The 2018 Point-in-Time Annual Homeless Count estimates 372 people were homeless in Cumberland County during a 24-hour period Jan. 24-25. That’s 70 fewer than in the 2017 report. An estimated 31 percent were under the age of 18. The Point-in-Time count is a 24-hour snapshot of homelessness in the community. The information is used to assess local homeless assistance systems, to plan and structure programs to meet existing needs and to inform the public.

The count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides the city of Fayetteville and county of Cumberland millions of federal dollars annually. The goal of the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Continuum of Care on Homelessness is to significantly reduce homelessness in the community and “to develop and improve communitywide systems so homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring,” said chairwoman Laressa Witt.

Cumberland County is required to prepare and submit a one-year community development action plan that describes projects and activities expected to be implemented and funded with entitlement funds and competitive awards received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Cumberland County Community Development Interim Director Dee Taylor outlined the agency’s 2018 action plan:

 

• Increase the supply of affordable permanent housing/permanent supportive housing units for households with incomes 30 percent or more below the area median income.
• Increase emergency beds.
• Improve the communitywide centralized intake/coordinated process and/or one-stop day resource center.
• Increase the income (earned and benefits) for those who are in temporary housing.
• Increase services for homeless persons with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
• Strengthen discharge planning coordination for those coming out of institutions (e.g. correctional, mental, etc.).
• Expand transportation options (work/appts).

The goals and outcomes identified in this action plan are taken from the five-year consolidated strategic plan, which describes how federal funds and other resources will be spent and what other actions must be taken to address the need for affordable housing and other homeless needs over the five-year period. The county will continue efforts to partner with local developers to increase the supply of affordable housing units by encouraging them to designate a percentage of units for extremely lowincome persons.

Community development continues to create expanding affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate-income citizens. However, because the county has a strong military presence, the transitional nature of the military population and the housing market ensures that affordable housing will remain a significant need for years to come. The aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 also contributes to a greater-than-usual housing shortage for the most vulnerable members of the community.

In partnership with other agencies, including the city of Fayetteville, nonprofit organizations, the real estate industry and concerned citizens, officials say they will continue to be creative in efforts to provide decent, safe, affordable housing for families and individuals. Many of these individuals and families will also need long-term comprehensive case management and continued mental health services to maintain self-sufficiency and avoid becoming homeless again.

Fayetteville police interrupted what might otherwise have been a deadly assault last week. Police Sgt. Charles Cochran shot Lemuel Bunn, 40, of Roanoke Rapids, after Bunn repeatedly stabbed a woman in her home at Treetop Garden Apartments off Raeford Road.

Police said the assailant had Stephanie Williams, 34, in a headlock when officers forced their way into the apartment. Police Chief Gina Hawkins said Bunn held a knife in his other hand and refused to drop it when told repeatedly to do so by officers. That’s when he was shot. Bunn died later at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Williams, who is pregnant, had called 911 to say she was being held hostage. She is listed in good condition at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where she and her unborn child are recovering.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. Hawkins said FPD internal affairs is also investigating to verify that policies and procedures were followed. Cochran is on paid administrative duty during the investigation, which is standard policy.

 

 

Death row killer loses appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court has once again declined to hear the case of convicted serial killer and rapist Ronald Gray, a former Fort Bragg soldier sentenced to death 30 years ago.

Gray was convicted in one of this community’s most sensational crimes – a series of murders and rapes in Fayetteville and on Fort Bragg.

The high court first declined to review Gray’s case in 2001. Two years ago, a federal judge removed a stay of execution that had been in place since 2008, potentially clearing the way for the Army to schedule Gray’s execution, which former President George W. Bush authorized.

Gray filed numerous appeals in recent years claiming errors during his military trial and subsequent appeals. Many of those appeals have been dismissed or delayed by a U.S. District Court in Kansas, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Gray is the longest-serving inmate on death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

A former resident of Fairlane Acres Mobile Home Park in Bonnie Doone, Gray was convicted of rapes and murders that were committed in 1986 and 1987 on Fort Bragg and in Fayetteville. He murdered taxi driver Kimberly Ann Ruggles, Army Pvt. Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, Campbell University student Linda Jean Coats and Fairlane Acres resident Tammy Wilson. A Fort Bragg court-martial sentenced him to death in 1988. A year earlier, a civilian court sentenced him to eight life sentences. His execution would likely take place at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Fall police academy

The Fayetteville Police Department is doing a different kind of recruiting. Residents who are interested in attending the next Citizens Police Academy can sign up on the FPD’s website, www.FayPD.com, or using the FayPD mobile app. Applications should be submitted no later than Aug. 28, to allow time for processing.

The weekly series of classes will begin Tuesday, Sept. 11. The Academy will meet every Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m., at the police training center off N. Eastern Boulevared with the last meeting being held Nov. 6. Residents of Fayetteville who want to know more about police department operations are encouraged to attend.

“Information provided should foster community relationships intended to make for a safer city,” said Community Affairs Sgt. Shawn Strepay. “The Fayetteville Police Department is looking forward to another successful, informational and exciting Citizens Police Academy.”

Lawn watering schedule

July is Smart Irrigation Month, and Fayetteville’s Public Works Commission urges residents to give their irrigation systems the day off by following PWC’s year-round odd-even schedule for outdoor watering. If your street address ends in an even number, water your lawn on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. If your street address ends in an odd number, water your lawn on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Rain sensors are devices that can be attached to an automatic irrigation system to monitor rainfall levels. PWC is offering a bill credit of up to $50 for installing rain sensors. When the weather is wet, the sensor temporarily overrides the controller to prevent unnecessary watering to save money on water bills.

Duke Energy wins major award

If you’re a reservist looking for an employer that will accommodate your military duties, you need not look any further than the latest list of recipients of a prestigious Pentagon award. Fifteen organizations were recognized with the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. One of them is a North Carolina utility.

“Our National Guard and Reserve members are a vital part of our national defense and deserve as much support as our country can provide,” Defense Secretary James Mattis said in a news release.

The honorees include Duke Energy. Each year, guard and reservist employees and their families nominate employers for DoD Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve awards. The 15 companies getting the highest honor were chosen from more than 2,350 nominations. They will be recognized in a ceremony at the Pentagon on Aug. 24.

The explosive situation that has developed in this country regarding the separation of parents and their children who illegally enter America is showing the sad condition of our nation. It is revealing the wholesale incompetence and hypocrisy that dominate our human affairs, in general and, for this discussion, Congress. These are just two of the negative descriptors of our troubling situation that demands concern and action on the part of every American.

The situation at hand is that, as has been the case for many years, individuals are illegally crossing the southern border and entering our country. Consider the following from an article titled “Illegal Immigration is a Crime” (www.fairus.org/issue/illegal-immigration/illegal-immigration-crime): “Each year the Border Patrol apprehends hundreds of thousands of aliens who flagrantly violate our nation’s laws by unlawfully crossing U.S. borders. Such illegal entry is a misdemeanor, and, if repeated after being deported, becomes punishable as a felony.

“Illegal immigration causes an enormous drain on public funds. The seminal study of the costs of immigration by the National Academy of Sciences found that the taxes paid by immigrants do not begin to cover the cost of services received by them. The quality of education, health care and other services for Americans are undermined by the needs of endless numbers of poor, unskilled illegal entrants.

“Additionally, job competition by waves of illegal immigrants desperate for any job unfairly depresses the wages and working conditions offered to American workers, hitting hardest at minority workers and those without high school degrees.”

Being apprehended when illegally entering the country is a misdemeanor crime. The parents whose children were separated from them were being held under the misdemeanor condition. Some of these parents illegally entered the country, but then claimed they were seeking asylum because of conditions in their home country. American law requires that persons seeking asylum must be physically present in the U.S. or seeking admission into the country at a port of entry – not illegally breaking in.

Given that it is a crime to enter the country without permission, how we got to the point of investing so much financially, and otherwise adversely impacting bona fide Americans, in caring for people who break into America requires examination.

A segment on NBC’s “Today Show” provides tremendous insight regarding how we got here. It can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uv_UdHHfno. By way of summary, the Trump administration instituted a “zero tolerance” policy. That policy means any person apprehended entering the U.S. without required approval will be prosecuted. Those persons apprehended will be held in custody until a judge decides whether they will go to prison. There is an appearance before a judge within a few days of apprehension, but it is months until the accused faces a judge for a decision regarding imprisonment.

