Here is a newspaper headline from last week: “A ‘palace’ in NC: One of the state’s largest homes is for sale.”

Must be the Biltmore House in Asheville, I thought. Then I kept reading. No, the 16,000-square-foot home in the headlines is in Rougemont, a high-end Durham suburb. You can buy it for $6.95 million.

But if you owned it, you would not come close to having one of the largest houses. Just for comparison’s sake, the White House has 50,000 square feet. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago has 62,500. Whitehall, the Palm Beach house Henry Flagler built for his North Carolina bride, Mary Lily Kenan, is 60,000.

Another large North Carolina-connected house, Duke Farms, built in New Jersey by James B. Duke, had 58,000, until it was taken down in 2016.

But if you are still thinking Asheville’s Biltmore House, you have the right idea. With a reported area of 175,000 square feet, it is by far the largest privately owned house in the United States.

It is also one of the country’s most visited attractions.The mansion with 250 rooms is packed full of art, antiques, architecture, books, collections of vintage clothing and other accessories representative of the Gilded Age. The house is part of an 8,000-acre compound containing expansive gardens and landscapes, the first managed forest in the country, a deer park, miles of level paths and walking trails, a section of the French Broad River and a winery that enjoys a growing reputation.

On a typical day, thousands of visitors pay up to $75 for a one-time visit to the attractions. If it sounds expensive, it is really a bargain compared to a trip to France to see something comparable.

How did this world-class attraction come to be in North Carolina?

In her latest book, “The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss and American Royalty in the Nation’s Largest Home,” Denise Kiernan tells the story of how and why the Biltmore House was built and how its gradual transformation to a high-class tourist attraction made its survival possible.

In 1888, George Washington Vanderbilt, a young wealthy bachelor, and his mother came to Asheville to take advantage of the healthy mountain air. On horseback rides around the surrounding mountains and forest, George was enthralled. Through agents, he began the secret and systematic purchase of thousands and the tens of thousands of forest and farm lands. Ultimately, more than 100,000 of these acres became the nucleus of the Pisgah National Forrest.

George also decided to build a home for himself and his mom. The idea began modestly, but after a trip to the Loire Valley in France with the famed architect Richard Morris Hunt, plans expanded. The designer of Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted, was brought on to design the landscape, and Gifford Pinchot agreed to plan for the massive forests.

The house opened in 1895. Kiernan told merecently that it might have been simply a 275-room “man-cave” for the then aging George. In 1898 he married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, and in 1900 their daughter, Cornelia, was born at Biltmore.

In Kiernan’s opinion, Edith is the great hero of the Biltmore story. When George died in 1914, financial challenges had surrounded the Biltmore operation. Edith took the lead. She secured and followed expert advice that required painful cutbacks and sales of beloved projects. Later, she arranged for the sale of most of the forest properties.

In 1924, Cornelia married British diplomat John Cecil. Although their marriage did not last, their sons, William and George, and their families took charge of the aging castle. They developed a sustainable and profitable business model that assures our state will have our country’s largest privately owned house for many years to come.

There is a familiar kind of political argument that goes something like this: “I know we are politically divided. I think that partisanship has its place – butsurely there is no need to make (fill in the blank) apartisan issue.”

Politicos routinely claim that education shouldn’t be a partisan issue or health care shouldn’t be a partisan issue or whatever because of course we all care about good schools, good medical care and other good things. What comes next, all too often, is a passionate argument for a particular policy, one disproportionately favored by either Democrats or Republicans.

I don’t think such rhetoric is dishonest, for the most part. Human nature takes over. We all tend to see our own views as reasonable applications of broadly accepted principles while describing alternative views as informed by narrow special interests or partisan gamesmanship.

Most of these partisan divides aren’t artificial. They accurately reflect deep, persistent differences in values, assumptions and even definitions of terms. Few policy issues are immune from the effects.

Take the very pragmatic, seemingly non-ideological question of how to structure and deliver public services to local communities. Progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans tend to disagree about issues such as housing regulation, mass transit, street design, and growth controls not because of external pressure by special-interest groups but because their preferences are fundamentally different.

A recent poll question from the Pew Research Centerties this up well. Asked whether they would rather live in communities where “the houses are larger and farther apart, but schools, stores and restaurants are several miles away” or in communities where “the houses are smaller and closer to each other, but schools, stores, and restaurants are within walking distance,” voters as a whole were evenly divided – 49 percent favoring the former, 48 percent favoring the latter.

But ideology was a strong predictor of who preferred which option. Among the respondents who were most consistently left-wing on other issues (from fiscal policy to foreign affairs), 77 percent said they’d prefer the option often described as “smart growth,” the more-walkable communities with higher densities. Correspondingly, among the most conservative respondents on other issues, 75 percent said they’d prefer the less-compact suburban option, a model my John Locke Foundation colleagues have long described as “flex growth.”

The present task is not to explore all the growth policy arguments and counter arguments that lie beneath this philosophical disagreement. My sympathies lie with my fellow flex-growthers, to be sure, but that’s a topic for another day.

Rather, I will point out that in North Carolina, as in most other states, voters are acting on their personal preferences and policy priorities not just with their votes but also with their feet. People who like both urban living and progressive politics are moving into or near the downtowns of Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Wilmington and other cities. They’re living in denser, mixed-use neighborhoods. They’re disproportionately voting for Democrats, up and down the ballot.

People who mix a preference for suburban or exurban lifestyles with conservative politics prefer to live in other parts of urban counties – places such as Wake’s Cary, Apex and Holly Springs, or Mecklenburg’s Huntersville, Mint Hill, Matthews and Pineville – or in next-door counties such as Union, Cabarrus, Johnston, Franklin and Alamance.

The effects on local politics are clearly evident. Big cities that used to have at least some spirited partisan contests are increasingly Democratic, so that most races are settled by primaries or with “left vs. further left” races that are officially nonpartisan. And some populous, fast-growing counties that were once Democratic, and then went through a period of robust partisan competition, are now reliably Republican.

If this troubles you, I understand. But waving your hands at millions of your fellow North Carolinians and insisting that they “take a nonpartisan approach” won’t change anything. Each will say the other side’s policies on growth are costly and counter productive. Each will define those terms differently.

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month.Speech-Language professionals around the globe work hard to influence in a positive way the most powerful tool offered to mankind, the human voice. Communication disorders are among the most common treatable childhood conditions. Program faculty encourage parents to take time this month to assess their children’s communication skills and take action. In the words of James Earl Jones, “One of the hardest things in life is having words and being unable to utter them.”

Fayetteville Technical Community College is proud to be one of two schools in North Carolina that continues to offer a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant program. Courses provide instruction on the roles and responsibilities of SLPAs as outlined by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.Students who complete the program graduate with an associate degree in applied science in speech-language pathology.

FTCC SLPA students continue to make historic strides. This year, Jasmine McKoy, former FTCC SLPA student, presented at the American Speech-Language and Hearing Annual Convention, while Latoya Comer presented at the North Carolina Speech-Language and Hearing Annual Convention. McKoy presented on “The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Communication.” Comer presented “Kids are Just Kids, Toys Aren’t Just Toys.” Comer was supported by six of her classmates, who also attended this year’s state convention: Shana Cameron, Latonya Chester, Ambria Martin, Portia Mac Kelsky and Dakota Ripley.

As FTCC’s SLPA program continues to thrive, SLPAs remain in high demand with career opportunities in school systems and private agencies. The SLPA curriculum prepares graduates to work under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist, who evaluates, diagnoses and treats individuals with various communication disorders. Courses provide instruction in methods of screening for speech, language and hearing disorders and in following written protocols designed to remediate individual communication disorders. Supervised field experience includes working with patients of various ages and various disorders.

FTCC’s SLPA program uses a competitive admissions process for acceptance into the program. For more information on the program, call 910-678-8492 or email gaineyc@faytechcc.edu. For general information about FTCC, visit www.faytechcc.edu or plan a visit to the Fayetteville or Spring Lake campus locations. FTCC also has a presence at the Fort Bragg Training and Education Center.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra presents the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Spring Concert Sunday, May 20, at 4 p.m. at Fayetteville Academy.

“The purpose of this group is to give kids another opportunity to play; they are not incompetition with anybody,” said Dr. Larry Wells, music director of the FSYO. “This concert will feature all three of our ensembles: a concert band, a string ensemble and the full orchestra.”

Wells added that one of the things he loves about this group is they don’t do many arrangements and they do the real versions of the compositions.

“Some of the pieces are quite difficult and the students are learning how to manage professional music situations, so it is not watered down,” said Wells. “The full orchestra is doing the real version of John William’s movie music to ‘Jurassic Park,’ which is fantastic.” Wells added all of the groups are playing tough pieces, and it should be a great concert.

The FSYO is now accepting applications for the 2018-19 school year. Registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 31. The orchestra is for students ages 13-21 in public, private or home-school, who have experience playing the violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba orpercussion.

An advanced summer music camp will take place June 25-29 from 9 a.m.– 2 p.m.at Fayetteville Academy. It is suited for advanced players. In addition to the age requirement, the student must be able to play a two-octave chromatic scale and know at least five of the 12 major scales on their instrument and/or the student must have been participating in the FSYO for at least one year. The registration deadline is June 8.

“We don’t turn anybody away and we will find a home for you,” said Wells. “We invite everyone to come out to the concert and see what the students have learned.”

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information about your child’s opportunity to be a part of the FSYO, call 910-433-4690 or visit the website at www.fayettevillesymphony.org. 

In the Fayetteville area, we know the Cape Fear River. But have you everheard of Chalk Banks, a trail that runs along the edge of Lumber River State Park? May 19, this area will host its annual event called the Chalk Banks Challenge and River Festival.

