After a season that saw the Terry Sanford baseball team fall one win short of making the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A state finals, Sam Guy’s Bulldogs will have a different look in 2019.

Gone are twin brothers Christian and Andrew Jayne. Andrew signed with the Baltimore Orioles, and Christian joined the East Carolina University baseball team.

They were part of a class of nine departed seniors that formed the core of the Bulldog baseball team. Guy said the loss of that much experience is going to change the way the Bulldogs play this season.

“We have to figure out what works with this lineup, this team,’’ he said. “We can’t replace what they brought. We have to figure another way to do it.’’

One player who will be key in whatever the Bulldogs do this season is veteran pitcher Davidjohn Herz. Herz, who has already committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was 7-1 last season with an earned run average of 0.53. He led Cumberland County Schools in strikeouts with 105.

With gaudy numbers like those to his credit, Herz knows he’s going to be counted on as a leader of this year’s Bulldog baseball team.

He agreed with his coach that this new edition of the Bulldogs will have to find what will be its key to success. “I think we’ve got to be a lot more focused this year,’’ Herz said. “With those seniors leaving, we’ve got to find out (what our thing on the team is) and go from there.’’

Herz said he worked most on his change-up in the offseason, skipping basketball to get ready for baseball season.

His personal goals for this year are pretty straightforward. “My main goal is to get state Gatorade player of the year, player of the year in Cumberland County and go undefeated,’’ he said.

Guy said Herz has one of the best strengths a pitcher can have: a bad memory. He recalled Herz’s freshman year when Herz made his debut for Terry Sanford against perennial 4-A baseball power Richmond Senior.

“His first varsity pitch was a home run,’’ Guy said. “It didn’t bother him. He only allowed two or three hits the rest of the game.’’

Guy said Herz doesn’t dwell on errors or mistakes but instead focuses on executing the next pitch. Guy’s counting on Herz and another veteran from last year, Justin Ebert, to provide leadership. Ebert batted .368 and drove in 25 runs.

Looking at the rest of the league, Guy thinks there are a number of teams that could contend for the Patriot Athletic Conference title this season.

Gray’s Creek is among the best, he said, returning nearly all its lineup from last year and being led by a couple of solid pitchers, Landen Harris and Tyler Strickland.

Another solid team is Pine Forest. Guy added that Cape Fear and South View are also perennial contenders.

For Terry Sanford to be in the chase, Guy said his team has to achieve a lot of mini-goals first, dealing with fundamentals like getting down bunts and stealing bases.

The Bulldog baseball program got a boost as the season approached with completion of its long-awaited on-campus indoor batting cage. Guy said it’s been in the works six years and will allow the Bulldogs to work out during inclement weather without having to adjust to using the gymnasium.

“It’s huge for us to be able to maximize time with what we’re doing with that facility,’’ he said.

Photo: Sam Gray

As your congressman, I have the honor of hosting the Congressional Art Competition in our district to recognize the artistic talents of students in our community. I’m excited to announce my office is now accepting entries from local high school students. Since this nationwide competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have been involved — including hundreds from our district alone.

Every year, I am amazed by the incredible talent and creativity of young artists in our district. And one of the best parts about hosting the competition is getting to meet and speak with students one-onone about their artwork at the reception I host to recognize participants and announce the winner.

Admittedly, this year’s competition is bittersweet. I am holding the competition in honor and remembrance of my good friend and legendary NASCAR artist Sam Bass, who passed away last week. 

Sam, a Concord, North Carolina, resident, was a pillar in our community and a big part of NASCAR’s history. He was the first officially licensed NASCAR artist and created notable works ranging from car designs to program covers. He designed the iconic “Rainbow Warrior” scheme on Jeff Gordon’s car, and countless others, out of his studio in Concord. In addition, he was awarded the Smith Family Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 by the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau for his incredible contributions and impact on our community.

He was beloved not just by our community but by NASCAR fans across the world. I got to know Sam through NASCAR. He even hosted the art competition one year at his gallery. I admired him not just for his talent but also for his incredible kindness. We continue to pray for his wife, Denise, and the entire Bass family as they go through this difficult time.

This year, I hope all local high school students will join me in paying tribute to Sam by participating in the art competition.

All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution and may not be larger than 26” x 26” x 4” — including the frame. Interested students should submit entries to my Concord or Fayetteville District offices by 5 p.m., Friday, April 26, with a completed 2019 Congressional Art Competition Student Information and Release Form. A full list of rules and the release form can be found on my website at https://hudson.house.gov/art-competition.

The winner will be selected by an Arts Advisory Committee made up of artists from the district and will be announced at a reception hosted in Concord. The winner and one guest will have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., to participate in the national ceremony with other winners from congressional districts across the country, and winning artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. Second place artwork will be displayed in my Washington, D.C., office, and third place artwork will be displayed in my Concord office.

For more information, visit my website at hudson.house.gov or call my Concord office at 704-786-1612. Our district is home to incredibly gifted students, and I look forward to seeing this year’s entries.

Marci’s Cakes and Bakes has done a lot to support the town of Hope Mills. Now the town is returning the favor.

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner said the Trade Street business, operated by Marci Mang for the last three years, is the latest winner of the Hope Mills Small Business of the Month Award.

Mang will be officially recognized at a meeting of the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners in a few weeks. Of Mang, Warner said, “She has brought new life to an old building, redecorating and repurposing (it) for her own bakery.’’

Warner especially praised Mang for helping to revitalize Trade Street, which is off the beaten path in Hope Mills.

“I’m so proud of the beautiful cakes she designs and the wonderful baked goods,’’ Warner said, “but more importantly, I’m proud of all she contributes to all of our community.’’

Warner thanked Mang for her imagination and creativity and “for making Hope Mills sweet.’’ Mang said she tries to give back to the community in different ways. She is currently offering cake pop and cupcake classes for anyone interested, with the latest class starting Saturday, March 9.

Mang said she puts out a schedule on Facebook and Instagram (@marciscakesandbakes) when a new class is offered. She asks everyone interested to register by calling 910-425-6377. Each class is limited to a maximum of 20 people.

“They learn how to make the cake pops and what kind of chocolate to use to dip the cake pops,’’ Mang said. “They’ll leave the bakery with cake pops in hand.’’

Mang also opens the doors of her business to local pastors. “We held a Bible study meeting in the bakery,’’ she said. “A group of pastors will be meeting there to talk about Easter services in the area.’’

One of Mang’s most unique initiatives is a mentoring program for young women who may be struggling at school or dealing with personal issues in their home lives. Those who have an interest in baking can come to the store and get training in making and decorating cakes and cake pops.

“I think any kind of specialized skill like that is something you can always use in the future,’’ Mang said. “It gives you confidence to find something you are passionate about and that puts your hands to work.’’

Mang said she’s seen good results from most of the women who have taken part in the program.

It’s all part of a passion Mang developed for baking that started when she was a girl, growing up two doors down from a bakery. She used to love going to the bakery and seeing the things that were in the window and in the shop.

That love continues today in her own business. “I love seeing kids’ faces when they come in,’’ she said. “I try to keep items affordable. Families come in and enjoy something together. (My products are) not processed. Not mass produced.’’

She brings the same passion to the job of designing special-order buttercream cakes for any occasion, and she takes the role she plays in designing and making those cakes seriously.

She’s open to any ideas customers have for a cake and doesn’t shy away when the client begins by saying, “You’re going to think I’m crazy,’’ she said.

“You want a teddy bear dressed in leather, we can work it out,’’ she said. “This week I did a spider with a Minecraft character on its back.’’

She had a child who was a big fan of zombies; she turned out a zombie-themed birthday cake.

“I love when people pick up cakes, and I know I’m part of their special day,’’ she said.

Mang’s outreach to Hope Mills extends beyond people who leave her shop with purchases. She regularly donates leftover baked goods to various local charities like churches, the Boy Scouts, fire stations, the ALMSHOUSE and the senior citizens center.

“I try to rotate them,’’ she said. “We always try to get them someplace in Hope Mills that can utilize what we have.’’

Marci’s Cakes and Bakes is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at 5474 Trade St. in Hope Mills.

For more information, visit the Facebook page, Marci’s Cakes and Bakes, or call 910-425-6377.

Work is in progress on a new multipurpose fire truck for Cotton Volunteer Fire Station on Calico Street in Hope Mills. It will be a welcome addition to the vehicles currently in use.