The separation happens because children are not allowed to stay in prison with a parent. Children must be transferred from the Border Patrol to Health and Human Services within three days of apprehension. A child not being allowed to be held with parents is one obstacle to the president’s efforts to enforce immigration laws. At this writing, separations have been halted based on an executive order signed by Trump.

What happened when President Barack Obama tried to address the problem of families illegally entering the country explains the other component of the difficulty Trump is facing as he tries to stop the assault on our southern border. The following is from an article by Dara Linddara on Vox.com titled “The Trump administration’s separation of families at the border, explained.” The article says, “When the Obama administration attempted to respond to the ‘crisis’ of families and unaccompanied children crossing the border in summer 2014, it put hundreds of families in immigration detention – a practice that had basically ended several years before. But federal courts stopped the administration from holding families for months without justifying the decision to keep them in detention. So, most families ended up getting released while their cases were pending – which immigration hawks have derided as ‘catch and release.’ In some cases, they disappeared into the U.S. rather than showing up for their court dates.”

The quote above says, “In some cases, they disappeared into the U.S. rather than showing up for their court dates.” Consider the following from an article, March 19, 2017, by Mark Metcalf titled “Courting Disaster.”

“U.S. immigration enforcement and adjudication are failing. American immigration courts have the highest failure to appear rates of any courts in the country. Over the last 20 years, 37 percent of all aliens free pending trial failed to appear for their hearings.”

Being apprehended entering America without permission is a crime. When these offenders are released into the country while awaiting trial, many of them do not appear for their court date. To enforce the law and protect this nation, the Trump Justice Department implemented a “zero tolerance” policy. That means offenders will not be released into America to await trial. Given that children cannot be held in detention with parents, separations result. Since there is a high no-show rate by those illegal aliens who have been allowed to be free while awaiting a court appearance, Trump recognizes the need to keep, in custody, those who illegally enter the country.

Despite this clear and present danger, in response to the outcry regarding children and law-breaking parents being separated, the physical security and economic and fiscal stability of legal American citizens is thrown to the wind.

That “throwing to the wind” is happening all around us. As of this writing, Republicans in Congress are flailing all over the place trying to pass legislation that will address this parent/child separation crisis along with the larger issue of illegal immigration. If something of substance and fairness for American citizens is passed, I will sincerely apologize to Republican members of Congress.

In my estimation, Democrats are even worse – much worse. It shows in this quote attributed to Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, in an article by Susan Jones titled “Schumer: ‘There’s No Need’ for Immigration Legislation; Republicans Are ‘Feeling the Heat.’”

“Another reporter asked Schumer if the time might come when ‘Democrats would be willing to work with the Republicans’ on a ‘narrow’ immigration bill.

“‘Let’s hope we never get to that,’” Schumer responded. ‘Let’s hope the president does the right thing and solves the problem, which he can do. That’s the simple, easiest and most likely way this will happen. How many times has immigration legislation passed in this Congress? How many times? Zero.’”

Schumer is saying Democrats will do nothing, absolutely nothing, to address the outrage over the separation issue and celebrates that Republicans are “feeling the heat.” This response is consistent with Democratic conduct from day one of the Trump presidency – obstruct and produce nothing, other than stalemate and confusion. All of this is about political posturing, not about serving the best interest of American citizens.

The flailing of Congressional Republicans on this, and other issues, coupled with the obstructionism and do-nothing conduct of Congressional Democrats, show Congress to be incompetent.

Beyond being incompetent, hypocrisy reigns. A prime example shows through in a video of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D, CA) at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvRZdNoHEf8. In 1993 and 1994, she made exactly the same case for dealing with illegal immigration as Trump is making. Now, in 2018, Feinstein introduces legislation (the Keep Families Together Act) as reported by Eliza Collins in an article titled “No Republicans support Senate bill that would stop child separations at border.”

Collins writes, “Every Senate Democrat is now a cosponsor of the legislation, which would prohibit children from being separated from their parents within 100 miles of the U.S. border except for instances of abuse, neglect or other specific circumstances.”

If children cannot be separated from parents, those parents cannot be held for prosecution, and we are back to releasing them in “catch and release” mode. This legislation is from the same Feinstein whose views of illegal immigration in the 1990s agreed with Trump’s position of today. Feinstein is just one example, among many, of the hypocrisy raging in Congress.

This combination of congressional incompetence and hypocrisy threatens the very survival of America as a place of liberty, freedom, security, opportunity and prosperity. If those of us who are adults are not willing to save America for ourselves, do it for coming generations, even those yet unborn.

Parenthood has been and remains both an ongoing reality and the most pivotal experience of my life. Other people have told me the same, both mothers and fathers. Parenthood changes people from the moment a little one arrives, and the job never ends until the parent draws that final breath. Even then, the parent’s mark remains on the offspring, however old they may be.

Demographic trends are facts, neither good nor bad, but indications of what is going on in a society. Demographers have told us that in the United States, millennials, mostly children of baby boomers, have surpassed boomers in sheer numbers, but that millennials are not having as many children as their parents did. What we have not known as clearly is why.

The New York Times recently commissioned a survey to explore that why, with interesting results. Demographers had posited that economic worries were keeping our national birthrate down, but it remains at a record low for the second straight year, despite economic gains. It turns out that economic uncertainty is a big part of the picture, but not the whole picture.

People who are having fewer children than they might have wanted cited the high cost of child care, but they also want more leisure time and more time with the children they do have. They also worry about domestic politics, climate change and issues with their partners. Thirteen percent are honest enough to say do not think they would be good parents.

People who say they want no children at all say leisure time is the most important factor to them, along with economic, political and global concerns. They also cite career importance and concern about being good parents. Some say simply they have no desire to be parents.

What is so striking about the survey is that it would not have been given to prior generations of Americans because, for most of human history, people – specifically women – have had little or no choice about becoming parents. It is easy to forget that baby boomers are the first generation ever to have had reliable choices about parenthood with government approval of “The Pill” in 1960. It was not perfect and there were negative side effects, but it worked, and women flocked to it. That was fewer than 70 years ago, a long time for an individual life, but a mere blip in demographic history.

Parenthood, and specifically motherhood, is now a choice, and women are treating it that way for all sorts of reasons. The burdens of childcare and home responsibility continue to rest more heavily on mothers than on fathers. In addition, childrearing can interrupt a woman’s career or professional life, resulting in an earnings penalty on motherhood.

As women have pushed for gender equality in the workplace and throughout our culture, fertility rates have declined, a fact not unnoticed by social scientists. The Times quotes Philip Cohen at the University of Maryland, who studies and writes about family issues. Cohen noted succinctly, “There is no getting around the fact that the relationship between gender equality and fertility is very strong: There are not high-fertility countries that are gender equal.”

The U.S. is now easing into the club of industrialized nations, many in Europe, with fertility rates below replacement levels with only 60.2 children born to every 1,000 American women. Millennial preferences and uncertainties are not the only reason. We also have declining unintended pregnancy rates and higher rates of long-acting contraception methods, such as IUDs.

At the same time, it remains true that most American women will have children. As economist Oliver Thevenon said in the Times, “Whether the young generation will catch up later is not certain, but will depend on their capacity to combine work and family.”

So far, millennials seem to be having trouble with that.

 

PHOTO: Photo by Brittany Simuangco on Unsplash.

Amid the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014-16 came a resurgence of an age old concept – one that is vital not just to individuals, but to communities everywhere. Being “woke” or “staying woke” became the battle cry for the cause.

The word “woke” and the phrase “stay woke” have continued to gain popularity since then, and in ways that involve more and more Americans. Originally, “woke” or “stay woke” referred to advising African-Americans to stay aware and focused on those issues that pertain to racial or social justice. The African-American Vernacular English expression “stay woke” means stay focused on issues of importance and do not get distracted by meaningless diversions.

Now, the word and term are catching on in a broader sense. Are you woke? Are you staying woke? What is the level of your wokeness? I guess we can thank millennial activists and social media for launching this term into our mainstream vocabulary. For this brief editorial, I am going to define the word “woke” as a byword for general social and political awareness. Even though the phrase was used almost exclusively in the context of Black Lives Matter referencing racial concerns and concerns over social justice, its broader meaning began taking hold around 2015.

The term morphed into a more general term meaning just being aware of your surroundings. So, using this more generic definition of “woke,” I ask: Fayetteville and Cumberland County, are you woke?

In other words, are you aware of the social and political environment? And, if you are woke, what are you doing to get involved and to influence the outcomes of these social and political  situations? Or, are you going to choose not to be woke, meaning that you intentionally make an effort not to be aware of your social or political surroundings or the elements that influence them?