At 133 miles long, the Lumber River extends from as far north as Scotland County all the way down to the North and South Carolina border before eventually emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. As a blackwater river, which is a kind of river that is slow-moving through swamps and wetlands, the Lumber River is the only one of its kind in North Carolina to be designated as a Natural Wild and Scenic River.

Here, at this natural haven unbeknownst to most people coming into the Fayetteville or Fort Bragg area, is a set of races that are free and open for the public to participate in or just watch. There are 2-mile canoe and kayak races. There is also a 5K trail run at 9:30 a.m. and a one-mile race at 10:30 a.m. for any school-age students.

The event’s most eccentric challenge, though, is homemade raft races, which start at roughly 11:45 a.m.

According to Cory Hughes, director of the Scotland County Tourism Development Authority, the raft race originates from a popular tradition in Scotland County during the 1970s and 1980s when people would raft down the river just for fun.

Hughes said the purpose for this wacky, fun event nowadays is to perhaps introduce or reinvigorate interest in the Lumber River State Park.

“We have a beautiful state parkup at Chalk Banks, and people just don’t know about it,” said Hughes. “When I’m walking through the event and hear people go, ‘Wow, I’ve never been out here, this is really great,’ that’s a win.”

As for the raft race, teams must build their own raft, without using traditional parts for boats. The rafts cannot be motorized. Many different groups have participated in the past, including Boy Scout troops, fire departments and military officers.

“The raft races are, I don’t want to say comical, but absolutely leisure(ly) and casual,” said Hughes. “It’s not Gilligan’s Navy, but it’s something pretty close to it. Once (participants) do it once, they have such a good time.”

Hughes described one group of military officers from Fort Bragg who participated in the event for several years. This group, on the first year, made their raft out of an inflatable mattress, plywood and duct tape – and didn’t quite make it all the way down the river. But they came back the next year after “learning their lesson” and ultimately won the race. The following year, the same members of the group were all deployed in Afghanistan but made time to send a message on YouTube to the event, wishing everyone good luck and saying they would be back the next year to defend their title.

“It’s that kind of attitude that embraces the whole day,” Hughes said. “It’s just a day to come out, have fun, enjoy your friends, meet new people, laugh – maybe laugh so hard you cry.”

For those not competing in the races, the River Festival component promises to entertain outdoorsy, interested families. There will be inflatables to bask in the river’s slow moving channel and bands playing bluegrass or country music throughout the day. There will also be craft vendors as well as food vendors providing barbecue fare and Italian ice.

Hughes also mentioned there will be a “Kid Olympics,” featuring several youth games like relay races, hollering contests and grape spitting contests.

“It’s a country-good-time kind of thing,” said Hughes.

The event is free and open to the public. It takes place at the Chalk Banks access point in Wagram May 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For directions or more information, contact the Lumber River State Park at 910-628-4564.

On May 25, Cool Spring Downtown District will host 4th Friday, Fayetteville’s monthly exhibitionof art and culture, in conjunction with E. E. Smith High School. This month’s theme is high school reunion.“

A joyful time, to be sure,” said Janet Gibson of 4th Friday, director of marketing and communications of the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. “Unique stores and restaurants are a buzz with activity. The streets are often filled with music and dance. Art is everywhere to be found.”

One of the highlights of the event will be the opening of the annual art exhibition called “Public Works,” sponsored by Fayetteville PublicWorks Commission. This will be the thirteenth annual exhibition.

“For the people and by the people, anyone can enter,” Gibson said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re three or 93, you can enter. If you’re into painting or photography, you can enter.” The only rule for submission is that you must live in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson or Scotland County, Fort Bragg or Pope Army Air Field.

This time-honored exhibit is something the community looks forward to every year and is a celebration of the many talented artists in the area.The art will be displayed within the art center gallery. “It will look like almost every square inch of the gallery will be filled with art,” Gibson said. There will be a people’s choice winner, which will be voted for online.

The Arts Council is one of many places to visit during 4th Friday.

There will also be a show of songs and stories from the ’50s to the ’80s at Headquarters Library, presented by The Parsons folk group from 7 to 9 p.m.

A third highlight of the event will include arts and crafts with Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, where children can create spoon maracas out of recycled plastic eggs and explore the museum. Fascinate-U Children’s Museum will have free entry for the event.

Additional exhibits include several art and history installations, such as displays at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum and the Cape Fear Studios Members’ Anniversary Exhibit.

Gibson described 4th Friday as a celebration of the community. “You can feel the energy; it’s a great time to celebrate the arts, visual and performing, and it’s really heating up with spring and summer,” she said. “People get off work on Friday, they come down, they bring their families, and it’s a joyful celebration of everything we have down here.”

Visit www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com/visit/4thfriday or www.theartscouncil.com/thingsto-do/fourth-fridays or search for Fourth Friday Fayetteville on Facebook for more information.

K & Q Productions and the Cumberland K & Q Productions and the Cumberland County Tourism Development Authority present The Alumni Weekend Music MegaFest Friday, May 25, from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday, May 26, from 4-10 p.m. in Festival Park.

“The purpose of the event originated as a fundraising event for the E. E. Smith Alumni Association and its charity activities,” said James Simpson, executive producer of K & Q Productions. “I am an alumnus of E. E. Smith High School and part of their leadership team. Our goal is to try to raise awareness to get us into a better position as far as fundraising.”

Simpson added the event is designed to attract a cross section of ages and ethnic groups based on the music genre.

“Friday will be an old-school rhythm and blues music genre, and then, Saturday, there is a little bit of hip-hop intermingled with R & B,” said Simpson. “Then we have a jazz flavoring that will lead into a Sunday after-party.”

Friday night’s lineup features The Temptations with special guests ConFunk Shun and The Gap Experience. Saturday’s lineup features BlackStreet with special guests the YingYang Twins, Pastor Troy and Mr. Cheeks.

“We will also have a live DJ that will play music in between acts for people that want to dance, and he will facilitate the dance contests,” said Simpson.

Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy good music, food and dancing at this outdoor concert during the Memorial Day weekend. Vendors will be on-site to sell their merchandise.

Beer, wine and food will be available for purchase.

The after-party is Sunday, May 27, at Bordeaux Convention Center at 7 p.m., featuring an “Evening of Jazz” with Eric Darius and special guest Black Seed. The after-party admission is $20 at the door with proof of voided Music MegaFest ticket and $25 without proof of ticket. For more information, call 910-779-2006.

Gates open Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $65; there is also a VIP package available. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.alumnimusicfest.com or call the event hotline at 910-778-3632.

PHOTO: Eric Darius

Cape Fear Regional Theatre will wrap up the season with “Crowns,” a gospel musical, May17–June 3. The show, written by Regina Taylor, is adapted from the book “Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats” by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry.

The book is a collection of photographs and oral histories of African-American women in their Sunday best, which includes elaborate head gear, a cherished custom prevalent in the South among many religious denominations.

The musical weaves many of those stories into characters who offer support and encouragement to each other, said CFRT artistic director Mary Kate Burke. “It’s really a collection of stories about acommunity,” she explained.

Yolanda, an African-American, struggles with grief after the death of her brother. She goes down South to live with Mother Shaw, her grandmother. Mother Shaw introduces Yolanda to her circle of “hat queens.”

The “hat queens” embrace the younger woman and take her under their wings, said Cassandra Williams, who plays Mother Shaw. Each hat they wear has a story of a wedding, a funeral, a baptism. The women share stories of how they’ve managed life’s struggles. As a community, they help Yolanda deal with the loss of her brother and find her own identity.

“It shows African-American culture, but any group of women can identify with the story,” Williams said. “The whole play is cathartic.”

“And it’s funny,” said Burke, adding that these characters deliver a good bit of “hattitude.”

“There is a different hat for every occasion,” Williams said, “and you are introduced to different characters vis-à-vis the different hats they wear.”

Williams explained that “hat queens” are those women who can wear any kind of hat. “A regality comes with it and you feel like a queen – you know that you look good.”

With that regality and confidence comes a broader message, said La’Tonya Wiley, who plays Mabel in the show.

“We call them her crowns,” Wiley said. “It celebrates the power of a woman; it celebrates womanhood and femininity.” She added that the show allows men to see the complexity of women – just as there are layers and many parts to a hat, there are layers to women.

The show will appeal to men as well as women, said Burke. “It is a celebration of womanhood, but not at the cost of men,” she said. “It has such a generous spirit.”

“Crowns” is directed by Donna Bradby (“The Wiz”). The songs are traditional gospel, with some blues and jazz. Featured songs include “Ain’t That Good News,” “Marching to Zion,” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” and “Wade in the Water.”

Joining Williams and Wiley in the cast are Ariel Blake as Yolanda, Sha’air Hawkins, Janeta Jackson, Chasity McIntosh and Walter Johnson.

Tickets for “Crowns” range from $17-$32, with discounts and group sales available. Special events for the musical’s run include Preview Nights May 17 and 18; Opening Night Celebration with the cast and creative team May 19; and Military Appreciation Night May 23.

There will be a Tea and Chat with milliner Barbara Wood on May 20 at 5 p.m. with a hands-on demonstration of making a pillbox hat. The catered event is free but seating is limited, so register by contacting the box office at 910-323-4233 or janisl@cfrt.org. This event is sponsored by the Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

For more information about the show or special events, contact the box office at 910-323-4233 or visit www.cfrt.org.

Since the 1980s, the Congressional Institute has been helping members of Congress better serve their constituents and helping citizens understand the operations of the national legislature. From conferences to research projects, the nonprofit closes the gap between legislators and the people they govern. Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. The Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982. Since its inception, more than 650,000 highschool students have participated.

“Students submit entries to the irrepresentative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol,” said the U.S. House of Representatives website, www.house.gov.