Hank Harris is deputy chief of the Cotton station, a position he’s held for nearly 35 years. He said the new truck, which is scheduled to be delivered by May, will replace an aging 2003 truck made by American LaFrance, which went out of business in 2014.

The old truck was capable of a variety of roles, including vehicle extrication and water rescue. It could also handle support roles at various emergency scenes, Harris said.

Since American LaFrance is out of business, it’s become harder to find replacement parts for the old truck, he added. But that’s only part of the problem. Times have changed, and the Cotton fire station finds itself called on to perform different kinds of jobs. Harris said the fire station has advanced from a medium to a heavy rescue unit. As a result, the station has had to add more equipment, some of which doesn’t fit on the old truck.

That means in some situations, the equipment has to be stored on two trucks instead of one. When two trucks need to be dispatched to a call to make sure all the needed equipment for the situation is available, that’s a problem.

The new truck is being made by a Wisconsin-based company called Pierce Manufacturing. A contract was signed to start work on the new truck in April of last year.

The new vehicle is not a firefighting truck per se; it’s more of a support vehicle, Harris said. “It has no hoses or anything like that, but it has all the hand tools and equipment required that gives us our ratings,’’ Harris said. The truck can be dispatched to certain rescue situations by itself without a firefighting truck being present.

One of the biggest differences between the two vehicles is the number of people the new one will hold. Where the old truck could only handle four passengers, the new one will allow seven.

Harris said the new truck will have a walk-in body that allows firemen access to a climate-controlled area where they can take a break and rehab during fire situations.

“They can get out of the heat, cold or whatever they’re in,’’ Harris said. “(They can) get in a better state of mind.’’

The new truck will also solve the problem of splitting equipment between two trucks. It has extra space available to carry an assortment of tools for vehicle extrication or road rescue.

Equipment the truck carries includes axes, pike poles and ladders.

With the recent increase in flooding situations in the Hope Mills area, the new truck will provide a needed benefit. “We can actually put an inflatable boat on top of the truck,’’ Harris said. “It will increase our water rescue capability.’’

Harris said firefighters won’t need additional training when the new truck arrives as all of the Cotton firefighters are already schooled in taking advantage of the truck’s various capabilities.

Since Cotton Fire Station serves not just Hope Mills but a good portion of the southern end of Cumberland County, the new truck will be a benefit to many, Harris said, in a variety of situations. “We can put more manpower on that truck,’’ he said.

Fayetteville Fire Chief Ben Major has retired after 35 years of service with the department. Deputy Chief Mike Hill has been appointed interim chief.

A graduate of E.E. Smith High School, Major was hired as a firefighter in February 1984 after completing undergraduate studies at Pembroke State University. He went on to complete a master’s degree in public administration at the University of North Carolina – Pembroke. Major was promoted to chief of the department in October 2011.

The Fayetteville Fire Department consists of 15 fire stations and 332 personnel. The fire department received international accreditation in 2011 and was re-accredited in 2016 by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. During Chief Major’s tenure, the department earned an Insurance Services Office Class 1 Public Protection Classification, placing the FFD in the top 1 percent of fire departments in the nation.

“Ben’s commitment to constant improvement of services and personnel was his greatest strength,” said City Manager Doug Hewett. Interim Chief Hill has served the Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department for more than 25 years. He has served as a deputy chief since 2010. The city of Fayetteville has always promoted its fire chiefs from within the ranks.

Voter identification struck down

A judge has thrown out two amendments to the North Carolina Constitution that voters approved in November. One of the amendments was to implement a voter ID requirement, and the other was to place a cap on the state income tax rate. News of the actions was not widely disseminated. Wake County Superior Court Judge G. Bryan Collins’ decisions were issued late Friday afternoon, Feb. 22.

“An illegally constituted General Assembly does not represent the people of North Carolina and is therefore not empowered to pass legislation that would amend the state’s constitution,” he wrote. 

When the legislature voted to place the amendments on the 2018 ballot, many of the members had been elected under district lines that were ruled unconstitutional because they had been gerrymandered to dilute the political power of African-American voters.

GenX controls continue

Recently, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and other parties that signed a consent order made public last month learned the courts have approved the order. Downriver reduction in GenX in the Cape Fear River Basin will continue as the result of the order. Superior Court Judge Douglas Sasser approved the decree in its entirety, giving relief for people near the Chemours plant on the Cumberland/Bladen County line.

“Reliable, clean water is a right of every North Carolinian,” said DEQ Secretary Michael S. Regan. “This order was designed to ensure that the Cape Fear River can be that reliable, clean source for all who depend on its water.”

All terms of the order went into effect Feb. 25. Regan said DEQ will use the full weight of the court’s contempt to hold Chemours accountable.

Stadium naming rights continue

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers have partnered with AEVEX Aerospace in the naming of Segra Stadium’s premium club level facilities. AEVEX is a defense industry leader in airborne intelligence solutions. AEVEX Veterans Club patrons will enjoy an indoor/outdoor fan experience from the optimal vantage point in the ballpark. Lounge/ couch seating will come complete with bar service, premium food offerings and waitstaff to highlight the club’s dining experience.

AEVEX’s capabilities include three business units: Intelligence Solutions in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Flight Operations in Solana Beach, California; and Engineering & Technology in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Its operations are global in scale, with efforts in North and South America, Africa, Europe, the Pacific region and the Middle East.

 “AEVEX operates internationally and has an obvious attachment to Fort Bragg,” said Woodpeckers President Mark Zarthar. “With offices located adjacent to Segra Stadium, they have expressed confidence in Fayetteville’s vision for economic development in the city’s historic downtown.” 

Cumberland County educators focus on the future

Nearly 500 students, parents, educators and others gathered at a recent town hall meeting to discuss potential strategic plan focus areas derived from information gathered by Cumberland County Superintendent Marvin Connelly’s listening tour, district surveys and accreditation reports. 

The county Board of Education and Strategic Plan Development Team will review the feedback, which will help shape the school system’s strategic priorities over the next five years. School officials hope to begin implementing the plan this fall.

“Our work is directly connected to the quality of life our students will enjoy later in life and the economic vitality of our community,” Connelly said.

Nearly a dozen focus areas will be reduced to three to five action priorities. They include: graduating every student confident, competitive and ready for a career and college; providing a variety of classes and activities that reflect student interests and backgrounds; offering a learning environment that supports growth academically, socially and emotionally; ensuring that school buildings are safe, secure, orderly and provide innovative learning environments; and engaging parents and the community to build trusting relationships.

Photo: Ben Major

 The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra’s 2018-19 offerings have ranged from a focus on “Star Wars” film score composer John Williams to classical Mozart. In its second-to-last concert of the season, Saturday, March 9, FSO pays tribute to the armed forces — and highlights young, local musicians.

“FSO, March!” features stirring military music spanning a range of time periods and contexts.

The concert includes works by John Philip Sousa and Gustav Holst. Both composers wrote rich military marches for the U.S. and Great Britain, respectively. Sousa is perhaps best known for composing “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

According to FSO Music Nerd Joshua Busman, the concert also features songs written about specific combat experiences.

“Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812 Overture’ celebrates the Russian defeat of Napoleon’s invading forces during the bitter winter months of 1812,” Busman said. “And Irving Berlin’s ‘God Bless America’ was conceived as a hymn to honor those serving in the First World War. (It was) written while Berlin himself was serving in the Army at Camp Upton.”

Audience members will also hear music written for the Revolutionary War film “The Patriot,” for the Vietnam War film “Platoon” and for the World War II video game franchise Medal of Honor.

Every year, FSO highlights the next generation of musicians in our community with a “side-byside” concert. This year, “FSO, March!” is that concert. The Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra gets to play onstage, side-by-side, with the FSO. This group, led by FSO trumpetist Dr. Larry Wells, is comprised of local musicians ages 13 to 20.

“There is no better classroom than the stage... surrounded by lots of teachers,” Wells said. “Students... can learn from all musicians — not just those on their specific instruments.

“Case in point: probably my most impactful lesson I ever received came from a violinist who taught me about phrasing and how bowings affect the music. While I’m a trumpet player, this one lesson made me a much more aware musician.”

