He is like the houseguest who stays too long, and then when he’s finally gone, you miss him a little bit.

I am talking about Silent Sam, the Confederate memorial statue whose 100-plus-year presence on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ended recently. 

On the Monday night before the opening day of classes, a large crowd gathered to continue the ongoing protest of the statue’s prominent presence on the campus. Police were there to keep order, and, as they have done for months, protect the statue from damage. But before the evening was over, Silent Sam had been pulled to the ground, and campus officials had removed his remains to an undisclosed location.

For the protestors and many students and faculty, the statue represented the glorification of the slave-based society that Confederate soldiers fought to defend and the white supremacy culture that prevailed when the statue was erected in 1913.

Others throughout the state argued that the memorial to the fallen soldiers was simply that, a respectful tribute and reminder of the glory and the horror of brave people who gave their lives in wartime conflict.

Writing for the Raleigh News & Observer the day after Silent Sam came down, retired editor and Pulitzer Prize winner, Ed Yoder, explained his attachment to the memory of his great-grandfather, who died in battle in 1864, “has little to do with racial pride (or)... accord with the Confederate cause as it would have been understood... For a remote descendant the satisfaction... lies in a sense of rootedness... a continuity with the history of a nation so largely shaped by conflict.”

For Yoder, Silent Sam was “a remembrance of duty and self-sacrifice that I have known as an unoffending visual companion since boyhood. Perhaps that is why its mob destruction is like the severing of a limb. And it hurts.”

On the other hand, an Aug. 23 editorial in the WilmingtonStar News set forth the following: “African-American students at UNC, which refused to admit black undergraduates until a federal court intervened in 1955, should not be greeted at the campus doorsteps by a prominent symbol glorifying the cause of white supremacy. While some people want to brush off the power of the statue’s symbolism, our nation’s ugly history on race doesn’t provide such a luxury.”

The statue has been for many students and faculty a part of a hostile campus atmosphere and something they believed should have been removed long ago. University officials, however, declined to act, asserting that state law prohibited the removal or relocation of the monument.

A few days before Silent Sam came down, Hampton Dellinger, an attorney for the Black Law Students Association, a faculty member, and several other students wrote to UNC officials demanding Silent Sam’s removal, threatening a lawsuit and asserting that the memorial fostered a racially hostile environment, which would be a violation of federal civil rights laws. 

Dellinger contended, “Because of UNC’s overriding obligation to comply with federal anti-discrimination laws, UNC is not only free to remove Silent Sam in order to adhere to federal law, it is legally obligated to do so.”

No doubt Dellinger will use these arguments in the coming debate about whether to reinstall the monument.

I admit that I miss him. He was part of the familiar and comfortable campus landscape. Like Ed Yoder, I do not believe that my affection for and pride in Southern culture is racist.

But the better part of Southern culture is concern for the comfort and well-being of our neighbors. If Silent Sam projected racism to them, it is better that he does not come back.

On Aug. 28, Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner was interviewed by Jeff Goldberg (Goldy), the morning radio host on WFNC 640AM. It was a follow up interview to Hope Mills Commissioners Meg Larson and Mike Mitchell’s discussion with Goldy on Aug. 23 about the status of the Lone Survivor Foundation’s attempt to build a $1.5 million facility in Hope Mills to treat veterans suffering from PSTD and other war related disorders. 

In contrast to Larson and Mitchell’s stammering through their interview, interrupting one another and faltering midsentence, Warner came across as confident, articulate and knowledgeable about the Lone Survivor project. She was remarkably polite and diplomatic. She was the near perfect example of grace under fire. Even when she was prodded to the more salacious side of the issue, Warner maintained confident and credible control of the conversation.

Commissioners Larson and Mitchell have pushed a biased and one-sided version of the LSF situation since mid-July, ignoring public sentiment and insisting that the land this nonprofit organization would like to purchase – or lease – from the town is not for sale, and that it’s needed for a future potential multipurpose reservoir. 

Not true. 

Warner effectively debunked these notions with facts and statistics. She also dismissed allegations of possible collusion and conflicts of interest that arose due to the fact that her son, Teddy Warner, is employed as the director of business development for the Fayetteville. Cumberland Economic Development Corporation. The FCEDC’s mission is to recruit businesses, organizations and institutions that contribute to the economic development of all cities and towns within Cumberland County, including Hope Mills. Warner reminded Goldy that as mayor, she doesn’t even have a vote in the matter and is in no way in a position to profit financially from the LSF partnership.  

And, while some commissioners on the board were offended because they thought they were being kept in the dark about the LSF project, Warner reassured everyone that all proper local government protocols were followed. And, as the mayor of Hope Mills, Warner is the head of the board of commissioners and serves as the leading ambassador for the town. In this position of leadership, she is responsible for looking after the best interests of the town and all its residents. 

Warner pointed out that inquiries of this nature are a typical occurrence.  Hope Mills is frequently approached by individuals, businesses and organizations wanting to partner with the town. All inquiries are properly vetted by the town manager and then channeled to the relevant person or department. Warner noted the necessity of developing strong partnerships with large-scale businesses, organizations and institutions when trying to successfully develop and grow a community. Referencing Hope Mills’ limited financial resources, she made the point that partnerships with organizations like the LSF allow Hope Mills to do considerably more with its assets than the town could afford to do otherwise. In this case, the LSF is offering to develop Hope Mills land for recreational use at the foundation’s own expense, then lease or sell the land back to Hope Mills should the town need it in the future – a $1.5 million win-win-win scenario, you would think. 

While there is no logical downside to this partnership, there could be considerable long-term consequences for the town 

if the board doesn’t yield to public sentiment and reconsider its position on the LSF proposal. Future economic development opportunities for the town would be difficult if not impossible to attract once the business development community learns that Hope Mills is illogically difficult to work with. After all, the LSF is a well-respected and well-funded organization that the FCEDC brought forth in good faith to the town of Hope Mills. It is an amazing opportunity for the town to serve the community, its residents, Fort Bragg and all the military veterans of Cumberland County and the nation.

These are all factors that neither Commissioner Mitchell nor Larson have taken into consideration. It makes you wonder what their real motivation is for their objection to the LSF project. One thing is for sure, it does not concern any of the people mentioned above who stand to benefit from this project.

Check out page 25 of this issue for a play-by-play rebuttal by Elizabeth Blevins of Goldy’s Aug. 23 interview with Commissioners Larson and Mitchell.

Stay tuned, and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly and HopeMills.net.

Photo: Jackie Warner

Greater Fayetteville is the beneficiary of a Department of Defense realignment of analysts and consultants. This summer, the Pentagon announced that in the future, all strategic analysis will be outsourced to private corporations. Defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.is replacing tens of thousands of strategists across the Department of Defense with a much smaller number of consultants.

Booz Allen Hamilton is an information technology consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Virginia. It announced that it is doubling its Fayetteville workforce of 200 employees already employed at its offices on Morganton Road. The company has been chosen to assist the Pentagon and its subordinate commands in disbanding their strategic plans and policy staffs, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced at a news conference that the company will hire another 208 employees locally. The announcement was made at the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation office. Booz Allen Hamilton plans to expand its local operation over the next five years in exchange for more than $2 million in state and local tax incentives. 

The state’s Economic Investment Committee unanimously approved a job development investment grant for the company minutes before the local announcement was made. Fayetteville City Council and Cumberland County Commissioners awarded tax rebates of up to $89,000 each. 

Cooper said Booz Allen picked Fayetteville because of Cumberland County’s workforce, which is strengthened by veterans and military spouses who live here. The company emphasizes employing military veterans. 

“The majority of these new jobs will be IT focused, and Booz Allen knows we have the IT talent and training resources to deliver so they can continue tackling the complex military, business and government challenges of today and the future,” Cooper added.

Booz Allen Hamilton has 14 offices around the country and a total global workforce of 24,600 employees. 

“The creation of these high-quality jobs confirms our status as a defense and innovation hub and brings important new career opportunities to our community,” said Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin.

Booz Allen Hamilton plans to hire mostly IT specialists, data scientists and engineers – at an average salary of $64,000, according to County Commission Chairman Larry Lancaster. The company also plans to make more than $5 million in capital improvements to its Fayetteville offices in the three-story building at the corner of Morganton and Sycamore Dairy Roads.

Booz Allen Hamilton will roll out its expansion in two phases, with the first involving moving new offices into 6,000 square feet of additional space on the ground floor of the building – space made available by the recent relocation of the Richardson Law Firm. The company’s existing offices take up 11,000 square feet on the second and third floors of the building. When the current lease is up in 2020, the company plans to relocate to accommodate future growth.

