• Oct. 1 Cruise – Into – Paradise at Paradise Acres, 1965 John McMillan Rd. Come out and bring your shiniest car, motorcycle, truck or even tractor to display while enjoying BBQ, fried chicken and the fixins. Kids will love the train ride, jumping castle and playground. Free admission, food prices ranging from $2-8. Details: www.paradiseacres.biz or  (910) 424-2779.

• Oct. 5  Hope Meals Food Truck Rodeo Community Event from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at 5770 Rockfish Rd., featuring BaBann’s Southern Fried Chicken, Straight Drop Seafood, Big T’s and the Blind Pig. Music will be live streamed from an internet radio station.

• Oct 7. Peace, Love and Walk 

Meet at 3770 Rockfish Rd. Contact ALMS HOUSE at (910) 425-0902 for details.

• Oct 9. Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation, 5770 Rockfish Rd. $10 per guest.

• Oct 13. Kiwanis BBQ Fundraiser in the grassy area between the Hope Mills Main Street Wal-Mart and Food Lion across from gas station.  10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monies raised will go toward ALMS House, Shop-with-a-Cop, Bicycle Presentation for Terrific Kids, Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County, Boys and Girls Homes of Lake Waccamaw, and many other community services.  Call (910) 426-7256 for  more information.

• Oct. 20-21 Ole Mill Days Festival 

Celebrate the Mills Way! Ole Mills street dance from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. Saturday, Oct. 21 runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Municipal Parks 1 and 2. Family fun to include: tractor pull, kids’ corner, movie night, food, vendors, craft vendors, and a Mills workers reunion.  Details: (910) 429-4109.

• Oct 21. Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce’s Chili Cook-off as part of Hope Mills Ole Mills Days from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Municipal Ball Park.

• Nov. 4-12 Heroes Homecoming V at the Hope Mills Public Library. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 4 is the first day of a nine-day ceremonious event to honor veterans. On this day, the focus will be on Vietnam Veterans. Visit www.heroeshomecoming.com for more information. The event is free and open to the public.

• Nov. 5 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony and Flag Display hosted by The Hope Mills Veterans Advisory Commission at the Hope Mills Veterans Memorial from 3-4:30 p.m. Special guest speaker will be retired Lt. COL Walt Brinker.  Free and open to the public.

Luis Cordova and his family took a leap of faith in 2014 and opened a small printing business in Hope Mills off Highway 301. It’s not your ordinary print shop. When one walks in, he or she automatically notices the relaxed, down-to-earth atmosphere. The Cordovas believe in building relationships and helping the customer feel at ease throughout the process. With pictures of Paris and Venice lining the walls of a small sitting area, T-Shirt Printing Express allows for relaxation while you wait.

“I mainly grew up in Bladen County,” Cordova said. “(I) went to West Bladen. My brother began working in a print shop in Elizabethtown, and he was really good at it.”

His older brother, Otto, is the second of three brothers who own the business. He, along with Luis and their older brother Jose, meticulously manage every detail to make sure customers receive exactly what they ordered. Otto runs the press and designs the graphics while Luis and Jose answer the phone calls and emails for orders. However, each brother is trained to do all the tasks. Jose is stationed in Kentucky with his wife who is in the Army. He works every day, answering calls and emails from customers, new or existing. Each brother is dedicated to helping one another and the business to grow.

Worldwide

“I see us growing to the point to where we have to get a bigger building,” Luis said. “But I know that will take time. Our biggest client is the military. But we do a lot for businesses around Cumberland County.”

The brothers also service places in Japan and the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq. “Our name is being seen across the globe,” Luis said.

Process to Perfection

“We don’t just print T-shirts; we do promotional and business items as well,” Luis said. The shop prints pens, koozies, banners, tents and more.

It all begins with a request from a client. The process can take anywhere from two to five hours from beginning to end. The turn-around time is a week or less, depending on product and quantity.

Family Ties

Felix Cordova is the kind and humble patriarch of the family. An immigrant from Guatemala, he moved to Connecticut along with Otto in the early 2000s while his wife, Carmen, stayed behind and took care of Luis and Jose.

Because of living expenses in the north, Felix decided to relocate to Bladen County. Once settled, he moved his wife and other two boys to North Carolina. Because of the long drive from Bladen County and back every day after the shop opened, the family decided to move to Cumberland County.

“It was too much money for gas and too much time wasted in cars,” Luis explained.

Felix is retired now and helps by folding shirts and doing other light activities around the shop.

“My dad worked hard all his life. He raised us, and he deserves to relax and enjoy his retirement,” Luis said. “We even hung a hammock back there for him.”

“Mama Carmen,” the loving matriarch of the family, cooks every day for her husband and boys.

“We never have to eat out,” Luis said. “She makes sure we are fed. She cooks it and brings it to us every day.”  

In return, the sons look after Mrs. Cordova by helping with house repairs and other things requested.

The family is close and takes care of one another. This carries through in their business with the quality of service, warmth and professionalism.

PHOTO: Luis, Felix and Otto Cordova

So, it’s been a while since I’ve been to school. It’s a good thing I’m a quick learner. On Thursday, Sept.14, I participated in my first class of the Hope Mills Citizens Academy. I must admit, I was a little nervous. And rightly so, considering I was beginning a week late. However, Deborah Holland, the town clerk, welcomed me with a warm greeting.

After grabbing my tasty lasagna from Zorba’s (oh yeah, the class was catered), I sat down between a senior from one of the local high schools and a young veteran. I noticed the variety in age and background of the participants, and I realized that everyone could learn from these sessions.

Chancer F. McLaughlin took the first hour to teach us about his many duties as the development and planning administrator for the Town of Hope Mills. We learned about zoning, variances, the importance of community engagement and many other planning details that help the town grow while maintaining order amongst its residents and new businesses.

The best part was a mock hearing based on rezoning land from residential to commercial. Some of us were the developers. Some were chosen to be opposed while others were assigned to be supportive of the rezoning effort. Some of us were the commissioners. And of course, we had a mayor.

What intrigued me were the many different viewpoints on both sides. It was interactive, and I have a deeper appreciation for the roles of the commissioners. They literally must make decisions that can forever alter the history of this community.

McLaughlin was quite thorough and helped everyone understand what goes on behind the scenes at Community Development. So, the next time you ride down a street in Hope Mills and you see a house being built or a new business that will be coming, remember and appreciate that it took a detailed process for that resident or that business owner/developer to get permission to build in Hope Mills.

For the last hour, the class learned about what it takes to be an inspector for the Town of Hope Mills. Ray Reeves (chief building inspector), Kenny Tatum (building inspector), Clara Hines (permitting specialist) and Emily Weidner (code enforcement officer) each explained the importance of their jobs. They are each trained and licensed to inspect the homes and buildings in which we live and work, give permits for building extensions or even for serving alcohol and enforce the laws and ordinances governed by the town of Hope Mills. Each building is inspected for mechanical soundness, electric, plumbing and of course, building safety issues to make sure it is within the guidelines set forth by the government. Without the town’s inspectors, buildings could fall on us, easily catch on fire or flood.