Unfortunately, the majority of our local population is not woke. And, it really isn’t their fault. It is difficult to stay woke in our community when we lack the traditional vehicles of communication that are enjoyed by other communities. It’s difficult to stay woke when you don’t have a local TV station or other traditional media outlets providing a continual thread of unbiased news and information. Yes, Fayetteville and Cumberland County is a news media and information desert. It is way too easy for people not to stay woke. In fact, it takes major effort to stay woke.

I do feel that Fayetteville and Cumberland County do a great job when it comes to being aware of social issues like addressing homelessness and fighting hunger and drug-related problems.

I’ll conclude by saying that the leadership of Fayetteville and Cumberland County are highly aware of the factors affecting the social, political and economic environment of our communities. The question is whether they will communicate with each other to convert this awareness into positive and tangible initiatives.

Let’s all hope so. There is so much opportunity for growth in our community, not only economically, but for love, fairness, understanding, tolerance, goodness and happiness. It all starts with a conversation. Not an indictment.

Thank you for reading Up & ComingWeekly. You can bet that we are woke! And, the fact that you are reading this publication means you are, too.

The greater Fayetteville area is graced with several outstanding theaters, each offering something unique to local audiences. In the heat of a Carolina summer, here are some performances to look forward to once the weather cools and the curtains rise on a great variety of theatrical productions.

Cape Fear Regional Theatre

Cape Fear Regional Theatre has been entertaining Fayetteville since the early 1960s. CFRT resides in a three-story complex where is serves more than 42,000 patrons each year, including almost 7,000 students.

The 2018-19 season opens Sept. 20 with “Music City.” This modern country musical is set in Nashville and tells the story of three young songwriters who are broke but ambitious. With great music, grit and a lot of heart, this show has all the makings of a hit with notes both old and new. The show runs through Oct 7.

Oct. 25-Nov. 11, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” based on the 2004 novel of the same name, tells the backstory of Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the rest of the characters from the much-loved story. In true Peter Pan “never grow up” spirit, the adventure includes pirates, friendships and, of course, heroes.

Little Orphan Annie captured America’s heart in the 1920s in a comic strip in the New York Daily News. By 1930, she had her own radio show. She was in films in 1932 and 1938. She took Broadway by storm in 1977, and she’ll be onstage Jan. 24-Feb. 17, along with Daddy Warbucks, for a fun-filled adventure at CFRT.

Dalton Trumbo. He was a screenwriter and novelist. He was blacklisted and sent to prison for standing up to the House Un-American Activities committee in 1947 when the committee investigated communism’s influences in the film industry. A member of the Hollywood Ten, he continued to work using pen names and winning awards. This two-character play runs Feb. 28-March 17.

Bekah Brunstetter’s “The Cake” tells the story of a North Carolina native who comes home to get married. Her choice of partners causes quite the stir. A comic drama, “The Cake” will onstage April 4-21.

Rhythm and Blues close out the season with “Memphis,” a Broadway show with four Tony Award wins in 2010, including Best Musical. Take a journey to 1950s Memphis with its African-American clubs for a tale of unlikely fame and forbidden love.

For tickets and more information, visit www.cfrt.org.

Gilbert Theater

The Gilbert Theater prides itself on being a semi-professional theater that produces creative, innovative plays and events to stir audiences and students of its conservatory to explore and contemplate the human condition through the talents of local and guest artists.

“Godspell” opens Gilbert’s season Sept. 21 and runs through Feb. 17. Based on the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, “Godspell” turns parables into a musical.

A perennial favorite, “It’s a Wonderful Life” runs Nov. 23-Dec.16. Based on the 1946 movie starring James Stewart, the play tells the story of George Bailey and his guardian angel, Clarence. Bailey is ready to give up and end it all until Clarence shows George that each life really does matter.

Feb. 1-17 features “Doubt,” which played on Broadway in 2005 and 2006, winning the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Set in the fictional St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx in 1964, Sister Aloysius suspects Father Flynn of being inappropriate with an altar boy. She pulls out all the stops to make her case, wreaking havoc along the way.

C.S. Lewis’ classic “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” opens April 5 and runs through April 21. In the land of Narnia, talking animals and mythical creatures are the norm as Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan Pevensie take on the White Witch.

“The Laramie Project” closes the season, running May 30-June 9. In 1998, gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was murdered in Laramie, Wyoming. The play retells the story based on hundreds of interviews with citizens of the town.

Visit www.gilberttheater.com or call 910-678-7186 to learn more.

Sweet Tea Shakespeare

Founded in 2012, Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s mission is to “celebrate the wonder of Shakespeare’s inventions of language, story and stagecraft by providing simple, elemental, magical theatre experiences of his and other remarkable works in an accessible atmosphere of beauty and community.”

Aug. 21-Sept. 2, “The Comedy of Errors” plays at the 1897 Poe House at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex and continues Sept. 5-8 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. One of Shakespeare’s early plays, mistaken identity and a bit of slapstick combined with wordplay and puns make this a must-see.

Modifying plays to accommodate improvisation and audience participation, the LIT series will perform at various locations throughout October and November, including at Paddy’s Irish Public House Oct. 4, 11 and 18, and at Fainting Goat Brewing Company Oct. 25. Taking the tragedy of “Othello” and making it a bit lighter, the troupe said of the show: “The lighter signatures of the LIT series blend with the darker notes of the story for a bold and satisfying new flavor with an element of jealousy.”

Dec. 6-8 and 13-15, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church hosts “Behold: A Folk Christmas Cantata.” Celebrate the season with STS’ musical performance. With a full slate of Christmas songs to share, the cantata is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

STS presents “Sweeney Todd” Jan. 17-Feb. 2 at Fayetteville Pie Company. Sweeney Todd first appeared in a story called “The String of Pearls” in 1846. A relatively modern story for the troupe, don’t miss the misadventures of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and his partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett.

“Maid Marian,” part of STS’ Honey series, plays April 25-28 at Fayetteville State University and May 2-5 and 9-12 at the Poe House. The Honey series showcases women through shows with strong female casts. What will that mean for this interpretation of the Robin Hood story?

The season ends with “Richard III” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” in repertory June 4-23 at the Poe House.

Learn more about STS at www.sweetteashakespeare.com or by calling 910-420-4383.

Givens Performing Arts Center

Located at UNC Pembroke, GPAC offers great variety this season, opening with an artist-inresidence performance of the farcical historical romance “The Three Musketeers” Sept. 20-21.

“Jessica & Niels Magic and Juggling Variety Act” presents mind-blowing magic and zany comedy bits on Sept. 28. Jessica Jane Petersen has appeared on Penn & Teller’s “Fool Us” TV show. Niels Duinker is a Guinness World record juggler, who currently holds the record for most cups (14) juggled at once.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra: A Night of John Williams is set for Oct. 5. From “Harry Potter” to “JAWS,” “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” the music of John Williams is some of the most celebrated in movie history.

As a part of UNCP’s homecoming celebration, GPAC presents “Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles” on Oct. 19. With three decades of experience, this band has performed with such groups as REO Speedwagon and The Doobie Brothers.

“Comte Dracula: A New Musical Drama” was written by Lumberton native and award-winning composer of classical and Broadway music, Mark Andersen. “Comte Dracula” is an original musical making its world premiere on the stage of GPAC Oct. 27.

A perennial favorite, “UNCP Holiday Extravaganza” takes place Nov. 30. The faculty, staff and students of the UNCP music department present their 10th annual concert of holiday favorites. Proceeds go to music scholarships at UNCP.

“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” takes the stage Dec. 2. Come and get in the holiday spirit with Rudolph, the Abominable Snow Monster and all your favorite characters.

Enjoy the hit songs of Motown Jan. 12 with “Good for The Soul – Motown Revue.”

Feb. 20, “Cinderella: The Broadway Musical” brings Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Tony Awardwinning “Cinderella” musical to the Sandhills.

The Russian Ballet’s “Sleeping Beauty” returns to GPAC March 11. Formed in 1989, The Russian Ballet has achieved worldwide acclaim for its performances.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, a Scottish bagpipe band, will rock GPAC March 20. Not to be confused with the world-famous American rock band, The Red Hot Chili Pipers hail from Scotland and have become well-known for their incredible covers of songs by Journey, AC/DC, and even songs like “Amazing Grace.”