Deanna Glus, a junior at Massey Hill Classical High School, is winner of the 2018 Congressional Art Competition. Her watercolor, titled “A Hometown Feeling,” was judged best entry in a selection process that included a professional artist, community input and Congressman Robert Pittenger’s staff.

Marcy Gregg, a highly-sought professional artist from Charlotte, commented that “A Hometown Feeling” features “wonderful line work.” Community input included a suggestion that the artwork be used as a billboard and that it had “great use of perspective and color balance.”

Glus’ artwork will be displayed in a busy corridor of the U.S. Capitol for one year. She’ll also receive a scholarship offer from a prestigious Southern arts university and two complimentary airline tickets to fly to Washington, D.C., to attend a reception in her honor.

“This impressive watercolor captures the beauty and spirit of Fayetteville,” said Pittenger. “We will proudly hang this in one of the busiest corridors of the U.S. Capitol, where members of Congress and thousands of visitors will be able to see it each day. Congratulations to Ms. Glus, and thank you to every student who entered. Over 40,000 people viewed your artwork, and we are proud of each one of you.”

An album displaying Glus’ entries among others is available on Pittenger’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CongressmanPittenger). The 2018 Congressional Art Competition is carried out at no expense to the federal government. All expenses are provided locally in the community.

It’s official. Fayetteville’s sports complex to be funded as part of last year’s $35 million recreation bond referendum will be built at the Military Business Park off SantaFe Drive. It was the overwhelming preference of city council members. A city-owned property off Fields Road in East Fayetteville was also considered.

The athletic complex, proposed as part of the referendum, is planned to include 15 ball fields for softball, baseball, soccer and football. A clubhouse for concessions and banquet/meeting rooms is also planned. The projected cost of $5.5 million does not include purchase of the property adjacent to the military business park. That could add $4 million to the price.

The council committee that studied locations was chaired by Kathy Jensen, who recommended the SantaFe Drive site.

Councilman Jim Arp stressed that location is significantly important because “sports tourism is a $7billion industry nationwide.” The proposed site is near I-295 and 2.7 miles from the mall retail area. Arp noted the locale is already equipped with water and sewer utilities and is likely to attract significant commercial development.

At its monthly work session, citycouncil also tried to allay the concerns of residents along and near the two-lane section of Cliffdale Road between Morganton and McPherson Church Roads. State DOT Division Engineer Greg Burns said widening of the roadway was added to the state’s highway improvement program last year. He said engineering and surveying work is underway, but construction isn’t scheduled to begin until 2024. Burns said numerous efforts will be taken to encourage public input on design planning beginning in the fall.

The marathon meeting included discussion of multiple projects. It appears city council is backing away from trying to justify repairing half a dozen earthen dams that were heavily damaged or destroyed during hurricane Matthew a year and-a half ago. The cost of repairing two of the dams is already in the millions of dollars; and the NC Dam Safety agency is holding nearby residents responsible. City officials say they can’t get involved because the dams and lakes serve no public interest.

Council members, including Kathy Jensen, said repairing the dams is unaffordable for residents and the city. “It just doesn’t make sense,” she said.

Councilman Bill Crisp, whose district includes two of the dams, told his colleagues the projects are not doable because of the high cost. Council agreed to cancel further studies of the other four dams where residents indicated an interest in restoring them.

Planning and engineering of the proposed West Senior Center at Lake Rim Park continues. Council learned that the cost of the proposed $5 million project, which is also part of the bond package, is now just short of $7 million. A pair of 19,000-square-foot buildings is planned overlooking Lake Rim off Old Raeford Road. Some council members would like to eliminate a heated therapeutic swimming pool to reduce the cost. Staff will continue evaluating possible project cuts.

Primary night in Cumberland County was a short election night. The unofficial vote count was in before 10 p.m. With 77 of 77 precincts reporting, under 11 percent of registered voters cast a vote May 8. In Cumberland County there are 212,458 registered voters out of a total population of 332,546. Only 23,135 people made it a priority to have a say in who will run in the midterm elections Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Midterm elections are the elections held near the midpoint of the president’s four-year term. Every two years, voters elect Congress members, the 435 members of the House of Representatives. Across the country, votes will also be cast for 35 Senate seats and 39 governorships, but North Carolina is not affected. Senators get elected to six-year staggered terms. Governors get elected to four-year terms.

Cumberland County is partitioned into two congressional districts, Districts 8 and 9, of North Carolina’s 13 districts. District 8 includes all of Cabarrus, Montgomery, Moore, Hoke and Stanly counties, as well as portions of Rowan and Cumberland counties. District 9 consists of Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland and Robeson counties. It also includes a southeast portion of Mecklenburg county, and most of Bladen and Cumberland counties. Where you live in Cumberland County will determine which congressman in the House of Representatives represents you. Generally speaking, District 8 is the northern part and District 9 takes a larger portion in the southern part of the County.

The District 8 Democratic primary winner is Frank Mcneill. Mcneill won with 15,965 (56.11percent) votes across the district. In Cumberland County, Mcneill carried the vote with 6,411 (52.86percent) votes cast here. His opponents were Scott Huffman and Marc Tiegel. Huffman tallied 6,545 (23 percent) votes district wide and county wide 2,175 (19.76 percent). Tiegel fared better than Huffman county wide with 2,420 (21.99 percent) and district wide finished below Mcneill and Huffman with 5,941 (20.88 percent) votes. Mcneill will challenge incumbent Rep. Richard Hudson, who ran unopposed in the primary.

District 9 will see new leadership. Incumbent Rep. Robert Pittenger had two challengers, Rev. Mark Harris and Clarence Goins Jr. In Cumberland County, Pittenger brought in 44.19 percent over Harris’s 31.92 percent and Goins’ 23.89 percent. Pittenger won the county by 12.27 percent over Harris. But it was not enough for him to get reelected to the House. It was a tight race across the district. Harris won the seat with 17,224 (48.52 percent) of total votes cast. Pittenger won 16,411 (46.23 percent) votes, losing his seat by 813 votes, or 2.29 percent. Speaking on Harris’ win, Frank Raczof the Cumberland County Tea Party Group, which endorsed Harris, said, “It is refreshing to see Pastor Harris move the House of Representatives and the Republican Party to the right.”

Harris will run up against the winner of the Democrat primary, Dan McCready. McCready had an easy victory over his opponent Christian Cano. In Cumberland County, McCready secured 2,829 (76.46 percent) of the votes cast. Across the district, he won 37,824 (82.83 percent) of the total votes cast. Cano picked up 7,838 (17.17 percent) across the district and in the county 871 (24.54 percent) votes.

This November, the Democrats have a chance to pick up two seats in Cumberland County.

There were two North Carolina State Senate race primaries, both for the Democrat Party. Former Town Councilman Kirk deViere won just under 2/3 of the votes for North Carolina State Senate District 19. Primary voters cast 5,248 (62.62 percent) votes for deViere over Clarence Donaldson’s total of 3,132 (37.37 percent) votes. Winner deViere will challenge incumbent State Sen. Wesley Meredith, who did not have a challenger.

In the North Carolina State Senate District 21 primary, Naveed Aziz beat incumbent State Sen. Ben Clark by 275 votes. She collected 3,814 (51.87percent) votes over 3,539 (48.13 percent) votes for Clark. Republican newcomer Timothy Leever, who was uncontested, will challenge Aziz for the District 21 seat in November’s general election.

Democrats had a primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 43. Incumbent Rep. Elmer Floyd remains the party choice. Floyd won his district overwhelmingly with 3,880 (79.18percent) votes. His challengers, Theresa Gale and Prince Christian, garnered 889 (18.14 percent) and 131 (2.67 percent) respectively. Republican John Czajkowski, who was unopposed, will challenge Floyd for the seat.

Voters made their choice firmly known in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 44 Republican primary. Voters chose former Republican Cumberland County Party Chair Linda Devore with 1,528 (67.02 percent) votes over challenger Patrick Petsche, who picked up 752 (32.98percent) of the votes. Devore said upon her victory, “I’m very happy with today’s primary. It’s a little disappointing to not have larger numbers of voters turn out who are interested. But those who are interested have been heard, and that’s great. I look forward to representing our party on the November ballot. I’m looking forward to the race. The campaign starts tomorrow.” Devore will challenge incumbent State Rep. Billy Richardson, who did not have any challengers.

In the Cumberland County Clerk of Superior Court race, incumbent Lisa Scales won her Democrat Party primary with a solid countywide victory. Scales pulled in 12,921 (82.78 percent) votes over Eschonda Hooper, who managed 2,687(17.22 percent) votes. Cindy Blackwell, who had no opponents for the Republican primary, will challenge Scales.

November’s Cumberland County Sheriff’s race looks to be a competitive one. The Democrat primary was decidedly won by incumbent Sheriff Ennis Wright, who secured his position with 13,003 (82.70 percent) votes. Opponents Jeff Marks pulled 1,890 (12.02 percent) votes, and Denny Davis gathered 831 (5.28 percent) votes. The Republican primary was also determined by a wide margin. Charlie Baxley locked in the Republican nomination with 3,669 (53.98 percent) votes. The other three candidates accumulated 46 percent collectively. Carlton Sallie garnered 1,164 (17.13 percent) votes, Victor Starling collected 1,020 (15.01 percent) votes, and LaRue Williams picked up 944 (13.89percent) votes.

The midterm General Election will be held Tuesday,Nov. 6. Campaign signs may be pulled up until around Labor Day when you will see them sprout again, but the campaigns are just starting.

Forging the future of local human services agencies

Cumberland County Commissioners have set May 21 as the date they will decide on the future structure of the departments of social services and public health.

The board has been thinking about changing the way the agencies are governed. A revision in state law encourages counties to do that. According to Assistant County Manager Duane Holder, 33 of North Carolina’s 100 counties have made changes.