You want to have a pool in your yard or build a deck? Make sure you call the Hope Mills Inspection Department. Emily Weidner is the only code enforcement officer in Hope Mills. Her job is to make sure buildings and yards are safe and not cluttered. Part of her job is to condemn buildings if she finds them inhabitable. However, she does depend on local citizens to help report any areas that could use a once-over from her.

Inspectors Reeves (level 3) and Tatum (level 2) are constantly making sure homes and businesses, as well as new construction, are within guidelines. They believe in going by the book and will not give a permit if they deem the building not up to par. Please note, these permits are based on safety guidelines, not on aesthetics.

Hines knows what she is talking about when it comes to what is needed for a permit to be given. From installing pools to adding extensions on homes to changing plumbing or electrical wires, Hines is the one who oversees the permits. If you have doubts about a contractor, she will look up their credentials and let you know if the contractor is credible or even licensed.

Everyone from the inspections department emphasized safety. They do what they do to help keep the citizens of Hope Mills safe.

All-in-all, it was a great learning experience. I have a newfound perspective on the Town of Hope Mills and what it takes to operate this municipality. All speakers eagerly answered questions with detail.

Learn more about the inspections department at http://nc-hopemills.civicplus.com/176/ Inspections.

Anna Boyette Terry Sanford

• Senior

• Volleyball

Boyette has a weighted grade point average of 4.6250. She is active in student government, the Friends Club, 12th Man and the Key Club.

Andrew Esterly Gray’s Creek

• Senior

• Soccer Esterly has an unweighted grade point average of 4.0. He is a defending conference champion in wrestling, plays tennis, is active in student government and attended Governor’s School.

The physical distance between Douglas Byrd and South View High Schools is only a few miles. But the challenges Jerry Roberts faced in making the trek have been huge.

Just over a week ago, Roberts made his debut for the South View football team, carrying 18 times for 116 yards and scoring from five yards out with 39 seconds left to seal a 29-26 win over Westover.

The victory kept South View unbeaten at 5-0 as the Tigers head into a critical Patriot Athletic Conference game this Friday at Pine Forest.

It’s quite a difference from where Roberts was this time last year. He was injured in his third game of the season with Douglas Byrd, and he would not return to the field for the Eagles.

Off the field, he was beset by personal issues beyond his control. His football future appeared in doubt until his former head coach at Douglas Byrd, Scott Barbour, and his wife Ashley, opened their home to Roberts and took him in.

“Coach Barbour and his family were an excellent support system for me,’’ Roberts said. “I want to thank everybody who’s worried about my condition and athleticism and helped (get) me through it.’’

South View coach Rodney Brewington didn’t know anything about Roberts and his football pedigree until he enrolled at South View. “Every year you get transfers in and out,’’ Brewington said. “When I laid eyes on him I was like, ‘Wow.’”

With good reason. Roberts is a solid 5-feet-10, 190 pounds. A classic power running back, he bench presses 350 pounds and squats 400.

But that’s not the end of his impressive statistics. He’s strong in the classroom, where he carries a 3.9 grade point average.

Brewington said South View school officials were careful to consult with the central office of Cumberland County Schools to make sure Roberts’ transfer was completely proper. “Any time you get a kid that comes from another school there is a protocol you have to follow,’’ Brewington said. “We went step by step. It was a rigorous process.’’

Roberts finally became eligible to join the South View team the Tuesday before the Westover game. But now he faces another challenge.

“He’s picked up the system as far as the plays we have designed for him, but as far as the entire system he’s weeks behind,’’ Brewington said. “Every week we try to give him a new wrinkle.’’

The good news for Roberts is South View had an open date prior to this week’s game with Pine Forest, giving him a little extra time to get up  to speed.

When he has time, he sits down with Brewington and his son, Tiger quarterback Donovan, to go over plays and learn more about the entire South View offense.

“I want to be the person that if I have to put the team on my back and carry us to a win I can bring the whole team with me,’’ Roberts said. “Friday night we formed a bond. The whole team came together.’’

Brewington knows it will take that same kind of unity this week against Pine Forest. “We know other teams are going to be able to out-athlete us,’’ Brewington said. “Our biggest thing is playing team ball and doing our assignments. Our thing is to figure a groove and work it so hopefully we can come away with a victory.’’

PHOTO: Jerry Roberts and Coach Rodney Brewington

Joe Grates spends most of his time teaching English and coaching football at Cape Fear High School, but once a week he sheds both those roles and moves into a completely different arena: media star.

For the second year, with the help of a cast of student assistants, Grates puts together the weekly “Montee and Joe and the Jam” Cape Fear football show on YouTube.

The idea originally came from Cape Fear athletic director Matt McLean, who sent Grates a link to a production being done by students at Greenville Rose High School. “He (McLean) kept pushing it and said this is doable,’’ Grates said. McLean encouraged Grates to get students involved under his guidance.

Last year, Julia Polk was the student who handled the production end of things while Montell “Montee” Moore of the Colt football team joined Grates as the on-air host of the show.

“It started off with me and Montee just interviewing a different person each day,’’ Grates said. They did one special show for the annual powder puff football game, going out onto the field and creating a Sports Center- type desk and doing interviews there.

When Cape Fear made its run to the state 4-A title game, Grates did a segment where he walked the halls of the school the week before the game and interviewed students and faculty.

There are plans down the road to take the show further. “Matt had mentioned doing it yearlong, moving into basketball, baseball and softball and of course doing interviews,’’ Grates said. “We have a green screen in the library we want to use, pushing the boundaries of what we do.’’

Moore graduated in June, so he’s been replaced by a pair of injured members of this year’s football team, Chris Matthews and Austin Hunt.

The rest of this year’s crew includes director Ashlyn Hall, production assistants Elizabeth White and Kelsie Mullins and visual effects specialist Jacob Cole. Also lending a hand are Cassie Griffin and Nature Gore.

Griffin said she loves video production and thought working on the show would be fun. Gore said she’s been a student of Grates’ for two years.

“He’s just the best teacher,’’ she said. “He’s fun and enjoyable and makes class not seem like class.’’

A number of the students are in Grates’ classes and cite his influence as a big reason they volunteered to help out.

Grates said he didn’t realize what kind of reach the show had until he went to a local restaurant to pick up food for the state championship game. The restaurant manager recognized him from watching one of the shows on YouTube.

“It’s fun and I love that the spotlight is on the kids,’’ Grates said. “It’s a feel-good type of thing.’’

PHOTO: Second row: L-R Cassie Griffin, Elizabeth White, Kelsie Mullins, Nature Gore, Ashlyn Hall  First row: L-R Chris Matthews, Coach Joe Grates, Austin Hunt

Part of the magic of Friday night high school football is you never know when history might be made.

There was already a ton of history at E.E. Smith’s D.T. Carter Stadium when Xeavier Bullock and his Golden Bull teammates took the field against Gray’s Creek recently. But Bullock wound up creating his own memorable night by throwing eight touchdown passes in the 53-34 win.

Bullock finished one scoring pass short of the state record of nine, which was set in 2012 by Raleigh Wakefield quarterback Connor Mitch.

Bullock shares second place on the all-time list in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association record book with five other quarterbacks.