Four members of the original “Jersey Boys” cast make up The Midtown Men. Join this dynamic group of Tony Award winners and nominees for a memorable night of classic 1960s hits April 15.

For more information about the shows or to become a season subscriber or renew past subscriptions, call the GPAC Box Office at 910-521-6361 or visit www.uncp.edu/gpac.

Bigger, faster, stronger.

Those three words dominated the theme of spring workouts at Jack Britt High School this year as head coach Brian Randolph sought to avoid a repeat of what happened last fall when his Buccaneers lined up against Sandhills Athletic Conference powers.

“Last year we had a huge issue with getting pushed around in games when we played the bigger teams,’’ he said. “We wanted to get bigger, faster and stronger. Coming out here in the spring, we wanted to get better at the fundamentals, getting the small things right.’’

The Buccaneers didn’t get everything wrong under Randolph in last year’s season. They finished 6-6 overall and 4-3 in the Sandhills, which was good for a tie for fourth place with Pinecrest. They scored a big win over perennial power Richmond Senior and advanced to the state 4-AA playoffs where they suffered a first-round loss to Raleigh Millbrook.

Heading into the summer workouts, Randolph expects his defense is going to have to carry the Buccaneers this fall until some offensive holes can be filled.

“I think we’ll have a pretty good senior class coming back, especially on defense,’’ he said. That depth is highlighted by the return of four linebackers and a couple of solid defensive linemen.

Losses at the skill positions will complicate things on offense. Among players Randolph will be counting on there are quarterback Brennan Shortridge, who returns after throwing for 1,524 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Chancellor Johnson, younger brother of former Buccaneer star Eric Johnson, is back at running back as is a speedy Cornell Raynor.

A key jack of all trades returns in Michael Matthews, who will be called on to play multiple positions on offense and defense, but he’s getting college offers as a linebacker.

“We want to work on getting better as a team, becoming a family,’’ Matthews said. “We want to be the best we can be. We feel like we’re going to have a great season.’’

 

 

PHOTOS: (T-B) Brian Randolph & Michael Matthews

When Pine Forest football coach Bill Sochovka had his team fill out goal sheets in February, most of them listed winning the state championship as a priority.

Sochovka asked them to take it a step further, telling them it was fine to want to win the title, but better if they listed ways as a team they can make it happen. “Having that goal is great, but knowing the plan to get there is more important, everybody being on the same plan,’’ he said.

Sochovka feels that so far, this year’s team is more focused. “We have a lot of guys who are more team players, playing both sides of the ball, not afraid to step up and do things they haven’t done before,’’ he said.

He cited quarterback Richard McEachern Jr. as an example. The Trojans are changing to a 4-2-5 look on defense, and McEachern is being moved to free safety because he’s smart enough to handle the switch, Sochovka said.

“That says a lot about him being a senior, being able to step up and make a difference,’’ Sochovka said. “Sometimes you get a kid at his age that says, ‘No, I’m a quarterback and I don’t want to do both.’ He’s willing to do that.’’

One area where the Trojans need work is the offensive line. Sochovka said he fired his old offensive line coach, himself, and brought in Andy Karcher from Triton.

He thinks the 4-5-2 defensive alignment fits his personnel better. Last year’s offense found itself running the ball, and he plans to stick with that same philosophy this fall with returning running back and outside linebacker Dominic Roberto leading the way.

Roberto saw limited action at running back behind all-conference selection Lavonte Carter, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

“He’s got a lot of hard offers from Southern Conference and Big South teams,’’ Sochovka said. “Furman likes him at running back, Elon likes him at linebacker.’’

Another player who’s had a good spring is slot receiver D.J. Jones, Sochovka said. Jones caught 14 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Roberto said the main thing the Trojans need this fall is leadership on the field and he hopes to provide some of it. “I’ve got to come out here and lead the team, guide them,’’ he said.

“I think if we work hard and condition hard, we can compete with anybody.’’

 

PHOTOS: (T-B) Bill Sochovka & Dominic Roberto

This Fourth of July, Alex Warner will display the United States flag and the POW/MIA flag outside his business, Countryside Furniture Co. on Main Street in Hope Mills.

He’ll set up chairs beneath his covered storefront so folks can sit and enjoy the annual Fourth of July parade as it traverses the roughly two-mile route from Hope Mills Middle School to Rockfish Elementary School when it begins at 10 a.m.

For Warner, a former politician who is the husband of Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner, the Fourth of July is filled with tradition, memories and deep respect for what the celebration means.

Warner thinks back to his youth, when Hope Mills ground to a halt for the holiday.

At midnight on July 3, Warner said, the machinery at the textile mills the town was named for would shut down and go silent. The only noise you might hear was people setting off fireworks or firing a shotgun in celebration if they didn’t have them.

The following day the whole community would gather to celebrate, something that Warner said wasn’t easy in a mill town since you always had people coming off a work shift and preparing to go on the next one.

For Warner, it wasn’t a celebration just for the sake of celebration. There was history behind it.

“We knew the history of our country, and we knew that we were celebrating the rebellion from England and the almost impossible establishment of a brand-new country,’’ Warner said. “It could not have happened without the leadership and the grace of God that created it.’’

Work benches were taken out of the mills and set up for people to come and sit and enjoy food that people brought and shared. The folks from Merita Bread donated loaves to make all manner of sandwiches, but peanut butter and jelly was always a big hit.

Lemonade was served from huge wooden tubs. Warner said he can still remember how sweet it tasted.

Elderly veterans were in attendance, proudly wearing old military uniforms that in some cases were becoming threadbare from age.

For a vantage point to watch all the things that were going on, Warner said he and some of his young friends scouted out a huge acorn tree. They used a fence near the mill to climb up and get to the lowest branch, and from there they had ringside seats to all the action.

There was plenty of music, mostly singing of patriotic and religious favorites, accompanied by guitar, banjo and maybe a flute.

There was a watermelon seed spitting contest, a three-legged race and softball games, sometimes between mill villages, and sometimes the kids played.

It was a day of pure fun. The only real danger of getting hurt, Warner said, was stepping barefoot on a lit cigarette butt or a hill of red ants, so everybody watched where they were walking.

Warner said the celebration in Hope Mills was timed so everyone could travel to Fayetteville for the parade there. “I remember Uncle Sam would show up on stilts 10 feet tall,’’ Warner said.

In his store today, Warner has a framed American flag he got from Charlie Biggs that was flown at the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, and the Fourth of July every year after that.

“Today, the small towns have preserved much of that,’’ Warner said. “We were appreciative of the freedom and liberty given us by our forefathers. It was a day of appreciating our country, a great day of excitement and unity among our people.’’

In Hope Mills this Fourth of July, it still is.

After the parade, activities will move to Municipal Park near Town Hall on Rockfish Road. There will be a horseshoe tournament at 4 p.m., a cornhole tournament at 4:30 p.m. and a frozen T-shirt contest at 5 p.m. The object is to take a T-shirt that has been frozen, try to thaw it out and put it on over your clothes.

The official welcome will be at 6 p.m., followed by performances by two bands, Eastline and Rivermist. Both play beach and country music along with hits from the ’80s and ’90s.

The day will conclude with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

 

PHOTO: Alex Warner displays an American flag that was flown at the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.

Meetings

For details about all meetings and activities, including location where not listed, call Acting Deputy Town Clerk Tiffany Gillstedt at 910-426-4112. Most meetings take place at Town Hall.

• Board of Commissioners Monday, July 9, 7 p.m. at Town Hall in the Bill Luther Meeting Room.

Activities

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

• Fall sports registration through July 28. $30 per child; $15 late fee after registration deadline. Season begins Sept. 8. Call 910-426-4109 for details.

• July 4th Celebration Wednesday, July 4, various locations in the town. Parade, kids activities and fireworks. Call 910-426-4107 for more information. Town hall will be closed this day.

• Food Truck Rodeo Thursday, July 5, 5-8 p.m. Held in the big parking lot at Town Hall.

• Wine-Tasting, Cheese and Appetizers Saturday, July 28, 5-8 p.m. Held at the Boarding House Tea Room, 3903 Ellison St., at the corner of W. Patterson Street across from Hope Mills YMCA. Open to the public once there is a 10-person commitment. Mix and mingle in cozy and quaint surroundings. Tasty hors d’oeuvres and vintage treasures available. Call Carla at 910-527-7455 to make reservations.

Promote yourself: Email hopemills@upandcomingweekly.com.