FSO President and CEO Chris Kastner said “FSO, March!” was an obvious choice for the side-by-side due to the iconic music it features. She said standards like “God Bless America” and other songs in the concert are essential for any musician’s repertoire.

Wells agreed. “These are pieces that young musicians need to learn, not only because they are relevant to this concert, but also because they might literally play them 500 times in their career,” he said.

The performance will also highlight the winner of FSO’s 2018-19 Harlan Duenow Young Artist Concerto Competition. The competition, named in honor of FSO’s longest-serving conductor, is open to statewide competition from musicians ages 12- 21. This year was specifically open to pianists and string players.

The 2018-19 winner, 19-year-old pianist Morgan Hunkele, will play the first movement of Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat” during the first half of the concert. Viola player Ludwig Jantzen, who attends high school in Greenville, took second place.

“Morgan is an immensely talented pianist studying at North Carolina School of the Arts,” said FSO Music Director Stefan Sanders. “The FSO is proud to play a part in the development of North Carolina’s young musical talent with (this competition).”

“FSO, March!” takes place Saturday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Methodist University’s Huff Concert Hall. Arrive at 6:45 p.m. for a pre-concert talk to learn more about the historical context of the evening’s music. To purchase tickets, which range from about $10-$26, visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

Photo: Morgan Hunkele

Editor’s Note: Up & Coming Weekly Senior Staff Writer Earl Vaughan Jr. is a native of Massey Hill. He spent the early years of his life on Princeton Street off Southern Avenue next to Massey Hill Baptist Church. Had his father not entered the ministry and moved away from Fayetteville in the early 1960s, Earl likely would have been in the final graduating class of Massey Hill High School in 1972.

A three-year project came to fruition Saturday, Feb. 16, at Carroll Memorial Baptist Church in Massey Hill.

Organizers of the Massey Hill Heritage Discovery Project, along with current and former residents of the area, gathered to see an artistic tribute to the community dedicated at the nearby roundabout on Cumberland and Camden Roads.

It might take a few trips around the structure to see all the elements involved. Each element is designed to tell the story of Massey Hill and its history as a community built around the long-departed textile industry.

The project started about three years ago. Representatives of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County first reached out to former Fayetteville mayor and Massey Hill resident Tony Chavonne about the possibility of putting some artwork  in the roundabout once it had been completed.

“Tony got real excited at the thought we could actually have some control over what was going into the roundabout, rather than just a piece of art,’’ said John Jones, another product of Massey Hill and former co-worker with Chavonne at The Fayetteville Observer.

Chavonne and Jones first met at the Massey Hill drugstore to talk about possibilities for the artwork.

“It snowballed from there,’’ Jones said. “We developed a group to see if we could get some community input.’’

One decision was made early, Jones said. The artwork was going to be something recognizable — something people in the community could look at and remember the community they once knew.

Jones was blunt about what he was looking for. “I didn’t want to be involved in this and (then) when it was all said and done, as I’m riding down Southern Avenue with one of my friends, we look over and say, ‘What the heck is that?’” he said. “If we’re going to do this, it’s got to speak to Massey Hill. It’s got to speak to the community.’’

The group met with a number of artists before settling on Michael Waller and Leah Foushee-Waller of Hillsborough.

Waller was previously best known for creating a two-ton metal sculpture of a bull for the city of Durham, North Carolina.

Jones said the Massey Hill committee conveyed to Waller and his wife that they weren’t looking for something abstract; they wanted something that would tell a story.

The committee held a community meeting in the gymnasium at Massey Hill High School so people could share ideas and bring pictures and artifacts for Waller and his wife to see.

Then Waller toured the area, from the mills at Tolar Hart, Lakedale and Puritan to Massey Hill High School and other local landmarks.

“You could see his mind working,’’ Jones said. “He was taking snapshots that automatically trigger your memory of Massey Hill.’’

That process led to the decision of what things would be rendered in Waller’s metal sculpture at the roundabout: The smokestack. The schoolhouse. The old mill village. The water tower. The church. A football player.

Off to the side, on an adjacent property, is a sign paying tribute to the sculpture and the many people who made it happen. Beneath the sign are just more than 300 bricks, paid for by various people, each paying tribute to a friend or relative.

One of the best stories involves a brick bearing the name (SEE ME) West, assistant principal, 1972. Jerry West was an assistant principal at Massey Hill High School in its final years as a traditional high school.

West made the morning announcements daily, and at the end of these announcements, he would instruct students who needed a little extra attention for various transgressions to “see me” in the office.

“He called a few weeks ago and we were talking about what to put on his brick,’’ Jones said. “He said, ‘Just put See Me West.’ People died when they saw that.’’

Jones said he’s been involved with a lot of fundraisers over the years, but he can’t remember one that was more fulfilling than this one.

When the sculpture was finished, a man walked up and asked Jones how much of his tax money went into it. Jones replied, “That didn’t cost you a dime. It came out the peoples’ pockets because they wanted to do it.’’

The whole project was a cooperative effort of the local committee, the Arts Council and the Cumberland Community Foundation, Jones said.

There is an unfinished look to the work, with its bare metal and unfinished edges, but Jones said that’s intentional.

Someone asked what color they were going to paint it, and Jones replied it wouldn’t be painted.

“This is the way it’s going to look,’’ he said. “Somebody joked, this isn’t Haymount Hill. It’s Massey Hill. We’re not going to polish it up.

“So it reflects that.’’

A college education is key to a better future. Some individuals spend many years receiving an education. Others receive an education quickly to begin or enhance employment experiences. Whether it’s through a degree, diploma or certificate, anyone can choose the path to lay the foundation of their future through education.

Consider this scenario: No one in your family has completed college. You wonder what college is all about, and you are a little nervous. You feel you are stepping into uncharted waters. You may feel like life is passing you by. You may wonder if you will ever dig yourself out of a bad situation, or you may feel you are stuck in the same job at the workplace.

Fayetteville Technical Community College offers an answer. By going to college and earning a degree, diploma or certificate, your life could be on the fast track for making a change for the better.

For those unsure of what type of work they might enjoy or what program of study to choose, FTCC has another answer — Career Coach. This tool provides a free career assessment so people can learn about themselves. Career Coach offers career suggestions based on the person’s interests.

If the cost of attending college is a concern, prospective students can complete the FAFSA application toapply for financial aid. FTCC also offers 117 scholarship opportunities as well as grants, loans and work-study programs. An entire staff works hard to help qualified students receive money to cover tuition and books.

FTCC has also begun a new initiative called First Year Connections. This program uses a team approach in supporting first-year, first generation students. FTCC staff provide the personalized assistance students need to begin and stay focused on goals.

FTCC also offers a dedicated team that supports students (day, evening, and online) with physical, psychological or learning disabilities. Students needing this support simply request accommodation and provide appropriate documentation pertaining to the disability or disabilities.

At FTCC, we believe in helping first-year, first-generation college students blossom through the care and attention of advisors, mentors and peer counselors at the First Year Connections office. Advising, tutoring and mentoring are helpful in reducing anxiety and stress and promoting student success.

Start on the path to a brighter future during 2019. Admissions representatives and counselors are on call to assist students with applications, program selection and registration. Registration for classes is currently underway.

Call FTCC at 910-678-8400 or visit the Fayetteville, Spring Lake or Fort Bragg campus locations for face-toface assistance.

There’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel for drivers in Hope Mills — or, to be more accurate, there are a couple of extra passing lanes.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently held an information session to get residents’ input and share details about its new plan. The North Carolina DOT plans to widen both Rockfish and Golfview Roads and install a couple of roundabouts to help ease traffic congestion.

“Our local leaders and local transportation agency (Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) requested that we make this a priority that we widen these roads and somehow improve them,’’ said Andrew Barksdale, a spokesman for North Carolina DOT.

The best news for Hope Mills is that the roughly $12 million needed to make the project happen is already funded. The only bad news is the project won’t get started until the summer of 2022. Barksdale said the estimate is it will take from two to three years until the widened road will be finished.

For now, DOT is still seeking input from both local government officials and people in the Hope Mills community on any changes or tweaks that need to be made to the plan that the state has already mapped out for the roads.

Barksdale said the state no longer builds fivelane roads with four lanes for normal driving and one center turn lane. “It has to be an extreme, unusual circumstance due to topography,’’ he said, for a five-lane road to be built.

The current practice is to construct four-lane roads with a raised median in the center.