Finally, there is a place close to Fayetteville that is built for ATVs and dirt bikes. 

A few weeks ago, my friend Matt put out a call to go to the new Deep Creek ATV Park. 

The morning of the trip, the weatherman said it was going to be a nice, cool day. The plan was simple. We were to meet at Hardee’s on Ramsey Street, eat breakfast and head out. I met my friends Rick and Ryan there, but as usual, Matt was a no show. Yes, I just dimed Matt out in print for not showing for his own event. 

As we pulled into the park, I was impressed with how much land there was. We went into the office and met Susan, who signed us in and gave us maps and information about the park. The park has camping, showers and a concession stand. 

Our friend Bill had trailered his dirt bike there, and we went to join him. The clouds began to turn dark, and rain began to fall. Ryan was new to off-road riding and decided that with his street tires on his dualsport bike, this could be a little more ambitious than his ability, so he decided to head back home. 

After gearing up, we headed out. We quickly came to the tunnel that goes under Slocomb Road. The tunnel had water in it, but the floor of the tunnel was perfect for riding through. As we came out of the tunnel, we hit the trails. The trails were wide and well-marked. Areas were clearly marked with stops and various areas with cool names like Cook Pits, TT’s Sand Bar, Peanuts Peak and 5/30 Pit Stop. 

The rain began to pour, and my helmet began to fog up. The trails began to fill with water as the landscape dropped down to the Cape Fear River. 

Being the only riders dumb enough to be out in that downpour, I think we had the park all to ourselves. I loved having lots of trees around me. We spent a few hours out there, and to be honest, it was considered one of the best riding days we had had in a long time. 

The park is located on Slocomb Road in Linden, just north of the Goodyear plant.

For more information, call Deep Creek ATV Park at 910-929-0658 or visit www.deepcreekatv.com.

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

Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, 36, was killed soon after military action began in Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Chapman died in combat March 4, 2002. Sixteen years later, the Pope Air Field special operations airman received the Congressional Medal of Honor. 

Why did the honor take so long?He was alone atop an Afghan mountain suffering from bullet wounds to his legs and surrounded by hundreds of al-Qaida militants. Chapman used his final moments of life to make sure other American troops had a chance to survive a battle in which they were significantly outnumbered. Chapman – believed dead when his comrades fled the mountaintop amid heavy fire – awoke from unconsciousness and fought off enemy attackers for an hour while a helicopter carrying an assault force of Army Rangers approached.

Chapman, from the protection of a chest-high bunker, did the unthinkable – charged forward, turning his back on an enemy machine gun, and fired on two fighters preparing to launch rocket-propelled grenades at the incoming Chinook, killing them both. He was mortally wounded by the machinegun fire. For that action on the night of March 3 through the morning of March 4, 2002, President Donald Trump presented his family the Medal of Honor encased in a shadowbox earlier this month.

Chapman had been attached as an Air Force combat controller to the Navy’s SEAL Team 6. He and fallen SEAL Petty Officer Neil Roberts had been left behind on the mountain. Early evidence about Chapman’s final hours was that a SEAL NCO incorrectly declared Chapman dead during the attack, The New York Times was the first to report. SEAL team leader, Master Chief Petty Officer Britt Slabinski, had ordered his outgunned and heavily bloodied team to withdraw. 

Slabinski, who received the Medal of Honor for his own actions earlier in that battle, credited Chapman with saving the lives of his teammates and endorsed him for the Medal of Honor. 

Chapman was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, the second highest Air Force award for valor. 

For many years, some Air Force officials believed Chapman deserved the Medal of Honor. But until a lengthy two-and-a-half-year investigation into Chapman’s heroism was completed, that went unproven. 

Chapman was assigned to the U.S. Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Field. It is an Air Force component of Fort Bragg’s Joint Special Operations Command. Combat Controllers are skilled battlefield airmen who are often assigned individually to special operations teams to provide expert battlefield airstrike control and communications capabilities. 

Evidence compiled in 2016 by a team of 17 Air Force special operators proved Chapman had indeed lived longer than originally reported. He continued to fight and likely intentionally gave his own life to give others a better chance to survive. New technology used in an examination of videos from aircraft flying overhead indicated that Chapman killed the two al-Qaida fighters before “dying in an attempt to protect arriving reinforcements,” The New York Times reported. 

The review also relied heavily on video recorded by a predator drone overhead throughout much of the fight, according to an Air Force special tactics officer who was involved in the investigation. What the team found was “awe inspiring” and left little doubt that Chapman’s actions deserved the military’s highest honor for battlefield valor, the officer said.

Along with Chapman, six other Americans died during what became known as the battle of Roberts Ridge. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made the recommendation to upgrade Chapman’s Air Force Cross earlier this year. 

Photo: John Chapman

Explore our city’s rich history from a new angle – in a horse-drawn carriage. The second Saturday of each month, Cool Spring Downtown District offers a 45-minute carriage ride through downtown Fayetteville. The next historic tour is Sept. 15.

“This is the third year we’ve done the tours, and it is going very well,” said Hank Parfitt, carriage tour organizer. “(The carriage) holds 8-10 people and is covered with a canopy.” 

The tours include several stops. “We cover the history going back to early 1700s through the beginning of the 20th century,” Parfitt said. “There were a lot of changes after we were connected by railroad to other cities in North Carolina in 1890. There are a lot of old buildings in downtown that date to that era. We talk about why Fayetteville was important in the Revolutionary War, even though there were no battles here.” 

In addition to providing a unique avenue to learn about Fayetteville’s past, Parfitt said, the rides are fun because they typically have a mix of locals and out-of-town visitors. 

“Over a third of the people who take the tour are from out of town,” he said. “Of that number, two-thirds are from out of state. Last time, we had a lady from California here for her daughter’s wedding and a couple from Mass who retired in Aberdeen.

“It is one of the best things I have seen that we have to showcase Fayetteville to the outside world. We were sold out last Saturday by 11 a.m. and we had to turn a family away.”

Parfitt noted that the carriage owners are always mindful of the health and well-being of the horses. “The horses are draft horses; they are bred to pull things. These horses are happiest when they are pulling and can go all day long. The owners are very meticulous about caring for them. It is why we run in the mornings in the summer, including in September – to keep them from the heat.”

In September, tours take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tours depart from the Cool Spring Downtown District office at 222 Hay St. across from the Cameo Art House Theatre. Tickets are $25 for adults or $20 with a military ID and $15 for children under 12. When booking a large group tour for an organization, school or church, ask about special discounts. 

Tickets are available at 222 Hay St. on the day of the event, but advance reservations are recommended. Call 910-678-8899 to purchase tickets or to learn more about the rides. 

Editor’s note: This column, aside from the first paragraph, originally ran in the April 6, 2011, issue of Up& Coming Weekly.  

Nostalgia struck hard in August when I cleaned my yoga mats, recyclable shopping bags, various post office receipts and lost CDs out of Station Wagon No. 7 and kissed my trusty friend goodbye after more than 153,000 miles and many happy times together.  In her place is shiny new SW No. 8, and we are just beginning to get acquainted. Who knew cars now come with iPads in their dashboards? All of which made me remember the following homage I wrote to all the cars I’ve loved before when SW No. 7 arrived in 2011. I hope it brings back memories for you as well.

Like any parent, I am excited by the arrival of my latest baby – Station Wagon No. 7!  

I suspected she – all my wagons have been shes, except the last one, which was definitely a he – was coming when SW No. 6 was well into six-figure mileage and needed a set of large and expensive new tires. Instead of committing for another 50,000 miles or so, I left him forlornly on a car dealer’s lot and drove away in my new baby, sad about leaving behind what felt like a dear old friend but anxious to get to know my new one.  

I know now that I will meet my maker as a station wagon owner for two simple reasons. I love being able to pop open the back door and toss in my belongings, and today’s popular SUVs are a bear to crawl in and out of if one is wearing a skirt. 

The only real question is what number it will be.

I have not always been a station wagon girl, though.

I got my first car at 16, not so much because my parents were wildly generous as because my mother worked in the family business and needed me to drive my sister around. It was a used, lemon-yellow Corvair, the car Ralph Nader called “unsafe at any speed,” because it had the motor in the trunk and nothing in front but space. 

I loved it! But I could not drive the darn thing. It had what was called “four on the floor” with a clutch so sensitive everyone who ever drove it leapt for several blocks. My long-suffering father tried to teach me to drive it, but he finally gave up in exasperation on a quiet Haymount street with these words: “Margaret, I love you, but I cannot stand it anymore. I am going to walk home and call your best friend to come get you.” 

He did and she did. 

She eventually taught me how to drive my Corvair during one long Sunday afternoon in a deserted parking lot.