At present, Cumberland County’s social services and health departments are governed by individual boards appointed by commissioners. Changes in the law allow the county to consolidate the agencies. Or commissioners can take on governance of both departments themselves. Or they can leave things as they are.

“The health care environment is changing globally and could influence the way we go,” said Commissioner Marshall Faircloth.

Cumberland County has a poor health care reputation in national surveys, noted Commissioner Jimmy Keefe. “We cannot lock ourselves in a box,” he said. “We need an all-encompassing approach,” he added.

The Cape Fear River and clean water

Cape Fear River Assembly’s 45th annual educational conference is set for Wednesday, May 23, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The conference will be held at the UNCW Center for Marine Science in Wilmington.

This year’s theme, “Working Together to Protect the Cape Fear River,” is timely given the growing concerns about the risks of unregulated compounds such as GenX and others.

There will be speakers and panelists from various sectors, including government, business, academia and citizen groups. The panel of experts will discuss the effects of current and emerging unregulated contaminants.

Since 1973, the CFRA has uniquely represented and strived to maintain and improve the quality of life in the Cape Fear River Basin. Many groups and individuals, often with divergent view points, are brought together to find solutions to water quality and quantity problems impacting the entire river basin. The CRFA has been a voice for the Cape Fear River and encourages smart management of theriver, its tributaries and adjacent land. The entireCape Fear River basin is the largest and most developedregion of North Carolina.

Registration is $30 per person. Each registration includes a one-year individual membership in CFRA as well as lunch and refreshments. For more information and to register, go to: http://cfra-nc.org/annual-meeting/2018-2

Employment opportunities in downtown Fayetteville

A significant economic residual growing out of the baseball stadium project on Hay Street is the extent to which the general contractor is recruiting minority workers. Barton Malow Co. held a workforce development information session this month at the headquarters library. One objective is strengthening diversified workplace employment of minority and military veteran-owned businesses.

“Barton Malow is committed to investing in the community in which we build, so that the impact of our projects goes beyond the brick and mortar,” said senior project manager Roslyn Henderson.

Barton Malow construction crews are on the job to ensure successful completion of the $38 million minor league stadium by next spring’s opening day.

“We are committed to increasing the presence, skill level and inclusion of small local businesses in this project,” Henderson added. Consultants have connected with over 130 companies and helped to walk them through the pre-qualification process. Small contractors can do the work, but the paperwork often discourages them from applying. As construction continues, additional opportunities become available for businesses to get involved.

School bus strobes lights

Yellow and black school buses are some of the most noticeable vehicles on the road. Officials say that in certain conditions such as inclement weather and low light, added conspicuousness helps other motorists see the buses in time to avoid collisions.

The roof-mounted strobe lights are positioned on the longitudinal centerline of the roof, usually close to the rear. Their lenses are typically clear or white. Regulations on roof-mounted strobes vary by state. The Cumberland County School System is the fifth largest in North Carolina and has about 450 buses on the road every weekday during the traditional school year.

Toys R Us gets bonus life

Toys R Us announced March 15 that it will liquidate operations. There is no publicly confirmed date for when the store will close permanently.

According to a company press release, on April 11, Toys R Us announced it “received $80 million in incremental debtor-in-possession financing to augment liquidity as well as support the working capital needs of the company’s operations in Asia and Central Europe” in the form of a commitment from its Taj Noteholders.

Dave Brandon, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “This additional financing further positions our Asian and Central European operations for continued success. We appreciate the ongoing financial support and look forward to continued positive relationships with our vendors.”

In Canada, Toys R Us has been saved by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, a Toronto investment firm led by billionaire Prem Watsa. They were able to secure the 82-store Canadian operation for $237 million. Another billionaire and toy mogul, Isaac Larian, is seeking to buy the 735-store U.S. operation. His initial bid was declined, and his GoFundMe campaign to raise $1 billion was unsuccessful. But other media outlets report that Larian has said, “We have the financing we need. It’s now a matter of determining how much more we’re able to bid.”

I contend that political correctness is running rampant in America, and when joined with fear, the result is proving destructive. Let’s start with a couple of definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Political correctness: conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated.

Fear: an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.

The recent arrest of two blackmen in a Philadelphia Starbucks and the responses that followed highlight the destructive combination of political correctness and fear.

On an April day, two blackmen walked into a Philadelphia Starbucks to wait for another man with whom they were to have a meeting. Various reports indicate that the men asked to use the restroom and were told that they could not because they had not made a purchase. The men were later asked to leave. When they refused, a lady, subsequently identified as the manager, called the police. Police arrived and, after several minutes of conversation, the men were arrested for suspected trespassing. This summary of events is based on an article by Matt Stevens titled, “Starbucks C.E.O. Apologizes After Arrests of 2 Black Men.”

Several persons made videos of a portion of the interaction between the two men and the police officers who arrived at the scene. The longest video I was able to find is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qdB3xnKdT8. The sound quality in this video is poor, but it does show the interaction between the two men and the police officers. My assessment of the video is that during some 10 minutes of interaction, the police officers attempted to negotiate the men’s departure from the establishment. The men clearly refused to leave and were eventually arrested.

As this and other videos were distributed by social media and in news reports, protests started. The protests, as best as I can tell, were not directed solely at the person who made the call to police, but at all of Starbucks.

Shortly after the incident, Richard Ross, Philadelphia police commissioner, who is black, released a video in which he said the officers “did nothing wrong.” That video is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRHkAXiqfVQ. He reviews, step-by-step, what happened and emphasizes that the officers, three times, asked the men to leave the establishment. They repeatedly refused. After arresting the men and taking them to a police station, officers were advised that Starbucks was not pressing charges. They were released.

A Philadelphia Inquirer story titled “Firing Starbucks manager won’t address Philly police’s overboard response to her 911 call” includes the following:

“What Ross leaves out is that officers do have some discretion in carrying out their duties. Consider when the Eagles won the Super Bowl and only four arrests were made after drunken, celebrating fans flipped a car, dismantled light poles, smashed a Macy’s window, and crumpled an awning at the Ritz-Carlton.”

Later, after further investigation; Commissioner Ross held a news conference during which he explained that his statement was not good messaging and caused unintended harm. He indicated he should have said the officers “followed the law.” Ross also referred to a conversation with the Starbucks’ CEO during which he learned that it is company policy to allow persons to sit in a store without making a purchase. Ross pointed out that this is not a policy commonly encountered by officers. Normally, just the opposite is the case. He was not aware of this “no purchase necessary” policy when he made his earlier statement. Given that businesses ordinarily require individuals to make a purchase in a situation of this nature, the officers had no reason to think that the Starbucks’ policy was any different. This news conference is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iHswQmC6sY.

In response to all of what has been addressed to this point, Starbucks, at the corporate level, announced that the manager who called police no longer works with the company. Further, Starbucks will close more than 8,000 stores in the United States May 29 to conduct anti-bias training. Some 175,000 employees will be affected. CEO Kevin Johnson has apologized to the men involved and declared that the incident at this location is inconsistent with their business practices.

Interestingly, an article titled “VERIFY: What’s Starbucks bathroom policy” by Eliana Block includes the following:

“Today Starbucks’ CEO apologized to the men but said different stores have different rules.

“‘In certain circumstances, local practices are implemented,’ Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said. ‘In this particular case, the local practice of asking someone who is not a customer to leave the store...followed by a call to the police.’

“Despite store policy, Johnson says this never should have happened, calling it ‘reprehensible.’”

The manager who called police no longer works for Starbucks as of a few days after this event.

Gregg Re writes this in an op-ed titled, “DEFAMATION: The Starbucks Manager Accused of Racism Is Probably About to Be A MILLIONAIRE.”

“The former Starbucks manager who called the police on two non paying black customers earlier this month may have a good case for bringing a defamation suit against the coffee company.

“In numerous public statements, Starbucks and its CEO Kevin Johnson have gone out of their way to imply that the female manager, identified in media reports as Holly Hylton, was acting on subconscious racial motivations when she told the loitering customers to either buy a beverage or get out of her store. Crucially, Starbucks has also strongly implied that, as a factual matter, the manager violated company policy.”

Now, this from an article by Kelly Weill titled “4Chan Hoax About Free Starbucks Coffee for Black Customers Reaches Laura Ingraham’s Show.” The article addresses the action of Bryan “Hotep Jesus” Sharpe, a black comedian (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FvwMsb9CRg):

“Sharpe uploaded a YouTube video of himself demanding a free coffee in Starbucks.

“I heard you guys don’t like black people, so I wanted to get my Starbucks reparations voucher,” Sharpe told the barista. The young woman responded that she’d seen the voucher on Twitter, and gave Sharpe a free coffee. She told him she was a student and that it was her last day at the store until fall.”

Various reports indicate the two men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, who were arrested, settled with the city of Philadelphia for $1 each. In addition, the city will create a $200,000 fund that will, with the assistance of a nonprofit organization, assist young entrepreneurs in Philadelphia.

Without a doubt, that is a lot of background. Here is how I think all of this comes together to show that political correctness and fear make a destructive combination. Two black men repeatedly refuse what I see as reasonable direction from several police officers. They were able to do so without negative repercussions and receive an apology from the CEO of Starbucks, along with a financial settlement with the city of Philadelphia.

I hold that this kind of response is the product of out-of-control political correctness across American society. The impact of this condition is made worse by the fear that political correctness generates in people. Standing for what is sensible and fair becomes a rare occurrence. In this case, Starbucks allows a manager to be routinely forced from employment in spite of following her store’s local procedures; a police commissioner reverses course and profusely apologizes for initial statements that made all the sense in the world to me; Starbucks closes stores for training that will likely do absolutely nothing to prevent recurrence of the kind of incident that provoked the one addressed here.