The plan for Golfview and Rockfish roads is to do the same, adding two roundabouts at critical locations.

One roundabout would be at the intersection of the two roads. The second would be at a current traffic bottleneck at Rockfish and Park Boulevard at the entrance to Rockfish Elementary School, Brower Park and Hope Mills Municipal Park.

“You’ve got all these issues out there,’’ Barksdale said, referring to the busy intersection. “The school. Ballfield. Town Hall. We don’t need people flying through there speeding. People are crossing back and forth.’’

A sidewalk is already under construction on one side of the roadway.

Roundabouts provide a safer option for traffic, forcing drivers to slow down and also making it easier for pedestrians to cross the street because they can go halfway first and safely stop if needed.

“It’s a good fit for the right intersection,’’ Barksdale said of the roundabout. “The project overall is going to decrease congestion during peak travel times and improve safety.’’

Barksdale said widening a road, as is planned for both Rockfish and Golfview, and adding a median reduces the risk of serious T-bone type accidents.

Barksdale stressed the design that has been put forward by the state DOT is preliminary. Public input on any needed changes to the design will be accepted until mid-March.

“We can still tweak it based on feedback from everyone involved, including emergency services, town officials and property owners,’’ Barksdale said. “We feel this is the right plan for this use. We need people to be safe going through there because of all the uses.’’

One potential conflict to the plan is a project the town of Hope Mills has in the works to build a combined police and fire department complex near the current location of the existing buildings for both. They are also located in the area where the road project will take place.

An official target date for starting the police-fire complex hasn’t been set, according to Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner. But it could start as soon as 2020 if the town secures funding and likely would take only a year to build.

If the town delays its start of the police-fire complex, Barksdale said, the North Carolina DOT would coordinate with the town to avoid adding to traffic problems or interfering with driveway access for police and fire vehicles. “It’s all part of the planning process,’’ he said.

People who were unable to attend the information meeting held earlier can still offer their input about the project. The two contacts are Sean Matuszewski and Steve Scott.

Contact Matuszewski by emailing him at spmatuszewski@ncdot.gov or by mailing him at P.O. Box 1150, Fayetteville, 28302. He can be reached by phone at 919-364-0603.

Email Scott atsscott@sepiengineering.com or call him at 919-573-9929.

Getting hot at the right time can be critical when pursuing a championship of any kind. No one made that point better recently than the boys’ bowling team from South View High School.

The Tigers were a less than impressive third in the regular season race in the Patriot Athletic Conference.

But postseason was a different story. The South View boys rolled their way to victory in the conference tournament and continued their hot streak Feb. 15 at the Lumberton Bowling Center, capturing the state bowling championship.

The Tiger hot streak got started in the finals of the conference tournament against Pine Forest. South View bowled three games in the last round and had scores of 175, 200 and 200.

That earned South View a trip to the state tournament, but the team still had to dodge a near debacle to have a shot at the championship.

The format in the state tournament was to bowl four games as a team against the entire field. After that, the four teams with the highest pin count advanced to the next round.

“We made the top four by three pins,’’ South View coach Mike Maddox said.

As the fourth seed in the field, South View had to face top-seeded and home team Lumberton in the next round. “We kind of limped in and got hot,’’ Maddox said. The Tigers beat Lumberton and advanced to the finals against Pinecrest, where South View got the win and the championship. They beat the Patriots in the finals 161-154.

Maddox gives much of the credit for South View’s success this year to senior Hunter Hicks. Hicks has been the Tiger captain and anchor bowler for the last two years and a team member for four years.

In team bowling, five players roll two frames each per match. The anchor bowler bowls the fifth and 10th frames. The 10th frame is crucial because if that bowler can strike or spare, he gets an extra ball to add to the team score.

“You want your best bowler, and he certainly fits that bill,’’ Maddox said. “We’ve been riding that horse a couple of years now.’’

Hicks began bowling with family more than a dozen years ago. “It’s something you can always improve on,’’ he said of bowling, “little adjustments to improve the game.’’

Hicks said he and some of his teammates went to Lumberton prior to the state championship to get a feel for the lanes there.

He bowled in the individual competition in the state championship match but struggled near the end and didn’t finish among the leaders. But he didn’t allow that to affect his performance in the team round.

“My mind went straight to the team,’’ he said. “I thought we had a good chance of winning it.’’

Hicks said he couldn’t ask for a better way to complete his final season with the team than them bringing home the state title.

He plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and become a social worker. Pembroke doesn’t have a bowling team, but Hicks hopes to change that. “I plan to get hold of the United States Bowling Congress and look at starting a team at Pembroke,’’ he said.

Photo:  L-R: Coach Mike Maddox, Josh Packer, Nick Riley, Nick Roberson, Hunter Hicks, Connor Schneider, Joshua Hicks, Jordan Hicks, Isaac Palakawongse, Shaakir Williams, Jaycee Wynne

 President Donald Trump wants to use funding for military projects across the country to pay for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He’s thinking about taking $3.6 billion from the Department of Defense. But the man temporarily in charge of the Defense Department is not sure he should do that. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said he has made no decisions on whether the southern border wall is militarily necessary. The appropriations bill says that is a crucial determination before military construction funds could be redirected to build it.

Prior to Feb. 15, the administration had not decided which military construction projects are slated to be stripped of their funding. Congress had set aside about $10 billion for base projects, and $3.6 billion of that could go to the border. Feb. 15, Trump declared a national emergency, which gives him the authority to access unspent funds in defense accounts. Congress and at least 16 states disagree with the president and are suing to stop the funding transfers.

Shanahan is expected ultimately to support the wall construction, but he is still determining how military spending could support it. “We understand there are some priorities that won’t be considered,” Shanahan said. “Military housing … I’ve received a number of letters, I’ve had lots of feedback saying, ‘Do not jeopardize the projects that are underway,’”

Shanahan added, “I appreciate we’re trying to work through this very complicated situation … that people remind us, these are real, live, very important projects.”

In a recent presentation, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, officials outlined $699 million of planned construction projects over the next six years in addition to the $343 million the Department of Defense has underway at the local post. That’s more funding than is assigned to all the military bases in Florida, which could lose up to $177 million for planned construction, according to a list of eligible projects compiled by the House Appropriations Committee.

Some projects planned at Fort Bragg could be vulnerable because they don’t contribute to military readiness. The multimillion-dollar Freedom Crossing entertainment and retail district for active-duty and retired service members and their families has a $27 million budget, according to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. It will include three retail buildings, a 42,000-squarefoot movie theater and an outdoor public entertainment and event plaza.

The bulk of other construction projects will be for the benefit of the installation’s special operations mission. The recent disclosure from Fort Bragg officials also earmarked $788 million in what they called a wish list for a fire station, Pope Army Airfield upgrades, tactical equipment maintenance facilities, barracks and training areas.

Fort Bragg is the world’s largest military installation by population and is expected to continue growing in the coming years. In addition to being home to the Army’s airborne and special operations units, the post is also Forces Command Headquarters and is home to the Army Reserve Command. It is colloquially referred to as Pentagon South.

 Leadership comes in many forms. Friday, March 8, we will celebrate The Fayetteville Observer’s 40 Under 40 winners who have achieved benchmarks of success in their personal and business lives through dedication, hard work and perseverance. This is absolutely something worth celebrating.

And, to their credit, the folks at The Fayetteville Observer have done an extremely good job in making sure this annual recognition remains balanced, politically correct and representative of our diverse population by covering all business and socio-economic aspects of our community. The honorees include those who work in business, all levels of education, the military, the medical field, nonprofit organizations, government and entrepreneurial endeavors.

These extraordinary young people have made their mark locally and, in many ways, contribute to the personality and fabric of our community.

This being the case, it does not bode well for the future of our community that all these high achievers — except Tisha Waddell, District 2 city councilwoman — seem to avoid public service as elected officials. Out of 40 young notables, one would think there would be at least a few who are politically active.

This begs the question: Are we doing enough to engage these ambitious young professionals? Are we encouraging them to get involvedpolitically?

I’m not sure we are. Organizations like the Greater Fayetteville Chamber have traditionally mentored and groomed young talent for business, industry and public service. Now, not so much.

Chambers of Commerce need to be fierce advocates for local business. By doing so, they should engage the people and processes that develop talented and effective leaders.

