The sky figured to be the limit for Douglas Byrd longjumper Zinzili Kelley after she stunned the crowd at last year’s Carver Classic with a leap of 19 feet.

“She came in second in the regionals and was ranked No. 1 for the states,’’ said Robert Freeman, Kelley’s track coach at Byrd.

But something happened when Kelley got to last year’s outdoor state track meet. “She didn’t hit the podium,’’ Freeman said. “I think she had anxiety.’’

Whatever the problem was, it was gone recently at the 3-A state indoor meet at the JDL Fast Track complex in Winston-Salem.

Kelley didn’t equal her Carver performance of last spring, but her leap of 18 feet, 1.25 inches was enough to give her the long jump championship in this year’s 3-A indoor meet.

Kelley didn’t get a lot of competition prior to the state meet. She only competed in two so-called polar bear indoor meets this season. They call them polar bears because they were both held outdoors, on the same track at Reid Ross Classical High School where the Carver meet took place.

When she got to this year’s state indoor meet, where she finished fourth a year ago, Kelley figured it would be best to stay ignorant of her competition.

“I didn’t want to know who I was competing against,’’ she said. “I did not know how far they jumped. I didn’t look at the performance list. It will make me nervous.’’

Kelley said she enjoyed jumping at the JDL complex in Winston-Salem. “It’s different from being outside,’’ she said. “It’s softer and I could feel the board more. The facility itself is great.’’

With the indoor season over and outdoor track season about to start, Kelley is counting on the benefits of the indoor season helping her this spring.

“In the indoor season, we’re more in the weight room and carrying tires,’’ she said. “When the outdoor season comes, I have that strength.’’

She hopes that strength will carry her to a chance to compete in track at the University of South Carolina, where former Douglas Byrd coach Curtis Frye has built a nationallyknown track program.

“I’m from South Carolina and always wanted to go there,’’ she said. “I want to be a lawyer.’’

Freeman thinks her next stop could be as a state champion in the outdoor season. “She should be in the rankings for state if she doesn’t get any jitters or stage fright,’’ he said. “She’s a top contender.’’

Photo: Zinzili Kelley

On Feb. 10, the Fayetteville Marksmen held their first ever “Pink in the Rink” game – a breast cancer awareness game that benefited the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation. Fundraising efforts included donating portions of ticket sales and proceeds from their postgame jersey auction. The rink was literally turned pink, as fans of the Marksmen and members of the community were able to come out before the game to share messages of hope on the ice in pink paint. At the end, the Marksmen presented $2,500 to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation.

The Marksmen knew when they began their inaugural season that giving back to their new community would be an integral part of their plan. “Pink in the Rink” was not the first time fans could attend a local sporting event that was more than just a game.

In November the Marksmen held a “Teddy Bear Toss,” which benefited local children’s hospitals. Fans tossed teddy bears onto the ice after the team scored their first goal. Over 700 bears were donated. The “Pooch Party” in January allowed fans to bring their dogs to the game, but it also helped dogs who were looking for homes. Multiple adoptable dogs left the game with a new family.

The Marksmen have also reached out to the community in other ways, including their “Scout Night,” which allowed local Boy Scout troops to spend the night at the Crown after attending a game.

While the season is coming to a close, there’s still plenty of time left to experience the excitement that comes with attending a Marksmen hockey game. There are also many other games left that share the same connection – giving back to and celebrating our community.

Feb. 22 is “Education Day,” where local schools can bring their students to a daytime game and learn the connection hockey has to science and technology. Feb. 24 is “Faith Night,” where the Marksmen will have a diaper toss to benefit the Fayetteville Dream Center’s diaper bank, which provides diapers to low-income families. March 10 is “Military Appreciation Night,” which celebrates the local military community by giving all military and their families “best seat available” tickets for just $10.

Keep up with the Marksmen and their schedule by visiting marksmenhockey.com, and purchase tickets through their website or by calling 910-321-0123.

I write a lot, and grieve even more, regarding the seeming lack of common sense that has invaded our nation. Two weeks ago, I wrote about the recent three-day partial shutdown of the federal government “laying waste to reason.” Now, there is another instance of political decisions making no sense to me – absolutely no sense.

As was the case with the partial shutdown, the situation I want to address now is driven by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. An article by Katie Heinrich and Daniel Arkin titled “What Is DACA? Here’s What You Need to Know About the Program Trump Is Ending” explains DACA as follows:

“President Barack Obama created DACA through a 2012 executive order. The program has allowed hundreds of thousands of young people who were brought to the United States illegally as children to remain in the country. Applicants cannot have serious criminal histories, and must have arrived in the U.S. before 2007, when they were under the age of 16. DACA recipients can live and work legally in the U.S. for renewable two-year periods.”

President Donald Trump rescinded President Obama’s executive order and gave Congress until March 5 to pass legislation addressing the status of DACA participants.

The partial shutdown was clearly brought about when Democrats, led by Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, refused to vote in favor of a continuing resolution that would have funded the government for a short period while budget negotiations went forward. Democrats took this action because they wanted protection for DACA participants included in the continuing resolution. Since Republicans only have 51 senators, while 60 votes were required to pass the continuing resolution, the lack of sufficient Democratic votes doomed the legislation.

After the shutdown ended, Trump announced a proposal for addressing the DACA situation. Leigh Ann Caldwell and Phil McCausland detail the offer in an article titled “Trump backs citizenship for Dreamers while slashing legal immigration.” They explain there would be a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

They also reported, “The path to citizenship would be provided to DACA recipients via a 10- to 12-year path that includes ‘requirements for work, education and good moral character.’” Caldwell and McCausland said the offer further requires: a $25 billion trust fund for a border wall; funds to add new enforcement officers, immigration judges and prosecutors; an end to family reunification, also called “chain migration” by conservatives; and an end to the diversity visa lottery. A later update to this article indicated family immigration would still be allowed, but sponsorship of immigrants would be limited to spouses or children, rather than also including extended family members.

This is where I believe the lack of common sense shows up. It seems to me that common sense dictates that this offer be examined in detail, followed by a civil discussion of what legitimate participants in the process view as positives and negatives of the offer. These steps would be followed by thoughtful negotiations that aim to do what is right for America while dealing as fairly as possible with DACA-qualified persons. Yes, I am saying legislation addressing this matter should not bring undue hardship on American citizens. Hardship can be measured in terms of financial costs and the loss of jobs by American citizens; however, whatever action is taken should include every possible step to ensure that this DACA situation does not happen again.

Operating on the premise that what I outlined is reasonable, common sense, this is nowhere near what is going on in Washington as I write this column. Trump’s proposal was immediately dismissed, and even blatantly attacked, by various individuals and groups. Consider the following segments from an article titled “Schumer rejects Trump’s immigration proposal” by Burgess Everett:

“‘This plan flies in the face of what most Americans believe,’ Schumer said on Twitter. While Trump ‘finally acknowledged that the Dreamers should be allowed to stay here and become citizens, he uses them as a tool to tear apart our legal immigration system and adopt the wish list that anti-immigration hard-liners have advocated for years.’”

“‘President Trump and Republicans cannot be allowed to use Dreamers as a bargaining chip for their wish list of anti-immigrant policies,’ said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).”

“House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called it ‘anti-immigrant,’ and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Trump’s plan would institute Trump’s ‘hardline immigration agenda — including massive cuts to legal immigration — on the backs of these young people.’”

I could go on listing quotes that support my contention that there is, with minimal exceptions, an unimaginable lack of reason, of common sense, in addressing the DACA issue. Instead of pursuing a course that could use Trump’s surprise DACA offer as a starting point and thoughtfully negotiating a resolution, people in the position to pursue this course spend their time before microphones attacking the offer in ways that reflect nearly zero thought.