Another former quarterback, Trey Edge of DK Sports, Inc., handled radio play-by-play of Bullock’s game and came away impressed. Edge played quarterback at Terry Sanford and led the Bulldogs to the state 4-A finals in 1983.

“They attacked outside and short and got the ball to their guys in space,’’ Edge said. “Once he got the defense loosened up, he started flinging it 30 and 40 yards down the field. It was the greatest performance I’ve ever seen.’’

Bullock completed 22 of 31 passes with no interceptions for 287 yards. His scoring throws covered 35, 34, 23, 21, 19, 15, 5 and 3 yards.

Jurrod Hall caught three of the scoring passes, Bryan Davis and Rahsaan Young two apiece and Toshiro Spivey one.

E.E. Smith offensive coordinator Jeremy Priebe said passing figured to be important for Smith going into the game. “Gray’s Creek has a real tough defensive line,’’ he said. “I thought we could attack them through the air, get some quick passes in.’’

Bullock said the Golden Bulls sometimes have a problem starting slow. He was anxious to avoid that. “I want to execute and do whatever we can to put it in the box,’’ he said. “We executed and moved the ball down the field. I give all the props to my teammates.’’

While Bullock said he’s honored to be thought of in the same company as former Smith quarterback legends like Jimmy Raye and Charles Baggett, he added one big game isn’t going to change him.

“Mostly I want to stay humble,’’ he said. “I don’t want to get too excited about having a winning record, because last year we didn’t do so good. We want to stay focused and continue executing like we did.’’

Asked if Bullock’s big night might put pressure on him to repeat the performance, Smith head coach Deron Donald said there is no pressure on Smith, just expectations. “We have expectations and work hard every day to make sure we meet those expectations,’’ he said. “Xeavier accomplished it, but the whole team — the offensive line, receivers, running backs — everybody did their part to make it a reality.

“We expect great things to happen because of the work they put in.’’

PHOTO: Assistant coach Jeremy Priebe, Xeavier Bullock and head coach Deron Donald

Sweet Tea Shakespeare and Honest Pint Theatre Company present “King Lear” Sept. 28–30 at 7:30 p.m. at Seabrook Auditorium on the campus of Fayetteville State University.    

“The play is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s masterpieces, and it is a long play with a really challenging role of King Lear,” Jeremy Fiebig, artistic director of Sweet Tea Shakespeare and director of “King Lear,” said. “Some people consider it the Mount Everest of Shakespeare’s work in terms of a role to be performed.”

Fiebig added they have partnered with a company out of Raleigh called Honest Pint Theatre. He met with the artistic director and discussed an eager actor who wanted to play the lead.

“King Lear” is a Shakespearean tragedy in which the king decides to retire and divide his kingdom among his three daughters. Two of his daughters go along with the plan, and one does not. “King Lear becomes more insane as the play goes on and his daughters engage in war — and the play attracts all of that,” Fiebig said. “King Lear will be an indoor performance, but we are bringing the outdoors inside with it, so there will be a picnic table, a grass patch, trees and lighting that really invites us to think about what the outdoors is like.” 

Sweet Tea Shakespeare was founded in Fayetteville in 2012. The group sees opportunity for humor in tragedies, and the result is a production that will scratch a lot of different kinds of itches regarding what audience members will see. Sweet Tea Shakespeare performs throughout the year with a mix of indoor and outdoor performances.

“We present classic plays throughout the year in Fayetteville, and we travel to Raleigh,” Fiebig said. “We have a series that goes to local craft breweries, vineyards and bars that does that sort of irreverent take on Shakespeare as well.”

Fiebig added that the group has a house band. So, when there is a show, it is wrapped in music. Audiences are welcome to come 45 minutes before the show to enjoy the music. There is also music during intermission and throughout the play.

Ticket cost is $15 for the general public, $13 for seniors and military and $8 for students and kids 6-12 years of age. Tickets available at www.sweetteashakespeare.com and www. honestpinttheatre.org.

Twenty years ago, Billy West won the Cumberland County Golf Championship Classic at Gates Four Golf and Country Club. Two weeks ago, on Sept. 15-17, he shot the same three-day total on the Gates Four course as he did in 1997 — even-par 216 over three days — and earned his seventh CCGCC win.

West, who serves as Cumberland County’s district attorney, named two pivotal moments that determined his victory. The first was at the seventh hole on Friday, in the first round of the tournament. West was one under par through the first six holes.

“And then I came to the par-3 seventh hole and hit a shot a little to the left — my tee shot — and it plugged up under the lip of the bunker,” he said. “I’ve been playing in this championship for 26 years, and it was the worst break that I’ve ever had. If I would’ve hit 10,000 balls, I could not have gotten it to go up under the lip of the bunker like that.”

It took him three shots to get the ball out, and he ended up posting a triple bogey. At that point, West, said, it could have all been over. “But I really had a good focus and determination all weekend, and I said,... ‘let’s not let this hole define the tournament. I didn’t want to look back and say 2017 was the year I had the triple bogey in the first round and that was the end of the tournament for me.’” He bogeyed again on the next hole, which he attributed to trying too hard, and then he played 3-under-par for the rest of the tournament.

He ended with a 74 for the first round while last year’s champion, Thomas Owen, led with 70. Owen continued his lead on Saturday. It was in the final holes on Sunday that West’s second pivotal moment came.

“Years down the road, it’s the one I’ll remember,” he said. West caught up to Owen early in Sunday’s round, and they were back and forth all day. West led by one coming into the par-3 15th hole. He again hit his tee shot into the left bunker, which is where he’d hit it when he made the triple bogey on Friday.

“My bunker game ironically had been really good all weekend aside from that shot on Friday,” West said. “I ended up making the bunker shot for a birdie. I’ve been playing competitive golf for 35 years, and I don’t know that I’ve ever made a bunker shot in a pressured situation.”

West and Owen both made par on the last three holes, which meant West maintained his twoshot lead and took the championship title with a finalround score of 72.

West said this win was particularly special to him for several reasons, the most significant being his family. He said his father Bill has been there for every single one of his wins, and his wife Suzanna for almost all of them. But this was the first year he’s been able to share a win with his whole family — including son Will, 8, and daughter Lila, 4.

“My daughter was not even born (the last time I won) in 2011, and to be able to win this year, … and for us to be able to experience it as a family was very special,” he said. “To be honest, it was an opportunity I didn’t know whether I would have or not.” He cited his age and the fact that he’d finished second in four out of the five tournaments between now and his last win as reasons he’d been unsure.

“The seventh victory seemed to be elusive,”  he said.

Another factor was the course itself. The CCGCC rotates location but has been held at Gates Four several times since West’s win there in 1997. West had placed second a couple of times but hadn’t managed to win again at that course until now. “Gates Four, because it is a very long, 7,000-yard-long golf course, is not traditionally the best setup for me,” West said. “For me it was probably the least likely place to pick up my seventh win, particularly at 43 years old. You just never know in golf; that’s what makes it such a great game.”

Twenty-eight-year-old Owen finished second in the tournament with a final-round score of 77 and a total score of 218. “I was really pleased with the way that I played, … but kind of towards the end I got outplayed by Billy,” he said. “He’s a great friend and a great competitor.”