The destructive consequences of this interaction between political correctness and fear are many. The consequence that shows through most clearly is a breakdown in the rule of law. That is, people are encouraged and even permitted to break or disregard the law, and disrespect authority without being held accountable. If you doubt the truth of that statement, go back and read the quote regarding the so-called “discretion” demonstrated by Philadelphia police after the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

Finally, consider the young lady who gave free coffee to Bryan Sharpe in response to his reparations claim. She impresses me as a kind person who did not come close to thinking through what Sharpe requested. This failure to think is another destructive consequence of political correctness and fear. America better see this destructive combination for what it is and forth rightly address the issue.

Hope Mills Mayor Pro Tem Mike Mitchell is concerned about questionable social media practices that are starting to manifest and possibly have a detrimental effect on the town. These concerns have appeared because of the proliferation of a private Facebook group, the Hope Mills Chatter, which only accepts privileged members who are scrutinized, vetted and pre-approved by the group manager, Lisa Carter-Waring. Normally, this would not be an issue – except some residents have complained that the site is discriminatory and is being used as a political lobbying vessel to bully, intimidate and unduly influence town commissioners. Residents have complained they have been blocked from accessing the Hope Mills Chatter. Some who have been approved for participation have been abruptly terminated and kicked out of the group when disagreeing with Carter-Waring’s dogma or objecting to the mission or mandate du jour.

This private social media group includes three prominent Hope Mills commissioners: Meg Larson, Jesse Bellflowers and Jerry Legge.

Some residents suspect the site is being used as a three-to-two conspiracy to control the business and policies of the town. Three out of five town commissioners meeting together equals a quorum. Mayor Jackie Warner is also a member of this group but has no vote. If the three town commissioners constitute a quorum, their participation in the Hope Mills Chatter may be a violation of the North Carolina Open Meetings Law. This is why Commissioner Mitchell is looking into the matter. In the end, their participation may not be illegal, but appearances matter, and the appearance of impropriety is definitely an issue here.

Mitchell launched an informal poll on Facebook recently to see how the residents of Hope Mills feel about it; 76 percent of the respondents said they had concerns with elected town commissioners participating in a private and restricted Facebook group.

Mitchell said, “I personally believe that public appearance is very important, and when the three commissioners that participate in Hope Mills Chatter (a closed Facebook group with less than 300 members) vote three to two to take actions, citizens might wonder how much of the decision was previously discussed in the closed group.” His point is well-made.

Up & Coming Weekly has requested a formal opinion from Amanda Martin, attorney for the North Carolina Press Association, concerning the possible violation of the Open Meetings Law. We explained to Martin that the Hope Mills Chatter was only accessible to a select group of people vetted and approved by the page moderator, Carter-Waring, and that it includes three sitting commissioners. We also pointed out that Carter-Waring is a paid correspondent for the weekly Hope Mills newspaper, The Sandspur, which is owned and produced by The Fayetteville Observer.

I suspect Carter-Waring and Larson are using the Hope Mills Chatter and Carter-Waring’s position with The Sandspur to gain and maintain political influence, dictate the commissioners’ agenda and control the overall narrative of the town of Hope Mills.

Another indicator of this conspiracy was Carter-Waring’s and Lawson’s organized attempt to discredit Up & Coming Weekly’s partnership with the town. Carter-Waring blocked our access to the Hope Mills Chatter while allowing other local news media access, including four reporters from The Fayetteville Observer, Greg Barnes (WTVD), Goldy (WFNC) and Gilbert Baez (WRAL). While the content and comments in the chat area are private, the membership list is public, and I have confirmed the information about who has access to the group.

We applaud Mitchell’s initiative. This is not and never has been what Hope Mills is about. Adversity and challenges over the last decade have proven the trust, ability, judgement and mettle of leaders like Warner, Mitchell, Pat Edwards, Melissa Adams, Drew Holland, Bob Gorman, who died this November, and dozens of other dedicated employees who know and understand the future challenges that Hope Mills faces.

We are proud to serve Hope Mills. The town has publicly endorsed and recognized Up & Coming Weekly as its official community publication. Why? Because of our 23-year history of quality, fair and accurate community news coverage across Cumberland County.

Hope Mills wanted a valuable, long-term marketing strategy for the enhancement of quality of life and the growth of local businesses and solid long-term economic development. That’s why they partnered withus. That decision was overturned by the Chatter crew, Lawson, and Carter-Waring.

In a blatant move to discredit us and stymie our style of positive local news coverage in Hope Mills, Carter-Waring uninvited us from the chat room and ultimately blocked us from the page. She has refused to respond to our inquiries or provide an explanation as to why our newspaper is excluded while she allows other all other media to participate.

Many advocates for Up & Coming Weekly have since been involuntarily extricated from the group. However, this is not the main concern. The main concern is if the presence and participation of three Hope Mills Commissioners in this private chat group constitute a violation of the Open Meetings Law. Or, at the very least, is this practice ethically questionable and something that should be discouraged and addressed by the commissioners? We’ll see how this plays out.

Our newspaper has gained the trust of dozens of nonprofit organizations and hundreds of businesses, civic organizations and government entities. The Hope Mills Chatter, Carter-Waring and Lawson undid a solid, well-thought-out media program for their personal gain and undermined the work of Warner, Edwards, Gorman and Adams.

I don’t know where this social media controversy will end, but, I do know it is not good for the future of Hope Mills. Again, kudos to Mitchell for broaching the subject. In the meantime, we will continue to promote and develop the Hope Mills Initiative by spreading the good news about Hope Mills throughout all of Cumberland County and Fort Bragg – just as the previous leadership intended.

Respectfully, Carter-Waring and her few chattering Sandspur followers pale in comparison to the bold and aggressive positive message that we and the Hope Mills leadership intend for its residents and visitors. Hope Mills is becoming prominent and respected throughout the county. The town of Hope Mills needs to protect itself from non-visionaries and small thinkers.

Whether Up & Coming Weekly continues to be the official media voice of Hope Mills or not will be determined by the town’s people. Carter-Waring and Larson do not want the town to have another media voice. They do not share the vision for growth and economic prosperity of Hope Mills. They want things to stay the same. No vision, no progress, no growth, no competition, and certainly no Up & Coming Weekly!

Mike Mitchell, stay the course. Transparency is vital to free and open government. Demand public input. Demand to hear all residents of Hope Mills – not just a select few.

Readers, we would love to hear from you. Send your thoughts and comments to hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

Thank you for reading Hope Mills’ community newspaper.

For the past nine months, board members from Cumberland and Hoke counties’ largest agencies have been meeting and talking. They’ve been discussing how to do more local business, using the millions of dollars they spend every year on things like supplies for schools, services for towns and raw materials for building projects. Born from these meetings, the Building Better Business Rally is coming to the Fayetteville Technical Community College campus Tuesday, May 22, from 3-7 p.m. Functioning as a sort of reverse vendor fair – the purchasing powers will court local businesses instead of the otherway around – it will be the largest rally of its kind to take place in this area.

Purchasing and procurement representativesfrom participating entities will be set up at tables,ready to explain to local businesses what they need in terms of customer service, goods, and services and how to work with their organizations. The agencies that will be present are Cumberland County, Hoke County, Cumberland County Schools, the city of Fayetteville, the town of Hope Mills, the town of Spring Lake, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Cape Fear Valley Health System, Fayetteville Area System of Transit, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Kaufman-Lynn and PCH Holdings will also be present, two companies heavily involved with the new downtown baseball stadium and its related downtown renovation projects.

These are the people who make decisions for where millions of dollars will be spent. Cumberland County Schools estimates spending $10 million a year on instructional and custodial supplies, information technology and construction, according toWilson Lacy, CCS executive director of operations. The town of Hope Mills projects that over the next five years, it will spend over $34 million on facilities, public works, transportation, public safety, storm water and cultural and recreation projects, said Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner. Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said the city is currently creating its budget. He cited the $38 million investment into the baseball stadium and the $250,000 investment into the Civil War History Center as two recent examples of how and where the city is spending its money.

Colvin said this rally is one strong example within a growing pattern of the community “relying on great partnerships and collaboration to drive economic development.

“The city of Fayetteville, and by extension Cumberland County, has put a lot of effort into economic development, as exemplified by the...baseball stadium that will soon be home to a Class A Advanced Astros-sponsored team, and more than $60 million in private investment from Prince Charles Holdings. That project shows great collaboration between the public and private sectors. We’ve also seen the results of the city-county-PWC partnership that brought us the Franklin Street Parking Deck, a project that is moving towards being self-sustaining with the large number of (downtown events). We’ve also been strengthening our relationships with the Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corporation and Greater Fayetteville Chamber to help drive more development and jobs to the area.”

The name of the Building Better Business Rally is borrowed from the similar but much smaller scale version of this event PWC has spear headed for the last four years. Carolyn Justice-Hinson, PWC’s communications/community relations officer, said, “Our board hears things like, ‘I don’t know how to do business with you,’ or ‘I didn’t know about these opportunities.’ We want to make sure we’ve done everything possible to present (that information). It’s up to the businesses to take advantage of (the opportunities). Instead of having to visit every one of these (organizations), they’ll have all the opportunities available to them in one place.”

Justice-Hinson stressed that this event is not only an invaluable opportunity for local suppliers, professional service providers and prime and subcontractors of all sizes, but also for anyone with entrepreneurial leanings. “Even people who maybe don’t own a business but they’re thinking about it – if they walkin and start talking to these organizations... We can tell them the types of jobs that we don’t get a lot of bidders on,” she said. “Or, (we can tell them) we really need a local business that can do this. This can give them the ideas, and then, we’ll also have organizations there that can help them learn how to start that business. … A lot of it is the networking, too.”