Here is an example of that lack of thought. The president is accused of being “anti-immigrant,” and his DACA proposal is pointed to as supporting that accusation. A case-in-point is “chain migration.” Following are selected quotes from an article by Theresa Cardinal Brown titled “Chain Migration and DACA: An Explainer:”

“Under current U.S. immigration law, citizens may sponsor certain relatives for green cards. Green card holders may, in turn, sponsor a smaller group of relatives for green cards. Collectively, this ability of immigrants, who later become green card holders and citizens, to sponsor their family members is described by some as a ‘chain’ of migration.

“Family-sponsored green cards have been part of immigration law since at least 1965 and account for about 65 percent of new legal immigrants to the United States each year.

“Immediate Relatives: U.S. citizens, (both nativeborn and naturalized) can sponsor their spouse, children under 21 or parents (if the citizen is at least 21). There are no annual limits on how many green cards can be issued each year to this group.

“U.S. citizens can also sponsor their adult children (and their spouses and grandchildren) for green cards, as well as their brothers and sisters, but there are annual caps.

“Current green card holders can sponsor their spouses, minor children and unmarried adult children, for green cards, again subject to annual caps.”

Brown’s article leads me to at least two critical points for consideration. One is that 65 percent of legal immigrants come to America through chain migration. She says this regarding requirements of the applicant: “This step includes criminal and background checks, proof of ability to support themselves, no disqualifying medical conditions, and no previous violations of immigration law.” Nothing here addresses the question of capacity for assimilation into American society or what value the person’s presence adds to the well-being and advancement of this country. Then there is the question of whether citizenship for DACA participants would eventually allow some of them to sponsor their parents who came here illegally. I see these as reasonable concerns to be addressed.

Equally reasonable for negotiation is a wall system at the southern border and other actions that enhance border security. In the case of DACA, this action helps prevent recurrence of the problem. Then this from www.uscis.gov/greencard/diversity- visa: “The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals who are from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.”

Given that we are a country with debt spiraling out of control, struggling to solve a horrendous poverty crisis, and flailing in efforts to provide affordable medical care to our citizens and make living wage jobs available to millions, why are we bringing more people in through a lottery system?

Simply put, I do not see common sense at work in the negative and attacking responses to Trump’s surprise DACA offer. Given the glaring lack of common sense demonstrated here, I have to conclude there is something other than clear-headed thinking at work. I believe White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders got to the heart of the matter when she said Democrats must decide, “do they hate” Trump “more than they love this country”?

Back in what she calls her younger days, Terry Sanford bowling coach Sherrie Peterson was a regular league bowler who once rolled a high game of 277.

Those memories appear to be rubbing off on the girls and boys she’s coaching as both the Bulldog girls and boys teams recently rolled their way to victory in the Patriot Athletic Conference bowling championship.

“They are the best group of kids,’’ Peterson said of her current teams. “They always come prepared, and they are eager to practice. They are the top students in the school.’’

The victory by the boys’ team came as no surprise to Peterson. The Terry Sanford boys have a history of success and returned a number of players who qualified for the state playoffs last season.

The girls were less of a sure thing. “We only had three returning bowlers and a lot of young bowlers, three ninth-graders,’’ she said. “I was definitely excited the girls got to that level and won.’’

One of the key players in the Bulldog girls’ success was freshman Zoe Cannady.

Cannady, who has been bowling for nine years, said she felt she bonded with her teammates and Peterson well in her first season with the Bulldogs. “You need to improve what you do when you bowl, even if you think you’re the best there is,’’ she said. “There are still things you can learn.’’

Senior Andrew Walker helped lead the Bulldog boys to victory. In the conference title match, he came up with three critical strikes in the tenth frame to seal the victory. Walker has a rich bowling lineage. His grandfather Junior Edge and his great grandfather Tom Iuliucci were both longtime bowling proprietors in Fayetteville.

Walker credited team chemistry as the main reason for Terry Sanford’s success on the boys’ side. “Nobody graduated from last year,’’ he said. “We pretty much had the same team. We just have to have high spirits. Usually that will work and keep our skills on point.’’

The Bulldogs will lose some key players this year, but twins Tommy and Jack Cooney, both freshmen, will return to lead next year’s squad.

“They are going to have to hold up most of the team,’’ Walker said. “Hopefully we’ll have some others come in.’’

Peterson thanked Nancy Schenk, director of league bowling for Cumberland County Schools, for her leadership of the bowling program. She also thanked both B&B Lanes and Lafayette Lanes for allowing all of the county bowlers to practice and compete there.

Photo: Front row, L-R: Abigail Walker, Olivia Jones, Autumn Edge, Zoe Cannady, Avery Schenk, Maya Ervin. Back row, L-R: Samuel Hatch, Gavin Chavis, Andrew Walker, Coach Sherrie Peterson, Thomas Cooney, Jack Cooney. Not pictured: Will Rosser.

Kenny Howell was literally almost everywhere in the early years of 2000 promoting his homemade Uncle Zip’s Beef Jerky.

You could see him at high school and professional sporting events in his trademark white apron and chef’s hat selling the original flavor of his jerky.

His business peaked when he made an appearance on the hit TV show “Shark Tank” in 2011. He didn’t get the big cash prize while on the show, but he did get a so-called “Oprah bounce” from the national exposure that was both a blessing and a curse as the orders that emanated from a national show were sometimes too much for a small business to handle.

Then came tragedy when Howell fell ill and passed way in 2014. The business floundered for a time until childhood friend Jeff Harris stepped in to right the ship.

Now, from its location on Trade Street in Hope Mills, Uncle Zip’s is back in business, with the original flavor of jerky and more for sale, and a slightly different direction for the business than the one Howell had established.

When Howell passed away, Harris tried to keep the business going with co-packing, getting someone else to produce the product and selling it.

That proved ineffective, so Harris decided to return to the roots Howell had established, making the jerky himself.

“We make it all right here in small batches,’’ Harris said. “Kenny always said homestyle, like if you make a small batch at home. It’s going to taste just like that.’’

Harris doesn’t promote Uncle Zip’s with the flair that Howell did, but he returned to Howell’s original flavor of jerky, which is flavored with soy and, in Harris’ words, is still awesome.

He’s expanded the line of flavors considerably. Selling almost as well as the original jerky is a teriyaki flavor that’s marinated in pineapple, Harris said. He’s also added hot chili lime, mesquite smoke, sriracha and habanero.

His daughter, Jenna Harris, has an interest in culinary work. Harris found some recipes Howell had hidden away, and Jenna tweaked one of them to be a spicy version. Harris said he can’t keep it in stock.

If making a decision on which flavor to buy is a problem, Harris said that’s no worry. There’s a tasting table located in the company’s Trade Street headquarters. “You can get a cup and taste the flavor before you buy,’’ Harris said. “It’s made daily.’’

Uncle Zip’s is currently open seven days a week, normally from noon until 7 p.m. weekdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends.

You can walk in and buy the product, or visit the business website at www.unclezipsbeefjerky.com.

Harris takes orders for the product over the internet. Depending on his personal schedule, he may actually bring your order directly to you.

You can also find it available for sale in a variety of local businesses, from small food markets to bars and bowling lanes.

To find out more about Uncle Zip’s and what it has to offer, visit the Facebook page by searching the business title in the Facebook search bar.

The city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County have ceremoniously signed the papers financially supporting the new baseball stadium. County Commission Chairman Larry Lancaster and Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin came together at city hall with members of their boards present. Buies Creek Astros minor league team general manager David Lane was also on hand.