The next car, which lasted through college, was a giant lemon-yellow (again!) convertible, mercifully equipped with an automatic transmission. I loved this one, too, because I could cram in five or more friends, but it also had an issue. Sometimes it would not turn off, even when you took the keys out. The world must have been a safer place in those days because I often just got out and left it running. No one ever took it, but it did once run out of gas. 

Post-college, I had a blue Cougar with a white vinyl roof. By this time, cars were less exciting and more functional, and this one was fine, although I did not love it. I particularly did not love it when it was stolen on a New York City street. New York’s finest assured me that it was “parts” within minutes of its departure, but they were wrong. It turned out to be one of the few stolen vehicles recovered that year and dirtier than any car I had ever seen. We picked it up from a Brooklyn impoundment lot, and within 24 hours, the motor went up in flames. 

Needless, to say, I traded it as soon as I could. In succession came an Audi Fox (my first new car!), a Honda Civic and a diesel Rabbit. By that time, I was a mother, so enter SW No. 1, a diesel Oldsmobile, not representative of General Motors’ finest work. It was so loud, a friend once asked what was wrong with it. 

Then came SW No. 2, an Army Corps of Engineers blue Chevrolet, huge but with no pickup. That car self-combusted in front of VanStory Hills Elementary School, a surefire way to make a spectacle of oneself.

SW No. 3 was a white Oldsmobile bought at an auction, followed by my all-time favorite, a Buick Roadmaster that had fake wood paneling and was big enough to move Ringling Brothers. By that time, the Precious Jewels were acquainted with the concept of “cool,” which SW No. 4 definitely was not. I tried to convince them that it was really a Corvette since it had the same engine, but they were not buying that.  Apparently, everyone else thought they were uncool, too, since those wonderful cars are no longer made.  

SW No. 5 and I had adventures too numerous to recount here, including a theft despite a legislative license plate, a concrete angel with a red bow around its neck shoved through the passenger window, and a final fiery meltdown and demise in rural Canada.

The recently departed SW No. 6, my only boy, is memorable because I did not fit his demographic.  Observers expected the driver to be Mr. T – complete with gold chains – and were universally startled when the driver turned out to be a middle-aged woman in faux pearl earrings. 

So, welcome, SW No. 7.  

We are still getting to know each other, but I look forward to many happy miles together.

One of Fayetteville’s most popular cultural celebrations, the Greek Festival, has been offering free admission every year for 28 years now. That’s fitting, as the spirit of the event is one of sharing. This weekend, Sept. 7-9, members of Fayetteville’s Greek community invite the greater area to share in their food, dance, music, traditions and sense of family. The fest is created and hosted by Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. Events take place on the church grounds and inside the air-conditioned Hellenic Center.

The delicious food is one of the festival’s biggest draws. Who can resist the smell of gyros and lamb shank? And who would pass up the chance to try spanakopita (spinach pie), pastichio (Greek lasagna), souvlaki (skewered meat and vegetables) or dolmades (stuffed grape leaves)? Of course, you’d need to finish your meal off with handmade baklava or loukoumades (Greek donuts with honey and walnuts) and Greek coffee.

Kelly Papagikos, who’s helped with the festival for a decade and is married to the church’s pastor, said food is an important element in cultures and communities because it brings people together. “It’s so heartwarming to watch in the kitchen a (first-generation) great-grandfather and grandfather and son,” she said. “The best place in the Greek community is in the kitchen. That’s where all the action is.” 

Throughout the festival, there will also be Greek music played live, children and greeters dressed in traditional Greek clothing as well as god- and goddess-wear, and folk dance demonstrations with opportunities for audience participation. An Athenian Playground, a marketplace full of Greek goodies, the first annual Baklava 5K Walk/Run, and church tours and services round out the festival’s offerings.

The music, a blend of traditional and contemporary Greek songs, will be played by Paschalis, a band that’s been together about 20 years. Greece is home to over 200 cultural dances, each representing a region, village or island. The church’s Hellenic Dance Troupes are comprised of kindergarden- to high school-aged students; they grow up dancing, Papagikos said. The troupes will dance at several points throughout the weekend, wearing traditional costumes. The dancers give educational demonstrations and also perform routines that include inviting guests to join in the fun. The performances will take place in the Hellenic Center and outside under a large tent. 

The Athenian Playground, located at the back of the property, includes slides, cotton candy, bouncy houses and a mini train track – “everything a child could ever want,” Papagikos said. An added bonus this year will be the adjacent Night in Athens hangout spot for adults. This will be a relaxed area to enjoy the sights and sounds in a spot away from the direct center of activity. Papagikos said it’s the element she’s personally most excited about debuting. 

Another debut this year is the first annual Baklava 5K Walk/Run. It starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday and will wind around the residential area surrounding the festival grounds. Registration is $25 and includes a T-shirt and voucher for a small meal. Participants will be handed a celebratory piece of baklava upon completing the course.

Attendees can also pick up authentic ingredients and spirits at an on-site pop-up Greek grocery store. Papagikos gives free Greek cooking lessons all three days of the festival, twice a day. “Because we’ve gotten so many people wanting to learn how to cook Greek meals, we’re going to be selling a lot more (ingredients) this year,” she said. 

The shopping opportunities do not end with ingredients, though. Vendors from all over the city will set up an “agora,” modeled after a Greek marketplace. Papagikos said they’ve got more vendors this year than ever before. Items for sale will include jewelry, leather, knick-knacks, music, embroideries, rugs, clothing, folk art and icons. The event’s press release sums it up: “Buy a Greek fisherman’s hat and a belly dancing coin belt and you will fit right in as an authentic Greek! OPA!” 

Throughout the weekend, visitors can tour the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church sanctuary. Times are listed at the Hellenic Center entrance. The history and faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church will be explained, and there will also be an opportunity to attend the regular church service the Sunday of the festival. 

Finally, don’t miss out on your chance to win $2,000 or a round-trip ticket to Athens, Greece, by purchasing raffle tickets for $5 each. The drawing will be held on Sunday, and you do not have to be present to win. 

The Greek Festival is great fun, and it takes a village to make it happen. 

Nobody knows that better than the army of 15-20 ladies of the church who are responsible for the mounds of made-from-scratch Greek pastries each year. 

Also bonding in the kitchen are restaurant owners from all over Fayetteville – Papagikos said about 90 percent of the city’s restaurants are Greek-owned. She said these people come together every year to cook for the festival, putting their own businesses aside. The primary and long-serving leaders of festival kitchen operations are Greg Kalevas, owner of Chris’s Steak & Seafood House; Jimmy Hondras, who works with Kalevas; and Tony Kotsopoulos, head chef at Luigi’s. Kotsopoulos helped start the conversation about bringing the community together for a Greek festival in Fayetteville in 1988. All three men have helped in many capacities since the festival’s inception in 1991.

The chair of this year’s festival is Steve Goodson.

“For me, it is such a great fulfilment of joy,” Papagikos said. “The sense of community that is there when I see non-Greek people coming to our festival is so beautiful. Our culture is so rich. Our passion and our lives, our community and family ties, are so rich that people want to come and share a little piece of that with us. And that makes me very happy.” 

Credit cards will be accepted at many areas in the festival, but three ATMS will be on-site for purchasing from vendors who only accept cash.

The church and festival grounds are located at 614 Oakridge Ave. Parking is located in front of the church property and in the Educational Building parking lot. Street parking on Woodland Drive and the surrounding residential area is also available, but make sure to allow room for residents to enter and exit their property. Saturday, enjoy free parking at St. John’s AME Zion Church or at Synder Memorial Baptist Church on Westmont Drive.  

Events run Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7 and 8, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 9, noon-6 p.m. 

For more information, call the church at 910 484-2010, email fayorthodox@gmail.com, or visit stsch.nc.goarch.org/greek-festival.

Editor’s note: A much longer version of this article was originally published online at the author’s blog, hopemills.net/2018/08/25/we-are-one-team. The article has been condensed, edited and reprinted here with permission.

By visiting https://clyp.it/pa1ztkra, you can listen to a 20+ minute Aug. 23 interview of Commissioners Meg Larson and Mike Mitchell by Goldy of WFNC. What follows is an abbreviated transcription of the interview and my commentary in italics.

0:48 Goldy: Since Hope Mills pulled a $28,000 contract from a Fayetteville publication – the publication has just become – in my opinion -a mean, viscous, vindictive attack weapon.

The Hope Mills Board didn’t actually “pull the contract” (from Up & Coming Weekly). The contract was for a finite amount of time, and it ended with the publication having fulfilled its obligation. The Board chose not to renew the contract. 