Organizations to be present that support businesses through financial and qualification assistance include the Small Business Administration, NC Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Small Business Technology Center, Veteran’s Business Outreach Center, Women’s Business Center, FTCC Small Business Center, North Carolina Military Business Center, Center for Economic Empowerment and Development Capital Loan Program and the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corporation and the towns of Eastover, Stedman and Wade will also be in attendance, though not set up at tables.

Business breakout sessions will occur at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Horace Sisk Building, adjacent to the gym where the rally will take place. At 4 p.m., attendees have two options: “How to Fund Your Opportunity,” with an introduction to bonding, presented by the CEED Capital Loan Program and The Institute; or a certification readiness class presented by the NC Department of Administration’s Historically Underutilized Businesses Office. At 6 p.m., attendees can choose between “How to be a Sub-Contractor” presented byThe Institute or “Learning about Capability Statements” presented by the Small Business Tech Center and NC Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

The free Building Better Business Rally will take place in FTCC’s Horace Sisk Gym, 2201 Hull Rd., from 3-7 p.m., Tuesday, May 22. Pre-registration is encouraged, though not required. Register at faybids.com.The website has a “Local Buyer Links” column with information on many of the participating organizations so attendees can come prepared to take maximum advantage of the day. When a business owner registers, they’ll also be given the opportunity to have their basic contact information shared with all the participating agencies.

As the heart and soul of the college, the Fayetteville Technical Community College Paul H.Thompson Library and campus libraries are where students of different educational backgrounds reach their goals, working in partnership with experienced librarians.

Three locations support FTCC students with library services and dedicated library staff to answer questions: the Paul H. Thompson Library at the Fayetteville campus; the Spring Lake Campus Branch of the Cumberland County Public Library; and the John L. Throckmorton Library on Fort Bragg.

The libraries offer students access to thousands of print and electronic resources that are timely, relevant and reliable to assist with their educational success. Working together with faculty, librarians conduct library orientation classes to introduce students to library resources and develop search strategies to help them complete assignments using the catalog and electronic databases. Tutorials are available on the library website to provide brief instruction on searching specific databases.

Students may also take advantage of the book-a-librarian service to receive individualized instruction from librarians by appointment for up to 45 minutes. Librarians are also available for unscheduled book-a-librarian sessions to answer more targeted questions that take a shorter time.

Interlibrary loans extend a student’s borrowing power to all member colleges of the North Carolina Community College System.

High school students receiving college credit through the NC Career and College Promise dual-enrollment program have access to all library resources to assist in their transition to college and ease the research challenges required of their college courses.

At each location, students have access to a wide variety of spaces where they can study, conduct research, read or meet in small and large groups to collaborate on projects. Students have access to computers, printing, copying and faxing at all locations. Scanning capability and additional laptops are available for checkout for use within the Paul H. Thompson Library reference room and at the Spring Lake Campus branch library. At the Paul H. Thompson Library, coffee is available for purchase in the reference room all day.

The FTCC Archive collection, housed in the Paul H.Thompson Library, consists of photographic materials, college course catalogs, yearbooks, scrapbooks and college ephemera. The scrapbooks are currently available online with DigitalNC by clicking on the FTCC Archive link from the library homepage. Additional materials are expected to be digitized and available electronically. Physical materials in the archive are available for viewing by appointment.

Library staff are available to assist with reference questions during business hours in person or by calling 910-678-8247, 0080 and by email library@faytechcc.edu. When the library is closed, students can get answers by using the “Ask-a-Librarian Chat Now” button located on the library homepage at www.faytechcc.edu/campus-life/academic-support/library/ 

Fayetteville Technical Community College libraries locations and hours:

• Paul H. Thompson Library:

2201 Hull Rd., Fayetteville, NC

910-678-0080

Mon-Thurs 7:45 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Last seven Saturdays each semester: 11a.m.-3p.m.

• Spring Lake Campus Branch Library:

101 Laketree Blvd., Spring Lake, NC

Mon-Wed 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Thurs 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday Closed

Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• John L. Throckmorton Library:

Randolf St. Bldg. 1-3346, Fort Bragg, NC

910-396-2665

Mon-Thurs 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday Noon-4 p.m.

Movies can transport us to any place or time or culture. They engage the entire spectrum ofhuman emotions. We can laugh over life’s little failures or die a thousand deaths of heartbreak through the characters that flit across the screen. But really, we love movies because we love the shared experience.

“Frame to Table” aims to celebrate the shared experience of film culture on Friday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at SkyView on Hay. It is a fundraiser with a unique twist that will benefit the third annual Indigo Moon Film Festival.

With food and wines reminiscent of legendary movies, attendees can enjoy a “culinary trip around the world.”

Pat Wright and Jan Johnson are the co-directors of the nonprofit putting on the fundraiser, as well as the organizers of the film festival. Both agreed the inspiration for this distinctive fundraiser stems from the desire to celebrate a love of movies.

“There are certain films that are in our childhood that we love and mark moments in our lives where the family will all be gathered around the television or they all go out to a drive-in,” said Wright. “Film is very important cultural art, and we want people to remember how important film is to them and their personal history.”

Though the films and local caterers have yet to be chosen for the event, the organizers promise attendees will not be disappointed.

“It’s for movie lovers,” said Johnson. “We love decorating the tables to reflect the different ethnic areas like Italian or Vietnamese or Thai or African. There are films associated with all of those countries, so we just think it’s fun. People really enjoyed it last year.

”You can expect movies like “The King and I” for China or “Good Morning, Vietnam!” for, of course, Vietnam. Clips from the movies will play at each table chosen to represent a different country and its cuisines.

According to Wright and Johnson, the fundraiser works as a way to “ignite excitement” about the upcoming Indigo Moon Film Festival. Seeing familiar movies from the past reminds festival-goers of the brand new international films to be screened in a few months.

Last year, hundreds of people gathered to watch films submitted from all over the world. According to Wright, films have already been submitted from as far away as Afghanistan, Iraq and China this year.

The fundraiser is vital to the film festival because it provides necessary funding to bring the filmmakers to Fayetteville.

“Filmmaking is a difficult life and you often do a lot of work for not much money and very little in the way of screenings or recognition,” said Wright. “We want to do everything we can to encourage the directors to come and to be apart of the festival screening.”

In fact, last year, the Indigo Moon Film Festival was the North Carolina premiere site for the acclaimed documentary “Hondros,” featuring Chris Hondros and directed by Greg Campbell. Both were Fayetteville natives and Terry Sanford High School graduates. According to Variety, the film has gone on to be purchased by Netflix.

“We hope they have a great time (at the fundraiser), learn a little about how to attend a film festival and bring films up in their minds and remind them how much they love film,” said Wright.

Indigo Moon will accept film submissions until July 30. Categories include feature-length and short narrative and documentary films, animation and student films.

“Frame to Table” will take place at SkyView Lounge on Hay Street. Tickets are $50 per person. Visit www.indigomoonfilmfestival.com/f2t/tolearn more and to reserve your seats.

Getting Food for the Hungry presents Chonda Pierce: Getting Back to Funny Tour on Wednesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at the Crown Coliseum. Up & Coming Weekly had a conversation with the comedian about her life and how she got to be so funny.

Up & Coming Weekly: What should the audience expect to hear from you at the Crown?

Chonda Pierce: I’m excited because I love my job. I get paid to go out there and laugh with my audience. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and they probably are going to get the same old thing that they always get. We laugh a little bit, cry a little bit, pee in our pants and go home.

UCW: Why are you often called “The Queen of Clean?”

CP: I know that comedy is subjective. If you walk into a comedy club late at night, I’m pretty squeaky clean compared to that. Now my grandmother would probably argue with you because once in a while somebody walks out because I said “sex” or “butt crack.”

UCW: When did you first find out you were hilarious enough to become a comedian?

CP: Probably my first whipping. I was a preacher’s kid and a middle child, so that is the making of comedy right there. As a theater major in high school, my drama teacher was so good. She would give me a dramatic role and I would still make it funny and get fussed at. Every time I would audition for something in community theater or in college, I was always drawn to the funny. Most girls wanted the leading role so they could kiss the boy. I wanted the role that would make the crowd laugh and looked like it was going to be fun.

UCW: What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

CP: I think I have been at this too long because people know too much. I wanted to be a policeman when I was growing up. People would be surprised to know that at home or in my small group of friends, I am not the funny one or the loud mouth that people would think. I get all that done at night on the stage. I live a very quiet life at home. I love fishing, cooking and scrapbooking in my free time. I have to fight against isolation and becoming more reclusive because a lot of it has to do with losing my husband. I am clinically depressed, so you have to really push back on things that will fuel your depression.

Tickets cost between $27 and $49.50. The VIP experience includes the best seats in the house, a pre-show meet-and-greet with Chonda, a commemorative VIP pass, crowd-free shopping and $5 off $25 or more on Chonda merchandise. For more information, call 910-438-4100.

Whether it is fictional characters like Harry Potter or real-life figures such as Harry Houdini or the unknown magician who came to your elementary school doing parlor tricks, we all need a little magic in our lives. It was Roald Dahl who once said, “Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” Well, you can find it May 10 at the Crown Theatre. “The Illusionists– Live from Broadway” will perform for one night in Fayetteville as part of the Community Concerts season.

The production features five renowned performers doing the variety of magic they each know best.

Jonathan Goodwin is “The Daredevil.” Think Evel Knievel for the modern era. He performs death-defying acts such as being hanged, buried alive, attacked by sharks and even burned at the stake. The claim is that, unlike the other performers, Goodwin’s acts are not illusions but real stunts.

Colin Cloud is “The Deductionist.” He is the Sherlock Holmes of entertainment, if Holmes had a flair for comedy. He will know what any given audience member had for breakfast that day, what kind of car they drive or even their pin code.

An Ha Lim and Jeff Hobson have been part of The Illusionists in the past and are back again this year as “The Manipulator” and “The Trickster,” respectively.