The single-A Houston farm team has already moved from California to North Carolina. But, construction of the local ballpark is just now getting underway and won’t be ready for baseball until the spring of next year. Until then, the team is playing at Campbell University in Buies Creek.

“Teamwork and good sportsmanship are alive and well in our community,” said Lancaster. He and Colvin executed separate interlocal agreements to devote property tax revenues earned from collateral investments near the stadium in support of the ballpark business plan. “This is a wonderful example of community collaboration,” Colvin said. Since taking office in December, Colvin has emphasized improving local government working relationships.

A special tax district is being created in the relatively small area that surrounds the stadium. Tax revenues received from private development in that district will be devoted to paying off the baseball stadium’s $33 million bond debt. It will be among the most expensive minor league stadiums on the East Coast.

The city agreed to grant a Durham- based developer exclusive rights to the property adjacent to the ballpark. PCH Holdings, LLC is currently renovating the interior of the former Prince Charles Hotel. Once that’s completed, the company will turn its attention to the exterior. It will become an apartment building. The firm also plans to build a four-story parking garage as well as a multistory hotel on top of the garage as well as retail shops. The city of Fayetteville has agreed to purchase the parking deck from PCH Holdings at its actual construction cost. The garage will be used for public parking.

The signing event also included execution of an amendment to a related agreement between the city, county and Public Works Commission for continued funding of the Franklin Street parking garage. The original parking garage agreement for tax-increment funding was approved in 2010. The county will contribute property tax collections to the project for five years after the stadium is completed and 75 percent for an additional 15 years.

The amendment redefines the district’s boundaries, adds a provision to treat formerly tax-exempt property in the same manner as nonexempt property and changes the termination of the county’s obligation for the parking deck to Dec. 31, 2030. PWC continues to provide funding for the operation and maintenance of the Franklin Street parking garage.

Fayetteville city and Cumberland county policymakers have resolved their funding differences on a pair of downtown development issues. Cumberland County commissioners voted unanimously to reaffirm their support of the Hay Street minor league baseball stadium. And they agreed to continue funding their share of the Franklin Street parking garage through 2030.

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said at a recent meeting of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Liaison Committee that he and County Commission Chairman Larry Lancaster had discussed the agreements.

“I applaud Chairman Lancaster and the commission for partnering with us in this transformative project,” Colvin said. “This is a new day in our community, and I am excited about our future.” City council confirmed minor revisions county government agreed to.

Commissioner Jimmy Keefe said the county had intended to help pay for the garage until the debt was paid off. He made the motion to adopt the interlocal agreements that had previously been agreed to by city council. “We are getting to where we need to be with the city of Fayetteville,” he said. Keefe served for several years on city council before being elected to the county board.

County Attorney Rick Morefield told commissioners his review of the agreement from the city was in keeping with county expectations.

The city is building a $33 million baseball stadium on Hay Street that will be home to a Houston Astros’ advance single-A farm team. City and county officials agreed a year and a half ago to jointly support the project, but the city’s baseball committee became concerned when county government sought to modify its funding of the parking deck. The city, county and Fayetteville Public Works Commission shared in the construction cost of the four-story garage. Any change in that arrangement would have negatively impacted the business plan adopted for the ballpark.

County commissioners this month agreed to rebate 100 percent of county property taxes earned from new development associated with the stadium for five years and 75 percent for the following 15 years. City council made an identical pledge of financial support.

PCH Holdings, a Durham-based private developer, is renovating the former Price Charles Hotel adjacent to the stadium. It will be transformed into an apartment building, with the eighth-floor ballroom becoming a posh, high-level apartment.

The firm also plans to build a four-story hotel atop a new four-story parking garage immediately adjacent to the Fayetteville train station. PCH Holdings also plans on developing the commercial property it has acquired in the available acreage surrounding the ballpark footprint. The numerous projects, including the stadium, are expected to represent $100 million in economic development.

Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, this column will appear in print on Valentine’s Day. As a gesture to this most festive and dangerous time of year, I shall explain all you need to know about love but were afraid to ask. You may thank me or throw rocks at the end of the column. One of our contemporary love goddesses, Tina Turner, once asked the musical question: “What’s love got to do with it?/ What’s love but a secondhand emotion?”

Good question, Tina. Let us go right to the source, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

I got to thinking about Aphrodite after seeing the play “Venus in Fur” at the Gilbert Theater. It was an excellent production that left me dazed and confused.

Aphrodite is in charge of love. Aphrodite came from a nontraditional family situation. Her father was Uranus, the sky god who became involved in a domestic violence episode with her brother Cronos. Cronos chopped off Uranus’ male naughty bits with a scythe and threw said bits into the ocean. This did nothing to preserve family harmony.

However, as Uranus’ blood spread out into the ocean, it eventually formed Aphrodite, who arose from the sea foam as a beautiful, fully grown woman. If you hang out long enough in museums, you will see paintings of Aphrodite standing on a seashell. Now you know why.

Aphrodite spent most of her time nekkid as a jaybird, according to Greek mythology and Renaissance painters. She was a big ol’ friendly gal and not too choosy about the concept of marital fidelity. Like most Greek mythology, there are a lot of different versions about her carryings on, so I will just pick a version that seems likely

She was married to a god named Hephaestus. After a while, she took up with Ares, the god of war, during the Trojan War. Ares wooed her by reciting a poem later made famous by Andy Griffith. Ares got down on his knees and told her, “Sure as the vine twines round the stump, you are my darling, Sugar Lump.” No gal could resist a line like this, so she hopped into bed with Ares. Unfortunately for Aphrodite, the Sun god, Helios, saw her and Ares at the Motel Sixtus. Helios, being a noted gossip, immediately blabbed to Hephaestus about Aphrodite catting around.

Hephaestus was not amused. He made a net out of solid gold to catch the lovers. The next time Aphrodite and Ares had a rendezvous, Hephaestus threw his net over them while they were in flagrante delicto, which is fancy talk for caught in the act. Hephaestus invited a bunch of his god and goddess friends in to point and laugh at the netted Aphrodite and Ares and yell “Nanny, nanny, boo, boo!” at them. Needless to say, this was an embarrassing event for Aphrodite. Almost as embarrassing as when Scarlet O’Hara got caught hugging up on Ashley Wilkes in “Gone with the Wind,” and Rhett made her go to the spring formal wearing a red dress so she would stand out as a painted woman.

Fortunately for Aphrodite, not all Greek gods were mean like a chili bean. Poseidon, the god of the sea, felt sorry for her. He paid Hephaestus to let her go. Aphrodite was as resilient as Scarlet O’Hara and soon went back to being her old cheerful self. She gave birth to a son, Eros, who was the god of lust. The identity of Eros’ dad remains in question as paternity tests did not exist back in those days, although he looked a lot like Ares. She had another son, Priapus, whose dad was probably Dionysis, the god of wine and religious ecstasy.

Aphrodite’s mother-in-law, Hera, was jealous when Aphrodite got pregnant with Priapus. Hera smeared Aphrodite’s pregnant belly with an evil potion that caused Priapus to be born with certain deformities, which will not be described in a family newspaper such as Up & Coming Weekly. Let us just leave it that Priapus was able to be a good farmer due to his deformity. Aphrodite went on to have many more amorous adventures, which shall remain unspoken in this column.

The Romans were so taken with Aphrodite’s story that they stole it. As in the old TV show “Dragnet,” the Romans changed the names of the gods to protect the innocent. In Roman mythology, Aphrodite became Venus, Ares became Mars, her husband Hephaestus became Vulcan. Confusing, ain’t it?