The town of Hope Mills recently lost a trailblazing member of the police force who was loved by both her fellow police officers and members of the community she interacted with.

Boo, the town’s first full-time police dog, passed away at the age of 18. She became the town’s first police dog in 2005 and served 10 years before going into semi-retirement when her health prevented her from doing all the things a police dog is asked to do.

She continued to serve in a mostly ceremonial role, making public appearances for tours of the police department and other community events, until she passed away.

Hope Mills Police Chief Joel Acciardo said Boo was a special dog with a great disposition.

“You could bring Boo in for a kindergarten class tour and she would let the children run all over her, pet her, jump on her back, and she would just lay there and love it,’’ he said. “You could put her in a field situation where she was doing a track and she would be the most fierce, protective animal you ever saw in your life.’’

Boo worked most closely with her handler, Hope Mills Police Sgt. Lee Sumners. Acciardo said Sumners was unable to be interviewed about his work with Boo because he was still trying to deal with her passing.

“Boo was a trailblazer,’’ Acciardo said. “When you’re going into new territory, everything is a milestone. That made her very special. There is a bond between that handler and the animal. They become a team.’’

Acciardo said Sumners was responsible for Boo’s medical care, hygiene and training, everything associated with her needs and well-being.

When she wasn’t living with Sumner, she stayed in a police department truck, but it’s air conditioned and always running, Acciardo said. “They are never in a non-climate controlled environment when they’re not actually working,’’ he said.

When the police department’s new public safety facility is completed, it will include a kennel that will be the workplace home for all future Hope Mills Police Department dogs.

Boo was replaced in 2014 when the department added a new dog, Ringo, to the team. Like Boo, Ringo comes from a kennel in the Netherlands that specializes in breeding police service dogs, according to Hope Mills Deputy Chief Dave Servie.

Ringo already made a name for himself with Hope Mills Police in 2016 when he helped officers locate the weapon used to murder Andrew Jacob Derenzy.

Boo and Ringo are both what are known in law enforcement circles as a patrol certified dog.

Servie said they are typically called on to track, detect narcotics or specific articles like a gun or wallet, or protect their handler. Both Boo and Ringo reported for work daily with the handler and were used for whatever need arose.

While Ringo has adapted well to his new role with Hope Mills Police, Acciardo said there’s no question Boo will be missed by everyone.

“Boo just absolutely loved people,’’ he said. “You couldn’t ask for a better ambassador, when you’re having a class of fourth graders come through, to represent the department’s canine team.’’

 

PHOTO: Boo, left, with her handler, Hope Mills Police Sgt. Lee Sumners, right.

“Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” at Gallery 208 opens Tuesday, July 10, with a reception from 5:30-7 p.m. It showcases a joining of 11 artists who work as higher education art faculty in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Higher education art faculty in this city are like all other universities and community colleges faculty. As members of the faculty they have three roles: teaching, service and scholarship. In the area of teaching, each day is different, with unexpected situations to resolve and new material or techniques to research and apply. Service can be for the department, the university, the community, professional service or all four. Then there is scholarship, the making of new works of art if you’re a faculty member who teaches a studio class.

What’s unusual is that many of the full-time fine art faculty from competing schools in Fayetteville have come together to build their personal relationships as practicing artists – not as educators – by creating a comradery of support and even to have an occasional potluck dinner together.

It all began with an idea after the director of Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery, Calvin Mims, brought several artists together to talk about initiatives for the community and what the faculty needed. Mims started by inviting full-time and part-time art faculty from Fayetteville Technical Community College, Methodist University and Fayetteville State University to do the recent group show titled “Higher Ed Fayetteville Art Faculty Exhibition.” That lead to a couple of potluck dinners and discussions about enrichment for each other as artists.

“Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” at Gallery 208 is the result of those discussions over dinner. The artists from academe include Vilas Tonape from Methodist University; Callie Farmer, Katey Morrill and Robin Teas from Fayetteville Technical Community College; and Shane Booth, Dwight Smith, Vicki Rhoda, Jonathan Chestnut, Skylor Swann, Dwight Smith and yours truly from Fayetteville State University.

The 11th artist is Christopher Happel. Happel is employed at Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery and is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, focusing on the medium of sculpture. The group, New Vision Collaborative, wanted Happel to be part of the first-year initiative since he is a millennial among seasoned artists. All were interested in the insights of a young millennial who is also a dedicated artist. For Happel, he’s happy to be able to interface and exhibit with experienced artists and educators.

“Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” includes a lot of variety since each artist brings his or her own expertise, style and purpose for creating works of art. Two works were selected by each artist for the exhibit; the range of media includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and prints. “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” is the kickoff event for a year of collaboration among the participants in what they’re calling the New Vision Collaborative.

After one year of collaborating with each other in workshops to share technical information, provide support for artists to try new mediums, and to offer group critiques and discussions, another exhibition will take place June 2019 at Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery titled “Standpoint: 365.”

The Fayetteville area has embraced many art initiatives and alliances to improve the arts locally over the years. But, this group of artists/educators has one common goal – to enrich themselves and maybe others along the way. Dwight Smith from FSU noted, “We have a connection between the three schools – a passion for the arts, and intellectual exchange.

Calvin Mims commented, “All of the artists in this group are continually engaged in the pursuit of excellence.”

Callie Framer, a printmaker from FTCC, reminded our group that students have us (their teachers) and each other to critique their work. Yet, as professionals, it would be helpful to have professional critiques. For students, seeing us exhibit together offers a good example of the continued efforts of local art faculty. Faculty can share techniques and strategies about how to stay creatively focused instead of falling victim to teacher burn-out.

Already, during the dinners, members of New Vision Collaborative have had discussions about relevant websites and ways to engage the public with unfamiliar styles. The next meeting will include creating a calendar of events for the group and more events for the public to attend.

Skylor Swann, a new ceramicist at FSU, noted he was interested in participating since he wanted to share new research, process and materials. As well, he is interested in looking at what artists are not doing and examining his own personal growth as an artist. He said, “We all bring something different to the collaborative – life experiences and viewpoints.”

Jonathan Chestnut brings his interest and knowledge of technology to the collaborative. Chestnut teaches the computer graphic classes at FSU and has always been interested in sculpture. During the last eight years, in addition to teaching, his focus has been on ways to apply technology to fine art. From laser cutters to 3D modeling, Chestnut has influenced artists in his department to use technology. In “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition,” Chestnut is exhibiting layered wall reliefs created by using the laser cutter at FSU.

Vicki Rhoda, the new art education instructor at FSU, was quick to point out how “we share with the community an identity and our expertise. By having exhibitions, we are demonstrating our belief in the importance of art and how art is a constructive interaction among people in public spaces.”

So, it will be an interesting year for New Vision Collaborative, culminating in the 2019 exhibition at Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery. The group is not interested in becoming a nonprofit organization but will remain open to change and choices. The year ahead will include discussing ideas in think-tank formats, sharing websites and suppliers, conducting workshops and critiques amongst the group, and planning events for the public to attend. By the end of the year, the artists will have been enriched and come to understand what works and what doesn’t work before expanding the group.

Calvin Mims was more than happy to have Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery be the central place for the group to meet and plan the activities. Mims said, “I think it’s important the New Vision Collaborative is thinking about what is missing in the community when it comes to the visual arts. As contemporary artists, it’s important the public sees the value and importance of contemporary art in a community. As well, your students will see that you do what you are encouraging them to do. So, coming together and having a presence in our community is relevant.”

The public is invited to attend the opening reception of “Standpoint: A Group Exhibition” at Gallery 208, located at 208 Rowan St., from 5:30-7 p.m. July 10. The show will be up until early September. The gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 910-484-6200.

President John Kennedy stated, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Fayetteville Technical Community College has long been a leader in providing education to military service members of Fort Bragg and surrounding communities. Since the founding of the college in 1961, there has been a special relationship with neighbors from the college’s military and veteran community.

The college’s mission statement is to “Serve our community as a learning-centered institution to build a globally competitive workforce supporting economic development.” The mission of the college provides a clear purpose in ensuring that our local military members and their family members have the necessary education opportunities to meet their career goals.

In 1974, the college opened its Fort Bragg Center to provide better access to numerous technical and vocational programs. The Fort Bragg Center, located on Fort Bragg at the Bragg Training and Education Center, is a one-stop shop for all the services an aspiring student would need to enroll at FTCC. The staff members are either veterans or dependents or have a family member serving. This staffing characteristic provides FTCC’s Fort Bragg office with a unique understanding of the issues facing service members as they pursue their education-related goals. The staff takes extra time to educate students about the process for admissions and class registration.

