better use than to preserve both our environment and the farmers who feed us. 

Near the end of his last term in office, knowing that the industry had to change, Gov. Hunt called for a 10-year lagoon conversion plan. That was nearly 20 years ago. Since then, not only has no conversion taken place, the conversion process hasn’t even started! As 34 impartial Eastern North Carolina jurors have now unanimously agreed, Smithfield’s “kick the can” strategy must end.

I welcome a healthy, civil debate. 

Editor’s note: Publisher Bill Bowman and the staff at Up & Coming Weekly look forward to celebrating our Best of  Fayetteville winners every year. The excitement, the party and the memories we make each year are an integral part of our company’s identity. Hurricane Florence has other plans for us this year, though. We are still celebrating the Best of Fayetteville winners, but the party is off. And we are devastated – for the community and the destruction Florence has wrought. Below is the text from a press release announcing Bill’s decision to cancel this year’s Best of Fayetteville party as the community turns to rebuilding and recovering.

For 21 years, Up & Coming Weekly has celebrated the very best in this community with a reader survey followed by a Best of Fayetteville celebration. This year’s celebration was scheduled for Tuesday, Sept.18. Due to flooding and other damage by Hurricane Florence, the party has been canceled indefinitely. 

“We are devastated and heartbroken over the catastrophe facing our community and our neighboring counties,” said Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman. “However, we are a resilient and caring community. Hugo, Fran, Matthew and now Florence  were all unwelcome guests that came and went, leaving paths of destruction in their wake and changing our lives forever by testing our mettle and strengthening our resolves. It is unfortunate that we face these challenges at a time when we are celebrating and congratulating our Best of Fayetteville winners. Now, it’s time to focus entirely on putting families and lives back together and rebuilding our homes and businesses.” 

The Best of Fayetteville readership and community survey is sponsored by Up & Coming Weekly, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber and the Better Business Bureau. It is a comprehensive and rigorous process where local residents write in votes for their favorite people, businesses and organizations. Thousands of readers cast their vote each year. Once the ballots are counted and validated, the winners are announced and honored at a free celebration hosted by the sponsors. 

The Best of Fayetteville winners also receive feature write-ups in the Best of Fayetteville edition of Up & Coming Weekly. This is the largest and most-read edition of the year and is used year-round to introduce newcomers to the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. This edition also remains online all year at www.upandcomingweekly.com. All winners have hyperlinks back to their websites.

“Winning Best of Fayetteville is a really big deal,” said Best of Fayetteville Program Manager Don Garner. “The winners deserve to be recognized, and we will be contacting each winner in the coming weeks to make sure they are properly congratulated.”

Up & Coming Weekly is much more than aweekly community newspaper. Since its creation in 1996, its mission and focus has been to accentuate and illuminate the quality of life enjoyed here in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and Cumberland County.

For years, Campbellton Landing was home to concerts as well as Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s annual River Show. The open space, the shade trees and the Sol Rose Amphitheater nestled on the banks of the Cape Fear River give it a special feel­ing. Greg Adair intends to bring that venue back to life starting Oct. 19 with Rock’n on the River, a concert series featuring local and regional musicians. 

“Rock’n on the River is a project that I have been wanting to do for a few years,” Adair said. “It will be free music … and it will be a little smaller than Fayetteville After Five, but just as much fun.” 

Adair is no stranger to Fayetteville’s music scene. He’s been playing here for years. He’s currently in the band Rivermist, which plays a variety of music genres. The band recently underwent some chang­es, and Adair said the band is doing well. “We have something for everyone now,” he said. Prior to 2106, the band played mostly classic rock. He credits the band’s love of people along with its new format with making the experience fun. “We have a really good rapport with people. We genuinely love people.” 

Adair envisions Rock’n on the River to be a family friendly venue where people can bring their own chairs and blankets and enjoy high-quality music under the stars. He has bands lined up through next year and is excited about growing this event. 

“I want to do this every third Friday, March through October,” he said. “The first one features the Guy Unger Band at 6 p.m. and Rivermist at 8:30 p.m.” 