So, what can we say we have learned about love? That it seldom runs smooth? That love is all you need? Turns out the only thing for sure about love is that it is complicated.

Happy Valentine’s Day. Full refunds or chunks of granite available from the front desk if you feel this column wasted your time.

Photo: Tina Turner

The Crown Complex will host the Traxxas Monster Truck Tour Feb. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature monster trucks competing in races, wheelie contests and freestyle stunts. The show promises to be adrenaline-filled and action-packed.

The event will feature the monster truck crowd favorites Skully, Craniac, X-Maxx, Bad to the Bone and The Champ. Also, in attendance will be Transaurus, a three-story tall, firebreathing mechanical dragon.

A pit party and autograph session with the drivers will be held for fans before the show. During the pit party, and the show’s intermission, audience members have the chance to ride in a monster truck.

The Anatomy of a Monster Truck, a behind-the-scenes tour, will be held at 5 p.m. before the show. During the tour, a driver will explain the mechanics of their monster truck, answer audience questions and be available for autographs and pictures.

Advance discount tickets are available online at Capefeartix.com, by phone at 1-888- 257-6208, or the Crown Complex Box Office. Advance adult tickets starting at $15. Friday, tickets for children 2-11 start at $5. Groups rates are available. Tickets are subject to a service charge. Fees may be applied - Children under 3 are free. Ticket prices go up the day of the show.

For more information, visit http:// www.crowncomplexnc.com/events/ detail/traxxas-monster-truck

Meetings

• Feb. 14 – Historic Preservation Commission at 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

• Feb. 19 – Mayor’s Youth Leadership Committee at 6:30 p.m., Town Hall

• Feb. 19 – Board of commissioners at 7 p.m., Town Hall • Feb. 20 – Lake Advisory Committee at 6 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

• Feb. 22 – Veterans Committee at 7 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

• Feb. 26 – Parks and Recreation Committee at 6:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

• Feb. 26 – Appearance Committee at 7 p.m., Parks and Recreation Center

Activities at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation: 5770 Rockfish Rd.

• Hope Mills Youth baseball and indoor soccer registration is open through Feb. 28 and ends at 4:30 p.m. daily. Baseball ages 5-14, instructional soccer ages 5-8, indoor soccer ages 7-12. Eligibility cut-off date for baseball and indoor soccer is May 1. Proof of address and birth certificate are required to register. Call 910-426-4105 for more information.

Promote yourself

To have your business, organization or event included in this section, email us: hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

I enjoy riding when it is in the 60s or 70s, but when the temperature drops, our body and mind begin to compensate in strange ways. You do not have to be in the snow to be cold when riding a motorcycle.

Unlike water, which freezes at 32 degrees, humans can die in mild weather conditions. One’s body reacts to cold weather depending on age, body mass, body fat, overall health and the length of exposure time to cold temperatures.

Medically, our body’s temperature averages 98.6 degrees. With hypothermia, core temperature drops below 95 degrees. With severe hypothermia, core body temperature can drop to 82 degrees or lower. As our body’s core temperature decreases, the body also tries its best to compensate. When this happens, it becomes dangerous to ride.

As our body cools, we develop a variety of symptoms: shivering, slow and shallow breathing, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion, slurred or mumbled speech, loss of coordination, fumbling hands, stumbling steps and a slow or weak pulse.

Ninety percent of our heat escapes through our skin. Heat is lost through radiation and speeds up when the skin gets wet or is exposed to wind. We can compensate for this by wearing layered and electric clothing and waterproofing everything.

The neck is sensitive to cold on a motorcycle. Here, there is little protection around the carotid arteries where the heart is pumping blood to the brain. I always carry a balaclava and a neckwarmer.

The body cools 25 percent faster when exposed to moisture. GORTEX is a popular fabric known for wicking moisture away from the body, but GORTEX is a thin fabric. GORTEX alone will not keep you warm enough. Depending on the situation, my rain gear adds a wonderful and useful layer and holds in heat and protects against the outside elements.

The hands are a sensitive extremity. Waterproof gloves are part of the everyday gear in my pack. For cool days, I have GORTEX gloves. For colder days, I have a pair of electric gloves that attach to my electric jacket. I also have heated grips. Those heated grips are handy on those 60- and 70-degree days. Heated grips are just enough to keep my hands comfortable and the ride pleasant.

Eye protection should always be a priority. During the research for this article, I was unable to find out if we lose heat through the eye sockets. When I was in the Army, we often trained in cold weather. After a while, I made it a point to always keep sunglasses on during the day, and at night, even while sleeping, I kept my clear pair of safety glasses on. Although I could not find a study about this (which means I couldn’t find one in the first 30 hits on Google), the eye does contain a good amount of fluid. We have tear ducts around our eyes as well. Even with my face shield down, I wear a pair of glasses, and somehow, I feel warmer.

Once you have done all you can to stay warm, here are few tips to keep you safe. Learn your body and how to dress for the various temperatures. Plan on bad weather and be prepared. Take plenty of breaks. Get off your bike, walk a few minutes and get your blood circulating again, and let your body warm up.

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

This week, Up & Coming Weekly Publisher Bill Bowman lends his regular space to columnist Jason Brady. Brady shares his thoughts about and possible solutions for an issue that has recently affected many Cumberland County residents – an issue that will present itself again and again in the coming years.

Every time I see the horse lazily grazing at the corner of Stoney Point and Dundle roads, it makes me think we need to change the makeup of the Fayetteville City Council.

Soon that horse will be gone, and some commercial monstrosity will replace one of the last bucolic scenes in that neighborhood.

To be fair, I must mention that across the road is the Four Way, a mom and pop grocery store and gas station built in 1948. It dispenses gas, drinks, lottery tickets and food. But it fits in.

Miller’s Too restaurant is attached to the vinyl-covered cinderblock building. It’s a country-style eatery that serves breakfast and lunch, the type that may not be healthy but tastes darn good. On Thursday nights, there are blue plate specials, and the regulars who’ve eaten there for years fill up the seven booths and three tables and patiently wait for their fried pork chops, beef tips over rice or country-fried chicken steak with white gravy.

The landowners across the street, who I’m sure aren’t making money out of a corner lot with a horse grazing on it, sought commercial rezoning. They were smart, very smart. They hired a politically savvy lawyer who made the right argument. Plus they had the planning board and city bureaucrats on their side. They figured since the new I-295 bypass was going to dump more traffic onto the area, why not dump some more.

The newly elected council in mid- January voted to rezone the 8.6 acres on the corner from residential to commercial conditional. It was a controversial issue that came up this past summer, but council members hoped the landowners and opponents could come up with a compromise. If not, they would revisit the issue – after the election.

The 200-plus people who signed a petition wanting to keep the area residential – or, in downtown vernacular, “in keeping with the fabric of the community” – didn’t have a chance.

I recently ran into a council member who asked me how things were going in western Fayetteville. I suggested things would be better if council hadn’t commercialized my neighborhood. He then brought up the property rights argument. People have a right to use their property for its best use. What if it were my property, he asked. My thoughts are that I wouldn’t screw over my neighbors.

He did have a point. People should have control over their property and thus their financial destiny.

But the property rights argument confuses me. Why do people have property rights that can negatively affect their neighbors but don’t have property rights when it comes to cutting down trees in their own yards, or annexation or utility easements?

I’m wondering where my neighbors’ property rights are when it comes to the highway department. My friend Art lost half his front yard, Kenny is losing about 4 1/2 acres of his business, and another friend lost her home. But that’s government pointing to other units of government. To me, government is government.