1:37 Goldy: Was this land (referring to Lake bed #2, land the Lone Survivor Foundation would like to purchase from Hope Mills) ever up for sale?

Mitchell:No, it was never for sale – in fact, we’ve been working on a comprehensive parks and recreation plan and we spent, at this point, over $100,000 for all of our properties to be looked at.

This isn’t accurate. During the June 4 meeting between the Board and LSF Executive Director Terry Jung, Mike Mitchell threw out a price point to sell the land. Jung stated this in an interview I did with him in early August, and this was confirmed by three members of the Board. Jung was surprised at the quote and said it was quite high, comparable to a price tag on 60+ acres, when LSF was only asking to buy 3-4 acres. And, an email to a representative at Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation clearly shows the Board was excited to move forward with the sale and wanted to coordinate the next steps and see official financial offers as of June 5. Two other emails prove the $100,000 study commissioned to McAdams Group never included Lake bed #2; it was added by Larson and Mitchell sometime between July 30 and Aug. 1. Screen shots of those emails can be found on the original version of this article at HopeMills.net.

4:25 Goldy: My understanding is that you were brought into a meeting on June 4 – I’ve seen some accounts where it says you were herded through a back hall of city hall into a meeting. Were you blindsided by this, Mike?

Mitchell: Yes, sir. It was a closed session.

Goldy: Why was it a closed session? A lot of people are asking that – why this was a closed session?

Mitchell: I believe because it had to do with the tendering of property and economic development. We had no control over it – I guess the closed session was put on their (the agenda) by the mayor.

Three members of the Board have confirmed the closed session on June 4 took place in the exact same way as all closed sessions – and in the exact same place. Much has been made of the presentation taking place in a closed session, when in fact that’s standard operating procedure. Land acquisition and personnel issues are always discussed in a closed session. 

4:56 Goldy: One of the other things that I have read is that there may be some – let’s call them hard feelings – between the Board and the mayor – because her son Teddy Warner kinda facilitated this whole thing. The Board has some hurt feelings the mayor apparently knew about this before the Board of commissioners did.

Mitchell: Yeah, we just thought it might have been more appropriate if we had known ahead of time – when you go into a meeting and the mayor’s son is there we were just kind of taken aback a little bit. There’s not a conflict of interest – we’ve asked about it – it just seemed inappropriate or uncomfortable for us. I just asked our town manager and our whole team that when there’s a request made to partner or to buy property – that’s not for sale especially – that they inform the Board of Commissioners.  We are one team.  If any organization asks you to keep something secret from your Board of Commissioners – that should be a red flag.

Teddy Warner is the director of business development for the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation. He has an impressive resume and works with a respected company. He also happens to be the mayor’s son. We live in a small town. This Board is going to do business with relatives and friends – it’s inevitable. 

And Mitchell’s implication that this presentation was purposely kept secret from the Board is ridiculous. Jung addressed the allegations that the presentation wasn’t handled correctly in our interview: “I’m confident they’re wrong because we’ve dealt with two other cities in the Cumberland County area (Godwin & Fayetteville), and that’s exactly the procedure we have followed.”

It’s not just wrong, it’s incredibly insulting to the entire staff of FCCEDC, the Hope Mills staff and to the Warner Family.

In an ironic twist, Mitchell recently admitted on social media that he’s been approached multiple times since July 24 with offers from nonprofit groups wanting to buy land. He also admitted that he did not relay the offers to the town manager or to the Board... as he’s insisted they do. He simply told the nonprofit groups the land was not for sale. 

11:49 Goldy: I think that everyone on the BOC thinks that the LSF is an outstanding organization – there is nobody that doesn’t think that this is a worthy organization, and you would love to have them in your town – just not on this piece of land.

Mitchell:

 Exactly. Jessie Bellflowers is actually working to find an alternate location for them as we speak.

There is no reason to find an alternate piece of land. Lake bed #2 was abandoned by the town for more than 50 years. It wasn’t even included in the initial parks and rec survey being conducted by the McAdams Group. It stands to reason that if LSF hadn’t approached the town with an offer to purchase the lake bed, it would never have been included in the survey, it wouldn’t have been developed, and it may have been neglected for another 50 years.  What would have happened if LSF had approached the town in November... well after McAdams had concluded its survey? Mitchell and Larson couldn’t have included it at that point, and their argument would have been invalid. 

And LSF has expressed a willingness to lease the land or purchase it with a buy-back clause, ensuring Hope Mills would have it if needed at some point in the future... which means we’re not conflicting with the 2030 plan they quote so often. 

On an ending note: I’ve maintained a strict standard of providing tangible evidence to coincide with each article I post, and links to everything I’ve referenced in this printed edition can be found on my blog. Commissioner Mitchell has blocked me from commenting on his social media. He has a long tradition of blocking dissenting views. 

To the commissioners – Within my original online post are links to evidence proving that nothing you said on the radio was truthful or accurate. If you have tangible evidence to contradict any of this, I welcome it. I’ll retract any statement you can disprove and gladly share your evidence. 

If not, then I suggest you reevaluate your position on the LSF proposal... but also your position on the Board.  You’re meant to represent all of the people, all of the time – not just people who agree with you.

Showing off its new logo and symbol of pride, the 2018 Campaign of Honor continues to pay tribute to Cumberland County’s first responders in remembrance of September 11, 2001. This week, Fayetteville and Cumberland County Law Enforcement and area fire departments were at the center of attention. Sen. Wesley Meredith, friends and colleagues  visited the city and county fire departments, Hope Mills and Fayetteville police departments and the Cumberland County Sheriff ’s Department. 

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins welcomed Meredith and those with him to the department with introductions to her key staff and an update on the successes of community crime prevention programs.

Hope Mills Police Chief Joel Acceiardo introduced the visiting group to his key officers and explained some of the interactive community awareness programs that have been successful in controlling crime and creating safe neighborhoods. 

At the county level, Sheriff Ennis Wright welcomed everyone to the Law Enforcement Center, and Chief Deputy Richard Jenkins gave a tour of the downtown facility. 

While on this tour, Meredith said, “I’m very impressed and encouraged at the extraordinary efforts being made by local law enforcement to encourage and implement proactive community awareness programs that have resulted in forging trust and invaluable partnerships with the residents of Cumberland County.  

“Cooperation, communication and teamwork between these law enforcement professionals are what make Cumberland County communities safe places to live and work. Very impressive.”  

All the entities visited offer a variety of ongoing awareness programs, including citizens academies designed to educate the public and provide a better understanding of the challenges and conditions that law enforcement officers face each and every day. 

Next stop was the Fireman’s Association meeting in Stedman, where Meredith and associates extended their appreciation to the professionals of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County fire departments for their dedication to public safety. Meredith and the members of the 2018 Campaign of Honor extended everyone a personal invitation to the First Responder’s Reception that will be held Sept. 11 in downtown Fayetteville. 

The highlight of the reception will be the introduction and recognition of  Fayetteville resident Bettye Glenn. Glenn was a survivor of the North Tower 9/11 terrorist attacks. She shared her amazing and touching experience with Meredith and colleagues at the Stedman Fire Department. As Glenn was escaping down the stairwell from the 24th floor, she came face to face with a young fireman heading upward. 

“Honestly, I will never forget the look on his face,” she said. Ever since then, Glenn said, she has been a strong advocate for all firemen. Her interview and story have been documented on film and will  be available to view on local social media networks soon.

The Sept. 11 First Responder’s Reception will be held at The TapHouse, located at 411 Hay St. in historic downtown Fayetteville, from 5:30-7 p.m. The event is being hosted by Eben Concepts, Up & Coming Weekly, Williford Hollers Crenshaw Boliek & Frangakis LLP, Huske Hardware House and other local businesses and organizations.

During the Aug. 20 Board of Commissioners meeting, Hope Mills received a plaque from the City-County Joint Appearance Commission, which recognized the dam at the 10th Annual Community Appearance Awards.

On Sept. 10, Town Manager Melissa Adams will travel to Seattle, Washington, to accept a second award, the National Rehabilitation Project of the Year Award from the Annual Association of State Dams Safety Officials.

Mayor Warner was approached by a representative for ASDSO several years ago and was told the town and dam might be eligible for the award. Since then, she’s worked with Melissa Adams to complete the lengthy application process.

Warner announced the award during the board’s July 23 meeting and opened the floor to discussion. Commissioner Jerry Legge made a motion to send Melissa Adams before any conversation was held. When Commissioner Pat Edwards asked them to consider sending Mayor Warner, the room fell silent. Commissioner Jessie Bellflowers suggested sending a citizen from the Lake Advisory Committee, but that, too, was rejected. Eventually, Commissioner Meg Larson announced that she supported the idea of sending one person. The board voted 4-1 to send Adams alone, with Edwards being the only member who voted against the plan.