The area where the concerts will be held accom­modates 400-500 people, but Adair is planning for a day when the Sol Rose Amphitheater is back in operation and the crowds swell to more than 1,000. “I have played several shows there as a band, and Campbellton Landing is a fantastic place,” he said. “It is a feel-good property. I have visions that include let­ting boats come to the dock and anchor there. I would love for them to be able to drive up and get food and drink orders, too. The shade there makes it different.” 

Adair plans for just one con­cert this year – Oct. 19 – but has a full slate lined up for next season, starting in March. He’s partnering with R.A. Jefferies for beverages, and Deep Creek Outfitters and Grill will be open as well. “There will be portalets and the Mosquito Squad will spray ahead of time – and Bud Light will be there,” Adair said. 

The concert starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 10:30 p.m. No outside coolers or containers are allowed. The event is free. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Campbellton Landing is located at 1122 Person St. Search Rock’n on the River on Facebook to learn more.

In the spring of this year, Hope Mills Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell proposed making a drastic change to the town’s charter, suggesting the commissioners serve four-year staggered terms instead of the current two-year terms. After prolonged discussions, it was agreed to put the issue on the November ballot and let the citizens of Hope Mills make the decision. 

Many citizens are leery of extend­ing that much power to a board of commissioners that’s struggled to accomplish, well, anything. Just weeks before the four-year term issue, the board discussed and then awarded themselves substantial raises and benefits packages. The commissioners each received a 53 percent increase in pay. Mitchell received a 48 percent increase and Mayor Jackie Warner received an 84 percent increase. Additionally, they each received a $30 stipend toward their cell phone costs, a $100 stipend to cover travel expenses, and dental, vision and life insurance. It was their last notable “accomplishment.” 

The board has waffled back and forth on a $28,000 partnership with Up & Coming Weekly. In March, Commissioners Jerry Legge, Meg Larson and Jessie Bellflowers voted to end the partnership once it terminated in September, but Commissioners Pat Edwards and Mitchell wanted to keep it. 

Ironically, during an August meeting, it was Mitchell who suggested the board end the agree­ment. While the partnership is described as a gentleman’s agreement and no official contract was ever signed, Mitchell has since used social media and local AM radio stations to announce the board’s decision to “terminate” the contract. 

In reality, the board paid the contract in full and let it lapse without renewal a week ago. Mitchell took to social media again last week to blast the previous board for entering into the agreement. Citizens should be asking why he voted to keep it during the March vote if he felt the partnership wasn’t advantageous to the town. He seemingly wasted a good deal of taxpayers’ money on some­thing he claims was a detriment. 

Likewise, the board has squabbled back and forth on the second phase of the lake bed project. While the previous board voted and approved a working model, this board has systematically voted to undo everything the previous board accomplished. Ten months into their administration, they’re still asking for changes to the already-approved plans. Amongst other issues, they’re still debating whether they want one or two ladders in the swimming area. As of Sept. 11, they haven’t made a single decision but have asked for dozens of revisions. 

All of Cumberland County is aware the board voted to end negotiations with the Lone Survivor Foundation after asking for an official financial offer. But not everyone is aware that a number of the town’s citizens have formed an unofficial organiza­tion in support of LSF. 

Those citizens scheduled a public rally for Aug. 16. The rally was hosted in a local church and was an effort to bring the veteran community together to discuss ideas to help LSF sway the board. One day prior to the rally, Legge sent an email to town staff referring to the rally as a protest. 

“It is my understanding that some may want to stop the food truck rodeo that is supposed to be a family event,” Legge said. He also implied some town staff and elected officials were planning to participate in the protest. His email included a request for an ordinance review. Hours were wasted as town staff reviewed dozens of ordinances to appease Legge. 

Grilley Mitchell, who works at the Alms House in Hope Mills, worked tire­lessly to schedule and advertise that rally. Grilley Mitchell is a known sup­porter of the Alms House, the organiza­tion the Hope Mills Food Truck Rodeos benefit. I don’t know why Legge would think Grilley Mitchell would schedule a protest to disrupt the Food Truck Rodeo, and in turn hurt the Alms House. As of today, Legge has not responded to my inquiries about the email. 