Here’s why I think city residents are under- represented. Right now, nine council members, each elected in their separate districts, don’t have to be accountable to all voters. Only the mayor is elected by the entire city. So, voters in any specific district can only hold their council member, and possibly the mayor, accountable for any unpopular council action. The remaining eight can dump on any district without worry of voter backlash.

Here’s an idea. Let’s go back a few years and reorganize city council like it used to be: six districts with three at-large members. It seems to work for the county commissioners.

Do the math. That means a council member from a district and three at-large members may be more responsive to voters in a given geographical area of the city. Throw in the mayor’s vote, and people not wanting to have their neighborhood commercialized could have a fighting chance.

I’m guessing we’d have to get out from under the federal government’s 1963 Voters Rights Act, which was created to ensure minority representation in local elections, to include Fayetteville.

Right now, the ham-fisted Department of Justice tells us how we can organize the city’s voting districts. But this is 2018, and depending on which report you read, African-Americans are no longer a minority in Fayetteville. Besides, six of the 10 members of city council are African- Americans. I’m thinking African-Americans will no longer have problems getting elected in Fayetteville.

Maybe it’s time we start making council a tad more responsive to all voters.

When people pass by Marci’s Cakes and Bakes on Trade Street in Hope Mills, owner Marci Mang fears many of them jump to an incorrect conclusion.

“A bakery experience is something everyone should be able to enjoy and not be afraid that this is going to be too expensive to take my kid there,’’ she said. “We have items that start at just $1.’’

From the most ornate wedding and special occasion cakes to cupcakes, cake pops and even healthy snacks, Mang offers the full gourmet pastry experience and even a place just to come and sip blended drinks, chat with friends or read.

Mang, a military spouse who has lived in the Hope Mills area for 20 years, took an interest in baking when she enrolled in classes through Morale Welfare Recreation to learn about making birthday cakes for her children.

That turned into work at a bakery, then making cakes on her own and, finally, opening the business at Marci’s some three years ago.

“I love making special occasion cakes for my clients,’’ she said. “I love being part of their memories and their events. We are helping to create the memories.’’

But Marci’s Cakes and Bakes isn’t just about people coming in for special orders and walking out the door. She also welcomes customers who come to the store to spend some time there.

“We have coffee, tea and frappes,’’ Mang said. “We do cold cappuccinos and blended drinks.’’

There is seating inside the business, and Wi-Fi is available. “We have a Bible study that meets here a couple of days a week,’’ she said. “We have a few realtors and photographers that meet here with clients. We encourage them to come in, sit down, bring your book and hang out.’’

All the visitors to the shop will find a variety of confectionary delights to tempt them.

“We bake every day and try to change our menu every week,’’ Mang said. “We always try to have a few gourmet cupcakes and unique brownies. I always try to have at least one pound cake and a cheesecake – cakes that everyone knows and loves – as well as cookies and bar desserts.’’

People who are health-conscious aren’t left out. Mang includes an offering of what she calls power balls that feature ingredients like chia seed, flax seed, raw honey, natural peanut butter and unsweetened coconut.

“We try to do something for everyone,’’ she said. “We have specials every day of the week.’’ Mang said she’s even willing to attempt recipes that faithful customers email to her at marcimang@gmail.com.

We’re constantly trying new recipes and definitely respecting our customers’ requests,’’ she said.

As for special orders like wedding and other cakes and large orders of cupcakes, Mang shoots for a 72-hour turnaround time. Prices begin at $24 for an 8-inch round cake and $28 for a sheet cake.

How much more expensive the cake can be depends on the specific requests of the customer, but Mang stressed prices are flexible. “If somebody comes to me and wants a quote on a cake, I’ll say let’s talk about things on it that are most important to you,’’ she said. “Then we can come up with some other ideas to cut down on what else I have.’’

For further information on the shop and what it has to offer, visit the Facebook page at Marci’s Cakes and Bakes. In addition to email, you can call Mang at the shop at 910-425-6377.

Eight senior officers of the Fayetteville Police Department comprise Police Chief Gina Hawkins’ new Executive Command Staff. Four of them have been promoted to the rank of major: Laura Downing, James Nolette, Robert Ramirez and Darry Whitaker. Four lieutenants were promoted to captain. They are Kemberie Braden, Brian Gainey, Todd Joyce and Samuel Oates. They will answer to Assistant Chiefs Anthony Kelly and Michael Petti.

The promotions took effect Feb. 5 and represent the first significant change in the FPD’s command structure in more than 30 years.

Public safety recruiting enhanced

Over 140 participants representing 45 jurisdictions in three states attended Fayetteville’s first public safety diversity forum at Fayetteville State University. The daylong series of workshops was entitled “Inclusive & Diverse Talent Acquisition for 21st Century Public Safety.” Experts in diversity recruitment gave Fayetteville fire and police executives an opportunity to network with their counterparts from other agencies.

“It provided us with an opportunity to understand what has worked well in other communities and what may work well for us,” said Fayetteville Fire Chief Ben Major. The Fayetteville Fire Department has historically had difficulty recruiting minority men and women. Fewer than a dozen of FFD’s 300 firefighters are African-American.

Fayetteville City Council sets goals

City council spent two days earlier this month coming up with what they called targets for action in the new year. Consultant Marsha Johnson ran the sessions. Council members were frustrated from time to time with the strict format of the meetings. Even Johnson was surprised.

“I did not expect to see this level of misunderstanding,” she said late in the final session.

Council members tried to reduce 13 issues they had collectively come up with to five. Council members Jim Arp and Larry Wright verbally bickered with one another, causing Bill Crisp to step in.

“We need to respect each other and not get upset,” he said.

Ultimately, the body selected improved coordination of street lighting among the three utilities that serve annexed areas of west Fayetteville as a priority. Other prioritized items included improved mentoring of city interns, engagement of young adults in city government and continued study of alternative options for solid waste management in the city.

A step forward for military spouses

Frequent moves and spouses who are away from home for months at a time can be disruptive of family life. Military families are more likely to be struggling on single incomes than other American families. Forty-three percent of military spouses are not in the labor force, compared to 25.5 percent of civilian families, according to a 2016 survey by the nonprofit Blue Star Families.

In proposing new legislation, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the ripple effect is impacting military readiness, leaving service members burdened with deployments, financial concerns and frustrated spouses.

“If we can make their path a little easier, it’s a good thing for military readiness and family happiness,” he said. The Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018 seeks to give military spouses a leg up in federal hiring and to push the Defense Department to offer more opportunities for spouses: enable them to run private businesses on post, expand educational opportunities and training and give them more access to affordable childcare.

Kaine said he wants to attach his bill to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act with bipartisan support.

Here a hole, there a hole, everywhere a pothole

Winter weather brings more potholes as water freezes in cracks in the pavement. The North Carolina Department of Transportation says you can help by visiting DOT’s website to let them know where the potholes are. Your report will go directly to the county maintenance office that will handle the request, expediting the process.

As its name suggests, a pothole is a bowl-shaped hole in a road. Water expands when it freezes, and the cracks become wider and deeper. Over time, the larger cracks, combined with the weight of traffic, cause the road’s pavement to break up. While potholes are more prevalent in early spring, they can occur year-round.

Repairing potholes is important because they not only lead to more expensive road repairs but cause wear and tear on vehicles, make for bumpy rides and pose safety risks.