Millennials are the future of our community. We need to make it our highest priority to get them involved and engaged. More importantly, we need to do our part in creating a community where they want to be involved and engaged.

Forty Under 40 has gotten them to the starting gate. Now, we need to get them to the finish line.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

 Valentine’s Day 2019 has come and gone, leaving in its wake warm and fuzzy memories and wilting red roses.

But not for everyone.

Older Americans, it seems, are increasingly striking out on their own by choice and by choices made by Mother Nature. According to data released by the Senior List, divorce is rising among Baby Boomers — people born to parents in the post-World War II years 1946-1964. For Boomers, now aged 55-73, the divorce rate has tripled. For those 50 to 65, it has merely doubled over the last few decades.

This is a contributing factor to television and online ads for dating apps targeted to seniors — ads featuring good-looking seniors smiling and chatting as they maneuver online dating and meet other attractive seniors to ride bikes or have cocktails.

The reality, however, is more complicated and less attractive. Most people between 55 and 64 are already married, and the pool of those who are not shrinks daily, as obituaries attest. Throw in various health and financial issues, and senior dating slides down the priority list.

Some states have hotter dating scenes than others, though, and the Senior List has ranked them. The top five states— Maryland, Hawaii, Connecticut, Alaska and Virginia — have relatively low but growing rates of single seniors, in the 12-13 percent range, and That means the dating pools are expanding and that senior singles have disposable incomes to enhance their social lives.

At the other end of the spectrum, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia and Mississippi come in last for senior dating. Their pools of single seniors are declining, though not by much, and none of them have average senior incomes above $50,000. In other words, these states have fewer eligible senior singles.

Where is North Carolina in all this senior dating data?

The Senior List puts the Tar Heel state at No. 43 with about 12 percent of our population in this demographic, which is barely growing and whose average income barely hits $50,000.

It turns out that the most successful place for single seniors to find love is not a state at all. Both women and men 55 and up have the best chance of finding love in Washington, D.C.

Could Congress possibly take credit for this?

For more information, visit www.theseniorlist.com.

The situation may not be so great for Americans on the younger end, either.

In its December 2018 cover story, “The Sex Recession,” The Atlantic reported that for all sorts of reasons, young adults are having less sex. Factors include helicopter parents, living at home into their 30s, fixations on social media, dramatically rising levels of professional and educational achievement of women, and some not generally covered in Up & Coming Weekly. The bottom line is, today’s young folks are starting later, dating less and entering fewer romantic relationships than their parents did.

It is tempting to dismiss these changes as personal situations, but they have significant implications for all of us. America’s declining birthrate is already an issue for colleges and universities, whose pool of traditional applicants is diminishing annually. Will we become a nation of old folks, like Japan and Italy?

Researchers tell us, and we know instinctively, that meaningful relationships of all kinds and at all ages make us happier and help us live longer. Chronic loneliness leads to depression and has been equated to the health risk of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

All of us, no matter our ages and marital status, should make a daily point of putting down our phones, peeling ourselves away from our computers and reaching out to other people. We may help someone else. We may make new friends. We may find a new and more interesting job. 

We may even find the loves of our lives.

Dallas Wilson and Jared Barbour took somewhat different paths to their goals, but in the end, both realized the same dream: capturing North Carolina High School Athletic Association individual state wrestling titles.

The Cape Fear High School pair brought home their championships in the annual NCHSAA state meet at the Greensboro Coliseum, winning in the Feb. 16 finals at the Greensboro Coliseum.

For Wilson, it was his second state title in as many seasons. He won the 138-pound class with a 12-0 major decision over Joshua Felix of North Henderson.

Barbour had a more difficult time in his title match, beating Morgan King, also of North Henderson, 7-4.

Wilson finished the season 50-1, Barbour 50-2.

Heath Wilson, the father of Dallas and the coach of the Cape Fear wrestling team, had two main worries as his son pursued his second state title.

“Don’t let negativity seep in,’’ Coach Wilson said. “There are a lot of avenues that it could — everything from weight cutting to workouts.’’

Coach Wilson said his biggest concerns for his son were the pressure of repeating and the possibility of injury. An ankle injury just before the championship round last season almost derailed Dallas’ title bid.

Dallas said pressure took a toll on his mindset at times during the season, but the day of the finals, he had a couple of hours to gather his thoughts because his championship match was one of the last ones scheduled.

He thanked teammates like Barbour and another state finalist, Triston Chapman, who dueled with him in practice. He said there were also wrestlers from his club team who pushed him and boosted his confidence.

In the title match, he got the first takedown and jumped to an early 3-0 lead. “Once I went up 8-0, I knew I had it in the bag,’’ he said.

Dallas plans to take some time off but said he will definitely be back on the mat by March at the latest. “I’m trying to win a national title,’’ he said. “I’m trying to get up there with the top dogs.’’

After two years of missing out on the championship chase, Barbour made a decision that he was going to push for a state title in his final season at Cape Fear.

“I didn’t want to go into a tournament worried about a kid,’’ he said. “I wanted to walk in knowing I was tough enough and good enough to beat anybody.’’

He took weightlifting classes at Cape Fear and was pushed by Colt football coaches Jacob Thomas and Jordan Vann. He also got instruction in club wrestling from Kyle Narburgh. “He pushed me and taught me what I needed to do to be a state champ,’’ Barbour said.

He honed his mental edge as he pursued the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. “I would come off the mat straight to Boy Scout meetings,’’ he said. The two disciplines weren’t always fun, but he said he realized he had to drive through both.

Although his title match was close, Barbour never felt out of control. “I never felt I was losing,’’ Barbour said. “When he escaped and took me down, I knew what I had to do. I felt pretty confident.’’

Barbour hopes to wrestle in college but he’s made no definite plans. He leaves Cape Fear proud to be part of establishing a new wrestling legacy for the tradition rich Colt program.

“To be in the top three (as a team) the last two years... means a lot,’’ he said. “Bringing in better coaching staff with Garrison Matthews and Kyle Narburgh the last two years, I think we are definitely moving up.’’

In addition to the state titles won by Wilson and Barbour, the following Cumberland County wrestlers placed in the top six in their weight classes in this year’s NCHSAA individual wrestling championships.

4-A

120 - Kevin Wanovich, Jack Britt, 6th

145 - Tremaine Jackson, South View, 6th

160 - Denzel Carrucini, Jack Britt, 6th

195 - Erick Martinez, Jack Britt, 2nd

3-A

126 - Triston Chapman, Cape Fear, 2nd

220- Ray Dixon, Douglas Byrd, 2nd

220 - Nick Minacapelli, Cape Fear, 3rd

Photo: Dallas Wilson and Jared Barbour of Cape Fear High School pose with their championship brackets on the floor of the Greensboro Coliseum.

 Is it the job of government to make you happy? While it may seem like a straightforward question, there are some important subtleties packed into those few words.

On the face of it, “no” feels like the obvious answer. Our country’s Declaration of Independence states that governments are instituted to secure our rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The first section of our own state constitution uses the same language, while adding that North Carolinians are also entitled to protection of their right “to enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor.”

Under our form of government, you are not entitled to be happy. Nor are you entitled to enjoy the rights of someone else’s labor. You are free to yearn, to strive, to pursue. You may reach your goals and feel happy about that. Or, you may not fully reach your goals yet derive satisfaction from the attempt and from what you gain along the way.

Governments are obligated, then, only to protect your right to pursue happiness. Simply being unhappy is not a justification for governments using coercion to transfer the fruits of other people’s labors to you.

On the other hand, the tasks governments are constitutionally authorized to do for us — ensure public safety, administer courts and finance public goods that cannot otherwise be delivered by voluntary means — are obviously related to our happiness. We pay taxes, comply with the law and otherwise give up some of our personal liberty in order to receive valuable public services. If we don’t get them, or their value is far less than the cost, that understandably makes us unhappy. As government failures increase, that unhappiness turns to anger.

Whether in Washington or in Raleigh, policymakers typically judge public policies according to objective criteria such as the pace of economic growth, changes in personal incomes, levels of educational attainment or health outcomes. Increasingly, however, some analysts are using measures of public happiness or satisfaction to evaluate what government does (or fails to do).

The technical name for what they are measuring is “subjective wellbeing.” People differ in their preferences, circumstances and definitions of a life well lived. The best way to gauge how happy or satisfied they feel is to ask them, not to make guesses based on facts external to their personal experience.