The July 23 meeting was contentious from the start.

The Lone Survivor Foundation and its request to purchase municipal property was discussed through- out this meeting. Nearly two dozen citizens spoke in favor of the project when Warner suspended the rules to allow public comments. Several members of the board were opposed to allowing public comments, presumably comments about LSF. Tempers flared through the three-and-a-half-hour meeting, and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell, Bellflowers, Larson and all had outbursts at some point.

Bellflowers implied the process of bringing the proposal to the board was done incorrectly, then shouted at the mayor and accused her of interrupting him while he was technically speaking out of turn. When Larson asked to respond to a citizen and Warner didn’t allow it, Larson became agitated and spoke anyway. Mitchell insulted Robert van Geons, the president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation, when he asked if it was a conflict of interest for Teddy Warner, the mayor’s son and the director of business development for FDEDC, to be involved in partnering LSF with the town of Hope Mills. Mitchell also implied the LSF staff had colluded with Warner and her son to facilitate the sale.

There was a considerable amount of tension between the board members and the mayor by the time she broached the topic of the award. With the vote complete, Warner asked the board to give her permission to go and agreed to pay her own expenses. Mitchell, Larson, Legge and Bellflowers remained silent, heads down, refusing to make eye contact with Warner or the crowd. Edwards asked for a consensus, but the board refused to acknowledge even this small request.

On July 27, the Board of Directors of the Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to the town and the Board of Commissioners. They formally requested Jackie Warner be allowed to attend the award ceremony saying: “Mayor Warner has been working diligently and steadfast on the dam project for nearly four years and has played a vital role in acquiring the settlement to rebuild the damn and replenish the lake. Mayor Warner is the ambassador for the town of Hope Mills. It is only proper and fitting that she accompany Town Manager Adams in accepting this most prestigious and well-earned award.”

The Board of Commissioners have ignored the letter and refused to reply. Interestingly, there was a Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for Sept. 10. At the Aug. 20 meeting, the board voted to cancel it since Adams would be in Seattle and couldn’t attend. There is nothing preventing Warner from attending the ceremony in Seattle, but she’s chosen to not attend, citing a need to honor the wishes of the board members.

Photos L to R: Jerry Legge, Jessie Bellflowers, Meg Larson, Mike Mitchell, Pat Edwards, Mayor Jackie Warner, Town Manager Melissa Adams

Dwight Smith, project director at Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery, had a specific reason to include a national abstract competition in the gallery’s 2018 exhibition year. Smith and Executive Director Calvin Mims both wanted to respond to a frequent question in the community: If representational artists paint in a way that depicts what is clearly identifiable, then what are abstract artists doing?

Two hundred fifty artists across the country answered the complex question by participating in an exhibition titled “Immersed in Abstraction: A National Juried Competition.” Of the 250 artists who entered the competition, 25 were selected to send original works for the gallery show at Ellington-White, and fifty-six artists are being represented in an online exhibition.

Artist Randy Akens was the final juror of a two-tiered jurying process. From Savannah, Georgia, Akens jurors’ statement is short: “The artists in ‘Immersed in Abstraction’ all provide quality of expression and reflect significant points of view nationwide.”

I think it’s important to expound on some central points about abstraction for anyone who would like to broaden their understanding about the abstract style.

The range of styles in “Immersed in Abstraction” confirms why there are countless texts published that examine the ideas or intent of abstract art. Of the many relevant approaches, I selected several significant and foundational modern/contemporary statements about the style – explanations that could alter one’s perception about a non-representational style when visiting any gallery.

As long ago as 1943, Ad Reinhardt’s statement about abstract works created clarity for many when he stated, “It is more difficult to write or talk about abstract art than any other painting because the content is not in a subject matter or story, but in the actual painting activity.”

The above statement is illustrated in all of the paintings in “Immersed in Abstraction.” For example, when looking at the brushy painted marks of Jean Banas’ “Misplaced Memories,” we know there are two figures in the picture plane – yet the act of painting becomes more important than the subject. The artist’s painting method becomes integral to the meaning of the work itself and the viewer’s interpretation.

Another important and well-known statement about abstract works was made by Douglas Huebler in 1968. Huebler, defending his position against being a representational artist, said, “The world is full of objects, more or less interesting; I do not wish to add any more. I prefer instead to simply state the existence of things in terms of time and/or place.” Huebler is not referencing the physical “objecthood” of an art object but is challenging the idea of why to reproduce or reference an illusion of an object or objects in a work of art.

When considering Huebler’s stance, I immediately think of the Hawaii-based artist Tara Cronin, whose work was accepted into the physical exhibition of “Immersed in Abstraction.” Hoping to “promote the idea of science and art as being symbiotic,” Cronin’s work is a pigment print with chlorophyll, pen, pencil and blood. Titled “Daybreak Archival,” something hair-like seems to float amidst a seemingly unknown language. The image conjures something that feels ancient with the universally personal.

When thinking about Cronin’s work, it’s easy to reflect back to Reinhardt’s statement about the importance of the actual activity of the making.

Cronin, an accomplished artist and someone who holds several co-patents with her partner, scientist Ed Chen, explores “the interface between the material and the individual by making photographically- based work involving images or prints combined with materials such as reconstituted hemoglobin and chlorophyllin as well as with dust and with liquid metals.” In lieu of practicing chiaroscuro to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object on a flat surface, Cronin shares her investigation of the expressive quality of materials.

Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery is pleased with the response of artists and the variety of mediums and styles in the exhibit. Ranging from professional and collectable works of art to works by emerging artists, the exhibit includes a range of media – monoprints, intaglio prints, paintings, mixed media, photographs and computer graphics. From the figurative to non-objective, visitors to the gallery will see painterly expressionism as well as hard-edged minimalism, social commentary and personal investigative approaches to art-making, science and politics.

The politics of M. Wilk’s mixed media work titled “Control Series: Regulation” investigates today’s culture. By combining a mix of stenciled flat people shapes floating above collaged papers, the painterly mark-making exudes an industrial essence. The artist described the “Control Series” as “a dialogue regarding our society and culture in today’s age. The works touch on surveillance regarding the digital landscape we live in, the Elite, consumerism and money.”

Here is one last statement about the possibilities of abstract art before this article comes to an end. In 2010, Bob Nickas, in his book titled “Painting Abstraction: New Elements in Abstract Painting,” said, “Maybe abstract painting has become a form of imaginative fiction. Here, the painter of abstract life reflects on the world without submission to its direct rendering and counters every other representation... the painter of abstract life slows down perception... Abstract painting can be its own subject, its own world, one that reveals itself slowly over time and may not look exactly the same to us from one day to the next.”

And so it is with all of the works in the exhibit. Visitors will need to attend the exhibit several times to see how the works can change from one day to another.

All of the above are reasons to visit “Immersed in Abstraction: A National Juried Competition.” Thinking about new ways of seeing can influence one’s appreciation of works of art in stimulating ways and can even alter one’s own creative approach.

The show will remain up until Sept. 22. Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery is located at 113 Gillespie St. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. View the online exhibition at www.ellington-white.com. For information on the exhibit or on a Sept. 18 Abstract Monoprint Workshop, call 910-483-1388.

To hear that Terry Sanford is the favorite to win this year’s Patriot Athletic Conference girls tennis title is no surprise.

But league teams may be a little more concerned when they hear head coach Mandy McMillan’s assessment of her 2018 squad.

“These girls came back and shocked me this year when we did challenge matches,’’ she said. “My whole team is strong. I don’t have a weak link. I’d put them up against anybody in the conference.’’

The Bulldogs will be led at first court by Ritika Shamdasani, who said she thrives on the support of McMillan and her teammates during matches and practices.

On the court, Shamdasani said, she tries to focus on playing her game and not get caught up in trying to emulate moves that her opponents are using. “You have to stay true to your game and how you play,’’ Shamdasani said. “That’s usually what wins matches.’’

Shamdasani said the strength of her game is serving. She’s been consistent and powerful in this area.

McMillan thinks if there is a conference team that could give Terry Sanford a run for its money, it’s Cape Fear, led by No. 1 singles player Chloe Arnette. Arnette already beat Shamdasani in their first match this season, 6-3, 6-3. “Chloe is a tough competitor,’’ McMillan said of Arnette. “That was a win well deserved.’’

Cape Fear finished second to Terry Sanford a year ago, losing only to the Bulldogs in conference play.

“This year, our goal is to be as competitive as possible with Terry Sanford,’’ Colt coach Chris Lucas said.