Twenty-one years ago, Better Health debuted a fun and elegant fundraiser called “Evening at the Theater.” Over time, it has evolved from featuring film to live theater to cabaret to casino fun. “The committee felt that ‘Evening of’ with a new theme each year would better suit the fluidity of the event to make each year new, exciting and different,” said Amy Navejas, executive director of Better Health. “This year, we went for an ‘Evening of Prohibition’ theme.” It takes place Feb. 22.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. No speakeasy experience would be complete without cocktails and gambling, and Navejas promised this and more. “There will be plenty for everyone to do,” she said. “Our friends at Xscape Factor are bringing three fun experiences to our event. One will include a prohibition-themed tent for a mini escape room experience.” Teams can enter in groups of three to help solve the mystery and escape before time runs out. The fastest teams to escape will be eligible for prizes at the end of the evening.

Festivities also include a DJ to provide energetic music throughout the night, and of course, plenty of refreshments and casino games.

“The casino is sponsored by Horne Brothers Construction this year,” Navejas said. “The casino games are a lot of fun and always a huge hit. We have blackjack, roulette, craps and poker.”

Each attendee will be given a casino chip, which they can cash out with the pit boss for smaller chips. “They can then visit our numerous playing tables to their heart’s content,” Navejas said. “At the end of the evening, the casino player who has earned the most chips will take home a premier liquor basket.”

Additional chips will be available for sale.

Top of the Hill Organic Spirits will provide cocktails and beer, and the Wine Café and Coffee Cup will provide wine cocktails and coffee cocktails.

“We are really excited for some delicious cocktails and liquor tastings,” Navejas said.

Elite Catering will provide the food. “They have such an amazing menu,” Navejas said. “It was really difficult for the committee to choose. But, there will be a variety of tasty foods, including veggies, seafood, steak, chicken and desserts.”

In addition to the silent auction, guests can also win prizes throughout the night. There will be prizes for the top Xscape Room teams, casino winner, and a chance to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, cruise or one-week vacation.

“Those who attend can purchase a ‘Harley Roll,’” Navejas said. “Just roll the dice, which have the letters to spell Harley. If you get all six, you win the Harley. Get five right and win a cruise, get four and win a one-week getaway. Last year, we had several winners.”

While officially, Navejas tells guests the recommended dress is cocktail attire, people often choose to dress according to the theme and some choose to dress more formally. In the end, she just wants people to come and have a good time.

“We want everyone to be comfortable and have a wonderful time for a great cause,” she said.

Better Health was founded in 1958. Its mission is to address the unmet healthcare needs in Cumberland County through education, referral and assistance.

On a daily basis, that means bridging gaps in healthcare services in Cumberland County. Relying heavily on donations and volunteers, Better Health offers a variety of services to the community, including prescription assistance, dental extraction, travel assistance, vision assistance through Lenscrafters, diabetes clinics and classes, exercise classes, medical supplies and medical equipment.

Each year, Better Health serves approximately 500 people with diabetes; approximately 1,200 children in its healthy lifestyle courses; about 1,700 people who obtain emergency medication and pain relief via emergency dental care; about 500 people who obtain medical supplies; and almost 480 families who receive loaned medical equipment.

While most weekdays the Better Health calendar includes classes and events, there are a few significant events throughout the year as well, like the Diabetes … Dodge It! Dodgeball tournament, the Red Apple Run 5K and 10K, and of course the ‘Evening of’ event.

The organization also hosts a free annual Diabetes Symposium, a day-long event with lectures and breakout sessions designed to educate the community about the many aspects of living with diabetes. Call 910-483-7534 to learn more or to register for this year’s symposium.

Last November as a part of Diabetes Awareness Month, Better Health also participated in Project Blue, a diabetes awareness initiative.

These fundraisers make it possible to better serve the community.

Navejas relayed the story of a recent client. “Just a few weeks ago, we had a client come in seeking dental assistance for an abscessed tooth. He had no insurance and had not received routine medical or dental care. We approved him right away for assistance and sent him to our generous partner dentist, Oliver Hodge. Better Health hosts the only same-day emergency dental service in the county. Dr. Hodge extracted his tooth, but also noticed something of concern. He referred the patient for follow-up medical care. Turns out, he had thyroid cancer.

“UNC performed surgery, and the grateful client is now doing well and recovering nicely. He is so appreciative of the assistance. Without that dental care, his cancer may not have been caught in time. This event (Evening of Prohibition) helps us assist clients just like him. I can’t stress that enough. We cannot serve our clients without the support of our generous community.”

This is Better Health’s 60th year serving Cumberland County. “That just amazes me,” Navejas said. “Each year, we serve thousands of clients in need on a tight budget, but with a very dedicated staff. Events like this (Evening of Prohibition) make all of it possible. Come celebrate Better Health’s service to the community with us and help us raise funds to continue going strong for another 60 years.”

Visit www.betterhealthcc.org or call 910-483-7534 for tickets and information.

They don’t make the headlines, their names are not in the box scores, and they don’t make the allstar teams. But perhaps the most important individuals in high school sports are the contest officials.

In fact, there would be no organized competitive sports at the high school level without the men and women who officiate these games every day across the country. Subtract the dedicated people who officiate high school sports, and competitive sports would no longer be organized; they would be chaotic.

In some areas, high school officials are retiring faster than new licenses are being issued. And junior varsity, freshmen and middle school games are being postponed – or even cancelled – because there are not enough men and women to officiate them.

Anyone looking for a unique way to contribute to the local community should consider becoming a licensed high school official. For individuals who played sports in high school, officiating is a great way to stay close to the sport after their playing days have ended. Officiating also helps people stay in shape, expands their social and professional network and offers part-time work that is flexible, yet pays. In fact, officiating is a form of community service but with compensation.

Another benefit of officiating is that individuals become role models so that teenagers in the community can learn the life lessons that high school sports teach. Students learn to respect their opponents and the rules of the game and the importance of practicing good sportsmanship thanks, in part, to those men and women who officiate. And the objectivity and integrity that high school officials display is an example that every young person needs to observe firsthand.

In short, communities around the country are stronger because of the life lessons that high school officials help teach the next generation.

We need dedicated men and women to become involved so high school sports can continue to prosper for years to come.

Individuals interested in learning more about becoming a high school official, and those who are ready to begin the application process, can do so at www.HighSchoolOfficials.com.

Photo: Que Tucker

Amelia Cureton

Douglas Byrd • Soccer •

Junior Cureton has a 4.0 grade point average. She is a member of the Academy of Finance, National Honor Society and ROTC color guard and drill. She also serves as a mentor in the Student-to-Student program.

Patrick Baker Hoyt

Gray’s Creek • Swimming/ soccer/tennis •

Senior Hoyt has an unweighted grade point average of 3.54. He plans to attend a four-year university with a scholarship to play soccer. He went on a mission trip with his church to Tennessee last summer, volunteering his time to help build homes for the less fortunate.

Jack Britt High School recently presented a check for $1,000 to the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of the Cancer Center. Funds were raised through the sale of Pink Out shirts, and all fall sports teams hosted a Pink Out game.

Pictured from left to right are Sheila Molina of the school’s booster club; Jack Britt athletic director Michael Lindsay; Britt volleyball coach Leigh Ann Weaver; and Sherry Jackson of Friends of the Cancer Center.

“This, in fact, is our new American moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American dream. So to every citizen watching at home tonight, no matter where you’ve been, or where you’ve come from, this is your time. If you work hard, if you believe in yourself, if you believe in America, then you can dream anything, you can be anything, and together, we can achieve absolutely anything.”

These powerful words were part of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. These 73 words were a defining part of his speech. We are building a safe, strong and proud America where everyone can achieve the American dream.

Look no further than our rebounding economy, the millions of new jobs being created and the increased take-home pay that is happening in part because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In fact, starting this month, 90 percent of American workers will see more money in their paychecks. We also saw results after reining in Washington’s bureaucracy, including repealing 15 regulations that were imposed by the Obama administration’s executive overreach. While the economy is getting back on track, we still have work left to do.