When it comes to the optimal size and scope of government, progressives and conservatives clearly disagree. In the North Carolina context, for example, progressives think our state expenditures and taxes are too low to finance necessary public services. Conservatives think North Carolina is closer to getting it right and that making state government bigger than it is now would cost more than the additional services would be worth.

I’m a conservative, and I often cite studies about economic growth to support my case. But is that really the goal? One might argue that instead of measuring North Carolina’s gross domestic product, we ought to be measuring North Carolina’s gross domestic happiness.

A few researchers have done that kind of analysis. For example, a study by Baylor University political scientist Patrick Flavin, just published in the journal Social Science Research, compared levels of state spending to levels of subjective wellbeing. He found no relationship between overall state spending and residents’ self-reported happiness. He found the same thing for major categories of state spending such as education and public assistance.

However, Flavin did find the states that spent more on true public goods — including highways, public safety, libraries and parks — tended to have higher levels of subjective wellbeing. With true public goods, it is either impossible or prohibitively costly to exclude nonpayers from benefiting from them, and consumption by one person doesn’t significantly reduce the ability of another to consume it.

Taken together with other studies showing a link between economic freedom and subjective wellbeing, I read this evidence as generally consistent with a fiscally conservative approach to public policy. Perhaps you disagree. I’m happy to talk more about it.

 The controversy involving election fraud in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District is unusual but not unprecedented. There’s a long tradition of contested elections in the U.S. House of Representatives. A report from the Congressional Research Service documents 107 such episodes between 1933 and 2009. In most cases, the contests were dismissed in favor of the person whose election was challenged.

Much of Cumberland County is in the 9th district. North Carolina’s 9th district story is complicated, but here are the basics.

The 2018 general election in the 9th district was a contest between Democrat Dan McCready and Republican Mark Harris; Harris defeated the incumbent GOP holder of the seat, Robert Pittenger, in the primary. In the general election, Harris appeared to have defeated McCready by 905 votes.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections twice refused to certify the results of the race because of allegations of irregularities involving mailinabsentee ballots.

Some voters claimed that individuals came to their homes and collected their unsealed ballots. Others alleged that they received absentee ballots that they never requested.

And, numerous individuals claimed they were paid by Republican political operative McCrae Dowless to collect absentee ballots from voters.

North Carolina law prescribes that, with limited exceptions, it is illegal to collect and return someone else’s absentee ballot.

Experts say that what happened in the district amounted to election fraud, not voter fraud. This terminology stems from the political definition taken on by the term “voter fraud” in recent years. That term is generally associated with purposeful actions committed by individual voters— such as voting more than once or voting in a jurisdiction where one does not live.

What allegedly happened in the local congressional district, however, is not primarily about voters casting ballots they were ineligible to cast. Rather, it involved people aligned with a political party inhibiting voters’ ability to cast ballots. This is also known as voter suppression.

Investigators are also looking into the results of the Republican primary, in which Harris beat Pittenger by just 828 votes but won 96 percent of the absentee vote in Bladen county, the easternmost county in the district, along the South Carolina border from Charlotte.

Dowless had ties to other Republican candidates in the 2018 election, and Bladen County has seen at least five separate elections investigations since 2010. Article 1, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution makes the House of Representatives the ultimate judge of “elections, returns and qualifications” of its members.

Historically, the House has been deferential to state election proceedings. When a House seat has a certified winner, which the local district does not, there is a substantial burden of proof on the loser to convince the House to reject that decision by a state.

There are two basic ways a challenge can arise in the House. The main approach is for the losing candidate to file a contest under the Federal Contested Elections Act of 1969. Or, the House may refer the question to its Committee on House Administration for an investigation. Either way, the committee has a wide range of remedies available to it, including recommending that the results of the election be rejected and a new election be held.

Comments from prominent House Democrats, including Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, indicate that Democratic leadership has begun considering its options.

Americans have a stake in ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and that the ability to exercise their right to vote isn’t impeded.

The O’Jays come March 15

The O’Jays have been wowing audiences and crooning charttopping hits since the 1960s. Friday, March 15, the legendary group brings its soul-soothing music to the Crown, compliments of the local, music-focused nonprofit Community Concerts.

The fourth show in a five-concert Community Concerts season, the O’Jays performance helps fill out a rock ’n’ roll-themed year.

The O’Jays has earned its place in music history, churning out hits for more than 50 years. Band members Walter Williams and Eddie Levert first met when they were the ages of 6 and 7, respectively. As teenagers in Canton, Ohio, they formed a band originally consisting of Levert, Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles.

While several members have since changed, Levert and Williams continue to lead the group. “We still appreciate our friendship, dedication to each other and the group and our love for good music,” Williams said. “We probably could have had great solo careers, but I don’t think either one of us could have ever been as big as The O’Jays.”

Williams has battled multiple sclerosis for 30 years and continues to execute his dance moves with perfection when performing onstage with the group. He is also a volunteer National Ambassador for the MS Society and a spokesperson for MS Active Source.

Levert is known for his raspy voice with a range that reaches from alto to second tenor. Levert teamed up with his son Gerald for a duet, “Baby, Hold On To Me,” which hit No. 1 on the R&B charts. Eddie also mentored his sons Gerald and Sean, who also worked in the music industry.

“Backstabbers” is one of the band’s early hits. From there, The O’Jays came up with various pop and R&B singles, including “Love Train,” “Put Your Hands Together,” “For the Love of Money,” “I Love Music,” “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love),” “Livin’ for the Weekend” and “Use Ta Be My Girl.”

The O’Jays were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005 and The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame in 2013. They were honored with BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Their music continues to entertain across many platforms and is featured in many movies, commercials and TV shows.

The Community Concerts 2018-19 season

Community Concerts Attractions Director Michael Fleishman noted that while last year’s Broadway- esque season featured song, dance and a bit of magic, this year is all about concerts and rock ’n’ roll. And Community Concerts didn’t hold back.

The season opened with former Steely Dan member, Doobie Brother and Grammy Award winner Michael McDonald for “Season of Peace” in November.

Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famers Three Dog Night followed in late February. Between 1969 and 1974, no records or more concert tickets than Three Dog Night. Their songs still fill the airwaves and live on in commercials and television shows, too.

“The Choir of Man” hits the stage Feb. 27, a feisty standout in an impressive lineup of well-established superstars. Part concert, part party, part pub crawl, “The Choir of Man” is not only a worldwide hit, it’s an interactive experience the audience won’t soon forget.

“This is a stand-up-and-cheer show,” Fleishman said. “Don’t let the name fool you.”

Fleishman noted that the set includes a full working bar and a piano. He added that the performers are “on fire,” bringing a level of zeal to the performance that will surely have people singing along and dancing in the aisles.

One of the show’s producers, Nic Doodson, said, “The guys have spent the last couple of years touring the U.K. and Australia, and they are ready to bring this show to American audiences.

“This concert is such a great time for all — whether it’s a ladies’ night, first date, guys’ night out or even a bachelorette party. So, grab your best mates and we’ll see you at the venue … the first pint is on us, (seriously)!”

“The Choir of Man” celebrates the music of rock icons, including Adele, Queen, Paul Simon, Katy Perry, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. The cast features world-class tap dancers, acrobats, singers, instrumentalists and poets.

“America” closes out the Community Concerts season April 4. Formed in London in the 1960s, this classic rock powerhouse’s hits include “A Horse with No Name,” “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross the River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People” and “Sister Golden Hair.” Their reach spans generations of rock ’n’ roll fans, and their followers still show up in droves to see them perform.

About Community Concerts

Community Concerts holds the title of Fayetteville’s oldest art organization. The sole purpose of this all-volunteer entity is to bring the finest top-notch entertainment to Fayetteville, and it’s been doing just that for more than eight decades.

Like most volunteer-based organizations, there is always room for more help, more ideas and more enthusiasm within the ranks.

“The secret to this organization has been to try to take it up a notch every year, get good groups and treat people well,” said Fleishman. “There are lots of people who like being involved in music things. We are looking for board members that enjoy selling and talking about shows. This is a very handson organization.”

Beyond a dedicated team of volunteers and a commitment to bring the best music available to this community, the organization’s passion has spilled over into other beneficial music-related programs.