Owen called the tournament a learning experience. “We always joke around that if we could combine our games into one, we’d have something pretty special because we both have different strengths.” Owen said he definitely has a length advantage over West, which helped on the Gates Four course.

As for Wests’ advantage? “I feel like he just has this level of focus that is unmatched,” Owen said. “When you’re playing in a three-day golf tournament, 54 holes, it’s kind of a marathon. He understands that. He knows the shots you hit on the first day are just as important as the shots you hit on the last three holes of the tournament when it comes down to the wire and everybody’s watching. Maintaining that level of focus is a lot easier said than done, and I think that’s ultimately where he got me.” 

West was frank in his remarks about Owen: “I said it after the tournament, and I don’t mind saying it: I think day-in and day-out, Thomas is a better player than I am now. I was just a little bit better on Sunday. … Thomas and I are good friends, and I’m... humbled that he looks at me as a bit of a mentor with his golf game. I’ve finished second to Thomas six or seven times (at other local tournaments) in the past three years.”

Matt Hudson, a consistently competitive  CCGCC player, finished third at 225. Gary Robinson, who holds a record eight CCGCC wins, tied with Ryan Hull for fourth at 228.

This year saw the first time three former CCGCC champions were grouped in the final round: West, Owen and Robinson.

Juan Sanders won the Open Division at 230, Chuck Mohn won the Senior Division at 226, and Ron Thompson won the Super Senior Flight at 233.

Angelique Seymour, a 16-year-old junior at Liberty Christian Academy, won the inaugural Women’s Division by 53 shots at 227. Seymour is no stranger to accolades in athletics. She placed in the top three of her division in the 2012 USA Taekwondo National Championship in Dallas, Texas, when she was just 12 years old. A yearlater, after receiving her black belt, she changed course and began to focus on golf. Her dad had suggested she try it out as a good possibility for getting college scholarships.

“At first I was a little bit hesitant, but … I fell in love with the game,” she said. She said she plays an emotional game, which she knows “isn’t the best idea,” but that it’s just part of who she is.

Seymour said she definitely plans to enter again next year and that she hopes to talk some of her friends into entering as well.

DeeDee Jarman, Methodist University’s deputy athletic director, assisted tournament coordinator Bill Bowman in implementing the Women’s Division. “What a performance Angelique put on (for) the three days of the championship,” Jarman said. “She is an incredible young lady, and she has a very promising future in golf.” Jarman hopes to use word of mouth to grow the division from its first-year showing of four women.

Scooter Buhrman, Gates Four PGA professional, has helped with the tournament for years and won the champion title in 2007. “ I think this was a great tournament,” he said. “We had 87 players, about 25 more than last year. So it did grow, and we’re hoping next year with the 50th anniversary we can get 100 to 120 players.”

The 50th CCGCC will again be held at Gates Four and will see a revival of the Past Champions’ Dinner, a tradition that lasted 20 years until it was last held in 2009. The dinner occurs the week of the tournament prior to the competition and invites all the tournament’s past winners to enjoy a meal together.

“That will be special to see some of those people that are no longer competing but can still come out and share some of the stories of the heyday of the tournament,” said Kevin Lavertu, general manager at Gates Four. “When you start building events that go on for 20, 30, 50 years, … it means a lot to many of the players in the community. Many will tell you that they play a lot of tournaments throughout the state and nationally, and this tournament is one of the ones they hold most near and dear and most look forward to playing in, year-in and year-out.”

“The fact that it is 50 years old is pretty remarkable,” Owen said. “Think about it. That’s something local here that’s been going on for 50 years.” West agreed. “I have a love and a reverence for the history of the tournament. … The 50th anniversary (is) an opportunity to celebrate the history and tradition of the tournament and what it’s been through the years. I think it kind of comes at a perfect time, as we move forward with the tournament, getting it back to the prominence it once had.

“Probably half of the people in the championship division I hadn’t played with before or didn’t know, and for many years, that was not the case. … We definitely have got a young group of golfers coming through.” 

West has been playing in the tournament since 1991, and he won his first CCGCC title in 1994 when he was 19 years old.

Visit CumberlandCountyGolfClassic.com to see a full list of scores from the 49th CCGCC. To learn more about the 50th anniversary tournament, call (910) 425-6667 ext. 224.

The WIDU Anniversary is back and includes several events spanning two weeks from Oct. 1-14.

Located in Fayetteville, the WIDU 1600 AM radio station anniversary celebration includes performances, prayer rallies, inspirational gatherings and more. WIDU provides its listeners with all that a station entails, with a primary emphasis on gospel music. Looking back to when it all started in 1958 and fast forwarding to now, WIDU has maintained a highly respectable reputation by staying true to its mission and continuously promoting “inspiration and information” through news and music.

The WIDU Anniversary is is packed with chart-topping and record-breaking gospel artists, live and concert-style gospel music, educational and motivational conferences, empowerment services, prayer breakfasts and so much more. The two-week celebration is designed to uplift, encourage and change lives. Every day from Oct. 1-14 features a special event.

Oct. 1, the Day of Prayer and Prayer Rally will be held at Faith Tabernacle Christian Center in St. Pauls, North Carolina. This rally serves as the official kick-off for the anniversary. WIDU administrators request churches and people to join together to pray for the attendees of the WIDU Anniversary. It begins at 6 p.m. 

Saturday, Oct. 7, is a free youth concert held at the John D. Fuller Recreational Complex in Fayetteville. The title of the concert is Red Revolution. Starting at 6 p.m., this event features artists such as Julius Witherspoon, Generation Joshua, Brian “Young Saint” Carter and many more. 

There will be a stage play Oct. 9 at Kingdom Impact Global Ministries in Fayetteville. Titled “Daddy’s Boys,”  the play is presented by GDavis Productions. This event is set to start at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. is a Unity Service at Fayetteville’s Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Seven years running, the worship service serves the purpose of gathering all church denominations under one roof. The aim is that though everyone comes from different backgrounds, attendees can still come together to worship Jesus Christ.

The next day at 7 p.m. is the Together as One event. This is when WIDU artists minister through songs at local churches in the community.

The next three days feature the celebration’s biggest events.

On Thursday, Oct.12, at noon, the Crown Expo will host the Women’s Empowerment Luncheon featuring pastor Ruby Holland and Grammy-nominated singer Kelly Price.

Following this at the Crown Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. is the annual Carolina’s Best competition. The categories include soloists, choirs/groups and quartet groups. Those who attend will have the chance to win various cash prizes. Finalists will be judged by Grammy-nominated singers including Travis Greene, Kim Burrell, Kelly Price and JJ Hairston. The opening concert is JJ Hairston and the closing concert is Travis Greene.

Friday, Oct. 13, at the Crown Expo, is the Prayer Breakfast with Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr. and gospel singer Maranda Curtis. Later that evening at 5 p.m. at the Coliseum, the Traditional Gospel Night event will feature notable artists such as Rev. Rance Allen, Harvey Watkins, Lisa Knowles-Smith, John P. Kee and more.