FTCC repeatedly earns top designation marks as a “Top School” or “Top 10 Gold Category College Award” for best community colleges serving military and veterans. FTCC is a leader in Credit for Prior Service, specializing in converting military training to college-level credit. The CPL effectively jump-starts the service members’ education pursuit, allowing quick completion of educational training in the shortest amount of time possible. The college offers a CPL online tool that provides an estimated credit the student may earn. Paralleling the effort of providing college programs, FTCC opened the Transition Tech Program, which provides tuition-free certifications to veterans. The Transition Tech Program includes courses in collision repair, computer and information technology, logistics, CDL truck driver training, pipe welding, solar technology, EMT Basic, telecommunications and others, providing an intense, shortened training experience with time focused on industry certificates and credentials that prepare the student to enter the civilian workforce.

If you are looking for a way to capitalize on the valuable military training you have earned or would like additional information about FTCC and the more than 250 programs of study available, visit with the Fort Bragg Center inside the Bragg Training and Education Center. FTCC values the hard work and dedication needed to accomplish military training and experiences. FTCC is honored to help service members maximize their military service through programs of study that focus on military occupational specialty areas.

Visit or learn more at www.faytechcc.edu/militaryveterans to discover why FTCC is the smart choice for education.

Loving Hands International and Culture & Heritage Alliance present the African World Peace Festival Friday, July 13 – Sunday, July 15 in downtown Fayetteville.

“This is our fourth year of putting together the African World Peace Festival,” said Isabella Effon, president of Culture & Heritage Alliance. “We want to bring cultural awareness and educate our children about the continent of Africa and let them know it is not just a country.”

Effon added the festival also includes the Caribbean community to let children know they have Africans and Afro-Cubans who have migrated and now become a part of the population.

The event will feature the African World Peace Festival with entertainment and music as well as a 5K Peace Run and Cape Fear Valley’s Take Charge of Your Health event.

Friday, July 13, is the kickoff from 6–10 p.m.

Saturday, July 14, at 7 a.m. is pre-registration for the 5K Peace Run. The run starts at 8 a.m. There will be free health screenings provided by Cape Fear Valley’s Take Charge of Your Health at 11 a.m. These screenings are for diabetes, blood pressure and sexually transmitted diseases. The music festival starts at 2 p.m. and will end at 10 p.m. The headliner is Kevin Lyttle. There will also be cultural performers.

“This year for the health screenings we want to reach out as much as possible to let Wilmington Road, B Street and surrounding areas know they are a part of the Cool Spring Downtown District,” said Effon. “We want them and the surrounding communities to come and participate in the free health screenings.”

The event continues Sunday, July 15. “From noon-7 p.m. is the gospel concert,” said Effon. “It will feature traditional drumming and contemporary gospel music, and we will have vendors until 5 p.m.”

Loving Hands International and Culture & Heritage Alliance are nonprofit organizations that focus on the needs of the poor in Ghana and West Africa as well as the local needs in the Fayetteville and Fort Bragg area. “Our cause is to give back to the community and also to reach back to students in Africa,” said Effon. “We have been collecting books for schools, hospital supplies and first-aid supplies to send over there.”

Effon added that in the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg area, the organization facilitates canned food drives for Operation Blessings during the summer.

“Come join our community event with all of us celebrating diversity and benefitting our community,” said Effon.

The cost of the 5K run is $25 for children and $30 for adults. The music festival is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chair and umbrella to enjoy the music. Food vendors will be on-site. If you want to volunteer, become a vendor or sponsor, or if you have a question, call 910-728-2186.

The British Empire settled its first permanent colony in the Americas at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. This was the first of 13 colonies in North America. The colonies can be divided into three regions: New England, Middle colony and Southern colonies.

The New England colonies included Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

The Middle Colonies were those now described as the mid-Atlantic and included Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Settlers in these colonies included English, Swedes, Dutch, Germans, Scots-Irish and French, along with Native Americans and some enslaved and freed Africans.

The Southern colonies were North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. Long before Jamestown, in 1587, a group of 115 English settlers arrived safely on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. By the middle of the year, the group realized they needed more supplies, and they sent John White, governor of the colony, back to England. When White got back to  Roanoke, there was no trace of the colony, his wife, his daughter or his granddaughter.

Conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when colonial leaders convened a Continental Congress at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. In a June 7 session, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a resolution with the famous words: “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

Lee’s words were the impetus for the drafting of a formal Declaration of Independence. A committee of five was appointed to draft the document, and the task itself fell on Thomas Jefferson. Discussion of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence resulted in some minor changes, but the spirit of the document went unchanged. The process of revision by the Continental Congress began July 1. It continued through all of July 3 and into the late afternoon of July 4, when the Declaration was officially adopted.

Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, and two – Pennsylvania and South Carolina – voted no. Delaware was undecided, and New York abstained. July 4 has been designated a national holiday to commemorate the day the United States laid down its claim to be a free and independent nation.

Benjamin Franklin was a member of the committee of five that drafted the Declaration. Historians consider his contributions vitally important in the history of the movement from 13 individual colonies to one unified nation. He said of the new United States of America: “We must, indeed all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” Franklin’s actions as elder statesman and diplomat helped ensure independence. His scientific and literary achievements earned him respect at home and abroad. His significance cannot be understated.

Fayetteville City Council members are divided on whether to expand terms of office from two to four years. District 7 Councilman Larry Wright broached the idea several months ago. Now the governing body has decided to put the idea to a vote of the people. Mayor Pro-tem Ted Mohn made the motion, which was seconded by Wright. Council has indicated it would abide by the voters’ decision.

Council voted 6-4 to place the “yes or no” issue on the November ballot. If passed, the longer terms of office would apply to the 2019 municipal election. Presumably, the members would serve staggered terms, but the measure did not include that provision. Fifth District Councilman Johnny Dawkins and 9th District Councilman Jim Arp said they do not favor four-year terms, but they voted for the referendum anyway. Members Dan Culliton, Bill Crisp, Kathy Jensen and Tisha Waddell voted against it.

“We’re rushing into this issue,” Waddell said. Crisp said the timing wasn’t good.

The referendum in November will also include a formal resolution asking that the state legislature modify the city charter to allow recall elections. Only the general assembly can do that, but the city has authority to change city council terms of office. Some members wanted to separate the issues, but all seemed to favor the recall provision. It stems from the recent attempted bribery allegations involving recently resigned District 2 Council member Tyrone Williams.

At its recent meeting, city council also debated whether to continue its financial commitment in support of the planned $65 million North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center planned for Fayetteville. New District 4 member, D.J. Haire, questioned the city’s $7.5 million commitment to the foundation funding the center. Fayetteville and Cumberland County governments have pledged a total of $15 million contingent on a commitment from the state as well as millions in private funds already raised.

The foundation asked the city to donate four acres of property abutting the historic Fayetteville Arsenal site where the facility is to be built. Council agreed but will follow up with a property appraisal so that its value can be deducted from the $7.5 million pledge. The 60,000-square-foot history center is planned at the end of Arsenal Avenue in Haymount on the grounds where the antebellum facility once stood. It was destroyed by Union Gen. William Sherman on his march north from Atlanta.

Education is the center’s goal. It will house exhibits, classrooms and research areas for visitors. So as not to be thought of as a museum, the center will not have weapons of war and battlefield depictions. Another dimension of the project is the development of digital educational material for students in all grade levels that can be accessed online, in the classroom, at home or anywhere in the world.

Suicide report for active duty military, veterans confusing

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs late last month reversed itself on a new suicide study that appeared to show thousands of unreported military deaths in recent years. The VA’s annual National Suicide Data Report is a collaboration between Veterans Affairs, defense researchers and census analysts. It found that from 2008 to 2016 about 20 veterans took their own lives daily.

For the first time, this most recent update breaks down the figures into veterans receiving VA health care, veterans not using the department’s health services, and a group including active-duty troops, guardsmen and reservists. The new calculation would put the official Defense Department suicide total among troops at close to 1,400 for 2015, or 65 percent higher than what the military previously reported.

Several news outlets took note of the sudden data spike following the report’s release. VA officials acknowledged that the military figures are misleading. “In our report, VA did not differentiate deaths between active duty... Guard and Reserve,” said Dr. Keita Franklin, VA’s national director of suicide prevention. “This difference in the report may have caused some confusion and led to the misperception that approximately 1,000 more current service members died by suicide than DoD reported in 2015.”