The last of the five members is Kevin James. No, not the “Mall Cop” actor, but “The Inventor” who does specialty magic.

“I invent all of my magic,” said James. “I try very hard to find some kind of emotional hook to take the spectators on a journey with me. Sometimes it will be sweet and innocent; other times you can feel nostalgic and other times shocking.”

According to The Illusionists tour webpage, James is one of the most-viewed magicians on YouTube. He’s traveled to over 80 countries and headlined countless prominent venues. Even more impressive is the fact that he’s done royal performances like in the days of old magicians – for the likes of the Prince of Monaco and the Sultan of Dubai and at the White House for former President Barack Obama.

“This process from taking a scribble on a napkin to finally getting applause from an audience is very soul-fulfilling,” said James. “I plan to do this therest of my days.”

James, of relation to the legendary showman P.T. Barnum, has had his tricks in the acts of other prominent magicians like Doug Henning and David Copperfield. One of the most famous is the “Floating Rose” trick, where a piece of paper transforms into a paper rose before, finally, into a real rose.

“Scientists are the easiest people to fool and kids are the hardest,” revealed James. “The scientists are very convinced that they know how the world works, so you can play upon their assumptions. The kids don’t have hardcore assumptions yet. Their minds are more open. So they can find the method faster. The best-kept secret is that there are no real secrets. Magicians are guarding an empty safe.

“My favorite bits for me are when I am interacting with the audience one-on-one. You never know what they will say or do. There is nothing like seeing magic live and in-person. You cannot shrug it off as a camera trick when it is happening right in front of your eyes, inches away.”

“The Illusionist – Live from Broadway” performance will be at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 10. For tickets or to learn more about Community Concerts, go to www.community-concerts.com. 

The city of Fayetteville, through the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, currently has several sculptures on display in various locations downtown.The complete exhibit is titled “Work in Progress.” The public art exhibit began two years ago with 11 sculptures. Because the sculptures are leased for 11 months, the current exhibit is the second rendition and is properly titled “Work in Progress 2.” There are now 17 sculptures on display. Private donors matched with Arts Council funding helps make them available to the Fayetteville community.The Arts Council is aiming to make one of them permanent.

The sculptures are distributed strategically to encourage visitors and residents alike to explore the downtown district. City leaders across the state have been inquiring into Fayetteville’s “Work in Progress” Art Exhibit to learn how they could also implement such an exhibit in their cities. Various groups, including one home school group of 50 students, have requested tours to view the sculptures and learn about the artists and meaning behind the art. The city’s new mobile app offers self-guided tours using an interactive map that shows where to find the sculptures. It’s available for both Android and iPhone and is free.

One sculpture in the exhibit has captured the hearts of many in the community. The public artwork is called “Natural Embrace” by sculptor Paul Hill. It is located at Person Street Plaza across from the Cumberland County Courthouse. The sculpture, made of metal, depicts a spiraling Venus fly trap. In a community wide survey, “Natural Embrace” was voted the favorite out of the 15 works of public art that were installed over the course of the year. There is currently a drive to raise funds to purchase it and make it permanent so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.

The price for Fayetteville to purchase the sculpture is $40,000. The Arts Council’s goal is to raise $20,000 through fundraising efforts, and then it will contribute up to $20,000 in matching funds. Donations have ranged from $1 from a young child to over $2,000 from a resident committed to the arts. So far, $17,752 has been raised. Janet Gibson, director of marketing and communications for the Arts Council, has no doubt the Arts Council will meet the goal by the deadline. “Thanks to the generosity of community donations, I am confident ‘Natural Embrace’ will be a permanent fixture in downtown Fayetteville,” she said.

If purchased, “Natural Embrace” will be the third permanent sculpture placed by the Arts Council in downtown Fayetteville. The sculptures “Tree of Good and Evil” and “Dancer” were both donations. Eric Lindstrom and Kennon Jackson donated the former and Dr. and Mrs. Patrick Callahan donated the latter.

Gibson explain that in the unlikely event that the Arts Council falls short of its goal of $20,000 to put toward purchasing “Natural Embrace,” the sculpture would move on to another city in September and donations would be returned. Donors would also be given an opportunityto repurpose their donations to the Art Council.

Learn more about the project at www.theartscouncil.com/naturalembrace

PHOTO: “Natural Embrace” is located at Person Street Plaza across from the Cumberland County Courthouse.

Legal wrangling may impede the process by which Fayetteville City Councilman Tyrone Williams is removed from office. Williams’ lawyer and city attorney Karen McDonald disagree on some of the steps city council is taking. As a courtesy, McDonald provided attorney Kris Poppean opportunity to offer feedback on procedures she developed to conduct what’s known as an amotion.

McDonald agreed to some of his ideas but rejected others. Poppe contends Williams should not have been denied his right to vote on issues he’s accused of being involved in. McDonald insists the excusal protects the validity of the process.City council adopted McDonald’s recommendations following an hourlong discussion at a dinner meeting. Williams did not vote.

North Carolina state law provides for the removal of public officials, but the process is general. McDonald stressed her rules and procedures are intended to make certain the District 2 councilman receives a fair and impartial hearing. Until now, the city had no written policy on amotion. It’s the only time official efforts have been made to remove a member from office. McDonald told council she followed her interpretation of state law because “we don’t know where the process will take us.”

The first significant step is Williams being served with a petition for removal. It will culminate in a quasi judicial public hearing. By law, council’s amotion decision must be based only on evidence received during the hearing.

Williams is a first-term council member elected this past November. He took office the following month and is alleged soon thereafter to have asked Jordan Jones, the project manager of Hay Street development projects, for $15,000 to remedy an issue with the deed to the former Prince Charles Hotel building. Jones’ company is renovating the eight-story building. Jones recorded the meeting with Williams and turned the recording over to the FBI.

In March, Williams told council he had a financial interest in Prince Charles Holdings, which Jones denied, and asked to be recused from voting on all downtown development projects because of a possible conflict of interest. Later, Williams reversed himself, saying that he had been improperly advised by McDonald to recuse himself from voting. McDonald vehemently denied that, and council voted unanimously to excuse him from voting on anything related to downtown economic developments, including the minor league baseball stadium now under construction.

The FBI has jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes, including public corruption at all levels of government. Corruption includes bribery, which is offering to do something for someone for the expressed purpose of receiving something in exchange. It also includes extortion by a public official, defined as the oppressive use of his or her position to obtain a fee. This is known as acting under the color of office.

PHOTO: Tyrone Williams

School shootings studied

The Governor’s Crime Commission has established a special committee to strengthen school safety. “School shootings have tragically become too common an occurrence in our country,” said North Carolina Public Safety Secretary Eric Hooks. “We must use every resource available to us to examine and address this dangerous threat posed to our children and educational professionals.”

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin has been named to the 16-member organization. Hooks said the group will identify resources and conduct a series of forums to gather and share information, listen to concerns and identify possible strategies to prevent school gun violence.

Real estate property tax appeals deadline June 29

Taxpayers who own or control taxable real property seeking request for appeals for the 2018 tax year may submit requests to the Cumberland County Tax Administration. Those seeking a request for a hearing must make the request in writing or by personal appearance before the Board of Equalization and Review adjourns June 29. The Board of Equalization and Review will hold hearings at 3:30 p.m. in Room 564, on the fifth floor of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, located at 117 Dick St., May 7, May 9, May 23, June 13, June 20, June 27 and June 29.

Taxpayers may submit their request for appeals in person Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the office of Tax Administration, Room 530, in the Courthouse at 117 Dick St. The appeal forms are available online at http://co.cumberland.nc.us/tax.aspx. The mailing address is Cumberland County Tax Administrator, P.O. Box 449, Fayetteville, NC, 28302-0449.

Crime Stoppers honored

Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crime Stoppers is the recipient of the 2017 Productivity Award for communities with populations of 300,000–400,000. The award was presented to the organization by the Southeastern Crime Stoppers Association during their annual conference in Atlanta. The productivity award is presented to an organization based on the total number of tips received, arrests made, charges laid and cash rewards paid out. The southeastern region consists of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Since its inception in 1984, Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crime Stoppers has provided information resulting in the arrest of more than 3,108 felons, recovered more than $6.7 million in stolen property and narcotics, and paid out more than $312,000 in cash rewards.

Cape Fear Valley Health Chooses Epic for comprehensive health record system

Epic, the most widely-used comprehensive health record software in the U.S., is coming to Cape Fear Valley Health. Currently, Cape Fear Valley Health uses two Cerner software systems for record keeping. Epic has been selected to unite its hospitals and clinics under a single information sharing platform. Many of the nation’s leading health systems already use Epic to exchange data,share best practices and promote innovation.

“The benefits of Epic will be felt in our clinics and hospitals throughout southeastern North Carolina as we move to this fully-integrated system,” said Michael Nagowski, Cape Fear Valley CEO. “This new system will allow patients and providers to easily access data when and where they need it.”

“Epic will allow Cape Fear Valley Health caregivers to securely share critical patient data across our facilities, our region and throughout the United States, with both civilian and military health care providers,” said Samuel Fleishman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer. “This will allow our physicians, nurses, technicians and staff to work more efficiently and collaboratively to meet the needs of our patients and their families.”

Patients will benefit by receiving a complete digital record spanning their entire continuum of care.The patient access and engagement through Epic’s MyChart patient portal will also improve. Services such as scheduling, clinical applications, billing and population health initiatives will be streamlined once the switch to Epic is made.

The switch to Epic is expected to be complete by summer 2019.

Cape Fear Valley Health has hospitals and clinics serving patients across a seven-county region of southeastern North Carolina, includingFayetteville, Hope Mills, Raeford, Lumberton, Elizabethtown, Clinton, Lillington, Dunn and Laurinburg.