The last day of the WIDU Anniversary, Oct. 14, is the celebration. Grammy award-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin is set to take the stage and close the event. However, he will not be the only one onstage. Joining Franklin will be gospel artist Tasha Cobbs-Leonard and other surprise guests. For more information, visit www.widuanniversary.com.

Melissa M. Reed is on the board of directors for the Autism Society of Cumberland County, or ASCC. Two years ago, she wanted to do something fun and exciting for the community. But she also wanted to do something different. As a result, we can now look forward to The Fayetteville Lip Sync Battle. The event will take place Sept. 30 at the Crown Ballroom, 1960 Coliseum Road.

The ASCC took inspiration from the television show “Lip Sync Battle,” which has roots in an exceptionally popular segment on the “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” show. Like the show that inspired it, the Fayetteville Lip Sync Battle has quickly grown into something much bigger and more entertaining than originally expected.

When talking about the lineup of contestants, Reed said, “Even outside of their performance, they have a lot of personality.” In particular, the group from the Cape Beard Follicles of Freedom, a beard and mustache oriented club, has left an impression. Reed said, “They are doing a boy band kind of performance and really have their stage down.” They will be making artistic use of a fan, though Cape Beard wouldn’t give Reed the details of their performance.

Audience votes will decide the battles,  and the competition has already begun. Even now, the Fayetteville Lip Sync Battle website is active and allows fans to vote for contestants. A donation of $5 gives one vote for your favorite performer, and a donation of $20 gives five votes. There will also be opportunities to vote at the event, but Reed noted that if you know a competitor, you shouldn’t wait.

Competition will be fierce. A performer from Impressive Tresses Salon is slated to lip sync “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, and Reed said, “I expect her to challenge the Cape Beard guys more than they have expected.”

After the competition is over and Fayetteville has a new lip sync champion, there will be a dance and celebration at the venue. The competition starts at 7:30 p.m. but, for those interested, there will be a VIP cocktail reception at 6 p.m. Regular tickets sell for $65 and VIP tickets for $75.

All proceeds will be used by the ASCC to help parents and caregivers with family members who have been  diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Tickets and voting will be available both at the venue and on the Fayetteville Lip Sync Battle website, www.faynclipsyncbattle.com.  Those interested in competing can call (910) 826-9100.

Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery presents “An Evening with a Champion” Saturday, Sept. 30, at  6 p.m. Allison Fisher is the woman of the hour, and she is the most accomplished female pool player in the history of cue sports.  

“Allison Fisher started at a very young age playing Snooker, and by the time she was 17, she won her first world championship,” said Jeff Martin, marketing director for Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery and Allison Fisher. “When she was in her 20s, she made a decision to pack a bag and bought a one-way ticket to Charlotte, North Carolina.”  Martin added that Fisher travels around the world and is an ambassador for cue sports.     

Allison’s story is motivational and inspiring. What motivates her?  The word “No.” Allison was only seven years old when she first picked up a cue. She was watching Snooker on TV with her dad and asked for a pool table for Christmas. She received that table and fell in love with the game. That passion drove her to pursue all kinds of awards and titles for her skills and expertise in the sport. 

A few of Fisher’s many awards include a Gold Medal, 4 World Championships (WPA), 8 U. S. National Championships (WPBA), more “Player of the Year” titles than any other sports star, 2 ESPN championships and many more major titles. 

The Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery event features dinner, Allison’s story, a trick shot exhibition, challenge matches, a question and answer session and special guests 12-year-old Joey Tate and 14-year-old Joshua Shultz. Tate and Shultz both live in North Carolina and recently earned the right to compete at a world event in Moscow.

“If you have millennials who are still living at home in their 20s and waiting on a job to arrive at the door, bring them to hear Allison speak,” Martin said. “If you have children who feel they are entitled to live with their parents and spend every waking moment on their cell phone or iPad, Allison Fisher will motivate them to put those items down.”

Martin added that we live in a world where you work hard if you are a worker, and you may not necessarily be where you want to be in life but you get by. You can either let the word “no” crush you or let it light a fire in your belly.                  

Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery is located at 195 Vineyard Dr. in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the website www.corkroomdining.com.

The Cape Fear Regional Theater knows how to kick off a season — music, dancing, singing and the story of a dream. A few dreams, actually. Effie, Deena and Lorrell are The Dreams, a trio of singers aspiring for fame in the Motown era. The women find that success requires compromise and may cost them their friendship.

With love lost and found along the way and some friendships broken and mended, “Dreamgirls” is a roller coaster of emotion that the talented cast handles beautifully. CFRT Artistic Director Mary Catherine Burke said the entire cast has a passion for performing. You won’t doubt that when you see the show.

The cast includes leads Nattalyee Randall as Effie White, Diamond Essence White as Deena Jones, and Stephanie Rocio as Lorrell Robinson. Kwame Remy is Jimmy “Thunder” Early, Marktavious Patton is Curtis Taylor, Jr., and Darius Jordan Lee is C.C. White. All but Patton (who played the Tin Man in last season’s “The Wiz”) are making their CFRT debut with “Dreamgirls.”

Randall brought the audience to a standing ovation with her powerful performance of “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” Her raw emotion made me feel every bit of sadness, disappointment and anger the character was feeling. Randall’s energy was evident and definitely a highlight of the show. But it was her performance of “I Am Changing” later in the show that really displayed her talent and range. As frenzied and raw as the former song was, the latter was balanced and calm, yet gripping.

Another musical treat is when Patton, Lee and Remy lead the company in “Steppin’ to the Bad Side.” The performance, early in the show, lets us know that we are in for a talented range of vocals and fun dance moves.

Director Suzanne Agins brings the music, emotion, costumes and dance together with motion. The constant motion of the actors and props brings the stage alive with energy and excitement. With a live band onstage throughout the show, it feels like we are getting a peek backstage for the musical numbers. Although much of the story is about performing onstage, it still felt very intimate and personal.

Of special note is the work of Lighting Designer Maranda DeBusk. It happened before I realized it, but the lighting itself became a supporting character, adding not only colors and hues, but changing tone and emotion as the performers sang and danced.

“Dreamgirls” book and lyrics are by Tom Eyen, and the music is by Henry Krieger. The show is choreographed by Randy A. Davis.

“Dreamgirls” runs through Oct. 8, so get your tickets now because this is a show you don’t want to miss. For ticket information, call the box office at (910) 323-4233 or visit www.cfrt.org.

Once every hour and 12 minutes  — that’s how often U.S. military veterans kill themselves. About 20 veterans committed suicide each day in 2014 — the year for which the most recent statistics were available, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

VA Secretary David Shulkin referred to this national tragedy as “an unacceptable statistic,” in an interview with The Hill.

“We’re reaching out to community groups, to academic groups,” Shulkin was quoted as saying. “We’re trying new therapies and treatments. And I certainly hope that we can have a big impact on this problem.”

There were 71 suicides among men and women on active duty, 20 suicides of reservists and 31 National Guard suicides in the first quarter of 2017, according to the Defense Suicide Prevention Office. Officials are evaluating a series of factors that have been developed as a profile. Suicide risk factors include being male, Caucasian and having psychiatric trauma, said Dr. Craig Bryan, executive director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah.