VA officials blamed the confusion regarding the troops’ suicide information on inconsistent definitions used by various agencies. Individuals who served in the Guard or Reserves and are considered “veterans” in census reports may not have been counted in the Defense Department statistics.

VA researchers are now emphasizing they have not found fault with official military suicide statistics, which have counted between 550 and 450 active-duty, Guard and Reserve suicides in each of the last five calendar years. Fort Bragg authorities do not disclose suicides when reporting soldier deaths. The Army does not disclose cause of death in such instances.

Prince Charles Hotel project update

There is clear evidence of progress in the renovation of the former Prince Charles Hotel on Hay Street. A photo taken from the floor of City Hall across the street shows that window frames are being removed for replenishment. The Historic Resources Commission has told owners of the building that its facade must remain intact. Developer Jordan Jones said renovations are on schedule and should be completed by the end of the year. By February 2019, Jordan said, the building should have 61 apartments plus offices on the eighth floor with restaurants, coffee shops and retail facilities at ground level.

New public safety hires

The Fayetteville Fire Department has hired 17 recruits who graduated from the Fire Academy in June. A significant number of the graduates were minorities. The department has been under pressure in recent months to diversify its force. Fire Chief Ben Major said the academy class included three African-Americans, two Hispanics and two Asians. A total of 62 applicants were interviewed for the vacancies.

Watching the news about the startling situation on America’s southern border regarding separating children from their parents got me to thinking about our old friend Jonathan Swift. Some folks say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, I am sincerely stealing an idea from Jonathan Swift from his 1729 essay about what to do about the children of the poor people of Ireland.

For those of you who may not have been English majors, allow me to briefly summarize Johnny’s proposal. He was concerned about the plight of the Irish poor who could only survive by begging. His suggestion was that Irish children be sold to be eaten. To quote him, “I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well-nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or broiled: and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.”

When his essay came out, some folks did not realize that it was satire. Undoubtedly there will be some of my gentle readers who may take offense to Johnny’s essay and likewise this very column. Kindly be aware that no migrant Hispanic children were harmed in the writing of this column, although the same cannot be said of 2,300 Hispanic children separated from their parents on the Mexican border.

I am not suggesting that migrant children be eaten. As Nixon once said, “That would be wrong.” However, seeing the fenced wire cages the children are being contained in did remind me of the treatment of calves who are destined to be veal. You keep the calves in one place, don’t let them move around much, and they are much tenderer and tastier than free range calves. I hope that whoever is in charge of storing the incarcerated children did not take Jonathan Swift literally.

The cages also reminded me of the “Twilight Zone” episode where benevolent space aliens come down to Earth with cures for diseases and all manner of misery. They start taking humans to a new paradise planet where the humans are told they can start a new and better civilization. Earth scientists manage to translate the title of a book the aliens left behind as “To Serve Man,”  which sounds pretty nice. Sort of like a summer camp in an abandoned Walmart Superstore. Unfortunately, “To Serve Man” turns out to be a cookbook.

But what should be done? Laura Ingraham compared the Walmart Supercenter where the children are being housed to summer camp. Our compassionate friend and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said, “Womp, Womp!” when confronted by a story about a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who had been separated from her parents. Sympathy abounds in Corey’s breast. The government is calling the detention centers where babies and toddlers are being kept “Tender Age Shelters.”

George Orwell would be proud of that phrase. As you may recall, George once said, “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” “Tender Age Shelters” is a triumph of political language. I salute whoever came up with that phrase. Both sides of the immigration debate cannot hear each other over their shouting opposing slogans. Sad.

The news last week began with TV personality Samantha Bee making an ill-considered remark calling Ivanka Trump a feckless cupcake due to Ivanka’s silence on the new zero tolerance policy requiring child/parent separation at the border. Great offense was taken by the Right, as no name-calling has ever come from our president about his perceived enemies. Perhaps if Bee had referred to Ivanka as a feckful cupcake, then all would have been well.

Under the law of the Conservation of Energy, the total amount of feck in an isolated system remains constant. Feck can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be transferred from one form of feck to another form of feck. Either one is full of feck, or one is without feck. Feck is in the eye of the beholder. If you have feck, you are a good person. If you are without feck, you are a bad person. Too bad Bee didn’t understand the distinction. Or, as a disinterested observer might say, “What the feck?”

I leave you with these conflicting thoughts.

Let he who is without feck cast the first stone. Ask not for whom the feck tolls. It tolls for thee.

Years ago, in another life, I attended a presentation by a well-known and respected North Carolina demographer whose talk was entitled “The Browning and Graying of North Carolina.” He addressed our state’s growing diversity and aging population to an audience of “mature” North Carolinians, mostly white and mostly over 50. The demographer expounded on when white people would become a minority in North Carolina and what an aging population means for the workforce, health care and our culture. The United States Census Bureau says this will happen nationally in 2045, though our demographer said earlier in North Carolina.

Suddenly, a man in the audience shouted, “I just don’t believe that!” The demographer brandished another chart, and again the man blurted, “I just don’t believe that!” Patiently, the demographer talked about trends that were long since underway, but when the man shouted for a third time, the demographer looked calmly at the audience and asked us to look to our left and look to our right. “Are any of you people going home tonight to have a baby?” he asked pointedly. The answer was laughably obvious.

Score one for the foresighted demographer.

Newly analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that in 2016, more whites died than were being born in North Carolina and 25 other states. This was true in only four states in 2004. Part of this has to do with North Carolina’s aging population, but other factors include declining birth rates for millennial women since the Great Recession and deaths by despair – drugs, alcohol and suicide – especially among whites between 30 and 59. The change became apparent in rural areas before it became a statewide fact. For example, in Martin County in northeastern North Carolina, deaths now exceed births for both whites and blacks. In the 1990s, Martin County had 12 public schools, but that number has declined with the loss of about 40 percent of its school-age population.

Writing in The New York Times, Sabrina Tavernise said this. “The change has broad implications for identity and for the country’s political and economic life, transforming a mostly white baby boomer society into a multiethnic and racial patchwork.” Pundits of all stripes speculate about what the change means for our politically divided nation, with many asserting that a younger and more diverse electorate will bring a more progressive agenda. Maybe so, but there is certainly no assurance of coalitions forming among diverse groups or that they will even vote with the same frequency that older, whiter voters have over time. Donald Trump is our president, and Democrats in New York just turned out an established and ranking member of Congress in favor of a young woman of Puerto Rican heritage. At 28, she will be the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Both political realities prove that anything is possible.

What I understood the demographer to be saying all those years ago to the rude and disbelieving man is that population trends are like tides. They start, and they build until they wane, or until some other trend overtakes them. They are neither positive nor negative. They are just facts to be dealt with, not handled. We can no more change them than we can change our world’s rising sea levels.

The browning and graying of our state and country is the latest chapter in the evolution of a still-youthful nation. It will continue no matter how you, I or the grumpy old guy feel about it.

For decades, I have used thiscolumn to opine about issuesthat affect the quality of life inthis community. On some rareoccasions, I have yielded thisspace to local civic and politicalleaders and organizations whose messages for a betterFayetteville and CumberlandCounty resonate. The substanceof the messages conveyed mirrorsthe same valued missionand mandates that have madeUp & Coming Weekly a uniquecommunity newspaper. Thisweek, I’m sharing informationfrom one of the most importantprojects and opportunities everto grace our community, theNorth Carolina Civil War &Reconstruction History Center.This is the information you needto be in the know about thiswonderful project. Enjoy.

A town hall meeting, “Toward a More Perfect Union: The N.C. Civil War History & Reconstruction Center,” sponsored by the history center and Fayetteville State University, will be held  Thursday, July 12, at 7 p.m. The event will be in the Rudolph Jones Student Center on FSU’s campus, 1200 Murchison Rd. It is free, and the public is invited to attend.

The town hall, which will be moderated by FSU Chancellor James Anderson, will provide a public forum where the audience will be invited to ask questions. The center’s architect, Victor Vines, and its exhibit designer, Jerry Eisterhold, will answer questions and discuss future plans. Other representatives from the center will also be present to answer questions.

Planners say the town hall meeting is intended to give an overview of the N.C. Civil War History & Reconstruction Center to those who will reside closest to it, within Cumberland County and surrounding areas.