In addition, we have made great strides to improve care for veterans. The president signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act (S. 1094) on June 23, 2017. This was a good first step. However, we must continue to work to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs. I will continue to work to enact meaningful reforms that will protect the systems of care already in place at the VA while giving veterans the flexibility to seek the care they need from outside providers.

As Fort Bragg’s congressman, I share the president’s goal to end the dangerous defense sequester and fully fund our great military with a longterm spending bill. Our military cannot function without proper funding, and every time we pass a temporary spending measure, the harder it is for our commanders to plan missions, order new equipment or properly train troops. Since 2010, the federal government has been funded under a continuing resolution for 36 months, compared to just nine months for the entire eight years prior. Our men and women in uniform are operating under enormous strain, and that has deadly consequences.

Over the last year, we have lost four times as many troops in training as we have in combat. That’s unacceptable. Our troops at Fort Bragg represent the tip of the spear, and I have seen firsthand the stress on both them and their families from operating in multiple theaters and simultaneously preparing for future threats. These patriots are the first to respond to a crisis and they must be given the resources they need to fight and win. We need a long-term spending bill so the Pentagon can adequately plan for the future.

Last year, the House of Representatives passed all 12 appropriations bills that fully funded our military, reined in government spending and curtailed bloated bureaucracy, but Chuck Schumer has blocked these bills from even being considered in the Senate. These political games have dire consequences for those who we depend on most – our troops.

The president laid out a bold agenda at the State of the Union address. It was filled with ideas and pragmatic solutions. I look forward to working with him to bring more jobs home, give our troops and veterans equipment and care they need, and rein in our government’s reckless spending.

The 2017 football season ended earlier this month with the playing of Super Bowl LII. But for high school coaches in North Carolina, the 2018 season will be getting underway soon thanks to changes last spring in N.C. High School Athletic Association rules.

At its meeting last May, the NCHSAA Board of Directors removed the last obstacles to offseason football practice, allowing coaches to work with their full squads during the months football isn’t in season.

There are a few limits for safety reasons. If the coaches decide to practice with players wearing helmets and shoulder pads, they must have an athletic trainer or first responder present. No body-to-body contact is allowed in offseason workouts.

Coaches have different ideas on how to schedule their offseason practice sessions.

Cape Fear coach Jake Thomas said his team won’t begin offseason workouts until after the spring sports dead period, which is the first two weeks official practice begins for spring sports teams: Feb. 14-March 7.

“We’re going to go into more of a conditioning phase and do workouts after school with the guys who are not playing a spring sport,’’ he said. “I want most of my guys to be playing a sport in the spring.’’

Once spring break draws closer, Thomas said, the Colts will be doing work with specific offensive and defensive units.

One of the benefits of the offseason sessions, since it won’t be possible to have the whole team out because of spring sports, is the chance for individual work. “You can start working on fundamentals and putting the foundation in,’’ Thomas said.

E.E. Smith coach Deron Donald also plans to wait until the dead period is over before starting workouts. “We’ll go two or three days a week,’’ he said. “No helmet. None of that. Real light, working on technical things.’’

Donald liked the idea of using the expanded workout sessions to focus on teaching the basics of the Smith system.

“Learning is very important,’’ he said. “We’ll be doing a lot of teaching. Once we start in May, then we’ll come up with helmets and shoulder pads.’’

Terry Sanford coach Bruce McClelland said his early workouts will focus on individual work since so many of his players will be involved with spring sports.

“The ones that don’t play baseball (and track) we’ll go slowly with,’’ he said. “Toward the end of May, we will do our team or spring training thing.’’

McClelland also sees the offseason workouts as a chance to give players new or inexperienced with the Terry Sanford system a jump start.

“Some of the kids that haven’t ever played football we’ll try to get acclimated to what we do,’’ he said. “We want to keep them in shape for the summer grind like we did last year.’’

Seventy-First coach Duran McLaurin is taking a different approach from some of his fellow coaches. The Falcons are already doing some limited work outside, in addition to traditional offseason weightlifting.

“This is going to be a pilot year,’’ McLaurin said, referring to how coaches will learn how best to use the new offseason workout rules for their football program. “The more work you get in, the better you can be.’’

McLaurin agreed with the other coaches that he wants his football players to be either playing for a spring sports team at Seventy-First or on the field with him and his coaches for offseason workouts.

“None of our guys will be sitting around this spring,’’ he said.

Photos: Bruce McClelland and Duran McLaurin

Now that Hope Mills Lake has finally returned, an equally long journey may be coming to a fruitful conclusion: the struggle to open a museum dedicated to sharing the story of the old mill village that today’s town of Hope Mills grew from.

Pat Hall and the Hope Mills Historical Preservation Commission have been working with various pieces to make the museum a reality, and with the lake finally restored, she’s hoping things will begin to move quickly so the museum can open its doors to visitors within a year or more.

“Our goal is to preserve the history of the mill village and educate people about a lot of things that happened here that people are completely unaware of,’’ Hall said.

Prior to the Civil War, Hope Mills was home to the largest textile mill in the state, which stood in what is now a wooded area near the entrance to the Clifton Forge subdivision that sits by the restored lake.

The mill was destroyed by General William T. Sherman’s army when it came through the area in March of 1865.

The long-range plan is to turn some seven acres of land where the mill once stood into Heritage Park, which would stretch from the Clifton Forge entrance all the way back to Main Street and the old Episcopal Church and parish house.

The town acquired that area some years ago with the intent to use it for cultural purposes, possibly a museum. But a variety of delays forced Hall and her committee to seek an alternative, and it fell into their lap not long along when a house in the historic district near the intersection of Trade and Main Streets with a view of the lake went on the market.

“We called the realtor, took it to the town and said please look at this and consider it for a museum,’’ Hall said. “They did and bought it.’’

Now with a place to actually put memorabilia on display, the committee still has a good bit of work left to tackle, Hall said. The house will require some renovation, mostly to get it up to accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

They also need to compile and catalog the many items they’ve acquired over the years that may be on display in the museum, which will be designed with the goal of telling the story of the mill village.

The town provided a collection of written records, she said. Much of the memorabilia came from Eddie Brower and the late Hope Mills mayor, Eddie Dees, Hall said. Hall added that after becoming mayor, Dees uncovered a heritage plan the town had commissioned some years ago that had gotten lost. Much of the information in that document has been guiding the current committee on how it will preserve the history of the mill village.

Another Dees innovation that has helped the gathering of living history was his idea to hold a reunion of mill workers during the town’s annual Ole Mill Days celebration.

“We held the first reunion in 2008,’’ Hall said. “That has been a popular part of Ole Mill Days in October. The attendees have items like trophies, rings, jewelry and awards they received when they worked at the mill. They have been bringing some of that to the reunions and donating it to us.’’

The next big challenge for the committee after sorting out all the things that have been donated will be the actual construction of display cases and finding the best way to present the town’s story in museum form.

“We’ve had volunteers offer to build displays,’’ she said. “One of those volunteers is the person that works at the Museum of the Cape Fear (in Fayetteville),’’ she said. “We’ll reach out to other local museums for any advice they have.’’

The greater long-range project will be the construction of Heritage Park. Hall said there are much larger items they hope to put on display there, including the gates from the old dam and other larger pieces of equipment associated with the mills that were a central part of life in old Hope Mills.

When the whole project is done, Hall said Heritage park will likely include trails along the creek bank, canoe slips, fishing piers and picnic tables. There will be a hanging bridge over the creek where people can walk to the property where the old Episcopal Church and parish house stand.