County receives Excellence in Communications recognition

The North Carolina City and County Communicators’ Excellence in Communications Awards were presented April 19 at the annual Spring Conference in New Bern. Out of 178 entries, 23 North Carolina government offices earned recognition.The Cumberland County Public Information Office earned much recognition by winning four awards.

“We are proud of our public information team for what they have accomplished and how hard they work to connect with our citizens and share our story,” said County Manager Amy Cannon.

Cumberland County placed second for: TV or Video-Instructional Video for “Love Me? Vaccinate Me;” Printed Publications-Poster, Flyer, Club Card for “Love Me? Vaccinate Me;” Communication Technology-Digital Signage Programming; and Multi-Platform Campaign for Cumberland ALERTS.

The purpose of North Carolina City & County Communicators is to encourage professional development and networking among local governmental communications professionals. The organization was formed in March 2007 and is made up of government professional communicators from around the state.

For more information about NC3C, visit the website: http://www.nc3c.com.

The sun sets on a picturesque Sunday afternoon in Fayetteville. Further down the hill on Hay Street, the annual Dogwood Festival was wrapping up its final day, but in the backyard behind the 1897 Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear, blankets were being spread and folding chairs were being opened in anticipation of a production of Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s “Jane Eyre.”

The play is an adaptation of the Victorian novel of the same name by Charlotte Brontë. It’s about an orphaned girl who grows up to become a governess at Thornfield Hall where she is charged with looking after Adèle, the ward of a wealthy man named Edward Rochester. The novel and the play focus on the evolution of Jane’s relationship with Rochester, which is never as simple as it might seem.

Director Jessica Osnoe and her crew have assembled a cast worthy of bringing this show to life. Jen Pommerenke turns in a delightful performanceas Jane – the humble orphan-turned-governess. Pommerenke brings a unique and quiet charm to the role. Opposite of Pommerenke for most of the production is Richard Adlam’s Edward Rochester. Adlam’s charisma commands attention any time he is onstage.

The rest of the ensemble is a delight as well. Sweet Tea Shakespeare employs an old theater trick called “doubling,” which allows performers to work in multiple roles. This is the case with the rest of the performers in this production, who are all a pleasure in their own right.

Alexcia Thompson (BlancheIngram/Bertha Mason) plays an essential part in the narrative and is a commanding presence. She brings such commitment to her part as Bertha, the mysterious laughing woman hidden away in the attic of Thornfield Hall, that the audience will inevitably want more of her.

Traycie Kuhm-Zapata (Mrs. Fairfax/Mary Rivers) confidently leans into her position as a source of comedic relief. Gage Long (St. John Rivers/LordIngram/Clergyman) captivates and Annalise Kelly (Adèle Varens/Hannah Smith) is a treat to watch as is Erin Fossa (Mary Ingram/Diana Rivers). Gabe Terry (Richard Mason/Host), who has a unique and rewarding delivery, rounds out this capable ensemble.

According to Osnoe, “Sweet Tea Shakespeare creates a home for beautiful, wondrous storytelling, so ‘Jane Eyre,’ the story of an orphan in search of love and home, makes perfect sense for us.”

Pommerenke agreed: “’Jane Eyre’ is a timeless story that is recognized by so many. To me, both Jane and Rochester find a home in the love and acceptance of each other. But home also comes in the form of redemption, forgiveness and family in this story.”

Long added that working on ‘Jane Eyre’ has been a true pleasure. “I’d have to say, besides working with a passionate cast, my favorite aspect (of this production) would have to be bringing the script to light on stage. With the help of Miss Osnoe, we’re able to bring deeper insight into Brontë’s story. My deepest hope is to connect with an audience, and I get the joy of doing that at every performance.”

It is clear that the entire cast shares in that sentiment. It is a joy to watch the company at Sweet Tea Shakespeare bring this story to life.

“Jane Eyre” continues with shows May 3-6, starting each evening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $8-$20. Children under five are admitted for free. For more information, or to order tickets, visit www.sweetteashakespeare.com or call 910-420-4383.

PHOTO: Richard Adlam plays Edward Rochester.

Without doubt, when danger lurks and a person, or group, fails to recognize and properly respond to it, it is costly. Recently, I was driving on a heavily traveled road in Fayetteville. A little sports car was trailing me and got very close to my rear bumper. I immediately realized this was a dangerous situation. I moved ahead enough for him to pass me. He flew past. If I had not seen that car in my rearview mirror and taken preventative action, very likely, a collision would have been the result. This experience highlights the need to recognize and act in the face of danger.

The costly nature of failing to recognize and act in response to danger extends to every aspect of life. It seems there is an epidemic underway regarding failure to recognize danger. At least three causes for this condition in America should be considered. The first is that people are so busy struggling to support themselves and family that little or no attention is given to sensing danger. Another is that there can be so much anger, so much emotional baggage, that there is a blinding of one’s capacity to identify danger. Then, in a world of unbelievable selfishness, people look at conditions that might be dangerous but decide these conditions do not affect them and, consequently, give no attention to an otherwise dangerous situation.

The examples of how this failure to recognize danger happens and can prove costly are almost without limit. As I write this column, there is a developing situation that demonstrates all of what was addressed in the preceding paragraph. Reports on April 9 indicate that the FBI raided the office and hotel room of Michael Cohen. He is the personal lawyer of President Donald Trump. Various materials were taken for reasons that have not been publicly reported. The search resulted from a referralby Robert Mueller, special council to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This suggests Mueller discovered some possible breach of law that was not under his purview, but should be addressed. The raid was conducted under a search warrant obtained by the Manhattan federal prosecutors.

The first concern is that this was a search of an attorney’s office, which gave the FBI access to client information that clients had every reason to think was protected by attorney-client privilege. For this reason, the U.S. Attorneys’ Manual is clear in requiring defined steps and extreme care when dealing with a situation of this nature. Below are some segments from the section that addresses searches of attorneys’ records. To fully appreciate the importance of this issue, please read the full section at https://www.justice.gov/usam/usam-9-13000-obtaining-evidence#9-13.420:

“Because of the potential effects of this type of search on legitimate attorney-client relationships and because of the possibility that, during such a search, the government may encounter material protected by a legitimate claim of privilege, it is important that close control be exercised over this type of search.

“In order to avoid impinging on valid attorney client relationships, prosecutors are expected to take the least intrusive approach consistent with vigorous and effective law enforcement when evidence is sought from an attorney actively engaged in the practice of law. Consideration should be given to obtaining information from other sources or through the use of a subpoena, unless such efforts could compromise the criminal investigation or prosecution, or could result in the obstruction or destruction of evidence, or would otherwise be ineffective.

“Procedures should be designed to ensure that privileged materials are not improperly viewed, seized or retained during the course of the search. While the procedures to be followed should be tailored to the facts of each case and the requirements and judicial preferences and precedents of each district, in all cases a prosecutor must employ adequate precautions to ensure that the materials are reviewed for privilege claims and that any privileged documents are returned to the attorney from whom they were seized.”

Clearly, these segments reflect recognition of the possible detrimental consequences of searching anattorney’s records. With that in mind, consider how the search of Cohen’s records has proceeded. The searches took place. With his attorney, Cohen went to court and requested permission to have an independent third party, called a “special master,” review the materials that were removed. The aim would be to identify materials believed to be covered by attorney-client privilege. This review would take place before any review by the FBI.

Although government attorneys have not been specific regarding reasons for the searches, there is substantial reporting as to the reason. Olivia Messer and Kate Briquelet write the following in an article titled, “Judge Hands Defeat to Trump and Cohen Over FBI Raid: ‘You’ve Miscited the Law.’”

The article states, “Prosecutors reportedly sough tinformation about Cohen’s role in facilitating hushmoney payments to Trump’s alleged mistress, porn star Stormy Daniels, and his potential role infacilitating a payout to ex-Playmate Karen McDougalin the run-up to the 2016 election. Both women claim they had affairs with Trump and have sued to be released from their NDAs. The raids were ‘the result of a months-long investigation into Cohen’ and his ‘own business dealings,’ prosecutors said in a Friday filing.”

Beyond the searches, the court process resulted in the names of two Cohen clients being revealed. Every indication is that these clients had absolutely no involvement with the suspected offenses by Cohen that are being investigated. Those clients are Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser, and Sean Hannity, a Fox Cable News show host. Hannity had requested that his name not be disclosed. Judge Kimba M. Wood, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, ordered Cohen’s attorney, Stephen Ryan, to disclose an unnamed client, who turned out to be Hannity.

As of April 20, reports are that Judge Wood announced she would, in late May, make a decision regarding a special master. That means materials taken in the Cohen searches will not be examined until June.

I hold that the picture painted here is one where: attorney-client privilege is jeopardized; an attorney’spractice is prematurely destroyed; the public is given reason to distrust claims of privacy protection when communicating with an attorney; people who had absolutely no involvement with the suspected wrong doing can have their identities exposed and face serious undesired consequences; the process for settling a matter of this nature seems to go on without end; and on goes the list of negatives. Without doubt, what is described here is dangerous for every American.

The scary, and quite sad, fact is that far too many Americans will disregard this danger for one or more of the reasons given in the second paragraph above. That is – they are so occupied with simply surviving, consumed by negative emotions, or focused on self to the point that this danger is disregarded because it is viewed as not applicableto them. In that category of negative emotions, the raging hatred that so many people have for PresidentTrump is a prime example. That hatred will blind those haters to the danger in what has been described regarding the treatment of Cohen, Trump, Broidy and Hannity.

Not only in addressing this Cohen situation, but in every moment of our living, we would do well to learn from the words of Martin Niemöller. This background and his words are reported at https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392:

“Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

“He said, ‘First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out– because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.’”

PHOTO: Michael Cohen