Fort Bragg authorities typically do not publicly acknowledge soldier suicides. “(Department of the Army) holds those records and does not allow each installation to release them,” said Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum. The media section of Bragg’s Public Affairs Office routinely releases news of what it describes as unspecified deaths on post. Army authorities use a news release template. Media inquiries are referred to Army Criminal Investigation Command Headquarters where news outlets are told the cases are under investigation.

“We readily admit that our death investigations take time due to our thoroughness and the fact that we investigate all deaths to a standard of homicide,” said Chris Grey, chief of public affairs for the Army Criminal Investigation Command. Routinely, confirmed suicide deaths are added statistically to quarterly reports of the DSPO.

For both post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, “part of the issue is not necessarily combatrelated,” Dr. M. David Rudd, the co-founder and scientific director of the National Center of Veterans Studies, told Fox News. He cited the “stress of being in the military during wartime,” saying there’s an intensified operations pace for those both deployed and at home.

Military men and women who enlisted since 2001 have known they would likely be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The military, Dr. Keita Franklin, director of the DSPO, explained, has been trying to distance people at risk of suicide from methods that could be used to harm them like by giving them gun locks. Most military suicides involve personallyowned weapons, Franklin said. “We’re not trying to restrict their weapons,” she added, instead stressing that it’s a risk reduction method. Other resources available include the website Military OneSource, military family life consultants, a peer support line and embedded behavioral health providers for units.

Treatment facilities are also an option. Cognitive behavioral therapy is “the gold standard” Franklin explained, which “helps people kind of unpack their current beliefs. What’s right for one person isn’t right for another.” The therapy involves 12 sessions instead of years of treatment. In a study published in 2015, active-duty Army soldiers at Fort Carson, Colorado, were given either regular treatment, or regular treatment along with cognitive behavioral therapy. Rudd, Bryan and others found that soldiers in CBT were approximately 60 percent less likely to attempt suicide during follow-up than soldiers in treatment as usual. A Military Crisis Line is available for service members and veterans who can also text for help. Service members and veterans can also participate in online chats with Veterans Affairs responders.

The Hope Mills area produced this year’s Cumberland County Teacher of the Year — Leslie Seals. To be eligible for selection as a teacher of the ear, the State Board of Education requires that a person must hold a Standard Professional 2 license, be employed full-time and spend at least 70 percent of his or her time in direct instruction of North Carolina public school students.

Locally, candidates are selected by their schools. “Each school selects their nominee differently, e.g., faculty vote, principal choice, etc., but state eligibility criteria must be met,” according to Cumberland County Schools representative Renarta Clanton Moyd.

Once a teacher is selected at the school level, his or her name is submitted for districtwide judging. “Each teacher of the year candidate, usually about 86 of them, submits a portfolio for review and is interviewed by a team of three attendance area judges and a facilitator,” Moyd added.

Winners from each attendance area are selected, and those 10 candidates are interviewed by a panel of five judges, among them the current local teacher of the year and principal of the year, plus community partners and selected retired educators. Once a county winner is determined and announced at the annual banquet, the winner’s name is submitted to the NC Department of Public Instruction for competition in the region, and then the state.

County Commission Chairman Glenn Adams led off State of the Community speeches by cautioning those in attendance to “not believe everything they read or hear in the media.” Moments earlier, in an interview with Up & Coming Weekly, Adams said essentially the same thing while defending disagreements county government has with the city of Fayetteville. Adams characterized them as discussions, but later in his address, he admitted that “there are disagreements.”

Mayor Nat Robertson alluded to Adams’ remarks, saying, “We are not always compatible, but we are respectful.” He noted Fayetteville is ranked No. 1 in the state and eighth in the nation in fiscal strength among 116 American cities with a population of more than 200,000, according to the Fiscal Health Index compiled by the California Policy Center.

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner spoke of the town’s battle following Hurricane Matthew to deal with floods that briefly cut the town off from the rest of the county. Noting that Hope Mills is famous for water, she said contractors were pouring cement for the new Hope Mills Lake dam as she spoke. Warner said she hoped the town would be able to impound water for the lake by Election Day.

Other speakers represented Spring Lake and Fort Bragg. Board of Education representation was noticeably absent.

PHOTO: Mayor Nat Robertson

Early voting for Fayetteville’s 2017 municipal election is underway. Early primary voting ends Saturday, Oct. 7. There’s one ballot for the citywide primary race for Fayetteville mayor. There are also primary races in six of the city’s nine city council districts.

Primaries are necessary for those races where there are more than twice the number of candidates for a given office. They include council districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. In districts 2, 3 and 5, incumbents are not seeking re-election. District 5 Councilman Bobby Hurst is retiring. Districts 2 and 3 incumbents, Kirk deViere and Mitch Colvin, are running for mayor. So, there will be at least three new members of the council come December.

Citizens who are not registered to vote may register during the early voting period if they show documents that list their current names and addresses in Cumberland County. A list of acceptable documentation is available online at co.cumberland. nc.us/elections.aspx. Early voting is held at only one location, the Cumberland County Board of Elections Office at 227 Fountainhead Ln., Fayetteville.

Teacher of the Year

The announcement of the 2018 Cumberland County Schools’ Teacher of the Year was made during an annual dinner where 86 candidates for the honor had gathered. Rockfish Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Leslie Seals was the winner. During her eight years in the classroom, she has also taught students in Richmond and Beaufort counties.

“When we create a real difference in a student academically, emotionally or behaviorally, I feel we have accomplished what is sometimes not recognized by others but is more valuable to the future of our communities and world than a test score,” Seals said.

She was influenced to become a teacher by her mother and stepfather, who were both former administrators in Harnett County Schools. Seals likes to use small-group instruction to help “create a real difference” and meet the needs of each student.

“My students know I care when I meet with them... I am also able to see the needs of my students more clearly when working with them in small groups,” she said. Seals earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from East Carolina University. As the 2018 Teacher of the Year, she received: $300 and flowers from Cumberland County Schools; $300 from the Communities in Schools of Cumberland County; a one-year car lease from Powers-Swain Chevrolet; a commemorative customdesigned Teacher of the Year ring from Jostens; an engraved clock from Herff Jones; and an award from the Cumberland County Board of Education.

Beaver Dam Fire Protection

Imagine a fire station with no firefighters. That’s been a persistent problem for the Beaver Dam Fire Department for years. The rural Cumberland County fire department built a second station and equipped it to serve the large district better but could not afford to staff it. The district is considered low wealth because of its rural tax base. The problem was “a lack of volunteers during daytime hours,” said Assistant Cumberland County Manager Tracey Jackson.

Both Beaver Dam fire stations are located off NC Highway 210 not far from the Cumberland/Sampson/Bladen County line. County Commissioners, at the urging of Fire Commissioner Jimmy Keefe, agreed to provide the Beaver Dam department a $75,000 budget supplement to staff its Turnbull Road station with two firefighters cross-trained as EMTs. The funding will get the department through the balance of the fiscal year. The Joint Public Safety Task Force is studying potential ways of permanently solving the funding problem.