These are just some of the many issues that have halted the board’s progress and prevented the “Team Hope Mills’ mentality Mike Mitchell cam­paigned for. The board has allowed egos and inferi­ority complexes to hinder their decision-making to the detriment of the whole community. 

Each week, I’ll be posting an article on hopemills. net, highlighting the failures of individual board members and stressing the importance of voting “No” to four-year terms. For now, I challenge each of you to review the minutes and video from this board’s meetings and decide for yourselves if this board deserves longer terms.

I find it more and more difficult to be hopeful regarding the future of America, this country that I love. Despite so many positive indicators, such as low unemployment, high consumer confidence, a booming economy and stock market, a greatly diminished nuclear threat from North Korea, a stand against other countries exploiting us in trade, and the list goes on, there are those among us who seem determined to drive the country toward collapse. Alarmingly, they seem to be making progress.

The situation described above is more than sufficient to challenge my ongoing quest for hope. However, added to this is my deep sadness and concern as I watch the dismantling of what was once a strong, close-knit, self-sufficient black population in America. That condition has become a treasured memory from many years ago. Even more distressing and hope-defeating is how we have come to this extremely low point against the backdrop of a proud history of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The prevailing mode of operation from the black community has become one of calling on others to fix all that adversely affects us, and when that is not done, the claim is racism coupled with the constant contention that we are being denied the financial and other support to which we are entitled. I say “prevailing” because there are some of us who do not adhere to this mode of operation.

What should be viewed as frightening is how we transitioned from that strong, close-knit, self-sufficient community to the mode of operation reflected in the preceding paragraph. It was the result of thought manipulation. There has been an ongoing effort by many in this country to convince black Americans that we are victims of white America – of the wealthy – and that racism lurks around every corner. If one accepts that argument, it opens them to processing every decision in the framework of those beliefs. Doing so opens one up to having their thoughts controlled by anyone who understands how to present issues and make promises in a manner that is acceptable to, and supportive of, that way of thinking. In summary, a particular mindset is formed in people by others who then manipulate thought by sending messages that drive people to actions that benefit the controllers of thought. 

This manipulative process is rampant across America. A recent case-in-point is how the Florida governor’s race started. The candidates are Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis. Gillum is black and a Democrat, while DeSantis is white and a Republican. Gillum’s website states he “would focus on making college debt free and encouraging businesses to share responsibility for educating the workforce they want to hire.” He also supports Medicare for all and contends that access to healthcare is a right. He calls for a $15-per-hour minimum wage and wants to raise Florida’s corporate tax rate to pay for his state-level initiatives. 

Some refer to Gillum as a socialist. Others rebut that label by saying he does not fit the precise definition. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines socialism as “any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” At present, Gillum’s aims might not fit the pure definition of socialism, but they do have undertones of it. That is, he is pursuing greater governmental administration of critical economic elements, such as healthcare and funding of college education. 

With that bit of context in place, consider the following segments from an article by Brendan Farrington of The Associated Press, titled “Florida governor’s race turns ugly in aftermath of primary.”

“Racism immediately became an issue in the Florida governor’s race Wednesday as both nominees made predictions: The Democrat said voters aren’t looking for a misogynist, racist or bigot, while the Republican said voters shouldn’t ‘monkey this up’ by choosing his African-American opponent.

“Meanwhile, on Fox News, DeSantis called Gillum an ‘articulate’ candidate, but said ‘the last thing we need to do is to monkey this up by trying to embrace a socialist agenda with huge tax increases and bankrupting this state. That is not going to work. It’s not going to be good for Florida.’

“Democrats immediately decried DeSantis’ comment as racist.

“’That was more than a dog-whistle,’” said U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat. ‘That was absolutely a racist, disgusting statement. I don’t think there’s any other way to interpret it.’”

Note that in the first segment, Farrington did not quote “by choosing his African-American opponent.” Those are the words of the writer. The second segment reflects exactly what DeSantis said and includes nothing regarding Gillum’s race. What is reflected in Farrington’s article is a prime example of the mode of operation for manipulating black thought, which was explained earlier. There is the conditioning to have one’s thoughts and decisions driven by racial considerations. With that piece in place, messages such as the one presented above are regularly deposited in this fertile soil.