Hall thinks it’s fitting that much of the completed project will be just a short distance from the Eddie Dees Building, which stands with his name on it at the corner of Main and Trade Streets.

The former mayor made the return of the lake a major part of his years in office. “It’s like he’s still guiding us,’’ Hall said. “A lot of years of effort, perseverance and tenacity are behind that little mill house that hopefully will be our museum.’’

If anyone has items they would like to donate for possible display in the museum, contact Hall at 910-308-8663.

Photo: Pat Hall

A young mother of my acquaintance listened offhandedly as her elementary school age daughter played with a friend in the next room. She heard them talking to some toys until the guest announced she was ready for a snack and suggested they go to the kitchen for chips and sodas. Without missing a beat, the young host replied, “I’m sorry. We don’t have that. My mother is a health food nut,” as if it were a career choice like teaching school or accounting for a living. The girls eventually settled on some other snack, but the guest did not return for several weeks.

I remembered that story recently when I read that the number one vegetable eaten by American toddlers is – guess what? – the French fry. I have even seen babies drinking soda from baby bottles and once heard of a 6-month-old child given a fast food kid’s meal as her first solid food.

We have all seen the desperate television pleas for money to feed starving children in developing nations around the world. But the cold, hard truth is that while most American children are not starving, far too many are indeed malnourished. Malnutrition includes obesity, which means too many calories are consumed at the expense of critical nutrition. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics in a groundbreaking policy statement last month, this is not just unfortunate in a nation of such plenty. It is, in fact, damaging children in ways from which they cannot and will not recover.

If you do not remember anything else about the details, remember this. Our nation’s pediatricians say the first 1,000 days, just over the first two years of a baby’s life, are critical to brain development and can lay the foundation for good health or a lifetime of chronic health problems. Adequate nutrition leads to positive outcomes, and poor nutrition leads to lesser outcomes. The pediatricians say no amount of catch-up later in life can reverse what has not been done during the earliest days of life. Says Lucy Sullivan, head of the nonprofit program 1,000 Days, “The first 1,000 days matter for all that follow.” Roger Thurow, who wrote a book on the importance of the first 1,000 days, goes even further. He says the challenge is not just to help parents understand that good nutrition is important but that poor nutrition can – and does – do quantifiable damage to developing minds and bodies.

If that is not enough to get parents’ attention, I don’t know what will.

No one says infant and toddler nutrition is easy, and many of us have experienced the pureed green beans and carrots that ooze out of the sides of baby mouths. Beyond baby behavior, issues of poverty and food insecurity, parents working long hours, food deserts, busy family schedules, and more, roadmaps exist about what we should be feeding the littlest and most vulnerable among us.

Pediatricians acknowledge the challenges of quality nutrition for babies in our fastpaced and highly packaged culture. Breastfeeding, they say, can be a powerful protector of young children, supplying both nutrition designed by nature just for babies and moms’ antibodies as protection from disease. They recommend nursing for at least six months before starting solid foods and liquids, even though nursing is a cultural and logistical challenge for many mothers. And, the docs say, it is helpful if mom does not gain too much weight during pregnancy, as that ups the ante for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure in the future.

The mother whose daughter labeled her a health food nut tried hard to put healthy, unprocessed foods on the family table, and sometimes that worked. Sometimes the family had take-out pizza, and chips and sodas were known to sneak into the house on occasion. They even ate the occasional MRE, meals designed for young, physically active military members, not children in elementary school.

She did not like to think about what her family consumed when she was not in charge. She jokes that her tombstone will read, “She did the best she could.”

That said, all we – parents, grandparents and anyone caring for young children – can do is educate ourselves to provide the freshest, most nutritious fare available to us for them.

As an elementary school principal, I stress to my students every day during the morning announcements the importance of attending college and my expectation that they at least obtain a bachelor’s degree. It is imperative they have the mindset that education is the key to their success and that they understand the importance of becoming lifelong learners. John Wesley United Methodist Men and the Fayetteville Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department present the 2nd annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities College Fair Saturday, March 3, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Smith Recreation Center.

“We are having an HBCU college fair where we are having over 60 HBCU college representatives come to our city from all across the country,” said Mark Yarboro, team lead of the HBCU College Fair. “The idea is to have our college representatives come and talk to our kids about the opportunities of attending an HBCU.”

Yarboro added the unique thing about the college fair is that service organizations will attend, and they will share scholarship opportunities information with students and their parents. Students do not have to attend an HBCU in order to apply for the scholarships.

“We have service organizations such as the Divine 9, fraternities, sororities and PWC that will be present at the fair,” said Yarboro. “Each fraternity and sorority has a scholarship, and most of the scholarships are very similar... the young person has to complete an application (and) provide references, an essay and their grade point average.”

Several seminars will be presented at the college fair. “One gentleman will discuss what’s next and what to look for once you go off to college and the types of things to be aware of,” said Yarboro. “There will be a seminar on financial aid referencing the different programs, available forms and when to begin the application process.” Yarboro added the NAACP will be there to discuss the importance of voting.

Entertainment will be provided during the lunch hour. “Rocky Barnett from E. E. Smith will have her creative dance group perform,” said Yarboro. “Lunch will be provided for the young people that register.”

“We are hopeful that we can inform and inspire our young people to apply for the scholarship money,” said Yarboro. “Our ultimate goal is to reach as many youth as we can to let them know that there are wonderful opportunities in attending an HBCU.”

Email Yarboro.mark@yahoo.com for more information.

Women often speak in terms of their heart – having a full heart, a broken heart, big-hearted friends, or so-and-so is a sweetheart. People and things that matter most to us are close to our heart, and there’s the Southern classic, “Bless your heart.” Heart disease is the number one killer of women. More women die from heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. While the entire month of February is dedicated to heart health, the Sandhills American Heart Association is bringing the topic to the community in a powerful and practical way at the Sandhills Go Red for Women Luncheon. The event is set for Friday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Metropolitan Room in downtown Fayetteville.

“The purpose of the luncheon is to raise awareness and take a moment for the women and family members of women in the room to educate themselves and empower them with knowledge of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of heart disease and stroke,” said Liz Mileshko, director of development for the American Heart Association. “In women, a heart attack may present itself as jaw pain, nausea, headache, lower back pain, dizziness – or you may not have any signs at all.”

Mileshko added it is important to know your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and whether heart disease runs in the family.

While heart disease is scary, there are preventive measures women can take. “We encourage women to visit their cardiologist and get a physical once a year to make sure there are no blockages or signs pointing toward a higher risk for heart disease,” said Mileshko. “We encourage 30 minutes of cardio a day, eating healthy and in moderation, having several elements of color on your plate and learning how to season and cook your food properly so you are not using a whole lot of sodium.”

The goal of the event is to raise $40,000. Every dollar the American Heart Association raises goes toward funding research. The event will feature speakers, a silent auction, a survivor fashion show, a heart-healthy lunch and entertainment.

“During the luncheon portion, we will have a medical expert speaker, Dr. Tabitha Bedini. She will speak about the cold, hard facts of heart disease and stroke and your risk factors,” said Mileshko. “Then our keynote speaker, Kelsy Timas, will speak about overall emotional heart health and how financial, emotional and relationship stress can affect our heart health.”

Mileshko added there will be a survivor speaker in her early 30s with heart disease who will share her powerful story.

“We would like to thank our sponsors, First Health of the Carolinas and Carolina Heart & Life Center,” said Mileshko. “We look forward to seeing everyone at this informative event.”

Tickets cost $60 and are available at GoRedSandhillsNC.heart.org. For more information about table sponsorship opportunities, contact Mileshko at 678-907-9841 or Liz.Mileshko@heart.org.