Sunday Brunch with a Beer

Cumberland County Commissioners have approved a local ordinance allowing restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages as early as 10 a.m. on Sundays. The North Carolina General Assembly gave cities and counties the authority to adopt local bills. The ordinance is identical to one passed earlier by Fayetteville City Council.

Commissioners had to take the matter up a second time because the initial vote was required to be unanimous. It was not. Commission Vice-Chairman Charles Evans voted against it. On second reading, a simple majority was all that was required. Evans voted no again, but it didn’t matter. Most bars and restaurants in the county are in Fayetteville, but eight of them are in unincorporated areas. The ordinance also allows grocery stores to sell beer and wine Sunday mornings.

Sprint Joins Cumberland County Schools at Phone Fair

Sprint and the Cumberland County School system are teaming up to participate in Sprint and the Sprint Foundation’s 1Million Project.

Participating local high school students will receive 1,180 free smartphones or laptops and free wireless service as part of an initiative to help close the homework gap. Seventy percent of high school teachers assign homework to be completed online. More than 5 million families with children do not have internet access at home. That’s why Sprint created its 1Million Project.

CCS is one of eight school districts in North Carolina taking part in the project. The 2017-18 school year marks the first year of the five-year initiative involving more than 180,000 students in 1,300 schools in 30 states. In each of the next five years, hundreds of thousands of high schoolers who lack internet access at home will benefit from the 1Million Project.

Congressman Pittenger Opens Fayetteville Office

Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C., unpacked boxes and hung pictures in his permanent Fayetteville office. It’s on the third floor of the J.L. Dawkins Federal Building and post office on Green Street. The facility had been closed since October because of flooding from Hurricane Matthew. “We are excited to finally unpack,” the congressman said. “At the same time, we recognize there are still families in Cumberland, Robeson and Bladen Counties waiting for necessary Federal Emergency Management Agency or HUD assistance to rebuild or repair their homes.” 

Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though constituents are encouraged to call ahead as staff will regularly be out of the office at community meetings. For more information, call Jake Cashwell at (910) 303-0669 or email him at jake.cashwell@mail.house.gov.

It’s that time again and yes I am running for re-election as Mayor of Hope Mills!

I pledge to continue to give my all and best for our community.

Proud, Strong, Determined and Dedicated:

STRONG in Governmental stability — using tax dollars wisely and balancing our budgets.

STRONG in Accountability and transparency in our governmental process.

STRONG in preservation of traditional family values.

STRONG in Public Safety and security.

PROUD of Progressive direction, while keeping community traditions that give Hope Mills its small town family atmosphere.

PROUD of Community Involvement in suggestions for our town direction and growth.

PROUD of establishing our Gateway signs of our town.

PROUD of our Sidewalk plan and goals to make Hope Mills a walk-able community.

DETERMINED to provide responsible, accountable town government and leadership.

DETERMINED to develop Strategic Planning for future growth.

DETERMINED to preserve our town History and Traditions.

DETERMINED to listen to our community voices and react to our community input.

DEDICATED to completion of a long awaited restoration of our Hope Mills Lake.

DEDICATED to preservation of our History through completion of our museum and Heritage Park.

DEDICATED to planned recreational opportunities at former Hope Mills Golf Course. I value your support and vote.

Why am I running for city council. to reduce the tax burden and ordinance laws on the private property owners. The property owners are the ones that are paying for these parks and recreation and the high paying salary of the top employees of Fayetteville. Also to reduce the corporate taxes and regulations on local business. To help bring to the area high paying jobs. The one thing the city council and mayor know how to do is to grow the local government, rise your property taxes and create more ordinance laws to off set property taxes thru fines,  for the last 10 years. But have wasted your tax dollars on things like baseball fields and parks. That have nothing to do with your quality of life, like high paying jobs.  I am not seeking pay or donation for the city council seat to make Fayetteville a better place to live for private property owners and business.

Thank you city council district 2.

PHOTO: Ted Donovan

I have seen the future in California. It comes wreathed in clouds of smoke. On a recent fact-finding trip to the Left Coast, we spent one night in Mendocino, a beautiful small town on the northern California coast. The main cash crop in Mendocino County seems to be marijuana. For the record and any DEA agents, let it be known that I did not try anything stronger than coffee out west.

Mendocino has a long relationship with pot. It was immortalized in the song “Mendocino” by the Sir Douglas Quintet in the late 1960s. Sir Doug serenades his girlfriend by warning her about “Fast talking guys with strange red eyes/Have put things in your head/And started your mind to wonderin’/Please stay with me in Mendocino.”

After visiting a town I like, I will read the local newspaper online for a while after I get back. The local paper announced that a neighboring town, Willets, is going to host the first ever Mendocino Cannabis Job Fair. The job fair is to have 25 to 30 employers/ exhibitors to allow the employers and job seekers to network. A survey of more than 40 local pot farmers found that the jobs they most needed to fill were those of trimmers and farming/gardening laborers. The jobs on the pot farms are mostly seasonal, part-time gigs and will be paid as independent contractors.

Other jobs that the pot farmers were seeking to fill include “sales/ marketing, accountants and bookkeepers, administrators, executive assistants, delivery drivers, chefs, human resources, retail budtenders, extraction technicians, lab technicians and security.” I learned a new word, “budtenders,” which I surmise is the cannabis equivalent of a bartender.

California is serious about legalized recreational marijuana. Proposition 64 passed last year with a Jan. 1, 2018, effective date for the issuance of state licenses for recreational pot sellers.

In San Francisco, the coming Pot Apocalypse is in full evidence as shown by billboards and ads on the sides of buses in the city by the bay. The pot ads are quite colorful. The ads remind me of the golden days of cigarette advertising wars. Korova is a brand of legalized pot that has an ad showing a threeeyed cow wearing a rakishly angled derby hat.

One Korova ad boasts that its product has “Unrivaled potency. Medicate responsibly.”

Flow Kano brand pot aims for snob appeal. It is a San Francisco brand that proclaims, “That’s cannabis, the California way.” Flow Kano provides “organic, sustainable, small batch, boutique marijuana strains from independent pot farmers in the Emerald Triangle.”

We are left to wonder if Flow Kano is gluten-free. Its advertising campaign is on 75 buses and 200 billboards. One Flow Kano ad shows an arty picture of green mountains with the words, “Appellations, Boutique Genetics, Exclusive Varieties.” Sounds like an ad for a fine wine. You should hold up your pinky while smoking a Flow Kano joint.

A less classy but more direct billboard from Green Life Recreational Marijuana announced, “Got Weed? 9 miles ahead, Left on Easy Street.” A mysterious ad for pot with only one word, “Dispensary,” shows a beautiful, fully-clothed young woman lying back with her eyes closed and a Mona Lisa smile, surrounded by a marijuana fronds. It is clear that her use of Dispensary marijuana has taken her far from the mundane world of toe fungus, North Korean nukes and The Donald.

Whatever she is thinking about, it is clear that Dispensary pot, like Calgon, has taken her away.

I can hardly wait to see the marijuana television ads. Jesse Helms will be turning over in his grave. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will be having a prolonged hissy fit. If those two things happen, legalized pot can’t be all bad.