Arnette, who first took up tennis as something to
keep her in shape for basketball, is now looking to
tennis as the sport she’d like to play in college.

“I feel my strength is my athleticism,’’ she said. “And I’m a really strong competitor. I analyze what I need to do better to win the next point.’’

But, she said, her main focus is having fun. “You have to have fun. It’s the key to playing.’’

Arnette has advanced to North Carolina High School Athletic Association regional play in doubles all three of her years at Cape Fear. She’s
undecided this year if she’d like to make a final try at a doubles title or pursue the chance to play for a singles championship.

She said she’ll decide which way she plays based on if she’s doing better in singles or doubles when the time comes to make the decision.

Photos L to R: Mandy McMillan, Ritika Shamdasani

Has it been a while since you thought about our old pal, Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, the superstar of Sumeria? Gilgamesh holds title as the subject of the oldest written story – one about a Babylonian superhero. Let’s take a walk down memory lane to see why people still remember Gilgamesh after more than 4,000 years.

Gil, as his friends called him, was fortunate enough to have at least five epic poems written about him on clay tablets that survived thousands of years. In the 1870s, someone was smart enough to translate Gil’s story. This translation caused a ruckus, as there are several similarities between Gil’s story and Old Testament stories, including a Great Flood, which upset certain theologians.

So, where to begin? Gil was not only King of Uruk, he was also 66 percent god, 33 percent man and 25 percent Dacron. Like Shaft himself, Gil was one bad “shut your mouth.”

Gil built cities and ziggurat pyramids and had his way with the ladies whenever he was so inclined. He was one of the first #MeToo offenders. He was so bad he wouldn’t even wash his hands before eating. His subjects wailed piteously to the Sumerian gods for relief from Gil’s bad behavior.

To calm Gil down, the gods made a wild man named Enkidu to act as a counter-weight to Gil. Like Tarzan, Enkidu grew up with wild animals. He was just as strong as Gil. Enkidu got word of what a bad dude Gil was and decided to confront him. When Enkidu arrived at Gil’s palace, Gil was just about to have his way with a bride on her wedding night. Enkidu assumed the role of special counsel to stop Gil’s de- praved behavior. Enkidu stood in the doorway and told Gil that he shall not pass. Gil, unused to being told what to do, was not amused. An epic rassling match took place between Gil and Enkidu, which ultimately Gil won.

As in all classic male bonding stories and cop buddy movies, after their rough start, Gil and Enkidu become fast friends. They decide to go have adventures together. They go to a forest guarded by a demon to cut down some magic trees. They kill the demon and take his trees to make a raft to float back home. On arriving home, the goddess Ishtar falls in love with Gil. Gil is more interested in Enkidu than Ishtar. He ignores her, and she becomes a woman- goddess scorned. Ishtar gets her daddy, Anu the god of the sky, to send the bull of heaven to smite Gil. Gil and Enkidu take on the bull of the sky. After a huge battle, the bull of heaven becomes a barbecue lunch for the boys. This aggravates the gods to no end. They decide the boys must be punished. Celestial cooties are unleashed to infect Enkidu. He dies after a long and gooey illness.

Gil is emotionally crushed by Enkidu’s death. The clay tablet about Enkidu’s death says Gil did not want to bury his friend but sat Shiva beside Enkidu’s body for seven days. This foreshadowed the scene in “Gone with the Wind” where Rhett Butler refused to allow Bonnie Blue Butler to be buried until Mammy finally convinced him. Gil is reported to say, “Enkidu, my friend/ For six days and seven nights I wept over him/ I did not allow him to be buried/ Until a worm fell out of his nose.” That is true devotion on a level of Damon and Pythias or Heckle and Jekyll.

Gil is so stressed out he stops being king and puts on animal skins. He goes on a quest to mourn Enkidu and to try to learn how to live forever. Gil ends up meeting a megadude named Utnapishtim who tells him how the gods had sent a great flood to drown all mankind except for Utna, who built a big boat to save his family and all the animals of Earth. Utna gets to live forever but tells Gil that man can never become immortal. Gil is a bit of a whiner and pleads for eternal life.

Utna tells Gil if he can stay awake for a whole week, he can have eternal life. Gil immediately overindulges in Sumerian Thanksgiving turkey. Full of tryptophan, Gil falls asleep and loses his chance for immortality. When Gil wakes up, Utna tells him to go home. Utna’s wife, who had a hankering for Gil, tells Gil about a secret plant that will give Gil eternal life. Gil gets the plant and is ready to head for home with the key to eternal life. Unfortunately, Gil runs into a talking snake who steals the plant from him. The snake eats the plant, sheds its skin and becomes young again. Gil remains mortal and will cross the Great Divide.

So, what have we learned today? Don’t trust talking snakes. If a worm falls out of your dead friend’s nose, it’s time to call the undertaker. If it looks like it’s going to rain for a long time, build an ark. If you are enough of a Sumerian superhero, people will still be reading about you more than 4,000 years after you are dead. And now you know the rest of the story.

Bring on fall! It’s time for back to school, cooler weather and the Cumberland County Fair. This 10-day celebration of food, fun and entertainment marks the end of summer and the start of autumn festivities in the community. Running Aug. 31 through Sept. 9, the fair fills the Crown Complex with an amazing midway with games, rides and food. There is also music to look forward to, but the fair is also so much more than entertainment.

The fair celebrates the history and legacy of the agricultural communities in Cumberland County. Local arts and crafts and livestock shows and contests also have a big place in the fair’s footprint. The event is a safe setting for fun, healthy family fun. Its shows and contests provide an inviting environment of friendly competition for all ages.

For the third year in a row, the fair is partnering with Big Rock Amusements. “We’re proud to be working again with Big Rock (Amusements), which is, bar none, the best in fair entertainment there is,”said Cumberland County Fair Manager Hubert Bullard. “We want the latest and the greatest for our fair, and that’s why we continue to work with (them).”

Midway games, rides, food and exhibits are a given every day from open to close, but there are also special activities and events that run throughout the fair. There are two main attractions this year as well – the World of Wonders Show and Great Lakes Timber Show, both with multiple showings throughout the week. There are also themed nights, offering discounts and special events.

Friday, Aug. 31

The gates open at 5 p.m., and admission is free all evening – although it does cost to ride the rides. Ride wristbands are available for $25. Fun repeat events that have multiple times almost every day of the fair include: the petting farm, which is sponsored by Lumbee River EMC; The Great American Timber Show; The World of Wonders Show; Escape Explosion Show; and the Up & Coming Weekly entertainment stage. Reflections II will perform on the entertainment stage from 7-10 p.m. Opening night only, enjoy the Q98 Scavenger Hunt. The Junior Laying Hen Show will be in the Crown Expo Center, section C.

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1-2

Gates open at 1 p.m. Admission is $7. Anyone who partcipated in the August Kidsville News coloring contest can bring their artwork for $2 off admission. Ride wristbands are $25. Enjoy musicians Open Road from 2-5:30 p.m. and Joyner, Young & Marie from 6:30-10 p.m. on the entertainment stage on Saturday in addition to all the repeat events on both days. Sunday is Staycation Student Day. Bring your student ID and get $4 off admission. There will be a 10:15 a.m. church service at the fairgrounds Sunday as well. The day’s stage entertainment is Truly Blessed; Glad Trio; Born Again Band; and Accepted Band. Old School 107.7 JAMZ will host a Favorite Food Fair contest Sunday, too.

Monday, Sept. 3

On Labor Day, enjoy the $10 Pay One Price Special from the time the gates open at 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The Pay One Price Special includes free, unlimited carnival rides once you’ve paid for admission, unlike previous days of the fair.

Apply the same deal but for $15 after 5 p.m. In addition to the repeat events, Q98 will be at the fair from 4-7 p.m. Vantage will perform on the Up & Coming Weekly stage from 7-10 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 4

Admission is again Pay One Price, with $15 allowing for unlimited rides. Don’t miss the Junior Market Lamb Show in the Expo Center, section C, in addition to the repeat events. Black Velvet will perform on the entertainment stage from 7-10 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 5

Pay One Price for $15 on one of the fair’s busiest days. In addition to the repeat events, FOXY 99 will be at the fair. Agricultural events include the Little “Ewe” Jump Start Livestock Clinic; Swine, Feeder Calf and Steer Show; and Fayetteville Area Youth Livestock Auction Sale, which is sponsored by Cumberland County Farm Bureau and Cumberland County Livestock Association. The Expressions will perform from 7-10 p.m. on the entertainment stage.