In 2008, Community Concerts decided to create a way to celebrate and honor those who have brought musical distinction to the community. As a result, each year, at one of the season’s concerts, new inductees join the distinguished members of the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame.

In addition to recognizing locals for their musicrelated achievements, Community Concerts helps aspiring musicians chase their dreams by awarding scholarships to local high school graduates. The program started in 2004. To date, nearly 30 students have received scholarships.

There are other ways Community Concerts supports local artists. One example is its local artist showcase program, which puts local performers onstage during regular season shows. Performers who have participated in the local artist showcase include Voices of the Heart, which opened for Gladys Knight; students from Linda Kinlaw’s School of Dance, who performed with Martina McBride; and Trae Edwards, who performed at the Ricky Skaggs Show.

Community Concerts also provides free concert opportunities to select groups. Some of the groups that have already benefitted from this program include the Vision Resource Center, Fayetteville Urban Ministry, The Sunshine Center, members of local fire and police departments, high school theater art classes and members of the military.

For tickets and information, visit community-concerts.com/about-us.

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 Affairs Commission Thursday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

• Board of Commissioners Monday, March 4, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

• Board of Commissioners Saturday, March 9, 8 a.m., Camp Rockfish Retreat Center (Budget workshop for fiscal year 2019-20)

• Board of Commissioners Monday, March 18, 7 p.m., Luther Board Room, Town Hall

• Lake Advisory Committee, Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

Activities

• Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Senior programs at the Parks and Recreation Center. The Senior programs for people ages 55-plus who are residents of Cumberland County have resumed. The rec center was closed in mid-September after Hurricane Florence. Various activities are now back and are scheduled Monday through Friday throughout the day. For details on times and days, check the schedule at www.townofhopemills.com, call the rec center at 910-426-4109, or email Kasey Ivey at kivey@townofhopemills.com.

Mark Burks

Cape Fear • Track and field/football/ swimming/wrestling • Junior

Mark has a 4.1 grade point average. He is a member of Campus Life, the Creative Writing Club and the History Club. 

Morgan Nunnery

Cape Fear • Softball/golf • Junior

Morgan has a 4.2 grade point average. She is a member of Student Government Association, Future Business Leaders of America and HOSAFuture Health Professionals.

 SEGRA Stadium, the new home of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, will be unveiled to the public Saturday, April 13, at noon. The free event is called “Fayetteville Fans First Look.” Residents will have a chance to see the stadium’s amenities, including bars, several concession areas and a 360-degree concourse. Varied seating arrangements will be available — from the grandstand to a patio with foosball and cornhole. The ballpark will seat 4,700.

The Fayetteville Woodpeckers are an advanced single-A farm team of the Houston Astros.

“We invite Fayetteville residents out for this momentous occasion, which is historic for Fayetteville,” said City Manager Douglas Hewett.

Many of the amenities at SEGRA Stadium are patterned after Spirit Communications Park in Columbia, South Carolina. There will be an outfield bar with 30 beers on tap; a centerfield grassy berm seating area, where fans can lounge on blankets or lawn chair; club seats; and luxury suites.

Individual game tickets and various ticket packages will be available. Learn more and purchase game tickets at www.milb.com/fayetteville.

Eradicating criminal records in Cumberland County

One-and-a-half million North Carolina adults have criminal records. Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said these records can be a deterrent to employment and educational opportunities for former inmates. The county’s expungement clinic has a two-year history of annulling the records of hundreds of individuals, according to West.

Details of this year’s expungement clinic were announced Feb. 20 by West; Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin; State Rep. Elmer Floyd, D-Cumberland; and Cumberland County Commissioner Charles Evans.

Three information sessions will take place for those who believe they may qualify. They are set for March 9 at 11 a.m. at Simon Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, March 19 at 6 p.m. at Kingdom Impact Global Ministries and March 30 at 11 a.m. at Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

Juvenile offender funding

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety appropriates funding annually to Cumberland County for programs and services to serve juvenile offenders. The county is committed to ensuring that all eligible agencies are aware of the opportunity to apply for funding. Requests for proposals are being sought and are due in mid-April.

Access RFP information on Cumberland County’s website, www.co.cumberland.nc.us. Select the business button at the top of the page to locate the form. Only local public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations and local housing authorities are eligible for funding.

Contact Cindy Tucker at ctucker@ co.cumberland.nc.us or call 910-678-7723 for more information.

Official named to fill Fayetteville finance vacancy

Jay Toland has been selected chief financial officer for the city of Fayetteville. Toland has served as interim chief financial officer for eight months.

He will oversee the finance department, which manages $200 million in revenues and expenditures. He is also responsible for oversight of the city’s $145 million investment portfolio.

Before coming to Fayetteville, Toland was chief financial officer for Scotland County Schools in North Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He has also completed other post-graduate work at East Carolina University and is a certified management accountant.

Toland is filling one of four vacancies of senior executives for the city of Fayetteville. “I plan to fill positions for Public Services Director, Assistant City Manager and Fire Chief. All are at different recruitment/selection stages in the order listed,” said City Manager Douglas Hewett.

Alzheimer’s fund raiser scheduled

Fayetteville Alzheimer’s research enthusiasts pulled off an amazing feat last year. In three weeks, they raised the most money in the state during Fayetteville’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The team was dubbed Jaywalkers in honor of then-Assistant City Manager Jay Reinstein, who had just been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. The team came together on short notice and raised close to $30,000 for Alzheimer’s research.

The team at PWC pulled their group together in a week and also raised several thousand dollars. Longtime Alzheimer’s awareness activists from McKee Homes also contributed significantly.

This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is set for Sept. 7 at Festival Park. The goal is to double last year’s participation and fundraising. The entire community is invited to join the cause. For more information, visit the Alzheimer’s Foundation website at www.alz.org or email amjulian@alz.org.

Local school system honored

Cumberland County’s Board of Education has recognized the school system’s communications and public relations department for receiving nine state awards from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association.

Cumberland County Schools was among 38 school districts in North Carolina to win Blue Ribbon Awards for effective school communications and public relations during NCSPRA’s annual blue-ribbon awards ceremony earlier this month in Greensboro. CCS won awards in the electronic media category, publications category and special events/programs category.

Blue-ribbon awards are the highest honors a school district can receive from the NCSPRA.

“Our awards program is about recognizing the quality work of school public relations professionals and bringing attention to their outstanding efforts to support and promote our schools,” said NCSPRA President Todd Hagans.

 People of Earth, how are you? Yoko Ono once posed that question, but no one answered. Let’s take a shot at the same issue. Earthlings seem to be in the midst of a passel of super moons. Every time you turn around, there is a new super moon. We used to have regular moons. With social media, every time the lights go out, we seem to get a super moon.

In January we had the Super Wolf Blood Moon. In mid-February we had the Super Snow Moon. On March 21, we will get to enjoy the Rosie O’Donnell Super Moon to celebrate Rosie’s 57th birthday. All this reminds me of Andy Williams singing “Moon River.” If one thinks of Andy Williams, who can forget his one-time girlfriend Claudine Longet? In 1976, Claudine shot her thenboyfriend Olympic skier Spider Sabich. However, I digress.

All the super moons put me in mind of the mythological Diana, who was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. Let us pose the musical question: If Diana were around today, what would she think of the multitude of super moons? To answer this question, it is helpful to get forensic background information about Diana. Let us proceed.

Diana was the daughter of Jupiter and his baby mama, Latona. Jupiter was the King of the Gods. Diana’s brother, Apollo, got a concert hall named for him. Diana came from the upper 1 percent of the gods. She had a very low tax rate, in keeping with her high station. Diana was the Ivanka Trump of goddesses.

One thing about Diana — she did not like surprises. Ponder what happened to Actaeon, who was out hunting with his buddies one day on the first day of deer season.

It was noon on a sweltering day. Actaeon and pals had been out hunting with dogs all morning and were pretty tuckered out from their adventures. Acty (as his friends called him) told his buddies to sit in the shade and have some brewskis to recover for more hunting that afternoon.

The boys did not have to be asked twice. Pretty soon, everyone was getting sloshed. Acty was counting carbs, so he passed on drinking. He wandered off into the woods to take a look-see, leaving his buds behind with the Carling Black Labels. Unknown to Acty, he was in the same forest in which Diana had a cave where she would hang with her posse, the nymphs. Diana was in the process of skinny-dipping in the cool pond outside the cave when Acty blundered into the sacred circle. The nymphs shrieked, “Man in the hall!”