As a beer ad once told us, “This bud’s for you.” Smoke ’em if you got ’em.

Students get graded. Employees get reviewed. US Presidents get ranked, and in their case, it all depends on who is doing the ranking. Liberals will have one list with a president like Franklin Roosevelt or Lyndon Johnson toward the top, and conservatives will have an entirely different one, likely favoring Ronald Reagan.

Blessedly, more neutral groups also rank US Presidents, and C-Span, the “just-thefacts, ma’am” network covering our federal government, has conducted three presidential Historians Surveys, one in 2000, one in 2009 and one in 2017.

No need to wait by your phone for the next survey, as you and I are not likely to get a call. Those doing the ranking are more than 90 writers and historians at leading colleges and universities throughout the nation, including Douglas Brinkley and Larry Sabato, both of whom comment on presidential issues often in various media.

The academicians rank presidential effectiveness from 1-10 on measures including Public Persuasion, Crisis Leadership, Moral Authority, International Relations, Relations with Congress and Pursued Equal Justice for All. Each category carries equal weight in the rankings. Sitting presidents are not ranked, meaning that George W. Bush did not show up in the 2000 survey, and Barack Obama was in neither the 2000 nor the 2007 survey. Donald Trump is not ranked at all.

So, who are C-Span’s experts’ top  presidents?

Abraham Lincoln was No. 1 all three years, which is not surprising since he is the president who saved the Union. George Washington, the father of our country, was No. 2 in 2009 and 2017, although Franklin Roosevelt claimed that spot in 2000, a ranking he earned by leading us out of the Great Depression and shepherding the Allies through World War II.

Roosevelt was a solid No. 3, followed by his cousin Theodore Roosevelt at No. 4. Dwight Eisenhower was No. 5 in 2017, but lower in earlier years. Harry Truman also placed at No. 5 and 6, followed by Thomas Jefferson, a solid No. 7. John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Lyndon Johnson and Woodrow Wilson rounded out the top 10 in all three surveys.

After that, the presidents are mostly “historical” in the sense that we know them only from books, along with several more recent White House residents. Barack Obama ranks highest among recent presidents, coming in at No. 12 this year. Bill Clinton is ranked 15, 15 and 21. George H.W. Bush receives 20, 18 and 20, while his son George W. Bush received much more modest No. 33 and 36. Our only other father-son presidential team was more closely ranked. John Adams received 19, 17 and 16, while his son, John Quincy Adams, was respectably nearby at 21, 19 and 19.

Bringing up the rear are presidents most of us would not know if they walked in our front doors. These include John Tyler, Warren G. Harding, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson (born in Raleigh in
1808 and a tailor by profession) and James Buchanan.

None of this is surprising.

The presidency of the United States of America may be the most challenging job on earth, but the men who have held it have been chosen for all sorts of reasons having little to do with their own capabilities. And, like any job, some people are better at it than others. Also, being at the right place at the right time plays a role. Franklin Roosevelt established work programs to see Americans through the Great Depression, but many a historian believes that it was his unwavering, sunny optimism that carried people through those dark days. These are among the reasons Lincoln, Washington, and Roosevelt consistently rank in the top five, and whatever-their-names-were are consistently at the bottom.

It is also true that historians revise their thinking over time, and individual presidents rise and fall in the rankings as time puts their achievements, or lack thereof, into perspective. John F. Kennedy was a popular president, in part because of his youth and attractive family, but over time his presidential star has tarnished a bit. Although he is in the top 10 in the C-Span surveys, other scholarly surveys have ranked him in the middle of the pack or below. Two-termers have more time to get a handle on the job than one-termers, and top-rated Franklin Roosevelt served three terms and change before a constitutional amendment limiting presidential service to two terms. Conversely, two-termers have more time to bungle the job, but no finger pointing here. Several presidents died so early in their terms as not to be ranked at all.

Not a historian? Then whether you or I love or loathe a president makes no difference. These historian assessments are performance reviews, not popularity contests.

I can hardly wait for Donald Trump to get his reckoning — er, ranking.

More and more I hear comments from ordinary citizens about how frustrated they are with Washington and our “do nothing” Congress. Their frustration and disappointment are warranted. With Republicans controlling both the House and Senate, their lack of communication, cooperation and progress in advancing major legislative initiatives only amplifies the lack of leadership and vision provided by our nationally elected officials. It also exposes their misplaced priorities of putting their personal and political agendas above the health and welfare of the Americans they represent.

Of course people are frustrated and scared. And because leadership — both good and bad — comes from the top, I’m afraid this kind of selfish and self-centered governance is having a negative trickle-down effect on North Carolina, our city and our county.

Case in point: the serious situation we have in our community and in eastern North Carolina concerning GenX, C8 and other various and potentially harmful pollutants threatening our local drinking water and the health and future of the Cape Fear River.

Both the Republicans and Democrats are accusing each other of playing politics with these serious issues when they both are. Shameful. This begs the question: When will the needs and concerns of the citizens be addressed? We’re talking about drinking water here! We’re talking about leadership that is systematically cutting environmental funding and protection and knowingly and willingly creating their own Flint, Michigan, style catastrophe.

Water is the lifeblood of human existence, and our General Assembly in Raleigh is playing a game of “political gotcha.” This politics over people scenario is sad and scary. One pathetic example of this comes with the introduction House Bill 56, which Governor Cooper recently and rightly vetoed. Among other things, HB 56 would appropriate a measly $435,000 to locally research the possible dangers of chemical pollutants like GenX contaminating the Cape Fear River and our drinking water. This would have come in place of the $2.6 million Cooper requested to purchase equipment, hire scientists, chemical experts and professional researchers to pursue testing in the quest of finding out the true cause and source of the contamination in an effort to protect the health and welfare of North Carolina citizens and the future of the Cape Fear River.

Protecting our environment, rivers and water supply should not be a partisan issue. Another example of North Carolina’s politics over people approach is the request to repeal the 2009 ban on plastic bags on the Outer Banks, overruling the objections of local leadership. The Dare County Board of Commissioners, Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and dozens of area towns and municipalities wrote letters to protest the repeal resolution, citing many tangible and successful beautification and environmental outcomes.

Why would the politicians so blatantly go against the people’s wishes to maintain the plastic bag ban? Answer: Politics before people. The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association is a powerful lobbyist and a big donor to those in political office in Raleigh. Why not throw them a bone to keep the money flowing, even if means betraying a trust or knowingly destroying the environment?

I’ll close with this: If our North Carolina leadership cannot come together to protect our rivers, wells and drinking water, they are not protecting the people. So, I wouldn’t spend too much time being concerned about fracking, coal ash, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, global warming or North Korean missiles. Without clean drinking water, it won’t matter.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Ritika Shamdasani

Terry Sanford • Junior • Tennis

Shamdasani has an unweighted GPA of 3.94.

She is proficient in four languages, has studied

computer programming and is active in

the Terry Sanford Student Government Association.

She ranks in the top five in her class.

Saurav Mall

South View • Senior • Soccer

Mall is a member of the Key Club, the Academy of Scholars,

the National Honor Society and Tiger Stripes.

He has an unweighted GPA of 4.0.