Thursday, Sept. 6
Don’t miss the Senior Expo, which kicks off at 1 p.m. and grants free admission to those 50 and older until 5 p.m. Don Chase from WKML 95.7 radio will be the master of ceremonies. The schedule of events is:

• 1:30 p.m. Warren Coleman
• 2 p.m. Ms. Ortiz’s Line Dancers
• 2:30 p.m. Hope Mills Senior Line Dancers
• 3 p.m. 82nd All-American Airborne Chorus

For guests under 50, the $15 admission fee includes all rides and repeat events. The Junior Meat Goat Show is also scheduled for Sept. 6, as well as Ring Wars Carolina Wrestling. The entertainment stage will feature Dark Horse Duo.

Friday, Sept. 7

Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission costs $7. Unlimited ride wristbands are available for $25. Military members and emergency services personnel, to include law enforcement, firefighters and EMS/rescue, get in free if they are in uniform or with ID. WKML will make an appearance. The Junior Beef Heifer Show, sponsored by Cumberland County Farm Bureau, will be in the Expo, section C. Eastline Band will perform on the entertainment stage.

Saturday, Sept. 8

Gates open at 1 p.m. Admission is $7. Unlimited ride wristbands are $25. Bob 96.5 FM will be at the fair, and Guy Unger Band and Rivermist will perform on the entertainment stage.

Sunday, Sept. 9

Attend church services at 10:15 a.m. at the fair- grounds. After that, it’s Faith and Family Day at the fair. Bring a church bulletin (one per person) and get $2 off admission from 1-3 p.m. Don’t miss your last chance to check out the petting farm, Great Lakes Timber Show, World of Wonders, Escape Explosions, and Up & Coming Weekly Entertainment Stage, featuring Destiny Now Praise Band, CPAC Band and Travelin’ Lite Band.

The Crown Complex is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. Learn more at www.cumberlandcountyfair.org.

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.

• Labor Day Holiday Monday, Sept. 3. Town Hall will be closed.
• CANCELLED: Board of Commissioners Monday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.
• Lake Advisory Committee Tuesday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m.

Activities
• Registration underway for the next Hope Mills Citizens Academy, which is designed to help citizens gain insight into how local government works and promote open lines of communication. The next Citizens Academy sessions begin Thursday, Sept. 6. Register online at www.townofhopemills.com. For further information, call Jane Starling at 910-424-4902 or email jstarling@townofhopemills.com.

• 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.

• Hope Meals Food Truck Rodeo Thursday, Sept. 6, at the parking lot between Town Hall and Parks & Rec Center. 5 p.m.

• Registration open for the 4th Annual Miss Hope Mills Cotton Pageant Applications are now being accepted at Hope Mills Parks & Recreation. Registration Deadline is Friday, Sept. 14. The pageant is for ages are 3 - 22 years old. Visit www.townofhopemills.com/375/Miss-Hope-Mills-Cotton-Pageant and see applications for rules and important information for contestants. The pageant takes place Oct. 5 for ages 3-9 and Oct. 6 for ages 10-22.

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

Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

The Gray’s Creek boys soccer team is coming off a 21-win season and a trip to the third round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs.

Coach Bryan Pagan said the Bears lost a lot of experience from last season’s team, but they return a lot of the offense from that squad, which bolsters his hopes of having another strong run in 2018.

“I thought depth was going to be an issue, but we had a couple of transfers come in and (moved) some guys up from the jayvees,’’ he said.

 Last year’s team was built around strength and athleticism. This year, Pagan feels his squad’s soccer IQ is higher and its decision-making ability is improved. “Last year, we were able to overpower teams,’’ he said. “This year, we will continue to press teams and make them make mistakes.’’

The defense will be rebuilt with a new goalkeeper and a new back line. “The more comfortable they get receiving the ball, the better they’ll get,’’ Pagan said. “We’re only scratching the surface.’’

Among the top players returning for the Bears is sophomore C.J. Eley.

Eley scored 14 goals and handed out five assists. He said he feels more comfortable with experience this season. Joining the team as a freshman last season and being thrust into new surroundings was a challenge.

He’s focused more on the mental aspect of finishing possessions of the ball. “Last year our chemistry was good and we got along,’’ Eley said. “We’re going to have to be on the same page like we were last year.”

Pine Forest was the top 4-A team in the Patriot Conference last year and finished second in the regular season to the Bears.

Coach Isaac Rancour hopes the

Trojans can again compete for the con-
ference title and make the state playoffs.

“I’m excited to see how much our team grows from beginning to end,’’ he said. “We’re getting all the pieces in place. Finding a way to put the ball in the back of the net is one of the big things.’’

Connor Sykes is returning for his fourth year and will anchor the Trojan defense. “I expect him to organize the field,’’ Rancour said. “He’s done a great job in preseason with leadership roles. I except him to continue... leading on and off the field.’’

Sykes said the Trojans have set a goal of not only making the state playoffs but ending the frustration of consistently losing in the first round.

He’s not worried about any personal glory. “Personal recognition is great, but I’d rather have a conference championship as a team,’’ he said. “Being part of this team is the only goal I’ve set for myself.’’

Photos L to R: Coach Bryan Pagan, C.J. Eley

South View High School’s 19th edition of the Jungle Run cross country meet is scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 1, starting at 6:15 p.m.

The event will feature its traditional six races for its special night run around the South View High School campus and vicinity, with the finish line on the track around Randy Ledford Stadium.

The developmental races for boys and girls are at 6:15 p.m. and 6:55 p.m., respectively. The invitational races for smaller schools and B teams from larger schools will be at 7:40 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

The championship races for larger schools and more competitive smaller schools are set for 9 p.m. and 9:40 p.m.

South View cross country coach Jesse Autry said Chapel Hill is the favorite in both the girls and boys races, having swept the last two Jungle Run competitions.

Other outside teams that should fare well include the boys from Durham Jordan and Winston-Salem Reynolds, along with Wilmington Hoggard.

Local and area teams that should contend for top finishes include South View, Jack Britt, Cape Fear, Pinecrest and Union Pines.

Photo: Jesse Autry

The 2018 Campaign of Honor, spearheaded by District 19 Republican Sen. Wesley Meredith, continues into its second week recognizing and honoring all Cumberland County first responders. During the campaign, which began Aug. 13, Meredith and colleagues are conducting on-site visits to personally thank and recognize the work and dedication of all local first responders. The visitors also gain more insight into the operations and challenges of these organizations.

Meredith said, “We not only want to showcase these departments, but we want to involve the community in honoring these first responders for the work they do everyday, maintaining the safety, health and well-being of our residents and their loved ones.”

This week, they visited the Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services Base Facility. While touring the facility, Meredith spoke with various personnel there who specialize in training for the Urban Search and Rescue Team. He also participated in an up-close-and-personal training experience.

Heading up the training was Cumberland County EMS Medical Director Matthew Wells, M.D. Wells is on staff at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. After the tour, Meredith said, “It is pretty obvious that EMS first responders are much more than people who drive an ambulance.”

The 2018 Campaign of Honor will continue with visits to the Fayetteville City Police Department, the Cumberland CountySheriff’s Department and the city/county fire departments.

The message from this campaign is clear: We appreciate these organizations and these exceptional individuals and want to acknowledge them wherever and whenever possible. They are professional, specialized and highly trained individuals dedicated to saving lives and protecting our citizens.

Meredith encouraged everyone to share their praises of these organizations on Facebook and on all social media platforms. “Personal words of encouragement are always appreciated,” he said.

Meredith is looking forward to continuing the Campaign of Honor, which will culminate in a Sept. 11 remembrance and recognition event sponsored by local businesses and organizations at The TapHouse at Huske Hardware, located at 411 Hay St. in downtown Fayetteville, from 5:30-7 p.m.

There was a time when Branch Banking & Trust Company was the dominant financial institution in Cumberland County with 10 branches. On Nov. 16, BB&T will close its Bragg Boulevard branch, reducing its local financial center count to six in a very competitive industry. There are more than 20 separate banks and credit unions in Cumberland County now, most with several branches.

“After careful consideration, we will be closing the Bragg Boulevard financial center... consolidating it with the Fayetteville main financial center at 3817 Morganton Rd.,” said Dorothy Woodard, BB&T regional banking manager.

In September of 2017, BB&T Corp., headquartered in Winston-Salem, announced plans to close 140 branches. The bank updated its branch-closing plans later last year as part of a presentation by Kelly King, BB&T chairman and chief executive officer.

“For the last 10, 15 years, we’ve been kind of handicapped, because we’ve been having to deal (with) the digital system, while at the same time we’ve been having to carry along the traditional brick-and-mortar system without much opportunity to rationalize the cost,” King said. “That is changing very quickly now.”