As I have watched this process prove successful across the years, my hope for a rebound to independent thinking on the part of so many people caught in this cycle has constantly declined. 

Then came the eulogy that Rev. Jasper Williams Jr., senior pastor of Salem Bible Church in Atlanta, Georgia, recently did for Aretha Franklin, one of the great singing voices of any era. Rev. Williams addressed some issues and made statements that I knew would bring volleys of negative responses. Consider these segments from an Associated Press article titled “Old-school eulogy at Aretha Franklin funeral ignites wrath.”

“He also blamed integration and the civil rights movement for ripping the heart out of black micro-economies that once relied on black-owned small businesses such as grocery stores, hotels and banks.

“As for black women, he preached that ‘as proud, beautiful and fine as our black women are, one thing a black woman cannot do, a black woman cannot raise a black boy to be a man.’

“Williams described as ‘abortion after birth’ the idea of children being raised without a ‘provider’ father and a mother as the ‘nurturer.’

“He negated the Black Lives Matter movement altogether in light of black-on-black crime, falling back on a rhyming pattern of yore: ‘It amazes me how it is when the police kills one of us we’re ready to protest, march, destroy innocent property,’ Williams began. ‘We’re ready to loot, steal whatever we want, but when we kill 100 of us, nobody says anything, nobody does anything. Black-on-black crime, we’re all doing time, we’re locked up in our mind, there’s got to be a better way, we must stop this today.’”

Initially, I was seeing, on social media and in various articles, overwhelming condemnation of Williams’ eulogy. The comments said he demonstrated misogyny, bigotry, lack of proper consideration for the occasion and broke Franklin’s trust. This list could go on. Sprinkled in with all the opposing views were many (far more than I would have expected) comments in support of the pastor. I even saw supportive Facebook posts from black individuals who, given their social and political stance, I never would have expected them to see Williams’ comments as necessary or true. 

Mary J. wrote the following in response to a blog post by Jacqueline J. Holness titled “Seven Reasons Why I Approve of The Rev. Jasper Williams Jr.’s Eulogy at Aretha Franklin’s Funeral.”

“It’s never a right time to speak words that the masses don’t want to hear. But based on history shared with me by my black family, our churches were once the first place you heard truth whether you liked it or not. Change rarely grows out of comfort and status quo. You must shake things up and dare I say, Pastor Williams really caused quite a stir.”

Maybe, just maybe, there is hope.

Photo: Aretha Franklin

Sept. 19 through Oct. 7, Cape Fear Regional Theatre debuts the world premiere of “Music City.” CFRT has enlisted the talents of a dazzling cast and crew, whose passion for the project brings the story to life. 

“Music City,” written by Peter Zinn, is an authentic imagining of the perseverance it takes to fulfill one’s destiny. Featuring five No. 1 Country Billboard hits written by J.T. Harding, the show intimately investigates the journeys of three songwriters as they navigate the difficult choices one makes while pursuing success. 

CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke directs the musical story of harsh realities and dreams realized. “The American dream is that, if I work hard, I can improve my circumstances,” Burke said, regarding the struggles of the main characters and the relevance of the show. Burke continued, “We want people to know it’s of the now; it’s set in 2000, but it feels very palpable to the issues of today.” 

Much of the story’s action is set in the Wicked Tickle, a chaotic country bar where our leads find each other. Choreographer Tyce Diorio said he strove to emphasize the integrity of storytelling with authenticity. His effort to make the story tangible by finding the story’s heartbeat created an atmosphere of honesty that reverberates throughout the entire program. Diorio is an American dancer and choreographer best known for his work on the hit television show “So You Think You Can Dance.” 

To further enhance the experience of attendees, CFRT has removed the theater’s first several rows of seats, put tables, chairs and sofas in their stead and will be having live music before the show. 