Ground for the first phase of the center was broken April 18. The facility will reside at 801 Arsenal Ave. in Fayetteville, the present site of the Museum of the Cape Fear and the site of the Fayetteville Arsenal. The arsenal was originally built by the U.S. government. At the beginning of the Civil War, it was taken over by the Confederacy. The arsenal was used to produce weapons for the Confederate Army until it and The Fayetteville Observer newspaper building were destroyed by Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman during his Carolinas Campaign in March 1865.

The first phase of building involves rehabilitating three existing Civil War-era homes, including the John Davis House, which will be used as headquarters for the center’s Digital Outreach Education program. Progress is underway.

Also planned on the grounds is a 60,000-square-foot building with construction set to begin in 2020. The building will replace the existing Museum of the Cape Fear.

If built as envisioned, the center will cost $65 million. Of that amount, $27 million has been raised, with $7 million raised privately, $5 million from the state of North Carolina and $7.5 million each from the city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

Once complete, the center will be owned and operated by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

This is a great opportunity for ourcommunity. We hope to see all our Up &Coming Weekly readers there to learn moreabout this future Fayetteville/CumberlandCounty venue and how it will positivelyimpact our community.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

As Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. begins his official role as the new superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, I’m hopeful he’ll review a policy left over from his predecessor and consider changing it.

Dr. Frank Till first got the CC Board of Education to establish a rule that said no students in the county could participate in extracurricular activities if they did not maintain at least a C-average.

As a college graduate who earned both summa cum laude as well as honors while attending UNC Wilmington, I fully support the push for requiring better grades. School is about learning, and athletes need to know that just being stars on the playing field isn’t enough. They’ll be in the game of life a lot longer than they’ll be playing their favorite sport, and the better educated you are, the better your chance for later success.

But I think the CC policy as it stands now is too restrictive and gives our young people and their coaches an unlevel playing field for battle.

When you remove the chance to play completely, for many of these young people you’re taking away one of the main incentives to be in school and stay engaged. There’s a greater risk of them giving up and dropping out completely.

Our coaches and their teammates are being hurt because some of these youngsters are good athletes who aren’t being allowed to compete, robbing their teams the benefit of their talents.

This especially shows in a sport like football, where numbers are crucial to success. Our county football has shown a sharp decline in recent years, with only Cape Fear advancing to a state championship game in recent memory. There was a time we had a team in the finals almost every season.

I’m not suggesting we don’t hold athletes accountable. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has a standard they must meet, and while somewhat low, it does hold them to a certain level of performance.

All I’m asking be changed is removing them from the team. We can still require those who are not maintaining a C-average to attend tutoring sessions led by faculty members willing to volunteer.

I think it’s worth a try and would be a great way to kick off the 2018-19 school year on a positive note.

• We welcome two new head coaches in varsity sports at CC Schools. Travis Lemanski, former coach at North Brunswick and St. Pauls, is the new boys basketball coach at South View, replacing Wendell Wise.

At Gray’s Creek, Nicholas Lewis replaces Anissa Little as girls basketball coach. Lewis comes from Pine Forest Middle School.

• Congratulations to Andrew McCarthy, soccer coach at Fayetteville Academy, who has been named the school’s assistant athletic director.

• A reminder that the annual CC Football Jamboree will be Aug. 8-9. To learn about sponsorship opportunities, call Vernon Aldridge at 910-678-2300.

Here is the schedule for this year’s jamboree:

Aug. 8 at Pine Forest: 6 p.m. - Farmville Central vs. Westover, Rolesville vs. Overhills. 7 p.m. - Union Pines vs. E.E. Smith, Triton vs. Terry Sanford. 8 p.m. - Scotland vs. Cape Fear, Lumberton vs. Pine Forest

Aug. 9 at Jack Britt: 6 p.m. - St. Pauls vs. Douglas Byrd, West Bladen vs. Gray’s Creek. 7 p.m. - East Montgomery vs. Hoke County, Eastern Wayne vs. South View. 8 p.m. - Lee County vs. Seventy-First, Apex Friendship vs. Jack Britt.

The road back to the football success of Douglas Byrd in the late 1990s has been a rocky one for third-year head coach Mike Paroli.

Paroli, the son of legendary Eagle head coach Bob Paroli, is still looking for his first win as head coach after being hired in 2016. The Eagles have posted back-to-back 0-11 seasons in the Patriot Athletic Conference.

Paroli would like to turn the corner this season, but challenges to improvement still remain following the recent conclusion of spring workouts.

“We haven’t gotten as much accomplished in the spring as we would have,’’ Paroli said. “The weight room has been more of a focus. We’re trying to get as strong as we possibly could and worry more about the helmets and shoulder pads things for June.’’

There will be some new faces in the Eagle program this fall, but Paroli declined to elaborate on just who those faces are. “We have some kids who haven’t played here before that we are trying to bring along slowly and find out if they are going to stay with us,” he said.

The biggest problem for the Eagles headed into the official start of practice in August will be rebuilding a secondary from scratch. Another challenge will be trying to continue a philosophy started last year that Paroli admits didn’t work very well, trying to avoid playing any players on offense and defense.

He said they particularly want to keep from doing it early in the season. “That’s going to be a difficult task for us right now,’’ he said.

One thing that has been a plus for the Eagles is a new Cumberland County policy that allows eighth graders to be on the high school campus once Easter break is over. “We are hoping that translates into having a junior varsity team,” Paroli said.

Paroli said he’d like to avoid using any of those incoming freshmen in the secondary, but he added that may have to happen because the situation there is desperate.

One player the Eagles will definitely be using a lot is Nikai Butler, a 6-foot-2-inch, 245-pound senior who has been in the Byrd program since he was a freshman. Paroli said colleges are already talking to Butler, who plays linebacker, defensive line, offensive guard, tight end and just about any other position the Eagles need him.

“He’s had a tremendous offseason,’’ Paroli said. “He’s a straight-A kid, top ten of his class and a wonderful young man. We’ll look at him to play in all those different spots plus be the positive school and team leader he is.’’

Like his coach, Butler realizes there’s no easy solution to turning the Byrd program around. “We just have to continue to work, no matter the circumstances,’’ he said.

Asked if he thinks the Eagles can return to the glory years they enjoyed when Bob Paroli was head coach, Butler quickly replied yes. “I’ve got faith,’’ he said. “We just have to have dedication and people wanting to play.’’

 

 

PHOTOS: (T-B) Mike Paroli & Nikai Butler

“Strike at the Wind!” – a play beloved by generations – returns to Givens Performing Arts Center for two shows as part of the 50th anniversary of Lumbee Homecoming.

The iconic drama, which tells the local story of the Lowrie War in 1865, will be performed Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1.

“Strike at the Wind!” returned in 2017 after a 10-year hiatus, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the Lumbee Tribe.

The play ran from 1976 to 1996 and was staged at the Adolph Dial Amphitheater at the Lumbee Tribal Cultural Center. It returned in 1999 and again in 2007.

Jonathan Drahos, who is directing the play, said 95 percent of the 2017 cast is back, including Matthew Jacobs and Wynona Oxendine, who play the lead roles of Henry Berry Lowrie and his wife, Rhoda Strong.

“Everyone is excited to be back again this year,” said Drahos, director of UNCP Theatre. “The fact that most of the cast is back is a real positive step in the right direction. They were inspired last year by the spirit of the play and the audience response.”

The play chronicles the life of Lowrie, who led a band of men in a seven-year battle against those he believed killed his father and brother.

“The play celebrates the heroic effort of a culture of people,” Drahos said. “This story is one example of the enduring spirit of the Lumbee people and how much their culture has changed history.

“Henry Berry was someone who was able to move the conversation forward toward equality and justice, and that, to me, is the most important aspect of the play. His gang had Native Americans, whites and blacks – people of all races – fighting together for one cause. We need important causes like that in order to progress.”

This year, the play will feature live musical performances by local artists, including Charly Lowry, Mark McKinney & Company, Lakota John, Alexis Jones and Kirk Blue. They will be performing the play’s original songs composed by the late Willie French Lowery.

“Live music, I think, is going to be a major shift from what the audience saw last year,” Drahos said. “It adds a new element. It’s going to be exciting.”

Wynona Oxendine, a graduate of UNCP’s theatre program, teaches drama at Seventy-First High School.

“This play tells such a legendary story,” she said. “This year, the audience is in for another high energy, epic production. We are all super excited!”

The June 30 show begins at 8 p.m. and the July 1 at 5 p.m. Tickets prices for the evening shows are $15. Call 910-521-6361 or visit www.uncp.edu/gpactickets to purchase tickets.