King’s presentation listed 2,188 branches companywide as of June 30, 2017, including 351 in North Carolina, 344 in Virginia and 318 in Florida. King said many of the branches being targeted for closure have other branches close by, which he believes will limit potential customer runoff.

The BB&T branches nearest the Bragg Boulevard location are on Rowan Street downtown and Morganton Road at Westwood Shopping Center. There is a First Citizens Bank branch next door to the office BB&T is closing.

King said that BB&T is trying to balance “a steady decline in branch activity” with the fact that most of its client base “still value the branches.”

BB&T has been serving Fayetteville and Cumberland County for over 44 years. It also has branch offices in Hope Mills and Eastover. In August of 1994, BB&T and Southern National Bank announced a “merger of equals.” The merged bank would be called BB&T. The Bragg Boulevard office being closed in November was originally a branch of SNB.

With mobile phones now able to provide virtually all the services of a branch at a fraction of the cost, banks have cut their expenses massively by shutting physical locations and moving customers to apps and automatic teller machines, relieving some of the pressure of low interest rates, new competition and reduced loan growth. A new Bain & Co. study shows most customers who want to do mobile banking are already doing so. Many customers who rely on branches now often use the closing of one as an opportunity to switch banks, Bain found.

BB&T’s strategies must be working. King shared impressive numbers with stockholders in a July conference call: “We had record earnings, record returns, strong revenue, very good expense control, great asset quality and improved loan growth. Net income was record $775 million or up 22 percent versus second 2017. Diluted EPS was $0.99, up 28 percent. Adjusted diluted EPS was a record $1.01, which was up 29 percent.”

Our community is grateful today to receive a two-year state grant of nearly $1,000,000 to fund 13 additional school resource officers in Cumberland County schools.

However, I believe we must acknowledge that school resource officers are an essential infrastructure investment to keep our children safe, and all campuses must be included. Public safety is a primary responsibility of government – something that citizens cannot reasonably be expected to provide for themselves, so government must.

As a candidate for the North Carolina Legislature, I was asked a few days ago to identify my top two priorities for action in the General Assembly. I responded, “1. Funding at least one school resource officer for each public-school campus.”

For many years I have advocated for infrastructure – including personnel needed to keep our community safe – county jail expansion, additional police officers, and a more effective court system. These are all important, and community leaders have stepped up to provide the resources for these initiatives –but we now know there are more challenges.

Recurring funding for the additional officers needed here, and across the state, is not something that can be left to strained local communities and school boards. It is imperative that our legislature step up to provide permanent funding for school resource officers that will allow us to maintain at least one fulltime officer at every school.

Cumberland County has 87 public school campuses, with 43 school resource officers currently in place. Adding 13 more resource officers over the next two years will leave 31 schools without an armed law enforcement officer on campus now, and unless we identify permanent funding, elementary school students will go unprotected.

This is an expensive proposal. More than $100 million a year – but an essential infrastructure need, just as we fund other support personnel in our schools.

My commitment to public safety has never been stronger – nor the need greater. If elected to represent the citizens of NC House District 44, I commit to making school resource officers, and school safety my top priority. I call on other candidates and members of our legislative delegation to do the same.

We are a nation beset by “isms” – racism, ageism, extreme nationalism, provincialism and, certainly, sexism.

While we might suspect and even recognize the painful damage isms inflict on the victims of our various prejudices, real data are hard to
come by. That makes results of economic research released earlier this month more eye-popping, showing real impacts sexism has on women from the cradle to the grave. It is not a pretty picture and is uglier in some places than in others.

Anecdotal evidence of the impact of sexism abounds. Think about the stories that emerged and are continuing to emerge from the #MeToo
movement. Think about the women who report suggestions they have made at work that are ignored until a man makes the same suggestion, and everyone proclaims it a great idea. Think about the woman in the workplace who was asked, “Is there a man I can talk to?” or the attorney
arguing her client’s case with an opposing attorney who interrupted her with, “I think you need to take a Midol and call me back when you feel better.” There’s the women who were waiting to meet with their company’s CEO, who walked in and asked, “Where are all the guys?” These are all incidents reported last year in The New York Times.

Now comes research from economists at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and the National University of Singapore, which finds that where an American woman is born matters and has real and lasting impacts on how much she works and earns as an adult. In other words, her life and income are affected by the degree of sexism in the state in which she was born.

The research used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the General Social Survey, a biennial national survey looking at Americans’ beliefs on a wide spectrum of subjects and issues. It shows what we all know – that there is a gender gap between men and women when it comes to income. It also shows something we did not know – that the gap is greater when the women come from highly sexist states.

What are those highly sexist states? Alabama, West Virginia, Utah, Alabama and Tennessee are in the top tier of sexism. North Carolina and most other Southern states fall into the second tier of sexist states.

States with low levels of sexism include Alaska, Connecticut, Wyoming and Vermont.

What is particularly troubling about the research findings is that it does not seem to matter whether the woman moves away from her sexist state to a less sexist place. Income inequality in the workplace follows her wherever she goes throughout her life. A woman born in a highly sexist state is more likely to have a child earlier in life and to leave the workplace than a woman born in a less sexist state, decisions that have a lasting impact on her earnings. Researchers say women appear to internalize the social norms of the places where they grew up, including beliefs about the roles of women in both home and workplace, the appropriate time to have children and the value of women’s work in all aspects of life.

Interestingly, sexism does not follow the same state lines as our partisan political red-blue divides. Wyoming and Alaska, among our least sexist states, reliably vote Republican, and several reliably Democratic states, including Illinois and New York, show up in the middle when it comes to sexism.

No one escapes prejudices, either as a bearer of them or as a victim of them. All we can do is be aware of them and do our best not to pass them along.

“This may be the last time we get together like this.”

We hoped he was wrong. But my classmates and I knew that Charles Holland, the organizer of North Mecklenburg High School Class of 1958’s 60th reunion, might be right.

Time is closing in on us.

But what a time we have had. We have lived through historic times.

Most of us were born in 1940, about 78 years ago. If you went back 78 years before 1940, you would be in 1863.

So my classmates have had the privilege of living through more than one-half of post-Civil War American history.

It has been quite an era: The final stages of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt, World War II, Pearl Harbor, Hitler, the Holocaust, Hiroshima, Korea, nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union, Ike, Brown v. Board of Education, Sputnik, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., Richard Nixon, Watergate, man on the moon, Vietnam, civil rights, women’s rights, sexual revolution, miracle medicine, drugs, Ronald Reagan, two Bushes, Clintons, gay rights, computers, Berlin Wall falls, Middle East terrorism, Twin Towers, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Obama, the rise of China, iPhones, Facebook, Twitter and a president who tweets. We could not mention the president’s name at the reunion because politics was a forbidden topic.

Closer to where we grew up in northern Mecklenburg County, the nearby textile and furniture mills that employed some of our parents are gone. Our families shopped at stores owned by Mr. W.T. Harris and Mr. Willis Teeter before they joined forces. Now, Harris-Teeter has been sold to Kroger. The local Lance cracker factory most of us visited as students recently became Snyder-Lance, which earlier this year sold itself to Campbell Soups.

The neighborly power company and one of our local banks have become giant conglomerates, Duke Energy and Bank of America.

Our nearby big town, Charlotte, and the welcoming places we loved to visit are gone. In their place is a bustling worldclass city with professional sports teams, direct international flights and hundreds of thousands of new neighbors who jam the highways every time we come back to visit.

That growth transformed the lazy banks of the Catawba River, where we swam and sunbathed, into Lake Norman. It turned the small farms and dairies, where some of us grew up or worked in the summer, into a university campus, residential and commercial developments and country clubs.

In 1958, North High, with about 600 students, serviced the small communities of Derita, Long Creek, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson and Mallard Creek. Today’s North High has about 3,000 students. Not counting private, charter and religious sponsored schools, it takes four additional public high schools to serve this area: Hopewell, Mallard Creek, Zebulon B. Vance and a high school named after the Class of 1958’s North High principal, William A. Hough.

At the reunion, there was an elephant in the room.

Charles Holland brought it up gently. “I thought we would sing our old fight song.” He then reminded us how it went. “Rah, rah, those Rebels.”

In 1958, notwithstanding Brown v. Board, North was an all-white school, totally segregated like most other schools in our region. In addition to the Rebel nickname, our fans waved Rebel flags.

When black students enrolled at North, things changed quickly. The Rebels became the Vikings. The Rebel flag disappeared.

Is the 60th our last? I bet not.

Although in 1940 the projected average lifespan for someone born that year was 63 years, it has gotten better. Today, people our age are projected to live an average of about 10 additional years. That is plenty of time for lots more good living. It gives me hope that more than a few of us will be back for our 70th reunion.