They tried to shield Diana’s nekkid body from the prying eyes of Acty by standing in front of Diana. However, nymphs are short, and Diana is tall. The height disparity allowed Acty to get a full gander at Diana in her birthday suit.

Diana was not amused by Acty’s ogling. She tried to reach for her bow and arrow to skewer him, but it was out of reach. Instead, she scooped up a handful of pond water and threw it in Acty’s face. She yelled if you can, that you have seen Diana naked!”

This wasn’t ordinary pond water. It was the Perrier of magic pond water.

When the water hit Acty, he started to grow antlers. His neck got longer. His hands and feet turned into hooves, and his skin became covered with brown fur. As Gomer would say, “Surprise, surprise!” Acty turned into a deer.

He freaked out and started running through the forest trying to cipher what to do next. He ended up by a lake to take a drink. He looked at his reflection and realized he had morphed into a deer. He tried to speak but encountered word retrieval problems, discovering he couldn’t talk. All he could make were deer noises. Things quickly got worse.

Who let the dogs out? About this time, his dogs caught wind of Acty and started chasing him. Acty took off running over hills and dales, not appreciating the irony that he had just been doing the same thing to Bambi’s mother a few hours earlier.

Acty’s alpha dog was Melampus. Melampus was the first canine to catch Acty and put the chomp on him. The other dogs caught up and pulled Acty down to a gruesome but chewy death. Acty’s buddies kept whooping and hollering for Acty to come watch the fun, not realizing that Acty was being turned into dog chow by his very own dogs Oh, the humanity.

Meanwhile, back at the pond, Diana was icily satisfied with Acty’s painful demise. You did not mess with Diana.

As Tony Soprano once said, “Revenge is a dish best served with cold cuts.” If Diana had been a character in the movie “Porky’s,” none of the teenage boys who spied on the girls’ shower room would have made it home for supper. They would have all been turned into venison stew in the school lunch room.

So, what have we learned today? Respect women’s space. In the #MeToo era, there are a lot of Dianas out there who won’t put up with men’s mess. Ending up as deer sausage is not a happy outcome. Ask Harvey Weinstein, Les Moonves, R. Kelly, Steve Wynn or Charlie Rose.

 The Cumberland Oratorio Singers will bring the music of three music masters to life at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 8.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart got an early start in his music career. When he was 3 years old, he used to watch and listen as his father gave keyboard lessons to his older sister. By age 5, Mozart was proficient enough on the keyboard and violin to begin composing the first of his many works. Although he lived for only 35 years, he remains one of the most influential and well-known composers of the classical era.

Franz Schubert also started taking music lessons at home from an early age. Although Schubert’s compositions are prolific and varied, he is known for popularizing lieder, or art songs, in which romantic poetry is set to music.

From a young age, Johannes Brahms received music lessons from his father, who was also a musician. By age 10, the young Brahms was performing piano in public. His teacher complained that he could be a great pianist except that he spent too much time composing.

Brahms became a piano virtuoso and a renowned composer of piano compositions, chamber music and choir compositions for both the male and female voice. Like Schubert, Brahms also composed and popularized many lieder. Although Schubert’s and Brahms’ compositions are heavily influenced by classical tradition, they belong to the romantic era of musical history.

The Cumberland Oratorio Singers will present the works of these three composers in “A Night with the Masters” March 8. “This will be part and parcel of the classical and romantic music that COS customarily performs,” said Jason Britt, the group’s choir director. “We’ve done jazz and Christmas so far this season, and we’ll be doing Broadway later on. But ‘A Night with the Masters’ showcases the type of music we’ve been primarily performing over our 23-year history.”

“The Masters’” program will feature a Mozart mass, “Vesperae de Dominica,” sung entirely in Latin. There will be two selections by Schubert: “An Sylvia” and “Lebenslust.” Brahms will be represented by “Three Leibeslieder Waltzes” and “O Wusst Ich Den Weg Zurluck.” Both the Schubert and Brahms selections will be sung in German.

According to Britt, several of the selections are art music, or lieder. A six-piece orchestra and an organ will accompany the choir. “Snyder Memorial has a fantastic organ so we want to take advantage of that,” said Britt.

Britt has not chosen the soloists for the evening. “They will be picked from the choir via auditions at the end of February,” Britt said. As demonstrated by COS’ earlier performance of “Messiah,” the vocal purity and professionalism of Cumberland County’s classical chorale society assures the audience of stunning performances no matter who is selected.

Other than for season ticketholders, all tickets for “A Night with the Masters” will be available at the door for the March 8 performance. The price of admission is $15 for the general public and $5 for students. Learn more about COS by visiting its website, www.singwithcos.org.

Zaryen McGilvary

Seventy First • Track and field • Junior

McGilvary has a 3.7 grade point average. He’s active in the Seventy-First Junior ROTC and volunteers at local food banks.

Emily Mikkelsen

Seventy First • Soccer • Sophomore

Mikkelsen has a 4.08 grade point average. In addition to soccer, she is active in National Honor Society and Art Honor Society. She also is interested in photography and volunteers at a local horse stable.

  Cape Fear’s Cecilia Chafin and Pine Forest’s C.J. Collins both started the Cumberland County high school bowling season as newcomers to the sport locally. But that didn’t wind up as a liability as both were champions in the season-ending conference bowling tournament earlier this month.

Chafin and Collins both rose from being No. 3 seeds in the step ladder finals to claim the championships.

Chafin defeated top-seeded Jordan Locklear of Overhills 178-154 in the final match to take the girls championship title.

Collins also beat the No. 1 seed, Terry Sanford’s Jack Cooney, by a 205- 183 score in their title match.

While Chafin and Collins may have been new to team bowling at their schools, both entered the season as veterans of the sport.

Collins is a freshman at Pine Forest, but he said he’s been bowling with family and friends for more than 10 years.

Chafin has been bowling for nine years but only recently arrived in the Fayetteville area because of her family’s military connection. High school bowling had never been offered where she lived before. She arrived in town too late to bowl last year, so her senior season at Cape Fear turned out to be her only chance at competing for her new school.

“Bowling is just really fun to me,’’ Chafin said. “The more I bowl, the better I get and the more I want to improve.’’

The typical high school regular-season bowling match is different from bowling as an individual. In high school matches, everyone contributes to a team score, and each bowler on the team only gets to roll two frames.

“When it comes to a school team, it’s a lot more intense,’’ Collins said. “You try harder and want to do the best for your team.’’

In the season-ending conference tournament, the top five bowlers, male and female, qualify to compete in step ladder fashion for the individual title.

En route to her victory, Chafin beat second-seeded Zoe Cannady of Terry Sanford, 173-170, then downed Locklear in the final.

Chafin said she kept her cool in the match with Cannady and felt her confidence growing. “I made sure I was hitting my mark every time,’’ she said.

Collins topped South View’s Hunter Hicks 172-149 before downing Cooney in the title match.

Collins is a two-handed bowler, which he feels gives him more spin on the ball and makes strikes easier when the ball reaches the pocket.

Chafin already plans to enroll at Fayetteville State University next year and become a member of the school’s successful bowling team.

“I’m hoping to learn a lot more about my technique and how I can improve,’’ she said.

Collins plans to continue bowling at Pine Forest. “I just need to do what I did this year, go out and have fun,’’ Collins said.

Here is the Cumberland County All-Conference bowling team.

BOYS

First team

Jack Cooney, Terry Sanford; Hunter Hicks, South View; C.J. Collins, Pine Forest; Jacob Ezzelle, Pine Forest; Noah Hash, Pine Forest; Ammon Janet, Gray’s Creek.

Second team

Tommy Cooney, Terry Sanford; C.J. Woolley, Gray’s Creek; Nick Roberson, South View; Damien Perkins, Gray’s Creek.

GIRLS

First team

Jordan Locklear, Overhills; Zoe Cannady, Terry Sanford; Cecilia Chafin, Cape Fear; Emily Gibson, Pine Forest; Belle Johnson, Pine Forest.

Second team

LeeAnne Robbins, South View; Maya Ervin, Terry Sanford; Abagayl Gowen, Gray’s Creek; Nicole Grossmick, Douglas Byrd; Regan Duncan, Cape Fear.

Photo: Cecilia Chafin