“When you walk into the theater, we want you to have an experience,” Burke said. “It’s like you’re going to be entering this little snow globe of Nashville… and you’re going to be able to come into the theater an hour before showtime and get a drink from the bar onstage.” 

It’s details like these that create “Music City’s” cohesive vision that has come to fruition right here in Fayetteville. Jonathan Judge-Russo, who plays Drew, one of the lead musicians, shared, “The most humbling thing about being... in Fayetteville is (that) we are in a town … devoted to service. This is a place where people … serve a higher purpose. They’re doing something profoundly important and maybe, just for a couple hours, we get to serve them.” 

“Music City” encourages audience members not to get in their own way and to be bold. Kaylyn Marie Scardefield, who plays a young singer named 23, said of her character, “This character is calling me to be someone I want to be – someone who is more courageous. … I feel like I’ve been given a huge invitation to be a more courageous extension of myself.” 

The brilliant cast and crew invite Fayetteville to join them in exploring what it means to be brave. “Music City” opens for previews Sept. 19-Sept. 21 at $17 a ticket and will continue to run through Oct. 7, with tickets ranging from $25-$32. To learn more, visit www.cfrt.org or call 910-323-4233. 

As I write this, Hurricane Florence is inching across North Carolina with the speed of oozing hair gel, as a much-diminished Category 1 storm. The extent of her damage remains unclear, perhaps even yet undone, but it is evident that parts of North Carolina are taking serious hits. As is always the case with hurricanes, coastal residents and property owners watch the storms with resignation, knowing they are on borrowed time.

Hurricane Hazel in 1954 continues to be the benchmark hurricane for Baby Boomers. For millennials, the benchmark is Hurricane Fran in 1996. They are in the pantheon of epic storms, including Andrew, a Cat 5 storm that set Florida on its heels. One friend who survived it still describes her life as BA (before Andrew) and AA (after Andrew).  

In 2005, Katrina, another Cat 5, decimated the Gulf Coast, displaced thousands and overwhelmed organizations trying to help. 

The deadliest hurricane in American history predates naming and categorizing and is simply called the Great Storm of 1900, probably as what we would now term a Cat 4. It struck Galveston, Texas, without warning and is believed to have taken between 6,000 and 12,000 lives, the greatest natural disaster in our nation’s history. As significant as hurricanes can be, technology now allows us to know what is coming and to prepare, an advantage the people of Galveston and countless other places facing natural disasters did not have.

North Carolinians love our hurricane stories, some of which include hurricane parties. The morning after Fran passed through Fayetteville, the Dicksons and every other family on our one-block Haymount street were out in our yards surveying the damage, which was abundant. More than half of the 15 houses on our block had trees through their roofs, and one house had two – one from the front yard and one from the back – crashing into the vacant bed of a school-age child. TV crews filmed that house so often that we neighbors were convinced they were trying to hire the property owner. Parents were frantically trying to keep children away from downed but still live power lines spanning the narrow street. 

Our neighborhood was without power for six long days in sweltering humidity, but we were luckier than many on that score. I remember turning onto our street on the sixth day and meeting a Florida utility truck whose crew had just restored our power. Thrilled beyond measure, I blew kisses to those kind men in full daylight in front of God and country. 

Fran took the lives of 24 North Carolinians and caused more than $11 billion in damages to homes, businesses, infrastructure, crops and timber. She covered two-thirds of our state with winds and rain and cut new inlets along the coast. She reminded hurricane veterans and newcomers alike that when Mother Nature goes on a tear, there is not much to do but hunker down as safely as possible and watch with our fingers crossed. 

In the 22 years since Fran struck, other hurricanes, including the recently departed Florence, have come and gone. No one knows what the rest of hurricane season 2018 will bring, but keep this in mind – in 1996, North Carolina’s population was 7.5 million people. Today, we are the 10th largest state with almost 10.4 million residents, many of whom have never experienced a hurricane at all, much less a Fran or more. North Carolina has not been hit with a Cat 3 or higher since Fran, which does not mean a three, four or five will arrive this season. It does mean that, statistically, North Carolina has been riding a long lucky streak.

The odds of that streak lasting indefinitely are slim to none.